Scenes from the Dentist Office

It had been awhile since I had been to the dentist.   Not because I'm scared of them  but because the last time I went I felt like I was at a used car lot.  The assistant try to sell me every thing under the sun do make my mouth sparkle.  No thanks.  Bright un-natural white teeth freak me out.  But I am by no means an "Anti-dentite."

Day 1
This particular trip was because two years ago I broke part of a tooth off. I did nothing at the time because I was too busy packing for the big move.  Now itAnyway, I arrive way too early and I have to sit and sit and sit.  Finally, I get called back.  Once in the back, I'm very surprised.  There are no walls.  I can see endless torture dental chairs separated by cabinets.  So, I take my place.  They take some rather painful pictures of the tooth.  I am told that I need a root canal and a crown.  I'm not surprised about that but "what about the other teeth?"  They didn't have time to look at those.  It's like taking your car in because it is making a noise and they notice the brakes might be about to go out but don't have time to make sure.  Whatever.  They schedule me another appointment and give me an "estimate."  Good-bye new 55 inch LCD.  We will meet some day.

Day 2
Both appointments I made on Saturdays.  It kind of handy.  This trip, I brought my boys with me.  They are 10 and 13 and are with me because we are going to see the Avengers afterword.  On Saturday, they must expect a lot of kids because Puss n Boots was playing both days.  I get called back.  I am placed in the chair.  They start by numbing with local although it hurts like hell.  They are jamming the sick onto the most sensitive part.  "You bastards.  You did that on purpose," runs through my head.  Next, come the needle.  Needles don't bother me as I was stuck countless times a teenager. 3 sticks and then they go to work.  They put this green tarp over my mouth.  I'm still not sure what that was for.  More on that later. "Hmmm. That kind of hurts.  SHIT! I ain't numb yet."  I inform them of my uncomfortableness.  They oblige by sticking me 3 more times.  At one point, I counted 4 hands, 2 sucking things, one drill and 2 others "devices" in my mouth at one time plus the green tarp.   Now, midday way through, the numbness had reached the corner of my eye.  It was a rather odd feeling.  Next, to me in the other chair was a 12 year old girl who was screaming like she just the boogyman.  This goes on for 10 minutes as her mom was trying to talk her into letting them do whatever  they were going to do.  The assistant kept informing the mother that she could refer her to another dentist who specialized in children.  It was a nice way of saying "Women your child is a pain in the ass and if she doesn't shut up I'm going stab her with an Oral-B."   About this time, my green tarp is getting covered in my saliva.  I have a acute nose for smell and I don't do smells very well.  So this thing is sopping wet, sticking to my face and it smells. I'm starting to get pissed. Finally, they finish.  My mouth feels like I like I took a shot from the champ.  I look even worse.  The left side of my mouth won't move and it looks like I had stroke.  Oh well, off the movies we go.

Day 3
Not much to say here other than, there was no green tarp. Thank God.  This appointment was on a Tuesday.  Puss n Boots had been replaced with procedure videos.  How fun.  Nothing like a masochist telling you what he is going to do to you before he does it.  Anyhow, 2 1/2 hours later I had my crown.  And off to the work meeting I go.


The first appointment was on April 14.  On June 13 they will finally check the rest of my teeth.  I am afraid to hear the results.  But I like eating without pain so I guess it will be worth it.

Keeping Tradition Alive

This past Sunday, I kept a tradition alive.  I washed and waxed my car.  I know that sounds strange but it will make sense in a minute.  It was the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, which means it was time for the Indianapolis 500.  You still don't understand do you?

Okay.  When I was kid the 500 was not televised live. If you wanted to watch it, you had to wait until Sunday night and watch it on tape delay.  Can you imagine this happening in this day and age?  There would be total anarchy.  Anyway, you had to listen to it live on the radio.  So family would park the car in the back yard, turn on the radio and listen to the race, and proceed to wash and wax the car. But that wasn't all.  We had to prepare for the race. We would each pick the following:

        Lap 1 Leader
        Lap 10 Leader
        Lap 50 Leader
        Lap 100 Leader
        Winner (you got to choose 3)
        First Driver Out of the Race

We would not win anything other bragging rights but it was always fun.  My early winner picks were always Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt and Rick Mears.  Later the latter two would be replaced with Michael Andretti and Roberto Guerrero.  I say always fun but maybe not always.  In 1981, in a controversial ending, Mario Andretti was given the win only to have it taken away and given back to Al Unser Sr.  And then in 1982, rookie driver Kevin Cogan, starting in the 2nd position wrecked during the warm-up laps.  He took out Mario and AJ before the race had even started.

In later years, the Indy Racing League and the CART series got into a pissing match and the IRL would only allow a certain number of CART drivers to be in the race.  It ruined the race for me for many years.  Then last year I tuned in and watched a rookie wreck on the final lap giving Dan Wheldon his second title. A very exciting ending.  A couple of months later Wheldon would die during a race.  So much for getting back into indy racing.

Regardless, of all of the bad times, those races during my childhood are forever in my thoughts as a fun unique family experience.  I miss those times.  My little one "helped" wash and wax the car this year.  Even though we missed the race, I felt some tradition was being passed on.   Maybe next year, we will pick winners.

No, I'm Not Brain Dead

Yes, it has been over a month since I posted last.  I have had inquiries as to why.  Here are my answers in no particular order:

1) New Job-- The new job has changed my schedule.  Why I have more time at home, I have less time at home alone.  So instead of blogging, I'm hanging with the fam.  If you would have asked me why I haven't been blogging, this would have been my answer.  But upon some self-evaluation, I have realized this wasn't the main reason.

2) Bejewelled-- Damn it.  I found the gem swapping game on Facebook book again.  It had been a few years since I played.  But now that needle keeps calling my name.

3) The Real Reason--  I am a perfectionist.  My last blog was suppose to be the 1st of 3.  So while I had other ideas I kept putting them off thinking I need to complete the trilogy.  The 2 remaining topics are vast and I was trying to figure out how to approach them.  Days, weeks and now a month has past.  I have started one but I am not happy with it.  Sometimes, I lose focus of what this blog is.  While I enjoy writing it, it does get frustrating when you don't know how it was received or it gets very few hits.  ISB's  biggest day were when I wrote about my pending doom. I Have Been Given 11 Months to Live was the single biggest day  for my blog.  I don't know how take that.  Either people were concerned or they were looking for a juicy nugget to pass along.  Anyway, it doesn't matter ISB will continue with more frequent post to come.  Maybe I'll get to the social commentary maybe I won't.  If you're familiar with my brain, then you know I can't control which way it goes.



P.S.  In case you have been wondering, I let my deadline pass.  I could not agree to their terms. (Which means "No I'm not giving up ownership of my story")  Also for my guinea pig test readers (and you know who you are) The Book of Xi Su is currently in its third final draft.(perfectionist at work)  If you want an updated draft let me know.

Best of Luck to you.