Nothing can get you to the dentist faster than the cancellation of your dental benefits by your employer. Such is the case with me. I was told several months ago that I needed two crowns but put it off until the day I found out our dental insurance from work was going the way of the dinosaur VERY SOON! To date I’ve had half the total work done. I just went back this past Tuesday to start work on the second crown. In my adult life I’ve been going to the dentist so regular that I am not afraid of needles or drills or whatever. But this visit gave me the opportunity to see the dentist (who is VERY nice) through someone else’s eyes, those of a child.

Picture this, I’m in the dentist office waiting room and there is a gentleman with his son. The son is probably six years old. There is also a lady with two sons, one is about six and the other is about nine or ten. The father and son go in and the technician closes the door. Not sure why she did that because it did not block one scream that was coming from that office. That kid was screaming so bad I thought they were ripping his arms limb from limb. The other six year old who was still in the waiting room with me had the most panicked look on his face. Wonder why? Even though the entire family was speaking in Spanish I could still make out the conversation. Basically the little boy was telling his mother something to the effect that he did not want to go in there. The typical older brother pipes in and tells him, “Yes you are going in there and it is going to hurt just like that poor soul that’s in there right now!” The little boy begins to plead with his mother that he does not want to go in there, “No, no, no” the boy keeps repeating with a look of anguish on his face. The older brother, “Yes, you are going in and it’s going to hurt bad!” The mother is being a typical mother. She begins to stroke her younger sons head and gives him words of comfort while glaring at her older son. Obviously all the pleading in the world was not going to get this kid out of a visit to the dentist. I ended up sitting in the next room from the six year old. I think he was screaming louder than the first kid!!! Poor baby. When the dentist came to shoot me up with novacane (sp) she immediately commented on what a good boy I was for not screaming. Piece of cake! Only took 37 years!

So much to write about and only a couple of paragraphs to fit it all in so this will be a medley of a journal entry. Things I've learned over the past few months:
1. Getting a cheap heart procedure is NOT the same as getting a cheap shirt. You can always buy another shirt. Actually my dad just learned that lesson.
2. Seeing your dad right after bypass surgery is NOT for the weak of heart! Pardon the pun.
3. The difference between 8% and 3% for my car loan is exactly $172 a month.
4. The difference between 7.35% and 3.89% for my mortgage is exactly $$241.01 a month.
5. Though you benefit from refinancing your home for a lower mortgage rate it's a big scam and can cost a lot of money. One of the line item charges is for a $90 endorsement fee. What the hell is that!?
6. I do very well on a diet and can lose the weight but I get distracted very easily.
7. Never run for the train at rush hour. There is ALWAYS another train about 2 minutes behind the first one.
8. There is no regulation on the price that dentists can charge for procedures.
9. The price my old dentist wanted to charge me for a crown $900. The price my new dentist (who came very well recommended) is charging me $579.
10. Salsa definitely comes out better if you watch how your Mexican friend makes it!
11. Most people don't know jack about basic astronomy.
12. Most people don't know jack about basic computer functions.
13. Most people don't know jack about a LOT of things!
14. People still want to read your journal even if though you update it infrequently!

I've heard from several people and they really like my ramblings so I will try to keep the journal updated no less than once a week. Now that things appear to be settling down a bit I may actually be able to keep this promise. So hang in there with me. I'm not done yet!