Dental Visit Number Three…

I have returned from the dentist – it only took 1 hr today which was a surprise. We only did the right side of my mouth though so that probably explains it. I gotta tell you, the right side feels damn nice.

Dentists have come a long way since I went last. Some dentist have plasma screens on their ceilings so you can wear headphones and watch a movie while they work on your mouth. Mine, thankfully, does not. I suggested a few posters might be nice though – someplace to go in your mind while they are scraping away at my teeth.

They have this new (well, to me anyway) water pik thing that is like a high powered washer on my teeth. It amazed me how much plaque that little thing could jet off my teeth. It does hurt a little when it goes down into the gum but that is to be expected I guess.

They still had to use those pesky sharp instruments to scrape too. I don’t really care for those sharp little buggers. Sometimes they feel like they are going to pull the entire tooth out. But even this type of instrument has become high tech. It has its own little light which lights my mouth up in purple so the hygienist can actually see plaque that might have been missed during the cleaning. Rather cool really.

They gave me an awesome new toothbrush – it is a “Roto-dent One Step” powered brush with four brush attachments. This sucker can clean down into the gums each time I brush to keep the plaque down. Has a lifetime warranty as well. I can’t wait to use it! Well, ok, I can but it is a nice to have it.

My next appointment isn’t until the 23rd of August – which seems like a long time but that is alright. This going every two weeks was beginning to kill my pocketbook. This way they will get a better idea of what the insurance will pay and what it won’t…so I’ll know how much all this is going to cost me out of pocket. It’s already cost me $480. Scary, isn’t it?

Dentist Today

So I’m off to the dentist here in a bit. I so wish I didn’t have to spend the money – it is so damn expensive but what can I do about it? I looked up my dental coverage – it will only cover $1500 a year – I will be up past that amount by the time I get done with the cleanings and getting rid of the infection in my gums. That won’t even count the tooth in back that needs capped.

This is why I hate going to the dentist. I’ve paid the dental benefits for the past five years and this is all the more it covers. Which, granted, if I had kept up on my teeth I probably wouldn’t even need the $1500 a year. Guess this is what happens when a person neglects their body.

If I don’t get myself “fixed” up soon, I’ll have even larger medical bills – Lord knows I don’t need anymore bills!

Garbage Disposal

My garbage disposal had a wonderful supper tonight. It started out with a nice helping of potato soup – then for its entree it consumed cheese tortellinis and for dessert it ate up the rice pudding. I, meanwhile, dined on Campbell’s Bean and Bacon soup.

The soup and dessert I had made a week ago and never ate…not even a bowl of either. I was cooking the tortellini’s for supper when I noticed the pickle jar had leaked in the refrigerator so everything had to come out so I could clean up the mess. Of course, I got so engrossed in cleaning that I forgot about the pasta and it cooked too long. Don’t know anyone who likes soggy pasta.

It was too much of a hassle to start another meal after that disaster hence the soup. I’m going to eat it with some chips while watching “Saving Grace”. I hope it is good…the show not the soup.

Architecture – Where’s the Love?

Clouds swept in off the Gulf a few minutes ago like a bullet train on a mission. I was just about to drive over to the car wash but will wait now to see what the weather does. No point washing it if I can get a free car wash from Mother Nature.

Grit from the nearby Planned Parenthood construction site has begun to pile up on my patio – I’m going to have to do a thorough cleaning of it in the next few days. Mind you, I love construction which is a reason I always thought I’d be good at working with wood if taught properly. I love seeing something start with bare ground and transform into a building. That isn’t to say I think all empty lots should be made into buildings – everything in moderation. I’d much rather live next to a park then other buildings no matter how pretty they might be.

Unfortunately, the Planned Parenthood building is going to be ugly and that does bother me. I love architecture that has style and character – these boring buildings they’ve started building are a blight on our great city.

Why can’t we build things that are in harmony with nature and pleasing to look at? These concrete slab looking buildings are really disgusting. I like soft lines, arches, columns, and blue tinted windows. Somewhere along the way they took the art out of architecture and an architect became nothing more then the man who draws up the plans. We need a few architects who have a real love of architecture then we might get some fantastic buildings.

Guess it is part of the cancer that permeates our society – everyone wants everything right now and the cheapest way possible. Only the rich have the ability to buy or build things of quality – not that they do but they have the money that they could. Some of these nine million dollar houses on the island prove that while they could, they often don’t. Sad.

It has started to pour – glad I held off washing the car. Can just imagine the call center lighting up with vehicle accidents already. These southerners would never make it up North on ice.

Please be safe out there.

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. –John Ruskin

Tempus Fugit

First day of vacation gone. Man did it go by FAST. After the Bay I washed the windows on the south side of the condo, did some wonderful household chores and that is about it. The rest of the day I’ve been surfing the internet.

How does time go by so fast when I am on the internet? I was looking at dogs in a 75 mile radius of my house and then shopping for a book for my sister’s birthday. I hate when I don’t know what to give someone for a birthday gift. She has so much – I don’t know what she wants now.

Oh well. Probably get her a gift certificate somewhere.

Tomorrow I want to finish cleaning the condo and then go to the beach to sit in the sun. Would be great if it only got up to 85 tomorrow instead of 95.

Be safe out there!

Life on the Bay

It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? –Henry David Thoreau

High clouds that revel the Himalayas surround the Bay on all sides, yet the Bay itself is under blue skies and sunshine. Kind of makes one think it is the calm before the storm – we’ve been having a lot of storms lately…thank you very much!

Boogie board skiers zoom by the viewing area – I can’t help it, my eyes search the water for that rising fin as the Jaws soundtrack jumps into my head. No sharks today thank goodness. Off in the distance a bit I can see a parasailer floating high above the surface – what a great view they must have up there. I really need to do that one of these days.

Have yet to see a sailboat out so maybe the wind is keeping them moored today. The boats out there are rocking like a diabolical rocking chair – making me green about the gills even though I’m on solid ground.

With the temps in the 90’s and the heat index close to 100, it is damn hot out. There is a big retriever in the water swimming around – I’m jealous because he looks so refreshed. I have to laugh though as he fails to “retrieve” the chew toy for his master who ends up having to wade out in the turbulent water to get it before the current takes it beyond reach.

Traffic behind me buzzes by like a swarm of bees on their way to a new poppy field. Are the drivers even glancing at the beauty around them or are their important days with its important deadlines making them focus more on getting from spot A to spot B as quickly as possible?

For me, I plug into the relaxed southern rhythm of life. How I do love it here.

Good Morning World

Can’t believe it is already 1pm on my first day of vacation. I went and ate my lunch at the Bay and stopped in at Walgreens for more soda. I looked for index cards but they didn’t have any. Really should have grabbed some aspirins I guess cuz my head is still pounding away – this is like the fourth day in a row now.

I finished the book I took to work at 2:15 am this morning so was a little late getting to bed. It wasn’t bad and I must admit – it had me stumped for awhile. The killer is always someone the main character has interacted with during the book so as I eliminate them by little details throughout the book, I can guess the killer long before the end. This one did throw me in that a couple of the details were lies about one of the characters who ended up being the killer. Guess you can’t expect insane people to always give you sane answers when it comes to their background and what not. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad book – not gripping but held my interest for the most part.

I had a cardiac arrest yesterday. It is so frustrating when people won’t cooperate in getting the victim to the ground to open their airway. I understand it can be difficult but I hate hearing someone say “I can’t” without even trying. Pull the guys legs till he falls out of the chair, knock the chair over, push him over the side…do whatever it takes to get the person to the floor. For god’s sake, you can’t hurt him anymore then dying already is.

But oh well. The guy died, the woman cried, and I just got angry. Life goes on.

V A C A T I O N!!!!!!!

So, I’ve made some tentative plans for my 11 days off. Starting Monday I am going to drive to each of our fire stations. Geography is very important so I need to learn the County better. Figure I can take my time, stop off for lunch somewhere and enjoy my outings.

One day I’ll go down to Roni’s for supper – she is dying to try her red snapper recipe. Then we’ll go out to the local club to listen to live music by the Gulf. One of the days I’ll go down to Fort Myers to have lunch and a movie with my brother – probably stop off at the Shell Factory as well.

On one of the Thursdays I’ll go up to the zoo – Haven’t seen it in awhile and I always enjoy going. Course it depends on how hot it is – the animals won’t be out if it is too damn hot out. Can’t say I blame them.

I plan on taking in one movie on my own down at the new theaters. Might hit a few shops while I’m down there at the mall. I was kind of hoping to see the Pirates movie – no, I haven’t seen it yet – but it is already gone.

Will pretty much bum around the rest of the days – maybe snorkel at Lido Beach, go down to Manasota Beach to swim with Roni, or find a way to go parasailing. I’d also like to repaint the living room if I get the chance. My hopes of getting new floors in the living room will not be realized but I’m probably better off since I want to paint in there. I will try to get a carpet cleaner and do the carpets – I’m sure that will take most of one day.

I also plan on getting a dog – hopefully Wednesday – so I have plenty of time with it before I have to start leaving it alone with Simon while I work. I have given up finding a purebred that is reasonably priced so will check out the local dog shelters.

Before I know it, the days will be gone and I’ll be back at work again.

Twelve Hours till VACATION!

Today I brought the book “Killing Hour” by Lisa Gardner. The cover looks familiar but I am sure I haven’t read it. Maybe it is because the cover of “A Necessary Evil” by Alex Kava has the same type of cover only hers is white and red.

It isn’t an overly thick book – I will be done with it tonight pretty easily. I believe it will take me six to eight hours to read depending on how busy I am. As its a 12 hr day – I see no point in starting it too soon. Decided to wait until 2:30 pm before I even crack it open. That is three hours away.

I broguht with me today a 50 card index card spiral that I had tucked in my bible cover. The cards are all brown with age – I put Bible verses I thought would help me get through any type of day on the cards so I wouldn’t have to carry my Bible around. I did this twenty-two years ago…no wonder they aren’t in great condition.

The verses are still good ones for pretty much any occasion but I think its time to get a new spiral and redo the cards. There are a few more verses I’d like to add as well so that sounds like a good thing to do on my vacation.

Right now I keep closing my eyes between calls trying to get rid of this awful headache. The lights are too bright but I was met with negative comments when I asked if we could turn them down some. That is the “day” shift for you. Once the evening shift comes in, the lights will be dimmed to a much more tolerable level.

Today is my son’s 28th birthday. He said he had no plans and that he was kind of down because he felt like he should be more settled into the life he envisioned by now. I told him everyone felt that way and that he’d get it figured out. Approaching thirty scares him – it’s like he is realizing that his “young” days are behind him and now it is time to step up to the plate. Time to start looking at buying a house, getting married, settling down, etc. I love him so much.

Books and Sugar

Last night was an incredibly slow evening. The eight hours stretched on forever. We had a lot of calls but nothing earth shattering. I still felt crappy which probably a big reason the evening crawled by.

I started and finished the first book in those 8 hrs – “Perfect Nightmare” by John Saul. It was alright – not the least bit scary or gory like the last one of his I read was. I guess I read so much that I can usually pick out the killer very quickly and that was the case with this so it’s big “twist” at the end failed to stump me. I had it figured out before I was even to the halfway point of the book.

Today is “dessert” day at work. It means we can wear regular clothes and eat junk food all day. I get to share in two shifts worth of junk food – this morning and then again this evening.

Be safe out there!