I got a call from Suzanne, “Sean is requesting your presence at noon. We’re having a pre-celebration at Old Chicago pizza.” I love their Thai Pie so she didn’t have to twist my arm. Sean ordered a meat-lovers pizza with Bavarian Sausage that he shared with me. I shared some of Tim’s pizza as well. It pays to sit between them. It probably was a mistake to fill up on so much pizza.
I made an appointment today to have a cavity filled on tooth #14. He also wanted to replace the filling on #15 the upper left molar. Neither tooth was bothering me. I could feel tooth #18 cracking- this was the most expensive tooth as it needed an Onlay.
Rain was turning to snow, but I refused to see it, even as it was slowing as it fell. Dr. Brant isn’t working today. There is new receptionist at the dentist this morning? Good chance she’s just a temp or something. It is just Wendy, my hygienist, and myself this morning. My favorite situation: less cost, less aggravation. Wendy did a set of x-rays and showed me tooth #14 is getting worse, even I could see it on the x-ray once she ran the sharpening filter. The Florida Probe was very uncomfortable but my pocket depths seemed to have improved quite a bit- a happy surprise. I joked with Wendy, but she still seemed a little tense.
My cousin Nathan Orr called. He fell off his bike and thinks his ankle is either sprained or broken. He says it is tingling, which is a sure sign something is wrong. Char left for church and Ray left for the grocery store. Ray takes Nathan to Urgent Care. They x-ray his ankle and then put a pressure bandage and inflatable brace on it. It is only a sprain. Nathan hopes on one foot, and puts weight on the other until it loosens up. Mom made a chicken salad and banana bread. It was pretty good. Nathan was wondering if he should get a set of crutches. I called Victor, “I’ve got three sets. Come on over.” After supper Nathan and I went to Victor’s. Vic was entertaining his cousin Aren’s family. I said hello to Melaine. Victor and Nathan adjusted the crutches as long as they would go. They seem a little short, but it works enough to get some of the weight off his foot. Nathan picks up a movie at Hornbachers and I drop him off at his apartment. Jennifer Chalpunik will pick him up tomorrow morning. They’re going to Suzanne’s lake cabin for the weekend.
I think I’ve had more Bad Headaches than this country has had July 4ths. Except for the bad headache I had a good weekend. Everyone left. I stayed here along. Victor went to the lakes, the Dobbins went to the lakes, Ray and Char went to Duluth (Lake Superior), and Bob went to the Fireworks Display at MSUM.
I have a dentist appointment this morning. I’m unhappy. In the last 10-20 years my dentist has grown wildly expensive. The sort of technological advances that have driven prices down on computers and electronics seems to have had the opposite affect on dentistry, not that his practice has changed all that much. It also annoys me how little I know about my dentist. Is he the best in town or the worst? Is he the least expensive or the most? Are there alternative treatments, plans, insurance, or strategies that would make me happier.
I did a quick review of Dental Tourism. It looks to be pretty popular. The primary destinations are Mexico and Hungary. It only seems viable if you need a lot of work done at once or live close to the border.
The cleaning went well. Once the gunk is removed around my salvia gland it squirts a happy stream on to my bib. Funny and embarrassing at the same time. The Dentist pops his head in. He reminds me #14 had a cavity and he would like to rebuild #15. Neither of these two teeth are bothering me, which makes them the only teeth that don’t. The total cost for what amounts to one small cavity is $953. I should take some time and discuss my concerns with him, except he is billing me close to $1000/hour. I can’t afford to ask him a question.
Sean called yesterday,”Uncle Craig, will you take me shopping tomorrow?”
”Okay, I think I can do that.”
”Great! Can you pick me after school?”
”I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call your dad around 2 PM.”
When I called Paul today, he said, “I can drop Sean off if you’d like.”
”Good that will save me a trip to Moorhead.”
Sean was a good sport as we stopped at the Post Office, bank, and even made a delivery. I told him, “I have to combine many activities as I’m running the company by myself while your grandparents are on holiday.” Sean looked at some games and electronics at Best Buy, but didn’t find anything he wanted.
Sean asked about eating out. “You have to check with you mom and dad.” Suzanne wasn’t home yet. Paul vetoed the idea and heat up some leftovers. The Lasagna was pretty good. I haven’t seen the Dobbins in a good long while. Once Clare got the flu it went through their home pretty quickly, so I kept my distance. Sean and I played Gran Turismo 4 on the Playstation 2. I’m getting better but Sean can still beat me in his sleep.
I stayed to watch American Idol with Suzanne. She told me the Vitamin B1 supplement I recommended had helped her regain some of her memory recall. “I had a hard time remembering the names in those photos you sent me. I knew I better start taking the Vitamin B supplements again. I was at Jennifer’s a couple nights ago and had no trouble recalling names from high school. Those supplements really help.”
Last time I was at the dentist I had a new hygienist: Tanya McDonald. Today I have another new one. I didn’t catch on until they told me Wendy would be with me in a few minutes. A salesman came in and gave the receptionist a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cut. I laughed, “Are you creating more business by giving out candy?” He looking at me and smiled. “You don’t see much candy in a dentist office.” He justified the Reese’s by saying, “These are okay. It’s the sour candy like Starburst chews that are really bad for your teeth.” I asked him to explain. “The sour candy drops the Ph in your mouth, which is very bad.” The salesman went into the backroom with Dr. Brant. The receptionist told her story of Halloween past, in West Fargo, where some bad boys stole her entire pillow case full of candy.
Wendy struck me as a good hygienist. She explained every thing, seemed to know what she was talking about. She didn’t talk too much, but was still friendly. Wendy lightly pestered me about brushing and flossing. I had to laugh to myself; “I bet dental hygienists hear more lies per hour than any other profession.” She did a thorough job cleaning my teeth and yet it wasn’t all that uncomfortable. Wendy did a Florida probe, which I hate, but she managed to go through it pretty quickly without too much discomfort. The probe only located one bad tooth- my teeth actually seem to be improving?!
Dr Brant came in to give a quick five-minute examination. One cavity. He claims they noted it last time, but I don’t remember it. I didn’t get a chance to ask about X-ray resolution and signal to noise ratios. I gave an unsolicited review of Wendy, “I like her, I think she did a very good job.”
Starting very early this morning I had a headache- a bad headache the kind that doesn’t seem to respond to anything. However it was just the beginning- it was ramping up. I wouldn’t know it was the bad kind of headache until tomorrow, although I had some strong clues. I started with small doses of Excedrin. I ended up taking two pills, and six Ibuprofen. I also ran two miles. This managed the pain.
Judy called and we talked in detail about my theory of music, how your childhood determines your taste, along with other ideas I have regarding genres, quality, and growth. I used two movies I’ve seen recently “Amadeus” and “Almost Famous” to illustrate some points. I got the feeling my theories were tiring her out. Once I get on a roll it is hard to shut me up.
