My Root Canal

I had the first phase of my "root canal" on tooth # 9 this afternoon. Not something I'd want to do everyday, but it seemed to go ok. What I really don't like is having to go back again and then having to go back for a crown.

Donations at stores

One minor pet peeve is the stores (around here, such as Walgreens and Citgo), who ask you to “donate a dollar for a charity” (of course, their charity).

I figure I can decide who I donate my money to. I really believe Walgreens and Citgo make enough money, why don’t THEY donate to their favorite charity and let me donate to mine, instead of begging money at the register and trying to embarrass you into “donating”? (How even do we REALLY know if the money actually makes it to the charity?)

Personally, I try to leave an extra dollar or so to the hard working food servers. I could never be a waiter and I admire their ability to get things right while keeping in a reasonably good mood for such low pay. They do a great job for low pay.

In fact, it is amazing that the caretakers of the things we value most (our food and our children) are paid so little!

Favorite Joke

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender walks up and asks "why the long face?".

(I don't know why, but I can't tell this joke with laughing out loud, and I am laughing now as a read it.)

My front tooth

Well...I'm finally facing my first "root canal". My tooth started hurting several weeks ago. Last week (March 17), it finally starting hurting bad enough I called my Dentist and requested my normal "checkup" day be moved up.

He sent me to a specialist who found my tooth had been infected and I needed an "emergency" root canal. He prescribed some pencellian (spell!). I hurting really bad yesterday, but the medicine is working and I feel much better today. The emgergency root canal is scheduled for next week, assuming the infection goes away.

Aliene started another treatment for her thumb pain and shoulder pain and hopefully it is working!

Teeth hurting

Teeth are still hurting. I've isolated it to one tooth. Years ago a Dentist told me I had a "dead nerve" and said it may come alive. The day is apparently here.

I dislike going to Dentists, but in this case, I am looking forward to the appointment. I figure if nothing else, I will know what is wrong and have some timetable for fixing the problem.

The last time I had any teeth problems was about 5 years ago on Easter Sunday in Chicago! I woke up and told Aliene I'd need to make an appointment with a Doctor when I got back on Wednesday. Within two hours, I was on the phone trying to find an emergency room! I thought finding an emergency room in Chicago on Easter Sunday would be impossible, but I found an excellent facility and they got the problem (a clogged gland) resolved.

However, I was allergic to the drug they gave me for pain and developed a severe rash on my hands!

Hopefully this won't be a serious problem and it will be resolved.

I quit Peanut Butter (well....somewhat)

Due to some failed attempts to really control my weight, at the suggestion of Aliene, I recently quit eating peanut butter on my toast each morning! This was a major concession for me, a person wh0 has had a lifelong love affair with peanut butter.

However, we normally eat breakfast at the Blue Plate Cafe on Saturday and Sunday, and, it so happens they have peanut butter....It also so happens that the serving staff knows us so well, I don't even have to order peanut butter....However, they do say if you are trying to lose weight, it is better to cut back on foods rather than completely eliminate them, so ....

My normal breakfast is oatmeal, toast and pean (whoops, I forgot) and jelly-no peanut butter right now!

I have let up on the bicycle somewhat due to a series of colds and a case of the flu, but I am getting back into it. I still walk about 2 miles most mornings for the morning paper. As I mention previously, I am somewhat of a daily newspaper addict and don't really feel the day is right until I read my daily newspaper!

Sunburn!

My first sunburn of 2005! I attended the Grand Opening of Lakeland Fire Station # 1 and, not wearing a hat, got a sunburn, somthing I try to avoid.

It was fun to attend the Grand Opening of Lakeland Fire Station # 1. I probably will never again attend an opening of a Fire Station # 1, so it was interesting!

There was a heavy rain this morning, so I was concerned about the weather, but the weather was great for the ceremony!

I have a bad toothache (seeing the dentist Monday) and Aliene's arm is still hurting from her thumb reconstruction surgery, so we aren't feeling all that good, but it could be worse!

Jackson Tennessee

At a Doubletree in Jackson, Tennessee. Four years ago, in Harrah, Oklahoma, I would never have imagined myself in Jackson, Tennessee.

Tennessee is a wonderful state, but very unusual in that it has three sections and three entirely different cultures.

-West Tennessee-(Memphis/Lakeland)-Blues

-Middle Tennessee-(Nashville)-Country Western

-East Tennessee (Knoxville)-More of a bluegrass music.

What is strange is that in Memphis there is one Country Music station, and absolutely no place for Country Western dancing. Nashville must have at least five or six Country Music stations and all kinds of places to dance. Walking through downtown Nashville is a wonderful experience.

I love fiddle/violin music (I even played the fiddle/violin for about 10 years. I stopped when I moved to Lakeland in 2001 because I lost my fiddle teacher and I really didn't have the time.

My mother used to tell me that even when I was a baby I was fascinated by fiddle/violin music and would listen with rapt attention anytime I heard a violin. It is still my favorite instrument (in any kind of music) now.

I don't know that much about eastern Tennessee. Pigeon Forge is a trash town (I call it Pigeon S***). Gatlinburg is kind of fun the first or second time. Don't know much about Knoxville. Chattenooga (probably mispelled) is kind of enjoyable, but I don't know much about it.

I can see how Tennessee gets in your blood, especially if you are a native Tennessean.

Morning radio announcers

Sometimes I get so angry at the sewer rat morning radio announcers. They seem to feel 10 mintues of laughter is "entertainment". I listen to my favorite radio station until the "morning barf announcers" come on and then I switch to a CD or XM radio. Thank goodness for XM radio.

I don't understand why they think they are funny or entertaining and I really don't understand why EVERY radio station think they need to have some announcers who live in a sewer in the morning and feel harrassing innocent people is "fun". Sicko.

I start a Blog

Although I have kept a "chalkboard" for years, this is my first attempt at blogging.

Waiting for Spring-hope it won't be long!

Briefly, grew up in Kansas, moved to Oklahoma, now live in Lakeland, Tennessee. I really enjoy Lakeland, the people, culture, especially the climate and even more especially my job.

What is my day like? Up at 4:00 a.m., walk/exercise, read the newspaper (I am a newspaper addict), take a short nap (I'm a 15 minute power napper) and then off to the office. Usually try to take a brief nap at noon. About 2-3 evenings per week, I normally have an evening meeting, so I take a short nap before the meeting. Usually to bed by 10:30 or 11.

Major hobbies include reading, bicycling, walking etc.

4:00 a.m.??? I know, I just wake up then. I started waking up at 5:00 a.m. some years ago, and rather than just lay there I got up and started walking and enjoyed it. I started waking earlier, but stopped at 4:00 a.m. If I wake up at 3:45, I stay in bed.

My pet peeve? Lakeland has no identity. We "share" a ZIP code with Arlington, a much smaller City, and the U.S. Postal Service is so rigid they can't change anything. If you put in "38002", you will get Arlington every time. BellSouth doesn't recognize Lakeland as a city. If you ask for "Lakeland information", they will tell you we don't exist!

Lakeland has Interstate 40 bisecting it. If you go from Memphis to Nashville, you go through Lakeland!