Summer 2014 August 14 Thursday (Dentists, Doctors and the Wheel of Fortune)

64 degrees this morning.  I am somewhat amazed by the low morning temperatures, I’m not sure if this is normal or if Memphis had higher morning temperatures due to the low altitude.

Appointment today for getting the molds for the final teeth implant procedure.  Then one more visit to get them installed and it will be complete.  The real pain will be in my wallet!  Fortunately, a large part of the procedure was paid by dental insurance, although since I no longer have dental insurance, it is on me now.

Health and dental insurance is one of those “wheel of fortune” items.  If you have it and need it, the Wheel of Fortune stopped in the right place.  If you don’t need it and have it, at least you don’t have to worry about it.  if you don’t have it and need it, well…..tough! Fortunately, I have some medical reimbursement funds set aside that will help, but it also means my balance will decrease for future medical expenses!  

Dental visits are always somewhat difficult for me.  Over the year, I have learned to deal with it, but I always wonder about the high rate of “crowns” that are installed. I saw one dentist for almost ten years and then finally quit going to him when it seemed that he had gotten money hungry, trying to prescribe all kinds of procedures and crowns.  The first few years he was pretty good, but then something must have happened.  The final “straw that broke the camels back” for me was when he charged me $53 for a replacement brush for a electronic toothbrush he had sold me. (I should have known better than to buy it from him, I”ll never do that again.).  I never returned after being charged that and I never used the toothbrush again.

I hate to give up the dentist I am seeing now,  it is so hard to find a new dentist you can trust not to try to “goldplate” everything and recommend high cost procedures like crowns.  You really think about it, dentists have no oversight.  Dental Insurance limits are so low and are really prepaid dental costs, not insurance, and they will approve almost anything recommended by the dentist, I have found.

I emphasized that I have found most dentists are professionals and I trust their judgement.  It is just that one bad one can do so much damage and undermine your faith in dentists when they prescribe too many crowns, or super expensive procedure etc.  

We are finally getting into the phase of moving I dislike the most, which is having to change to all new Doctors and other service professionals (I include barbers etc. among these.)  We have appointments next week with a potential new main doctor and then I have a slew of specialists (Dermatologist, foot doctor etc.) I need to establish a new relationship with.  

Probably the worst part is when they feel they have to run all the basic tests again (not just the normal physicals etc.).  I am going to make sure I like the Doctor before I get involved in that. 

Oddly enough for me (and those of you who know me will know what i mean), a new barber can be the hardest fo me.  I tried a new barber and got an absolutely horrible haircut.   It was right before the family reunion.  One thing about a bad haircut is that it will grow out.  It isn’t like a an unneeded dental appointment or unnecessary medical procedure!

On to another subject, my favorite, the passage of time.  As I wrote in the date “August 14”, it just hit me how fast time has gone.  I also realized that I had missed the August 13 deadline for getting the free dessert at Firebirds!  (Those of you who have eaten at Firebirds will know what I mean!)  However, 2015 will soon be here.

I think it is especially (difficult isn’t the right word) when you are “in transition” and know that your entire world will change at some point, as I wait to see where the Wheel of Fortune stops.  

That’s it for now, Thursday, August 14, 2014.  

Spring 2014 June 17 Tuesday

72 degrees this morning, and a lovely morning it is.  Sitting on the patio listening to the birds and sipping coffee.  Life couldn't be better!  I even decided to eat breakfast later so I could spend more time on the patio during the best times.  Also, I may eat less throughout the day if I eat later!  Four more days until Summer starts.

A story this morning about a "robocopter" experiment in England reminded me of the appalling lack of progress in transportation, at least in my opinion.  I remember as a child looking at an advertisement and seeing a car going down the road with 4 people playing cards and no driver.  This was over 55 years ago and we are still driving basically the same way!  Obviously the cars are much improved (although some would disagree with that, I don't, I feel they are much improved), we still basically drive them the same way.  All of the progress in other areas, but we are still basically driving like we did over a century ago!  

I believe at least 14 years ago, I learned that the technology existed to the effect that you could walk out to your backyard, get in a small airplane/helicopter, and just sit there as computers and GPS handling taking off, flying it, landing it at your destination, all without any effort on your part!  Yet we still drive the same way and flying has even gotten worse than it was 14 years ago.  

Not only are are driving and flying the same, only recently have "alternative" methods of transportation (such as walking trails and bike paths separate from other vehicles been a priority.  (Well, with the exemption of Lakeland, where the new spoiled brat politician mayor and his toadies turned down a grant for a million dollars that would have made Lakeland truly bikeable and walkable, but that is another story.)

Actually, when I was a child, I truly thought we would probably be transporting ourselves (that isn't the right word, but the effect of just changing your form so that, for example in a matter of seconds, I could go from Lakeland to Kansas City).  While researching what this actually is on Google, I saw some interesting articles on transportation, as far as bicycles, even rickshaws I'll have to read when I have time.

I realize there are major barriers, including safety, etc. to all of this progress, but it is amazing that things really haven't changed for a century, at least, we are even still using mostly gasoline.  

Speaking of safety, I read this morning that robots killed over 30 people last year.  I realize the "robots" didn't really do it, lack of safety engineering in the robot operations did it, but it still is a sobering thought that you can be killed an an errant robot.  As they search for more ways to utilize robots, the safety factor is a major barrier (perhaps as in driverless cars and planes).  I also thought robots would be used a lot more although, perhaps, with the numerous small computers in use, it may be that we are using robots in a different context and form than expected.  I  read where they are trying to make robots more "appealing"  (I'm not sure if that means human  or like a cute puppy, or maybe even a cute machine).  Creatively couldn't hurt.  

Some other technology that I thought would take off faster than it has is nanotechnology.  I read "Prey" and though this would really tai off, but I haven't seen a lot about it.  Of course, if I put nanotechnology into a search engine, I may be proven wrong.  I also thought solar would be used much more than than it has been.   

Getting my tooth implant area "opened" today, the last process before the new teeth (actually crowns over the posts) are installed (I guess that is the right word) in about two months.  That will make the whole process a year long process.  A lot has happened since I first had the two teeth pulled on September 6, 2013 to prepare for the implants.

Also going to the Apple Store,  For some odd reason, my iPhone won't ring, which creates a log of voice messages and embarrassment when I don't answer my phone.  Also going to work on my iPhoto some more.

That's it for today, Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Winter 2014 February 25 Tuesday

37 degrees this morning.

Next phase of tooth implants (perhaps teeth implants, since there are two of themI) is this morning. I am currently in the dreaded time of "no water, no food", which basically makes me want to get the surgery over so I can eat and drink water!  I normally eat breakfast shortly after 6 a.m., so I am hungry!

The phase this morning is screwing the base teeth into my jaw.  The screws were put in my jaw  in September when the two teeth were ext rated and the bone transplant was done.  The bone transplant was the worst.  Of course, I associate the bone transplant with the devastating city elections etc. It seemed to give me a headache for several months.

Somehow I associate difficult times in my life the books by Khaled Hosseini.  When I was have surgery for skin cancer (including transplanting skin etc.I) I was reading "The Kite Runner" and associated with the realization that pain was part of life and perhaps a stage of life that we need to adjust to.  (Actually, the pain of skin cancer surgery isn't that bad, it is just the anticipation perhaps, or maybe like the grain of sand in your shoe.)  Anyway, somehow, reading The Kite Runner" during this process helped.  I never really got into his second book "A Thousand Splendid Suns", and then I read "And the Mountains Echoed" after my separation from employment, when I understood why I still didn't have time, even when it appeared all I should have was time, after at least 30 years of having very little leisure time.  Even three months later, I still haven't found time to read etc., like I expected, and my day is filled with activities that, at least appear, to seem to be important.  I found looking and preparing for employment is almost a full time job.  Many positions require extensive time answering detailed essay questions, multiple phone interviews etc. which take more time than you would think.

In addition to age, I found I am in an interesting situation.  Lakeland is around 13,000 population with 31 employees.  Most cities of 13,000 have around 150 to 200 employees (some many more, some many less) and most cities with 25-49 employees are in the range of 2500 to 5,000 population.   If I apply to a City of 10,000 to 19,000 the question is can I supervise that many personnel, if I apply to a city of 4,000, they ask why I want to go to a smaller city!  This isn' a major obstacle necessarily, but it is one I have to explain and I think it is a major factor in the selection process, depending on whom the other applicants are  When combined with my age,  it provides some interesting hurtles to get around.  I'm not really complaining about it, what is, is.  Like everything else, I need to be aware of the possible problems of these situations and the perception it may create.  

Perhaps I will write more later after the surgery, perhaps I will be sleeping and not get around to it!  However, normally I am ready for some strawberry shakes by "happy hour" (1/2 priced shakes and soft drinks) at Steak n Shake.  Since I have to eat soft foods for several days, it gives me the chance to indulge in my favorite food that I normally avoid!

Summer 2013 August 13

73 degrees this morning, cloudy.

August 13, it is hard to believe it is actually August 13, 2013.  Almost like a dream.

This morning I skipped all of my exercise, and will delay any water or food as I am having he dreaded "lab test" this morning.  Usually I get there as early as possible since breakfast is usually my biggest meal, plus I hate going without water and coffee!  I do plan on going to City Hall for a short meeting before I get to the Doctors office for my lab test.

Visited with the Oral Surgeon about my tooth implants.  Not a pleasant procedure, but it has a high success rate.  Hard to argue with an over 90% success rate.  Main problem will be finding two or three days when I can take off and "take it easy".  The entire process takes about six months, so at least the cost can be somewhat spread out, but my limited dental insurance will help ease the pain in my wallet.

Some years ago, I had a friend tell me that "Life is a series of Hello and Goodby".  Much as hated the saying I have to admit it is true, with both the original "Hello" (birth) and "Goodby" (death) somewhat of a mystery.  While turnover at City Hall is normally very low, it has been higher recently based on a number of factors.  I think the recently family reunion and birthday events, wedding showers, births etc, made me think of the "life goes on" process, or maybe one of the sayings my first Mayor mentioned when he said "the City  (or Life) is like a ship going down the river, people get on, people get off, but the ship keeps on going down the river.