The feared and dreaded dentist visit in my hometown

I've never been a fan of dentists, but I've never had a reason to fear them either. I've never had so much as a cavity in my life, and I'm told this week that I need a root canal on tooth number seven. I don't know what an endodontist is, but I'm told I have to see one. I have clean teeth and great home care, according to my dental hygienist, but I have problems that go beyond the dentist's realm of specialty. I visit the office of Dr. Jeffry K. Waters, over at Endodontics of Atlanta. I'm feeling pretty good about the fact that I've never been to an endodontist before, but I'm still pretty nervous. I crack a joke, because that's the first thing that comes to mind when I'm nervous. The first thing that comes to my mind is the Steve Martin dentist scene in Little Shop of Horrors. Yes, I went there.

Me: So, is this going to resemble the dentist scene in that movie about the plants?

Assistant lady and chief communicator Michelle: Only slightly.

Me: You must think you are funny or something.

Michelle: I try. Hey Dr. Waters, this looks exactly like it did in the manual, doesn't it?

Dr. Waters: Yeah, we don't do this very often. Looks pretty good. (Laughs)


Me: You think you are funny or something. (Only, it sounded more like Yousstinksyoussunnyozsomtsin because dentists have a knack of asking you what you are thinking only after they've jammed your mouth full of equipment, no?)

Michelle: Remember that bus stop I was telling you about out the window? I found him (points to doctor) by looking out the window.

Dr. Waters: She's right. If this endodontics thing doesn't work out we are so going to open mike night later.

Me: (rolls eyes)

At least someone has a sense of humor here. It turned out that my tooth is more screwed up than I thought it was, so I can't actually do the root canal here. Dr. Waters injected me with medicine to decalcify my tooth number seven (sounds lovely, right?) and I have to find someone in the Twin Cities. (Recommendations welcome.)

Great quote from a great movie

Fanny Brice: You could get lonesome being that free.
Nick Arnstein : You could get lonesome being that busy.
Fanny Brice : Now who'd think to look at us that we got the same problem!

People, Funny Girl (A Lyrics Post)

PEOPLE
from Funny Girl

We travel single-oh
Maybe we're lucky, but I don't know--
With them,
Just let one kid fall down
And seven mothers faint.
I guess we're both happy, but maybe--
We ain't.

People--people who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world,
We're children, needing other children
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside,
Acting more like children
Than children.

Lovers are very special people,
They're the luckiest people
In the world.
With one person, one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half,
Now you're whole.
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person
Who needs people.
People who need people
Are the luckiest people
In the world!

Just for Fun: I haven't blogged in a While

You Are an Ocean

You are impressive and fascinating. People are drawn to your glory. You are a profound and passionate person. You are boundless in your power. You have a philosophical and poetic soul. You take a lot of time to reflect. You are mysterious and captivating. You are too deep for anyone to figure out.

What Body of Water Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

You Are 41% Peaceful

In general, you think the world's a pretty great place - and you're happy to be a part of it. Sometimes you struggle with life, but who doesn't? You are quite level headed, though you have more inner angst than you'd like.

How Peaceful Are You?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

Your Name Comes from Mars

You have a lot of fire in your heart, and you are highly competitive as a result. You need to stay active and productive to be happy. You like to depend on yourself and yourself alone. You can be jealous at times, and you don't trust others easily. You've been burned in the past, and you still feel it. You tend to overwhelm people at first. You put it all out there, and your personality is a bit intimidating.

What Planet Does Your Name Come From?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

On second thought, maybe not.

Advocacy people, it goes a long way

The following is a letter I drafted on behalf of school to protect the Reading is Fundamental book giveaway program. It needs help. What else should I say?

Obviously, identifying features will be reinstated on the actual letter and were taken out for the purpose of anonymity on the Internet.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.


807 27th Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411

March 3, 2010

Senator Amy Klobuchar,
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Dear Senator,

My name is Recycled Art Guru and I am a fourth and fifth grade teaching assistant at School A. I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the funding for the federal Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Program. This program is critical for the academic success and overall well-being for so many of the students and families at my school, and it is my belief that the funding for the RIF program be reinstated this year.

As you know, RIF is a program that prepares and motivates children to read by providing NEW books to students and lets them choose which books they can keep. Over the years, RIF has provided 4.4 million children with 15 new and free books to children and families that need them the most. RIF makes reading more exciting for children because they can own the books that they read.

As a teaching assistant, I have witnessed first-hand my students’ excitement and elation on our RIF book giveaway days. When given the choice of a book to read, all of my students have shown an immense joy in choosing a book and then turning the crisp, clean pages of that book. The excitement is elevated when they are told that they can keep it and call it their own. Nothing, in my opinion, is more important than bringing the joy of a good book to a child. RIF is one of the programs that put a smile on the face of my students, and I would hate for that to be taken away due to lack of funds.

As the daughter of a lifelong teacher, I am positive that you understand the importance of reading in literacy development. Therefore, I ask kindly that you give your support in the form of your vote to reinstating the federal funding for the Reading is Fundamental program when the time comes. It’s a critical decision for many students and families in our community, and I trust that you will make the right decision.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.

Sincerely,

Recycled Art Guru

QUOTE TO REMEMBER

"Frankly, when life sucks you don't want to read books about how bad life sucks... unless they're set in another galaxy or have to do with aliens..."

Why I love Laurie Halse Anderson dearly.