Remember My Birthday Root Canal?Well--it seems that not only was it the wrong day for a root canal--but it was the wrong tooth!! I will explain; it was 7:30 A.M. the dentist said open up and he went straight to my #1 0r #2 tooth (that would be my upper right side (his left)) Anyway I had assumed the two dentists involved--my regular dentist--who seems to have lost the capacity to do root canals and this "specialist" who is, presumably, an "expert" at root canals et al--had had some communication so I did what I was told and "opened wide". A hour later I left the office with this nagging feeling that this was not the correct tooth but they know what they are doing, right? Long story short my dentist Dr. C. sent me to Dr. R. for a consultation. The consult turned into an hour and a half of needles, drilling, tugging and suction. This is not my idea of a consultation and what can I say?--I can't say a thing--literally. So I leave the office with a root canal and a nagging feeling. I
was right to fret--because although it
was a procedure that Dr. R. claimed was necessary (and I really don't doubt that--my mouth has been a serious problem for me for years--in more ways than one) it was the location that posed the dilemma! Dr. C. is working on the bottom left (oh--that's another thing--is it his left or mine?) and this was on the right (my right) top area--I think it's the #1 molar. The cost of dental work has skyrocketed--like everything else and it is a matter of finances (since I could actually afford to not eat for a few days--that's not the problem). Okay--so now I'm incapacitated on both sides of my mouth and curious if I would be able to afford to buy any thing to eat anyway by the time I'm finished paying for the dentistry.
Lucy--My hairdresser says--"Get a lawyer." I return to Dr. R's office weeks later, with the assurance from Dr. C that this was, at this time, unnecessary, I stand up and claim my rights--after a short altercation (which I won't go into detail about) and a series of demeaning and intimidating statements including --"Well, you've neglected your teeth for a long time" and "What do you expect me to do?" I clearly recognized his attempt to bully me, from his lofty mound of dentistry, with arrogance (obvious he failed bedside manner when he took it in dental school--is bedside manner a required course or an elective). The end result is I did not assume responsibility for payment--but he, by the same token, did
not assume liability for any wrongdoing. The insurance will pay him a lion's share of the cost and the $320.00 that he is out relates to the cost of dinner and drinks with his wife (if he has one--which come to think of it I don't think he does). When I left my knees were shaking and although my self-esteem had suffered momentarily I bucked up, stood up and told him exactly what I thought. Now--don't get me wrong--anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not a timid person nor am I in any shape of the word-- miserly-- but to these people in prominent professions who think they have the right to intimidate people I say--DOWN WITH BULLIES!!!
The Baby is Here!!My very good friend
Holly had her baby on Wednesday. A healthy little boy--I think it's Carlos (withou the "S")--right, Hol? She and the baby are taking the semester off for obvious reasons but I miss her terribly. Of course I haven't gotten around to see the baby yet--but that's one of the things that constitutes a close friend. They are experts at being non-judgmental. Oh sure they can call you on your shit, if need be, but the unimportant things are just that---petty and insignificant. It's the times of crisis and those late nights when insecurity creeps into your otherwise happy life when a conversation with a friend is the only thing that can draw you back to reality. She's missing out on the Linguistics class that half the student population of Trinity is currently enrolled in (approx. 75 of us). We're working on bilabial stops (voiced and voiceless), labiodental fricatives, alveopalatial affricates, nasals, lax low front vowels and the all familiar dipthongs. Sound like fun?--well the vocabulary aside--it is. I am a fan of puzzles and the determination of the different sounds is the most intriguing part. Well--it's all good today.
Did you see
The Shield last night? A great show and an exceptionally twisty episode. If you don't watch it--you might like to try it. It is a departure from the norm and even the commercials are diverse in comparison to those stale ads on the more established networks.
Tonight, of course, the
Grammys. David Bowie, and his alteregos; Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke and Mr. Iman--they all get one lifetime achievement award--what a life!
WINTER, WINTER, GO AWAY--COME ON BACK ANOTHER DAY!!Okay, that said---I mean sing-sung---I can continue. Well the Super Bowl is over, the Grammys are upon us, Valentine's Day is close, the Oscars will come, pitchers and catchers will report, Pre-season baseball will start and then there will be hope. In the meantime I spend my time working (at Trinity), taking classes (at Trinity), working some more at my own business (antiques) and going to the movies whenever I can squeeze it in. Last night Bub and I saw
Match Point. I love Woody Allen--I mean his movies--and this was definitely a change from the normal Allen flix-- but I was impressed. The acting was phenomenal--although it probably won't get the attention it deserves. Maybe it is unfashionable to like a Woody Allen movie but I'm willing to overlook the director and go straight to the plot and actors--which is my standard modus operandi anyway. Scarlett Johansson is especially glowing as the American (isn't she an Aussie?) wanna-be actress thrust into the old British hoighty-toighty, house-in-the-countryside, yachting-trips-to-Greece crowd. And Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is convincing as the has-been tennis pro who is, likewise, thrown into this world of "prim and proper" excess. The Hitchcockesque suspense threw me for a loop. I was completely taken aback that Woody had it in him. It is refreshing that, in a world of obnoxious horror movies that push the limit with blood and guts, there is someone (even though it is Woody) who can take us back to a time when suspense was appreciated and it wasn't necessary to --well--show it all.
You know--when I was in the Keys with my friends, Allison, Rodney and Rosa we took in a strip show at the local club--
Teaser's in Key West. You know, it's been a long time since I've done something like that. I'm no prude but rarely does the subject come up in mixed company--you know what I mean? Anyway--I was surprised--not shocked--that they stripped down to nothing--it was topless AND bottomless. Well my first question--which was readily answered-- was--where do ya put the money? But anyway--I digress-- back to my point--there are no surprises anymore--they show it all. The blood and guts, the cadavers, the shoot-outs, the beatings, the bombings. Does it make me more aware--I suppose. But the bottom line is that the suspense in this W.A. movie was refreshing and what's wrong with a little healthy tension in a world of media overload and immediate gratification? Isn't it kinda like foreplay--don't we like foreplay?
