Easter and the locusts

Fifty-nine people are coming to our house to celebrate Easter. That is the adults; I didn't include the kids in the count. They just suck on a piece of fruit and chew a little ham. Now, you don't know this about me but I am quite the accomplished hostess. Twenty guests? No problem. Thirty-five? I need to start planning a little ahead. Over 50? Even I get a little nervous. It gets tricky trying to figure out how much of a pound I need for each guest. Then there is the whole process of dish assignment. In our culture (Haynes's), everyone brings something to share. You lose control but for 59, you need some major help. So, I'm not quite sure what will show up at the buffet but I have an inkling. Friends and family will start arriving at 2. Appetizers: vegetable platter, huge cheese platter (thanks Whole Foods!), deviled eggs, big shrimp platter (thanks Gelsons), two mushroom tarts. Dinner will be a whole poached salmon, leg of lamb (boned and butterflied and marinated), cherry glazed ham. All desserts are delegated to my baking buddies. The trickiest part is saying grace. The meal gets cold while we gather all the troops and then give thanks.

No Ouches, March 24, 2010

So, of course, I've been focused on my hurts because that is the title of this blog. My life is not about sadness. I have just forgotten to document the 80% wonderful while I was focusing on the 20% hard. So, today I was making tomato soup. I roasted the fresh tomatoes and the whole house smelled sweet and tangy and like summer. Later, I melted olive oil with sweet butter, then added onions, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. The aroma was like being wrapped in a olfactory snuggie. Of course, I couldn't smell the red pepper flakes, but I knew they were there. Kind of like you know you have a great date that evening and you are anticipating future events. So, red pepper flakes are expected to bring great pleasure just because you know they are on the horizon.
Another non-ouch: Walter, my crazy, adorable, funny, demanding, affectionate, rescue dog. He is a miniature schnauzer. He is dependable. He will always be exuberant when I return home. Even if I have only been absent for an hour. He is very predictable because he will, in his own schnauzer way, chastise me if I am gone for more than a day. He is so adorable and so disappointed in my neglect that I am reconsidering my occasional vacation plans. The ultimate compliment to doggie personality: I am reorganizing my life to accommodate my schnauzer's whims. By the way, I only work two days a week. He gets lots of long walks and a 5 mile run twice a week. And I feel I need to justify my commitment to nothingness. No one reads this blog but I still feel guilty.

May 23, 2010
I've heard the passion story of Jesus for all my life. As I've matured, I've come to appreciate the depth of love that motivated Christ to surrender his sinless life in reparation for our sins. One thing I've always wondered is why not defend yourself? You were going to be crucified anyway. Why not respond with something profound? You were so brilliant. Why not throw an amazing retort towards your "judges"? There were many times when Your responses were poignant and pointed. It wouldn't have changed the outcome and at least you would have had a chance to state your position.
Last week I had breakfast with my soon-to-be-ex boss. He lingered on his abilities to welcome criticism from the staff. He explained why his way was correct. He described his concern over the financial health of his team. I had so many answers and was quiet. Now I get the silence of the unjustly confused. First, anything you say will make no difference. Secondly, you see a person so unwilling to listen that the effort makes no sense. Lastly, you have so little respect for this person that you don't want to waste the energy.

Small decisions--March 21, 2010

My soon-to-be-ex-boss wanted a meeting. Breakfast on a Saturday, 7:45 a.m.
He has some weird health issues--sore, swollen joints all over his body, other odd
symptoms. I think his body is full of his own weird poison and it is just backing up.
Anyway, he asked me to stay until the end of the year. Definitely not doing that!
I would leave tomorrow if it were less complicated (ie: patient care).
I woke up last night, thinking about it. I may give him two extra months--
July and August. I'm sure he'd be happy with that. Why do I even care? Because
I am co-dependent with so many of my patients. I want to make sure they are
taken care of. Which really isn't my concern. There are a jillion dentists in OC.
On the other hand, I could leave at my appointed time--end of June. Three more
months. Really, isn't that enough? I gave notice about 6 weeks ago. It is not
my fault that he hasn't worked on this problem.
Today I will run 5 to 6 miles with Walter, listen to my music, and make my decision
later.

March 16, 2010
And, after 28 years, there is no dental joke, no dental pun, no dental anything I haven't heard.
I heard 90% in my first year of practice. So, don't do it. Just resist the urge to share your little
joke. I'm not a saddist; I'm actually trying to improve your health, function, and appearance.
Come in, sit down, shut up unless your conversation is related to your treatment. Let me do
my job in peace.

March 16, 2010

And, while I'm thinking about it, let me tell you, it's going to taste bad. There are all kinds

of potions that are bitter here. The anesthetic, the hemostatic agents, the topical (and that's

flavored), the fluoride (ditto) are just a few of the lovely items we need to use to improve the

crown, filling, cleaning, or diagnosis. So, deal with it. If you have to stop and rinse, you'll just

have to stop and rinse again. It makes no sense. Wait until the end and then rinse. In the

meantime, we've stopped, taken everything out of the field, moved the light,

March 10, 2010

FYI, people, we're sick of you. By "we" I mean dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, even those nice ladies who sit up at the front desk. And by "you" I mean those terrible patients who make difficult days horrendous. Not sure if you qualify? Take the following quiz:

1. Do you cancel scheduled appointments at the last minute? Do you do this frequently?
2. Do you routinely state, "I hate you, nothing personal."
3. Do you interrupt the treatment because you have to stop and swallow, rinse, talk, adjust
something, answer your cell phone, wipe your face, need a moment,etc.
4. Do you complain about the fees?
5. Do you expect us to repair years of neglect with a few simple fillings or a cleaning?
6. Do you act like a baby when you need an injection?
7. Do you act like a baby when we do anything?
8. Are you impossible to please? Looking in a magnifying glass for any minute imperfection
that could never be seen at conversational distance and has no impact on the quality or
longevity of your restorations?

March 1, 2010

So long since I have written. Much has been revealed; life has happened.
This post is simply to promise myself to write more. I hope to record events
that I will undoubtedly forget in my older years.