Dental Dilemma

Chris visited the dentist and was told he had a mouth full of cavities. He was told to floss regularly and to come back for fillings. When he got home I asked him if he had gotten a free sample of dental floss. No. A free toothbrush? No. Now, you may think I should choose my battles better, but I really feel strongly that a goodie bag of a free "dentist recommended" toothbrush, a sample of toothpaste, and a small sample of floss should be a given when you visit the dentist.

When Chris returned a few weeks later for the fillings, I was very interested to see if he would bring home more than a receipt. I went with him so I could drive him home since he would most likely feel crummy. As I signed the credit card slip for several hundred dollars worth of fillings (and just our copay portion), I jokingly asked if it came with a free toothbrush. It didn't! Again, we came home without a handout! I'm shocked! I'm astonished! I'm unimpressed! I'm betrayed by the system.

Chris is baffled that I am willing to terminate our relationship with said dentist and find another based on the simple absence of a free toothbrush and dental floss sample. But seriously, they may save $4 per patient by not having a goodie bag, but that $4 savings for them causes me to not do business there again. And actually, I'm willing to venture that dental offices receive free product samples from toothbrush and toothpaste companies for the sole purpose of giving them away to patients to get their products in the mouths of Americans.

I think I'm justified in being outraged. Wouldn't you?

Oreo Triathlon

When we were kids, my sister and I had matching T-shirts that said "Oreo Triathlon: Twist, Lick, Dunk!" I loved the t-shirts and am sad that they are long gone.

For the record, Chris wants to add that a triathlon is really "Swim, Run, Bike."

I should relay my Oreo dilemma from this past week. To satisfy the first of many pregnancy cravings, I made my husband go buy me a bag of Oreos. I deliberately avoided looking at the fat content. I was going to enjoy this. Then, of course, I had to avoid looking at my teeth in the mirror.

Well, after a couple days (rationing myself to three cookies at a time to savor the goodness) there were only six left. Nobody was around to see me eat all six or to stop me, but I knew that Chris would notice when there were none left, or that he would detect the poorly disposed of bag in the garbage can, no matter how hard I would try to hide it. I ate the first one. Really good. Second one. Third one. Then I had that dilemma: if I ate one more, there would only be two left. If I ate two more, there would only be one left, and that's just cruel to leave just one for my hardworking husband. I suppose I could eat them all, destroy all incriminating evidence, and go buy another bag of Oreos and no one would know the difference.

I used terrific self restraint and left two cookies (even though my glass had plenty of milk left for two more "dunks"). There they were, sitting on the counter, waiting for Chris to notice them. When he finally got home from work, I proudly announced, "Honey, I saved you two Oreos! And let me tell you, it was hard not to eat them!" He then responded, "Oh, you can have them!"

Oh, the cruelty!

Coming Soon

What'll it be?

There are so many questions in life, many of them we have to answer every single day with only a split second to decide.

Yes or no?
Truth or dare?
Paper or plastic?
Crunchy or creamy?
Left or right?
Fresh or frozen?
True or false?
Happy or sad?
Now or never?
Give or take?
Stairs or elevator?
Hot or cold?
Rent or buy?
Walk or run?
Drive or fly?
Up or down?
Live or die?
...and the list goes on.

Fortunately, in due time, some questions are answered for us:

Boy or Girl?













For those of you who are still scratching your heads, this is a picture of an ultrasound. My ultrasound.

My Manderley

While in Washington this past week, we visted a beautiful ten-acre garden estate, Lakewold Gardens. I'd have to say it perfectly described Manderley as my imagination would have it. From the elaborate brick estate buildings, verdant canopied winding drive, the "happy valley" of spring flowers in full bloom, japanese pond, even the gentle slope leading to the lake. Granted, there isn't a gothic mansion on the premesis, the lake isn't exactly a sea, and it isn't the size of Manderley, but what a gratifying feeling it is to recognize something in real life that so closely describes a fictional utopia!

Have you found Alice's Wonderland?