I’m sad. Thankful that I have dental insurance once again but mighty sad that my dentist isn’t in my “new” network. I mean, how is the person that referred 90 cajillion people to Dr. E NOT gonna be his patient?!?! I’m thinking about starting a petition or asking my refer-ees to boycott but they just fall out laughing when I broach the subject. *Sigh*

So, in the interest of keeping my mouth looking and smelling fresh, I went in search of a new dentist. (We don’t want any of those “Flavor of Love 3″ incidents. Ya’ll know they told that chick her breath smelled like she had a midget tapdancing on the back of her throat wearing sh*tty shoes! Dang, that is R-O-U-G-H!!).

I get there and have to wait a few minutes. There was a young boy in the x-ray chair and ya’ll know what? He was not having ANY of it. Screaming. Crying. They left the office without having gotten any of it done. I climb into the chair and the dentist takes a li’l look-see. Minor stuff. Mostly. But then…we tripped over into the “dental twilight zone”. She asked me if I wanted to close the two gaps (TWO) in my mouth. Now, I’ve had this mouth all my life. Look at it er’y day. What gap(s)? She hands me a mirror while saying, “Braces will take care of that.” I’m looking at her like maybe she’s been sipping straight fluoride. Um, no. Giving her the side-eye as she suggest some other unnecessary ish. I don’t know about this dentist.

So she wants the prerequisite xrays. Ok. I expected that. BUT her assistant was taking so many, I started laughing and couldn’t stop. The poor child got caught up in the fact that I laughed so much, she started laughing. I asked her when they started taking xrays of individual teeth cause it sure felt like they were doing single shots. Dang.

That brings me to my letter to the ADA - the American Dental Association.

Dear ADA,
Seriously, help me understand this. I don’t have to like it or agree with it but it is paramount that I at least UNDERSTAND it.

Now, when I go into the store to purchase dental/oral products, I am confuzzled (confused AND puzzled!) by the vast array of products. There has to be 200 trajillion brands and flavors of toothpaste (for sensitive teeth, whitening, strengthening, fluoride, with mouthwash, vanilla, mint, cinnamon, bbq, hot sauce…ok I go too far…but then again - maybe so do you!). There have to be 100 kamillion brands and flavors of mouthwaste, rinse and “fiftyleven” types of floss. I’m not mad atcha about that.

So we’ve got all that on aisle 6. We have 4 out of 5 dentists recommended gum, mints, etc.

And yet, no one has paused for even a minute to figure out how to create a mechanism to take dental xrays that don’t hurt?? C’mon on now. Seriously?? Seriously! That crap hurts. Ok. The sharp ends of that contraption cut into your mouth and then the dental assistant has the unmitigated gall to ask you to bite down? No, you bite me. Ugh! You’re telling me that you can’t come up with something less painful? With all the technology in the world today, there’s got to be a better way.

Look, I know you’re a busy organization. I understand that. But um, you know that whole “4 out of 5 dentists” thing? Seems to me like that last dentist, that 1 that’s holding out where the rest of the crew is concerned, that odd-dentist-out has a little free time on his/her hands. I say we give this to him/her and let them run up on some options. What? I’m just saying….

Thank you!

~ J ~

All that and ya’ll know that dentist didn’t even clean my teeth. I was sitting in the chair going, “I know we’re not done”. They were so darn busy trying to work up a payment plan for the “suggested plan of treatment”. Fugg dat. I’m calling my “REAL” dentist and groveling for him to take me back. Hmph!

That pic right there? EXACTLY how I’m feeling. Sleepy. Wish I was home curled up on my sofa. Ahhh, for the “good old days” cause a year ago? That’s EXACTLY where I was. I do so miss my infamous “Pajama Days”. *sigh* LOL

I *think* I was in bed fairly early last night…early for me at least but I woke up around 2am. It was H-O-T in the house and I couldn’t go back to sleep so, I got up and shuffled down the hall to the office and started doing a bunch of nothing. Before I “knewed” it, it was 6am…time to get ready for work. How I wish I had more vacation days. I wonder if my manager would’ve let me work from home. I don’t have a laptop BUT the documents I’m creating I could certain do from my own PC. I’ll have to feel him out on that.

In the meantime, I’m here. With my 24-oz cappachino. (Hmmm, wonder how many carbs are in that thing? I know it puts me over the “legal limit”. Sheesh! Oh well, I’m gonna enjoy every drop.)

I was envisioning coming home after work, changing, and crawling into my bed. But then I remembered I have a dental appointment AND need to make it back across town for a friend’s retirement party. Another of my friends has been “divorced” by my former employer but she had the right combo of years/age to retire.

Yesterday was an interesting day. I was looking for some documentation at home to help with a current project and stumbled across an email from someone I worked with many moons ago. I led a project that they were subsequently enveloped into and the email was one that he sent to me once I was rolling off the project. It was the BEST project I’ve EVER been a part of. Loved, loved, loved my project team to the Nth degree. We worked it out! We put it down! We did the dayum thang! For real.

Anywho, guess who emailed me? At home?? Yep! I can’t even imagine how he got my email addy. I know it was bigger than “six degrees of separation”. What a cool thing to do. I had to laugh when he told me he was out in Ohio quoting me to his staff. When our project ended, some team members gave me a list of their favorite “Jackie-isms” which included “There’s a very thin line between an excuse and an explanation - walk it carefully.” LOL (Hmmm, I should charge royalties. LOL)

It must have been the day for “old acquaintances” cause my Mom was busy trying to make me remember some guy from my hometown. His name sounds familiar but that’s about it. She says he specifically asked about me by name. Now I’m known for remembering names, faces, conversations - the whole works but this guy? I couldn’t place. Then my Mom goes on to tell me who he went to school with and I’m left scratching my head cause….that dude is O-L-D! LOL And how da heck does he know me if he went to school with those folks?? Seriously. Sounds suspicious to me. I’m thinking maybe he has me confused with BigSis#2 but he clearly knew who I was vs. my sister. Said he remembered when I played softball during summer league. WTH?? All I know is if my mom gives out my phone number or address, she will be in the nursing home before dusk! LOL

It’s only 10AM. *Sigh*

Well, it’s payday. That definitely counts!

AND it’s “kinda sunny” and warm. That counts too!

And….somebody made me laugh yesterday…as ususal…
And…that same somebody made me smile yesterday…as usual…
And…I’m still smiling….
And…um, that REALLY counts.

All right - off to stir up some trouble in Corporate America.

Be easy!

One of my favorite personal quotes is “Sometimes different ain’t different ENOUGH…other times, different just ain’t ENOUGH”.

I hate it when my words come back to bite me in the butt.

It’s time for DIFFERENT. As in “SHAKE-UP-MY-WORLD” different. Bottom line, I need to be different. (The other part of that personal quote? “We move from situation to situation, telling ourselves that ‘this time IT’s gonna be different when in actuality what needs to be different is US”. See? Another chunk outta my butt. LOL)

I’m not really feeling this contracting assignment. Maybe it’s too much like my old job ergo “not different enough”. Trying to figure out how much of this restlessness is me…and how much is the actual culture. (Had a convo with my manager last week after having gotten the runaround AGAIN. Folks are working the pass-the-buck triatholon for real. I told him the easiest way to deal with “passing-the-buck” is to issue new “money” - we are dealing with the currency of NOW. LOL Yeah - “the Velvet Hammer” ain’t fittin’ ta fool wit’ dat nonsense. Enough.) I have three months left on this contract. I want to dig my feet in and get some things done before I leave. All I can do is try, right?

Even bigger than another contracting position in three months….I’m contemplating a move. A big move. An “across-state-liner” move. Shhhhhhhh! Don’t tell my fam - they don’t know yet (and ya’ll know we’re gonna have to medicate Princess So Fabulous).

I’ve got a little time to check things out…take a few trips to the state(s)/city(s) that I’m considering, check out the employment situation CAREFULLY, housing, QUALITY OF LIFE. Plus, I need to figure out what I’m gonna do with my house…sell or rent. *sigh* Either way, I need to get some work done

The new year is a good time to start over fresh right? That gives me 9-months to work things out, see if I can push to build up my reserves…figure out what and when to tell those folks to whome I’m related.

Maybe that’s what I needed - a bigger “DIFFERENT” to focus on. Well, by George, I think I’ve got it.

Shake up the world!

~ J ~