My trip to the Dentist.

 One of my Facebook friends had this link and picture posted this morning. It was timely as I had a dentist appointment this morning.  The difference being is that the teeth they are "bridging" for me are on the top.

My dentist was interested in this example of 4000 year old dentistry.

I took some pictures of today's proceedings.  I was in the chair about an hour and a half.  Two fillings and they also took impressions to send in to the lab.

I asked Dr. G how he decided to become a dentist. His sister married a dentist and he decided to switch from pre-med to dentistry.  And it allows him to  exercise his artistic ability. He actually "sculpts" the tooth as he works with it so that it looks natural.

I told him that I suspected that because it felt like he was sculpting when he was working on them.

 One of the machines they use I call the "Jesus" machine because they say that it is for "curing".  It shines a special light on the tooth and hardens it.  Dr. G said that it was because they no longer use epoxy material but rather use a phototrophic (?) material.  So after he sculpts it K (dental assistant) cures it with her machine. It shines a bright blue light which they told me not to look at.

She (K) is really good.  She and Dr. G never have to talk. She reads his mind and has the correct tool there ready to place in his hand. They occasionally exchange a word or two but basically except for the scraping and drilling and occasional yelps from me (just kidding) it is a pretty silent event.

I enjoy going to the dentist.  All in all, except for what it is costing me I am very pleased with the whole experience.  They are nice people and I enjoy the time I spend with them..{I did have to have a discussion with them however.  I asked him if Faux (Fox) news paid him money to have them on the TV all the time.  I always have to ask to have it turned off.  I mentioned that I had switched garages for my car because the owner always had Fox News playing.  (Actually I do not know why the TV has to be playing in every waiting room anyway.)  I think that the next time the problem will be resolved... Thanks K. }  Oh, one more thing.  Last time I was there I had my teeth cleaned by a very pregnant lady.  Turns out she was K's sister and she had her baby. A little boy.  Good news.  I am so glad the sun was setting and I met Dr. C.

Cousins

Scott, Tom and Emily and I had lunch at Black Market Pizza. They helped me move a piece of furniture up from Des Moines to my home. It was really great to see them and have a chance to visit. I can't believe how tall Emily has gotten. The kids are now at an age where you can enjoy a conversation with them. I think it has something to do with them being able to look you in the eye. I found out today that Scott and I have something in common. He loves to take pictures also. He showed me some great photos that he carries on his phone. Now we have to get him to become a blogger so that he can share his wonderful photos with the world. Or else he can send a bunch of them to me like my friend Bob does and I can publish them.

BTW Bob, you haven't sent me anything lately.

Tonight is going to be a Netflix night. I have a movie to watch. Everything else on TV seems to be a re-run. Of course I do have a couple of things saved on the DVR. Have a great week-end everybody. Hugs. j

Not Unscathed

I came home from Grand Chapter and Council to find that the West side of my basement was flooded. You can see the wet foot prints. This was a nice little one bedroom apartment with Kitchen and office and I had a lot of "stuff" down there.
I have my contractor/handyman working on it. You can smell that it had already started to mildew. I suppose because it got wet just before or as I left and he and his helper have brought everything up out of the basement. Much of it will go right to the trash but that will be my job.
I will not replace the carpet or do more than fix it up from the damage as I do not plan to rent it out again. The other half of the basement. the part with linoleum or concrete floor was dry as a bone. Go figure. Anyway I can look the rest of the people of Ames in the eye again and not feel guilty because I was unscathed. And I just spoke with the Insurance Adjuster who kindly informed me that my insurance does not cover water that comes in from the surface or underground... I asked him where else could it have come from There goes my TSA..I will not say what I am thinking but it begins with an F....and it ain't a nice chocolate flavor. Oh well. Thanks for stopping by.

Consistory Library

I went down to Des Moines today to help Kurt finish up on his project at the Consistory Library. I donated my old stereo so that it is now possible to listen to music in the room. Kurt and I hung pictures and generally finished up the project. Tomorrow he will get the Internet working again but I am not going as Mr. Bailey goes to the groomer in the morning and I have other things I have been putting off that I must accomplish. In the meantime here are the photos from our labors today.


Oh yes we also went out to Granite City for lunch. It was very good. Thanks for stopping by. I may have more later. Something is ruminating around in my head. j

Holy Crap it is Cold.

This is not a good picture. But it shows what it is like around here right now. I took it yesterday and there was more snow last night. The snow pile in front of my house is as tall as I am.

I took these down on the flats by 13th Street. I guess it is worse out in the country.

This is the Ames Cemetery. There was a man out digging a grave. It is colder today. I felt sorry for him and anyone who had to go out in this weather. I had to go out to pick up some invitations to mail.
Since I was in the cemetery I got to thinking of the Robert Service Poem. Went out to You Tube and actually found a recording of him reading his poem. I used to read it to the kiddies.


The Cremation of Sam McGee Recited by Robert Service - For more funny videos, click here

Now to tell you about the invitations. We have a Grand Lodge Officer and will have a reception for him in February. I designed an invitation which had to be sent out to about 250 people. I was able to e-mail it to the printer and they had it ready for me so I went to pick them up on Tuesday. I spent about 7 hours stuffing them in the envelopes and labeling them and stamping and sealing them. They went in the mail this morning after I went to the foot doctor. I also sent out a great group of them by e-mail and started working on the program for the event.

In the meantime I filled out a form for the Iowa Workforce Development and filed it and then got yelled at by a rude Brother so I have really decided that I don't need this job. So I am resigning. Masonry is a volunteer organization and I am a volunteer and every year this "Brother" yells at someone about how he does the Lodge taxes for free and so on and so on and hey, I am not going to take it. I have too much self respect for someone to get away with disrespecting me. I am sure I can find enough else to do.

I was only holding it for an interim time until someone else who had agreed to take it over would do it. I hope they find someone, if not so what. I have another secretary job (or two) so I will be busy. Who knows I might be able to finish a book in a shorter period of time. And get my office cleaned up. I am reading "Ths Scandalous Gospel of Jesus" and am finding that I have to read it with a pencil in had to underline and write notes. It is really a good book.

Thanks for listening and for dropping by. I missed out on going to Des Moines today for a meeting but I got a lot done and there is more to do. ARTYAL. Hugs, jcs

Wednesday

The pictures above are from the Des Moines Consistory Quarterly Meeting, Installation and Holiday Party. I had a great time and enjoyed taking pictures for the new Master of Kadosh. I was surprised to find out that the Mark (New Master of Kadosh) Clark's sister was a teacher in the Ames Schools and we worked together on the Language Arts Committee for the School. We are both retired now and agreed that while we miss the kids we don't miss the meetings, the administration or (some of) the parents. It was fun to see her and meet her husband who is a member of the Lodge here in Ames. It really is a small world.

Kurt and Lyssa were there as was Craig so we had a great time talking and visiting. I had given Lyssa some 14hands wine and she liked it - she liked it well enough that she won't share. And she knows wine.

Blogging has been light this week. Not much going on. I am enjoying reading and relaxing with Mr. Bailey and just hunkering in because of the snow and ice. I made a crockpot pot roast and it turned out pretty good.

Thanks for stopping by, ARTYAL, Hugs, j-bear