I hallucinate

No fooling.

I had my first root canal and it was less than fun. As soon as I was given laughing gas, I started to hallucinate. It was mostly auditory....lots of strange unpleasant garbled sounds including a bit of opera and Motown mixed together. When I opened my eyes, the endodontist looked wicked and, even scarier, he had his eyes tightly shut. Worried people kept running in and out. I was truly terrified and tried to raise my arm to shove the evil closed-eyed doctor off but lucky for him, I had lost all control of my powerful fighting arms. They just flopped around in a way that must have been disconcerting but was hardly threatening.

It took a long long time to come around. Really long. They almost charged rent for the dental cubicle. Then the evil doctor came in, looking not evil at all and with both eyes wide open. He gave me the news....we weren't done! It had been over two hours and I was told that I was the proud owner of very unusual teeth....extra long and skinny roots (what irony! My only long skinny parts!)and not only that! Two more roots than most people! Bonus for me!

So I get to go back. This just stinks!

Interesting....

...blogging about murder two days after blogging about Gandhi....

Murder

Would anyone mind if I'd kill a certain Joey? The bush outside the bedroom is just almost ready for its once a year five day extravaganza of sweet smelling blooms. And guess who decided to lop that bush all to hell without checking, asking or using any green thumbish common sense. I am furious. Wouldn't this be justifiable homicide?

Followers of Gandhi

Photos from one of my favorite teaching activities: Simulating a Sataygraha in India. Brave Gandhi followers are my very excited and earnest 3rd grade students.The forces of evil don't have a chance at my school...these peaceful warriors are now experienced and ready to right every wrong through protest!

Last teaching day

My last day with my students was today. It's always a day that is just a bit sad...after all, I do this job because I like these kids. But I would be lying if I didn't also say that it is a relief. I will not be involved with all of the end of the year craziness and any teacher will tell you that that makes them just a bit jealous of me.

I'll be screening kids for next year, a stressful job. But at this point in the year, I need a change of pace and this is my change. I am feeling ready.

Fortunately...

...I have insurance with dental coverage.

Unfortunately, it doesn't begin to cover the cost of a root canal.

Fortunately, for something like this, we have savings.

Unfortunately, this is not a fun way to spend money.

Fortunately, I am mature about these things.

Unfortunately, the last statement was a lie.

(I'm supposed to end this with a "Fortunately... fortunately... and fortunately..." but I'm still reeling from the abscessed tooth experience and my first time with nitrous oxide. By the way, it only made me laugh a little. But I did tell the dentist and the hygienist that I loved them.)

Not much fun

I have an abscessed tooth. I was fine at 11:36 AM on Thursday. At 11:37, I felt a funny bump in my mouth and this adventure began.


The adventure won't end for a couple more days. That's because my dentist does not work on Fridays. I thought maybe that meant I could get in on Saturday which would be quite handy but no such luck. Every week a three day weekend for that fella. That might make him smile but it puts a frown on my face.


It's not dreadful, I'm not in horrendous pain but I don't feel very good. I'm ready to move on to the next step in resolving this. Yesterday would have been nice.

What's inside?

Right before spring break, my invention-loving, inventive-thinking 4th graders had a "Tear Down" day...they looked inside the household appliances and machines they had brought to class for that purpose. I loved their lab coats and googles, their excitement and enthusisam. They loved the discovery, the mess, the little pieces, and the smashing of plastic casings that were not meant to ever be opened again once leaving the factory.

And just what is inside? I still don't know what all that stuff was. Luckily most of the kids were so enthused by the process that they were never really started wondering in any detail how all those little thing-a-ma-bobs work.

We didn't have enough time. The appliances went back home for further exploration. They also happily took home egg cartons full of little wires, screws and other innards.

All in all, a very good day! And another day and another day. I have three groups of 4th graders and it's day like this when having three separate classes of leap thinkers wears me out.

Raising my head again

I feel better. The death of my friend Terry has been so painful, more painful than anything I can remember. I think if things hurt more than this, I must have blocked them out to protect myself. But the funeral was today, the first day back with kids was yesterday, and tomorrow begins the new normal. I think I'm ready.

From this experience I have learned:
1. to treasure those I love
2. to appreciate nature
3. to work hard
4. to avoid situations where there are a bunch of helping professionals looking for something to do (ask me about the minister and the medicating school counselor!)

Important lessons all.