Utils in Bat Country

Why teeth, whyyyy

Oh, for the love of GOD.

At my regularly scheduled cleaning, the hygienist was asking how the wisdom tooth procedure went (apparently I was 'looked forward to' when they presented at yesterday's staff meeting.  My teeth are soooo exciting) and they were all a bit surprised when they saw that #4 was still there.  [and there it will stay, forever, you hear me tooth?]  I told her about the random tingling feeling I get and she was all oh yes, that's completely normal, there's this big nerve and with such a procedure it's not uncommon to have a bit of nerve damage and it should go away in time but if it doesn't will just be annoying but no big deal.  Ok, good.  She does some bite wing x-rays (more things I bet effing insurance won't cover) and clucks her tongue at a few trouble spots.  What?  No. NO. I was in six months ago and everything looked good (beautiful as Dr. K said!) and the only thing left to get my mouth in shape was wisdom teeth.  I did that, suffered through the pain and the expense and now I am just hear for the polishing and the fancy floss.

Apparently, no. There are a few trouble spots that they are watching and THREE places they need to fill.  Dr. G came in and was explaining that cavities in adults aren't like when you're a kid, they can not show up for years but be slowly growing and then one cleaning you come in and oh, hello, we have eaten through your enamel and are going to make all your teeth fall out.  They prescribed $7 toothpaste that has fluoride to use at night that should help the spots being watched from getting worse and as long as they stay as they are, I never have to get them filled.  And the three I have to have filled should be 'straight forward'.  Then they were talking about how snacking on sugary things exacerbates any issues because it takes your mouth two hours to balance out after eating and if you keep snacking then your mouth never recovers.  Makes sense.  Farewell 3pm tootsie rolls!  I'll miss you!

But Fine. finefinefine.  I will go in on the 26th and remind them how last time the novacaine started to wear off so could they please load me up this time and at least appreciate that it won't be as bad as my wisdom teeth.

My gums are sparkling though, so there's that.

There must be some kind of way out of here

I wish I physically had time in my day to write a real blog post about what I’ve been doing. I wish I could cobble together more than an hour of me-time in a day to ponder what I’ve been going through, to talk about what I’ve been experiencing. Instead, I’ll throw this online after 15 minutes (max) of writing, and then jump in my car and go to work.

Here’s a typical day for me, if you can call any day typical. I wake up between 6:30 and 6:45. I hit snooze once, twice if it’s been a rough night of sleep (and they’re getting rougher). I roll out of bed, do all the bathroom things one needs to get done in order to go to a ‘real’ job. I make hot water for coffee or tea once I’m downstairs, simultaneously letting the dogs outside and feeding them. I make either coffee or tea, gather my wallet and cell phone, throw them in a bag, pick a pair of shoes, and head out the door. At the latest it is 7:45.

I drive, not far, to the school where I’m doing my student teaching. A little prep time, and the bell rings at 8:15.

I wish I had more time to talk about these kids. They’re pretty normal, most of them. But they’re in middle school, which makes all otherwise well-adjusted kids either amazing or terrible. At least, that’s been my experience over the last few weeks. There are kids who are so smart it’s unbelievable. Some of those kids are the worst behaved children you’ve ever seen. And some of the kids who will struggle their whole lives…are the most patient and amazing children you’ve ever seen. And everyone in between. I’ve got kids I’ve seen in the hallways having a blast with their friends who shut down completely once they’re in the classroom. I’ve seen the kids who wander the halls alone between classes answer more questions in a class period than anyone else. And everyone in between. I teach neither special education nor do I teach gifted and talented kids, and yet I think I’ve seen the best and worst my school has to offer already.

But wait. There’s more.

Because once my school day is done, I get to go home.

For about an hour.

We don’t teach the last two classes of the day, but whether or not I get to slide home depends on what kind of prep work needs to get done for the next day’s classes. When things need to get done, I do them. If not, I slip out a little early.

School is out officially at 3:10. From there, I go home and let the dogs out. Perhaps, on good days, I grab something to eat for myself. Otherwise, I get back in the car at either 3:30 or 5:00, depending on my work schedule. And I drive to the bar. Most nights I’m there until 10:30 at the earliest. Sundays I host trivia, so I’m there late. Mondays is late night sushi, so I’m there late. Thursdays we serve until 11 and it gets busy late. So I’m there late.

I have a class that starts next week, so I won’t work on Tuesdays, but I’ll come home from class with homework, I’m sure. Although who knows when I’ll be able to do it. I have Saturdays off from school and work, and I’ve been doing my best to not look at my computer, and really just lay low for a full day. It’s more difficult than it might seem.

Although I’m working this crazy schedule, my supervisor can’t understand why I haven’t gotten back to them about a meeting we’re supposed to set up. Nevermind the fact that I barely check my email anymore, for lack of time and blocks on the school computers. Or the fact that I’m going hard 85 hours a week. Let me calm down and email you back. Or the fact that people keep asking if I HAVE to work. I don’t know, do you have $20,000 I can live off for the next six months? No? Well, then, FUCK YES I HAVE TO WORK. DON’T MOST PEOPLE?!

So yeah. That’s what I’ve been doing, and what I will be doing from now until January. And then? I think I’ll sleep for about a week.

I'm back

And exhausted.

And I have a date tonight with a new guy.

And maybe one tomorrow night with Butterfly guy.

All I want is to be back here.

(If I manage to stay awake and coherent through both of the dates, I'll be amazed)

Hotel of adorable

Of course I have better reception up north 'away from it all' then I do at the apartment. But taking advantage and popping in because, you guys, the hotel room has a vanity. I had to suppress a squeal of girlish delight.

An awesome compliment (that I burst out laughing at because wow, untrue)

So. I had my date.  It was good.  I didn't get lost.  Am still confused.

Of course.

We were talking about our shared enjoyment of the theater/symphony and I went off on some tangent about Phantom of the Opera and how it's the best show ever.  He starts to sing (again! with the singing!) All I Ask of You and this time I stopped him a few seconds in with 'yes, yes, I know the song' and then pontificated on about how Music of the Night was clearly the best thing ever and how could anyone ever choose stupid Raoul over the Phantom.  I mean, really.  And he agreed, so points for him.  Total deal breaker if he had sided with Raoul (I know you can't see it but I can't even say his name without rolling my eyes in disdain).

Then we were talking about various theaters we've seen shows in and how stunning the Fox theater is and I mentioned that I had seen the Radio City Christmas Spectacular there a few years ago.  And then went off in my own little world and was muttering about how I always wanted to be a Rockette and he looks at me and says 'well, you're certainly slender enough for it.'

I love him now.

And I befuddled him again when I burst out laughing when he said it.  I hate to break it to you (and to my high kicking dreams) but I am most certainly NOT slender enough to be a Rockette.  But I kept my mouth shut and just said thanks, but I'm a good 5 inches under the height requirement, so, alas. Figured date 2 wasn't the time to explain exactly why I'm physically not ideal.

We got dinner and went and walked by the lake and got some ice cream and when I was leaving he said 'I like you, a lot.'  Aw. And I said thank you because I am truly terrible at dating.  I... might like him too?  I don't know. I don't have a bad time with him.  We have fun and seem to have pretty easy conversation?  But I can do that with most anyone?

Although!  Next Thursday am supposed to meet someone else for coffee.  So at least I'll get more practice and something to compare all of this too.

But first it's off on birthday extravaganza adventures.

Safe travels to everyone out and about this weekend - talk to you next week!!