In Passing

Came across another bumper sticker that I like. Turns out the company is actually based here in Minnesota:


One thing I think people find compelling about Christianity is the assurance of an afterlife. Whether there is or not, so what? Enjoy what's at hand.

• It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living.
  Terry Pratchett

Dental Glee

Nothing better than being in the dentist's chair at 7:30am. Found a grammar-poor site that described this morning's procedure:

The patient is numbed and an incision is made around the tooth needing crown lengthening. The gum tissue is gently peeled away from the tooth to show the supporting bone holding the tooth in place. Now the dentist can see that there is not two millimeters of tooth available to stick to. In the procedure the dentist removes several millimeters of bone around the tooth to expose the tooth that was previously underneath the bone. After the dentist is sure there is two millimeters or more of tooth sticking out of the bone, the gums are replaced and stitched carefully back in place. The surgery is now complete. The gums are allowed to heal six weeks and a crown can then be constructed.

There wasn't much gentle going on but I was on my way to work less than an hour after the novacaine had kicked in. Now I'm trying to ignore the little bits of drool threatening to escape the left part of my mouth and fighting the urge to tongue the soon-to-swell gums around the four stitches surrounding tooth #20.

Up to this point my dental insurance kicked ass but this 4249 procedure was completely excluded. By paying the full amount, I was able to get a 5% discount, so this mornings check was a mere $986.10. All in all I've actually gotten off pretty light considering that, before this year, I could count the number of dental visits in my life on one hand. Wish I'd gotten past the learned helplessness earlier.

Organizational Announcement

These little announcements always make my day:

Effective immediately, the Financial Systems team, formerly in the Finance Department, will be combined with the Business Information Systems team in the Technology department. [Hoop_Jumper_001] will lead the combined team in the role of Executive Director, Business Information Systems, reporting directly to [Big_Hoop]. The integration of these teams will enable us to develop and execute a strategy for providing stronger business analytics that will help us more effectively manage the company’s operations and drive business strategy while ensuring operational effectiveness for important financial, workflow, and sales support systems.

Fendi Bag, Bad Attitude

My sister sent me this and it made me laugh despite myself…




Naturally I replied, “They can have my purse!”

Both Sides

Was driving home from the gym when I got behind a car with three antagonistic bumper stickers. The first mentioned a Hillary Bucket but I couldn't make out the wording. After some Googling, I'm guessing it said “Contains two small breasts, two large thighs, and a bucket of left wings!” The second one had some faded images but the text was still clear: “Hillary Clinton: Outsourcing Blow Jobs Since 1995.” The final one in the middle read was:


cafepress.com
It made me laugh so I accelerated around the car then slowed down so they could read mine:


goats.com

Donna is Pretty Cool

Tori Spelling Becomes Ordained Minister
July 10, 2007 06:51 AM PDT

The "So Inn Love" star is serving others in matters of the heart! "I am now officially ordained," TORI SPELLING says on her MySpace blog. "Yep, that's right...Reverend Tori Spelling!"

Tori took a course online so she could officiate the very first wedding -- a same-sex union -- held at the bed-and-breakfast she runs with husband DEAN McDERMOTT.

"I was so honored when the couple asked me to officiate," Tori says. "It was so beautiful as I united Tony and Dex as life partners in love. They wrote their own beautiful vows and there was so much love surrounding them that there wasn't a dry eye in the driveway!"

Although she's used to performing for an audience, the "90210" alum admits she had butterflies throughout the service, saying, "I was beyond nervous though. I've done live theater and presented at The Emmys and this by far was my scariest moment simply because they had bestowed such an honor upon me and I didn't want to let them down."

In a final thought on the matter, Tori adds that "true love is the ultimate and pure love knows no age, gender, or race. I've found it, Tony and Dex have found it, and I wish love to all that seek it. Don't ever let anyone tell you who to Love. Only our hearts can dictate that."

The title of the article made me laugh, but the content makes me melt.

Happy 4th

Since the new thirty-six story condos no longer afforded me a view of the river I had to walk downstairs to see the fireworks over the 3rd Avenue Bridge. In some perverse sense of nostalgia I wore the Old Navy Fourth of July shirt a gave gave me five years ago while we were dating; normally it's relegated to the gym but I was feeling all reflective.

Stood against the street light with no one to hold my hand, no one to lean against me, nor anyone to make all those cooing “Ooooh!” and “Ahhhh!” sounds with. That was okay because there were plenty of people around me doing it. A small boy climbed on to the street light and apologized when his grasping hands hit my head. I smiled at his mother. When a police car lit up to head out somewhere a few feet behind us, the boy said, “I bet they don't like the fireworks much.” I laughed to myself as I heard his father agree.

Took a few weak-ass pictures with my cell phone. It was pretty nice having a perfect view after walking less than two blocks. I wasn't worried about getting home or making sure I found anyone, so my thoughts drifted to the reason why I was standing there. The optical effects weren't awesome enough to keep me rapt… I was actually thinking about patriotism and being American. The things I never think about. It's good being here. Where I am. Should not be taking it for granted.

But I do.

Shifting

Still not completely used to Minnesota weather. I noticed a noise when pausing my music to talk to a coworker… aggressive rain on the roof. Walked down to one of the meeting rooms to look out on the downpour. Turns out the menace in the recently darked skies warrants nearly state-wide Tornado Watch by the NWS. Was at lunch a few hours ago underneath nearly clear skies.

I'm ready to go out and play in the rain…

Very Specific

Since it's past noon on the one hundred eighty third day of the year, we're now into the latter half. Crazy. Have this feeling of standing still while the days tick by.

Went by Rainbow to grab lunch pieces. That picture of Paris on the front of People makes me giggle. I mentally put a caption bubble aside that said, “Hard time has turned my life around… accept this new me! I promise to never touch another penis nor say a word in anger.” Bitch please.

Lindsay Lohan turned twenty-one today. Haven't caught any of the headlines lately so I'm not sure if she's celebrating in rehab, jail, or what. Hopefully it's a wake up call wherever she woke up this morning.

Hrm. Why did I wake up this morning?