Friday, February 16, 2001

 

1:20 a.m. I ended up back at the dentist's office today, but just to say "Hi!" to the various reception ladies and to gaze in awe again at the sliding wall of file folders. Thousands and thousands of file folders. You've seen such walls if you've ever been to a doctor or a dentist. I even remember them.

Today's visit was odd and unplanned and just re-entering the place exactly one week after my, uh, first time filled me with nostalgic trepidation, but I was merely renewing my prescription for antibiotic.

I've decided to take no chances in case the infection might decide to linger. I no longer want to be host to the uninvited masses of bacterial bad guys and fungal freeloaders. Total scorched earth here at Casa Mia.

Otherwise, I'm functioning quite well, for a walking, talking war zone.

I go back to the dentist, for real, on Monday at 2 p.m. and I'm trying very hard not to think about it because I'm planning on becoming a dental regular, a true-blue returnee. On Monday they put a real tooth-top back on the blasted-out structure in my mouth and I couldn't be prouder.

After that -- what say we count up the remaining cavities and see just how many more trips it will take to bring me out of the woods and back into the light? Thousands of dollar bills with little tiny wings on them are lining up for takeoff, but so be it.

If I ever can afford food again, at least I'll have the teeth to chaw it with.

So that's it, then. I waited a little too long to update because I was listening to a radio documentary on the old expedition of the ship Endurance and its most amazing captain, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Here's a nice link all about it -- you could spend no better hour than to listen to this incredible tale of heroism on the highest seas.

More about that tomorrow, if I have half a brain ... expensive, precious drugs, you know.