Tuesday, February 20, 2001

 

1:04 a.m. Today, today ... healing and cowering, cringing and trying to chew. Ok -- it's not that bad, but still, I'm aware. Plus, I'll bet you didn't know that things don't taste exactly right unless you can roll them all around in your mouth, side to side, as per usual.

The tongue has its regions, you know.

Yesterday, while I was at the dentist, Igor took our newish Epson printer in for repairs. It's been a little strange since birth, jiggling and jerking uncontrollably, somewhat at random. I thought it was because it was cold -- maybe the rubber strip inside with groves needed to warm and relax and expand ... but I was wrong, it turns out.

Just like I was wrong about my infection, I'm thinking. Seems the printer needs some adjusting and since it's still under a year old and thus under warranty, I merely have to produce the sales receipts and the repair will be free.

This should be a simple matter for a person with 37 file drawers in her office. Sigh. I can't find it. It hasn't been a year and I have a receipt for a box of fancy Du Puy lentil beans, but no receipt for the printer. Not so far, at least.

I've been pretty much tearing through a thousand sheets of paper today, looking and looking. If it exists, I will most certainly find it. And, of course, I really do love looking because it gives me a chance to further refine my piles and stacks and in general, continue my march toward paper perfection.

So, I'm sitting at the desk with the heater and the radio blaring, making neat little stacks of perforated receipts, when the phone rings and since I can't get up so fast because of the huge pile in my lap, it goes to the answer machine.

It was a glorious, glorious message. The sweet, harassed voice of the dental receptionist, apologizing because she has to -- yes!!!!!!!!!! -- cancel my appointment for tomorrow due to blah blah blah yippee ki yeah!

Sure, I'll reschedule -- only an insane person would not.

We'll pause and let that sink in.

I could skip town, go on the lam, and (unless I get abducted by aliens) no strangers with steely picks will be probing inside my person. I have been given a reprieve and I don't really have to return the call and reschedule, you know. Who needs a stupid old crown anyway? So what if I can't chew on the left side so well ...

But, at least I have Wednesday back. Nice, quiet Wednesday.