Cycling and Geocaching

The team I'm cycling with for the RONA MS Bike Tour in August met last night at one of the members' apartments. We met to toss around fund raising ideas and to... well.. meet each other, since some of us had never met before. We had a great time.

We're all linked by our hobby -- Geocaching.

After the meeting, we all went looking for a micro geocache hidden about 500m away. It was pretty cold out too. Some of the members had already found it in the past and got a good laugh out of the rest of us searching this small traffic island for a tiny cache.

MADD - drunk driving petition

I just received an email from a friend. It was a petition for MADD, entitled "Somebody Should Have Taught Him" and contained a poem about drunk driving. A quick visit to Snopes.com proved it to be an urban legend.

According to Snopes...

Unfortunately, no matter how well-intentioned, this petition is actually having a negative impact because people who don't know what to do with it are bombarding MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) with it, clogging their e-mail and taking up the time of staff members who now have to spend time responding to it rather than helping drunk driving victims. People who truly want to help should visit MADD's Activism page instead. For those who seek a legislative solution to this problem, contacting one's congressional representative(s) directly, by U.S. mail, telephone, fax, or e-mail is likely a more productive action than signing an e-petition.

Although it was sent with good intentions, I really wish people would take a minute and do a little research on any email petitions they plan on forwarding to find out if they're real or not. 90% of the time, you'll find it on Snopes.

My visit to the Dentist

My dental appointment went a little better than I expected.

First of all, I no longer have the same hygienist. It seems that she no longer works there. :(

The one who cleaned my teeth today appears to be a temporary one, picking up the other ones appointments. She said that they're in the process of hiring a new hygienist, so she said she doesn't know who I'll get in September when I go back.

I told her about my sensitive gums near one of my molars. She had a look at it and said it did look a little inflamed. She took an x-ray of it and showed it to me on the computer in the room. The tooth itself looks good, and so does the root. But the gumline around it is lower than the gum line around neighbouring teeth. She called it "bone loss". I guess my jaw bone is wearing away? I dunno.

After the cleaning, the dentist came in to have a look at my teeth and said the same thing. I didn't think at the time, but I should have asked if the occasional pain I have with my gums around the will clear up on its own. It's more of a nuisance if I'm not careful when I eat.

I will have to go back in two weeks though. The dentist also noticed that the filling on the tooth beside was chipped or cracked. Greeeeaaaaaaaat. :(

Senators 5 - Leafs 1

The Ottawa Senators played a great game tonight, breaking their 3-game losing streak and NOT losing a lead in the third period for the fourth time in a row. *phew*

Ray Emery played a great game, making more than a few really nice saves.

Of course, the victory is that much more sweeter by the fact that it was the Leafs that we beat. :)

GO SENS GO!

Root canal? I hope not.

I have a dental appointment tomorrow morning. It's for my regularly scheduled 6-month cleaning.

Up until about a week ago, I thought it would be just another typical cleaning with my cute hygienist. Now I'm not so sure.

A week ago, my lower right gums started to be sensitive. They hurt a little. Almost like they got scratched by sharp toast or something. Know what I mean?

It started to feel like it might be getting better, but I just noticed that it's not. In fact, if I put my finger in my mouth and press hard on that area, it hurts quite a bit. More than it has up to now.

I'm no dentist, but I suspect that there's an infection lurking somewhere under the nearby tooth. I'm dreading that something is going to show up on an x-ray, and that the dentist will tell me that I need a root canal.

I've had at least two root canals in the past. They weren't too bad, but they're so freakin' expensive and my insurance plan doesn't cover the entire cost.

Ugh.

Meow?

Our cat, Sam, was acting really strange last night.

She usually keeps to herself, unless I'm sitting on the couch watching TV. Then she'll hop onto the arm of the couch and lie down. Last night I was at the computer and she wouldn't stop coming into the den and meowing. Or standing on her hind legs and rubbing her face against the arm of my chair.

I checked to see if she had food. She did. I emptied the bowl and gave her some fresh food and water. That occupied her for about 5 minutes before she returned.

I went looking for her toys in the living room, found 3 of them, and tossed them out into the middle of the room for her to play with. She walked over to them, batted one around for a few seconds and then followed me back into the den.

She eventually hopped onto my lap and draped herself over one of my arms and purred away contentedly. After 10 minutes of that, she hopped down and left.

I'm guessing that she just wanted some attention, but it's not very often that she acts that way. It was rather strange.

40 Things You'd Love to Say Out Loud at Work

I didn't make this list. Someone sent it to me. I could have used a couple of these today. :)

1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of it.
2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you've set aside this special time to publicly humiliate yourself.
5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
6. Who lit your fuse.
7. I'm out of my mind at the moment, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don't work here - I'm a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I don't understand a damn word you're saying.
10. Ahhh. I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.
11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision - I just don't give a damn.
14. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
16. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
17. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
18. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks?
20. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
21. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of karma to burn
22. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
23. And your cry-baby whiny butt opinion would be?
24. Do I look like a fucking people person to you?
25. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.
26. I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left
27. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
28. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
29. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
30. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
31. Oh, I get it. Like humor. Only different.
32. A cubicle is just a padded cell without the door.
33. Can I trade this job for what's behind door number 1?
34. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
35. Nice perfume, but must you marinate in it?
36. Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is finally done.
37. How do I set a laser printer to k!ll.
38. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a salary
39. I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.
40. Wait a minute - I'm just trying to imagine you with a personality