• 5:39 A.M.
  Intolerable Dance Music

I spent some of today in the endodontist's chair. I wasn't getting a root canal, but I was discussing root canals and sundry other pleasant topics with the knowledgeable Dr. Lin. My dentist was puzzled when presented with my problem tooth. He was asking ME what he should do. As you know bob, I am the last person on earth to consult about proper tooth care. When he said things like, "I can do a root canal, but I don't know what I'd do with the tooth afterwards!" I felt it was my unstated responsibility to come up with something to do with it afterwards. After speaking to Dr. Lin, I know the tooth can be saved. I also know I probably don't want to save it, given how much I'd have to mess with my gums and other teeth and how unlikely the crown's long term survival would be. I know what to say now!

The tooth in question is also known as "4". Coincidentally, the hygienist at the clinic had a root canal and similar problems with her #4, and Dr. Lin herself had fashioned her brother a single-tooth denture for HIS lost #4. We spoke of bridges, implants, sinuses, and bones. I find myself wishing my regular dentist were as sure of himself in his practice, but I know that the specialists at this clinic have the advantage of only doing one thing - endodontics. Basically, root canals. And other tooth pulp related things.

Well, here I am. Wonder what all those colorful things are?

Oh. They are enormous tooth drills jammed an inch into a sponge.

Today is my little brother's birthday. He's going to be 23, which would make me about 70 years old. Have a happy birthday, Ian, and always remember - each year older you get makes all your siblings feel like fossils.

Bonus: fascinating details from my Chinese horoscope:

>>21:00 - 1:00 (9 P.M. to 1 A.M.) are your lucky hours.
They sure are! I think that's when I get everything done.

>>Northern direction is your lucky place.
Seattle is my lucky place. Maybe I should experiment with living in Canada or Alaska to see if north-er = luckier.

>>You should choose a bedroom on the north side of the house.
My bedroom is on the northern wall of the building. This would seem luckier if Ned Flanders downstairs didn't like doodly-dooing around his patio eden, outside my window at 6 in the morning.

>>It's good for you to keep the north side window(s) open.
Roger that. I've never turned the heaters on in here, it's a furnace.

>>It's good for your health to orient your body with your head toward the north while sleeping.
Usually this is how I sleep. I was wondering about those inexplicable unlucky feelings when I switch.

>>A metal or water bed is good for you.
I had a metal bed. It was good at falling apart. Now I have a "floor" bed.

>>Your lucky color is black.
Black? No way. What should I do?

>>You should wear black often.
Ohhhh okay, I'll go buy some black clothes then.

>>You should use a black system (dark colours) for decorating your house.
Anything that I got to choose the color of is you-know-what.

>>Driving a black car brings your luck.
Is it okay if it has tiny orange dots all over it?

>>You will have better luck, if your name has an 'O' sound.
How about a "00" sound?

>>You will have better luck, if your name is associated with a meaning of Water.
Uh... St. Andrew was a fisherman? Which is a water job?

>>A little salty food is good for you.
You're telling me. Secret to oatmeal: salt.

>>For your health, sometimes you need cold weather.
I sure do. Stupid Hawaii weather made me crazy.

>>Take care of your excretory system - also your Kidneys, Bones and Ears.
I don't even want to talk about my excretory system.

>>Your job will be easier, if you choose a business to do with Water.
I used to work for a place that sold "liquid bandwidth", har har.

>>Pertinent jobs include Fishermen, Sea food, Shipping, Water Power, Drinking, Tea House, Magician, Salesperson, Business person, Mathematics, Philosophy, Public Relations, Diplomat, Ocean, River, Swimming, Services, Detector, Moving company, Travel...
Keep in mind that Chinese astrology is oriented (pun!) towards a populace that tends to get jobs like these. I'm pretty sure they have magician job fairs.

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