Monday, September 22, 2008

Time after Time

Time is a funny thing. Sometimes it goes by really fast and other times it creeps along. Time is wasted and time is taken for granted. Time is never made up and is always lost. Time does not stop for us mere mortals. It is one of the true constants in our lives. So why does time mean so much to me and not so much to someone else? I want time....how do I get it? I am pretty sure Wal-mart does not have it for sale in their clearance isle. So can I order it online? Nope. So can I make time? I try to that a lot, but have been unsuccessful. I guess I will be frustrated and frustrating until I figure this time thing out.

I will leave you with one of my all time favorite quotes..."So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time we are given"....Lord of the Rings

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Y

So today I am super mad. I am so frustrated with good and evil. This weekend I found out that yet another friend of mine is going through divorce. I am super pissed. What the Hell? What is wrong with men and women today? What is the point of being married? Is there no security in any relationship? What have I been looking for all these years? I'll tell you....I have been looking for a man who can handle me and all my weirdness and greatness--and can give some good... Now I have realized that the odds of achieving this are very small, minuscule, obsolete.

So this realization of my odds make me question my whole spiritual foundation. I mean if a person loves the Lord and follows the commandments to the best of their ability and understanding and yet no eternal marriage is achieved what hope do I have who am flawed and fail at commandments. I really feel like jumping off the deep end and breaking a few commandments on purpose....could be fun could break my heart who knows. All I know is that I am frustrated with the hope of ever having a healthy relationship.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Bring on the Pain

When did I become a mean hygienist?

Today I realized I was being more aggressive than I needed to be. This patient of mine had not been to the dentist for about 15 years. He brushes 4 min each day. His tissues are healthy-no inflammation and only a few 4 mm areas. He has all 32 teeth! His third molars were really clean. There was not much subra-gingival calculus so I figured it had to be sub-gingival--nope. He did have some don't fool your self but as I was digging and digging and he was just laying there taking the abuse I realized that I was being quite aggressive and I wondered...when did I become that kind of hygienist? I used to believe it was alright to leave a piece of calc here or there if it got the patient to enjoy the experience and come back. But somehow I have changed. I guess I am so worried about leaving a piece of calc that I just cannot be the gentle hygienist I used to be. Now tonight instead of worrying about if I left a piece of calculus I worry that I wont see this patient again for 10 years---and he was so cute! He did the cutest thing. You know when you are working on the lower anterior teeth and the patient tenses up their lower lip muscle and it knocks you off your fulcurm? Well I am in the habit of holing my left thumb there to protect my patient from knocking me off. I dont want to slip and cut them!! Well I felt this patients lip tense up and then relax then tense up and then as I applied more pressure to counteract his tensing he would relax again. I could tell it was a conscious effort for him to do that. He also was very concerned about where his tongue was. He was the most conscientious patient I have ever had---he is married---Now I understand him a bit better (I know him outside of work). Anyway, how do you not be the mean hygienist and yet remove all deposit?

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

When Dealth Comes Knockin...

Death is such a weird beast. It is also dominating my life recently. As many of you have heard about the plane crash that took 10 members of Cedar City. I knew them. I know hundreds of people who are deeply touched by this loss. Then today a patient told me another member of Cedar passed away this morning from pancreatic cancer and then at lunch I got a message from my mom. My mom does not call during the day and by the tone of her voice I knew something was wrong. Sure enough my uncle died in his sleep. What a surprise. My dad's youngest bro. gone. game over. peace out.

Anyway it was not an expected death and I am not sure how I am feeling about it. I have mixed feelings. I see the good and I see the bad. Luckily I know I will see him and everyone else who has passed on again. I am comforted by that fact!