Muchas Gracias

This week my Farmer's Market visit resulted in these flowers.

I do not know the name of these large purple bells (they maybe Campanula maybe not). I have started calling them Tinkerbells. I have not seen the Tinkerbell movies but I can imagine that little fairies standing inside and peeling the pedals down. Whatever their name I have enjoyed having them in my home this past week. They really do cheer up my heart.

Through modern technology I have been able to meet Scott. He lives in Vernal, Utah. We Skype, chat and talk. Yet we have not met yet. I have known him for over a month. I was surprised one day when a package arrived and inside was this CTR ring.

It is perfect. Nothing for my gloves to snag on at work, the flowers cheer my heart. I am so lucky to live in a world where Skype, email, chats, texts, phone calls are all possible. I am thankful for Scott and his ability to reach my heart.

I am thankful for you all for the multiple ways you have blessed my life!!! I mean it.

Thank You

Brushing RODENTS? ? ? No---ROTADENT

I am not sure how many of you have tired a Rotadent toothbrush. I knew they existed but was not sold on them. And why do I need another power toothbrush. I mean, I will have to get a power strip just to accommodate my toothbrushes--not to mention flat iron, different sized curling irons, and whatever else I need plugged in for beautification purposes! It is too much of a bother.

My office's front office manager, Betsy, loves the Rotadent and worked very hard to get us trial units. We were able to get them at no cost.

I thought this toothbrush would be similar to Oral-B Triumph due to the circular head. I like the Triumph and I like Sonicare's toothbrush also. I am an advocate for power toothbrushes. I like them for the fact it helps my patients clean better and longer. My dr is hesitant due to the potential to be aggressive. I understand; yet I have seen root erosion caused by regular over the counter toothbrushes. Toothbrushes do not have a standard stiffness. Some soft toothbrushes are not as soft as others. My opinion is that any toothbrush can cause damage.

Well the Rotadent is amazing. The brush bristles are extremely soft. Softer than Oral-B or Sonicare. Rotadent also has less power. . . I cannot find the stats on RPM etc but I think from use of the brush it is less. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. I personally like it. It is not too aggressive yet it cleans my teeth wonderfully! It took me a few seconds to get used to the lower vibrations in comparison to Sonicare and to trust the soft bristles unlike the Oral-B-which has tough bristles.

All in all I like the Rotadent!

My Lori Adventure continued

My adventure with my sister Lori continues.

All weekend I made my sister wake up early and leave the house about 630-7 am. She was a champ and let me drag her out and about before the crowds. Saturday after we saw the many wonderful waterfalls The Columbia River Gorge has to offer, we went to my apartment and Lori took tiny 40 min nap. I ate lunch while she snoozed. Therefore Lori got to try some food from Africa. I have never tried it. It was different and unique. I love that Lori tried new food!!!!

Sunday we went to worship at the coast.

This is Lori excited to see the ocean. She recorded the whole event to show her children.

Lori standing in the Pacific Ocean. It was foot numbingly cold yet she braved it to find seashells.

We visited the Seaside Aquarium. They have a touch tank full of starfish and anemonies. Lori touched everything.

We found a starfish on the beach. He was dead or we would have trown him back into the ocean.

This is what I called a crab graveyard. It was pieces of crab that had washed up and picked over by the seagulls. It was pretty neat.

The Seaside Aquarium has sea lions you can feed. They are too fun. The pesky fellas splash you to get your attention. Well this little fella was 5 days old. He/she is so new and just pain adorable!

Lori and I at a view point on highway 101. We are so cute!

I am so thankful for the chance to spend time with my sister. I love my two sisters! I am so thankful for them. For their love, for their visits to me. I feel so loved having them come to my world and share it.

Lori and I did eat dinner at the Black Bear Diner. It is my favorite place to eat. I truly think the pancakes are the best. Lori was not in a pancake mood. But did try mine and she agreed that they are pretty amazing pancakes.

Pink Hoodies with Sparkles, Waterfalls, Sailors, and Food

This is Lori Ann Jones Bishop. She is my sister. She is 11 months and 2 weeks younger than me. We are the same age for 2 weeks each year. We have had a our ups and downs. We taped off our dresser as teenagers. We shared clothes and pulled hair. We are still sisters no matter what.

Lori is a mother of 3, wife of 14 yrs and owner of a large daycare. I have been trying to get her and her family to come on an adventure with me. I finally convinced her! She left her husband, her kids, her job and her life to spend a weekend with me.

It started off with her raiding my closet. She found an outfit and we went down town to Portland's Pearl District. Todd treated us to happy hour at Lucy's Table. Lori wanted 'fancy food'. We ordered sparkling lemonade and then ordered several appetizers.  We ordered pomegranate glazed baby back ribs, goat cheese ravioli, vegetarian risotto, prosciutto wrapped asparagus with balsamic reduction, flat bread pizza, beet and blue cheese salad,  In the picture above is the goat cheese ravioli which was one of my favorites.

The asparagus was a huge hit also!

Lori adventured out to the rock to get closer to the waterfall.

It was the last of 3 weekends of Rose Festival activities in Portland. One highlight was Fleet Week. The US and Canadian Navies, Coast Guard, and Army bring boats from the ocean into the Willamette River. We were admiring the big ships and the sailors on them when the coast guard put on a show. Here they are dropping into the water to practice rescue a man. The skills of the pilot amazed me. After dropping the diver the copter came around and lowered the rescue basket and save them! Yay! Coast guard!

Lori and I had a great weekend. I am most thankful for the temple session we did together. It was completely perfect to me. I am so thankful we live our lives worthy of entering The Lord's house. I am so thankful to her for allowing me to schedule a session in during our busy weekend. I love the peace and perspective and comfort I get from going. Even if what I pray for is not coming to fruition. I am still thankful for my life and my many many blessings.

I am so thankful for Lori and her sacrifice to come visit me. I have more to post of our adventure and cannot wait to tell you all the fun we had.

Blooming Blooms

This coral blossom has opened so big. I put my had there to reference how large this beauty is!

Peonies and Coral

It is summer-kinda. That means Farmers Markets! There is one near my office on Wednesdays and one by my house on Saturdays. Each offer different things. Both have lovely fresh local blooming flowers.

Yesterday I got 10 peonies and 3 corals. The above pic is of the pink coral. I am not a flower connoisseur and am clueless. All I know is that it is pretty and smells divine!

The peonies are tight and closed but will be open this weekend just in time for my sister Lori's first Mair Adventure. As you readers know I go on several adventures. Lori has yet to be on one. Tomorrow she is leaving her 3 children and getting on a plane and starting her adventure! I am thrilled to share the city with her!

This is a white coral. They  reall are delicate and lovely flowers. The are going to be so wonderful when they are open. Even now I looked over and the peonies have opened more than the picture. It amazes me how fast peonies open up. The wonder of it is endearing and exciting. The suspense and quick changes make this flower so fun and fragrant!

350 POSTS!!!

Drum roll please----this is my 350th post. Wow I have shared a lot!

This xray is of a 35 yr old non-smoking male. He is healthy. He is not on any medication. He takes a multi vitamin. He brushes 2x daily with a Sonicare on the sensitive setting. He flosses daily and sees me 3 times a year. He had ortho (braces). His perio chart records 4-5 mm pocketing in most posterior teeth. He has general slight marginal gingivitis. His build up is minimal. What concerns me the most about this xray is the very very short roots this man has. Have you ever seen such cute little roots? I dont mean to make light of this man's predicament. It is a very tragic situation he has to live with. He most likely will be in dentures before he dies. That fact is very sad.

I saw this patient on Tuesday. I was so excited to try my new Cavitron tip. It was a wonderful instrument.

I am so happy with my job. I really am happy in my life.

I want to confess I deleted the folder I had in my email that had all of Dan's emails. I did not go through it and delete the bad ones and keep the good ones. I did not read any of them. I just deleted the folder of 364 messages and then deleted my deleted lol. It was quite freeing. I am so happy that my heart is finally not in love with him anymore.

Christmas in Hygiene World

I got a new Cavitron insert today. I was so happy I had to tell you all about it.

Pictured here is the green Slimline insert and the new purple Ultra Thin insert.

Can you see the difference in width? The Ultra Thin is so tiny. I love love love it. I quickly ran it through the statim and used it.

Most of my patients are regular patients who brush 2+ times a day. Their tissues are healthy. The drink copious amounts of coffee and wine. Stain is rampant while tarter is not. I use the Cavitron for stain removal. This Ultra Thin insert is going to make it so much more comfortable for the patient. Not only does the tip slip under the tight tissues with ease it vibrates less and the sound is much easier to tolerate. I am so thrilled with the tip that I could not wait to tell you!

A Flower Filled . . . Wednesday

I went for a walk today during my lunch. As usual I had a mission. Bank and grocery store. On my way to the bank Pioneer Square was full of flowers. I looked and was pleased to see the world.

I whipped out my trusty camera and snapped some shots. It is difficult to see but you get the idea. It really is much more impressive in person. These flowers will sit here for a week and then be sold off as a fund raiser for some good cause. It is the Festival of Flowers.

I have really learned to enjoy the constant activity of the city. I look forward to the flowers and the markets and the gatherings. It is the Rose Festival also. We are currently behind on the roses blooming since it has been so cold this spring. But the peonies are blooming. There was a woman selling these huge blossoming fragrant flowers. I bought a few stems for the girls at work. They filled the office with smiles and lovely aroma. I am very lucky to get to enjoy the quirks and perks of this weird city!