Dentists

Just when I was about to journal something...

The phone rings. The number is unfamiliar, but appears to be local. I answer:

[Me] Hello?

[Caller] Hi, it's Tracy from (local dental clinic that I visited 6 months ago) - this is just a courtesy reminder call for your six month check-up.

[Me] Oh. Ok. Thanks for calling, but strike me off your list - I've found another dentist.

~insert farewell salutations~

What Tracy doesn't know, and I was polite in not telling her, is the dentist she's employed by is the THIRD WORST dentist ever to stick gloved fingers into my mouth.

Six months ago, I had THE most agonizing tooth ache. I've had a few before, and have even personally pulled one of my own teeth that ached. I don't like dentists - never have - and might tell why later. Anyway, I had this ache.

In its early onset, I self-medicated with strong over-the-counter pain killers and oil-of-cloves (thanks to the book/movie Marathon Man for the heads-up on this!) As things got progressively worse, I succumbed and made an appointment with the aforementioned dentist.

I don't like dentists. I've never liked dentists. In the world of medicine, they're like optomitrists. But optomitrists aren't licenced to pull out eyeballs, nor drill holes into them. Something they don't teach dentists at their pseudo-medicine colleges.

But, I digress.

Anyways, I made the appointment and turned up dutifully and on time for my appointment - my tooth aching like a motherfucker.

Ordinarily, I am not "racist" by any stretch of the imagination, but the look of diplomas issued from various VietNamese "institutes of dental technition" should have been my first clue to grab my hat and run a mile. I gave the man the benefit of doubt.

I won't be petty and say I couldn't understand a word he said - about a subject that was about as far from my heart as my mouth is from my heart, and my mouth ached so much, I coulda almost ripped out my own heart with a bread knife, such was the pain in my mouth.

X-rays were taken. As they do. No sense in visiting a dental surgery unless you've been nuked with x-rays. When the (very non-vainglorious) pix returned, he declared words to the effect that I had some kind of bone disease in my jaw that he couldn't fix: not on the spot - not ever. Me, feeling somewhat disappointed by this, only paid the $97 bill because I had cash in my wallet and not a knife in my sock.

Feeling somewhat financially raped, and plotting all kinds of revenge against dentists generally, I went home and self-medicated again - this time adding vast quantities of dark rum. I won't lie and say this regime significantly lessened then pain, but the oil-of-cloves as a mixer with rum had a way of diluting thoughts of going ape-shit with a high-powered rifle with dentists in the crosshairs.

The following day, I made a new appointment with another dentist who, as it transpired, has my name. He's a locum in a larger clinic, but regularly works there. He confirmed what the previous dentist had said, however, he also (1) wrote a prescription for stronger drugs to alleviate the pain/cure of the infection and (2) negotiated a plan to "stabilize" the bone rot. That was six months ago.

If anything, Tracy has reminded me to make an appointment for a check-up with my newfound Savior of Glorious Teeth. I had a couple of smaller appointments with him after the first emergency and was told my teeth are actually in good repair. So, I'd like to keep it that way and daymn! if I'm going to make any routine follow-up appointment with a VietNamese Lawerence Olivier.

"Is it safe?"

In the words of children's songs, "No it's not!"

Mr P

Things that make me say 'fuck!'

PCs running Windoze that you turn off one day only to discover when you turn them back on the next, you find a whole bunch of regularly used devices and programs no longer have their drivers installed. And you know what? I'm not even remotely interested in an explanation as to why that might happen. Why? Let me put it this way.

I stepped into the computer world 21 years ago. Yes, this is my 'puter "coming of age". To continue the human age analogy, that first computer of mine was like a breech birth. It was an Atari-ST: its monitor was kinda deformed and funny and its B&W palate harkened back to television of the 1950s. It had 4 meg of RAM, which is to say, it was completely and utterly retarded by today's Terrabyte standards.

Yet, that computer traveled the world quite literally in a plastic milk crate. Now, in 2007, as it comes of age, I am proud to say that that little machine was never once sick with viruses. It's "operating system" was simple: supply electricity - after 21 years, it STILL does its farking job!

I feel like "supplying electricity" to the testicles of people who foisted Micro$oft onto the world. Your OS sucks more ass than an African Tapeworm.

Fuck it.

Is there death after life?

In recent years I've developed an interesting theory about this. People often ask the question, "Is there life after death?" I have died at least once that I can remember and now wonder whether the better question to ask is, "Is there death after life?" After my brief death, I came "back to life" but I'm not entirely convinced the life I came back to was the same one that I left. I notice lots of little subtle differences that could be quite spooky, if I allowed myself to be spooked by them. Taken to the extreme, I wonder if we don't die a little every time we sleep and dream - each day waking not just to a new day but to a new variation on life.

Science today points to "matter" - the substance of the universe - being something that "blinks" between being in existence and not being in existence. It's only the fact that particles of matter (which are simultaneously waveforms) are so small and that there are so many of them all blinking on and off at different frequencies that we perceive "continuity" in the universe. I've also come to believe that time isn't linear. Rather, time itself is periodic motion - a waveform. As a waveform it means that it moves through a 360 degree cycle - a circle - and that there is a point in time where its at zero. In other words, there is a point in time where nothing exists, just like when a single particle of matter vanishes, only to immediately come back into existence. More than this, the "big bang" isn't the beginning of time but simply this zero point in the periodic cycle of time.

Also interesting is, if it's the case that matter blinks on and off, it's perfectly analogous with the 1s and 0s of binary - the mother tongue of computers. This all sounds like The Matrix, but I don't believe in any kung-fu Super Jesus characters like Neo.

Getting back to life and death, we see life around us being born, growing and aging, and finally dying. But if everything in the universe is the duality of particles and waveforms, the "interference" of so many different frequency of vibrations is such that it creates the illusion of continuity that we perceive as life and death.

Sagittarius & Pisces

When Sagittarius and Pisces join together in a love match, a relationship of realized dreams is formed. Sagittarius is more of a thinker and philosophizer, easily drifting around from one pursuit to the next. Pisces is more inward, involved in the shifting of their own mindscape. They are opposites in some respects, and to outsiders may seem an unlikely pair. But as their love for one another grows, they are more likely to be able to satisfy the philosophical cravings of the other and maintain a healthy relationship.

Sagittarius is outgoing and versatile, and in a relationship with Pisces often comes to the defense of their gentler partner. Pisces, in turn, gives Sagittarius subtle understanding and a place to escape from their tireless endeavors. Pisces is a Sign that, like Water, adapts easily to its surroundings; Pisces tends to focus much energy on understanding and sympathizing with their partner. They are often more patient with Sagittarius's aloofness than other Signs. Sagittarius's active pursuit of knowledge combines with Pisces's gentle compassion towards others to give both partners a self-awareness that doesn't pass into egocentricity and isn't overly accommodating, such as Pisces alone may be.

Sagittarius and Pisces are both ruled by the Planet Jupiter. Pisces is also ruled by Neptune. Jupiter brings exploration and outreach to both Signs. Pisces is concerned with this aspect in an abstract sense; they often find themselves trying to save the world (perhaps in the form of recycling or environmentalism). Sagittarius, on the other hand, prefers to broaden their horizons through academics. Neptune is about big pictures, ideas and illusions; but it's also involved with disillusion and fantasy. Sagittarius can help Pisces plant its feet on the ground. Jupiter works through Pisces to put a gentler touch on Sagittarius's occasional hotheaded outbursts.

Sagittarius is a Fire Sign and Pisces is a Water Sign. These two elements can form a great couple if they give in a little, using innate understanding of situations and people to get matters resolved. Pisces can offer Sagittarius direction and help them learn to be gentler, while Sagittarius teaches Pisces to go out and explore the world. This couple will enjoy traveling together. Pisces can be emotionally draining for the Archer at times, too much Water dampening Sagittarius's fiery spirit. Conversely, too much Fire can boil the Water and leave Pisces steaming. Sagittarius and Pisces must use their perceptive skills to enhance the relationship, always focusing on what the other needs.

Sagittarius and Pisces are both Mutable Signs. Neither partner feels a need to dominate the relationship. They enjoy equality and like to see their ideas come to fruition. Pisces gets great happiness from helping Sagittarius. Sagittarius and Pisces enjoy dreaming up ideas and putting them into action. No one is preoccupied with end results; for this couple, the fun is in the journey! A lack of conflict over roles helps Sagittarius and Pisces work toward the same goals with great success.

What's the best aspect of the Sagittarius-Pisces relationship? It's that they can benefit from one another's wisdom and at the same time get along so well together. Pisces shows Sagittarius how to empathize and care; Sagittarius teaches Pisces how to turn fantasy into reality! The ability of each to provide what the other lacks makes theirs a truly reciprocal relationship.