Pentoga Road is ugly these days with above freezing temperatures accompanied by rain.

November 24, 2014 - Monday
37 degrees/drizzle - rain/ calm winds
Pentoga Road

I slept really well last night until I remembered that I am to have a wisdom tooth removed today. Though I fell back to sleep, I'd obsess about it for a minute or two for the rest of the night every time I rolled over . 

I know it's not going to hurt and my friends Peggy and Brenda said it probably wouldn't even bleed and that I'd be able to go about my normal routine immediately upon returning home. So why the big deal? I know why... I equate the dentist with pain.

Today's munchkins don't seem to mind going to the dentist. In fact, I've heard some say they enjoy the experience. Obviously, they didn't know Dr. Young or Dr. Thomas during the 1950's and 60's. Today's children never experienced the joy of having a needle with the thickness of a 2x4 shoved through the roof of their little mouths in an effort to deaden a runaway cavity. 

And spitting... how could one use that white porcelain bowl alongside the chair while his mouth was numb as a rock? A well aimed spit became a miserable drool down one's chin. 

So I know I'm obsessing for nothing. The ladies and the good doctor will take good care of me and no doubt, I'll tra la la out of his office wondering why I worried about it in the first place. Such is life.

I just saw the bill for my five hour stay in the emergency room two weeks ago... almost $5,000. Even a person who still uses his fingers to add and subtract is able to cipher that the visit cost almost a thousand dollars an hour. 

Geesh, they were good, but they weren't that good. Even with good health insurance, the portion I owe is pretty hefty. Oh well, there's nothing we need that we can't live without. It's only money.

Sunday was a lazy one. I graded some papers first thing in the morning while Sargie made us a huge breakfast of potatoes and eggs with all the fixings. I watched the Packers/Vikings game during the afternoon and cheered as the Pack vaulted into first place in the NFC North Conference. 

Poor Andy was in transit from the boat yard to another place in Louisiana and couldn't watch or listen to the game. Yooper Brother Mark was sitting out at his deer blind and was unable to follow the action. What to do? I texted Andy play by play as the game unfurled. I skimped a bit with Mark and only texted him the highlights as they happened. 

Andy, his friend, Jessica, Mark, and I, will be traveling to Lambeau Field in Green Bay next Sunday to personally help coach the Packers as they host the New England Patriots. 

Sargie and I went to town late Sunday afternoon and picked up a few necessities. Later, I ran the blade over the driveway removing the slush right down to the blacktop.



Sargie works today until 6 PM. I'm going to grade papers until my 11:30 dentist's appointment. After, I'll come home and make myself feel better by slurping down something soft, like ice cream and chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk. Just writing about it makes me feel better. Hmm, this tooth thing might not be all bad.

Meanwhile, it's time to pour a cup of coffee and think deep thoughts... while I still have all four of my wisdom teeth.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...