Calcitonin Beware

I have had a lousy summer so far on some fronts, but    red letter experiences on others.  We've all heard the expressions about  kicking somebody when they're down and that's exactly how I feel.  I get the last week of June, all of July and the first three weeks of August off.  I had been looking forward to this summer break like none other.   I'd been planning my Mom's 80th birthday since October!  My cousin's son was getting married in Regina and Mom and I were going.  I was stoked to work in my yard and to do some serious deep housecleaning.  I was planning to do some paint touch ups on the trim outside. I was hoping to have my grandkids and kids over as much as possible.

But...everything ground to a halt before I ever got the chance.  On the last day of work I began to have pain in my left rib cage..that was June 25.  Three days later, the pain had not left and I went to the minor emergency clinic first thing...I was the first person in the huge line-up as a matter of fact.    The doctor immediately x-rayed my back and he and the radiologist confirmed a compression fracture to my eighth thoracic vertebrae.  "Strange," he said, "we usually only see this in women in their seventies..." He asked who in my family has osteoporosis...I said, "nobody".  I cocked my head to one side and thought, "Somehow, I don't think osteoporis is it."  He prescribed calcium (1,200 mg/day), Fossamax,and the hormone calcitonin as a nasal spray.  The calcitonin was to help with the pain and would also hopefully help heal the bone.  There was a chance the calcitonin could cause some nasal congestion, and/or irritation and stuffiness.

I doggedly headed to the pharmacy because by this point, I was ready to try just about anything for some relief.  Tylenol was about the only painkiller I could take with the odd ibuprofen thrown in.  I'm not supposed to take ibuprofen because I already take low dose Aspirin, so I took it, but guiltily.  The combined result (synergistic effect) of these two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications is thin, thinner and thinnest blood, so I really do have to be careful.   My daughter and I had had a conversation about how acupuncture helps with pain.  I mentioned it to the doctor and he agreed it would probably help.  The days then between the onset of symptoms and my first acupuncture treatment became quite agonizing (about a week).  From sitting up to laying down.  With the ice pak and without.  Switching off and on to the heating pad...My own beautiful, comfortable bed even betrayed me because I guess it was too soft.  I like to lay on my side and couldn't.  I couldn't even prop my leg up with a pillow in the Sims position...my favorite one.  I had to sleep sitting up on the couch and then finally found the spare bed was hard enough for me to lay flat on my back.  I could lay on my tummy for a short while and that did provide a bit of relief.

At the same time, my mucous membranes started to erupt...probably day two of the calcitonin. Seems calcitonin goes crazy when it encounters my system.  That hormone was more irritating than I can describe and I surmise it left gaping exposed areas on an otherwise healthy mucous membrane.  In it's wake it made room for all kinds of bacteria, viruses and you name it so they could set up housekeeping and take hold of my system.  In fact, I developed a whopper of a sinus and throat infection complete with thick, green phlegm, cough, chills and fever night after night.  I have never had anything like it.  I coughed so hard I could do nothing but vomit.  My other excretory functions were also out of control during some of the coughing episodes, so I really couldn't hardly leave the house.  By day three my voice was almost gone and by July 1st, I lost it altogether. I could do nothing but whisper....the little kids were cute because they would whisper back to me when I spoke to them....I guess they thought it was a game.

I had a regimen of "by the minute" products to keep my throat moist that I used every hour for at least two weeks.  I had a cup of honey and lemon water to sip on.  I had saline nose drops.  I had the humidifier running non-stop.  I ran the hot shower and steamed myself.  I had plain water to sip and lozenges of every shape, size and brand you can imagine to suck on.  Even plain old hard candies worked to make sure my throat didn't dry out.  I gargled with salty water, then I gargled with a crushed aspirin and water.  Then I gargled with a green solution I had prescribed for me by a South African physician long ago "Tantum"  (It had expired in 2012 :-( ,but remember, you'll use anything when you're desperate).  All of these things only gave me minor relief. I decided to try gargling from the huge over-sized bottle of the Listerine Whitening solution I had bought years ago.   It was over three-quarters full when I started and is now empty. (I didn't drink it!!)  Gargling with it, then brushing my teeth, then repeating the steps finally gave me enough relief at bedtime so that I could actually fall asleep and stay sleeping for a short time!  In the middle of the night and first thing in the morning, I repeated the procedure, because I would wake up by the hour with yet another fit of coughing.

By day four, I had had it!  It was 8:00 in the morning and once again, I was the first patient in the line up for the minor emergency clinic.  The doctor was kind and told me it was a virus and said we should stop the calcitonin.  Yes....I like the way this guy thinks!  The big news was, I was stopping it anyhow, even if he hadn't agreed.  I wasn't in the mood to die from pneumonia because of a sore back.  The two just don't go together in my books.

A few days later, by about day seven,  I went back to the clinic and was x-rayed again....I'm starting to glow in the dark.  This time, they were checking to see if I had pneumonia or bronchitis...basically they wanted proof about whether the gunk had moved into my chest or not.  I could have told them, "no"..because it was all in my throat.  So...I was started on Penicillin.  That was a red letter day. 

48 hours later, it was about 2:00 a.m.  I awoke coughing on nothing and so hard I vomited, but could raise nothing more than clear mucous.  You know, you get this guttural noise going on when there's nothing more to give.  This time though, I felt like I was choking and couldn't breathe.  My running nose and coughs were producing clear returns, so I was sure the penicillin was doing its job.

Suddenly, the coughing was so violent I hesitate to tell you what happened...but I will.  It involved coughing up a perfectly formed, soft-ball sized ball of green sticky gunk. If I would have had the wherewithall, I could have sold it for glue.  But suddently, I had relief from the choking.  I was scared!  What on earth was happening?  I have never had such a thing.  I started thinking that maybe I needed a stronger antibiotic, because things weren't looking good. 

I got dressed and took myself straight down to the RUH Emergency Department.  As usual, that place was a zoo...and not because it was really busy with people coming in.  They just seem chronically short of .....physicians? or what I just don't know.  Four hours later, I had another chest x-ray (now I REALLY glow in the dark) and was given a Ventolin Puffer which did seem to help.  The doctor there said the green gunk was from the irritation....not bacteria.  He went through all the things I should do, because I was on the right antibiotic and this he assured me was only a really bad virus.  The things he told me to do were to the letter what I described to you about five paragraphs above incidentally.  He was a nice guy, sympathetic and run off his feet.  I felt for him, just about as much as I felt for myself.

Sitting there in my little room in a chair at a bedside table in the dark, I had a birds eye view of the interactions of the staff and people coming in.  I began to get a glimpse of how Emerg runs....a place I have never worked as a nurse.  A guy came in asking for help.  He had cataract surgery a few days ago and was to take eye drops every few hours.  He had accidentally used something poisonous in his eye when he got up in the night in the dark.  All he was asking for was eyewash solution.  No way.  He had to register and go sit in the waiting room like everybody else.  I wondered if he ever did get the eye wash.  He asked at least twice if they wanted him to go blind and he had the offending poisonous bottle with him so they could read the first aid instructions.  Guess they don't practice first aid in emerg??  From what I could tell there was only one doctor looking after everybody, so it really made me wonder.  Given that I have acted as the first aid person at a post-secondary school and at a paper mill, I was astounded.  Now, I couldn't smell the guy's breath...maybe in actual fact he was totally blitzed...but, it didn't seem like it.

Back to my summer.  By this time, I have copped out on the wedding in Regina for the 7th of July, the one I was supposed to attend with my Mom.  Thank goodness my brother took her half way to Dafoe and my neice from Regina drove out to pick her up so she was able to get there.  Her 80th birthday party was looming for July 13 and I absolutely could not miss it.  Off I went, coughing and snorting, sweating and looking like something the cat dragged in.  Why is it that when I go to have family pictures....the one set we've taken in decades, I have to come off looking like a gargoyle?  This is not a word of a lie....the proofs have arrived and I look like a fish... complete with eyes on the side of my head, and gills.  My hair is absolutely glued to my head.  No amount of curling or hairspray would have helped, except to make it worse.  Believe me, I've tried.  Everyone else looked fabulous by the way.  There was absolutely no colour on earth I could wear that would help with my pale, ashen, and glistening, sweaty skin.  Multitudes commented on how awful I looked and they hoped I would soon get better.  What could I do but croak a thank you back at them.

I returned to the city to a doctor's appointment with my regular physician.  This was really about my quarterly bloodwork done the first week of June.  By this time, my neck was so sore, I asked to have it x-rayed because I decided it was worse pain than my T8 fracture, so it was probably broken too.  Lo and behold it is NOT broken.  Only full of arthritis with very narrowed spaces.  She could see no evidence of osteoporosis in my neck.  Hmmm....I had thought as much, but am still scheduled for a bone density test in about two months.  All my life, I could rival a young calf at a milk drinking contest.  I love the stuff.  I can't get enough of it.  I will be anxious to find out if I do indeed have osteoporosis.   Personally, I think the cause of the fracture is simple wear and tear.  I sit at a computer day after day.  I drive a vehicle..I crochet.  I have had multiple falls in my lifetime.  I would lay bets that I don't have osteoporosis because I am not a small, birdlike woman...I am a big girl...but then again, I've been wrong before.  If I do, the next step is to see a rheumatologist.  In the meantime, I will start physiotherapy.

Currently, I am working on day twenty-three where my voice is still affected and  I still have a cough.  My voice is returning little by little.  I sleep all night and am drinking protein drinks to help mend things.  My back is good one or two days and not so good the next.   I would say more good days than bad.  I am resting mostly but doing more little by little, so maybe that's why.  I am also overdue for an acupuncture treatment, but if you didn't know they cost $65.00 a pop.  They are really quite a unique experience and I would really recommend that you try it if you have never had the chance.

So the positives out of all this?  I've had two cute little brothers mowing my lawn all summer.  I had four ladies come today and clean my house from top to bottom and it smells so fresh in here.  Mom was thrilled with her birthday party.  We were all thrilled to see the many friends and relatives who turned out.  Some travelled a fairly long distance just to be there and in ill health.  The biggest thrill?  We finally, after all these years have a set of professionally done family photos and I think everyone couldn't be happier.  And guess what, I still have 27 days before I have to go back to work officially...Surely, I will be much better by then, ya think?

Little Things

Little things

Did you know that in the Chinese culture if your house numbers add up to 8 it's good luck, but not so good if the house is facing north?  Do you know you can get a coloured glass back splash for your kitchen made by a lady in Saskatoon?  Almost any colour, like turquoise or hot pink,but the nice one I saw was a caramel, taffy colour.  Do you know that a new hot water heater has what looks like a motor on the top of it? New houses nowadays have built-in sump pumps and you have no choice in the matter.  Good thing, because even in these new homes, the water table is high and you can hear it running.

Some builders will create door designs to your liking.  They take a plain wood door and set the computer and saw to make whatever designs you choose (basically straight lines, but it's your artistic ideas that count).  One way to personalize your space.  Do you know that some of the new houses may have several different ceiling heights?  A modified bilevel might have a huge entryway with 16' ceilings, then big, 6' wide steps leading into a living room with 9' and 10' ceilings and two levels of recessed lighting.  Do you know about steam showers where you can sauna first to open up your pores then soothe yourself with a shower after?  The controls are digital and light up the enclosure so that for all the world, the thing looks like a space ship.  Today's houses are truly unique.

Let's go back in time.  No such thing as a laminate floor...they had hardwoods and later something called battleship linoleum.  They had big, old rugs and rug beaters that you might see if you go to a museum like the Western Development Museum (WDM) in Saskatoon.  Old houses might have concrete basements without any cracks, dumb waiters (a type of elevator), three storeys with attics full of stored old antiques, verandahs, bamboo outdoor furniture, stained glass windows, beautiful, ornate woodwork and leather furniture.  Does any of that sound familiar today?  Absolutely!

Buildings used to get measured strictly by using a measuring tape....now there's this fancy laser measuring device you can buy at Home Depot or Princess Auto.  I like it :-).   You still want to have a 100' measuring tape and a nail to drive into the ground if you're measuring by yourself and don't have anybody around to hold the other end!  You used to have to pull out the paper map to find a place, but now you can check Google Maps, use your GPS device, or look at the app on your phone.

Did you know that some of the new thermostats are wireless and you can check them remotely?  Sellers and buyers are very sophisticated with technology nowadays...Remember, if you are a buyer, somebody could be recording everything you say to see what is being said about their house.  Babysitters, this also applies to you!

Crime mapping is something you can do to check the crimes in any neighbourhood.  Be sure to check  the city's website for such information.  In my city it's http://map.police.saskatoon.sk.ca

Do you know that the garage footprint cannot be bigger than the house?  This news may be of interest to some guys who would rather forego the big house in favor of a massive garage. No woman should ever hook up with this fellow who wants a teeny little house...so once again, let me say that in fact the garage footprint can only be 30%. :-)    Do you think a woman had something to do with this rule?  This gets you back men for being involved in the invention of high heels and pantihouse...I mean hose.

Have you experienced any random acts of kindness where somebody ahead of you in a line-up pays for your coffee and leaves their business card?  Nice idea to pay it forward, don't you think?

Remember at one time, basements could be dirt,  or plain wood cellars, or concrete.  Then the fad was for treated wood basements, but  that kind of wore off.  Now there are insulated concrete form basements where they pour concrete into insulated blocks.  Apparently, the R value is excellent!  The idea is a little more expensive but the payback is worth it.  A family won a million dollar lottery at our lake and built a brand, new two-storey year-round home/cabin with the insulated concrete...they could afford it.

Sellers, has it ever occurred to you that people might not want your gigantic big-screen TV and your massive deep freeze from sometime prior to the 1950's that both weigh as much as two buffalo's in a sack?  This may not be the gift you thought it was after all.

If your area doesn't have a back alley - remember you don't own about the last three meters up against the back fence.  So, don't build a structure there unless it's movable.  I mean you can, but it could be torn up because that part of the lot belongs to the city.

 

These are just a few of the tips I received from a great teach named Tim....and in some cases embellished...
 

The life of an educator

The life of an educator.

Thank God, the end of the academic year is almost here!  Let me count the days...under twenty to be exact.  I know that from the outside looking in, most of you will think the working life of those in post-secondary education is pretty slack.  Compared to the life of those of you working on the front line, it probably is.  For all of us though, working hard all year to make everybody succeed and to meet their needs, to support and encourage them, to role model for them, to teach, befriend, and take them under our wings (if they will let us...without smothering or creating dependence) is an all-consuming effort. It takes a team of like-minded, enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructors to deliver a program of excellence.  The responsibility is awesome and mentoring and socializing newcomers to the field of health care and nursing takes guts and energy like you can't imagine.   Our preceptors feel it when they take on a student for several weeks.   A preceptor is someone from the front line, such as a nurse.  The person works in the field and buddies up with a student who is on the verge of graduating from the same discipline.  The idea is to provide a transitioning period and to give the student a taste of the front line for real.  Even though the preceptor volunteers to do so year after year, they too know and understand how draining, yet fulfilling, the whole concept can be, so we absolutely identify with them. 

By this time of year then, in June, we are nothing if not bone tired. Yet we continue on.  We've already received the list of accepted applicants for next Fall and you would think that would weigh us down. Strangely enough, it does just the opposite.  We are excited again and chomping on the bit to get everyone jumped into the stream and pointed in the right direction...I guess it's because we must love what we do.  We know that without a continual influx of new graduates, into any field, the system would soon become shaky and possibly crumble.  We know that there have been more years than anyone would like to count when nurses and other health care workers  have foregone their breaks and holidays simply because there was not enough bodies to replace them.  This is the grain of truth that provides a somewhat grim reality.

This is the time of the year then when we are facing grad. Grad is a celebration of achievement and a time to give credit where credit is due.  It is a formalized time to bestow distinctions, usually for any one of the following, certificate, diploma, baccalaureate,  master's, or doctoral degree. Grad is a time for happiness, enthusiasm, and excitement.  Success is in the air for students and their families as much as for the program personnel who put them through their paces.  The idea abounds that a new world has opened for each student.  Where doors were previously closed they are suddenly flung wide open and the sky is the limit for opportunities.  Yet everybody is weary by grad, including the students.  On the one hand, the people involved in their training know what it's like to work in the real world.  We think to ourselves, "look what we've gotten them into... Real World 101!  Here they come, "ready or not".  Don't get me wrong, programs have rigorous standards and upon graduation, we are saying they are qualified to practice because they have passed every manner of testing we could reasonably throw at them.  Does that mean all graduates are created equal?  Of course not.  We all know of exceptional professionals in every field, but we also know of others  who are not quite so brilliant, not so likable, and not so reliable.  It has always been and always will be a facet of human nature, since human beings remain imperfect.

We understand what the new graduates will go through with their "graditis", after all, they've just learned the latest and most up-to-date, evidence-based information available.  Graditis or being a "know-it-all" is a condition that happened to all of us.  More seasoned professionals generally roll their eyes and bide their time until this phase passes.     Ironically, the leap is made.  From yesterday as students, to today as graduates, they now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their former trainers, teachers,and peers.  Suddenly as our new colleagues, they deserve our congratulations and respect.  We knew them only a short time and must say good-bye, but we will meet again somewhere along the line and hopefully it will be as part of their new capacity.   For now, we're off to bring forth the next group to help make sure there will always be enough of you, that new graduate who promises to forever sustain the system.
 

Trees, beavers and gardening

I was sent a forward from a friend not long ago that showed the most beautiful tree tunnels in the world.  Amazingly, many of them were made from the same trees as where I live.  :-)  Shortly after, as a I drove to work one morning, I realized the trees that canopy Spadina Crescent East between 33rd and Queen Street could rival any such spectacle in the world.  The old elms that line the street, just having budded out look pink with their blossoms overhead as you gaze upward to see the sun shining through.  I could slow down and drive at a snail's pace down that street every morning if there was nobody behind me.  You just pass the weir which is so enticing and then you enter into this tree-lined lane.  Every morning I have to fight myself not to stop and just stroll around taking pictures.  I could get so used to that.  See the photo on the right hand side?  That's somewhere in Brazil.  Well Saskatoon's is even nicer ;-).

A place of interest from my childhood is found if you drive about four miles north of Melfort and turn left off the highway (which is also west).  There you will find a very old road...It's a trail really  because the farmer whose field it is adjacent to seems to have disced it up, then cultivated it at certain points in time over the years.  I expect he had to due to flooding and a big drastic mess when somebody time after time with a 4x4 thought they could get through right after a rain.  You know those ruts...they are miserable to drive on when things dry up.  This old road too has a canopy of trees that envelope it just as you drive around a nice curve and just before you cross over a small, wooden bridge.  My grandparents always called it lover's lane and I expect that was for a reason.  The little bridge is an interesting place to hang around because of the wildlife.  Beavers generally build their big house somewhere along that little creek and they are usually hard at work trying to dam up the water somewhere.  This of course gets on the nerves of the local farmers at times and they tend to bring out the dynamite or the gun or both...at least my grandpa and some of the neighbours used to.  Poor beavers.

Have you ever seen a beaver's teeth?  If you haven't, honestly they are worth seeing.  If you can find the time, Google a picture.  Their teeth are massively long and extremely yellow.  I almost posted a picture that I found, but when I looked again, it was just too gross.  The poor things, if they don't keep gnawing on wood, their teeth will continue to grow.  These creatures are part of the rodent family and you can recognize the rodent features the minute you get up close.  I mean you don't want a close up when they're still alive and moving.  Their tails are broad and flat and actually the animals themselves can grow to the size of a small dog or larger given half a chance.  I've seen one up close that my brother trapped.  Although I felt very squeamish around him, it was a good experience..and there was no need to fear because he was stiff as a board and wasn't going anywhere..please use your imagination.  I understand even when they're still alive that they won't bother you if you don't bother them. I have never heard of a beaver who was aggressive.  One year when we arrived at the cabin, a few beavers had been busy all winter and mowed down almost every tree along both sides of the lake for probably over half a mile.  Little buggers!  Be that as it may, the Beaver is a part of our Canadian heritage and you will find a picture of it imprinted on the back of Canadian nickels, our five cent coin.  Oh, I thought I could upload a picture of a beaver on the back of a nickel, but it flopped....so you may have to find your own.

I'm amazed to see that the country leading the way this month in reading my blog is France of all places.  The blog keeps stats of the readership.  In the "for all time category" which is since I started writing  December 31, 2011, Canada is first with over 2,300, France surprizes me by being in second place with over 1,900.  The U.S. is third at over 500.  There are probably 10 or 12 countries showing up, with over 6,500 readers....so I remain in awe that somebody wants to read this stuff!  My most popular posting is "Singing the Praises of Christmas".  That seemed to whet the appetite of alot of people in alot of other countries.  They truly seem starved to know how we celebrate an age-old tradition in this part of the world. Who knew?

It's the middle of May and Spring is finally here.  Believe it or not, there are still traces of snow in places that don't get much sun.  I see the evidence of these little white patches across the river on it's banks every day.  It warmed up to 28 degrees celsius one day, but has stayed in the mid twenties for the most part.  At night, I don't think it's freezing any more but the ground still seems a little cool for planting.  Since May 24 is supposed to be when you have your vegetable garden planted, it seems risky to go ahead and plop things into the ground, even though the long weekend is here.  We get a holiday because all of Canada celebrates the British Queen's birthday.  It's called Victoria Day and we certainly look forward to the break.  May long is traditionally a time to open up cabins and for a few years became a weekend for youth to travel to lakes and campgrounds and party hard.  The vandalism and rowdiness got so out of hand that finally the authorities have clamped down and things are somewhat back to normal.

I know there are some die-hard gardeners who will be sure to plant their potatoes or have already done so...you see they are usually the smart ones.  I'm not quite done raking leaves yet and that could have been done weeks ago if the weather would have cooperated.  I won't be planting my bedding plants and flowers until the first week of June.   It's weird, I'm not done raking, yet the grass is growing like crazy and I definitely have to give the lawn it's first mowing soon.

The garage sales have started and they are a huge draw for people.  I should consider having one myself, but I have so many other things to catch up on its ridiculous.   Sleep being one of them, which I'm heading for right now.  Sweet dreams to all!

Ramp Up the Red Tape

Ramp Up the Red Tape

The beuracracy, the red tape, the pure b.s.  Everywhere you go these days it abounds, but try breaking into a thriving and lucrative, well-established industry and see what happens.  The number of announcements coming across the wire for newcomers to the business every week has me raising my eyebrows.  No wonder there is an air of "oh yeah, right" to a few of the first people I have had dealings with.   Now I know what my students go through.  It's old hat for those on the inside and they really don't seem to show alot of patience for newcomers who are expected to come onside and then leave like a revolving door.  Statistics say that apparently.  Although there have been at least a half dozen newcomers since I started, a couple half-day, but mandatory training sessions I was signed up for had the dates changed with no recourse for me.  Apparently, there was a lack of participants and only I could attend then.  Even though the new dates don't work for me whatsoever, that is of no consequence to anybody but me.  In fact, I am told if I don't comply, I will lose my new license.  As you can imagine, I am quite frustrated.  Even so, I can see where these agencies are coming from.  Organizations tend to circle the wagons and over-compensate because they have been burned once too often.  It's basically a sign of the times and what has gone on in the industry in the past.

I finished the course two years ago and now it's time to get going or start all over again.  So, aside from all the glitches and new deadlines I am hanging in there come hell or high water. I have had an electronic key that didn't work and had to leave a house unlocked.  I have been given directional signage that had the arrows pointing the wrong way.  I have had people say rude comments, that I have largely ignored.  I have had pretty much anything that could go wrong, go wrong.   My name tag was spelled wrong.  I just missed the cut-off date to have to do the yearly continuing competency class. So even though I just started March 13, I had to do the 2012-13 review.  Luckily,  I could do it online, but for some unknown reason the whole course refused to load and I had to get help to sort that out.  It was an interesting course and I had it completed not too long after (Did I say about eight hours?).  I couldn't figure out how to turn off one set of the lights at one of the ultra modern new homes after an open house.   It's the little things.  My day job in the last month has been busier than it's ever been and I was also asked to cover another portfolio at the same time if only for a short while I hope.

So what am I talking about?  As you may or may not know, I have always wanted to try my hand at real estate.  I'm telling everybody once they ask if I've left my day job, that this is my "freedom 65 plan", and no, I haven't left my day job at the moment.  I hope you get the irony of the freedom 65 statement. Not that long ago, people pushed for 'freedom 55'.  A year or so ago, there would be no joke to 65 at all, but now it's early retirement. Today,  it's not really a joke, because it's not really funny.  I'ts simply common knowledge that people will be working longer than 65.  I joke that I will have to work until I'm 95, but that's not a joke either, I'm serious. So I hope to be well established in real estate by the time I'm ready to retire from my nursing career.  I couldn't see making that leap after retirement and once I get stymied by a fixed income.  It's an expensive business and they say you can sometimes go the first six months without a sale.   Please friends, relatives and countrymen...lend me your ears.....don't let me go that long!  Surely somebody I know, knows somebody who is looking to buy or sell a home?  If not today, how about tomorrow?

Talking about bureaucracy.   After several decades in the workforce, I'm beginning to recognize patterns,   Back in the day....in the 70's sometime I guess, if you worked somewhere you did a whole lot of different jobs.  For instance, I had worked in an office in a small town and was the receptionist, the typist, the banker, the mail person, the bookkeeper, and everything.  Upon moving into the larger city, I discovered that now there was a single person doing each of these jobs in the same place.  Of course, it was a much bigger organization.   For instance, one person did all the mail, another was the receptionist etc.  Nowadays, almost four decades later, the breaking apart of the workload is much more pronounced. People complain because of "communication problems" in the workplace.  Well no wonder.  There are so many people making up all the links of the chain, so does anybody really know what anybody else does?  Especially if they're in a different department, in a different building, and in a different city than you.  When businesses increase in size and the population continues to grow, you can expect it to happen.

Speaking of an exploded population.  This reminds me of when I visited China in 1998.  The modernization differences between the city of Hong Kong and mainland China were very evident.  Hong Kong had just changed it's status - no longer under communist rule right around then.  I had arrived in Hong Kong after about a 14 hour flight to the oppressive heat and humidity of the airport.  I met a friend and overnighted in a fairly posh hotel. I thought I could handwash a few clothes and hang them to dry, but that would have taken a week if ever, so eventually wrung them out by hand and wrapped them in plastic bags wet as anything for transport.  Hong Kong was glitzy and rich with ultra expensive cars, a Hard Rock Cafe and a beautiful harbor.  It was with the times, but then we travelled by plane to the mainland  city of Hangzhou and that became another world...one living about twenty years in the past. We had flown on the Red Dragon (maybe Golden Dragon)....but some kind of Dragon Air.  (Maybe my memory is being influenced by some of the names of the Chinese restaurants in my own city!)  The colours alone...bright yellow and pink fortrel (I seem to remember, maybe it was red and white) is what the stewardesses had on with little pill box hats. Maybe my memory has been influenced by that movie with Gwyneth Paltrow....hmmm even if that was faulty...I do vividly recall being met by armed guards at the airport and wondering about the long rows of Mig fighter planes. No question about my memory of the words 'knee how' that mean hello as they are forever stamped into my brain.

Once on land, and after reaching our rural destination, we eventually travelled back to Hangzhou another weekend.  Walking into a big department store in a country under communist rule was quite the experience.    The number of salespeople in that place set me back.  They were young women who each wore a matching flourescent green polyester uniform.  They were nothing if not pleasant.  The merchandise was on shelves in short rows, interrupted with a spot for one of them to stand at either end.  In one row then, there might be eight or ten clerks ready to serve you.  There would be several rows so there would be no less than 50 people expected to spring forward and be available to help at the drop of a hat. (Maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get my drift).  I don't believe there was any sort of high pressure sale tactics going on, just big smiles.  It was inspiring how EVERBODY got put to work there.  I wondered if they had people on welfare and unemployment insurance in that country or not.  I wondered how that concept would fly on my side of the world.  The puzzling part was that with so many clerks available, I was not mobbed when I went to buy my one loaf of bread.  I was left totally alone.  Perhaps they are in such high numbers to act as watchdogs?  To curtail theft?  Who knows?  Is it just that they are given a job to do and do it, no questions asked?  A sort of, "this is my lot in life and that's it?"  At any rate, the place was a dry goods store by the looks of it with food, clothes, small appliances etc.  I remember all the different packaged foods like marshmallowy, pink glazed puffy cookies and that whitest of white bread... maybe made of rice. It tasted good. 

Well, speaking of food..You know the concept of decorating a place with aquariums?  You know all about having all sorts of exotic fish, plants, and other water creatures swimming in and out of sunken ships filled with gold and treasure chests ....all placed strategically around your home or office?  Even restaurant?  There used to be a beautiful one at the now demolished Venice House in Melfort.  As you entered and waited for a table, you could be entertained by watching all the beautiful varieties of fish swimming around or coming up to the glass to take a look at you.  There was one who looked exactly like Nemo and he and I were friends.  Well, at a restaurant in China we also saw aquariums, or better yet, glass fish tanks, some with water, some without.  There were plenty of tanks and they lined the walls.  Some held fish or other shellfish which seemed quite reasonable, but others held snakes, frogs, kittens and other small animals, apparently available to eat... Sheesh!  Yes, I did say kittens and no, I did not make friends with any of the things on the menu.  There was also a daily market in the rural community where you could buy fresh farm produce.  One of the vendors had dog meat for sale.  You've heard the rumours and yes, it's true.  Dogs tended to run at large and in packs in that little town, so if you went for a walk, you had better pick up one of the many large bamboo poles lying around, just to fend off the dogs.  Again, the Chinese joke (at least I thought it was a joke) that they eat anything that doesn't have "Boeing" written on it.

Enough about China, but just one more thing.  If you ever do go to Hangzhou, be sure to go to the Night Market...Haggling is expected and you are laughed at as stupid if you pay full price, so get with it.  Remeber also, that you are nobody if you don't have a trinket with a picture of Chairman Mao on it.  Have you ever been to Arizona in the winter?  It is wonderful, but that will be for another year and another story.  So many places to see...so many cultures to experience.

Back to the real world of today and speaking of the opposite of slotting into a time clock,  I have a pet peeve.  I've noticed a situation changing over time to the point that I think it is an issue.  In several workplaces, including mine are workers who seem to have lost the concept of taking breaks.  They just don't bother.  I tend to be one of the worst offenders even though I don't expect others to work that way.  Some do expect others around them to do what they do, but I don't think that's fair.  What happens is pretty soon everyone in the vicinity has no respect whatsoever for a time during the day to stop or the need to eat.  If you are in your office with the door slightly ajar, and God forbid, eating your lunch, you can expect to be fair game for anyone who has the need to talk to you.  You seem to have to physically remove yourself from the building to get time to yourself.  The other thing is working until all hours of the night because you have so much to do and deadlines looming.  I gave myself an ultimatum a few years ago that sixty hour work weeks were going to be a thing of the past, unless they were for my own business.  I have tried to keep that promise for the most part, but sometimes there's no choice.  If I can give you any advice, I would say that the work will always be there and you will never get to the bottom of it.  Even though you want to succeed and advance in your workplace, remember, you will only live your life once.  If you have a family at home waiting for you, please stop and think about getting some kind of balance into this realm.  You have evenings and weekends scheduled away from work for a reason.  Remember what that reason was.  Try to think about how things went historically.  People didn't get a weekend off and they worked from dawn to dusk and often much longer.  They had to claw their way to get and maintain a forty hour work week, so let's respect what was won for us by previous generations and not throw it away.

Speaking of chickens with their heads cut off, as you can see, this post is totally unfocused and jumping all over the place.  I will try to do better next time.  I want to say that suddenly this week, I have 45 readers from France.  How does this happen?  Do they all know each other or is it entirely random?  How did they happen to find my blog?  The same thing happened with a whole pile from Sweden.  Another time it was Russia and Latvia.  I get a number of posts from people who want me to check out their websites.  They ask me questions and I don't know whether to answer or not, because it could be a scam.  I would rather these anonymous commenters not clog the blog so to speak.  My answer to all these inquiries about how I do the blog and how I set it up is...happenstance.  There is no grand plan and no expert abilities here.  Just basic randomness...anybody can do it.  I hope one and all has a good Spring...that is if it ever gets here.  As I keep thinking to myself every morning and every night as I bump along the roads....holy pothole Batman...


 

Property for Sale? Need to Buy a House?

Property for Sale?  Need to Buy a House?

I need your help.  I'm about to launch myself into business as an independent contractor.  I'm working on a strategy and a marketing plan and a business plan and a GST number to name a few.  I took the education in 2010 and had two years to sign on.  Well the two years are up this Spring and I have to use it or lose it.  You're wondering what I studied?  Well, it was real estate.  Yes, I read and studied and poured over the books to pass Phase I and Phase II - Residential.  I got good marks by the way. I am awaiting a more current criminal record check to arrive and then presto,  off I will trot to the local real estate commission to pay for my license and a bevy of other fees.  That's about a week away.  Right after, I will have my second meeting with my designated broker and off I will go into the wild blue yonder, or is that into the wild blue sunset...either way, I'll be off. 

Recently, I've done a little search of real estate companies to see which one might work best for me.  It seems the best one to fit my needs and theirs is Royal LePage Varsity on 8th Street.  (They used to be Prudential Realty).  Their location couldn't get much better.  Can you believe that back in the 1970's I used to live one block away on 9th Street in a basement suite?  I could walk to the university where I was attending first year university.  Seems like I keep going back to things  and places from my past.  In those days, I also travelled by bus, and the bus stop was on the same block as the real estate office (which wasn't there yet).  I feel like I'm in a movie called "Back to the   8th Street Location".   I feel quite at home in the neighbourhood at the very least.  I see the book store on the corner of Clarence Avenue and 8th Street is still there.  There used to be a big restaurant on the opposite corner called "Tiffany's", if memory serves me.  At any rate, in the next block is the turn off to Tim's, so there is always a steady stream of traffic driving by, reading the sign, deciding if it's worth stopping in.  At least that's my initial impression of the premises.

I'm not sure how long I've wanted to get into the real estate business, but it's been for several decades.  I have always been fascinated with homes and as anybody who knows me or my family will understand, we all like to help people.  I know that when you buy a house, it's probably the most money the majority of us will ever spend at one time on one thing.  We all definitely want to get our money's worth.  You will want to choose a home that matches your family.  We all have needs, wants and desires, and it all comes down to making simple choices.  Make a list of what you want and try not to deviate from it.  That may change based on your mortgage limits, but it sure helps to look at the right properties to start with.   Better yet, start out with the banker and find out how much you can be pre-approved for.  It makes life so much easier than finding out after you make an offer that you can't swing the purchase price.    I have been involved in the buying and selling of a number of homes in my life and always find it exciting.  Over the course of several years, I have talked to a number of people in the business and honestly, they all seem to love it. I haven't met one who said they hated their job and didn't know why they stayed with it.  The concept of house and home is close to my heart, so I can't think working in the industry would be any different. 

I have honed my administrative skills over the years, and got exceptionally good with the Microsoft Office Suite having learned to type on a manual typewriter way back when.  I worked in banks, law offices and other offices with good training as a legal secretary.   I have owned my own retail business, and been involved in home-based businesses over the years when I was a stay-at-home Mom.  My educational training lead me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and finally a Master's of Science in Nursing.  I have been in the helping profession as a nurse educator and manager for a number of years...I hesitate to say the exact number  lest you think me a dinosaur.  Let's just say I'm seasoned yet I look and feel very youthful. ;-)

Every person I have met lives somewhere.  Some because of life's good fortune live in off-the-charts homes.  Others may be just starting out and finding that with a growing family, their place has become too small.  Some always wanted to live on the riverbank with a river view.  There are millions of scenarios that has ordinary people just like you and I wanting to move to a new home. Maybe you're downsizing and trying out a condo.  I own one so can tell you what I know about the ins and outs of living in one, buying and selling one.  I also own a house, so have many experiences there.

Many are renting and would love to stop that and get into being a home owner.  People don't always know that a mortgage payment might be in the cards for them.  Further, they may not realize that a mortage payment could be even lower than paying rent!  As a young person, I was one of those.  I assumed I would never even qualify.  Not all people want to try to pretend to understand the red tape that goes with things like purchasing a home or paying income tax.  They shy away from it, because they don't know a realtor, a banker, an accountant, or a lawyer.  Someone like me can help you through the rough patches as you make one of the best decision of your life.  Buying a house is a great decision. In addition to what I have already studied, I will have excellent additional training available to me upon registering as an agent.  I will have the value of mentors and seasoned administrative people to double and triple check all of my transactions.  That's just the way this particular agency works.  As well, this real estate agency has it's own university training system and tried and true realtors for me to rub elbows with.  If you know me, you know that I work hard no matter what I do.  I hope you know that I will do everything in my power to earn your respect and your trust. My hope is that you will be exceptionally happy with your sale or your purchase.  If you're thinking of making a change, try me.

If you're someone who wants a brand new home, totally or partially finished, you should be able to look forward to shiny and squeaky clean, at least for awhile.  You may run into issues you might not have thought were a problem such as the mud that gets tramped into your house because it rained before the grass you planted even sprouted.   These new houses are usually all in the same boat, so you see every manner of boardwalk path thrown helter skelter on the ground leading from the sidewalk or driveway to the house.  If the place is completely done that's one thing.  If it's not, the more you can finish before moving in, the better.   Those baseboards might lay there waiting to be nailed on for months otherwise.

I have gone to countless open houses over the years.  I look for cracks in foundations, and basements for one.  I look for uniqueness and little exemplary finishing touches.  I have this super-douper sense of smell that has me noticing right away whether there's been water in the basement.  If I have a cold, this might backfire... I may not be an electrician, but I can tell whether the wiring looks like a dog's breakfast or not.  I've been in huge houses that had so many rooms, alcoves, closets and secret passageways that I almost got lost.   Remember when you're finishing basements or renovating that less is usually more.  Kids however do love these hideaways in the making of their forts, so that might be your family's thing.  If there's a closed-in deck outside at the back of the house, it might be the perfect place for a fort...especially if there's a dryer vented into it....that could make it a heated fort!  The only thing is that everything in it will be covered with a fine layer of lint over time.

In the 70's they used to have whole blocks of brand new homes for the public to walk through and admire.  Honestly, each house would be a colour scheme using one colour only.  Can you imagine one house that was entirely decorated in different shades of pink ?  Next door might be all yellow.  Then all purple.  It was certainly fabulous and extraordinary, but not necessarily permanently livable.  I vividly remember the last house I went to on one occasion which was nothing if not gorgeous in green.  Now don't get me wrong, green is one of my favorite colours (the other is purple).  After walking through an entire brand new two-storey house with every shade of green known to man, I was absolutey nauseated.  I couldn't believe a simple colour would make me sick to my stomach, but it really did!  That was the end of looking at open houses that night and I thought I could never have green walls in my own home ever again.  Not true, I have one vivid green wall in my kitchen, believe it or not.  One wall is okay, remember, less is more.

How is the landscaping and slope of the property? Hopefully away from the foundation, not towards it or caving in. How are the eaves?  Separated and springing away from the fascia?  Useless when it rains?  Totally plugged and in need of repair?  Is the property full of overgrown trees whose leaves and twigs constantly keep the eaves full and the downspouts plugged?  If you answer yes to any of these questions, like Ernie from Sesame Street, you may be the one out on the ladder in the middle of a rainstorm hoping not to get struck by lightning.  Remember trimming a tree you can do yourself, but if you're going to pay somebody, it will cost you.  Removal of mature trees can cost several thousand dollars.  They say poplar trees are one of the worst for roots that grow through the underground sewer pipes.  It is said that the amount of root system a tree has is as much as you see above ground.  In other words, they are everywhere!

Does the roof leak?  Are all the pipes on the roof tarred around the base?  Those brand new shingling jobs might not be as great as you thought if the roofers didn't do the fine tuning required.   Again, if water pours into your basement every time it rains, perhaps the chimney didn't get sealed properly when the new shingles were applied.  If you need a whole new roof (i.e. shingles), that could cost about $5,000 just for the front half.  Are the windows in need of replacement because the casings are rotten?  Has the plumbing under the kitchen sink been leaking so long it smells like mildew?  If so, it's probably because it is mildew.  If it looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk...it's probably is a skunk.  How much does a new kitchen cost?  I don't know, but I would guess upwards of somewhere between $10,000 - $30,000, depending upon what you want.  I need one.  About two years ago, a new furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner and garage heater would have set you back about $12,000.

A new picture window can cost another couple of thousand dollars especially when you discover you need to replace the window coverings because they no longer match.  Exterior painting which includes heights if you're in a two-storey and mega scraping can also add up to several thousand dollars if you aren't careful.  I expect many people are physically capable of doing these kinds of jobs themselves, so that will save plenty of money.  Look at me, I did my deck one summer and my garage door last summer, all by myself.  Also, all these types of repairs can often be done over time, so that's usually why folks will opt to buy a fixer-upper because they're a little cheaper.  They say the average cost of a house these days in Saskatoon is around $330,000.  That's the average.

If you're the seller, I can team up with you to make your home "presentation ready", tailor-making it to reflect its beauty, but within reasonable limits, of course. We can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but we can certainly try.  We both know your home is like no other.  You are selling homeyness and comfort as much as love.  The buyer wants to fall in love with your house the same way you did.  They want to be excited and have ideas about how to keep on loving it.  You'll know you have captivated them when they start talking about whether their furniture will fit in this corner or that!  Oh joy!  Start to clap your hands then!  Our goal is to make yours the most sought after property on the market because you have worked to make it the most beautiful and welcoming space possible.  I know a few tricks (not all) to share with you that have worked for me and mine.  I can research other ideas too until we find an angle  (I'm dreaming now) that will take the buyer's breath away and have them lining up to make their offer. This is what we strive for!  In turn you can teach me what you know about home decorating and together it will be a thing of beauty!  :-)   I know you want to make the most profit possible, so let's do a proper assessment and don't overprice the place or it could sit like a stone for far too long and that is never a good thing.  Unlike God, neither you nor I can move mountains. 

Buyers who are met with a pleasing aroma for instance, are far more taken than if they're met with the smells of something rotten in the fridge!  Smell is everything.  You can never clean too much when showing your home.  If you can't get all the cleaning done before placing it on the market, just keep cleaning as often as possible and before you know it, the place will be spotless.  You also need to box up a whole pile of trinkets and personal things to make room to breathe.  You can store your treasures in whatever containers you like. It's just for the time being and they will wait for you to get them out again once you move into your new surroundings.  Think of it as getting one step ahead of the packing which will be a huge job!  If you can store the boxes or containers somewhere out of sight or in one corner, it looks better.  Off the property at your relative's or friend's place works too. 

While sorting through your stuff, try to have a pile to donate and definitely hold a garage sale.  You can sell bigger items for free on Kijiji or in the newspaper under classified ads.  Most radio stations have times to phone in with items for sale so keep your eyes peeled.  I know you love your pet, but if at all possible have them out of the house when the home is being viewed.  Your dog especially will do what it takes (like bark his head off) to protect his property when strangers walk right into his domain. 

Many people in rural communities have children leaving home to attend post-secondary educational institutions in Saskatoon.  Some families have kids spaced like stepping stones who go to school one after the other.  Like my family, first it was the son and his friends, then a year or so later, the daughter and her friends.  These families sometimes look into buying a house rather than paying rent.  Smart cookies.  If you are someone from any of the communities where I have lived in the past, (Melfort, Hudson Bay or Prince Albert)...let alone any other  community, please think of me as your connection in Saskatoon.  I will be set up with a new cell phone business number within the next week and would be most happy to hear from you.  Stay tuned.   In the meantime, you could inquire at the Royal LePage Varsity office, 1106 8th Street East and ask if Jean has started with them yet.  The phone number there is (306) 665-3600.

If you are someone who is moving to Saskatoon for a new career, I would love to show you around the city.  Over the years I have lived in Lawson Heights, College Park, Lakewood, Varsity View and Confederation Park. I have come to know many areas of the city quite well and am continually amazed at it's level of continual growth. If you are someone who is associated with one of the hospitals because of illness, think about purchasing a second home if the stay is going to be an extended one.  I can help and I know many families, including my own who have had to scramble to find suitable accommodations at a very stressful time. With the new children's hospital being built, God forbid, but this could be an important decision for you and your family to keep in mind one day.

You may not believe this but I have had recurring dreams about houses all  my life.  I have always pondered their significance and I guess that is the real reason I became interested in real estate in the first place.  I think someone has been trying to tell me something all these years and it's now that I am heeding their suggestion.  For the time being, I will not be retiring from my current job, but one day that too will be a dream I hope to fulfill.

 

Adventures With a Mouth Guard

Adventures With a Mouth Guard

I was at the dentist for a checkup and he remarked that the back of my front teeth were worn smooth.  I was surprized because I had no idea I ground my teeth at night.   He asked if he "had me in a night guard yet?"  I said, "no".  He said, "well, you really need one and what do you think about getting fitted for one?"  Without even thinking, I snapped back quite hautily (like I had the choice), "I wouldn't wear one anyhow!"  I went on to say something to the effect that I couldn't even imagine trying to wear one...what with my mouth full of some foreign object all night, I would likely choke to death in my sleep or worse yet have slobber running down the corners of my mouth into my ears or directly out the front of my mouth onto my chin and splashing onto the pillow.  Not a pretty thought. I have seen telltale signs on the pillows of known slobberers and I definitely never want to start going down that path at the ripe old age of 58.   I even portrayed for him and his friendly assistant what it would sound like if the phone should happen to ring in the night if I forgot about my mouth guard and accidentally tried to talk..."Herroo...who isth thith? 

They both laughed but neither gave up there.  The dentist went on to describe very firmly, but nicely that there are only two situations occurring in my mouth environment.  Pressure on the teeth due to grinding force and bacteria making their way into places they wouldn't normally go because of how things get loosened or cracked.  He went on to say I should have been into a night guard years ago and that in itself was the only reason for the multiple crowns I have in my mouth today.  I was dumbfounded and said, "nobody has ever told me this before, how come?"  He had no answer to that, since I am a new patient of his over the past couple of years.  Talk about throwing good money after bad.  Those crowns cost a fortune and I have had several.  The best one of all is a gold one.  The others my gums seem to react a little to. 

So, I reluctantly asked what would be involved.  Well, at the top of the pros and cons list was that even though they take impressions of both top and bottom teeth, I would only have to wear the bottoms.  That did make me feel a little better.  I would need two more appointments, one for taking the impressions and one for the fitting once the guard was made.  I asked the cost...."only $400".  I sighed and thought to myself, "Oh great, just what I need, a nice, cheap mouth guard...that I don't want to wear".  Geez...

I went home and phoned my mom and told her I had the day from hell, being told I have to start wearing a mouthguard on top of all the other b.s.....you know the drill, four needles a day, diet for life, ten foot high snow piled on either side of my driveway, being the fricking boss all the time and on and on. It was obvious I was whining, but sometimes you just have to.  It's like a dog that just has to get so many barks out a day to meet his quota....if he doesn't he's just not happy.   My problems pale in comparison to hers so I'm not sure why I thought I should lay this all on her, but she's my mom and that's what kids do.  She's darned near 80.  She just had hip surgery and only now, nine months later, has started to feel less pain thanks to physiotherapy.  She listened like a trooper anyhow and didn't let on that I was being ridiculous.

The next day, my co-workers regaled me with stories about people in their families who wear nightguards.  I guess they were trying to make me feel better.  In fact, several have had one for a long time...and, "it's not that bad".  Inevitably, though, at some point, they all chew right through them.  In fact, one husband chewed right through his on the very first night.  One chewed through hers and had to get a metal one, oh joy.  As a sidebar, she said she doesn't wear the thing that often.  I can see why.  Degrading.

When I told one of them my fears about the slobber and the choking, she said, "look, it's not some big hockey mouth guard, it's only a thin piece of silicone that lays over top of your bottom teeth!"   I said, "oh."  I couldn't fathom it regardless.  I could however think of some other words starting with the letter "f" that would better describe what I wanted to say.

So the days went by and the first appointment came for me to get the impressions.  It's like putting your teeth in this cold, metal trough full of thick, pink gum that hardens up.  It's very fast, but the time gets long if you start choking or something, which I usually do.  You do this procedure twice for tops and bottoms and then you can go home. 

About a week later was the appointment for the fitting.  The same assistant that I had made friends with the first time was there and seemed happy to see me.  She had a mask on, but I think she was smiling...at least with her eyes.  She told me everything there is to know about the night guard.  First off, always return it to it's green case when not in use so as not to be hunting all over the place for it.  Apparently, most people unknowingly remove their's in their sleep and they can wind up almost anywhere in the bed...mostly under the pillow.  The second reason to return it to its case is if you have a pet, especially a dog.   I guess the mouth guard winds up smelling like you and the dog gets all excited that you bought him a new chew toy with your scent on it.   It is very important to brush your teeth and floss before putting it in your mouth because otherwise a new warm, dark, moist environment is created for bacteria and other bugs to grow between the mouth guard and the bottom teeth.  She advised wearing it around the house for awhile, you know, doing dishes, watching TV, just to get used to it.   Verra cute.

The next step was to run it under warm water to heat it up.  I put the nice warm guard in my mouth and felt the unusual sensation.   It was big and flat on the top.  I began to realize this must be what false teeth feel like and said as much once the dentist arrived.  I even jutted my bottom teeth out to prove my point.  Again they laughed.  He had me open my mouth so he could see how it fit.  He also asked if I thought it fit.  I said I had nothing to compare it to so wouldn't know if it fit right or not.  Sort of the same reasoning why I don't buy Tofu.  I wouldn't know on purchase if I was buying the rotten one or the good one because they all look the same to me.  He encouraged me to wear it as much as possible and I made a pact to at least give it a try.  After he left, the dental assistant gave me a special treat...my impressions ... both sets.  They were all wrapped up in bubble wrap and put in an envelope.  She said to keep them in my sock drawer, because, and got quite vague at this point, but that I might need them again.  (I was onto her though, because I already know people chew right through them).

So last evening after supper, I put the thing in my mouth for practice.  I did everything I was told, including brushing, and flossing.  At first, I was all mouth, no denying it.  Then I got involved in a TV show and forgot about it twice.  I thought to myself, "one thing about having a mouthful of plastic, it sure helps cut down on the late night snacking".  I kept it in all evening and then went straight to bed.  I even had a drink of water over top of it. I read my book as usual for a little while after climbing into bed and didn't have any initial problems.  I started falling asleep and woke myself up when I realized I was chewing the living hell out of the night guard.  It made me laugh because it was for all the world exactly the same as a dog chewing on a bone.  All I could think was that if my brothers could see me they would be killing themselves laughing.  I did go to sleep waking up once about 3:00 a.m. to marvel that I hadn't choked to death and another when the alarm went off.  As I dozed back to sleep, I realized that I was giving that chunk of plastic the workout of it's life...again!  I actually had to force myself to stop the chewing because I discovered it is  really a highly pleasurable activity.  Must be that centre in your brain that looks after animal instinct.  So, as you can see, I'm definitely identifying with our four-legged friends.  Unbelievable, but this is how our lives progress.  Normal one day, ... chewing on a hunk of plastic the next.  Oh, the irony.