Hard to Swallow

Today, we returned to the dentist's office for Madison's full exam - and it didn't go exactly as planned. In fact, there's an "area of concern" on one of Madison's molars, which happens to be the last tooth way back there. "Area of concern" means that she'll have to have something done with it, probably in about six months or so, and definitely at a different dentist's office.

This new pediatric dentist trip is one that I am supremely not looking forward to, for a host of reasons. For one, Madison is oblivious. She loved the dentist visit today, opening her mouth perfectly and even laughing at the little suction thing they stick in her mouth from time to time. What a fun place the dentist's office is!

Just wait until we tell her in six months or so. Not good!

Other than this bad news, the trip was a good success. Mommy and Daddy were given another "all clear" for the next six months, and even purchased a few "teeth whitening kits," which we'll probably be trying out, starting tonight. Madison got something as well: a new toothbrush and a toy from the toy chest. She picked out a toy cell phone, so she could fit in with all the other people at lunch time at California Pizza.

Yes, we went back to California Pizza. Madison eats very well when she's there, and today was no different. It was a nice meal, and it was even ten percent off, because we managed to bring back a little coupon.

Next, we drove the car back to the place where we picked up the new television set a few weeks ago - and bought ourselves a new refrigerator. It's actually one that Mommy is quite excited about. I'll take pictures.

While Mommy was shopping for refrigerators, Daddy and Madison were back in the television area, once again waiting for predatory salespeople to stalk us less than subtly from two rows away. You can see their heads occasionally popping up over the appliances, like those large carnivorous cats peeking their eyes over the tall grass of the Serengeti. Daddy had to get new cables for the new television set, so he had to do some shopping. In the "old days," a cable was a cable. Here, cables with all the same function and length range in price anywhere between $10 and $150. It's all about quality, and evidently you don't want one of those sorry $10 cables. I think I got something somewhere in between.

Anyway, we got home and did some yard work. Daddy carried a big load of boxes over to the new house, and Madison helped Mommy cut back the butterfly bush. This thing is planted nearby the septic tank, and therefore will grow until it reaches prehistoric sizes. If unchecked, it swallow up the neighborhood.

At least that is better than getting swallowed up by a sinkhole. Take a look at this:

Just up the road from us in Cleveland, the large amount of rain we've been recently getting caused a "sinkhole" that "ate up" part of a Sonic Restaurant. The "sinkhole" must have liked the tater tots.

Anyway, as you can see, this was a front page story on Yahoo, which as a news source is as unbiased and reliable a news source as your standard supermarket tabloid. But still, when something that local hits the national scene, I suppose I should point it out. We used to drive from Helen on our lunch breaks and eat at that Sonic. I'd get the ocean water slushy, which typically left my mouth so blue, I looked like a cast member from "Avatar."

I'm only thinking of this now... but wouldn't it be fun to drink a huge ocean water slushy just before going to the dentist?