Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Apple Juice and Sunshine

Half a month later, here I am. It seems apparent to me that good weather and apple juice go hand in hand. Today I went to class in shorts, a teeeeeeee shirt and sandals. It was very sunny out, and although it was only about 9 degrees I did it anyways. It felt good.

The final stretch is ahead of me like deer who doesn't know it's going to be hit by a sexy precidia racing at 58 km. I'm done all my midterms and assignments before the big dance of exams. So that in turn means that I have three weeks ahead of me with minimal work. Needless to say I'm stoked.

New car smell? Please, we don't believe in that stuff.

The Redeemer "Midnight masquerade" (wow, that name, just so fancy. I almost want to wrap it up and donate it to a child who is having their birthday in the park because it's so nice) occurred two weekends ago in which many students had a banquet and dance of epic proportions. Despite that our car broke down on the way there because of a shotty alternator, it was still a good evening even if Brian did have to pick us up an hour later and escort us in his escort to the ball. The food was tasty, the music was live made up of of covers from Coldplay and Dave Brubeck, and the dancing was awkward like a high school dance.

Here are some pics. (Un) fortunately I didn't get a picture of the naked guy who blessed us with his aerobic lesson on the front stage in the later parts of the evening, but these should do.


The guys I live with

Holding Dave like a fish


Steve and I (I dyed my hair black as well)


Danielle and I

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Subject: Beer

I got this from Josh VanBerkel in my email. I thought it was kinda funny.


Last month, scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a one Hour period.
It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:
1) Argued over nothing.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
3) Gained weight.
4) Talked excessively without making sense.
5) Became overly emotional.
6) Couldn't drive.
7) Failed to think rationally
8) Had to sit down while urinating.

No further testing was considered necessary.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The Good Dentist

I try to brush twice everyday, like all who care about their teeth should. But sometimes I neglect the duties, and brush only once or maybe not at all. But what’s one day without brushing, right? Sure, you get that layer of plaque that you feel every time you run your tongue over your teeth, but that can all be washed away with another brushing. Sometimes that little bit of neglect can do damage, but as long the outside looks clean people think you’re winning the battle with plaque. I go to the dentist to get my teeth all nice and clean so I can feel good about myself again. Today was such a day.

After the dental assistant finished with me, the dentist came in and did the final bit of the check up. He was a very friendly man, and I think he honestly cared deeply about my teeth. I asked him why and if he cared.

“Why do I care about teeth?”

"Yeah.” I replied.

“Hmm, that’s an easy one. I love teeth, so that’s why I care about them.”

“Why do you love them?”

“I just do. They’re so beautifully made. The bone, nerve, gums, everything about oral heath care is fascinating and that’s why I love them. There’s nothing better then healthy teeth.”

This response caught me by surprise. I would have thought, “Oh, I don’t care that much, I’m just in it for the money” but no! He seems to genuinely love teeth. I would even bet that they cause him sadness when someone has a cavity or when he has to do a root canal.

As a side note, have you ever wondered why the dentist asks you if you floss or not? It’s pretty obvious if you do, especially when the dental assistant five minuets before just flossed for you and your gums are bleeding all over the place. Why does he want you to tell him? He knows way more about your mouth than you probably do, so why tell him obvious things? I guess it adds to the dentist-patient relationship.

A trickle of blood was running down my lower lip from the recent flossing and then he asks the question. I wanted to say, “Yes, I do floss,” but lying straight up to you dentist is wrong, everybody knows that.

After he’s done cleaning my teeth, he tells me to call him if anything hurts and that I should come in immediately. “A cavity can sneak up on you when your defences are down, so brush and floss regularly so it doesn’t happen.” He then gives me a toothbrush and a pack of floss so that I can do what he told me to.

“My gift to you,” he said.

I feel psyched when I come out of a dentist’s office. I want to brush everyday, floss, and maybe even stimulate my gums with the little rubber thingy. I feel good when I do it; I’m thinking long term. My teeth are going to be so good ten years from now. But in two weeks I’m back to my old self only brushing once a day and not flossing. After they start to hurt, I don’t stop eating sugary foods. I enjoy the sugar too much. But then the pain gets too much and the dentist pops in you head. ‘He cares about you,’ my mind says, ‘and he said you could call him any time if you were hurting.’ But I hold off, and endure the pain for a while, hoping that it will go away. But then I finally call him, knowing that he is the only way for me to have healthy teeth.