Such is the minutiae that has been my week.
Yesterday, I returned to the dental chair for the first time since April, 1999. I wasn’t avoiding it – not exactly – it’s just that early in 2000, we were preparing to move from Va to Fl. Once we got settled here, I fully intended to make an appointment… and so I did at last.
The dental tech was a wee bit disturbed when she saw that my last visit to the office was in 1996, until I explained about the intervening 3 years out of state. Then she asked how often I brush (First thing in the morning every day) and floss (When I think about it, which means hardly ever yeah I know I should but I never developed the habit yes I promise to try to do it at least every other day yes ma’am) and braced herself against a potential disaster. I impressed her with a minimal amount of calculus (has it really been over 2 years? You must brush really well) and the whiteness (you don’t use a whitener? Really?) But the ultimate compliment was being told I have tight gums. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I’m guessing it’s good.
After she did whatever it was she did with all those pointy things and squirty things and sucky things in my mouth, while we were waiting for The Dentist to come in and do whatever he does, she and I decided that my dental success was due to genetics, good clean living and substantial intake of chocolate.
Brace yourselves for my dazzling smile: 
I know I mentioned in a thread somewhere that we just bought a new Beetle. The first payment won’t be due till September, so I decided to take what would have been the payments on our trade-in and apply them to my Aerostar. I paid it off in full last week. I expect the title to come from the credit union any day now. This will be the first time in at least 10 years that we won’t have 2 car payments. I know I shouldn’t say that out loud because then my rear end is apt to collapse… and by “my rear end” I mean the suspension on the rear of the van. I’m not here to discuss my ass, thankyouverymuch.
It’s been a long battle to dig out of debt, and we’ve gotten to the point at long last where the bills are folding fast. As one is paid, the payments on the next smallest one are increased to wipe it out. I figure most of our debts will be gone about the time the Perfect Child[sup]TM[/sup] enters college. But I digress… My van is MINE MINE MINE!!!
We also learned this week that my spouse’s long-awaited 50-Ton Masters Certificate has been signed by the Coast Guard and we should get it in the mail this week. He’s been sailing since he was a teen, and he’s got an amazing knack of knowing what a boat will do. He knows how to read the water and the wind and his vessel, and he finally decided to pursue a Coast Guard license. He’s been taking courses and exams and agonizing over the bureaucratic delays, and driving me crazy in the interim, but it’s official – I’m married to a sea caption. Granted, 50-Tons isn’t very big – our sailboat is 15 tons – but it’s a start. He’s actually passed the test for the 100T cert – he just lacks some sea time on bigger boats. Plus he’s passed his sailing and towing endorsements, and he’s a certified ASA sailing instructor. Now, if only he could make a living doing boat stuff… That’s the impetus for us to return to the Chesapeake Bay.
That’s all. Thank you for your attention.