The tooth I went in for is not a problem. I have some gum erosion because of early gum disease (thank god I didn’t keep that labret, right?) and what I thought was a cavity is “mature plaque.” Yum.

I do have four cavities, small ones. I didn’t even know about them, so they can’t be that bad. They are cutting me a break on it, 150$ a pop instead of they 195$ they charge people who have insurance. I also need a deep cleaning (they Novocain you up for this and scrape under your gums), which is another 105$

Hello Bank of Dad, I need to make a withdraw. I made an appointment for two weeks from today, and he’s going to go with me and charge it and I’ll pay him back. They offer that credit card… thing that is from GE Money Bank, but we used that about three years ago to pay for our glasses and I settled the account with GE for less than we owed. I didn’t expect to get approved for it again, and frankly, at 29% interest, I didn’t want it. Dad is just happy I went in and can get this easy stuff taken care of – my moms mouth cost them over ten grand and that was with a discount, and he footed the bill for Michael’s mouth as well. I think he is happy to not have to pay for more than it came to. If I could put it off till after December we would have it, but I don’t want to wind up with something worse. It’s the first time I’ve been to a dentist in over ten years – last time was when I had my bottom wisdom teeth cut out. I think I was 18.

Then I was asked if I had braces, I said yah, and he was all “you don’t wear your retainer?” I said, ah, I had braces when I was eleven. I am sure I had a WTF? face on too.

Oh! It’s been talk to Jenn about her tattoos & ears week too. I had kids all over my arms & ears at therapy on Thursday, and the dental assistant who did my x-rays asked about them, and the dentist himself was all “I guess it’s a good think you’re used to needles” (fucker) and the counter girl asked about my stretches – it’s been a weird body modification oriented kind of week.

This is from my friend Sam, and her story just breaks my heart. She has had one thing after another in her family, and it hits just too close to home to not effect me. I am not going to share her back story, it’s not mine to share. Suffice to say, she is just an amazing woman and I have a lot of respect for her and her entire family.

Walk for Savannah!, okay, its really a walk for arthritis, but we’re egotistical
Cut & pasted from the lame-o email I just sent out…….

It’s that time of year again!

As you know, having arthritis has greatly affected Savannah’s life. This is a way for her to take some control of her disease and have some fun in the process.

The walk is being held at Battery Park on Sunday, April 25th at 10am.

We had a fantastic walk last year and I’d like to see even more of you participate this year. It means SO much to Savannah. It’s a great outing for a great cause in a beautiful place. If you’ve walked with us before, you know how much fun we have. If you haven’t…well it’s time you did! Please do your very best to join us…and bring your friends, co-workers and neighbors. The more the merrier! Hope to see you there.
Here’s her team page:

http://batterypark.kintera.org/2009/teamsavannah

If you can’t come please consider making a donation smile.gif And please feel free to forward her Team Page to your friends. We can use all the help we can get!
Thank you
-Sam

Just spreading a little fantabulous news, Malachai had his therapy evals last week, and he is done with PT! This is amazing, because not six months ago he would fall over standing still. No joke. Now he can balance on one leg so long he can’t count that high (ok, maybe he can, but it’s a long time!)  He is still in speech and occupational therapies, but those are improving too. They will re-evaluate him in another six months. Maybe in the next six months he will learn how to sit in, and stay in, a chair

Not only is therapy going well, but he only missed one word on his spelling test today (out of ten words) and he has been helping me read Coraline at night. His speech therapist suggested I talk to the school and see what kind of literature we can tie into his daily work to keep him interested. He reads like crazy for her, not so much for me. Apparently, I just hadn’t picked the right books. We’re reading The Tale of Despereaux next (Dorian’s choice). I think I will be moving a bunch of books down the shelf for Eshiva, and finding some more appropriate books for Mal & Dor.

Speaking of Dorian, he is doing basketball after school once a week and he loves it. I think we’ll continue to do it once it’s up. It runs in five week sessions and he started last week. I looked into the local rec center for something for both the boys to do, as our PT suggested Mal do some type of sport. I don’t know what, but we’ll find something. I think they are looking into karate (ok, I am pushing karate) but I am not going to push it if he’s really not into it. We were also thinking bowling, but the PT specificaly said sports that work the entire body. We need to increase (and maintain) his muscle tone, as it’s significantly “below age level.” Eshiva is going to be taking a dance class once a week in the mornings, and she is uber-excited about that. She wont stop talking about it, in fact.

Shivie is a little chatterbox, and thinks she’s a princess. She recently discovered dinosaurs (and I wish we lived closer to DC, because there are no decent dino exhibits around here that I can find) and barbie. She turns four on Feb 10th and woe be unto you if you try and tell her she’s three.

Everyone else is well. Dad and Michael and still employed (yay!) and I am still getting enough work to buy fun stuff by freelancing (also yay!). Michael and Sara are looking into the SAT and making plans and doing all that fun 17 year old stuff.

Ah… I think that wraps us up! I’m sure there is more, but it’s daily stuff. I was just so excited about Malachai! He is still having troubles, but there is a light.

and I posted this to PM’s yesterday:

Michael was given written notification today that the therapy place we go is closing on Friday.

Fucking economy.

They are going to try to farm everyone out to other locations, and we may be able to keep our OT if the other place she works can fit him in (and if they take our ins and if it’s in a reasonable drive). Our ST was an intern.

What really stinks is I really, really like our ST, and WTF giving us one weeks notice?

I know we can find someplace else (hell, maybe the place a few blocks down the street takes our ins and offers what we need) but this still stinks.

and I posted this today as a follow-up:

Yay!!! Our rockin speech gal called me up this morning and told me that she interviewed this morning at a place that is even closer and they are working their hardest to absorb all of the speech therapists AND their clients AND keep the same schedule!

She gave me the number of the new place, and I left a message around 10AM. She phoned me back around 5:30, apologized for it taking so long to get back to me, and told me what was going on. They do take our insurance, and are working to have the approvals transferred to them from our current place. She is hoping to start Monday!

We see Courtney tomorrow and Thursday and I am just thrilled it sounds like we won’t have a lapse, at least here.

I still need to find out where the place our OT works is located (she was split between the two places I guess), if they take our ins, and if we can fit in over there. I really like our OT as well – not like I like our ST, but she is awesome with Malachai. I’d hang out with our ST, not so much with our OT.

But wait, there’s more! We’re adopting a new puppy!

So, we’ve been thinking about getting a companion for Malachai for a while now. Therapy dogs are quite expensive, and the “free” ones take a lot of paperwork and legwork. No doubt they don’t deserve it, but it was more than we needed. It’s not like we were looking for a seeing eye dog or anything, you know? So, we found this little guy! We’re picking him up either Thursday or Sunday.

He’s been there for a year! I can’t imagine why someone didn’t want to take him home, but I am glad they didn’t! We drove down to Ft. Lauderdale on Monday and went back to meet him. He is so friendly, and energetic and playful. He jumped up on Eshiva, but did not knock her down. The gal who showed him to us said he gets along with all the other dogs/cats in the rescue, have never bitten anyone, and is healthy. Apparently he was purchased from a pet store, and then got sick. He had demodectic mange (yes, just like our Yorkie) but his fur is full and thick and I didn’t feel any scabs or anything on his body. They said nothing about meds or anything else, and he is neutered. This is good, because Sasha is so sick, putting her through surgery to spay her would be too taxing on her immune system (so says the vet).

He is a year and a half old, and is the perfect size. Yay!

From the rescue site:
More About Patches/Atos: Patches was purchased from a puppy store. He is a sweet fellow who is good with other animals including cats. He is waiting for a forever home with lots of playmates or toys. Walks in the park or just around the block. Nice yard to play in but not totally necessary. Patches loves his toys!

Oh, he’s a beagle/basset mix. Cuteness!

Anything else? Probably not. I am sticking with good news right now.

I sent a note to snapfish yesterday telling them:

I just received my order – many of my photos were cropped, heads cut off, etc.. One of the photos in my photo book has a scratch down the center of the photo (same photo in all four identical books – the scratch is in the photo paper).

I do not want to return them, it’s more hassle than it’s worth, however, I will not be ordering through snapfish again.

I was not expecting to actually hear back, but I did this morning. I’ve been refunded the cost of the books to my snap fish account (so I can reorder the books) and refunded the cost of shipping to my credit card. The prints were negligible – I had 20 free and got five extra. Lesson learned, I guess.

So, I have four 45 page flip books to order. I am not one to pass up free items when given to me. I might order those cards I was talking about making instead.

So much for never ordering from them again?

I grabbed this off of Raw Fu – we’re currently on day 6 of this years first 100 day challenge. I thought this was worth posting. I am fairly visual, and having it broken down this way made a lot of sense to me.

The Circles of Raw Fu are the circles of your lifestyle change. Changing your lifestyle to a raw food diet isn’t just about what you are eating or not eating. It is an important life shift that runs through every aspect of who you are, and will effect and touch every part of your being.

[content omitted]

I encourage you to visualize what you want out of this challenge. What do you want out of the next 100 days? What do you want out of the next year? What do you want in your life? See it, and keep it close to you. Look at it often, and remind yourself why you are here.

The Italian artist, Michaelangelo, said “I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free.”

Set yourself free. Love yourself.

HOW IS YOUR DAY 6 GOING?

I am not super active over on Raw Fu, but it’s totally worth signing up over there. Check out the blogs at Raw Fu.com and sign up at their forums (link in the first sentence of this post). Let me know if you need an invite – I don’t know if they are still in open registration or not.

CrazyLittleFingers

CrazyLittleFingers is a keyboard locking application. Unlike some of the previous keyboard lockers we’ve covered, CrazyLittleFingers corresponds the keystroke to a picture and sound related to the key.

Press L and you see a picture of a lion. Press R and you see a movie of a rooster. Keys that have no symbolic link for children like the page up and page down keys produce rising and falling guitar sounds. Numbers show the number on the screen. The only caveat is that it doesn’t lock the mouse. This is fine on a single monitor setup, because you can’t click through the images or access the start menu so clicking wouldn’t accomplish anything. On a multiple monitor setup however it only locks the primary screen, the mouse is still effective on the other screens. It would be nice if the program did a simple poll to see if other monitors were active and darkened/disabled them. Still if your toddler isn’t a proficient mouse user it should work fine. CrazyLittleFingers is freeware, Windows Only. Photo by John A. Ward.

Holiday Music Sampler From Amazon

25 Days of Free Holiday Songs at Amazon MP3

Full post here, you should check out this blog too:

Free Holiday Music Sampler from Amazon | Free Grabber.

I have been getting steady emails from my local Chabad to pray for this family and the others. I kind of shook it off. Why? Forget the religion part for a moment please. Praying, lighting candles, and sending positive energy out into the world is a waste in cases like this, because unless you are open to that positive, it wont reach you. So I was so saddened to hear that this happened.

As it turns out, one of the men and his 13 year old daughter were also murdered. My father knew them, lived down the street from the man when they were kids, went to camp with him… it’s a terrible world we live in on this day. The Rabbi’s baby was let go with the nanny yesterday. What can you even begin to tell that child?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/28/india.attacks/index.html

Rabbi, wife among Mumbai terror deaths

* Story Highlights
* NEW: Death toll rises to 160 civilians, police and military
* Rabbi and his wife among five hostages reported killed at Jewish center
* Indian official again suggests that terrorists came from Pakistan
* Police say Oberoi Hotel standoff has ended; One gunman still at Taj Mahal Hotel

MUMBAI, India (CNN) — Security forces believe one gunman is still holed up inside a luxury hotel in Mumbai as it appears military operations against the terrorist gang are winding down at two other sites.

As the death toll from two days of violence rose to 160, details of some of those killed were emerging including Indian police and military, a rabbi, an American father and teen daughter, and a British yacht magnate.

The bodies of five hostages were found at the Chabad House Jewish center where commandos stormed the building through a hole blasted in the wall.

After several hours of gunfire and explosions from inside all went quiet and CNN’s senior international correspondent Nic Robertson said it appeared the operation was over.

The death toll from attacks in nine locations was 160 — including three Germans, an Italian, an Australian and one Chinese among the at least 15 foreigners killed — with a further 327 injured. VideoWatch troops shooting at Chabad House »

Maharashtra state official Bhushan Gagrani said the death toll is expected to rise further and includes civilians, 16 police and two commandos. Eleven terrorists have also been killed.

Earlier, police said they had cleared the Oberoi Hotel, killing two militants and freeing hundreds of trapped guests. They found 30 bodies and were searching the building. VideoWatch hostages walk to freedom »

The killed Americans identified as Alan Scherr, 58, and his daughter Naomi, 13, from Virginia died at the Oberoi. They were visiting India with a meditation group. Read more about those killed in the terror attacks

Fighting continued to rage at the Taj Mahal Hotel — where one gunmen was reportedly still holed up.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told CNN-IBN the gunman was shooting and throwing grenades at security forces.

Gafoor said most of the attackers had been heavily armed. “They were carrying an AK-assault rifle, one or two hand guns, and grenades.”

Outside, onlookers and reporters cowered behind cars as gunfire was exchanged and explosions could be heard. VideoWatch CNN’s exclusive access to some of the wounded »

CNN’s International Security Correspondent Paula Newton said UK authorities were checking reports that some of the attackers were of British origin.

Meanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee, the external affairs minister for Maharashtra state, where Mumbai is located, said the preliminary investigation “indicates that some elements in Pakistan are involved.”

“I can’t tell you the details since the investigation is going on,” he said. “Until the investigation is complete, it will be difficult to say where they came from and how they came.”

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also indicated the gunmen came from Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, in a telephone call with his Pakistani counterpart Friday.

In response, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said he would send the chief of his country’s intelligence agency to help with the investigation.

The gunmen were young men in their 20s who “obviously had to be trained somewhere,” a member of the Indian navy’s commando unit said Friday.

They fired at guests “with no remorse” and knew the layout of the hotels well enough to “vanish” after confronting security forces, the commando said.

“Not everybody can fire the AK series of weapons, not everybody can throw a grenade like that,” the commando said outside the Taj hotel. “It is obvious that they were trained somewhere.”

The shell-shocked city woke Friday to television images of Indian soldiers rappelling down ropes from military choppers on to the roof of Chabad House, which houses the Mumbai headquarters of the Chabad community, a Hasidic Jewish movement. VideoWatch the commando talk about the attackers »

The Chabad-Lubavitch International group said Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29, made a phone call to the Israeli Consulate to report gunmen in the house. “In the middle of the conversation the line went dead,” the organization said. His wife, Rivka, 28, was also killed.

The couple’s toddler son, Moshe, escaped with his nanny, the organization said in a written statement.

The bodies of three other hostages were found in the building. Two gunmen died in the battle at Chabad House, CNN-IBN reported.

The identity of the attackers remained a mystery. Police said they came by boats to the waterfront near the Gateway of India monument and the two hotels.

Indian naval and coast guard investigators have determined that two vessels recently seized in the Arabian Sea have no links to the Mumbai attacks. A fishing trawler, however, remains in custody.

The Press Trust of India, citing Union Cabinet Minister Kapil Sibal, reported the gunmen had worked for months to prepare, even setting up “control rooms” in the two luxury hotels that were targeted.

Indian authorities said no one had claimed responsibility, although the Deccan Mujahideen took credit in e-mails sent to several Indian news outlets.

Interpol said it would send a delegation to India.

“When such coordinated and planned terrorist attacks are carried out against international targets and when a country’s head of government states there are suspected ‘external linkages’, the police in the country concerned require international assistance,” said Interpol’s Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

CNN’s Andrew Stevens, Mallika Kapur, Harmeet Singh, Sara Sidner, Alessio Vinci, Reza Sayah and Paula Newton contributed to this report.

Sorry if you can’t vote quite yet – I just grabbed my entire address book. I also apologize if you get this multiple times!

It is so important this year. I don’t care who you vote for (that’s a lie, I do care, but let’s pretend I don’t) either way it’s history in the making and don’t you want to be a part of that?

We’ve voted already (early voting) but if you were not able to take advantage of early voting or absentee voting, please make sure you take the time to go vote today.

Many places are offering voting incentives! StarBucks is offering a free cappuccino if you bring in your “I voted” sticker, my kids school is offering the class with the most “I voted” stickers a party of some sort, and I’ve heard many other businesses are offering goodies as well.

So quit reading your email (well, your blog list), go vote!