Effect And Cause

My dentist has the coolest stuff in his office. And I'm not just talking about the TV in the ceiling, because that is just simply a must. I'm laying out some serious dime* for you to poke and prod me so the least you can do is keep me entertained. And we're not talking basic cable either. No, he's got a laser. Granted it's not shaped like a gun and it's noisy as hell, but still, zapping cavities with no needle? That's cool in my book. He's also got some large computer monitors which I'd wondered about on past visits. Today he's talking some mumbo jumbo about something or other and I'm all, buddy, move your head, Horatio Caine's about to take off his sunglasses, and you know that means trouble. Then he has the nerve to pull off my headset and point at one of the monitors. Since I missed whatever he was talking about I look at what appears to be an open pit of industrial waste with some confusion. Not wanting to seem rude I nod sagely and say, "yes, rampant Chinese industrialization is terrible. I understand the need for development and their desire to catch up to the West, but at what cost? The human and environmental impact must be measured..." I break off when it's obvious from his face that I missed the mark.
"Dude, that's your cavity close up." Then with my mouth agape he stabs it with a large bore needle and explains that this picture was taken from a small camera I hadn't even noticed him putting in my mouth (that sounds dirty) and that this small looking cavity has probably worked its way under my silver filling and that we should probably replace it. He took my racking sobs as agreement and stabbed me again. Sure enough, after drilling that bastard off (by the way, that cool laser? Doesn't work so well on reflective surfaces like silver fillings. Oh no, they still go old school on them), sure enough, there was more. On a 24" screen close up that thing looked like the land of Mordor minus the giant flaming eye.

So, if you noticed my absence from your blog yesterday, that was why. I tried going through some, but with half of my head frozen my drool shorted out my keyboard and I had to run out to Best Buy to get a new one. It's not my fault though. Look at what I have to deal with at home.


My sisters-in-law just got back from France and brought us madeleines and macarons (no, not macaroons, macarons) and Supreme Leader made a lemon pie. What? I have the will power of a stray dog. I bit into that first macaron and it made sweet love to my tongue and promised to call me again and then it did and this time it was chocolate. You don't understand. Can you see in the picture where it says au beurre frais? Made with fresh butter. The madeleines came individually wrapped and sighed a little breath of sugary buttery love with each one I opened. (Let me point out at this juncture however that they are no where as good as Supreme Leader's. Not even a distant second.) And the pie! The pie! Sweet lemony goodness that cannot be denied lest its feelings be hurt.

I'm just thinking of those starving children in... where were they, mom?