I see the dentist religiously, floss at least once a week and sometimes actually manage once a day, and now I have a mouth of horrors -- the triple whammy of hormonal changes with pregnancy, allergies requiring loads of antihistamines, and Zoloft have given me chronic dry mouth with little meth-mouth-like black spots on my back teeth. I have to use a special mongo-fluoride toothpaste at night, brushing for two minutes and spitting but not rinsing, to keep the meth mouth as minimal as possible. It's incredibly depressing -- or would be, if I weren't worried that more depression would lead to a higher dose of Zoloft and worse dry mouth, so no! not depressing at all, dammit!

Teeth=TEH SUCK.

Sean, is there a dental school attached to any of the nearby hospitals? Every few months they need volunteers to come in for a cleaning so the second and third year students can get some practice in. It's not as good as a full exam, but it's something and it's usually free (and sometimes they pay you).

I am now having to have 25 year old silver amalgam fillings replaced

I would really like to do this myself, as I've heard they're kind of bad for you, but this also would require money or insureance I don't have.

Also, thank's for the pillow yesterday, Sparky. We had a very long one. We (S and I) were up before 5am for a long day of tests and stuff. Twelve hours in the hospital (which is much less stressful when you're not there for a pressing reason).

I did get to spend parts of the day with a very nice young Arabian man named Ahmad, who read and wrote English pretty well, understood English okay, and spoke it so-so. I had a couple of opportunities during the day trying to talk to him over a language gap big enough to make it challenging, but not so large that communication was impossible. He taught me several words in Arabic, which he was very excited about. As soon as I started asking him about his language, he became delighted to teach me about it, what little he could in the time we had.

He told me if I was ever in Saudi Arabia to please come to his house and visit with him. I would now very much like to do that. And even try and pick up some Arabic if I can, to facilitate communication.

lisah - how was your lunch w/the fells pointers?

Thanks for asking! It went okay I think. It's a really small shop--like under 20 people. It sounds like it might be kind of exciting/a lot of work for me there because they don't have any documentation at all so I'd be building it from ground up. I'm sorry that the primary owner guy (? I think) couldn't make the meeting because it sounds like I'd be working with him more than the guy who interviewed me. Also, the guy who came down couldn't give me info about salary and benefits (but he says they are not amazing but pretty good, they do have a 401k plan at least). They are planning to grow pretty fast over the next couple of years, doubling in size at least, and will be looking to move offices. That's disappointing because their location is the greatest draw for me. But he says they would almost certainly stay in the city.

...so...we'll see if they make me an offer and what it is. Scary! But could be exciting.

I didn't eat enough at lunch though because a) I was nervous and b) didn't want to be a mess so I'm still hungry. And the guy who interviewed me had fried chicken & mac-n-cheese and now that's what I really want!

I would really like to do this myself, as I've heard they're kind of bad for you, but this also would require money or insureance I don't have.

I would tend to guess that insurance wouldn't cover the replacement of silver amalgam filling, as current mainstream dental people don't think there's anything wrong with silver amalgam. I'm leaning towards thinking silver amalgam is bad myself, based on anecdotal stuff. Have there been any recent studies on the issue?

Calling AIMEE! Have you seen this: [link]?

I have! LOVE Gymboree. Sadly, a stick of gum is out our price range right now.

I got denied my unemployment. Because I quit my Saturday job. I'm this close to losing it. Seriously. We have no income.

Oh, shit, Aimee. I'm so sorry.

Oh Aimee. Oh my God. I am so sorry. Did you get a chance to explain your circumstances? And besides, how on EARTH did they expect you to make enough money on a once-a-week job to support your family? ARGH. I friggin' HATE bureaucraxy.

I'm leaning towards thinking silver amalgam is bad myself, based on anecdotal stuff. Have there been any recent studies on the issue?

Well, I thought I'd read something on the subject somewhere, at some point.

Which makes my information, of course, anecdotal.

current mainstream dental people don't think there's anything wrong with silver amalgam.

Actually, I've heard this is changing, and that there's a not insubstantial population among dentists who don't want to use silver amalgam.

Anecdotal.

I got denied my unemployment. Because I quit my Saturday job.

The job that wasn't full time and could not possibly have supported all of you, the job that was all that you had left after you were let go from your actual job, that prompted your giving up on California and moving, hence the quitting of the 1-day-a-week-barely-a-job? That's nine kinds of wrong. I mean, I can see why according to their rules and regulations it's logical, but that doesn't make a stitch of difference to the nine kinds of wrong.

I'm so sorry, dear.

Oh no, Aimee! Shoot.