why is it...

...that every cell phone user over the age of 50 has 'When the Saints Go Marching in' as their ring tone?

Christmas and everything after

Christmastime... a joy for all. watching our kids come down the stairs with pure joy... pure delight in their eyes... that was the best present ever. Santa was good to us, but how will he pay for it all?

i just have a few question for big Santa (not to be mistaken for Bigthana):

-why make it so difficult for us parents to unpackage a toy that 'lil boys and girls want to play with RIGHT AWAY! some toys are screwed into a piece of cardboard... others are wound so tight with industrial strength twist-ties.

-why does new plastid have that stank to it?

-does Rudolph not like apples now? we didn't get the memo.

-can you tell the elves over at Fisher Price to get on the ball? my son's FP3 isn't working right... the software wont install on my laptop... what elf is gonna help me get that straightened out?

it has been a good day, though... a good couple of days. it is always kind of sad to see the holidays come and go... it means that life now must go on. in a few short days - we'll be reflecting on the past year - as well as looking towards the future that lies ahead.

alas - let us not forget the miracle of the Saviors birth for which this time has been set aside to remember. Baby Jesus, Mary & Jopesh (as Micah calls him), the shepherds, animals in the barn, the wise men... seeking the child messiah... the savior of the world. born a lowly birth - becoming all parts man - and yet still all parts God. what a wonderful day it was 2000 years ago. frankly glorious.

Rejoice!

Hope defined.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

nevermind.

i watched VH1 Classic's series Classic Albums last nite... the album was Nirvana's Nevermind, recorded in 1991.

the band recorded most of the album in Los Angeles - because record execs from DGC wanted to keep an eye on things. When the band was in LA, they stayed at the Oakwood Apartments on Barham Blvd. 5 years later - i would reside in that same apartment complex while attending Film School. I can only wonder what apartment Nirvana stayed in... maybe it was mine...

Nevermind is one of the greatest albums of all time. Watching Classic Albums makes me appreciate it even more.

Over the Rhine in concert

last Tuesday, i took my wife to see Over the Rhine in concert @ the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio. We have had many opportunities to see them and everytime something interfered. This time, we made time for OtR and we are both glad we did.

The show started at just about 10 past 8. There was no opening act... just Over the Rhine...



Karin Bergquist - vocals, guitar, shaker
Linford Detweiler - keyboards, guitar, vocals
with...
Jake Bradley - acoustic and electric bass
Mickey Grimm - drums, percussion

they played for 2 solid hours... mostly Christmas stuff from their new Christmas CD titled Snow Angels that has just released. They also played 4 or 5 songs from an album that is in the works and, acording to Linford, will be released in 2007, titled The Trumpet Child. The new stuff was phenominal...

There was a nice atmosphere at the Kent Stage. it was an intimate show... a full house of approx. 750 people. Hearing Karin's vocals in person was amazing. Her voice... her style is exceptional. And Linford is no slouch himself, playing the piano, hammond b-3 organ, accordian & guitar. it was a tight show with a jazzy feel. The smell of coffee filled the venue - as OtR was brewing & selling their own unique blend. We walked away with joy in our hearts and a few OtR cd's ta' boot.

Here is the set list... 21 songs... 2 encores...
Fever
Born
White Horse
Darlin' (Christmas Is Coming)
Little Town
I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time
Nothing Is Innocent Now
The Trumpet Child
Who Am I Kidding?
All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue
North Pole Man
Goodbye Charles
Snowed In With You
Snow Angel
Trouble
Orphan Girl
Drunkard's Prayer

First Encore:
Baby It's Cold Outside
Jack's Valentine

Second Encore:
If A Song Could Be President
All I Need Is Everything

extraction

bottom left wisdom tooth (i.e. #17) has left the building.

i only had to get one wisdom tooth removed - not that there is any less pain or anything. but it is out - and i am left with an empty feeling, lots of swelling and a jaw that still can hardly open.

a brief history of how said events went down:

Feb 2, 2005: Tim chips a tooth on a crouton at the Golden Corral while celebrating a birthday meal with the in-laws.

August 2005: Tooth hurts. Tim buys Ambesol.

Feb 2, 2006: Tim celebrates another birthday and the one year anniversary of chipping #17.

June 2006: Tooth hurts "real bad"

July 2006: Pain disipates.

Day before Thanksgiving 2006: Tim wakes up in the middle of the night in extreme pain. Jen says "have you given birth to two children? You don't know pain." Rolls over and goes to sleep.

Nov 30, 2006: Tim gets ner a wink of sleep... sez he'll call dentist in morning if tooth pain persists.

Dec 1, 2006: Pain subsizes. Tim goes to Wooster.

Dec 2, 2006: worst.pain.ever. its a Saturday. what dentist is open on a Saturday... during Christmas shopping season? Nadda. Calls dentists emergency number... ordered to take 800mg of Advil. Appointment set for Monday @ Noon.

Dec 4, 2006: Tim sees an old friend from high school at dentists office. is greeted with a smile. Gets in the chair. Dr. Sales falls off his when he sees the work of art that is #17.

Dec 4, 2006: 3pm appointment with Dr. Johnson, Oral Surgeon - to get #17 removed from the premisis.

3:15... three needles of novacaine. ouch. i think one of 'em went through my gums and jaw straight into my ear.

3:25... waiting for the procedure... what no radio? this is a doctors office and i have to sit in silence? i set up a game plan in my mind: during the events relating to the extraction of tooth i will recite Super Bowl I-XL winners and MVP's. This will no doubt take my mind off the misery that will ensue.

3:30... time has come... Dr. Johnson says do you feel pressure or pain? what's the difference? like a man on a mission he begins... "wait, i need time to start reciting my Super Bowl stats... ah forget it..." i close my eyes and break out into a full body sweat."

3:32... dental assistant tells me to relax my cheek. easy for her to say.

3:37... after hearing god-awful noises - the events are complete. i ask to see the tooth... it broke into a couple of pieces. it is nasty looking. i ask if i can have it (to sell on eBay). they say they want to keep it for scientific purposes.

3:45... puffy cheek and all - i leave the place - $199 lighter in the wallet. 1 less tooth to brush. sweet.

6:15... novacaine wears off... first signs of real pain. luckily 800 mg of Advil does the trick. my perscription for Vicoden remains unclaimed. i didn't want to take it if i didn't have to.

The End.

oh, i survived, by the way.

note to self

why is it that emergencies always happen on the weekend.
chalk this one up in the stupidity department.

it all started nearly 2 years ago on my birthday. I chiped a wisdom tooth on a crouton of all things. well over the past 22 months, said wisdom tooth has been in the slow process of decaying away. yeah, gross.

last week, the night before Thanksgiving, said tooth sent sharp, pulsating pain up and down the left side of my jaw. I woke up the next morn to no such pain.

then, 2 days ago, while watching Grey's Anatomy said tooth again sent pulsating pain from ear to chin. I just thought ye ole tooth was updet that Dr. Burke and Dr. Yang weren't going to be punished for their err in judgement. i woke up Friday morning to no pain, so i proceeded on with my day - with intentions to call Dr. Sales. I went out of town for a meeting in Wooster. By the time i returned - it was after 4pm... i called and the office was closed. no biggie... i wasn't feeling any pain.

and thus you know what happened next - almost immidiately the pain returned and i swear the tooth in question has moved - to the point that i really can't put my teeth together - top and bottom - on the left side of my mouth.

i was able to get to sleep last nite - but am still in a lot of pain. fun fun. now i am plotting my next move. and of course - it's a weekend.

oh well. i swear some of these things happen to me only so that i will have an interesting story to tell to my grandkids about the importance of flossing.