Dental Tripping

As I begin writing this post I should be pulling up to work and parking my car.  You see, my shift starts in 15 minutes.  Why am I not there?  Well hopefully the image I used to illustrate this post gives you a good idea.

No, I didn't have one of my incisors removed.  But yes, I did have one of my molars extracted.  Number 19 if I'm being specific (although I don't know the numbering system and just overheard this from the dentist and his assistant.

Unfortunately this was my very first trip to a dentist's office.  Along with health insurance, vision insurance, paid sick days and all other manner of benefits, when I got hired into the state I also got Dental insurance.  According to the receptionist, it seems to be fairly good dental insurance too.  The total cost of having this emergency visit (including the visit, extraction, and the prescription antibiotics and pain meds), was just under $40.  I really don't have any idea what dental visits should cost, but before I went I made sure to know what I had in my checking account (about $1400), and what was available on my credit card (about $2400).  I actually was ready to pay all of that ($3800) AND ask for a payment plan on the remaining balance.

Like I said... I have no idea what dental visits cost.  But to rid myself of that pain, I was willing to pay just about anything.

Going back to 8s, and looking for a new watch

So I talked to my supervisor yesterday.  I told her that I was done with the 12 hour shifts, and that on the next schedule (starting in about 3 weeks) I want to move back to 8 hour shifts.

I honestly went into the 12 hour shifts with open eyes.  I knew that no perceived 'benefit' is free.  For all the good and glory that my 12 hour shift co workers talked about, there would be bad things weighting it down.

Before I get into the nitty gritty, I should pause and say this.  If me working 12 hour shifts benefited me overall, benefited my co-workers, or benefited my employer, then I would have no problem staying on this shift.  It's not exactly what I want, but I can certainly deal with it.

But that's just it... it doesn't benefit anybody.  Let's look at all three of those groups in turn.  First up.. Co-workers.

So I got mom a new car

She finally accepted my offer!

That's right... after posting about it in late February, I talked to Mom again about buying her a new car.  She of course balked, giving variation on the same reasons to not accept it... she didn't want to rely on me or my brothers, and she didn't want to hurt my finances.

It seems I made a good case against both of those reasons.  I simply put it in this way;  She wasn't relying on us and the only reason she couldn't afford a new car now was the fact that she had been helping me out so much.  As for my finances... I actually broke out my spreadsheet showing what money I have coming in and what money I  have going out.  It's pretty black and white that I could afford this.

So the first thing we had to do after she accepted the offer was figure out what she wanted.  I don't mean what model or make of car... I mean what features would make her enjoy the new car.  First and foremost was fuel efficiency.  She was sick and tired of putting so much damn gas into the van.  She also wanted to retian as much utility as she could.  She was used to the versatility of having a mini van.  Surprisingly she wasn't all that interested in some of the newest 'toys' that you can get in car.  Touch screens, navigation, keyless entry with push button start.  In fact her list of wants when it comes to tech is some of the most basic features... cruise control, power windows, air conditioning.  That made it simple as every car we would look at would include those 'toys' as standard.