A Coach Bag

As far as I'm concerned, "whom" is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.
-- Calvin Trillin

Thursday, November 12, 1998

I took today off because I had to have my permanent crown put in (installed?). I'd postponed the procedure from last week (too busy!), and the only appointment available was in the middle of the day, which makes it hardly worthwhile to go to work. June of You Say Tomato (New URL!) is also a patient of Dr. I----, and I told the dentist that June had recognized my previous descriptions. Apparently it's true that dental work is not a priority in England; Dr. I---- attributes this to socialized medicine.

The installation itself wasn't bad; they popped the permanent crown in and out several times and polished it down. I did need some novocaine for the polishing of the remains of my real tooth, though. And I think they should have warned me when the assistant took a bamboo stick, placed it vertically on the crown, and pounded it with a hammer! Says Dr. I-----, "We're knocking to see if anyone is home!"

So I amused myself while waiting for the numbness to kick in, and while the cement was setting up, by listening to the dentist, hygenist, assistant, and office manager all discussing what colors will be used in an office redecoration that is happening soon. The Russian (I think) dental assistant murmured darkly of the inadvisability of combining blue walls with greenish flooring. Another worker kept trying to get her to stop making trouble, since it had apparently taken a long time to get to the decision point. I do enjoy the atmosphere in Dr. I----'s clinic!

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I had dinner at my sister's house, getting caught up with her and my nephews. On to dance class -- my second week as a lead! I think I need to wear pants to make it clear to folks that I'm really learning to lead. Sometimes people think that I'm just standing next to a woman for lack of another partner! I only danced a few dances afterwards, since I needed to come home and get ready for the weekend. When I danced with Joe Ross, he did the follow part and gave me a few leading pointers. It was gratifying that folks noticed that I was leaving, and wanted to dance with me before I left!

I stopped and bought a snack, plus bagels for breakfast on the train tomorrow morning. Amtrak food is so bad! I was inspired by the feasts that Calvin Trillin writes about bringing when he used to fly on a no-frills airline.

So now I'm putzing around, trying to get organized and packed. A sign of priorities -- I'm bringing the recharger for my digital camera battery pack, though I'm limiting myself to a small-to-medium sized duffle! I have my clothes for tomorrow laid out, and the clothes I want for the weekend planned and packed. I wasn't able to get any laundry done, but this just reduced my choices. I still have enough clean clothes to get through three days.

I'll be up early tomorrow morning. It would be very bad if I miss this train; there aren't that many running between Seattle and Portland!

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I had to break down yesterday and get out my Coach bag. I'd sent it away to be remade in the spring, and when I got it back I didn't bother switching my stuff. But the small black bag I'd bought as a stopgap gave up the ghost, with the snap closure ripping away due to my overstuffing the bag.

I've realized that I am justified in buying myself the best! I've used that Coach bag for about twenty years, so even though it was expensive to start with, my cost per use is minuscule.