All I Wanted ...

So I decided that with the new year I would act as a responsible adult and go to the dentist. I have no problem with dentists, no phobias or panic attacks in the chair. I love the feeling of nice clean teeth. I just never took the time to get set up with one. I made an appointment for an exam and went in promptly on time. While I did not enjoy the radiograph process (the inside of my mandible was tender from the film for a few days), I was happy with the results and ready to schedule my cleaning and the couple of fillings I need because I'm an erratic flosser. However, in filling out the paperwork I remembered that my physician had heard a heart murmur years ago (I can't hear it myself), so I checked heart murmur on the medical history form. Dentists are thorough and responsible people, so he wanted to contact my physician about antibiotics before the cleaning. No problem. I love my physician. She's incredibly thorough and she takes my weird self-diagnostics concerns into consideration without patronizing me (it helps that I really enjoy seeing what my blood tests look line - as long as I've got insurance I'm game for diagnostics). I spent about 2 weeks playing phone tag with her office, though. Turns out she wanted me to have an echocardiogram. OK, no big, I'd talk to her about it at my general female well-being appointment on Monday.

Well, Monday comes and other female matters eliminate the possibility of the general female wll-being appointment. I called the office to reschedule and mentioned that I'm supposed to set up an echo and can someone call me back. Monday night I have a message saying the echo is scheduled for today (Friday) at 12:45. I work at 1:00. Not going to happen. I was able to reschedule the echo for this morning and have now gotten to see my heart from many different views as well as a bonus peek at my liver and sludgy gallbladder (the sludgy is my interpretation, not the technician's as she cannot even interpret the heart stuff and has not been trained on abdominal ultrasonography). I'll have the results on Monday. Then, at long last, I might be able to get my teeth cleaned.

Count down of about 32 hours to the PJ Party by the way!

Beyond PJs

Plans are rolling right along for the Pajama Party, but other things are happening, too.

Tony went to a practice session for Comic Jam last weekend. Comic Jam is similar to 24-Hour Comic Day except instead of one person writing, drawing and inking a 24 page book (1 page per hour) a team works on a book. I think that it's still a 24 hour process, but I'm not certain about the length of the book. He had a great time and it sounds like his team is set for the real thing. The real Jam is scheduled (appropriately enough) on April 1st.

My parents are visiting my brother in Ecuador right now. I have heard anything since they left, so I'm assuming they got there intact. All three should be in the Galapagos Islands right now. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories when they get back.

My friend Michelle is moving to Alabama on Monday. I don't get to see Michelle very often, but she's just an amazingly fun person with a huge heart. I didn't realise how sad I am about her leaving until after her goodbye party last night. The world is a better place because she's in it and I'm really lucky that I got to work with her after I finished school. Happily, she and her husband, Jerry, have to return their rental trailer to South Bend, so they might be crashing the PJ Party!

Right, PJ Party ... It looks like we could have as many as 30 people this year. We're really going to have to finish the basement or get a bigger house. Tony's busily making more floor pillows and planning on moving furniture around. I'm happy because now that winter is back I can try making ice lanterns. Also, the pajama party isn't quite as meaningful when it's 50 degrees outside. Countdown of 8 days left!

Chez PJ - Party Menu forecast

With head-colds breezing through the home, work towards party prep is off to a slow start.
But we have figured out the vittles.

The list includes some old faves, some news one, and one of probably many dishes coming with one of our guests:

"Gutless" Rumaki (Rumaki minus the liver)
Mushroom-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon wrapped, Parmesean Stuffed Dates
Sweet Satan's Seed (sweet/spicey nut mix)
Igor Bars (geek-treat supreme. sweet-tooth indulgence heaven)
Jalepeno ice cream frosted chocolate cupcakes (yes, you read that right)
Pink Squirrel (ice cream + liquors + frilly name = one sweet buzz)
More alcohol than can safely be consumed
Misc. chips, dips, veggi-trays and the like.
AND...
Cast your vote now! Which would be the better use of our crockpot:
A) Hot Buttered Rum
or
B) Spiced Plum Soup (also suitable for drinking)

If you don't add a comment wiht your opinion, we just might not let you have any.