And just how many hats have I had on today....

As the day at the office began, I found myself manning the front desk (thank goodness Jami will be back on Tuesday) and working on a PowerPoint presentation with Brian F. The deadline for the presentation is quickly approaching, but we've had to move out of my quiet office and up to the front desk where there are loads of distractions.

Patients, phones, radio, other staff, loads of different noises that we don't normally deal with, plus questions from patients, pharmacies, and other practices. YIKES! I definitely feel like a fish out of water up there. Some stuff isn't so bad, it actually reminds me of way back when I worked for Jefferson Ward as the PBX operator.

It really is the dental stuff that gets me. Thank goodness that Roz has been here to play back up to our stint in the 'receptionist' position, or rather hot seat. She's been able to tackle all those questions that neither of us have been able to field. Jami is dynamite dealing with all this everyday, God love her.

Walter started out the morning messing on Facebook. He and Jeff surely entertained themselves over my status updates. Hopefully he has gotten out and started finishing up clearing the woodpiles from out of the yard. It will look so nice once it's all stacked in the back. Just in time to enjoy a cleared yard for about 15 minutes before the leaves begin to fall. Then it'll be time to start all over again. It won't be as bad as it was when we first moved in, 55 trees gone and virtually all the previous years leaves gone as well. One season of leaves shouldn't be so horrible now.

As the day has worn on my appreciation level for Jami has risen as well, aside from all the other stuff that I ranted on earlier, she has to keep the office schedule in line. Now that is a job. Most people don't think anything about calling and cancelling a dental appointment at the last minute, but when they do it really throws a monkey wrench in the works and effects at least 3-5 other people as well. Then there is all the shuffling that is needed to fill the vacancy.

Walter sent a text to my phone to help me out with greeting patients. Here's the audio:
Ever since Walter found out that my phone had the capability to read text messages he has amused himself by sending me some very odd and interesting phone messages. The following one was just one of the longest that he has sent. Some context is necessary. Josh repairs ATM machines, and some of his biggest problems arise from people putting coins into machines that are not designed to accept them. Wayne is forever teasing him about putting coins in the ATM's. Thus the running joke about coins in an ATM. In addition to all this Walter has decided that when my phone is in vibrate mode it sounds like someone passing gas, when it vibrates, while sitting on the counter or table. I know. Horrible potty jokes abound.

With that being said, here is a message that my phone 'read' to me one day recently about world domination:

As you can tell Walter has put a whole lot of time and thought into theses messages. It is surely a cheap way for him to entertain himself, and others. :)

Going backwards to the beginning of the day, as I was heading into work this morning I was greeted at the intersection of Hull Street & Fordham by five Chesterfield police cars all lit up like Christmas trees in front of the Sheetz. From the light I couldn't 'see' what they were up to and wasn't enlightened much further as I turned onto Hull. What i did find was yet another crusier slightly up the road. As I got closer to Courthouse Road, near Rockwood Park I saw four officers walking on the side of the road looking at or for something.


Much later this evening Walter found out that someone had been shot near the Sheetz. Although the report from the Sheetz is that they didn't hear a thing. I guess we'll eventually find out what happened on the news, sometime in the future.

Email & Newsletter Gleanings:

From today's edition of the Patriot's Post: "U.S. Soldier Demands Apology From Senator Claire McCaskill at Town Hall -- a soldier explains the difference between his keeping of his oath to support and defend, and McCaskill's eagerness to break that oath."

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure
The True Story of a Great American Road Trip
by Matthew Algeo
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year..

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois)

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!!

God was missing for six days...
Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him, resting on the seventh day.

He inquired, "Where have you been?"

God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds,

"Look, Michael. Look what I've made.

Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, "What is it?"

"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put life on it... I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a place to test Balance."

"Balance?" inquired Michael, "I'm still confused."

God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor. Over here I've placed a continent of white people, and over ther e is a continent of black people. Balance in all things."

God continued pointing to different countries. "This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."

The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land area and said, "What's that one?"

"That's Washington State , the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, forests, hills, and plains.

The people from Washington State are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent, and humorous, and they are going to travel the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of software."

Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, "But what about balance, God ? You said there would be balance."

God smiled, "There's another Washington . Wait till you see the idiots I put there.