I had my bad tooth pulled today. It doesn't really hurt. It isn't even throbbing, really. It's just uncomfortable. Oh, well. Maybe now I can get back into the building and get some things done.

And speaking of which ...

I bought some more epoxy tile today, but I don't know when I'll get to put it on. I might be working full time the rest of the week, and that will mean having less time to waste. I still have no idea how I might get an amp.

I haven't talked to Carmen since last Thursday, so I don't know what the deal is with the band.

And, lastly, I need to get to work on those portraits. I'm going to redraw the portrait of those kids, and I need to do the one of Whitey, Penny, and Scott Norwood's baby.

A little money, perhaps. A little progress. Who knows?

SUPPLEMENTARY

There is some debate as to whether or not I'll be able to work tomorrow. I'll freely admit that this tooth is sore, but I fail to see how they could think it's debilitating. Possibly because I've stayed in bed most of the day.

However, that's not what it seems. More than anything, I've been afraid to take chances on the tooth, expecting a great onslought of pain at any moment. Thank God it never came.

I think I'll mention that I nearly passed out at the dentist's office. He yanked the tooth out and they went about their business, putting their instruments away. I sat there for a moment, and I felt odd. I felt queasy right then, but figured I'd be alright. I took a deep breath and seemed to ease down a bit. However, at the front counter, as I was about to write out the check, I began to feel very dizzy. I told the receptionist this and she motioned me back into an office, getting me to sit down. I barely made it to the chair; was greying out, on the verge of a full black out, but I made it. I sat there for a few moments, wondering if I was going to be sick for a moment and even going as far as making that nervous cough you try to make instead of vomiting. Then the nurse came in with some ammonia tablets and took relish in shoving them under my nose, stunning me back into a sense of reality and normalcy. My feelings returned to normal. And I came home.

I wonder now if this spell was the result of some odd interaction with the anesthesia or whether it was a mild form of shock. It certainly wasn't comforting hearing the crack of bone as he pulled the tooth out, and even under anesthesia it was a rather violent affair. Who knows?

An interesting tidbit in a boring life. Perhaps nothing more. I hope this settles down soon. And I certainly hope it doesn't worsen. Right now I can open my mouth only partially. I've taken out the gauze they wanted me to keep over the wound, but then they mentioned no provisions beyond replacing it within 45 minutes of leaving the clinic. I really don't know if I was supposed to keep it in there or not.

Maybe I'll put some in before I go to bed. And hope it doesn't irritate, as the last bit seemed to be doing. (sigh) Oh, well.

In closing, I've spoken to Carmen. She wants me and her to go to a club to hear Rick this Friday. I told her I might, and I probably will, but I may not be able to stay long, citing the fact that I'll be working full time the rest of the week and, possibly, hopefully, from then on.

I must admit, there is much more to pacing oneself when going to work at 4:00am than I would have thought. The only thing I can conceive of would be to get about four hours sleep in the afternoons and about the same at night. Bert's done basically the same thing for years, so why not the kid?

We'll see. About everything. I am hopeful again. And that's a definite improvement.