A-OK at the Periodontist

Had a great compliment today. Hadn't been to the periodontist in about 8 months. Went today for a check up and cleaning and he told me that my gums are "surprisingly good" and then later upgraded them to "amazing." Wow! I have amazing gums. But I figure a periodontist assessing my gums as amazing is as good as it gets.

Of course, it wasn't without a bump. My appointment was 10:30 and I got there about 10:23 -- I sound obsessive, but I entered the lobby at 10:20 so it was pretty good timing. I only sat there for a minute and I was called in. I was walking to the elevator to leave when I looked at my phone and it was 10:54. When I went to pay, it was $400. I really started to laugh. I was not expecting that. I think the BS is that it's not "just" a teeth cleaning, but a periodontal exam or some such.

Anyway, I decided I got off cheap and that I'd vamoose before he changed his mind about how amazing my gums are.  I had said no to a whole bunch of dental work 8 months ago -- to the tune of $25,000 to which the dentist I was seeing at the time would gladly arrange credit for me -- sure... and I just said no. So today, the periodontist said, "You want to just maintain, is that right?" and I said yes. I don't need to reinvent the wheel in my mouth and do stuff that's "nice to do" -- especially for $25K. He also had noted that the place where a molar was extracted had "healed quite well."

So on with the show:

Traveling down Fifth Avenue toward Central Park South. The beautiful snow is gone, replaced by muddy, dirty, gray snow. Where the heck does all that dirt come from?

Looking across Central Park and it really still can look grand and beautiful.

Grand and beautiful until you see the reality of dirty, melting snow.

Central Park South.

You know, I've never done a carriage ride, but today might have been a good day for one -- very mild. I so enjoy the clip clopping of the horses, but at the same time I feel sort of bad for them.

This is the same car I photographed on Sunday, so I guess its owner was right in not trying to dig it out. You can see by the snow on the roof that extends to the windshield that this car has not been touched.

And the garbage continues to pile up.

Home again and I have to show off my periodontal goodie bag. He has started putting the stuff in these clear plastic cases which have a red zipper closing. Sure beats the cheap plastic bag with the dancing, smiling tooth on it. I always ask for extras. Not shy about it. I may have to pay $400, but I'm getting something for it! I thought this case was very chic, so much better than the plastic bag.