where are you from?

Today was one of my favorite days of the year.  I got to go to the dentist.  I LOOOOOVE the dentist.  My favorite part is the scrapey metal tartar removal instruments.  I had a 7:30 appointment (too early!).  The waiting room was air conditioned, so I FROZE.  I'm definitely not used to A/C after 3 years in England.  A/C is nonexistent here for the most part.  This is okay since there are probably only about 2 weeks out of the year where it would provide a welcome relief.  I digress.

When I was little I was really scared of the dentist.  He was a big, scary MAN with a very deep voice.  Okay, in reality Dr. Czoik was a very average size man but he scaaaaaared me.  I've definitely gotten over that and look forward to my dentist appointments now.  *the uncle sam poster is for my husband since i'm the flossing police in our house*

Today my dentist asked me where I was from.  My usual answer to this question is, "Minnesota and Colorado".  Sometimes I expound and explain that I was raised in MN and then moved to CO after I finished school.  Usually, if I have a connection with someone it's about CO.  Because MN isn't really an area of the country that is steeped in military tradition, I don't come across many people from the motherland as often as I did with individuals who have CO ties that have either to do with having lived there or having had an AF Academy connection.

Today my dentist walked in.  She couldn't have been much older than I am.  She was a cutie.  Very friendly.  She asked me where I was from.  I gave her the usual answer.  Surprisingly, her response was, "Minnesota?"  I gave a bit more information.  "Yes, I was raised in MN - I went to school in St. Paul."  I was surpised and what she said next, "Where?"  Thinking "trust me, you have no idea where" I started doing my general-to-specific explaination.  "An hour an a half west of Minneapolis."  Usually that's enough information for someone because few people know much about anything other than Minneapolis/St. Paul.  She asked again.  I said, "um, between Willmar and Hutchinson?"  Turns out that my dentist grew up in Elbow Lake!  Small world. . .

SPEAKING OF TOOTHBRUSHES. . .  Can I just say that I'm looking forward to the convenience of US shopping for ammenities?  Seriously, the BX (the pathetic attempt at a small walmart type place that is on military bases) is so pathetic.   They carry nothing.  I was so frustrated last week.  I bought a new electric toothbrush when I got over here.  It was time to buy new toothbrush heads.  They only had one Sonicare design of toothbrush heads - I figured it was the type that matched the only Sonicare toothbrushes that they sold?  No.  Of course not.  $28 dollars later I was stuck with two toothbrush heads for a toothbrush that they don't even carry AND no way to get a new toothbrush head for another two weeks.  Lame. (mom can you use e series standard sonicare heads for any of the pearson toothbrushes??)

In other news - I gave a recovery talk to the patients at work today (it was appropriate since I am leaving in two weeks, moving to a different country and will probably never ever work with any of these individuals in a professional capacity again). I was really nervous but it went well. I don't mind talking about it or even public speaking (actually something I'd be happy to do more of) but it's a different game sharing in the place I've worked for 3 years with my patients.