Okay, what?  Friday already?  If yesterday's traffic is any indication, a lot of people have made this a five-day weekend, beginning on Canada Day.  We don't mind them - we'll take our vacation when it's warmer, thanks!

Hey, I wonder what our neighbours south of the border are going to do, in that tomorrow is their Independence Day?  Take today or Monday?  I'll have to check that out for today's show.  Interesting predicament.  I think I'd take Monday if it was up to me - Fridays are so much more fun.

I doubt you'll envy the way I spent my Thursday: three hours in the comfy chair of an affable tune-singin', drill-slingin' endodontist.  Yes, I had not one, not two, but three root canals thanks to some nasty teeth clenching that I do while I sleep (and sometimes during my waking hours, too) that has cracked and ruined some of them.  Rob says I do it to keep from screaming sometimes.  (If you saw my inbox some days, you'd scream too.  Or clench.  Or clench and then scream because you've cracked teeth.)

Anyway, let me tell you that root canal is not nearly as awful as those two words imply.  Back in the 1920's and onward, perhaps.  But in the past decade or so that I've been getting them (yes, I've had a few), it's been no more uncomfortable than, say, getting a filling.  Granted, I do have a pretty good pain threshold, but no greater than average, I'd say.  It helps when the person working on you sings along with the radio (CHFI, I'm glad to say) and is personable and good to the gentle and friendly staff who work with him.  There's a lot to be said for doctors who treat their co-workers with respect and kindness.

After nearly a day with temporary fillings in those holes they made to get at and get rid of the jangling nerves, I'm in my dentist's chair for two hours this morning after the show.  While the whole ordeal is substantial in terms of time, cost and discomfort, I'm just grateful not to be warming up salad and fruit any more (I'm not kidding) or nervous every time I bite down on something.  Although right now, the only thing I'm biting is the proverbial bullet in order to get this all done; it's a relief.  I'm grateful to live in a place where such care is available and the town blacksmith isn't my only option!

And didn't we have the nicest surprise after a long nap yesterday?  We awoke to a call and a message from a nice man telling us to look outside our condo door (we would talk with security, but the guy lives in our building!) as dinner had arrived.  Rob groggily asked me if I'd ordered dinner - I'd been online looking at restaurants that serve congee and dim sum at supper time - and I said, "No...."

Well, a lovely treat of rice wrapped in lotus leaf awaited us in a brown paper bag - courtesy of my partner, our neighbours, Mike and Debbie Cooper.  I laughed and then wolfed it (didn't eat the leaf, but I gave it some thought!) as I hadn't eaten since 7 am.  What a wonderful treat!  So thoughtful - so Cooper.  So, thank you!

Have a great weekend and we'll talk to you tomorrow at 9 am on our "best of" show, and again on Sunday at 6 pm.  Take care...and next time you're visiting him or her, ask your dentist about a night guard.  Might save you from finding out if I'm telling the truth about root canals - which I most definitely am!  (Besides, lying through my teeth might not be a good idea right now.)  Enjoy your weekend.

Erin