Have dragged down my musty old electric blanket that I bought during my Trinity days from the depths of my closet and set it up on my bed. Mmm...artificial heat. I used to hate it because it felt so fake but now I'd take anything warm - artificial, natural, anything!

Been attempting to clean up my room (a perpetual attempt, seeing that once I get it 'perfect' I destroy that state instantaneously by throwing something on the floor or cluttering up my desk again. Apparently it's a perfectionist's way of facing the world - or so a book I've read has said.

Also, have realized that when I eat oranges I get ulcers and when I don't - I don't. Which is a shame, because I love oranges.

Songs that are stuck in my head:

It's Alright, It's Okay - I'm so much better without you - I won't be sorry.

Love Struck - I'm crazy for you, and just like a fool - there's no way I can stop stop stop my desire!

Yes, I'm slowly reverting back to my 13 year old teenage girl self.

Is It All Worth It?

So here I am all alone in a small country town on a rainy weekend with a sore throat, a headache, a very active, pessimistic imagination and a 7 month old puppy who decided it would be a good idea to chew through my AUD120 laptop charger. Super start to the weekend, no?

I'm tired of having to do everything myself. Tired of being a single mom to my dog. Tired of having to be a responsible adult. Tired of having to go to work even though I'm feeling so unwell I can hardly get out of bed. In short, tired of being grown up. And since Milton is such a handsome little boy I'm sure some family out there somewhere would be more than happy to welcome him into their home, where there will be numerous people to take care of him - not just Me, Myself and I.

"We told you so!" Many people are probably crowing at me right now. "We told you a dog was nothing but a burden and you couldn't handle it, didn't we? Refused to listen to us, didn't you? Well, it's all your doing, Dental Girl. *smirk*"

The only thing stopping me from selling him right here and right now is the fear that one day my situation will change and I will have more time and energy for a dog and realize he's gone. And I'll regret not persevering just that little bit more. Even now, just thinking about the possibility of it is already making me cry.

So Milton gets to stay. Again.

Many times I've been awake at night wondering what the hell am I even doing here.

"Making a living," I tell myself firmly in the dark. "Because that's what adults do, Dental Girl. They do what they don't want to do, be where they don't want to be and pay bills. So get over yourself and go to sleep because tomorrow you have patients to see, dentures to fit and teeth to extract."

Story of my current life.

Chills

Went to work today and shivered all through the entire day.

It was freezing. Or it felt like it. As I was obturating my root canal my hand was shaking as I inserted more accessory points. As I talked to my patients I was shaking.

Anyway, there are two theories: I'm either eating too much heaty food - thus got myself sick - or I've been 'chilled' because I haven't been wearing appropriate clothing in this cold weather.

What do you think?

Sweet Tooth

This is what me, a qualified dentist who lectures people on the dangers of sugar has on her bedside table.

No. 4 - Get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

No. 96 - Buy a Sony Bravia

Bought myself a TV to celebrate 3 months of working. Love it - my computer monitor was larger than my previous tv so you can imagine what a huge difference it makes to my tv-watching experience now.



Next step? Foxtel.

Frigid

Was rudely awakened by Milton at 6am, demanding to be let out so that he could have his morning pee.

It was freezing. Checked out the weather and turns out last night it went down to 0.5 Celcius. And it's not even winter yet!

Cold and miserable.

Uneasiness

I'm never really fully at ease these days. Even during my weekends off my mind drifts automatically to dentistry.

I'll be worrying if the dentures I made are going to fit when they come back. Wondering if the patient that had trouble numbing up the last time will do the same the next time they come back. Hoping that no dry sockets occur. Hoping that the deep filling that I did doesn't turn into irreversible pulpitis.

Etc etc.

I know I shouldn't but I can't help it.

Raspberry Jam

Went to the Violet Town Market yesterday and bought some raspberry jam. Really good raspberry jam.

Stuffed myself with several peanut butter and jam sandwiches because of it.

So. Full.

Easter Weekend

Finally, 4 solid days of doing nothing.

By doing nothing I mean 3 loads of laundry, cleaning up the house, unpacking the last 2 boxes of unpacked things in my house, give Milton his weekly bath, cook meals for the next week and look for a toaster.

That said, being alone this weekend isn't all that fun. Luckily Milton is around.

An Evening Walk

Brought Milton out for a walk and met a Blenheim Cavalier a month younger than Milton.

He was bigger than Milton although Milton was older, which made me really happy - that means that the breeder did not lie - Milton will be on the small side!! Yippee!!

Anyway, while we were talking a Cocker Spaniel bounded up to us. A boy soon came on his pushbike, panting.

Boy: He's escaped out of the house again! *gasp*

Dog continued to elude the poor boy for a good 15 minutes. Reminds me of the time when my dogs back home in Malaysia escaped from the house and I, too, had to retrieve a dog that was running away. A highly unpleasant and embarassing task.

Saturday Afternoons and Sundays

I used to think that living in Batu Pahat was a sad thing. Such a small town! That was until I moved here.

This is a small town. The town centre comprises of 4 streets (I won't go so far as to say it's a 1 street town, that would be Glenrowan) and the only places that are open during the weekend are the grocery stores and the Reject Shop.

Sometimes I admit I go slightly crazy because of it.

After much indecision I finally decided not to go back to Melbourne in the end. Spent the day sleeping (14 hours, best sleep ever - and cleaning up the house and planning grocery lists.

Still have like 3 loads of laundry to do and Milton's corner to be sorted out.

Easter is coming up. Looking forward to the 4 day weekend - not that I would be doing anything in particular. Probably going to go to the Violet Town Market, which is supposed to be the best during the Easter weekend. And spend time cooking.

Milton's Handiwork

Pictures are worth more than a thousand words.

Glenrowan

Glenrowan - the place where Ned Kelly was finally captured is pretty close where I am now. Therefore, we decided to go down to see what was actually there.

It's a one street town but it had some pretty interesting souvenirs. Like these:


Ned Kelly's Helmet/Visor Thingie


Ned Kelly Puppet


Ned Kelly Jam



And in the town centre (mind you, the town was pretty much 2 blocks of shops), there is a huge statue of Ned Kelly.

The end.

17 MO

Finished work on Wednesday and felt a twinge in my 17.

Reflected that I have not had a checkup recently and was a bit worried. After all, I do eat snakes (of the confectionery variety, not actual snakes) in between patients to keep my energy and sugar levels up.

Got home and got my housemate (also a dentist) to have a look.

She: You have a stained fissure. Looks carious. Probably needs a filling.
Me: ...You're kidding?!!
She: Nope. Definitely something going on there.

Got into work today and asked my boss to please please please have a look at it. Took a set of bitewings and got an exam.

No caries - only a hypomineralized mesial pit on my 17.

Now that I know that there's no decay, I'm going back to my high sugar diet.

Woohoo!!

Husband Parking

Was in Bright a few weeks ago and this shop had heaps of American Christmas decorations.




They were very well equipped too - with a designated bench outside the shop for people who weren't interested:

No. 65 - Grow A Vegie Patch

Went out to buy some seedlings to lay out our winter vegetables.


Here's our vegie patch:


And the various vegetables we've decided to cultivate.






Hoping they all live. Nay, thrive