Flossing For Fun

I have recently taken a fervent interest in flossing. I’ve never really flossed my teeth, despite what I tell my dentist. I have always felt that my teeth are too close together so flossing is literally a real pain. But ever since my last dentist appointment, I have been flossing like a maniac.

During this recent cleaning, the hygienist, who I have never met before, really went at my mouth with the floss. I was pretty sure she was going to slice right into my jaw bone with the string. It was actually quite painful. But when I got home and the pain had started to wear off, I sort of felt, what I am going to call a feeling of “floss-fit.” Like a nicotine fit where you just have to have a smoke, my gums were jonesing for more flossing.

Ever since that day, I have had at least a once daily floss-fit. Suddenly I have become the person who has floss in her purse. I have become the person who flosses at a red light while driving to work. I have always loathed the excessive mouth hygiene people, and now I am halfway to becoming one. At least I only brush my teeth once daily.

Aggressive Friendliness

I just got a spring cold and I am officially on the exciting and nauseating ride that is the cold medicine roller coaster. This afternoon, after my very satisfying Cinco de Mayo dollar tacos at El Azteca, I returned to the office feeling very bad. Chills, fever and overall aches; I was not happy. Then I took my cough medicine and waited for the relief to wash over me. I didn’t even realize that I was feeling better until I found myself walking down the hallway being aggressively friendly to relative strangers.

“Hey, how you doing?” I practically shouted in this guys face. He looked taken aback, but through his quick thinking was able to retort,

“Good, how about you?”

“Great!” I shouted back at him. “Thanks for asking!”

Just an hour ago I would have scowled, or at best ignored the guy. With my medicine I was practically ready to be best friends. Got to love the stuff.

This past summer my brothers and sister and family all got together for a week at the NJ beach. My sister in law Heidi, who I adore, is a born and raised Kentucky farm girl and she is aggressively friendly. As we walked around the little beach town she greeted every person we passed as if he was an old friend, which New Jersey folk don't really like and find suspicious. It was amazing to watch people step back, or stare at her or worst, just ignore her. It actually became a joke and we called her our "special" cousin from Kentucky.

I think it is kind of sad that being so friendly is seen as weird or uncouth. I enjoy the thought of a world full of Heidis, all smiling and asking "how ya doing?"

Where Will Shiitake Kickers Go next?

During the first season of kickball last year Cavin was visiting and came to watch a game. Sometime during that game I convinced the coach to give Cavin the one remaining Shiitake Kickers shirt with the promise that Shiitake Kickers t-shirt pictures would be taken in Vietnam.

Here is the most recent photo! Thanks Cavin and Sunshine!

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam