Good News - or - The Bright Side of Breaking a Tooth

About a week ago, part-way through Fortnight For Freedom and the local freedom rosary, I broke a tooth: one of the molars on the upper left side. It didn't hurt all that much, which is a good thing: this happened at the start of a weekend.

'Dr. Jim,' as the family calls Dr. Wachlarowicz, determined that what was left of the tooth could be salvaged - which isn't the way he put it. About a third of the tooth was gone, but what was left had a good anchorage - again, not the way he put it. I set up an appointment for a day in July, and life went on.

Last night, while cleaning my teeth, a loose filling in that broken tooth came out. Friday night, with the entire weekend ahead.

A few more pieces, and I'll have a 3-D puzzle. July 7, 2012.

Good news: that tooth still doesn't hurt, and it's actually easier to keep clean now. Even more good news: this break happened before repair work started. As an added bonus: I now have the start of a sort of 3=D puzzle.

I get what's left of the tooth attended to on Thursday of this week. I'm looking forward to that.

An almost-related post:

• "Planned Power Outage, Lots of Quiet, and Me"
  (June 28, 2012)
• "Fortnight For Freedom Wrapup: Photos and Weather"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (July 4, 2012)

Planned Power Outage, Lots of Quiet, and Me

A planned power outage took my webcam offline for most of yesterday. It's back, providing a look out the window at my corner of small town America. Literally. It's looking out the window, near my desk:

• "Small Town America: Central Minnesota"

I'd figured the power would be off for maybe two hours. That estimate was a little off.

The electrician cut power a little after 8:30 yesterday morning. Circuits started coming back online by mid-afternoon. It's an old house, previous owner(s) had been less than orderly about the electrical system: and I really should have known better.

It's been a big job. At one point, when the electrician and his son were sorting out the electrical panel, a mass of wires overhead looked like an unraveled high-tech bird's nest.

We expect to have power restored to the kitchen stove today. The 'original equipment' in the basement, feeding power to that appliance, needed to be replaced: and nobody can carry everything along in a truck.

With no electricity yesterday, the house was quiet. I was also unable to do the usual research and writing. It was nice, in a way. I spent a half-hour on the front stoop, making notes and enjoying the view. I also finished reading "Platitudes Undone" - a facsimile edition of a book discovered in a San Francisco bookstore. Someone had given G. K. Chesterton a book of 'intelligent' sayings: which Chesterton read, writing comments by most of them. I think it's funny. A 'serious thinker' reading the book might have another reaction.

Yesterday was a reminder of an age gone by: a time remembered fondly as an era of serenity, tranquility, and quiet contemplation.

The experience reminded me of why I like living in the Information Age.

Snapshots from Texas; or, Candles at a Trade Show

My son-in-law called last night, and we talked until it was early this morning. He's in Texas, at a trade show to let more folks know about Spiral Light Candles.

He sent two snapshots:


Bright lights, and folks looking at Spiral Light Candle products in Texas. June 2012.


Aaron McWilliams and candles. Lots of candles. The Spiral Light kind. June 2012.

With Aaron in Texas, and the factory not needing her attention over the weekend, #2 daughter spent some time Saturday with us: mostly with my wife and #3 daughter.

About those candles: they're unique, the McWilliams invented them, and you might find them in a store in your area. If not, they launched the Spiral Light Candle online store recently. You can check for retailers in your area on the website, too:

• Spiral Light Candle
  (SpiralLightCandle.com)
  • Find a Retailer
    (SpiralLightCandle.com/find-a-retailer)
  • Spiral Light Candle Store
    (shop.SpiralLightCandle.com)

Related posts:

• "Good Candles and Good Neighbors in North Dakota"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (June 16, 2012)
• "Candles in a Box, and an Online Video"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (June 15, 2012)
• "Spiral Light Candle's Online Store - Open"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (June 15, 2012)
• "A Quick Trip, a Factory, Candles: and Home at Last!"
  (May 25, 2012)
• "January 11, 2012 Spiral Light Candle Factory Construction: Photos"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (January 11, 2012)