bierkergaard

Well, Dad's 80th Birthday Party was a smashing success. The setting for the celebration was the family Cabin up in upstate NY. Back before 9-11, from a trail close to the camp, one could see the Twin Towers in the distance. The camp was originally created by my grandparent's generation from the German Fatherland in the 1950s (my Father's parents immigrated from Germany in the aftermath of WWI) as a place to come to escape the non-AC summer swelter of some big city. Close enough to get to for the weekend, far enough away to feel like the city was left behind. Very German to have a small place in the country to relax away from the maddening pace of modern life. I have been coming to the Cabin since the early 1970's and have many positive memories of the place. The lake has been decreed by the powers that be to be pristine. People are not allowed out on the lake period. So, rather than being over-run by yahoos drinking beer and jet skiing, the lake is unperturbed. O...

I was visiting the Dentist's office this week for my 6 month cleaning and check-up. Besides the Soft Rock and Pop music which makes me want to puke, going to the Dentist for me is a fairly perfunctory affair. No drills or shots usually. I have one cavity and age 52 that is pretty good. I have hard teeth. Must be the same reason I have a hard head. Ever since the 1970's, going to the Dentist has only been to clean the choppers. I miss the spittoons and don't dig that sucker of saliva instrument because the grit the Hygienist uses to clean the teeth doesn't clear up well with the sucking action. Better to spew it from my mouth. I never follow the typical every six-month protocol for X-Rays. I learned during my visit that I am either going to have to comply with the X-Ray protocol or switch Dentists. The office has a rule that all patients must get X-Rays at least once every three years. Oh well, I fought the good fight. I just don't like the idea of radiation ...