Still bringing the journal up to date …
Tuesday night I was eating … something … and a crown popped off, the one they installed last Nov 1. I think it may have been due to my gum chewing. The gum hadn’t been sticking to the tooth, but occasionally when it was on that side of my mouth I would feel a brief “zing”, like chewing tinfoil … or the zing I feel when they install a crown, apparently from the cement on the tooth. It was after 5, but fortunately the dentist is open till 6 on Tuesday so I called quickly, managed to get a next-day appointment. I was in and out in 20 minutes, with the crown reinstalled. Just to be safe I’m going to give up the xylitol gum — but only after I’m done with the 600 or so pieces I still have — until then I will try to chew it just long enough to get the xylitol out, then spit it out.
Got a phone mount for the car, attaches to an air vent. Magnetic, comes with a metal disc that attached to the inside of my phone case. Works well enough, now I can see Google Maps at a glance (can’t think of any other reason for looking at my phone while in the car).
Very cool weekend forecast, 70 on Saturday, 71 on Sunday, 81 on Monday … then hot again for many days. I plan to get out tomorrow morning and start hacking away at the weed patch. Learned about a website called Chip Drop, where you can arrange for tree services to drop a load of mulch in your driveway. Kind of unpredictable, but many report receiving 15-20 yards of mulch. That would be plenty for the weed patch, I think. Not sure I can get it arranged before I leave for Texas, but worth a try.
The pickup truck that M bought needed repairs, she left the truck here and C arranged for them. I told C I would pick up the repair tab, knowing they weren’t in M’s budget, but she apparently left him a check which he used to pay the bill. I just chatted her to say I was still happy to pay for the repairs. She’ll likely turn me down (“oh, you don’t need to do that …”) but I hope she accepts.
Rewatched Alex Gibney’s Going Clear, about Scientology. Great documentary maker. Maybe I should just resign myself to mostly rewatching old stuff, there’s so much that is good, and the newer stuff doesn’t seem to be doing much for me. Except Furiosa, need to watch that again! And Civil War comes on HBO next week.
Finally up to date, I think! At least nothing else I can remember is worth writing about.
In my ear wax research I learned about steam distilled water (acidic pH, so good for ears), found none in town but Meijer in Lexington had some. Also have been wanting more Red Boat fish sauce for kimchi, so I decided to make the trip. Stopped first at the Kentucky Arboretum, part of UK, right next to the football stadium (but parking is free). Only stayed half an hour or so, it was already getting warm, but it is a very pleasant spot. Not nearly as elaborate as the NC Arboretum, but well kept with lots of native plants. I need to study a map, go with a plan next time. It costs about $6 in gas round trip to Lexington, so I won’t be making casual visits, but not so costly that I couldn’t make regular ones if that seems enjoyable.
I had already booked three nights at Guadalupe Mountans NP (Pine Springs campground) preceding the upcoming two weeks in Terlingua — still want to make two leisurely tours of Carlsbad Caverns on successive days, tried twice so far but thwarted both times. But I wanted to extend the trip to three full weeks, so I looked around and settled on a four-night stay at Jemez Falls campground outside Los Alamos (would have done five but no good spots available). It’s a six hour drive from there to Pine Springs, so I’ll arrive in good time to set up camp. Plan for now is to use the three days there to explore Santa Fe, Taos, maybe Los Alamos.