Useless Conversation

[murdoc]

That's a decent rule - it just doesn't make any sense to me to throw a party for them and they don't even know what's going on. If anything, they'll just be grumpy because they have no idea wtf is going and why all these other people are here and QUIT TOUCHING OUR TOYS.

At least it's supposed to be warm so I can just make everyone stay outside in the backyard.

[ghost]

I like the idea of a family only party.  That's what we're doing for our 2 year old this year.  At our older son's last b-day party we had it at a "bounce house" place and everyone got sicker than hell.  We won't be doing that again. 

[Yegolev]

Number of people at a birthday party will decline as time goes on because:
1. Soon enough you won't invite any girls, and won't be invited to their parties
2. Kids will want their friends, which becomes an actual friend list instead of a "people in my life" list as time moves on
3. Venues become the primary irritant, forcing parental lockdown on guests
4. Some parents show themselves as jackasses and are not invited
5. Some people decided they do not like your child(ren) and do not come if invited

EDIT:
Next party theme may be "The Peanut, White Bread, and Swimming Party".  Probably get down to about five kids.

[ghost]

Long before we got to that point you are describing, Yegolev, my parents decided they would just bribe me out of having parties.  They gave me the money that it would take to throw a party and I was perfectly fucking happy with it.  I think I was 7 or 8 when they went to that.  Hell, they probably only gave me 1/2 or 1/3 of it, but I didn't care. 

[Cyrrex]

Long before we got to that point you are describing, Yegolev, my parents decided they would just bribe me out of having parties.  They gave me the money that it would take to throw a party and I was perfectly fucking happy with it.  I think I was 7 or 8 when they went to that.  Hell, they probably only gave me 1/2 or 1/3 of it, but I didn't care. 

I daresay that explains a thing or two about you, Ghost.

Just kidding.  That's a totally awesome idea.

[proudft]

My dentist graduated from dental school in 1956.  I know the topic has moved on to kid parties, but every time I see that diploma on his wall, I boggle a little.

[ghost]

Back to dentistry, this is what you want to avoid:


Also, most of what you learn in dental school is out of date within 5 years.  That doesn't mean that someone that graduated in 1965 is out of date, but it means they have to do a lot of CE to keep up.

[murdoc]

Long before we got to that point you are describing, Yegolev, my parents decided they would just bribe me out of having parties.  They gave me the money that it would take to throw a party and I was perfectly fucking happy with it.  I think I was 7 or 8 when they went to that.  Hell, they probably only gave me 1/2 or 1/3 of it, but I didn't care. 

Oh, I am SO doing this.

We have a decent sized backyard (1/4 acre) so as long as the weather stays good, I'll survive.

If we have to move inside the house, there'll be trouble.

[Signe]

I had exactly ONE birthday party with my friends instead of my family.  I was 13, high school and university students crashed it, four windows were broken, someone fell off the roof and broke their arm, my dog bit three people, the police came and the next morning we found alcohol and drugs in our garage.  Well, they found the alcohol, I found most of the drugs. Le Yay!  I had fun but I was, again, grounded for life.  It wasn't even my fault!  One problem with growing up in a very woodsy area is that you can't see ANYTHING outside the house's lighting.  We had a quite a lot of acreage, a detached garage and loads of trees and areas hidden from view.  My poor parents had no idea what the fuck was going on around them. 

[Ingmar]

I also want a GP who is in better shape than me.

Find a woman GP.  They tend to be more attentive, listen better, and doing general practice because they want to rather than because they barely finished medical school.

Every woman GP I've ever been to is a cranky old Chinese woman who doesn't believe anything I tell her and interrupts me all the time and makes disapproving clicking noises at me.

Granted, it's a sample size of one.  

==============

My current dental dilemma, is hot chick thinks I should do invisalign on my lower front teeth to fix some crowding as she thinks it will clear up some swelling I get in the gums there. The dilemma part is, it would cost me $3600. Not really sure what to do on that front. The prior dentist had mentioned it as an option but didn't really press it, but I'm starting to get the impression he was kind of a sucky dentist as I've had 2 of his fillings break on me now, and hot chick refused to comment on her opinion of the work he'd done that she'd seen since taking over.

[Lantyssa]

That means she doesn't want to say anything bad about it.  If it was good work, she'd say so

[Ingmar]

Oh I know. Too bad, he was a nice guy. Although he had one habit I really hate in dentists, where he wants to have a conversation while he's working on your teeth, where he actually wants me to respond, so he has to take his hands out of the mouth so I can talk, etc., which makes the visit even longer and is just annoying.

[Merusk]

If you don't go with the vanity braces, what's the price come down to?

[WayAbvPar]

Oh I know. Too bad, he was a nice guy. Although he had one habit I really hate in dentists, where he wants to have a conversation while he's working on your teeth, where he actually wants me to respond, so he has to take his hands out of the mouth so I can talk, etc., which makes the visit even longer and is just annoying.

That drives me fucking insane. Give me some headphones (or let me bring my own) and leave me the fuck alone while you do your thing.

[ghost]

That's actually a pretty reasonable price for Invisalign, but you have to be careful what you're getting.  There are some big differences in treatment levels depending on what they sign up for, I.e. full treatment versus minor movement of just a few teeth.  If you're getting the full treatment that price is a steal (particularly where you live), which leads me to believe this person has no idea what they are doing.  Also, be prepared for significant narrowing of your lower teeth with Invisalign, particularly if it is limited Invisalign.  

 In reality, a little lower crowding is not going to be an issue for you long term.  The research doesn't support the notion that you'll be more at risk for periodontal disease or cavities. So it would be an elective thing.  What is going to clear up the swelling you have in your lower teeth is religious   flossing.  If you want to take a picture of your lower teeth and PM it to me I'd be more than happy to give you an unofficial friendly opinion.  

To answer your question in an oblique way, Merusk, the price for this dentist would probably be much higher for regular braces because she would have no idea what she was doing and would not keep a stock of regular orthodontic appliances.  Invisalign is like crack to GPs because they think it is easy and they don't have to jack their overhead up by carrying a stock of appliances.  They just fill out a lab slip, send it in and get everything back.  

[Ingmar]

My insurance does cover part of it, the $3600 is the out of pocket. Thanks for the feedback, I will ponder some more.

[Merusk]

To answer your question in an oblique way, Merusk, the price for this dentist would probably be much higher for regular braces because she would have no idea what she was doing and would not keep a stock of regular orthodontic appliances.  Invisalign is like crack to GPs because they think it is easy and they don't have to jack their overhead up by carrying a stock of appliances.  They just fill out a lab slip, send it in and get everything back.  

I was thinking Orthodontist, not dentist. If I'm getting tooth realignment I'm going to a specialist not a GP, no offense.

  My sister is doing the inside-of-bite braces right now as it was cheaper than the alternatives.

[Ingmar]

I think there's a staff orthodontist as well, I'll ask if that's who would be doing the work.

[Yegolev]

Back to dentistry,

[RhyssaFireheart]

Microsoft One Note is fantastic.

[ghost]

I think there's a staff orthodontist as well, I'll ask if that's who would be doing the work.

I'm an orthodontist, so if you want to ask me questions feel free.  It's what I do.   

[ghost]

To answer your question in an oblique way, Merusk, the price for this dentist would probably be much higher for regular braces because she would have no idea what she was doing and would not keep a stock of regular orthodontic appliances.  Invisalign is like crack to GPs because they think it is easy and they don't have to jack their overhead up by carrying a stock of appliances.  They just fill out a lab slip, send it in and get everything back.  

I was thinking Orthodontist, not dentist. If I'm getting tooth realignment I'm going to a specialist not a GP, no offense.

  My sister is doing the inside-of-bite braces right now as it was cheaper than the alternatives.

~80% of Invisalign is done by general dentists.  That's a great fee your sister is getting .  The laboratory fee alone for lingual braces can be 2-3,000 dollars. 

[Viin]

Microsoft One Note is fantastic.

I thought so too, but then I realized I still couldn't find anything. Good idea, but I think something is missing to really take the cake .. just not sure what that is.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Microsoft One Note is fantastic.

I thought so too, but then I realized I still couldn't find anything. Good idea, but I think something is missing to really take the cake .. just not sure what that is.

Shhh!  I just started using it.  Don't crush my hopes yet!

[Selby]

My boys turn 2 today and apparently 45 people are coming to a birthday party on Saturday, which I think is goddamn ridiculous.

Don't get me started on this bullshit.  My ex wife did this to our kid's first, second, and third birthdays.  Cleanup on the first 2 was solely me since everyone else was shit-faced until 2PM the next day.  Luckily she's my now ex and living in another state, so I just fly in, enjoy the festivities, spend quality time with my son and leave the next day (leaving her slob boyfriend to deal with the mess).

[ghost]

That sounds relatively depressing Selby. 

[Cyrrex]

But only relatively, Selby.  All the denistry talk?  Now that is REALLY depressing.

 

[Merusk]

I figure these didn't belong in the awesome photos thread but wanted to share since I know there's some GWAR fans around here.

http://www.facebook.com/ZiegelmeyerPhotography

Most current are shots from their concert a little while ago from a really good local concert photographer.  He's worth browsing for more than the GWAR photos.

[Signe]

Estate Agents.     I had scheduled one flat viewing on Tuesday and three on Wednesday.  I just received an email saying that the flat on Wednesday is no longer available so the viewing is canceled.  It goes on to tell me to meet the agent on the same day at the same place and at the same time as was originally scheduled.  I'm so confused.  It states nowhere which viewing was canceled and why they're telling me to meet them where I was supposed to meet them anyway.  I think they have their own language!  Maybe even their own little world.

[Murgos]

I think they have their own language!  Maybe even their own little world.

Both is certainly true.  The thing to realize about most real estate agents is that they have no skill other than showing you something you probably could have found yourself if you had the time.

[Paelos]

I once compared Real Estate agents to hookers, but then I realized hookers provide an actual service.

[ghost]

Buyer's agents at least drive you around to look at houses.  Seller's agents don't do a damned thing other than put your shit on the internet, as far as I can tell. 

[Paelos]

Realtors literally add nothing to the economy. They don't provide a real service, they create no product, and they siphon cash out of a system where they are completely unnecessary.

[Sky]

I've toyed with the idea of getting a license and getting into exclusive buyer agency. There aren't any around here, and mixed agency is a mess of interest conflicts imo. Problem is, it's a bitch to make money when you are honest about houses and it's commission based.

I was lucky to have a girl who likes research and looking at houses, we did almost everything ourselves and still have a firm grasp of property values pretty much everywhere in our area.

[Signe]

It's not even going to be my flat, although I'll be living here.  It's for my flatmate.  I WISH I could afford a flat in Central London.  In any case, my effort to be useful is becoming undermined by useless, rabid estate agents.  Unfortunately for us, these flats are exclusive to the agent so if I think they look good, I have no recourse but to deal with them.  I actually emailed them and asked for clarification and they responded with a new, totally confusing email.  They said to meet them at one flat on Tuesday at 6:30 PM and in the very next sentence told me to meet them on Tuesday at 6:30 at a different flat!  GAH!!!  Here is the motherfucking cocksucking goatroping email:

Dear Signe,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I would like to confirm that the apartment that is no longer available is the property at The Perspective Building.

 

I would also like to confirm you have two viewings arranged next week:

Tuesday 18:30pm at Lizman House.

Tuesday 18:30 at St George Wharf.

 

Please do meet Oliver at the concierge at St George Wharf on Wednesday.

 

Thank you and please do not hesitate to contact me should there be anything else I can help you with.

 

With kind regards

Megan Carmichael
Enquiry Negotiator

WTF is a "enquiry negotiator"?

I want to cry.