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[mtmerrick]

Molar yanked out. Face regaining feeling. I'll take a picture in a little while.

[Carl-E]

Oh, just a molar? 

I was really hoping for soomething that showed when you smiled...   

[mtmerrick]

It's really hard to take a picture of...

And yeah, my bottom right jaw, last molar before the wisdom teeth.

God my jaw is sore.

[Patrick]

This is a little GIF heavy, so be warned. But this is basically all of my feels ever, in one convenient page.

[Akima]

This is a little GIF heavy, so be warned. But this is basically all of my feels ever, in one convenient page.

I'm more of a FOB than a TCK, but I relate...

[LTK]

Hearing loss update: Had an MRI scan done. "Now I am full of gadolinium." Getting the results next week, but they're not expecting to find anything.

The prednisone didn't help, and since it's been two weeks since the hearing loss onset, there's little to no chance of it getting any better now. Which sucks. Surprisingly, my other ear picks up on the echoes from my right side well enough, so I'm not severely handicapped. The only time problems arise is when I hear a sound that I can't see (no audiolocation) or when someone's talking to me to my right in a noisy environment.

Also, since today I'm hearing an occasional clicking sound in my deaf ear. That's different from the usual tinnitus.

I hear there's an Australian company that makes good cochlear implants...

[pwhodges]

Will you be putting the concert on line?

See the Choral Music thread in Band.

[Carl-E]

Also, since today I'm hearing an occasional clicking sound in my deaf ear. That's different from the usual tinnitus.

That is unusual.  Could be signals leaking through a damaged nerve, or it could just be your brain adjusting to not receiving anything through that path any more.  You may want to follow up on that sooner rather than later. 

By the way, have you ever suffered from TMJ issues?  You can have a problem with it that doesn't seem all that severe, but if the joint slips far enough, the mandible can impinge and damage the inner ear and otic nerve.  Although that would probably show up on the MRI...

[Jace]

So either someone nabbed the package that was delivered today by fedex or they left it at a different door, I missed it, or my neighbors grabbed it. Hoping for any of those instead of it being stolen.

[LTK]

By the way, have you ever suffered from TMJ issues?  You can have a problem with it that doesn't seem all that severe, but if the joint slips far enough, the mandible can impinge and damage the inner ear and otic nerve.  Although that would probably show up on the MRI...

I don't have what Wikipedia describes as temporomandibular joint dysfunction - I've never had any pain - but my jaw does click on the right side, which the internet tells me is related:

Most likely, your jaw clicks when you open and close because the mandibular condyle (the top of your jaw bone near your skull) is sliding off and on the temporomandibular disc (a little piece of cartilage that cushions your jawbone against your skull). This makes a clicking sound. This clicking is seen in a large percentage of patients that have no pathology and require no treatment.

It's been doing that for the last five years at least, but I'll notify the GP anyway.

Also, yesterday my mother told me that her father used to have Menière's disease, which is also a disease of the inner ear. The symptoms don't fit mine, but still, that would have been nice to know earlier...

[pwhodges]

I don't have what Wikipedia describes as temporomandibular joint dysfunction - I've never had any pain - but my jaw does click on the right side,

I have a jaw that clicks on one side.  At one time it also had a tendency to get out of alignment and jam, which could be painful if it caught before I straightened it out.  A dental hospital gave me exercises which improved the muscles controlling the jaw position, and it's been no real trouble since (I do the exercises occasionally to this day).

[lepetitfromage]

It's really amazing how much your jaw and ear are related. When I was first being diagnosed with TMJ, my dentist put his fingers in my ears and told me to bite down. My jaw crunched his fingertips.

I've been fitted for a repositioning splint and have been wearing it for about 8 months now. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes. Your issue may or may not be related to TMJ, but clicking is usually one of the first signs and if it IS related, it can't hurt to see a specialist.

Best of luck with everything, LTK.

[pwhodges]

I rearranged my office at the weekend; basically I exchanged my organ console and my desk (where the computer is).  This has led to my desk being optimally placed within the square of speakers, so that the front ones are now actually in front of me and so sound decent for stereo mixing, and my chair is pretty much at the centre of the square for optimal surround listening (I do most of my recording in surround).  It's also reduced the amount of storage I can fit in (two room corners are now dead), but made what does fit more easily accessible - so that'll be a nett improvement when I've removed enough stuff to somewhere else to make it work.

[Masterpiece]

Been trying to reach the comic & forums for the entire day, only started working just now. Which is super mean because I had intermittent access to forums and read something about ClairexMarten and got excited.

In other news, I am kinda busy packing up. I'm moving into a new place this weekend and I'm super stressed with all the necessary work I have now. It doesn't help that I have exams in a week. It's still exciting though. I got to paint a room for the first time in my life!

(click to show/hide)

[pwhodges]

Been trying to reach the comic & forums for the entire day, only started working just now.

See here

[KingOfIreland]

Holy fucking shit, I passed all my exams!

[pwhodges]

Well done!  But that is what you were aiming to do, yes?

So what do you get to choose to do now?

[KingOfIreland]

Basically, I can finally sign up for the rest of my subjects and finish my bachelor's in a year and a half to two depending on whether I feel like working hard all summer too!  Screw teacher training, back to academics!

[Carl-E]

Another one saved! 

I'm always torn when an intelligent person gives up teaching.  We need more of them, but you could certainly do better...

[Radical AC]

I have a friend from high school and uni that moved to Minnesota to teach.  She spent probably $10,000 getting licensed and competitive.  Today she told me she realized she doesn't want to teach anymore.  A bit better situation than getting a BA with a bunch of loans and having no idea what to do next, but it kind of sucks.

So, in insurance there are claims processors and reps.  Either position has the same requirements to get hired.  I am a processor and make $8000 a year less than the reps.  I took the rep examination today and passed on my first try with a 91%.  The only rep that passed it on his first time got an 81%.  The other two took 3 and 4 attempts at the test to get the 70% required to pass.  Reps deal with liability and have a bit more authority in the workplace.  I wouldn't mind if it wasn't so apparent that I am overqualified for my position and making way less money than I should.  My downfall was not knowing anyone in the company or having family here when I was applying.  I can't complain too much since it is a decent job, doesn't pay bad, and gives me all the insurance I need to manage my type 1 diabetes (not having a job with insurance is a health hazard when you have a chronic illness like mine).  I just hope I get promoted fast, I even scored higher than one of my trainers that took it.  I really want to get into corporate lobbying if I stay with the company for a few years.  They make mad bank, my degree is pretty much perfectly suited for it (Poly Sci with an emphasis on US Law and political philosophy), and I am really interested in it.  Plus, it is an insurance company so I wouldn't have to try and pass bad bills that hurt people or the environment.  But, that is neither here nor there.  Just mildly bitter I have to defer to people who are worse than me at their job (Welcome to corporate America?).

[bainidhe_dub]

So this is what I did on the Fourth of July...

Professional show in Suffolk, Virginia with 2.5" shells and cakes.

[Akima]

Just mildly bitter I have to defer to people who are worse than me at their job (Welcome to corporate America?).

Welcome to the world. Especially if you are female, but I think it is a universal condition. I remind myself that it is all billable hours...

[Emoroffle]

Dear blog: I have developed an intense craving for Chinese and all the Chinese food places in the city have closed by this hour. I suppose I'll hit up the Mexican place nearby instead. Yes, I could cook something instead. Yes I know it's healthier. Stop giving me that disappointed look...

[mtmerrick]

I could never condemn you for that. Chinese food is one of the good things in life, in fact, now that my mouth is feeling good enough to eat now, I actually saw a Chinese restaurant and had to order an eggroll. Just one. Just because.

[cesium133]

I haven't had good Chinese food in a long time. There are only a couple Chinese restaurants near here, and they suck.

[KingOfIreland]

Another one saved! 

I'm always torn when an intelligent person gives up teaching.  We need more of them, but you could certainly do better...

Yeah, teachers are definitely in short supply, but the teacher training in this country is essentially worthless. If I want to teach, I can always take a year or two off and teach English in India or somewhere in South America (A dream of mine).

[mtmerrick]

One of my uncles is in the process of dumping mechanical engineering for teaching, because it pays more, has fewer hours, and more benefits. 

[Barmymoo]

I have a disgusting cold. Tomorrow 18 people arrive and I have to be cheery and sociable and switched-on and informative and keen, from 10am til 11.30pm, and then I get to do it again every day until August. The latter would be much more bearable but for the former.

[Redball]

Once you switch on, you'll be fine.

[CardinalFang]

So this is what I did on the Fourth of July...

Professional show in Suffolk, Virginia with 2.5" shells and cakes.

Wait, you were right nearby? Dammit!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[bainidhe_dub]

Was I? I didn't know you were down in that area! The show was at Ebenezer Church in... Crittenden, I guess? Right by the Nansemond River.

[CardinalFang]

Was I? I didn't know you were down in that area! The show was at Ebenezer Church in... Crittenden, I guess? Right by the Nansemond River.

I live in Norfolk. In any event I spent the fourth at my cousin's in Williamsburg so I wouldn't have been able to go to Suffolk anyway. Still good to know for next time.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[Lines]

Yeah, teachers are definitely in short supply, but the teacher training in this country is essentially worthless.

As someone with the training, no, the training is not worthless. I had a very valuable experience in school. Just because the system is fucked up doesn't mean training is worthless. Also, if you want to go teach English in a foreign country, do it! I have a friend who has spent the last several years in Japan doing just that and she loves it. Another couple I know just moved to Malaysia to do the same thing. I've never heard of these experiences being bad ones.

[Barmymoo]

Ugh. I felt too full of cold to go running this morning. I'm feeling better now - but it's nearly 30 degrees (80F for you furriners). That is far too hot for me to go running, especially since I don't have any suitable running t shirts. It's not going to drop below 20 until midnight. I think my best option is to go really early tomorrow before breakfast, when it'll be more like 17 degrees and bearable. I dissolve in heat, it's horrific, and I don't have a large enough water bottle to carry what I'd lose in sweat running now.

Yuck. Everything seems to be conspiring against me at the moment. Unless... I wonder if my old college would let me use the gym? I might ring them and ask.

[lepetitfromage]

Yeah, teachers are definitely in short supply, but the teacher training in this country is essentially worthless.

As someone with the training, no, the training is not worthless. I had a very valuable experience in school. Just because the system is fucked up doesn't mean training is worthless. Also, if you want to go teach English in a foreign country, do it! I have a friend who has spent the last several years in Japan doing just that and she loves it. Another couple I know just moved to Malaysia to do the same thing. I've never heard of these experiences being bad ones.

Ditto. You get out what you put in. I learned SO much about education because I did my research, signed up for a good program and studied my ass off. If someone wants to be a schmuck and coast through just because they think teaching is easier than anything else....well...that's why teachers get a bad rap. It's only easy if you're not doing it right.

 I also have a friend who teaches across the world (literally.....Japan, France, Australia are the ones that come to mind immediately but there are more). We all miss him terribly but he absolutely adores it.

[Patrick]

RX Bandits show last night was insane! My friend Jesse and I had arrived at the venue 2hrs early just so we could hang around in SF and enjoy the city a bit. We wanted to find a nice little chill spot to be hoodrats and drink the beers we'd brought with us, and right next to the venue (Regency Ballroom) there was a narrow one-way street. We went there and noticed a very large bus and a door that led backstage. Door was open, so we posted up nearby and listened to RXB's soundcheck. The security guard came up to talk to us and make sure we weren't gonna be weird to the band members, we wound up chatting with him for over an hour.

At some point about 30 minutes before the show started, the band all left their bus to get inside, and Jesse and I managed to get a quick chat with Steven Choi and Matt Embree of RX Bandits. It'd be sick as fuck to meet them again someday.

[pwhodges]

I wonder if my old college would let me use the gym? I might ring them and ask.

I wanted to practice the organ for my father-in-law's funeral eight years ago (before I built my own), and as it was handy from work I asked my college of nearly 40 years earlier if I could use the chapel organ, and they were perfectly happy (though they did verify who I was).

[Carl-E]

One of my uncles is in the process of dumping mechanical engineering for teaching, because it pays more, has fewer hours, and more benefits. 

Must be an insanely strong teacher's union if the pay and benefits are better than ME.  As for fewer hours, that's a myth - you only have 6 or seven in school, but you have 4 - 6 more at home dealing with prep and grading.  Unless you're lazy about it, in which case you won't be there long. 

[Asterus]

So this is what I did on the Fourth of July...

Professional show in Suffolk, Virginia with 2.5" shells and cakes.

Actually, our city generally has a fireworks even the week before, just because. I suppose it allows people from out of town to drop by without missing their own local event, or so the mayor claimed.

[bainidhe_dub]

A lot of places do that, I think. We were in Jefferson County, WV on June 30th and are in Fulton, MD on the 13th. We were not doing the city show - like I said, our client was a church. They put on a parade and festival for the community during the day, and then had the fireworks once it got dark.

[Masterpiece]

Moved out the last few bits of my old apartment out. Tedious work. For some reason I kept finding condoms everywhere, at places where they shouldn't have been. Also found a huge wad of cash that I must have stashed away some time. Was pretty happy about that.

Tomorrow my furniture arrives and Ill have officially moved in. Exhausted.

[Carl-E]

Finally set a date to pick up the van. 


Cleaning out the old one to sell to the scrapyard.  Soooo much crap, and I found a stash of CD's in a hidden spot that no one's seen in years. 

As for cash, I found enough change under the driver's seat to get a liter of 50/50 (half iced tea, half lemonade) because it's fucking hot. 

[mtmerrick]

One of my uncles is in the process of dumping mechanical engineering for teaching, because it pays more, has fewer hours, and more benefits. 

Must be an insanely strong teacher's union if the pay and benefits are better than ME.  As for fewer hours, that's a myth - you only have 6 or seven in school, but you have 4 - 6 more at home dealing with prep and grading.  Unless you're lazy about it, in which case you won't be there long.

Well he currently works 16-18 hour days, plus is often asked to come in on weekends for no additional pay (on salary). He has the lowest paycheck in the office,  barely enough to pay bills,  and zero benefits. He's getting the proper certification to be able to work in California or Nevada (what he considers to be his second home) and has already determined he'll be paid significantly more for teaching (he wants to teach high school math,  actually) then he currently is. Same paycheck in CA or Nevada, but the price of living is lower in Nevada.

[Patrick]

Let's see. 4th of July had a water balloon fight, 6th of July I went to RX Bandits, last night I did DMT with a friend of mine and we tripped super fuckin hard and he came out to me as trans, and today, with zero sleep (DMT keeps you the fuck awake for 12 hours, I learned) I went to band practice and we had the tightest, best, most productive practice in a long time.

R&R is for pussies

[BeoPuppy]

Naumburg (Hessen) is a hole in the ground.

Nice pool, though.

[Thrillho]

The awkward moment when you find your sister is against gay marriage and might actually be acting against it.

Fucking hell. Add another one to the list of things that I'll just not talk to my family about.

[Patrick]

Looks like Troubador's gonna be special guests to an SF-based radio show next month! Real radio, not just internet radio. Granted, it's unlicensed pirate radio and their broadcast frequency is in the range usually reserved for contemporary Christian music, NPR, sports talk radio, and the kind of jazz that really sucks, but IT'S REAL AIRWAVES HOLY FUCK.

Plus, since it's pirate radio, we get to say whatever we want, discuss whatever we want, and the show involves a bit of drinkin' and smokin' weed (fuck yeah, California) so it'll be a nice, relaxed atmosphere.

I am super excited about this, because it represents a good first step in getting our music exposed to the SF market. We've been trying to break into that shit since the first time we played in the city, and now it looks like we might well have a half decent shoe-in.

[Papersatan]

So I've confirmed that "cash for gold!" schemes are really only worth it if you're addicted to drugs. 

Today I offered:
one 14K gold chain
one 14K gold natural ruby pendant
one 14 K gold wedding band with inset diamonds
one 14k gold engagement ring with a .46 carat near colorless, vvs center diamond

I was offered less than $250.

errrmm nevermind. 

[Carl-E]

  sounds about right...

I'm riding Greyhound to VA to get that van from my wife's friend.  people can be good.  He's giving it to us gratis.  "Paying it forward".

[Lines]

Carl, that's awesome. There should be more people like that.