Business as usual

Things have been quiet here at Speicher.  No excitement lately.  Lots of patients with lots of questions about getting their teeth cleaned and getting braces.  At times I have to check and make sure that I'm actually over here because people ask some of the dumbest questions over here.  The optometrist was asked if he did LASIK over here.  Hilarious.  I've been asked if I do ZOOM bleaching, and this is after I told him that I thought ZOOM was a crock.  Thankfully I have a sense of humor, otherwise it would get to me.  I'm trying to make the best of it.  The weather was cool this week, go figure....last week I was in a full chemical suit with a gas mask on in 115 degree heat.  This weeks its been cool.  Ha.  Anyway, the highlight of the week has definitely been the huge package I got from my wife and co-workers.  New tennis shoes.....aahh.  You can tear up some tennis shoes pretty fast over here walking on rocks all day long.  I also got some of my favorite movies.....should tide me over for a while.  Out....

My neice is here!

I'm 2 for 2.  I knew that it would be a girl.  I got home yesterday just in time to find out that my new niece Kathryn Suzanne Kadela was born at 149am!  I am so excited.  I hate that I am not going to be there to join in on the festivities.  I know Buffy and Dave are excited that the big day has finally come!  I was fortunate enough yesterday to catch Buff and Dave in their suite the afternoon after the delivery to give them a congratulations.  They both looked in great spirits despite the long day.  And of course my new niece was right there for me to see.  We can't wait to make the trip down there when I get back! Congratulations Buff and Dave!!!

115 and climbing

What a week! For the most part this past week went by without any real excitement.  Work at the clinic has been very routine, with no real surprises.  This past week was marked by a weeklong preparation for a mass casualty exercise on the base.  The unit I am in is tasked to be responsible for the decontamination of patients in the event that they are hit by some chemical, biological agent out on patrol.  So we had a walk through on Wednesday where we made sure each person knew their job, and we had a simulated exercise on Sat where we donned all our gear and had patients come through our decontamination lane.  Being the unit dentist, my job is the Triage officer and the Officer in Charge.  And I've been here 3 weeks! Anyway, temps got up to around 113 the day of the exercise....and did I mention we were in all of our protective gear.  In the military its called MOP gear, but most people would know it as a big jacket and pants with overboots, gloves and a gas mask.  In a 113 degree heat.  We ran this exercise in the afternoon.  Not too bright.  For the most part everything went well with only a few kinks.  We probably should have weighed ourselves before and after because I swear I lost at least 5-10 pounds.  We were in the gear for 3 hours.  Hopefully we will never have to do it in real life, but that's not a guarantee.  Fingers crossed.  

It has been a while

It has been a while since my last post.  The reason being.....not much has changed.  Things are steady, predictable and too regular for me.  I like to shake it up a bit....everyday.  My wife can attest to that.  Routine is not my middle name, so I am having to adapt.  The past couple of weeks have been good.  I have seen my fair share of patients in the clinic, but have not been too busy. My roommate is taking off this week to head back to the states for some R & R.  I would say that I am jealous, but I would feel guilty.  He's been over here for 7 months and away from home for 10.  He deserves it.  In his absence I will enjoy a room all to myself for a couple of weeks.  If anybody's looking for a party, you know where I'll be.  Unfortunately, most days here are pretty busy for me, so by the time I get home I am ready to hit the sack.  People told me I would have all this downtime, but I haven't found that to be the case.  I get up around 6, I head out for jog, shower, sometimes chat with MP, then I bike over to the dining hall and eat till around 745 then bike to work, I grab a cup of coffee, and I catch up with the people in the clinic.  We open at 830, but most of the time I have found a first patient before then.  The clinic is open until 1200, at which time we go to lunch until 130.  We then open back up and close around 4-430 depending on business. I have some paperwork I do everyday before I leave so I'm usually out around 5.  I bike back to my CHU, and then usually catch up with my roomate for a few minutes and then head to dinner or a spin class or the gym.  I usually am home around 830 or 9 and I shower and finish up the day.  I'm usually in bed watching a movie around 10.  Rough day huh.:)  I can't complain.  

Okay Okay

I know that its been a couple of days since my last post, so I'm sorry.  I forgot about you.  Life in the desert is good.  The weather is awful right now.  Since my arrival we have had 2 clear days here.  Every other day there has been serious dust storms that make it rather miserable.  I like to be outside, and the dust storms just make that impossible.  Riding my bike to and from work has been a real treat:).  My lungs are probably full of lots of sand, along with the bugs I've swallowed.  I should send you a picture of me in my fashionable baclava. The sand storms are impressive, and create this burnt orange glow, that is overwhelming.  Its so thick that you can't see more than 100 yards.  At first glance it looks like fog.  Needless to say I have another reason to be inside, besides the heat.  The pace in the clinic has picked up a good bit.  Its amazing how the emergencies have changed over here.  It used to be a toothache that brought people to the dentist.  Now its bleaching materials.  And cleanings.  I had a girl yesterday tell me that she need an emergency cleaning....she was serious.  She filed a complaint when we wouldn't do it. Hilarious.  Been doing lots of root canals...and more root canals.  Everybody needs a root canal.  Its makes you guys cringe doesn't it...........oh.. and check out my new bike...

The latest....

I was oh so fortunate to be left many things by my predecessor that make life much better, one of which is a bike.  And like I mentioned in my last post, this bike has some issues.  It is the loudest bike I have ever ridden(no joke). It produces the perfect sound effects for hollywood, I should record it.  It has the most uncomfortable seat ever made, and the brakes are not functional.  Its a Flintstone's stop..... I made alot of jokes around the unit about the fact that the bike was a little unsafe and not road worthy, they were to come look for me if I didn't make it in on time. However, I should have kept my mouth shut.  I lost a back tire today.  The ride to the clinic is about 2 miles.  I made it there and then half way back.  I have never seen a tire fall apart in such a capacity.  The external tread surface came off, the bearings on the inside of the axle fell out, and 3 of the spokes broke.  All in an instant.  I looked REAL cool walking this jacked up bike back to my CHU.  Now I'm on the hunt for a new rear tire.....