yes, I'm still reading

[mellowtigger]

I'm still reading Dreamwidth entries, but I'm just not writing much lately. My brain has been filled with other things instead.

Like cracking a molar again. It's the same one as back in 2022, but I lost an even bigger chunk of it this time. I managed to snag a coveted emergency dental appointment on Tuesday morning, where they put a temporary cover on it. They need me to complete a regular dental exam first (in late April, the nearest available date they could offer) before deciding if this tooth is healthy enough for a crown or if it should be extracted. The dentist told me emphatically, "Keep wearing your mouth guard," because it will help protect what remains of my teeth from the grinding during my sleep. She was kind to offer a referral to have the annoying tori bone (developed due to lifelong grinding of teeth) cut out of my head, but I declined for now. It's good that's an option, and I could never afford it if I lacked health insurance, but that's a lot of physical pain that I would like to avoid as long as I can. Although... this fancy new water-plus-laser method sounds very interesting.

Plus, you know, there's everything in the news. My employer is trying to figure out how Trump breaking government services and education funding is going to impact us. The university president released this statement that skillfully avoids naming Trump or Republicans, just referring to "Washington, D.C." instead. Two days later, of course, they announce that there will be campus closures. The loss of tuition money won't affect my team for many years, if at all. The loss of research money seems a much more immediate problem for the university. They're having a discussion about that issue on Friday.

While I was at the dentist, my blood pressure would not come down to a safe level. I'll probably have to talk to my general doctor about that eventually.

I just wanted you to know that I appreciate all of you continuing to post at Dreamwidth. I'm reading your words, really I am.