The other day I had my semi-annual checkup at the dentist. About two years ago, I decided it was time to actually see a dentist after avoiding one for much of my twenties. So I started going, and I loved it! The hygenists were great, very friendly and not judgemental of the fact that I don't floss or do anything other than brush my teeth really. The dentist isn't like any dentist I've ever had. He looks less like a dentist than he does the lead singer for a hard rock band. It's a great time there.
Well a few months back, I went to Vegas. My first night there, I find myself at McDonalds at 3 in the morning. Who should walk up behind me and grab my elbow but Mr. Hard Rock himself. "As it was 3 AM and I was a little foggy, I said the first thing that popped into my head: "Dude, you're my dentist!"
"You dang right I am! Hey, you never saw me here alright? What happens in Vegas stays here, ok? Bet you never thought you'd run into your dentist stoned at 3 am at a McDonalds!"
Umm.....I'm still not sure if he was talking about me being stoned or him, but it was a little awkward. The next night at the football game I feel a familiar tug at my elbow..."remember dude, you never saw me!" This would be easier of course, if he stopped ambushing me everywhere I went. This again happened the next week at a home game against Cincinnati.
Needless to say, I was seeing my dentist in a whole new light. So I was more than a little excited for my dental appointment this week. Would he acknowledge the meetings we'd had, or would he go the professional route and pretend it never happened? Perhaps he'd give me a knowing head bob and a discreet fist bump.
As I sit in the chair bubbling over with anticipation, I'm met by the silent hygenist. I didn't know these existed. I thought it was a job requirement for a hygenist to be overly friendly and chatty. After all, they have to keep up both sides of the conversation because you have sharp metal objects in your mouth. This lady said not one word the entire time she was cleaning my teeth. I had to entertain myself by watching a spider work on a web in the corner of the room. She gets done, and she says "you had A LOT of plaque. You're going to feel like you got punched in the mouth this afternoon. I'll go get the doctor." A few moments later she returns to try and pitch me on some overpriced electric toothbrush. I'm absolutely sure that it's required of her to peddle this toothbrush. Otherwise, she'd have said nothing.
Finally, the Doc arrives! The conversation when like this:
Doc: Andy my man, how are you? Wasn't that Stanford game awesome?! Great day, team played awesome....just great man.
Me: Yep...hope they play like that this weekend.
Doc (To hygenist): I know what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there, but you know who I ran into at McDonalds at 3am? Andy! Crazy right?"
Hygenist: Crazy! (then she laughed awkwardly and left)
Doc: Dang right!
He then poked 3 of my teeth, takes off his gloves and says "You look great man...see you in six months!" and left.
Really? Did that just happen?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Columbus Day Survey
In keeping with the "honest" theme of this note, I must disclose that I will not be tagging anyone. You all get a little ditty telling you I did this, and you can choose to do it if you want to.
Can you fill this out without lying? You've been tagged, so now you need to answer all the questions HONESTLY. At the end, choose at least 8 people to be tagged. Don't forget to tag me!
To do this, copy this entire message, then go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, delete my answers, and type yours.
1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Hershey's Special Dark. God Bless the candy jars littered around this office
2.Where was your profile picture taken?
Heavenly Harvest Farms on Highway 20. A little pumpkin patch action.
3.Can you play Guitar Hero?
Not as well as some people....I don't own the game. I will never forget the first weekend I played it. A solid 48 hours of having my mind blown by the allure of a game involving a guitar and a genre of music I usually avoid.
4.Name someone who made you laugh today?
As usual, Jonah....who refused to get out of bed until I offered him a banana.
5.How late did you stay up last night and why?
I think it was around 9:30 that I tapped out.....weekends involving home OSU football games tend to take it out of me....I think I get too emotional.
6.If you could move somewhere else, would you?
If we could sell our house for more than we paid for it, sure. I'm pretty done with Albany.
7.Which of your FB friends lives closest to you?
Hmmm....probably one of my co-workers...though I don't know exactly where any of them live. There's a few in North Albany.
9. Do you believe ex's can be friends?
I think I'm facebook friends with most of my exes, but do I hang out with them? Nope. Would I hang out with them? Sure, they're all good people.
10. How do you feel about mountain dew?
I feel it had a good run, but have you seen a commercial for it lately? Me neither. Never really cared for the stuff myself.
11. When was the last time you cried really hard?
Probably in the days after Jonah was born. I was pretty tired and emotional, plus my grandpa died a few weeks later.
12. Who took your profile picture?
Mrs. Lasselle. I think that's actually the first time I've ever written that. It looks weird. Rachel took the picture.
13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Jonah and Rachel playing around in the hay at the pumpkin patch.
14. Was yesterday better than today?
So much so, I laughed when I read this. Yesterday I spent at the park with my son and wife....today I'm spending it at my desk at work with nothing to do thanks to a holiday for a guy that basically sailed to this continent on accident.
15. Can you live a day without TV?
Yes, but why would I? There's time to go outside and there's time to stay in and watch a good show or game. Everything in moderation, right?
16. Are you upset about anything?
Really just with this holiday thing. I mean really, either everyone observes it or no one.
17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Wow.....some very sad, lonely person wrote this question. Of course they are. Every single one is worth it - for the experiences, the lessons learned, the companionship.....I want to give whoever wrote this question a hug and say "you matter, little man/woman."
18. Are you a bad influence?
When I want to be. I give off a "good influence" kinda vibe, so I can easily steer people in the wrong direction because of my trustworthiness. Makes me sound like kind of a dick, doesn't it?
19. Night out or night in?
In. It's free and you can wear sweatpants. If I were single, I'd probably say out, but I'm not. So in it is.
20. What items could you not go without during the day?
Food and talking. I like interaction.
21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
My grandpa.....glad I did, because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have got to say goodbye.
22. What does the last text message in your inbox say.
"Great call we beat the rush. Thanks man." See? I'm a good dude!
23. How do you feel about your life right now?
I'd say I'm about 88% satisfied. A little less stress, a little more money and I'd be 100%
24. Do you hate anyone?
Lance Armstrong and extremists. That's about it.
25. If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
Nothing exciting. A few "hey how are you! Good to hear from you" emails and that's about it.
26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Yep. Unless they're testing for caffeine.
27. Has anyone called you perfect before?
If they did, they were lying.
28. What song is stuck in your head?
Indian Flute by Timbaland and Magoo....ooh dada dooo da da dooo do do.
If someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
Whoever took over for Ed McMahon with the publishers clearing house. Anyone else either has bad news or a gun, and those people suck.
30.Wanna have grand kids by the time your 50?
That would mean Jonah's a dad by 20. I think I'd rather wait 'til 55 at least.
31. What do you have to do tomorrow?
Open all the mail that didn't come today. Can you feel the excitement?
32. Do you think too much or too little?
I think too much about what to say on these things and too little about what I can do to help around the house.
33. Do you smile a lot?
Yep. It's more fun than frowning.
34. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yep.....one of the first memorable dates Rachel and I had.
35. How do you feel about Dr. Pepper?
I like the 23 flavors.
36. How many hours a day do you spend on the computer?
About 9...one at home and 8 at work.
37. Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook. I've tweeted once. I wasn't impressed.
38. Chicken or Beef?
Both?
39. Have you ever punched anyone in the face?
Yep....sprained a finger. Sorry Grant.
40. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Yep......thanks Grant.
41. Bacon or a bagel?
Both?
Can you fill this out without lying? You've been tagged, so now you need to answer all the questions HONESTLY. At the end, choose at least 8 people to be tagged. Don't forget to tag me!
To do this, copy this entire message, then go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, delete my answers, and type yours.
1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Hershey's Special Dark. God Bless the candy jars littered around this office
2.Where was your profile picture taken?
Heavenly Harvest Farms on Highway 20. A little pumpkin patch action.
3.Can you play Guitar Hero?
Not as well as some people....I don't own the game. I will never forget the first weekend I played it. A solid 48 hours of having my mind blown by the allure of a game involving a guitar and a genre of music I usually avoid.
4.Name someone who made you laugh today?
As usual, Jonah....who refused to get out of bed until I offered him a banana.
5.How late did you stay up last night and why?
I think it was around 9:30 that I tapped out.....weekends involving home OSU football games tend to take it out of me....I think I get too emotional.
6.If you could move somewhere else, would you?
If we could sell our house for more than we paid for it, sure. I'm pretty done with Albany.
7.Which of your FB friends lives closest to you?
Hmmm....probably one of my co-workers...though I don't know exactly where any of them live. There's a few in North Albany.
9. Do you believe ex's can be friends?
I think I'm facebook friends with most of my exes, but do I hang out with them? Nope. Would I hang out with them? Sure, they're all good people.
10. How do you feel about mountain dew?
I feel it had a good run, but have you seen a commercial for it lately? Me neither. Never really cared for the stuff myself.
11. When was the last time you cried really hard?
Probably in the days after Jonah was born. I was pretty tired and emotional, plus my grandpa died a few weeks later.
12. Who took your profile picture?
Mrs. Lasselle. I think that's actually the first time I've ever written that. It looks weird. Rachel took the picture.
13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Jonah and Rachel playing around in the hay at the pumpkin patch.
14. Was yesterday better than today?
So much so, I laughed when I read this. Yesterday I spent at the park with my son and wife....today I'm spending it at my desk at work with nothing to do thanks to a holiday for a guy that basically sailed to this continent on accident.
15. Can you live a day without TV?
Yes, but why would I? There's time to go outside and there's time to stay in and watch a good show or game. Everything in moderation, right?
16. Are you upset about anything?
Really just with this holiday thing. I mean really, either everyone observes it or no one.
17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Wow.....some very sad, lonely person wrote this question. Of course they are. Every single one is worth it - for the experiences, the lessons learned, the companionship.....I want to give whoever wrote this question a hug and say "you matter, little man/woman."
18. Are you a bad influence?
When I want to be. I give off a "good influence" kinda vibe, so I can easily steer people in the wrong direction because of my trustworthiness. Makes me sound like kind of a dick, doesn't it?
19. Night out or night in?
In. It's free and you can wear sweatpants. If I were single, I'd probably say out, but I'm not. So in it is.
20. What items could you not go without during the day?
Food and talking. I like interaction.
21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
My grandpa.....glad I did, because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have got to say goodbye.
22. What does the last text message in your inbox say.
"Great call we beat the rush. Thanks man." See? I'm a good dude!
23. How do you feel about your life right now?
I'd say I'm about 88% satisfied. A little less stress, a little more money and I'd be 100%
24. Do you hate anyone?
Lance Armstrong and extremists. That's about it.
25. If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
Nothing exciting. A few "hey how are you! Good to hear from you" emails and that's about it.
26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Yep. Unless they're testing for caffeine.
27. Has anyone called you perfect before?
If they did, they were lying.
28. What song is stuck in your head?
Indian Flute by Timbaland and Magoo....ooh dada dooo da da dooo do do.
If someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
Whoever took over for Ed McMahon with the publishers clearing house. Anyone else either has bad news or a gun, and those people suck.
30.Wanna have grand kids by the time your 50?
That would mean Jonah's a dad by 20. I think I'd rather wait 'til 55 at least.
31. What do you have to do tomorrow?
Open all the mail that didn't come today. Can you feel the excitement?
32. Do you think too much or too little?
I think too much about what to say on these things and too little about what I can do to help around the house.
33. Do you smile a lot?
Yep. It's more fun than frowning.
34. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yep.....one of the first memorable dates Rachel and I had.
35. How do you feel about Dr. Pepper?
I like the 23 flavors.
36. How many hours a day do you spend on the computer?
About 9...one at home and 8 at work.
37. Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook. I've tweeted once. I wasn't impressed.
38. Chicken or Beef?
Both?
39. Have you ever punched anyone in the face?
Yep....sprained a finger. Sorry Grant.
40. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Yep......thanks Grant.
41. Bacon or a bagel?
Both?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The defriending of Andy Lasselle
I've been de-friended!
Today I was flipping through facebook and decided to check up on a "friend" of mine that I hadn't thought about in a while. We were friends at one point on Facebook, I distinctly remember a few messages sent between us when one of us added the other (I forget who added who). Much to my surprise, we were no longer digital friends.
The whole idea of someone being a friend on facebook is a fluid situation. Some of my "friends" are people I haven't seen in twenty years. Some of them are people who remembered me but I only have a vague recollection of them, or in some cases don't remember them at all. At this point, if someone wants to be my friend, I see no reason not to be theirs (with a very few exceptions). I'm friends with people I've met only once and may very well never see again.
There's been times that I've thought "you know, I don't really have any contact with this person, other than seeing their status updates....do I really need to be friends with them?" The answer I keep coming back to is "yes." What if sometime I'm snowed in at an airport where I don't know anyone except for a facebook friend that lives in the area? While I'd never directly call someone and ask them to do me a favor as big as that, if I posted a status update saying "snowed in at the Denver airport," perhaps one of my FB friends would see it and give me a call asking if I needed a place to crash. There's no downside to being connected.
So now I'm wondering why I was de-friended. I'm trying not to take it personally, but it does bruise the ego just a little bit. I like to consider myself a nice, friendly guy (as we all do), so when someone says "I no longer want to have contact with you" it stings the ego a little bit, no matter how infrequent or impersonal that contact has been. Was it something I did? Was it something I didn't do? Should I have commented on something I didn't? Did I not send a birthday message? Or did I comment on something on a mutal friend's page that upset someone else? I don't know. Or did this person simply change their mind and say "I shouldn't have added him as a friend in the first place." I should make it clear that I'm not mad or upset that I was defriended...it's your life and your page to do with it what you want....I'm just more curious as to the decision making process that led to my deletion. I think I've only defriended one person ever, and that person was dishonest in her relationship with a friend of mine. I think I've only denied or ignored one friend request as well.
Perhaps it simply comes down to FB friend philosophy. I tend to want to be friends with the people I have the least contact with....the people that I may otherwise never be able to contact if the need or desire to do so arose. Being friends with my wife, or brother, or coworkers....it's nice to acknowledge the relationship, but I don't really gain anything from these updates that I don't get at home, or on the phone. Now, if a person I went to elementary school with takes a trip to australia and posts some pictures.....that's something I wouldn't ever get to see if I wasn't friends with them...I'd completely miss out on seeing some amazing pictures. Or say circumstances lead me to move to a new city, and the only person I know there is someone I had a biology class with freshman year of high school that just so happens to be a realtor. I might just send that person an email asking if they could help me out. I've even used facebook to get a dental referral...see what I'm saying?
So I'm here to say that if you're my friend on facebook now, you'll be my friend on facebook until the site starts charging a fee, goes offline, or I decide that I'm too old to do this stuff anymore and delete my account. Until then.....you've got a friend in me.
Today I was flipping through facebook and decided to check up on a "friend" of mine that I hadn't thought about in a while. We were friends at one point on Facebook, I distinctly remember a few messages sent between us when one of us added the other (I forget who added who). Much to my surprise, we were no longer digital friends.
The whole idea of someone being a friend on facebook is a fluid situation. Some of my "friends" are people I haven't seen in twenty years. Some of them are people who remembered me but I only have a vague recollection of them, or in some cases don't remember them at all. At this point, if someone wants to be my friend, I see no reason not to be theirs (with a very few exceptions). I'm friends with people I've met only once and may very well never see again.
There's been times that I've thought "you know, I don't really have any contact with this person, other than seeing their status updates....do I really need to be friends with them?" The answer I keep coming back to is "yes." What if sometime I'm snowed in at an airport where I don't know anyone except for a facebook friend that lives in the area? While I'd never directly call someone and ask them to do me a favor as big as that, if I posted a status update saying "snowed in at the Denver airport," perhaps one of my FB friends would see it and give me a call asking if I needed a place to crash. There's no downside to being connected.
So now I'm wondering why I was de-friended. I'm trying not to take it personally, but it does bruise the ego just a little bit. I like to consider myself a nice, friendly guy (as we all do), so when someone says "I no longer want to have contact with you" it stings the ego a little bit, no matter how infrequent or impersonal that contact has been. Was it something I did? Was it something I didn't do? Should I have commented on something I didn't? Did I not send a birthday message? Or did I comment on something on a mutal friend's page that upset someone else? I don't know. Or did this person simply change their mind and say "I shouldn't have added him as a friend in the first place." I should make it clear that I'm not mad or upset that I was defriended...it's your life and your page to do with it what you want....I'm just more curious as to the decision making process that led to my deletion. I think I've only defriended one person ever, and that person was dishonest in her relationship with a friend of mine. I think I've only denied or ignored one friend request as well.
Perhaps it simply comes down to FB friend philosophy. I tend to want to be friends with the people I have the least contact with....the people that I may otherwise never be able to contact if the need or desire to do so arose. Being friends with my wife, or brother, or coworkers....it's nice to acknowledge the relationship, but I don't really gain anything from these updates that I don't get at home, or on the phone. Now, if a person I went to elementary school with takes a trip to australia and posts some pictures.....that's something I wouldn't ever get to see if I wasn't friends with them...I'd completely miss out on seeing some amazing pictures. Or say circumstances lead me to move to a new city, and the only person I know there is someone I had a biology class with freshman year of high school that just so happens to be a realtor. I might just send that person an email asking if they could help me out. I've even used facebook to get a dental referral...see what I'm saying?
So I'm here to say that if you're my friend on facebook now, you'll be my friend on facebook until the site starts charging a fee, goes offline, or I decide that I'm too old to do this stuff anymore and delete my account. Until then.....you've got a friend in me.
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