Today was my last day with the seniors, as they move on to spend the last few days of their high school careers practicing how to walk across a stage. I’m not really the sentimental type when it comes to my job, but I did feel the need to share some brief parting pieces of advice with my seniors, those things I wish someone had told me when I was their age, before they head off into their idea of the “real world” - be it to college, the workforce, the military, or elsewhere:
This is not a end-all list of advice that will lead young people to successful lives. Rather, it’s what I’ve learned along the way, a guy who was there not too long ago and wishes he knew then what he knows now.
Apologies for the braces rant. I have nothing to complain about considering how fortunate I am. Those words were the initial shock of finding out the costs associated with something that many families far less financially fortunate than I have to figure out how to pay for. That’s a tragedy. I’m just whining. Besides, I might be able to pull off the stubby-toothed look.
I don’t make it a habit to complain, particularly about situations out of my control (and moreso money… most find it tacky), but I’m feeling cranky after seeing some quotes. I don’t really understand why dental insurance doesn’t cover braces, particularly for adults. My dental plan covers 100% diagnostic, preventative, restorative, endodontics, periodontics, dentures, and oral surgery - but braces do not fall under any of these categories.
Which is really just awful.
I should be grateful for having any dental insurance. And I am. But I could easily pay out of my pocket the $40 needed every six months for my routine checkup, cleaning, and free toothbrush with my dentist’s name on it.
But for braces, I’ll have to pay out of my pocket $4,800 for the traditional or $6,500 for the lingual (which are secured behind the teeth instead of the front, which is ideal for an adult in the professional world).
That’s over 1/5th of my yearly after-taxes salary. One-fucking-fifth.
That’s a car. A down payment on a house, for chrissakes.
Here’s the rub. I’m not (and wouldn’t be) interested in braces for “cosmetic” reasons. My teeth have always been nice enough and even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t much bother me. I’m interested in braces because my longtime dentist said I more or less have to get them. Unless, of course, I want dentures when I’m older.
Notice the lisp in my latest video? I didn’t have that in high school. It’s developed because my teeth are shifting and, in combination with the alignment of my jaw, it’s causing my lower teeth to grind on my two front teeth. In simple terms, my dentist explained that those bastard bottom teeth of mine have been slowly grinding away at my front two teeth these past few years. While I may not notice it now (other than the developed lisp, which frankly, I’m much too old to give a damn about - and hell, Bogart pulled it off), over the course of the next 15-20 years, they could grind away. Away, I tell you! And when a dentist tells a person that their teeth are going to slowly grind away… one is inclined to listen to the alternatives.
So, here I am. I don’t mind having to get braces. The students will get a kick out of it (we’ll look alike!) and I’m not the type of person to be embarrassed by such things. I’m nearly 26 years old, having worked my ass off to get a job with insurance where such worries could be non-issues and now I’m either going to chalk up $5,000+ (adding to the pile of debt already accumulated from being a broke college kid) or be dubbed Mr. McStubbtooth by the time I hit 40. That’s a lot of money and I’m not sure how any family affords it. I’m fortunate enough to be single and childless, so I can make it work, but damn.
If the whole situation weren’t so goddamned loony, I might be furious. I just wouldn’t know who to be furious at.
[video]
To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.
Anthony Bourdain Joins CNN to Host New Weekend Program
Goodbye to No Reservations, but hello to what one can hope is just as great of a show, where Bourdain and his very talented behind-the-scenes crew still retain total creative control.
Hey, Travel Channel, if you’re looking for a replacement show, I have some great ideas - much, much better than your Hidden City or Ghost Adventures nonsense, I assure you. Call my people.
(Source: explosm.net)
No work tomorrow. Nice.
What a great, relaxing weekend so far.
toomuchorange asked: Grilled bananas?
Cut the banana in fours as seen in the photo.
Mix equal parts cocoa powder and brown sugar with a half part cinnamon. Place the open end of banana into the mixture.
Then place the open end of the banana directly onto the grill for 3-5 minutes. Pull off and enjoy (with ice cream if you prefer). You won’t be disappointed.
Grilling some sausage and bananas tonight.
Erie man stabbed during fight that involved 100 people -
Don’t worry, folks. It wasn’t me (although we were just down the street from Sugar Ray’s).
A 34-year-old Erie man was stabbed multiple times in the stomach during a fight outside of a city club that involved up to 100 people, police said.
Jonathan James, 34, was taken to UPMC Hamot at about 2 a.m., police said. No details on his condition were available, hospital officials said this morning.
No arrests have been made in the case, investigators said today.
Police were called to Sugar Ray’s, 1301 State St., at about 1:45 a.m., responding to a fight outside the club that involved between 75 and 100 people.
James and his girlfriend were involved in the fight, police said. The girlfriend, whom police did not name, was separated from James during the brawl and did not see who stabbed James, authorities said.
Police have not yet been able to interview James, police said.
Time to enjoy the Tap House on an unseasonably warm May evening.
Downtown Edinboro, PA. John’s Wildwood Pizza. Easily the best and freshest pizza in all of northwestern PA.
Nothing makes one nostalgic like their childhood home. It’s been nearly fourteen years since I’ve been there. We moved when I was twelve. The hoop that I learned to play basketball on is still standing.
Since I had the day off today and it’s beautiful outside, I decided to go for a drive. I made it all the way to the old dirt road I grew up on. I haven’t been out here in such a long time and memories are flooding back, passing neighboring homes (“neighbors” being a half mile away, of course), the woods that I knew so well, the familiar smells and sounds reminding me of those innocent years when the world was still so small.