Car Talk

Oh happy day! Finally, after much research and deliberation, we traded in our gas guzzling Ford Expedition. I loved that SUV, but choked every time I went to fill it up. Our daughter drives her own car and our son is taking drivers training this summer. I am usually on my own in the Ford and we couldn’t rationalize keeping it. With gas prices on the rise, we accepted the fact that we needed to get a more fuel efficient vehicle.

Most car dealerships now use Edmunds.com to find the trade in value rather that the Kelly Blue Book. Edmunds bases the trade value on the economy, which right now, really hurts the consumer. If any of you are planning to downsize your vehicles, do it soon, and be aware that the trade in value for “heavies” are plummeting. Diesel truck trade in values are literally thousand of dollar less that you would expect.

The first car I purchased on my very own was a Honda Prelude SI Sport. I married Chad and a couple years later…along came kids. Out of pure necessity, we worked up the ranks to bigger vehicles including the typical four door family car, two mini vans, a Ford Explorer and the beast. I am now the proud driver of a Honda Accord. Driving a smaller car will take some getting used to, but someone has to do it. We have XM radio at the office and now I have it in my car. I can listen to Barry Manilow and Air Supply to my heart’s content.

Welcome to my life.
Lisa

Getting Perspective

I am always amazed at how some of these single moms do it. Chad is out of town this week and I am running from sun up till sun down. While we are having rain and unseasonably cold weather, he is in Jacksonville, Florida, attending Polygraph Recertification School. He called me this morning while he was wading in the ocean in the 82° weather. I’m glad he called because I couldn’t figure out how to turn the furnace back on. After last night’s baseball game in a chilly, windy, rain storm, we came home to a cold house.

Many times we are faced with a “sink or swim” situation and we just have to make it work. I have great kids and they really have pitched in this week to help me out. Someone once told me that if a situation doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. I tell my kids, “It could always be worse.”

Welcome to my life.
Lisa

Language Barrier

I wish I could speak a foreign language. I would choose Spanish in most cases, but today, however, Russian would have come in handy.

Eleven-year-old Olishia recently moved to Pocatello from Russia with her mother. Neither spoke much English. Normally, I am never at a loss for words. Today was certainly an exception. Olishia had never had her teeth scaled or used a suction. In Russia, she had only had her teeth polished. It was challenging to explain each step but I really enjoyed having her for a patient. She was a delightful girl and she giggled each time she used the suction. Her teeth were beautifully straight and she didn’t have a lot of decay. I hope she understood what I explained to her and enjoyed her visit as much as I did. Luckily, we have really great pamphlets that explain caries, sealants and proper oral hygiene.

Welcome to my life and the great USA.
Lisa

Remembering Ona

We had to say good bye to my husband’s grandmother today—Ona was 90 years old.

She was born and raised in Downey, Idaho, a small town of 600 people. She was a kind, gracious, soft-spoken lady and will certainly be missed.

You don’t realize how many people you are related to until you attend a funeral. It had been quite a while since I had seen most of Chad’s extended family. The young children are now young adults and the young adults are now grown and married with children of their own. After the funeral—since all the sons were home—my father-in-law planned to brand the cattle he raises on the farm. What a process!

I am so thankful that I am a hygienist. Farm life is definitely a lot more physical work than I am used to. After rounding up the calves, each one was steered into a chute then branded, vaccinated and ear tagged. The last calf backed out of the chute and made a run for it. My father-in-law was knocked down and the calf literally ran over him. We all jumped into the corral to his rescue. Thankfully, he only suffered minor cuts and bruises. The great-grandchildren got quite an eyeful. I am sure they will remember the day grandpa got ran over by a cow more than the funeral. I know this city girl/pseudo farm girl won’t forget either any time soon.

Ona would have just nodded her head and said, “Oh, dear.”

Welcome to my life.
Lisa