Question for Blogland?

Does anyone know anything about this little salt crock? I NEED ONE.  I snapped a pix of it.  There were no markings on the bottom or under the lid nothing.  I couldn't find a name, brand (aka redwing etc), year, nada.  If anyone has any info or has seen one for sale, please leave me a comment.  I'm guessing 50-60s era, vintage.  The image is 2 girls w/balloons.  Cute.  I would love to get one of these.

Hearts

This is on a charm bracelet hanging in my bathroom. Thought it was a nice heart to share for Valentines Day since it is coming up soon... enjoy

January 18

People who are really efficient seem to do things easily, with a minimum of effort.  In so doing they release maximum power.

Positive Thinking Everyday

~Norman Vincent Peale

?1-800-SE-DENTISTA (1-800-GOT-DENTIST)

Pensé que le gustaría saber cómo mi primera experiencia dental fuera de los Estados Unidos fue .... (translation... I thought you might like to know how my first dental experience outside the United States went...)  Ha! Just kidding.  I srsly do not speak Espanol.  k.thx.  You might remember I have recurrent dental ISSUES.  I won't go into the gory details but this isn't the first time I've  posted about my toofie problems. 

Si? No? Well my last treatment estimate from my friendly American dentist was $8000++.  I was told I needed 3 core build ups w/crowns and a root canal, core build up and crown (four crowns total). Now mind you... I've sunk a chunk of change into my teeth over the last 5-10 years (think 10s of thousands and I won't be specific).  I've had to creatively finance ALL of it too.  I've paid in a variety of ways....with all of my savings (emptied out 3 times), loans against my savings, yadayadayada, etc etc.  Well, with this last bid I was given, I said ENOUGH and have been researching Mexican dental for several months now.  I finally decided upon an office with good references (spoke with actual patients) and made an appointment for a consult.

The new treatment estimate included 4 fillings, 1 extraction (to incl an implant to replace the tooth removed and cleaning).  All inclusive approx $2500.  HELLO. He told me I didn't even need crowns.  The extraction unfortunately was the tooth that required the root canal.  Too late for it.  In fact, after Dr. Britton saw the X-ray the first words out of his mouth.... HOLY GUACAMOLE.  Now that was funny.  He spoke fluent English.  Anyway, the consult turned into an extraction and getting two of the fillings done (since I was there already and the one tooth that originally needed the root canal now needed extracting as it was infected.  Thank you Mr. American Dentist for your help NOT).

Overall, it was a good experience?  I leave the question mark because it was different but not bad.  Some things kind of made me go hhhmmm?  So that's why the question mark.  There were some differences in "convenience" of care but not "quality" of care and the "end" results was the same.  So I am happy about this.  How do I compare it?  Think LaJolla/Tijuana, think donkey/racehorse, think high-tech/hammer chisel.  I'm OK REALLY.  No really I am just KIDDING.  The dentist was an awesome guy (except for the occasional unabashed profanity, NOT KIDDING...never had a professional do that before, well, at least not while on-duty??!?@!?). Ok so he didn't care about appearances... did that matter?  His skills were what I was worried about.  Um no fancy happy gas, so I was wide awake as he used hammer and chisel.  Um no TV to distract me (perhaps the American dentist like to make me all comfy so I can ignore the fact that he was charging me 8000?).  Instead I had a conversation in Spanish to listen to (that I didn't understand) which was entertaining in itself to me.  I love listening to foreign languages.  Don't ya ever wonder what they are REALLY saying about you?

Well, this was a first and not a last. I have more appointments to finish the treatment plan and I don't feel like I was raked over the coals and ripped off.  Dr. Britton was genuine, honest and most importantly skillful.  He went the extra mile.  I did not know I had to fill my prescriptions in Mexico due to licensing.  I found this out when trying to fill it at my US pharmacy.  I called Dr. Britton on his cell phone number (which he gave me) and he picked up my prescriptions in Mexico for me and drove over meeting me state-side to deliver them himself so I didn't have to deal with the border crossing again (it can be time-consuming).  Now that's service and Care with a Capitol "C".

Mexico here we come...

Nice sidewalk

These are the metal gates you walk through to cross the border.  You go first...(that's hubby)

No turning back now.....hey wait up for me

This is the exact boundary between two countries.  Don't cross that line!! Stop back away from the door.  Put the package down....don't turn around.  Security.

Inside the gates.... mural painted on the wall.  You know my eye was catching the art.

 

 I felt right at home. Vaca de la señora (Mrs. Cow) there to greet us.

 

Good-bye America.  Good-bye US of A. No turning back now.  Ok sorry I do get a little panicky. 

 

 I got your number mister don't try anything.  Security?

Some Pretty Cool Blog Candy!

Blog Candy over at Whinnie's Whimsy and Crafts Blog!!!!

I don't know about you but I would love this blog candy.... here's the dete's!

It is a light box with lights and a small tripod. All you have to add is the camera! It is amazing the difference a light box makes in your photos! It comes with 4 different colored interchangable backgrounds. Here's the rules: Good Luck to everyone who plays along:
1. Become a follower of my blog
2. Leave me a message
3. Announce my blog candy on your blog
4. I will be drawing a name on Monday, 18 January at 6pm EST.
5. Every day that I post a card and you leave a message, you will get your name entered in again for the drawing. (ie if I post 5 times over the next week and you leave a message all 5 days AND you're a follower of my blog, you will get your name in the drawing 5 times.)

Encouragement

I think I've decided on my word for the year!  Yes, that's it.  Encouragement.  As is usual, I went through a lot of discussion with the committee's in my head to finally decide on just one word.   More later on how I came up with mine this year.  For now, another short post to just pop in and say HI y'all.

JANUARY 1

The verse (below) is from today's calendar page.  ...liked it..thought I'd share.  ...think I am going to work on some cards today using the "Blue Moon" for my inspiration.  Speaking of the moon...I got a really cool shot of the "Blue Moon" last night (Canon Powershot point and shoot, no night vision goggles or anything, I don't even know where the night shooting option is, I think it has one).  The moon was just rising so it was still big.  Its pretty and if you looked closely it even had a little cloud underneath it.  Much prettier IRL.

One day at a time ~
This is enough
Do not look back
and grieve over the past
for it is gone;
And do not be troubled
about the future,
for it has not yet come.
Live in the present,
and make it so beautiful
that it will be worth remembering.
~ Scott Taylor