The ongoing tooth saga...

So my tooth has been incredibly sensitive for the past however many months and a lot was done to it.  By sensitive I mean lukewarm water was too cold and an accidental touch of ice cream sent me into spasms.  I had my old silver filling replaced - still sensitive.  That was then replaced with a filling with some kind of buffer - still hurt.  I was x-rayed and put on antibiotics for a week - still hurt.  It was then that the dreaded words were spoken.  

Root canal.  

Dun dun dun!  I feel like I'm too young to get a root canal.  Seriously, though, they're not that bad.  It's a lot like getting a filling, only longer, bloodier and with more Novocain.  I was fine and eating ice cream the very next day!  No more pain!  The picture is what it looks like with the temporary filling.  I go in on Tuesday to get it finished up and then I'll be back again in September to get a crown.  Now, I feel like I am WAY too young to get a crown.  This had better be the last tooth problem, or I swear...

New Orleans

Approximately eight hours after my last paper of the semester was submitted, my boyfriend and I took off for New Orleans and four days of relaxation.  Highlights:

• Beignets at Cafe du Monde.  Powdered sugar bliss.  

• Jelly fish at the aquarium.  I want to poke them!
• The worst 3D IMAX movie about dinosaurs.  
• Touching a shark and stingray.  They wouldn't let me poke them.  

• Being depressed and tired at the zoo yet still impressing Garrett with my casual use of the word "ungulates."  
• Steak that melted like butter in my mouth, making all the high-heeled walking pain disappear.
• Oysters and Strawberry Abita at Acme Oyster House.  

• Being sorely disappointed about Bourbon street (it smelled like puke and there were stupid tourists and icky-looking strippers everywhere) yet excited that we could drink our beers while walking outside.  

• Breakfast on the balcony and cribbage by the pool at our adorable hotel in the French Quarter.  Ugh, how grown-up!
• Driving through the "rich" part of town and ogling the amazing old southern homes.  
• And last but not least, having no homework, no place to be, no schedule and no worries.  

The Ultimate Taste Test

In the words of my fellow library schooler/partner in crime:  "This is what nerdy graduate students do when school is over."  We pitted Coke, Mexican Coke, Pepsi, Pepsi Throwback and RC cola against each other in the ultimate taste test.  Can the average Joe (AKA the two of us) tell the difference between these similar sodas?  The predictions: Garrett "Of course I can."  Me "Undoubtedly."  The results: no we cannot.  It was utter failure.  In a similar study a few days later, we pitted Coke and Pepsi against our not-so-sophisticated taste buds and actually were able to tell the difference.  This study was not completely unbiased, however, because the Pepsi had gone slightly flat and both participants were aware of this fact.  Perhaps we will perform this simplified test again at a later time.  Stay tuned!