January 6: Scrooge Moment, Dentist Appointment, Cleaning

A Scrooge moment.  Cover your eyes!

Yes, I had a Scrooge moment this afternoon.  It was when my wife and I sat down and started subtracting amounts from our checking account.  Car payment.  Groceries.  Water bill.  Dance tuition.  I saw the deposit from my paycheck dwindle and ebb.  By the time we were done, I had to transfer money from our savings to cover everything, and there ain't that much in savings.

I started to panic, hyperventilate, and sputter.  I became Ebenezer Scrooge.  This week of vacation suddenly seemed like a colossal waste of money, especially when I could have been earning some overtime.  I wasn't a pretty sight. 

Before I left for my dentist appointment, my wife said to me, "You better be careful.  You really are going to turn into Scrooge."  I wish I'd been witty enough to say, "Bah humbug" or "God bless us, everyone."  I don't really recall what my response was.  It was probably something like, "Yeah, well, yeah."

Then I went and had my teeth cleaned.  It seemed an appropriate way to end the afternoon.  And, actually, it did brighten my frame of mind substantially.  I really like the people at my dentist office.  The hygienist and I talk about books.  The receptionist and I joke around.  The dentist could make a root canal enjoyable.  By the time I left, my teeth were sparkling, and my mood had greatly improved.

I spent a good portion of what was left of the afternoon cleaning my house, which hasn't been cleaned in almost two weeks, with the holidays and everything.  Cleaning generally puts me in a good mood, as well.  I did break my Swiffer in the process.  That kind of sucked.  For the most part, however, I have recovered from my Scrooge moment.

Saint Marty is ready for the weekend.