Stoned For a Few Days

Thursday a week ago, my cardiologist decided to experiment on my heart's erratic rhythms.  How would I  tolerate a drug called Multaq (aka dronedarone)? At first, the drug seemed good - it slowed my heartbeat - but apparently it was slowing my heart rate into dangerous territory without yielding a healthy sinus rhythm. I got an EKG on Monday, and by Tuesday the doctors had ordered me to stop taking the drug. 

Still, for a few days, I seemed to have a new outlook on the world. I noticed that concrete seemed really hard; hard in an altogether new way. For the last decade, or so, concrete seemed almost fluffy - like tofu, or burnt marshmallow. The drug gave me a new insight on reality. 

Or so it seemed. Face it, I must have been stoned.

Dental Fan

My friend Gabe sometimes pokes fun at me for sticking with my dentist, Amy M. Woo, DDS. I started going to her in 1990, shortly after she started her dental practice in Sacramento (and not that long after she was named Miss San Francisco Chinatown 1986). Her practice was close to where I worked. In the years since, she has assembled a high-end dental practice, featuring only women dentists. I stick with her mostly out of inertia and a fuzzy kind of loyalty. She paid me the compliment of being the kind of patient they all like to see: "compliant." It is pricey, though. If cost was my only guide I would have left long ago. 

In 2018, I attended Sacramento's Turn Verein Oktoberfest, where I fell into conversation with a father, and his daughter, a biology student and sorority sister at UC Davis (and aspiring dentist). When I mentioned I go to Amy M. Woo, DDS, the daughter nodded in recognition. Dr. Woo's practice has become a beacon for young, aspiring female dentists in California. The student had carefully studied Dr. Woo's website, and asked about Dr. Kelly Brewer, whom I had just seen. "She is so smart! Did you see how young she was when she studied organic chemistry?" (Dr. Brewer had knocked off that memory-breaking college-level course while in high school). 

I was amazed that Dr. Brewer had a fan, and wanted to tell her the story, but it wasn't until today, four years later, that I was finally able to do so. Dr. Brewer was pleased. She said, "Dentistry is a wonderful career. I feel sad for the people who get into it only for the money, and realize later how miserable they are." 

I also learned something new. Dr. Brewer is an answer on California Dental Board exams. She was the youngest Registered Dental Assistant in California history, at age 13. (She had missed a written question on the test when she was 12, and had to have a do-over - probably good to get that certification when your hands are still so small.) 

So, I stick with Dr. Woo's dental practice. It's pricey, but it's also feel-good.

Representative Josh Harder is Watching Out For His Constituents Decimated by PG&E's Price Hikes

Whay aren't more representatives jumping on this?:

In a letter to California’s director of energy infrastructure safety, Harder said the decision is driving up electric bills, with January being the first time in the state’s history that customers paid an average of more than $200 a month.

The letter read, in part: 

"Your decision will also impact countless Central Valley families, including low-income households, who will see their utility bills go up by double digits. These families are being forced to choose between freezing in the winter months or barely affording their electric bills. It is inconceivable to imagine the board would make this decision at a time when our state is grappling with soaring inflation prices, driving up the costs of food and energy.

Bob Mackie's Barbie Collection

The costumer for the Carol Burnett Show loves Barbies.

Surprised The Sacramento Kings Have an Angle on This

WTF?:

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has yet to find the formula for success in the NBA, but maybe he will find his footing in the English Premier League. Ranadive reportedly wants to purchase Chelsea FC from Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch who announced last week he plans to sell the club. Sources told Sportico that Ranadive is "putting the final touches" on a bid for the London-based soccer team.

Sacramento's Pocket Area

LaToya's Crusade To Save Alpha Charter High School

I didn't realize how embroiled LaToya is in this. An important issue!:

ELVERTA, Calif. — Parents are fighting to save a small charter school in Sacramento County that is scheduled to close at the end of the school year because of low enrollment and a lack of funding.

...The district wrote in a statement to KCRA that, "it was the only responsible option they could take at this time given its declining and record low enrollment, which resulted in a significant and untenable financial strain on the school district."

The district projected a shortfall of $220,000 when considering how much it would cost to continue to operate the school versus how much funding enrollment would generate.

Alpha Charter High School has about 40 students and offers magnet programs for music, softball and baseball. 9LaToya Bufford's son, Lamont Jr., is a freshman at the school.

"We feel like it would be a huge loss if the school closes down because of the opportunities for him to learn and be guided from such great leaders," Bufford said.

Various Bits

Since I returned from New Mexico, the main focus has been on starting a new heart-rhythm drug: Multaq, or dronedarone. The drug may have more global effects: I've noticed I'm going to bed earlier, and that the world doesn't seem quite so surreal as usual. The world feels more concrete than ever. Evaluations are continuing. Tomorrow, they put a Holter monitor on me again, this time just for 24 hours, to see what the med-affected heart rhythm is doing. 

I've also upgraded my twenty-or-so "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" posts with more photos. I still need to upgrade posts on individual movies.