i'm tired! already! but today was fun. i had my first real live patient today in the chair, for a diagnostic processes appointment...there's nothing like actually doing something for the first time. you try to be as prepared as possible, of course, but learning in hindsight is sometimes more valuable than learning as an antecedent, and, of course, in such a profession as dentistry, you must physically do the thing (probing, x-rays, impressions, whatever) to understand the purpose and rationale for what you are doing.

i even did a radiographic interpretation with our radiology specialist, Dr. Bohay, which surprises me, because had i been in this position only a year before, i probably would have searched the darn radiographs for a good two days, carefully noting (and probably imagining) every shade of gray and whiter shade of pale (know where that one's from? goood!!!!). instead, i interpreted the series right on the spot (well, it wasn't instantaneous. it took me an hour and a half - but an improvement from two days of on-and-off consulting with myself) - but i think it was ok. you know, i didn't fail to see...teeth, or anything like that...

anyway, what i learned today was to make use of all the time that i have, to just go ahead and do things - go easy on the hesitation, so to speak, but not with abandon, of course - and right now, i feel good! i want more patients!

if i ever have that proverbial "bad day" in the clinic, i'll probably forget i ever wrote this. flip-flop.