Working all over Milwaukee

Great News...I have some "permanent" work. On August second I officially began working with Dr. Nancy Barnett. After many interviews, (most with little to offer as far as hours or satisfaction) I finally find something that seems to fit well. I'll be working an average of twenty hours a week there, leaving Wednesdays and Fridays available to find work elsewhere. The office that I am in is a specialty office focusing on periodontics (gum health). I had worked in a perio clinic in Minnesota and really enjoyed it. The doctor is both laid back but efficient and committed to excellent care. I'm really happy with the way she runs her office and keeps her equipment. I'm also pumped about using digital x-rays.

Another definite perk to the job is that it is less than two miles away, meaning I bike to get there. I would almost describe Dr. Barnett as spunky. She works with her sister who is the receptionist and enjoys biking, swimming and recently finished a triathlon. She is well respected in the dental community which will also help influence my credibility here in Milwaukee. We seem to have the same vision for dental care and patient communication. It's a small office, with two to four people working a day. I think it will be good for me.

On my days off I have aligned myself with a temporary agency. Milwaukee dentists seem to prefer calling them rather than me directly for the ease of scheduling despite the overhead cost. The downside to that is I get paid less, but the up side is that I'm busier. In my travels all over the city relieving hygienists I have seen some scary things. I have been pleasantly surprised in a few offices of course, but it's amazing to me to see where people put their focus. For example; I have seen some beautiful appearing offices who look great but their patient care is less than optimal and the effort they put into keeping their employees safe is below where it should be. My biggest pet peeve has been the lack of essential tools and the poor or non-existence of sharpening of those that do exist. Many tools seem like they would be more effective as daggers than for removing deposit. (These instruments are why I think some hygienists get a bad reputation.) I don't think I could do temp work forever. It is certainly challenging to wake up everyday, go somewhere new and try and figure out how that office and their doctors practice dentistry.

To celebrate my working life Jason set up a rectangular hanging herbal garden for me. I just planted some cilantro, chives, spearmint and basil. Hopefully some wonderful things will start sprouting soon. It would be really neat to grow tomatoes but Murphy has squashed that dream.

As far as other exciting news goes, I just learned how to make a reversible skirt. It looks pretty cool - I'll have to post some pictures soon. It's been rewarding learning to use my sewing machine but I think I better stick to my day job.

My parents are hosting an exchange student from Spain for the next three weeks. We're hoping to meet up and introduce him to some truly American events such as the state fair. What could be more American than something deep fried on a stick? I'll be heading to Madison tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and hopefully play some tennis with my brother Curtis. The weather has been getting up into the nineties and finally feeling like August. I hope your summer is treating you just as well.