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Yikes I've got too much work to do today, and having to come in late after a dentist appointment isn't helping. Neither is the fact that I am attending a "Leading for Racial Equity" training all day tomorrow—although both of these things, for wildly different reasons, still have to be prioritized.

I've been bumped to three dental cleanings a year now. One every three months. I already made the appointment for my next one, in December. The hygienist was very chatty, and said, "On a more personal note . . . what mascara do you use?" She told me it was very striking, particularly with my eyes above my mask when I had it on.

This was funny, because Teresa in HR had asked me the very same thing a couple of days ago—Monday, I believe—and I can never remember offhand what kind it is. I used to know easily, because I was wearing ZuZu Luxe brand mascara from work, but I had to switch because it kept smearing. This happened the worst whenever I sneezed, but it became untenably common through 2020, and I really thought ZuZu Luxe had reformulated. But when I brought it up to Steven, our Health and Body Care Merchandiser, he said it was probably because of the masks I was wearing everywhere: the heat from my breath moved up to my eyes, keeping the mascara liquidy.

So, I went in search of a waterproof mascara, and I somewhat arbitrarily chose Maybelline Total Temptation Waterproof Mascara at Bartell Drugs. I guess I'm just going to stick with that one from now on, since I've been complimented on it twice in the space of three days this week. Anyway, I had taken a photo so I could send it to Teresa, so I just happened already to have it on my phone this morning to show to my dental hygienist.

Nothing else really to report on my dental cleaning. Many mentions of my receding gums but, thankfully, no pressure to get that fucking gum graft. I was duly complimented for how well I've kept my teeth clean, actually.

The only particularly annoying thing is that she put that fluoride sticky stuff all over my teeth, some new kind where she said I could drink something immediately—but, not something hot. No hot drinks until at least 4:00, she said. I like my hot tea, goddammit! Tracy said, "Just drink iced tea." Oh my god, what is she, new? Iced tea? Barf!

I wanted to have something to drink so I finally opened this sample can of Coco Libre Coconut Water I've had in my desk drawer for at least a few years now. All I can say about that is, well, I don't have this odd can rolling around in my desk drawer anymore. I can say I drank it. It tastes . . . very odd. Not great.

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— पांच हजार पैंतीस —

Should I tell you something about last night? There's not a lot to tell. Shobhit had his Project Management Class. I only saw Ivan briefly, as he'd be either in his room or out for one of his walks. I watched an episode of season two of Schitt's Creek. Oh, I did have to go and check for Ivan in the packages area in the West building because he could not find a package that had been confirmed delivered and he was clearly slightly panicked about it, thinking it may have been stolen, whatever it was. I found it quite easily, in a spot I guess he didn't think to look (smaller packages inside a box, on the counter inside what used to be the "art room"—we moved all package delivery to that spot so potential thieves, indeed, would stop being tempted by the sight of them through windows into the building lobbies). He was quite visibly relieved when I brought it back to him. I think it was a book of some kind.

Otherwise I spent a fair amount of time on social media, particularly TikTok. I need to get back to reading my library book. I no longer have my lunch breaks available for reading like I had when I was working from home. After Shobhit gave me a ride to work yesterday so it would be easier to carry the box of samosas, I thought I would be walking home and reading on the way—but, then Tracy offered me a ride. The ride home with her was interesting, as she detailed how Eric apparently once said to her, "It will be interesting to see what you think of Matthew, who's an introvert but also not" (a very apt description), and she surprised him by saying, "Oh Matthew and I are friends." He wasn't quite getting that it wasn't just a work friendship either: "We're friends outside of work. I was part of his Birthday Week!" (People always do that, call it my "Birthday Week," even though I have always called it my Birth Week. Whatever!) That detail evidently made Eric kind of realize, oh, this is legit!

That was just kind of fun to hear about.

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[posted 12:42 pm]