I haven't been sleeping all that well lately. I stayed up far too late almost every day this week, for no good reason. I haven't been feeling it up until today, but I guess it's finally caught up with me.

I had a really good run today, but something near my hip has seized up, making it tough to walk after I've been sitting for any period of time. It relaxes after a few minutes of walking, but the first few steps are really difficult. Not terribly painful, just inefficient. I hope I haven't screwed something up too badly; I'd hate to stop running and/or working out because of one stupid injury. I've been stretching before and after workouts. I think I've done everything right, but maybe I started in on this whole workout routine with a little too much gusto. I probably need more rest throughout the week.

I got a card from my boss today, which contained a generous gift certificate. It was really nice to get, but even better was the conversation we had when I went to her office to thank her. She asked me if I was happy with the move to her department, and I told her I am. She said that she's very happy I'm onboard with the group, and that I've been essential to a lot of the success we've had this year.

Since I have next week off and tomorrow might have snow, she gave me my card and had this discussion today, in case she (or either of us) got stuck home due to weather. She said she was very happy that I seem so happy in the position, and that next year will involve a lot of interesting new projects that she hopes will keep me busy and keep me with the department.

Gifts and bonuses are fantastic things, but knowing that I'm valued has always been more important to me. I was pretty sure that my boss was happy with my performance, but getting confirmation on that assumption really helps.

I had to leave work about an hour early today to get my teeth cleaned.

Going to the dentist always feels a little bit like going to confession. In the back of my mind, I hear the sins of meals past catching up with me. I'm sure there's some kind of encoded message on my enamel to the hygenist, who will make me atone by picking at my gums with sharp objects.

I was a little late to the appointment, but my hygenist was waiting for me right behind the counter, so we got to work right away. As I was sitting down, she said, "What's different about you since I last saw you?"

"I've lost some weight since then," I said.

"I thought that was it, but you hate to say so; it's kind of rude," she said. My hygenist is from Ireland, so everything she says sounds charming to me.

I then spent the next half-hour in a bit of pain. Apparently, I haven't been flossing my back teeth well enough, because there was much picking and scraping. She then showed me a "really good tool" for making sure I get to the gums in the back. It's one of those bottle brush-looking devices you're supposed to cram inbetween your teeth to get them clean. I was dubious, because I've tried those things before and they didn't seem to fit, but she showed me the right way to get the spaces, and it wasn't uncomfortable at all. I don't know if I'll be able to replicate it every night, but I'll do just about anything to avoid those picks at the dentist.

I think I'll go to sleep now. I'll be surprised if too many people get to the end of this entry without falling asleep themselves.