Dr. RC and Gail postscript

My neighbor went to a conference in Arizona. He is in the pipe-coating business and pipe coaters convene like other professional organizations for the latest pipe technology. There were presentations on pipe corrosion, coating techniques, etc. Since the Arizona conference, I have also seen my neighbor leave for a pipe convention in Florida. He took his golf clubs again. Perhaps the pipe conferences are really an excuse to get away and play golf.

My husband’s profession meets frequently for the latest brain/computer discoveries. The computer scientists seem to have the best location strategy. They meet in China, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and France...all of which are a great compensation for attending lectures on neural networks, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
He takes advantage of the surroundings by diving the Great Barrier Reef, climbing the Great Wall, and eating a lifetime portion of pain au chocolat. I think that computer scientists use their conferences as an excuse to travel and overeat foreign delicacies.
Professional conferences don’t usually make the best column fodder, but there is one exception to this presumption. Dr. RC and his wife attended a dental convention in Honolulu Hawaii. Dr. RC was looking forward to classes on dental adhesion and pain advancement, but looked most forward to a little snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. Snorkel geared and fin clad they waded into the tropical waters. After paddling around, enjoying the friendly colorful fish, Dr. RC’s mask filled with salt water. Revolted by the taste, he yanked the snorkel out of his mouth. He yanked so hard that out came the brand new bridge consisting of his six front top teeth, he had just installed himself. He plunged back into the water with hopes of swooping up the bridge and putting it back into place. As he watched his front teeth sink past his reach, he was certain that a fish with a large mouth swam by snatching the teeth for himself. The good dentist’s wife didn’t buy the probability of the teeth snatching fish and fast and furiously she dove and resurfaced again and again. Alas, the front and center choppers were lost forever to the Pacific Blue, and yet another bitter beer face was created. Just imagine being a dentist at a professional gathering of fellow dentists and missing your top front teeth for the remaining 4 days... A lot of hand over mouth laughter took place. In the words of Dr. RC himself, “Oh what we appreciate when we don't have them.”