cresting the wave of cavity fighting ...

back in "aught 5" (translation: 2005), my mom had one of those BIG birthdays - you know, one that ends in "0" or "5". this particular one (60th, in case you are wondering), was celebrated in los angeles with me, as well as her two sisters, my auntie pam (from indiana, ya hoosier) and auntie melanie (from tennesee, y'all). they crashed at my place and it was quite the little adventure for us all.

on the first day they were there, i was giving them the apartment orientation (since i would be at work all day and they would be fending for themselves). in the bathroom, i showed them the cupboard that contained all the towels, supplies, etc. my auntie melanie took one look at it and said, "wow. did you do all that to impress us?" to which my mom and auntie pam replied, "no. she is ALWAYS like this."

the "THIS" i am always like is best summed up by the observation of a good friend many years ago. upon seeing my hallway closet, she said, "it is like a mini-walmart in there!"

it is true. i don't have a year's supply of food, but i have AT LEAST a year's supply of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, band aids, dental floss, deodorant, etc. ... what can i say, i like to be clean.

this particular need to ensure there is a back up for everything was increased when i was living in the states and some of the things i NEED were not available down there.

exhibit a: body shop glycerin soap. i have been using the same soap since i was about 13 years old. the body shop in the US was selling them in a SQUARE shape. definitely not as ergonomic as the version found in canada. so, every trip home, i would stock up on the "right" kind.

exhibit b: butler gum ultra soft toothbrushes. can not find them in the US. (see above for solution).

and so on and so forth.

but the most important item i am, well, OBSESSIVE about is my toothpaste. i brush my teeth a lot. i mean, A LOT. if i am going to have toothpaste in my mouth for multiple minutes multiple times a day, it better be something i like, right? well, the only toothpaste i like is CREST REGULAR PASTE. none of that gel-pro-health-fancy-flavour-sparkly-super-whitening-wash-your-dishes-and-bathe-your-dog-all-in-one crap for me. and since i have been using the stuff for over 3 decades and have nary a filling in my mouth, i think it is working for me.

oh, i should also mention i like the SMALL tubes of toothpaste.* the big ones annoy me. they are bulky, they get squished in the middle and it takes too long to squeeze it all to the top and keep it there (what? you're surprised to discover i am not a squish it and leave it kind of gal? i even have one of those contraptions that keeps the toothpaste pushed up to the top of the tube. and i ALWAYS put the cap back on. and i wash off any paste that spills. anywhere. yes. i am aware of my issues.) ... where was i? oh, right. small tubes. they stopped selling them in the US at some point while i was living there. so i started carting home a dozen boxes at a time whenever i visited edmonton. or i asked for a care package. once i returned to edmonton, i was able to buy one or two at a time, because i knew i could always get more when i needed them.

until the middle of last year! ACK! no small tubes on the shelves ANYWHERE. and believe you me, i scoured the drugstores, walmarts, and everything in between. i found none. i had to cave and buy a nasty big tube. then another when that one ran out. it was tragic. every single day i missed my small toothpaste. every day i squished the big tubes into submission. it was a dark period for me and my oral hygiene.

but then one day, about 2 weeks ago, i was buying dental floss and my eyes perused the rows of toothpaste. i was trying to decide if i could handle one of the fancy-schmancy toothpastes in the smaller containers or if the taste of the regular paste was worth continuing with the godzilla sized tubes - when i spotted them. bottom shelf. hiding in the corner. SMALL. REGULAR. CREST. TOOTHPASTE. i fell to my knees (partly in gratitude, and partly cause they were on the bottom shelf). i seriously considered buying the entire shelf. but i am on a budget, so i settled for 24 boxes.

brushing my teeth is once more the joy it has long been in my life. i even celebrated by opening a new toothbrush (yes. a butler gum ultra soft one).

and that is why i bought 24 boxes of this:


*not the travel size small ones. the 100ml ones vs. the 170ml ones that are so prevalent.