I use a popular online delivery service to order food from lots of restaurants here in Manhattan.

Today I went to their site and noticed a jarring graphic on their home page. They had a photo of a Chinese food takeout container, with a pair of chopsticks sticking up vertically out of the container.

In many Asian cultures, this is a no-no. Just type "chopsticks sticking up" into Google and you'll see why.

So I emailed the company and told them. I said it really nicely - I've been a loyal customer for many years, and I just thought they might want to know that. It's just a bit jarring to go to their home page and see it. It brings back memories of getting yelled at by my parents when I was a kid and fooling around at the dinner table.

And they wrote back, thanking me profusely for pointing me out and offering me a discount code for my next order!

Sometimes the system DOES work!

I went to the dentist yesterday for my quarterly appointment.

Yes, I said quarterly. I go to the dentist every 3 months!

Thanks to bad genes, I have pretty bad gum disease in my family. My grandmother had lost all of her teeth by age 30. My parents both have several false teeth.

I am determined to avoid this fate. Luckily, I have a really great dentist. But keeping my teeth and gums in good shape hasn't been easy.

When most people go to the dentist, they get that little napkin clipped around their neck. Then the nurse or hygienist comes in, gives them a little cup of water so they can rinse and spit into the little sink on the side at the end of the appointment. Then the dentist scrapes a little, pokes and prods, says, "It looks good. Come back in a year" or "You have a cavity; let's take care of it" or whatever.

When I go to the dentist, they have to change that little napkin because within 10 minutes, blood gets spattered all over it. And they don't want to scare the other patients who might be walking by, and who will think it's a grisly murder scene.

If I happen to look in the mirror, I see something that reminds me of that scene in the The Silence of the Lambs, when Hannibal Lecter is on his rampage.

Then the dentist says things like, "Ok, here's a suction tube, so you don't drown in your own blood" and "Let's refill that little cup of water for the 10th time so you can rinse" and "Nurse, please wipe down the blood that's dripping down the side of the sink."

And, "Let's try this experimental new laser treatment" or "Do you mind if our dental students come in and see what serious bone loss from gum disease looks like?"

And, "Please don't ever go on a reality show that requires you to live on a desert island; if you went more than 3 months without coming in here, your teeth would all fall out" and "I won't charge you for today's appointment, because I know you'll be back 3 more times this year."

But I always look on the bright side.

I got so many cavities as a kid that at some point, when every tooth had a filling, I didn't have to worry about getting any more.

And at least I get a lot of free toothbrushes!

Thanks to everyone for the expressions of love and support.

It's been a tough couple of weeks, but we'll all be ok.

Some things that I've found, over the past few days, to be good balms for the pain of losing a friend:

-- Visiting my friends who have babies. Babies are just great. They're so cute and full of energy, and they remind you of how beautiful life is, and how much hope there is for the future.

-- Walking in the Park. Even though it's the dead of winter, you can see signs of life everywhere - green shoots on a tree, a small bud that almost escaped notice, even squirrel footprints.

-- Bad reality shows. Nothing like seeing the Real Housewives of wherever to help you gain perspective on how trivial so many problem s really are, and how little many people appreciate what they have every day. And resolve to be a better person in that regard.

-- Sitting in a quiet church. You can just feel the presence of..something. Who knows what it is? Intelligent minds may differ in their opinions.

-- A big cup of hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream. I love that sensation when it hits the roof of my mouth. The loveliest flavor in the world.

Life marches forward.

Thanks to everyone for the expressions of concern.

It's been a tough few days. But our friend passed away this evening, quickly and peacefully.

He was an organ donor, so his death has already saved other lives.

He was surrounded by his family and loved ones, and everyone was able to say good-by to him.

Even though we may struggle for the rest of our lives with why he did what he did, we all feel a measure of relief for him. We pray and hope that his soul has found peace, and that he is no longer in the pain that he felt every day of his life.

Well, it is 2011. The Husband and I rang in the new year at home, surrounded by friends, having a low key evening with wine, good food and Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest.

But today we heard some very sad news - a friend is in the ICU. He tried to commit suicide early this morning. Another friend got an alarming email from him and alerted the paramedics, who got to him in time and rushed him to the hospital. Right now he is in critical condition, and the future is uncertain.

I'm asking the blogosphere for lots of prayers. And I myself have been praying all day. Please, God, please let him live. He has so much to offer, and so many people who love and care about him.