Dentalmare!

I went to the dentist today to get two new cavities filled. The fact that I even have cavities in this day and age is astonishing... here's my dental story...

When I was a kid I loved candies and sugar. I didn't take the best care of my teeth. My mom would faithfully take us to the dentist every 6 months. Cavities were filled, braces were applied and eventually removed, etc etc etc...

As a pre-teen, after a combination of a painful root canal, getting my 13th cavity and having my dad brush my teeth for me with baking soda (ouch and yuck!), I decided it was time for me to get my act together. No more sneaking candy just before bed :P

Thereafter, I was a poster child for the ADA. I brush my teeth at least 2 times per day, flossing regularly, etc. I'd go to the dentist and they'd tell me I had wonderful oral health. No more cavities, no more drills. Praise God.

So, imagine my surprise when I went to the dentist 2 years ago and he told me I had a small cavity. I was in denial. I hadn't had a cavity in over 10 years! I thought the dentist was tired of giving me a good report and wanted to make a lil extra money. I let him fill the mysterious cavity but I had my doubts. After that, I was a lil obsessed with cavity prevention.

At my recent 6 moth appointment in March, they discovered 2 new cavities. WOE is me! Not again. This is a new dentist... are they trying to get paid too? My enamel must be weakening with age. Maybe I am paying penance for my childhood sugar shenanigans.

I went to the dentist today for the fillings. All of my other fillings were old school amalgam silver. The new cavities were filled with the tooth colored composite. The composite is supposed to require less drilling so I was all for it.

I hate the sound of the drill used to prepare teeth for fillings. The weird water that comes out of the drill, the weird smell of enamel being drilled. Everything about drilling makes me nervous and tense.

The dentist numbed my mouth with this cherry flavored gel stuff (YUCK!). Then he stuck me with a needle in 2 places in my mouth. He started to drill immediately. WAIT!!! Give the Novocaine a chance to start working! He tells me "If you feel anything just raise your hand"... not a second after that utterance was I moaning in pain. The moans earned me 2 more shots of Novocaine.

The whole time he's drilling I'm tense. When the drill is off, I can feel my whole being relax. He turns on the drill and tension is in my neck, shoulders, arms, legs... what an exhausting experience. The only benefit of this cavity filling experience was that I wouldn't have to wait 4+ hours to eat. Not that I wanted to eat anyway. I felt like stroke victim unable to move the left side of my mouth (not trying to make fun of stroke victims either, I understand their struggle). The roof of my mouth, my lips, my jaw... all oddly numb. Hours later, my mouth still feels weird and I am just beat.

I dread the day my 20+ year old fillings need to be replaced. I had some of them replaced just before college (they were 10 + years old then) but they are olde (yes, with an e). The new fillings I got today were on a tooth that was already filled from back in the day. The old filling had to come out... bits of it were still floating around my mouth after I left the dentist to my dismay.

So, long post... what's the lesson? Take care of your teeth when you are a kid. My parents tried to instill that in me, but they didn't know I was sneaking candy after I'd brushed mine before bed (sorry mom and dad... I was a candy junkie).

One of my friends calls me the poster child for the ADA. I brush and floss, daily, more than once a day. And I still have cavities! NO FRIGGIN FAIR! I have a nice smile tho :) But, if I were a singer, you'd think I had bling in my mouth for all the flashing silver :P

Ok, so I'm about to start taking calcium supplements... fluoride treatments and I will continue to be the poster child for the ADA. Here's to hoping that I have had my last new cavity.

Wedding in Kansas City

I went to a wedding in Kansas City last weekend. I had a really good time. The wedding was beautiful. The weather was perfect aside from a bit of wind. The ceremony was unique. A lot was said, so it was a little long, but I wasn't bored or ready to go :) Everything that was said during the ceremony was profound. They bride and groom even instilled a bit of humor in the way they responded to the things the minister was asking.

What I found completely interesting was the exchange of the rings. The rings were on the base of roses. They each held the ring they were to give to the other. They recited their vows, then exchanged rings and put their own ring on their own finger. How's that for independence?

The reception was fun too. There was open seating. We found and table and then was joined by another 2 couples that we did not know. We did introductions and then instantly were into all kinds of conversations. We talked and laughed and truly enjoyed ourselves. One couple vowed to keep in touch and provided their contact information. They even invited themselves to my wedding and I'm not even engaged yet. But yah know what? I'll certainly invite them. They were beautiful people and I'm glad to have met them!

Jewelry For A Wedding

I am going to a wedding in Kansas City this weekend. It's a formal wedding (sigh). I found a dress that will do :) Shopping for appropriate clothes is such a challenge when you are fuller figured. But alas, I will survive. Here's a picture of the cool beading on the dress. I bought a pair of earrings that compliment the beads. I made a bracelet and necklace to complete the look.

Masonic Bookmark

I completed my brother's mason bookmark in record time (2.5 hours). It is a simple pattern, but it was difficult to design the logo. I created the design for this bookmark using pattern making software. I don't think I have a future in creating cross stitch patterns, but I am certain I can work up items like this in the future for fun. I will likely do one with the Lions Club logo on it for my mom. But not until I craft something up for my sister :)

Easter In NYC

I went home to NYC for Easter as has been my tradition since moving to Michigan. I didn't do much... didn't go out much... just kinda hung around the house. I did manage to go to church on Easter Sunday. I wish I took pictures or video of my sister dancing in the liturgical dance group and singing in the choir. Watching her dance brought tears to my eyes. Normally, liturgical dance is ok, but it doesn't move me. My sister moved me.

I did manage to take a few pictures while home of the kids. My nephew is so fast... as soon as he came home from church he took off his suit. He was quite handsome in his dark suit with purple shirt and matching tie. I guess my memories will have to suffice :) My youngest nephew and niece were kind enough to remain in their Easter best for a few photos. Here they are, my little hearts.

Pet Peeves on planes

• Being bumped and battered by people and their STUFF when they walk down the airplane aisles to find their seats... ARGH! It's a narrow walk way...act like it and mind your stuff.
  

• People bending over in the aisles placing their booties right in your face....nuff said.

• Little people kicking your seat...

• People reading your book or magazine over your shoulder.

• People from the back of the plane trying to deplane before the people ahead of them.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't
matter and those who matter don't mind.
- Dr. Seuss

Don't let life pass you by

A friend sent me an email recently and told me a story about a woman who was sitting in a meeting that was not very productive and decided to leave because she felt like her life was passing her by. She had made the decision to stop letting people waste her time. If I left every time I thought my life was passing me by... I wonder... Because I feel that way quite often while at work, or at home alone.

Bookmark 4 of 4 FINALLY!

I am so pleased to announce that I have FINALLY finished bookmark 4 of 4. Once I put my mind to just sit and stitch, I finished it up in 2 sittings. I'm so glad to be done with it. I can't begin to express the lesson I learned stitching to order. I need to be more realistic with my time table. While it may only take 24 -48 total hours to stitch some pieces, making the time and being in the mood plays a huge role. But, this weekend I was inspired, and hopefully I can get some of my other works in process complete as well.

Here it is, book mark 4 of 4.
And while I'm posting, here are the other 3 bookmarks delivered to the same person. I hope the persons she plans on gifting them too enjoy them!