Sittin' on the Front Porch

[pojo]

It's not so much the guts.... its the realization that you ACTUALLY save lives.

[furluvcats]

Hello friends! Hope this post finds everyone having a lovely summer!We've been real busy and are heading to Kings canyon National Park for a 9 day camping trip July 5....we're hoping we miss the crowds and have a more peaceful camping experience by arriving after the 4th! Taking Chloe and 3 of her friends...fun fun...LOL. All is well here...its been real hot, we've had fires, the usual summer thing...Take care and Hapoy 4th of July!!!

[Dee Bee]

Gosh, I feel out of the S2K loop! We flew out to AZ to see my husband's family last Thursday, came home Monday evening, and I've had three 10-hour days at the office since then.

The highlight of the trip was the totally unexpected appearance of my young Marine nephew, home 40 days early from his second tour in Iraq. What a celebration the whole family had! He'll be stationed in San Diego for about a year and then will be going back for another tour of duty in Iraq (unless we're out of there by then, I hope) in August, 2007.

So my planned vacation trips (Chicago, Cozumel cruise, AZ) are over for the summer. This weekend I will concentrate on applying for a new, permanent, full-time position at the college [director of the Institute for Teacher Education (4 programs)]. I'm excited and very hopeful about my chances!

[pojo]

Dee it is great that your nephew made it home safely... lets keep our fingers crossed for his next upcoming tour.

[Dee Bee]

Thanks, pojo!

[Miss Mary]

Hey guys.....can you swing a prayer or two my way? I usually don't ask for personal requests like this but I'm having dental pain. I had a root canal and crown put on an upper, side tooth, 8 years ago. It's come loose. I need a new post and new crown. My dentist will charge me only $350, compared to what it would normally cost, almost $1000. Since it was a tooth he worked on in the past (although not recent). I have an appt. August 2nd and I'm on a cancellation list. Taking ibuprophen to take care of the pain. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just dulls it. I just have never experienced dental pain like this. I was told not to chew on that side. I just hope they get me in ASAP. It's a lengthy appt., that's why they haven't been able to work me in.

Thanks all.

Mary

[Dee Bee]

Oh, Mary, how terrible that must feel! And dental pain can cause sinus pain, eye pain, ear pain -- I'm sure you just want to lie down and make the world go away. I know you're well-versed in nutrition. Are there any natural remedies which might offer you temporary relief?

I'm sending out extra-strong, positive thoughts for wholeness, strength, and calm for you right now.

-- Diane

[Miss Mary]

Dee - thanks! What I'm discovering is as I age, I tend to chip teeth. I have 5 crowns by now. I chew very carefully and I'm about to give up all gum. Although I still chew sugar free (what the DDS recommends). Wish all these chips could be easy fixes. This tooth that's bothering me was my first real break - biting into a bagel chip. Took a whole side off and it needed a root canal in addition to a crown. All of it is so expensive too!

But right now I want that novacaine shot!

Just keep your fingers crossed they get me in. I've given them 4 wide open days in my schedule, that I know for certain if I get 15 minutes notice, I'll be there.

Thanks so much for the kind words Dee!

Mary

[Miss Mary]

Quick update!!!!!

Dee - whatever you did, it worked! Thanks so much. I have an appt. this Monday morning at 8 a.m.

I woke up today with such pain and contemplated calling my dentist again. And his receptionist called me before 9 a.m.! There is a God - thanks!!!!

I've just never had dental pain this bad before. I keep thinking, hey maybe I'll lose weight over this....he he Since it is painful to eat. And what do I do? I'm still eating, but soft foods. LOL

Thanks for the prayers Dee - I know you said them!
Mary

[isobar]

Mary, that's terrible about your tooth. I would call the dentist and see if he can prescribe something stronger to get you through the weekend, and hopefully Monday will come quick! And of course I said a prayer too. Take care!

[Pburgh]

Oh Miss Mary, I'll definitely be praying that your pain subsides over the weekend. I'm going to make you a pot of Earl Grey. Now let it cool off a little before you take a drink. That tooth must be really sensitive to hot and cold. Take several Ibuprophen and a cup of warm tea and sit back in the rocker and relax. ((HUGS))
Take care my friend
Karan

[Miss Mary]

I'm tearing off a page from Karan's book - sipping the Chardonay!!! It's odd pain, comes and goes. But it's there each day. I just can't wait for Monday. The dentist did offer me an Rx for pain pills but knows I'm a mom and can't just sleep all the time. No that wouldn't do.....

Thanks for the tea idea Karan but I think I'll stick to your wine!!!! Last night I was moaning and groaning at the dinner table, announcing - I've just got to get drunk! Hubby said - want a shot of whiskey? Now let me just say I could have not said that 10 years ago. It is kinda nice when your kids get older, you can talk about almost anything. But all I had was one beer - I'm such a lightweight. But I did pick up a bottle of wine at the grocery. And get this - Laura has a friend coming over tonight. I can't really drink until she's gone.....oh well!

Thanks Donna and Karan. You're both so nice (Dee too!).

Mary

[Pburgh]

Miss Mary, how are you doing? Have you tried taking Ibuprophen? If you take 4, yes 4, it is very effective. Won't make you drousy but will reduce the pain. It's like taking a prescribed 800mg Motrin. I wouldn't do this on an empty stomach and definitely not while drinking my Chardonnay. Although as little as you drink, might I suggest a nice white zinfandel.

Karan, opens the bottle for Mary, lets her smell the cork, pours a small amount in a beautiful crystal glass. " Ahhhhhhh, pure heaven" Mary says.

Hiccup, Hiccup "Karan, my tooth doesn't hurt at all, but my head is killing me" Mary says. "Mary, did you drink that entire bottle?????"

Take care my friend. Not much longer and you'll be in the dentists good care.

[Miss Mary]

Yes - almost 24 hours from now I'll be painfree! Never have I wanted that shot more than now. The pain has lessened since I've strictly eaten on the opposite side. I've been taking 3 Ibuprophen, every 4 or 6 hours and it's taking care of it. Ironically, that bottle of wine remains unopened! Laura's friend ended up staying past 11:30. At that point I just wanted to go to sleep! It was nice to know it was there, if I needed it.

I am seriously going to ask for a list of foods to avoid from now on. I know all shelled nuts are out, as in sunflower seeds. Forget pistatio nuts! All taffy, bubble gum and hard candy as well. I just want a long, long period without dental problems. I just want ordinary cleanings!!!!

Thanks Karan - I did drink a bottle of wine all by myself once. Yes a good friend helped me come to terms with my first marriage ending. She was 9 months pregnant and about to start the whole mothering phase of her life - still in it, BTW! She couldn't drink of course so she uncorked a bottle and I ended up sipping the whole darn thing. While going thru a box of tissues too! She still talks about that night......this pain was almost that bad - but physical!

It's funny, I always thought once you had the root canal and new crown put on, you were set. That tooth wasn't supposed to give you any more trouble!

Mary

[Miss Mary]

Quick update - the severe dental pain I had last week is gone. I had the dental appt. this past Monday. I have a new crown now with a new post, for the old root canal. Got the impression part of the problem was the old post came loose, which loosened the old crown and that shouldn't have happened. Now all of it is secure, cemented, solid. I haven't quite had the courage to eat on that side yet. Do I 100% believe this crown won't work it's way loose again (it did 3 times in 8 years)? Well, no, but this time my DDS said it's very secure and won't go anywhere.

All I know is, once you go to crowns, you want your old tooth back. The new crown is shorter, he said I kept hitting the bottom of the old crown and possibly worked it loose over time, by just eating or biting into hard foods. So of course you keep running your tongue over on that side b/c it all feels so weird!

So listen up anyone in their teens, 20s, 30s - please take very good care of your teeth. Floss daily, brush up and down, not side to side, or in small circles, don't forget to brush the gums (very, very important) and if you do all that, hopefully when you're my age - 51 - you won't be going thru what I am these days! Just my friendly bit of advice to younger generations.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes!
Mary

[Pburgh]

Good advice Miss Mary!!! I'm so glad everything is ok again. Come on, I left some snickerdoodles on the porch swing. It's time to bite down on that newly repaired crown. I have faith in you. I know you can do it!!!!! I'll brew some Earl Grey to go along with the cookies. ((HUGS))
Karan

[Miss Mary]

Karan - you secretly work for my dentist, don't you? LOL

Oh sure I want to bite down on snickerdoodles!!!! he he The real trick will be the next time I make my caramel popcorn. Yikes! I think I will have to soften first before chewing it. Yes indeedy, Miss Mary is going to learn how to eat much slower, first you pop the food or candy in your mouth, then wait a bit before chomping down on it.

It's funny, but next door to the room I was in was a lady who broke a tooth off by just biting into a sandwich. My dentist's partner asked - okay, let me see if I understand this correctly, you were eating a sandwich, when...... I laughed and said hey that's my story (usually!!!).

Yep, maybe smoothies and milkshakes are the way to go.....listen to me, I sound so geriatric!!!! LOL

Mary

[pojo]

Good News... all my civilian doctor physical information is in at the Aerospace Medical place... now I'm just waiting for the US Surgeon General ok to fly for the Hurricane Hunters... Hopefully by Sept I'll be in school for the Hurricane Hunter position... then next season I'll get to fly!

[vbhoutex]

Good News... all my civilian doctor physical information is in at the Aerospace Medical place... now I'm just waiting for the US Surgeon General ok to fly for the Hurricane Hunters... Hopefully by Sept I'll be in school for the Hurricane Hunter position... then next season I'll get to fly!

AWESOME!!! FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!

[pojo]

I know VB... I can't wait!