Dentists @ MindSay

I really don't enjoy dentists, but I'm going to have to break down and go to one.  My mouth feels like sombody shot me in the lower jaw...or like I wish somebody would shoot me in the lower jaw.

 

I can't concentrate anymore, so I'm gonna go drink Scotch until I can sleep--I won't, otherwise.  You guys have a good night.

It's not that I am not aware of "what day it is." I am.  I have been avoiding media, however, except as reported to me via The Spousal Unit.

The reason for this is that today was The First Dentist Appointment for Cartoon Ranger.

Short version:  Imagine the <sarcasm> fun and hilarity </sarcasm> of guiding a small person through an initial dental visit (brushing and exam).  Now imagine that the small person cannot abide having his head or face touched without permission.  <quoting some commercial or other> "Yes, it's that good." </quoting>

In CR's favor, he was WONDERFUL in preparation for said visit. We went to the dentist's website, saw pics of his office (they have a game room with video games and a flat screen TV), and read books about dentist office visits.   All those good "social stories" kinds of things that are recommended by therapists everywhere.  He was very positive about going. 

Until he had to wait longer than anticipated. To be fair, we HAD been waiting quite a while.  At one point, he just sort of snapped. Zero to sixty in a heartbeat.  We had to leave the waiting room and go outside to calm down.

This happened a few times.

In the office, (complete with flatscreen installed in the ceiling to watch Nick Jr. or ANYthing else the patient wanted to watch) (maybe even Discovery Home), the little guy came unglued.  Poor kidlet.  We tried and tried, but the whole dental chair exam was not for him today.

On the plus side, as I wrote the relatives, while he was screaming (I was holding him the whole time, but he was still screaming) the dentist could clearly see all his teeth.  All the way, I'm guessing, to his esophagus.

In the end, his teeth were pronounced to be very healthy. His lungs certainly lack nothing, either.  He got to go to the treasure box (he had, after all, endured a power brushing and exam) and was more than ready to go home.

So was I. I felt like I'd run a mile. Without a break for water.

So it's been kind of a day in the House O'Quill. Maybe I'll turn in early tonight, still avoid the media, and watch some silly movie that reminds me to value the honesty of a small son who is frightened, even when it can be embarrassing.

Or there's always Pride & Prejudice. ;)

So I had my 3rd of 3 dentist appointments today...my mouth hurts like hell



also,
I don't have to work Sept 22 or 23 which is nice because I can go up to see Eric! Bad thing is, I have to work Oct. 14....so hopefully I can find someone to cover my shift.


EDIT:
I played Felix today. Felix is my red electric violin......

We went to Hamilton Dining Hall (in Hamilton Hall) today to meet with Travis .......after dinner, Sarah, Elizabeth and I played the piano in the building

I hate dentistry. I am in so much pain right now it's not even funny. Had to cancel my job interview today because I can't hardly talk without spitting. And now I have to go to the stupid f-ing duplex again today for about another 4 hrs. I haven't eaten, I can't eat til eleven and I'm in pain. I hate it how when my little sister is sick or in pain she gets out of doing things, but when I am- no no...I have to labor still. This summer is so bi-polar. Some parts of it are completely shitty and full of misery while other parts are the best things in the world.


I hurt.

EDIT:

So now that the novacaine has worn off...my teeth are def. in pain. Soreness to the max. But I guess things could be worse. I could have no teeth at all.

However, in all seriousness-things could be MUCH worse.

So I worked at the duplex for another ermmm.....4.5hrs. It is nice to know that I am being paid for all of this. I'm getting paid for 12 hrs at alteast $7 an hr. Not bad. Money would help out my current situation a lot!~!

As I mentioned earlier in this note, this summer has been quite bi-polar. It has definatly been a summer of great growth and change. I shall explain....

Last summer as I went on my way off to college I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I knew exactly what I was supposed to be doing in life. I was supposed to climb the international ladder and work as an Ambassador for the UN. I was for sure that this was were God was calling me to.
After a often horrendous roommate experience first semester and a horrible relationship I wasn't quite sure what was going on. As I moved in with my friend and new roommate Sarah in January things started to look up, a bit. I was finally getting sleep at nights and wasn't afraid to approach my roommate with concerns. During the entire school year I felt bad ans guily for not attending my Bible Study and for not going to Campus Crusade. With skating and homework I just didn't think I had the time. I rarely made it to church. Looking back I'm a little saddened, but realize that all those things happened to complete the bigger picture.
Those that know me well, know that for me Kirkmont is the high point of my year. It's the one place where I really feel myself take time out to bask in God's glory. Watching children grow next to one another is probably the most awesome thing ever. To borrow the words of another Kirkmontier, Kirkmont is a "thin place". Every summer, atleast once I take a walk around the Labrynth. It is my time to reflect on my life over the past year. Sitting by the rock each year I feel so close to God. The sky seems to come lower to reveal everything that it holds within. This year I had a lot to reflect over. As I sat there, alone, to a certain extent, I could feel God rearranging the priorities in my life. I could sense that He was telling me that I wasn't exactly where He wanted me. This was the point where my life kind of did a 180.
A ton has happened as O have briefly mentioned in previous notes. to recap- I've changed my major (something my parents are just now adjusting to). I am now a Comparative Religions Major with a Minor in Child Studies. I'm looking into going to Seminary and then becoming a Presby Minister or a Youth Pastor of some kind. I've also made the decision to NOT skate synchro for Miami anymore. that decision had been weighing on my shoulders for awhile before camp started however, like I said....camp made a lot of things become somewhat clearer. Thirdly, I'm in a new relationship(however it is so much more than that- it's more like a partnership). Something that I was really NOT expecting to become reality going into camp. God surely does work in mysterious ways.
This incredible gift that has been placed in front of me has been proving to be a HUGE blessing on my life. It is starting to take over all of the worry and doubts that I had previously.

As for the not so happy part of the summer, there are only two big things. 1) My dad moved out. 2) My parents just don't listen to me..when they do they don't always try and hear me. I keep reminding myself that not even these things are as bad as others have got them. I am pretty darned blessed. When I reflect God gently reminds me that I could have not even been given an opportunity to live a life for the Lord (I was adopted).

Well this has been great to write and now I need to shower.

God Bless...or in Travis (my Orthodox Jewish friend's) hand G-d Bless!

News... during the witch hunt against Clinton, Newt Gingrich admits he was having an affair. But since Newt did not "perjure himself"  while Clinton did, the situation called for investigation. Of course no gentleman should have asked Clinton publically about Monica or the blue dress or her choice in lingerie...and what's a gentleman to do but lie in that situation- to protect the woman of course.

What hypocrits. And then we read that Barak has paid over 300 in parking fines from his Harvard days. Now i confess to avoiding a parking fine in a city far from home while using a rental car... maybe once or twice. But this "tab" was run up with his own car while he is a student......hmmmmm must only ordinary people pay parking fines? and I wonder what this says about his character.

 

BUT the most disturbing news ( ok I admit it I am vapid) is Ralph Fiennes romping naked in a pool with a bevy of gals, and so soon after the airplane incident. While he was sincerely yattached to Francesca Annis he was close to a heavenly fixture, but now my cheubim has been spoiled and is proving to be oh so banally human. sigh ... another priapic little twit.

 

of course the supposed discovery of jesus's burial place along with the bones of Mary M and their son is giving me a great smile. I recall being in a book store once and seeing a section called "Christian Fiction" well isn't that an oxymoron. Not that I belong to a religious group that doesn't have a handful of miracles... burning bushes and parting seas and manna from heaven not to mention patriachs who can't tell one woman from the other. But it's basic tenet is not based on an impossibility. if hinduism wasn't so hard to understand that might attract me...especially the cyclical destruction of the universe. Now that's a great comfort to me ... esp whenever I visit southern florida.

 

OMSI yesterday was wild fun (except for the IMAX which made us nauseated with the curving pans- why do people like that sort of shit?) , we played in the turbine room for a long time and soon I will have to decide where I shall volunteer. the list grows: the arboretum, chinese garden, OMSI, children's museum. omsi wont be anal --- I can tell from watching hoards of after school kids running manically through the exhibits ...doing Britney imitations in the earthquake house while their mother's laughed and photographed them. Portland is Def MY kind of city.

 

Today I finally visit the dentist I found, a cleaning is long overdue and it will be great to have that slick wind through my dentition feeling that comes right after a professional cleaning.ahhhhhhhhh. life.