Thursday, October 18, 2012

Days of Miscellany

There have been some nice family times that I've not shared and as I read through about 40 pages of Blogging that are now deleted, I see that Blogging has become my timeline for when I eventually get some scrapbooks finished. The project that is always looming and I really want to give some attention to. Finding time is the key and maybe I just need to incorporate it into my regular activities and being OK with just 20 or 30 minutes here and there.

Regarding the Blog pages I've deleted: I deleted our E---t trip from January '11. I do check the source of our Blog traffic occasionally and it just seems that there has been too much interest in those particular posts from that region. Key word searches are the source so by eliminating the topic, traffic should die down. We'll see.

What have we been up to? Well, someone turned 14 and we celebrated up at the cabin in Twain Harte. It is a family cabin, built by my grandparents, and living out of state and country, we've not had the opportunity to enjoy it for many years. We had a good time and Eiger was very happy there. Outside of the previously posted near-drowning experience. We went to Pinecrest lake, hiking and blackberry picking. We topped it all off with a 5 hour drive home - should take 2 hrs with minimal traffic. Ah well, it was Labor day.... Happy Birthday Rachel!
Oo la la!  Look at my handsome husband!  We were asked to help fill up the Firm's table for the San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala.  Fancy - Black tie, Cocktail reception, Patron's Dinner, Symphony and After Party.  Before we said yes, I said we needed to see if we still fit into our "costumes" cause that could be a deal breaker.  Most women would take this as an opportunity to go shopping for a new dress but I sit looking at things in my closet that have gone unworn and think "no need for a new dress if I have something already."  Guess it should fit though.  And men's tuxedo's?  Do those ever go on sale?  He bought one and should always fit into it.  Always.  OK, I had a dress that fit and Bart just needed to buy a new shirt.  Which I ended up having to iron (have you ever ironed a tuxedo shirt? Ugh!!!) and was thinking "thank goodness he'll have a vest and jacket on all night.  I hope."

I love fancy dress occasions.  I love to see all the dresses.  I'm the crazy girl who come September, has the issues of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and In Style so I can look at the full ad campaigns by the designers.  Those 3 magazines stacked as September issues could make their own end table...... I love to see the colors, construction and photography - I see it as artwork.  Many see it as superficial and a waste of paper.  We all have our indulgences.  Anyway.... the people watching was superb. Superb!  There was "oh, look at that dress"  "she is beautiful" "ooooh myyyy!" "I saw that dress in Vogue!" Fun, fun, silly fun.

The press photographers were there as San Francisco elite and politicians were out for this event.  We got our picture taken.  We said and spelled our names for the photographer.  I was asked if I was wearing a designer that evening.  I replied "No.  I'm not wearing anyone this evening, thank you."  I did not want any eye rolling or flopping on the floor should I state the truth: " I'm wearing a Macy's clearance gown I purchased for $50 ten years ago."  For all that I love looking at fashion, I also love a great bargain.  One I never feel guilty for.  I own one real designer item - a pair of sunglasses I bought in 2008.  Still have them and my 12 yr old Ray Bans - I think I've only lost one pair of sunglasses in my life so they're a pretty good deal for me.

Enough of the frivolous, we had a great time!  The Symphony, by the way, was Awesome.
We were getting ready to dash out the door for Kendra's ballet lesson a couple weeks ago when I spotted this handsome Buck outside the kitchen window.  So I made her wait.  Put the zoom lens on and was able to stand in the backyard and take pictures without the Buck or his harem taking off.  Eiger was very still - rarely barks or runs when the deer are in back.  Love having the wildlife around us although I could do with a few less turkeys - they don't clean up after themselves so the sidewalks are littered with turkey droppings around here.  I think CA should have an open season on Turkeys around Thanksgiving - save us all a few $$ for dinner and help control this booming population.  Or we should be allowed to let our dogs run loose ever so often..........
San Francisco's Fleet Week:  We didn't get down to the boats but we did go in and walk to Pier 39 to watch the Blue Angels.  As you can see, it was a gorgeous day and while there were a lot of people, it was a really good crowd and there was no problem being able to get good views of the air show.  Love the noise!!!
The precision is unbelievable:
Kendra's science project for 6th grade:  Volcano!!!  We wadded up newspaper in a somewhat desired shape, layered strips of plaster of paris on it, dried it overnight, she painted it and presented a prehistoric theme.  Inside there is a plastic water bottle that we hot glued to the top of the 'cone' after removing the newpaper and prior to securing to base.  This had about 1/4 cup baking soda in it and then all you add is vinegar and Viola! you have an erupting volcano.  The first eruptions were done at school and then she had to show us at home.  Red dye in the baking soda wasn't allowed - it stains too many things!
This is a girl ready to go to her first Homecoming Dance.  How time flies!  She went to a friends house where 10 of the girls were getting ready and all went to the dance together.  A younger sister came downstairs after checking on them - we were ready to take pictures - and declared " it smells like something's burning and there is a bad chemical smell up there."  Ah - curling irons and hair spray.  Maybe a bit much perfume too but they'll learn.  She had a good time and from all our conversations, the part I like the best is that she still has a good head on her shoulders - it's a pretty one I think.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Best Root Canal I Ever Had?

Best root canal I ever had!

Really?  Can you believe I would write such a thing.

This from a women conditioned to tear up in the Dentist chair?

I didn't always tear up but after 5 crowns, all of which required numerous injections of novocaine due to my "special" nerves, the first time I had a root canal I immediately started tearing at the thought of the pain.  The Endodontist assured me I wouldn't feel a thing.  I did.  Sigh....  They basically performed what I refer to as, for lack of the proper medical term, an epidural for the tooth.

Once that root canal was done, they permanently affixed the crown and for the last 7 years I've lived life with a bite that has never been right.  Oooo - a rhyme.  There were small corrections tried over time but I finally went to the Orthodontist this June as my bite has become quite open due to my teeth not fitting together properly - I need a fork and knife to eat pizza in front of company.  My teeth are still absolutely straight but the tongue has pushed at them since the teeth didn't sit together anymore.

We are doing a little bit to help with that but the first thing he wanted me to do was get that root canal re-done:  a re-treatment.  What he saw in these x-rays vs others taken was suspected bone loss and roots that didn't appear to be fully cleaned out. 

Dutifully, I went to the consultation for and the re-treatment of that tooth.  The Endodontist and Dental technician both commented that I might notice some improvement in bite and general well-being after re-treatment.  Why?  Because it appears that there has been a low-grade infection in the bone at the root site for several years.  The inflammation coming and going cause the bite issues and in their mind, stress on the immune system.  I might feel less tired, have more energy, better sinus drainage, etc....

I looked like I had a stroke that day - the aenesthesia took some time to wear off.  I did have a headache for several days.  Then I started to wake up.  I felt like the tired, little cloud I've been under for a long time had disappeared as had the pressure on my left side/neck.  Who knew?  It wasn't painful so I never imagined the other symptoms I had were a result of an incomplete root canal.

Bart will attest to my change in attitude.  I will not repeat what he said, haha, but there has definitely been improvement in how I feel and my energy level.  I thought it was all just middle age.......

Why does this matter?  As in all things, a rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch.  Taking care of your teeth/oral health is critical for the rest of your body.  Similar to the breathing being important to muscle health and so on and so forth.  So I'm working on getting all the "parts" fixed.  Next may be the rotator cuff......I'm just falling apart.

Add speech therapy for the tooth/tongue problem - darn those "t"s.....

Sunday, October 07, 2012

While I'm Waiting

Hello!  Nice to see you this fine October Sunday.  I've been enjoying everyone else's Blogs and slowly getting the garden cleaned up from Summer and ready for Winter.  Winter being a relative term as it was 101F last Sunday, September 30th, and today is a fantastic 80F in the sun.  Our winter is a mild Fall to much of the world but we can pretend.  My cherry tomatoes are still going crazy but have planted some lettuce and spinach again for the cooler weather to come.

"Waiting" has been on my mind lately.  I'm waiting for something.  We are waiting for Fall. We wait for the Holidays.  We wait for answers to questions.  I know others waiting for diagnosis.  Test results.  College acceptances.  Loved ones to pass.  Legal judgements. Christmas.  Birthdays.  Jobs.  Trains.  Good waiting.  Difficult waiting.

There is a lot of waiting in our lives and sometimes; sometimes it can leave us frozen.  It can leave me very frozen.  In this current season of waiting, I really feel like the Lord's been asking me to "defrost" during the wait.  Jump in and do something.  To be effective and of service rather than frozen and ineffective.

I really like this song by John Waller (While I'm Waiting):

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
 
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting 
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I am confident this season of waiting will have some good results.  Some active results.  They will be revealed over time - as I wait.

I hope as I defrost, I'll get this Blog moving again.  I have very important items to share, you know.  I'm not talking about the Alaska pic's which I still need to complete but.......Eiger's love for playing with pinecones:

He picks them up and throws them.  Chases them - look at his form:
Attacks them!
Should he be allowed to take them home, he proceeds to pick them apart all over the backyard.  Nature's toy?  I'd worry if he ate them but he is content to dismember and not ingest them.

Here he is at Pinecrest Lake and his first foray into open water.  What did we learn that day?

He looks like a water dog.  His predominant breed is that of a water dog.  He has the webbed feet, rudder-like tail and water repellant, slick coat of a water dog.

He jumped in, went completely under and Rachel rescued him.  NOT a natural water dog.
Our Max (predecessor to Eiger) was a natural water dog.  He knew instinctively what to do and we had more trouble keeping him out of the water than getting him in.  No instruction required.

Eiger needs doggy swim lessons.  We took him back to the beach and I put a 15ft lead on him and lessons began.  Much to the amusement of the other beachgoers with dogs.  Turns out many have had the same experience with multiple Lab mixes - some get the natural swimming genes and some need a bit of help.  So Eiger did get in twice more over his head so he could flail around like a drowning rat - but he did it.  Again, much to the amusement of everyone watching.  I'm sure they were laughing at him and not me.  Bart, of course, stayed with the chairs up the beach - the dog is "mine" after all....

He's laying at my feet now - yeah, he's pretty much mine.  :)