Life

Adventures in Dentistry: Numbness, Cavities, and Bonus Surprises

(I had some help organizing my thoughts, but there is LOTS OF ME in this post. My friend just helped me out.)

The dentist visit wasn’t bad. I mean, it could have been worse. I could have been visiting a dentist in Russia. There could have been pain. But overall, it was a pretty good experience—well, as good as a day at the dentist can get. Let’s review the highlights of my tooth-taming escapade.

1. The Numbing Juice: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

I was given the choice: a shot or gas. I went with the shot, and wow, did it pack a punch. I write this at nearly 5:00 p.m., and my face is just now returning to normal.

The “numb-numb juice” was administered around 11:00 a.m., and it stayed with me like an overcommitted houseguest. My nose finally joined the land of the living sometime after lunch, during which I carefully sipped a milkshake so I wouldn’t accidentally chew my own cheek. Pro tip: nothing says “good decision” like avoiding self-inflicted mouth injuries.

2. From Rock Legends to Light Rock Ambiance

The radio started off strong with 80s and 90s rock. But at some point, the station switched to light rock. A sudden Beach Boys song made me question everything. Are the Beach Boys considered light rock? Or were they just preparing me for the emotional rollercoaster of dental work? The world may never know.

3. The “Wheel of Fortune” Numbing Timeline

By the time the numbness finally wore off, it was Wheel of Fortune time. That’s seven hours of “throw the pain in the other room” magic. Reflecting back, the dentist did mention, “The cavities are really close to the nerve.” I guess that explained the Olympic-level dose of numbing juice.

4. The Block: My New Favorite Dental Gadget

Let’s talk about the block—the little device they stick in your mouth to prop it open. At first, it felt weird and awkward, but when they removed it to let me rest, I realized how much I relied on it. Without it, I had no clue how far to keep my mouth open. The block became my security blanket. Everyone needs a crutch sometimes, and mine was a piece of plastic wedged between my teeth.

5. The Surprise Cavity Bonus

While she was working, the dentist casually said, “Hey, I noticed another cavity while I was in there. I went ahead and prepped it for a filling, too.”

Uh, come again?

Apparently, while my face was numb and I was blissfully unaware, they decided to tackle a bonus cavity. It was all perfectly legal, of course—thanks to the form I initialed beforehand. You know the one: “The estimate is just an estimate. If additional mutually beneficial work is identified, we’ll take care of it!” Well played, dentist. Well played.

6. Tear-Off Cavities: The Sequel No One Asked For

Two out of the three cavities today were what they called “tear-offs.” Essentially, the edges of old fillings decided to betray me and let the bad guys in. The third cavity was the surprise bonus cavity. Not a freebie, but hey, it came with built-in discounts because, as the dentist might say, “The drill’s already warmed up!”

7. Crown Removal: Next Week’s Fun Adventure

Next week, I get to have a “false crown” removed. Apparently, a cavity snuck in under it. (Yes, this happens. No, I didn’t know it could.)

Here’s the good news: explosives won’t be necessary to remove the crown. Instead, they’ll use a “tool” that “turns the glue into water,” allowing the crown to practically leap out of my mouth. At least, that’s how it was explained to me. I’m choosing to believe this process will be as magical and painless as described.

Final Thoughts: A Dentist Visit to Remember

In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t the worst dentist visit. Sure, I left with a numb face, a bonus cavity, and a few less dollars in my bank account. But I also left with functioning teeth, a renewed appreciation for the block, and the knowledge that my crown removal won’t require dynamite.

Here’s hoping next week’s crown adventure is just as “pleasant.” And by pleasant, I mean over quickly, with minimal drama and no surprise soundtrack changes.

A Month In The Life of Our Trash

When we lived back in Texas, life for our trash was short. If it had a life of longer than a week, it was only because it was a “recycle” that just missed the weekly pickup. All other trash including big and small items were picked up twice a week. Obviously, there were certain things that were not taken: chemicals, liquid paint, and propane tanks. Beyond that, our Texas trash crew were rarely discouraged from feeding anything into the mega-mawl of destruction. (a.k.a. The business end of the garbage truck) With 2 pickups every week (one a recycle), we did not know how spoiled we were.

Oklahoma handles there trash differently. (At least OKC does.) Immediately, we see the two big trash cans with wheels on the side of our house. The sidewalk the cans live seems to be a home made specifically for them. The gas meter dwells right next to them…in the middle of the sidewalk. For weekly trash days, the only trash collected is trash/recycles that fits within these rolling trash cans. Friday is always our trash day. Every other week is a recycle week. If one finds they are experts on creating trash, it appears a requests can be made to add an additional “weekly” trash can to your family.

On the 23rd of December (when this post was started), I was excited for a special day in our trash disposal experience. It is the first day we are supposed to be able to dispose of big items. This special day is the 4th Monday of every month. (Not sure of any Memorial Day or other exceptions.) When I put these items out the night of the 22nd, I calculated which side of our driveway would be the best place to place them. With a mailbox and a circular driveway, the trash has to go somewhere on either side. My calculation last night did not take into consideration the neighbor’s four cars. With the cars expanding beyond the driveway at some point during every day, I did not account for their parking on the street. As soon as I noticed this possible impact on my trash pickup, I moved everything to the other side of the driveway on the morning of the 23rd. Now, I wait…

I had to wait a few days. The rain the night of the 23rd was heavy. The pieces of the particle board desks took all of the rain in stride. The cardboard was a different matter. Its days of usefulness were behind it. I patched things up to assure easy pickup. Then, I waited again.

I knew Christmas day would be a bust. The only positive from the whole experience was when I took my morning walks. There were other who had trash still sitting out waiting to be picked up. I was not alone. My understanding of the pickup directions was identical to those who have lived here for more weeks/months than I.

Finally, the day after Christmas came. On today’s walk, I passed the other house on our street that had a substantial pile of non-standard trash. The home owner was standing outside barefoot while wearing his black nasal strip. (He must have forgot he was wearing it.) We sympathized with each other. He assured me he would call the city soon if his pile of cardboard boxes (Maybe he just moved in..?) were not picked up.

After finishing my walk an hour later, a magical sound greeted my ears. It was the sound of hydraulics compressing miscellaneous materials into a smaller space. (a.k.a. a garbage truck) They were coming up the street from “barefoot and snoring.” It was a beautiful sound. The garbage workers didn’t seem to enjoy my picture. But, the picture proves I don’t make these things up…at least mostly not.

Leap Into the Unknown: A Hilarious Yet Heartfelt Recap of the Leap Year That Changed Everything

(While my anonymous assistant captured some memories of our last leap day/year, he didn’t realize how special it was having our family living under the same roof for one last 6 month period.)

Ah, February 29, 2020. The leap day that leaped us right into what would affectionately (or not so affectionately) come to be known as the “Covid-times.” Little did we know, as we added that extra day to our calendars, that we were also about to add an unprecedented chapter to the story of our lives. Here’s a humorous, yet reflective look back at the transition into a world where “unprecedented” became everyone’s least favorite buzzword, and toilet paper became more valuable than gold.

The Great Indoors

Remember when “staying in” was for the introverts and the “Netflix and chill” crowd? Oh, how the tables have turned. Suddenly, our homes became our offices, our gyms, and our Michelin-star restaurants (if you squinted hard enough at your burnt toast). We became masters of our own little universes, each day a journey from the bedroom to the living room, with exotic vacations to the forgotten lands of “The Backyard.”

Zooming Through Life

Before 2020, Zoom was just a sound effect from a comic book or a feature on a camera. Fast forward a few weeks, and it’s where we lived our lives—business meetings in the top half, pajama party in the bottom half. We learned the hard way that “mute” is both a feature and a lifestyle, and that “Sorry, I was talking on mute” is the modern-day equivalent of “My dog ate my homework.”

The Fashion Revolution: Pajamas to the Rescue

Speaking of fashion, let’s have a moment of silence for our work clothes, who watched in despair from the closet as their casual cousins took center stage. Ties became relics of a bygone era, high heels gathered dust, and bras… well, let’s just say they went on an extended vacation. In the Covid-times, comfort reigned supreme, and if you managed to wear socks that matched, you were already ahead of the curve.

The Toilet Paper Chronicles

In what will surely be a puzzling chapter for future historians, the early days of the pandemic saw a global obsession with hoarding toilet paper. Supermarket aisles became battlegrounds, and a roll of two-ply was worth its weight in gold. Looking back, it’s hard not to chuckle at the absurdity of it all—our civilization’s advanced technology and sophisticated cultures, momentarily upended by the pursuit of bathroom tissue.

Learning to Laugh

Despite the challenges, or perhaps because of them, we learned the importance of laughter. We shared memes like they were going out of style (which, let’s face it, they never will), and found humor in the most unexpected places—from Zoom backgrounds gone wrong to the great sourdough bread baking saga. In a world turned upside down, laughter became our universal language, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there’s a lightness to be found.

As we reflect on the leap day that leaped us into the Covid-times, it’s with a mixture of nostalgia and disbelief. We’ve come a long way since those early days of uncertainty and toilet paper hoarding. And while we may not miss the lockdowns or the endless days of isolation, we’ll always cherish the lessons learned, the laughs shared, and the resilience discovered along the way. Here’s to leaping into the future, whatever it may hold, with the same courage, humor, and adaptability that got us through the leap year that changed everything.