A tooth called Misery

Monday marked the end of an epic journey years in the making. It is the journey of a tooth; a tooth I have named Misery. Misery's tale is one of hope and despair, triumph and defeat, dentists and endodontists.

Misery's story starts sometime in 2008. After years (about 5) of neglecting to go to the dentist, I was convinced by my soon-to-be wife that a routine cleaning and check-up was necessary. I began making excuses, but as usual Christine won in the end. Christine had been going to a dentist in Seattle, and she set me up with an appointment. Mr. Dentist seemed like a nice enough old chap, but apparently he was also a quack. After my routine cleaning, he decided that although I did not have a cavity, I had one "coming in" and so he wanted to do a "preemptive" filling.

Turns out this is dentist talk for "you don't have anything wrong with you but I've got bills to pay kid."

So I returned to Senor Dentist, confident in his abilities as a dental professional and his foresight of my dental health. The filling seemed to go ok, but the dentist didn't give me enough anesthetic and then didn't believe I was in pain when I kept jerking around. He just kept saying "that's weird" over and over again. I should have taken this as a sign, but with my dental history I took it as par for the course.

Misery's tale should have ended there. She could have lived a long life as a happy, productive tooth; a life full of chewing things and being brushed and so on. But, like I said earlier, turns out Mr. Dentist was a quack.

Let's fast forward to late 2009.

I begin to notice that Misery is a little sensitive to cold things but I brush it off as "getting older." I seem to be doing that quite a bit these days. Within several days, the tooth is really starting to feel sore. By Saturday of that week I experience the first toothache I can ever remember having.

Now let me stop the story briefly to talk about my pain threshold. I believe that I am fairly normal in the tolerance of pain area: I don't like it, but I can deal with it to a certain extent. However, when it comes to my teeth I am a gigantic pansy. After I go to the dentist I am sore for days, because I spend the entire time in panic-mode: wild-eyed, muscles clenched, ready to leap from the chair if the dentist tries to kill me.

To anyone else, my toothache may not have been that bad, but to me it resulted in spending the entire night pacing back and forth in the kitchen going "oh crap, oh crap, oh crap."

In truth, I may have said things other than "crap."

I spent that night trying to find ways to make the pain go away and discovering that the emergency room at Palo Alto Hospital will do nothing for things dental related. Thankfully I called instead of driving there. After taking enough Advil to knock about 10 years off my liver, I spent the rest of the night looking for dentists on Yelp. I found one nearby and called them the next day.

I finally got to the dentist that Monday. She informed me that the "preemptive filling" which I had done in Seattle, "probably" shouldn't have been done. I believe that this was her way of saying "whoever did this was a quack, but I refuse to say anything more specific in case you fly back to Seattle, break the quack's hands and he tries to sue me."

The preemptive filling was apparently too close to the nerve of the tooth or something like that. At this point I was more thinking about whether or not I would have to beg for prescription pain medication than her explanations, but I did understand that the nerve had become infected and exploded and that is what was causing the pain. So I needed a root canal.

Misery was starting to earn her name.

I soon discovered that Misery is tooth #16 (way in the back on the left side). Due to it's location and it's streak of bad luck, I could not go to the dentist for the root canal, I had to go to an endodontist instead. Thankfully, the dentist gave me a prescription for the good stuff because the earliest time the endodontist could get me in was several days away.

My root canal took 2 and a half hours. Twice. The first time the endodontist quit because her hands were tired. Her hands were tired because instead of doing the root canal with a drill, she had to use what look like little pipe cleaners to bore out Misery's roots.

For two and a half hours. Twice.

Thankfully I was kept well medicated this entire time so the experience was not as bad as it could have been. My root canal was finally done and I had some sort of temporary cap on my tooth.

So last week I went back to the dentist to get fitted for a new crown. The dentist made some sort of metal bracket and attached it somehow and then the dental hygienist made another temporary cap while the real crown was being made in a lab somewhere. It took the dental hygienist 4 tries to make a good temporary cap, and I firmly believe that this was just to torture me. After the third attempt I wanted to stop her and ask "mind if I take a crack at it?" She finally got it and I was out the door.

Misery's tale has finally come full circle. I returned to the dentist on Monday with renewed hope. Hope that my stupid tooth would finally be fixed. It has cost over a thousand dollars and has probably caused at least that many curses. Alas, Misery had to dash my hopes one last time.

The new crown didn't fit.

Every time I closed my mouth, my cheek would get caught between my back teeth. So the dentist spent sometime grinding away at it with some sort of drill and then putting it back in my mouth, making me bite my cheek, and repeating the whole process again.

During the grinding process the dentist had a coughing fit and I thought to myself, "Yes, yes. Choke on my tooth dust devil woman."

There is a lesson in all of this and that lesson is this: unless your teeth hurt, don't go to the dentist.

Bite Me

A few months ago, Justin's mom mailed me a box of Twilight-themed conversation hearts. She had picked them up when they passed through Forks one afternoon. I thought they were so great I put them in a drawer to save them for later (and because Edward is on the box....) ehem... sorry, I started daydreaming.

Anyway, I decorated for Valentine's Day and found a way to use the Twilight hearts -- I poured them onto the table centerpiece and spread them out. I didn't pay too much attention to the words until yesterday when I put the centerpiece away. I guess I just expected them to have messages you'd expect on conversation hearts. Most were what I'd seen before: I Luv U, Be Mine, Kiss, etc.

As soon as I saw one that read "Lamb," I chuckled outloud, and then when I saw one that read "Sparkle" and another that read "Forks" I couldn't stop laughing. Below is a random selection of sparkling Twilight conversation hearts.

You probably need to be a Twilight series fan to appreciate these and get in a good laugh. Just in case you're wondering, no, I didn't find one featuring "Sick Masochistic Lion."

You gotta have friends

This post is dedicated to my wonderful friends - those of you who called, texted, prayed and took me out to dinner after the Epic Meltdown post.

I didn't write the meltdown post expecting to hear from anyone - it was more or less something I wrote to get it off my chest so I'd stop turning bright red just thinking about what happened - but within two days I heard from some of the most important people in my life, and feel so lucky to call them my friends. I can't seem to find words or phrases great enough to express how thankful and cared for you all made me feel!

Mom and I talked a bit about what happened when they came to visit. The topic didn't come up because she'd read about it (she hadn't yet), but because she was feeling the same way I was and had a similar experience the same day I did. We were both pretty blown away having learned that, and were grateful to find out we weren't alone in our feelings!

My boss lost his wife a few years ago and he knows about Matt. Though the people we lost played didn't play the same roles in our lives, there is an understanding we have about the feelings that can overwhelm a person and we've have had several chats about the effects of loss. I mentioned to him in passing a week ago that I've felt funny for about a month and he said he had too, and hadn't been able to figure out why.

I think we were both ready to chalk it up to a little "seasonal depression" and wait for it to blow over until we talked to each other. We talked about how odd it is when it hits you, and how when it hits you feel sheepish and broken. We also talked about the power of prayer and friendship, which again made me so thankful for all of you!

I don't mean to get all gushy gushy, I'll be done with the gushy gushy for now and leave you with this. Thank you for being my friend.

Tabbity Tab Tabs

Unless you have an extra thousand bucks laying around, or you just love paying your state money...just because...do not, and I repeat, do not move to California and say to yourself, "oh, we'll take care of the registration when it's time to get new tabs."

Last Monday morning, Justin and I were punched in the face by the DMV.

As a favor, I'll say this now so you can save your breath: This is our fault. Completely ours. However, I'm still going to blog about it. For your reading pleasure, of course.

We finally went to take care of our registration last Monday as the tabs on one of our rides is about to expire. We knew there would be some fees involved because we put it off, BUT we didn't know they'd make us pay two years of fees because we moved to California A YEAR ago. Yes, two years of fees for two cars. Ouch.

Here's the kicker. The woman at the DMV asked me at least four times, in the most monotone voice ever, if I did in fact move into an apartment in the state of California on April 1. I thought she was trying to get me to say, "well, we signed a lease on March 12 and my parents moved the RV back to WA on the 18th and then a week later our stuff came."

No, she was trying to get me to lie so I wouldn't receive two years worth of fines. Thanks for being so obvious, lady.

Justin was at a separate window and finished updating the other registration before me. He had gone through the same thing. In the end, both of us agreed we'd feel better if we just did the right thing. I'm not a fan of guilty conscience, even to save $500 - seriously - and Justin busts liars and thieves for a living. We knew we brought this upon ourselves...

...and really did think the DMV would do a little fact checking. You know, like asking for a copy of your lease or first pay stub...

No wonder the state is broke. The DMV encourages people to lie so they don't have to pay fines. I thought government entities loved taking people's money?! It was nice of the lady to "offer." We've decided we have to stay in California for at least a year now, you know, to get our money's worth.

(@&^$(!^(%)@(*!*(&^~)*(_$(_%*&)&

The Emersons visit Team Thompson

We couldn't have asked for better weather during the Emersons visit. The sun was out, the wind was down, the temperature was up. Amazing!

After two delays due to low clouds in the Bay, mom, dad and Joe landed at SFO at a time where I was able to go get them vs. them getting a rental car just so I wouldn't have to leave work early. We dined at Casa de Thompson Friday night, watched the opening ceremonies, chatted, laughed and made plans for the weekend.

Saturday we had breakfast at home (heart-healthy steel-cut "Aloha Oatmeal," courtesy of Everyday Food, and then headed to the city for a ride around town on the double-decker Sightseeing Tour bus -- it's a great way to learn about the city and not have to drive through it. We hopped off at Pier 39 for lunch at Fog Harbor Fish House (delish) and then made our way to Golden Gate Park and beyond for some fab shots of the GG Bridge at sunset.

Fog lifting slowly from around the Bay Bridge.

Coit Tower
Alcatraz
The boys climbed down the cliff face to the beach below. Only one minor injury to report.

Sunday we skipped church and had a Valentine's breakfast at Casa de Thompson where we enjoyed heart-healthy pancakes with fresh berries, peanut butter and lots o' syrup. Side note...grocery shopping take a lot longer when you have to read all the nutrition info, but it's definitely worth it to make sure I feel ok about what I'm feeding my own mother!

After brekkie we went to Half Moon Bay to eat at the highly acclaimed Barbara's Fish Trap. This weekend was also the Maverick's Surf contest which happens around this time of year in Half Moon Bay when the weather is just right. Surfers wait for the "go!" from meteorologists and make way from around the world to Half Moon Bay to take in some totally stellar waves. The waves this year were at the highest ever (some as high as 50 ft.) and the winner, so I hear, was a South African man who barely made it on time to the event and had to borrow a stranger's surf board because his got lost in transit.

The sun was out again, it was at least 70 degrees and there were people EVERYWHERE from EVERYWHERE. While we waited for a table at Barbara's, we grabbed drinks across the street at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. and chilled down on the beach. All everyone talked about all weekend was how much they wanted crab legs and this place was the jackpot! The restaurant sits out over the water (at high tide) and faces the marina. It's a gorgeous setting!
I took the gang to the airport this morning...I can't believe how fast the weekend passed :( We had a great time and can't wait for their next trip! Mom is doing well...so well you can't even tell the woman had open heart surgery for a 7-way bypass just 2 months ago. Her scar is already healed to the point that it looks like the surgery was preformed more than 10 years ago. She does time on the treadmill every morning, keeps up with everyone during our walks around the city (actually led the pack) and seems to be back to normal, but improved on the inside! Praise God!

Epic Meltdown 2010

• Event: Epic Meltdown 2010
• Magnitude: 7.0
• Destruction: TBD
• Hero: Joe my bro
• Epicenter: San Mateo
• Trigger: Unknown

Boy oh boy...Sunday was interesting. It started out as a normal day...we went to church and then I finished up some snacks to take to our friends' house for a Super Bowl party. About half way through the game, Joe and I start texting, and next thing you know I'm an emotional wreck. Yikes!

Yes, at our friends' house...in the middle of the Super Bowl.

Cell phones don't work too well where we were so I borrowed their house phone, called Joe and began to blub away. This is not normal for me, especially in front of other people, but it happened and there was no stopping it.

Source

Thank goodness Joe answered the unknown number calling him. Yes, Justin was there, but I wanted him to stay out in the living room with our friends to ensure them I was not a freak, not sick, or that I wanted to leave. I was basically mortified and didn't want to them to see me, but they did. Joe was wonderful and just let me blub away. His words were encouraging, compassionate and comforting. Again...I'm just so thankful he answered the phone! Poor kid was at a Super Bowl party of his own, but talked to me for the better part of an hour or more, and even let me know when the Saints had won the game. What a guy!

Alexis, my new friend, was also great. She came in to the room to check on me in the middle of the Epic Meltdown 2010 and told me it was ok...Joe said she sounded very nice and that I shouldn't worry about what was happening. Though I still did...ugh, it was humiliating, but Alexis, Joe and Justin have all told me over and over again that it's ok - that happens, and that they're happy they could help me through it. Pardon the cheesy song reference, but they all said "that's what friends are for...to help us through it."

Still...my cheeks are burning and bright red just writing this out.

The exact trigger is still unknown, though I think I've narrowed it down to a list of 20 or so things :) Topping the list:

1. My family is coming and I'm excited to see them, though I still get a sad/sick feeling in my stomach and in my heart when all four of us are together and it's obvious Matt is missing. The pain is worse when we're at extended family gatherings like weddings or birthday parties. It's a horrible, empty/sick feeling that I wish upon no one.
   
2. The last few weeks at work were outrageously stressful and the boss has been out.
3. Losing Steven in October, followed by mom's surgery, put me through the wringer.
   
4. I had one and a half, yes just ONE and a half! margaritas
5. I've been grumpy lately and am not sure why.
   
6. Church/Sundays always get me all emotional. My husband can vouch for that. Sorry, love.
   
7. I was with two people that Justin and I can now call our friends...being comfortable with these two great people brought my guard down a bit.
8. Joe was being so great and I was so comforted by that there was no stopping that train.
9. It was just time.

I remember once, when I was still too young to "get it," we were expecting people for a gathering at my parents' house, and one group called last minute to say they couldn't make. I remember wondering why and that I was disappointed they weren't coming. Their reason was because, even though it'd been years since they lost someone unexpectedly, one of them was having a meltdown that hit out of no where and therefore was in no shape to come. If you're reading this, and know who you are, I TOTALLY get it now. Meltdowns suck.

Yea!!!

The family is coming! The family is coming!
They'll be here Feb. 12 - 15th.

Were you a musical or otherwise talented child (or did your parents think you were)? Well, both Justin and I were involved in music as youngsters, and I was also in baton and attempted various sports. Both of us, when younger, were conned into preforming for family and visitors who would come for the weekend. Grandparents, aunts & uncles, foreign exchange students, 2nd cousins, mom's college roommates, Justin's dad's friend from Japan whom he met during his master's program at Central...all of them had to sit through a piano recital, baton performance, guitar solo or softball pitch. I'm sure they're all still talking about the talented "Emerson kid" and "Thompson kid."
I was thinking today that I'd con Justin into putting on an embarassing recital for my parents and Joe when they're here. He's getting pretty good at Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy on Guitar Hero ;) Just kidding, honey!

We're looking forward to the Emersons' visit!!!