during the trip this time around we will have phone, cable and internet at the house. Yesterday I was able to schedule everything to get hooked up the first two days that we are there. So, in addition to a bank account and P.O. box, most everything is set to have that part of the move seamless.
I’ve lost my packing momentum. Partly because the trailer is nearly full up. So anything else that gets packed will just get stored in one of the bedrooms until we come back, then it will go into the trailer and wait for the next trip. The only thing now left in the guest room is the bed, and a few items hanging in the closet. I took the floor to ceiling shelves that held a zillion boxes of fabric down yesterday. I will need to go through the house doing a little hole filling and touch up painting when we return.
This morning as we headed out for a walk I was greeted by a huge chicken atop the fence three doors down. There is a large extended Equadorian family who bought the house three years ago living there, and I’ve seen a couple chickens in a small pen in the yard a while back. But this really took me by suprise, as we nearly met eye to eye. It froze there, and Sunny never noticed it. They have a small yappy dog who usually goes apeshit at us, and I’ve always thought that the dog might go after the chickens, given the oppurtunity, but with the size of this chicken maybe the tables are turned, as the dog was no where in sight.
This afternoon both Richard and I each are having a first appointment at a new dentist. We’ve both had trouble finding a dentist that we’re comfortable with, who takes our lousy insurance. Needless to say, we are both overdue for exams / cleanings and such. My biggest fear in the world is dentists in general, and having someone poke and prod around in my mouth is terrifying to me. And the thought of having an injection in my mouth nearly sends me over the edge. Even x-rays usually are painful ( I know its because I get so tense ), with those things that always seem way to big for my mouth. I know it won’t be as bad as I imagine, but there is a part of me that would rather be put into that ‘twilight sleep’ that you hear advertised on the radio. But the other part says that that’s even scarier. I did have a dentist years ago in El Cajon who would give me vallium to take before I went in, and used nitrous on me while I was there – which made it all bearable. Those days are gone, with the insurance thing.
Here’s hoping this afternoon goes well.
APPRECIATING YOUR TEETH
Eth and I used to be a little leery about the dentist, mainly because we did not go regularly. However, after we found the dental hygenist school in Shoreline, everything changed.
First off, appointments at the dental school are highly sought after, with an average 6 month waiting time, which we didn’t really understand until we had our first appointment.
Each cleaning visit takes about two hours from start to finish. Your overall mouth health is checked. Your glands are measured, pockets in your teeth measured. It is an extensive process. Then, one by one, your teeth are cleaned gently, yet meticulously. Each step of the way is supervised and checked over by the senior dentist in charge of the “class”. They dole out pain medication without questions or extra charge, if you have sensitive teeth or are simply nervous that it might hurt. GENTLE was always the overriding theme though. We regularly got our cleanings there twice a year for about two years, before moving here for a cost of $40 per person. It was really a great experience. In addition to everything else, they taught you all about proper brushing, flossing, etc., and you always left with a dental goodie bag.
Essentially, they changed how we viewed the importance of our teeth. We began taking great pride in the care and detail we took in our brushing and flossing habits. Honestly, their attitude about dental health was the inspiration behind us finally deciding to actually get braces. Before that, it had seemed so impossible and, to be honest, we didn’t feel quite worthy, but they were soo positive about everything, and it rubbed off on us.
They were a great influence. I’m sure there are other dental hygenist schools in San Diego or in Washington that you might check into.
Our current dentist now does a decent job, but if Eth still had the time to commit to it, we would get our cleanings done at whatever local hygenist program is here in the Bay Area, and while I could theoretically still go on my own, Eth would be so jealous that it’s just not an option.
Sarah
Re: APPRECIATING YOUR TEETH
that’s a good idea, and if time were not a factor I would look into a local school. My appointment went pretty well, and I got lucky and had a really nice woman dentist, who understood the fear that I have, and assured me that she would be the one I deal with from now on. My first deep cleaning will be the day after we return from this trip, and then we’ll try to get the rest of the work done before we move.
I used to love going to the dentist until I moved here. I’m now on my third dentist and am looking for yet another one. The dentist I had in Seattle was the absolute best and I miss him terribly (we still communicate via my sister). His work was gorgeous and good. Two dentists I’ve had here have done horrid work and, in fact, I reported one. I have work that needs to be redone because it poorly done. I actually cried one day after I went home and saw the work the dentist did. Some of this work now requires oral surgery. I wasn’t blessed with good teeth and didn’t see a dentist until I was 17 and paid for it myself. Needless to say a lot of work and rework over the years. There is nothing I love more than seeing someone with healthy teeth. Don’t care if they’re crooked. Just care if they are healthy.