Both Sides Now.


My triple procedure dental adventure culminated today with Dr Woo mounting the new crown onto the remains of tooth # 13. It is a good fit and it’s hard to tell it is a crown at all. So far I’ve only done cautious chewing on it, but it feels like it will work just fine – with no pain or hot/cold sensitivity. Because of the crown lengthening procedure, however, there are now deep pockets on each side of the tooth that trap food easily. But I’m back to chewing on both sides again so I have to find a new excuse to explain why I’m always the last to finish eating..


I stopped by NovaCare (where I did my physical therapy) yesterday to fill them in on the latest for my arm. It was nice to see the therapists again. It was also nice to see them smile when they saw me. That place has been a part of my weekly schedule for more than a year. I got to know the therapists well – how many kids they had, what TV shows they liked, etc. I’ll miss them.

Now that my 2 or 3 weekly visits to PT are over there is very little structure forced onto my schedule. This week, for example, I had a haircut on Tuesday and the dentist today. I’m imposing my own loose structure to each day. I get up at 5:30 and do morning stretches and exercises. (My shoulders are finally allowing this again). I usually listen to daughter Karen hosting Morning Edition during this time. After breakfast and reading the paper it’s off to whatever project is going on. Right now that is getting the workshop ready to make a 3-in-1 bed for our first grandchild. I break for lunch and again at 3 PM when it’s time to either walk or exercise. I alternate days for these. When I use the treadmill to walk I’ve got it set up so I can read, watch TV or blog or surf the web or all of the above.. That takes me to 5 or so, which is dinnertime. After dinner it is time for paperwork, paying bills watching some TV, spending time with Penny, etc. Of course normal housework fills any gaps. What is nice is that we can be spontaneous any time and pick up the next day where we left off. Everything can wait.

There is no lack of things to do. We are contemplating re-sodding the front lawn and putting in a sprinkler system. This is on top of the furniture project, painting the house, having a garden, making a water feature and of course some travel, kayaking and day trips. I’m beginning to wonder how I ever got anything done when I had to work.