Posted in friends, movies, pop culture

HELLO… MY NAME IS INIGO MONTOYA…

Posted on by sassysheisme

This week, I received a shirt from my friend Angie in Ohio. Angie and I went to Anderson together many, many years ago. One night my junior year, the campus movie was The Princess Bride and though we had not heard of it, we decided for a dollar, could we turn down such inexpensive entertainment?

Phrases such as, “Have fun storming the castle!” and “Inconceivable!” have long outlived many phrases from that era of my life. Each time I’ve watched that movie since college (and I can quote it from beginning to end) I am thrown back in time to a collage of lively and fun memories and a group of lively and fun people.

Much to my delight, I received the, “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya…” t-shirt this week. I took it out of the box and showed it to everyone in my office and everybody started quoting the movie and a few brought up the book (that I have not read, sad to say). That movie is still shown on tv, and somehow I have two copies of it on VHS. Somehow, I think that in twenty years, I’ll still be able to quote unending lines from this movie.

I hope, someday, to create something that people will discuss, remember, or quote twenty or a hundred years down the road. A work that will encourage, uplift, and educate others, or make a a person laugh would keep it alive, and as a friend once said to me about his own creation, “I want to see it live.”

Posted in dental adventures

TOOTH YANKING

Posted on by sassysheisme

Friday morning, I had a tooth pulled because I felt it was the only option I had. Truthfully, if I was a millionaire, I might have tried an expensive implant or other cosmetic surgery to make my bite complete again, but as it is, I could barely afford my portion of the tooth extraction.

For some reason, the insurance would not fully cover anesthesia, so I opted out. Don’t panic, the surgeon used a local, but it would have been his preference (and the preference of most) to be put under for the surgery.

The surgeon, who is really good at his job and has years of experience spent twenty minutes trying to talk me into taking the anesthesia. I don’t blame him. Still, $350 for something that may or may not be needed was a bit much for me, so I declined.

Turns out, I didn’t need it at all. I meditated and about the time I had blocked out everything in the room, he’d pulled the tooth. So I saved myself $350 and I didn’t have to find someone to come get me.

I spent the weekend on some lovely narcotics but was very sluggish still on Monday morning. I’m happy to report, though, that I had absolutely no bruising and right now I am in no pain whatsoever.

The molar of the story is – go with your instincts and pray really hard before you get a tooth pulled and everything will work out okay.

Posted in dental adventures, health

OPTIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM GREAT

Posted on by sassysheisme

First, the good news: I found a free standing Arby’s in front of the new Target on Westheimer and I had to explain to the guy at Home Depot that I knew the difference between spackle and joint compound. I like going to home improvement stores and showing off.

Now onto the other news:

I got little sleep last night as the pain pills did very little to knock back the pain. Fortunately, I think the antibiotics are starting to work, so there’s hope that the pain will subside soon.

I loved the endodontist I saw this morning. He was very honest and talked me through what the problem really is. He could have just done the procedure, collected his money, and I’d be home taking big pills and talking to inanimate objects, but instead he gave me some options to think over instead.

I could clearly see on the x-rays where the infection was in the bone and why it’s so painful and how my roots curve under (digital x rays on the computer and they were so clear and it was so cool). I could see where the previous dentist had not penetrated the root fully and where the crown he made was too short and was letting stuff in to get infected.

My options are:

1) a complete reworking of the root canal and crown, very expensive out of pocket and not guaranteed to work. He said 50/50 chance and even then he would do it if I decided to, but he really, truthfully wouldn’t recommend it.

2) a very, very expensive implant which he said still might not be a great idea.

3) pull the tooth.

I’m leaning toward #3, but I have a week to go in taking the antibiotics, so I have a few days to think it over. I stayed home rather than going into work to take more pills and rest and try to decide what I’ll do.

Posted in dental adventures, quoted, random

QUOTES AND OTHER WUI TALES

Posted on by sassysheisme

Sometimes pain can make me as silly as when I’m on nifty narcotics. Two quotes that popped into my head while I was writing and concentrating on trying to not scream out in pain while waiting to see the dentist:

“If I could put it into words, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

And, trying to explain my pain: “There’s tolerable pain and then there’s OMG. Fix. This. Now. I think I’m at OMG. Fix. This. Now (expletive)!!”

It’s amazing what an hour and an additional Tylenol 3 makes. Some tips for those under the influence of some pretty nifty narcotics:

It’s easier to wash the pan with the lights on. That way I can see if I actually came close to getting it completely clean. Now that I’ve seen I missed an entire side… it might be time to sit down.

The warnings on the bottle of the nifty narcotics are there for a reason. Standing up slowly is a great idea and I will try it next time.

No matter how much pain I’m still in, it is inadvisable to take a third Tylenol 3 at this time. Make mental note to not be a sissy about it and ask for the lovely vicodin next time no matter how nauseous it makes me… but I didn’t want to feel fuzzy alone. I guess that’s why I didn’t do it. At least now I’m somewhat lucid and making some sense. Right.

Posted in dental adventures, random

ANOTHER W. U. I.

Posted on by sassysheisme

I have taken a second Tylenol 3 and have decided to blog under the influence. I guess we’ll call it Writing Under the Influence.

So much for my tooth pain just being allergies as I’d hoped. My allergies often cause me enough sinus pain that often my teeth hurt, but usually it’s a dull annoying pain that is manageable with ibuprofen. I’ve been at that point for about a week now.

When the pain moves beyond that to a sharp pain in a specific place I know I may have a tooth going critical and need to see the dentist to make sure that it doesn’t get any worse. Severe pain hit me at 5:30 yesterday morning and woke me up and then hit me again at 3:30 yesterday afternoon.

I didn’t waste any time making an appt. since I let something like this go once (because I’m so tough you know and have probably let this go long enough as it is) and I no longer have that tooth and there are enough hillbillies with no teeth in my family as it is – kidding, dear family.

I was able to sleep a couple of hours last night before I had to get up and take more ibuprofen… which is now as of this morning useless against the pain I’m feeling. Thank goodness I kept the reflexology book and it’s not illegal to mainline oral analgesics.

BUT…

Let’s start with the good news. I went to the dentist today and she said I take incredibly good care of my teeth and I have no new cavities! It’s a miracle (feel the sarcasm).

The other (but not necessarily bad) news is that I have to see a specialist tomorrow morning to redo a root canal I had in 2004. My teeth, like everything else involving my health, are the exception to the rule. Always the anomaly. I have crooked roots (from too many teeth growing in a small mouth when I was little) and apparently there are times when root canals can become reinfected. I feel so special.

The other good news is that my insurance rocks and I should be able to pay the balance off in a couple of months rather than 18.

I most likely will not be at work at all tomorrow depending on what they do to me. BUT I just took some antibiotics and a second Tylenol 3 (with codeine) and in an half hour I probably will be feeling better. Much, much better.

Still, I think I should have asked for vicodin. I don’t think I will be as much fun on Tylenol 3. lol

Will post more if I am able.

Posted in creativity, random

i

Posted on by sassysheisme

Copied from Liz.

i am: trying to catch up with Battlestar Galactica.
i think: I have only begun to discover and tap into my potential.
i know: I am capable of so much more.
i want: to feel energetic, rested and normal all at the same time.
i have: a list of things I want to do/ accomplish/ experience than a person could possibly do in a lifetime – but I’m going to give it my best shot.
i wish: I had more courage.
i hate: the 8-5 life.
i miss: the energy i had in college.
i fear: crossing the finish line alone to silence.
i feel: hope, more than I ever have.
i hear: Doctor Who on the telly.
i smell: chocolate simply because I can’t eat it.
i crave: touch.
i search: for the sacred in the everyday.
i wonder: what tomorrow holds.
i regret: not fighting harder for the dreams I let go of a long time ago.
i love: being worn out after a day laughing and playing with friends.
i ache: to hold God’s promises in my arms.
i care: about the broken.
i always: think too much. at least I think I do.
i am not: finished.
i believe: I can do anything if I set my mind to it and let God drive.
i dance: in the rain, in the living room, in the midst of children.
i sing: as much as I can.
i don’t always: let my emotions show.
i fight: with myself, my spirit and my mind battle.
i write: to know and be known, as a confession and a prayer.
i win: when I don’t give up.
i lose: when I give up.
i never: eat liver and onions, jump out of airplanes, sneeze daintily.
i confuse: lots of people and sometimes myself.
i listen: to music almost every hour I’m not sleeping.
i can usually be found: writing or reading.
i am scared: to let my guard down completely.
i need: hugs.
i am happy about: all the progress I’ve made on the journey.

You?

Posted in friends, pics, Yahweh's fingerprints

GOING ON A PAUSE

Posted on by sassysheisme


The word, “retreat” conjures up many memories for me, some good, some bad. For several years, organizing and planning retreats were part of my job, and I never felt refreshed or renewed afterward. Retreats became work, even after producing one wasn’t my job, because I was usually underfunded and often had to work off my scholarship by working part of the retreat.

OR retreats were so over scheduled with very little planned down time and breakfast at 6-7 a.m. that I had very little time to rest, relax, or reflect. Either way, retreat many different images come to mind when I think of retreats.

Last weekend, I attended a retreat that had no speaker, a very loose schedule, and the primary goal was to eat and relax with friends and commune with God in the midst of his beautiful creation. It was unlike any retreat I’d ever been on and instead of the usual retreat hectic pace, I paused instead.

Life is hectic for all of us, and time flies by in the blink of an eye. Before we know it, we’re wound up tighter than a spring and we need a break, a pause. I was at that point when I finally got in the car to ride 5+ hours out to Laity Lodge, one of the most beautiful places in the Texas Hill Country.

The weekend was spent with some great friends old and new, and I felt the tension leave me body as we drove in the riverbed up to Linnet’s Wings, where we stayed. I was up for 42 hours without sleep (that’s another story) but it was worth it. I went on a hike up to the top of a bluff, talked to strangers, relaxed, and paused to take in God’s creation. It was a wonderful weekend, and I take away from it many wonderful memories and deepened relationships.

This pause stretched me in ways I cannot describe, yet I come away refreshed and missing the time to relax with friends in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

That’s all for now. I’m sure I’ll think of more to share, but I’ll leave you with images from my pause.




Posted in friends, relationships, Yahweh's fingerprints

FOR MY GROWING

Posted on by sassysheisme


The last couple of weeks have stretched me tremendously. For months now I have seen my comfort zone in my rearview mirror, but now I think I’ve changed zip codes.

I’ll blog about my weekend retreat later this week. It was amazing and a real growing time for me. Tonight, though, I wanted to sit and process the end of an era in my life.

My roommate is sleeping in her new apartment tonight and for the first time in seven years, I am living on my own. God worked it out that we would only live 100 steps from each other (yes, I counted), but still, it feels incredibly odd that she won’t be living here anymore. Her leap of faith was a hop, skip and a jump, but she took it nonetheless. Hopefully she’ll take me up on my offer to do laundry in return for baked goods and we’ll see each other more often than not.

I look back at the last seven years and look at how much I’ve changed and I thank God for such a patient and understanding roommate. She helped me through some of the darkest times of my life and we’ve had many fun moments together as well. She has helped me navigate the minefield that is my life and I’ve emerged with all my limbs intact. I am grateful and know that relationship will continue, but it will be different… and I have to embrace that change.

Tomorrow night I will come home late and find my apartment half empty. While I’m excited to see what God has in store during this growing time, my heart is a bit sad. 100 steps away is a lot farther than five.