Hot-flash sets my blood on fire.
Chew on ice. Repeat.
Menopause: a haiku
Hot-flash sets my blood on fire.
Chew on ice. Repeat.
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I’m chilled; time for tea.
Hot-flash sets my blood on fire.
Chew on ice. Repeat. -
Quote of the day
“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” –William Somerset Maugham
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The power of dental dread
Last week, I went to the orthodontist for yet another exam and braces-tightening. I’ve been doing this every eight to 10 weeks for more than two years now and I’m still not used to it.
During this particular appointment, the ortho lamented my jaw’s lack of progress (me too, lady). She then jammed a small metal file in between my teeth and scraped back and forth, which is akin to hearing nails scratch a chalkboard — only in your mouth and with the addition of agony.
Just before I fled the chair, the ortho took a moment to compliment my behavior, saying she was impressed by how I had handled my more recent appointments.
As I mentioned at the time, my first dental visits since the fainting spell that broke my face involved undergoing brutal procedures that left me trembling and crying. Every subsequent visit has been slightly easier since I know what to expect, and more terrible, since I know what to expect. For example, I always keep yogurt and mashed potatoes in the house now because after each visit, my teeth and gums hurt so much that I’m unable able to chew food for a few days.
There’s also the dread factor. The orthodontist’s office sends me a text and an email in advance of each appointment to remind me that I have more misery to endure. The moment those confirmation notices appear on my electronic devices, apprehension sinks into my bones. Which means I’m anxious before I even arrive and stressed during the experience itself. The post-work pain only reinforces that.
So, when she praised my newfound ability to hide my feelings, I responded by pointing out all of the above. What I should’ve said was “thank you.” (Apparently, my ability to be graceful and diplomatic goes right out the window when I’m suffering teeth torture.)
Needless to say, the ortho is skilled at her job. I have no doubt she means well. And I truly appreciate all of the hard work that she and the dentist and the periodontist and their techs have done to put my mouth back together. But when this whole rigamarole is over, I hope to never step foot in their offices ever again.
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All is not lost … nor forgotten
The Manchester, N.H., chapter of the Silent Book Club recently launched a campaign to save local library books called The Forgotten Books Project.
Apparently libraries will occasionally cull their collections, removing books that patrons haven’t checked out for a long time. With The Forgotten Books Project, our little book club hopes to rescue some of these soon-to-be lost tomes.
We contacted our local librarian and asked her for a list of the books that were the most likely to get the old heave-ho. Next, we began checking out the titles that interested us. I picked up my first batch this week (see image at right).I plan to read each title, of course, since the topics genuinely interest me. But, I’ll also receive great satisfaction in knowing that I’m saving them. Which means, others will have the opportunity to read these books too.
Every time I look at this stack, I feel a bit like Oprah: You get to stay! And you get to stay!
Perhaps there are some forgotten books at your local library? Now is the perfect time to discover what they are and check ’em out.
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Last month in pop culture
Best TV show I saw: “The Reluctant Traveler.” Eugene Levy prefers the inside to the outside, the relaxing to the adventurous and the known to the unfamiliar. This show examines what happens when such a person travels, and because Levy is a brilliant comedian and actor, it’s a blast to join him on the journey.
I also enjoyed: “Poker Face.” Natasha Lyonne portrays a woman named Charlie who’s a human lie detector. When her unique ability lands her in hot water, she hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda and ends up solving crimes in every town she hides in. Imagine if Jessica Fletcher and Columbo got on the mob’s bad side.
Best movie I saw: M and I celebrated the anniversary of our first date over the weekend. Back in 2006, we watched the romantic comedy, “Serendipity,” starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, despite being 600 miles apart (we chatted about it in IM). Seventeen years later, we’re still together and still watching that movie (or visiting the restaurant of the same name whenever we’re in New York City).
Best thing I heard: My favorite podcast, “The Vinyl Cafe,” is sort of back, even though its beloved host, Stuart McLean, has died. His long-suffering producer, Jess Milton, has created a new podcast called “Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe,” where she posts a couple of classic stories from the shows and then adds a bit of behind-the-scenes commentary. I’m loving it.
I also listened to: “The Grimmcast,” another podcast featuring behind-the-scenes commentary, this one about the show “Grimm.” The series, which ran on NBC from 2011 to 2017, featured a homicide detective with the ability to see magical creatures. Claire Coffee, Bitsie Tulloch and Bree Turner, who also appeared in the show, are watching the program for the first time and sharing details about the filming process. They also interview other members of the cast and crew and answer listener questions. If you’re a fan of the show, as I am, you’ll dig this weekly chat. And if you’ve never watched “Grimm,” why not start now? It’s fun.
Best thing I read: “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus is one of those books everyone raves about but you put off reading because it can’t possibly live up to the hype. The plot certainly interested me: A woman working as a chemist in the 1960s faces discrimination, recrimination and even violence due to her intelligence and gender. When she becomes the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show, the heroine begins changing lives and seriously challenging the status quo. The cover art really turned me off, but on a whim, I decided to give it a chance and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
I’m also reading: National Trust Scones, a blog written by Sarah Merker that was recently featured in The New York Times. Back in 2013, Sarah and her husband joined the National Trust, a society that helps to conserve and manage historical properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Over the next decade, she would visit these sites, taste the scones on offer and write a blog post about each experience. Since discovering her blog, I’ve not only started reading the whole shebang from the beginning, I’ve also purchased her book about the experience. (Note to self: Visit Brownsea Island in the summer and Hughenden at Christmas.)
My current desktop picture:
