Home alone

[altivo]

Gary's in Chicago. In other words, a normal Thursday, more or less. There was once a time when I really enjoyed quiet time by myself. Actually, I still do, but not nearly the way I used to.

Not that I'm all that much alone when I'm surrounded by three horses, eight sheep, two dogs and two cats all of whom demand regular attention. Still, after so many years together, it does always feel somewhat "off" to me when we are separated.

Nonetheless, I got to make a vegetarian dinner with no complaints from anyone. I'm being irresponsible and reading a book instead of doing "responsible" things. I can go to bed early and be up early without hearing commentary on it, too.

Trip to dentist was uneventful. Traffic, as always, was obnoxious, but this time I was prepared for it and had allowed plenty of extra time. Teeth cleaned, examined, nothing problematic found, only a small lecture about cleaning around wisdom teeth (I still have all four.) Not even the customary talk about my blood pressure, since they didn't check it today. Next appointment, December 23. These visits always remind me of the obvious advances in dental prevention over the last century or so. Both my parents had dentures by the time they were 40. Here I am, half again as old, and I still have all my own teeth. Clearly we have come to understand a good deal more about keeping them intact and healthy.

There are many productive things I could be doing, but I'm going to finish that book and then probably sleep.

Comments

[moonhare]

Not that I'm all that much alone when I'm surrounded by three horses, eight sheep, two dogs and two cats all of whom demand regular attention

...and plush, don't forget the plush!

Here I am, half again as old, and I still have all my own teeth.

That's great! My teeth are terrible, a reflection of bad dental hygiene when I was young and just 'cavity prone' as my dentist says. Nonetheless I have all my secondaries, although two are crowned. I went a year and a half unable to eat on one side of my mouth due to the expense of a root canal. When I went full-time at the library I picked up a decent dental plan which covered the $1k each or whatever it was. Had to wait until the following year to have the crown done: another $800+. Then I had to repeat this on the other side of my mouth... outrageous cost, but so necessary.

[altivo]

Yes, crowns are costly. I've never needed a root canal, thank goodness, but I have a couple of crowns. Apparently fillings made back in the 50s and 60s weren't as precise as today's work, and sometimes involved much larger "excavations" than what would be done today. That weakened the tooth structure, and my crowns were necessary after breakage occurred. The last one was something like $1400, of which insurance paid only half.

At this point the concern seems to be not so much the teeth, which are stable, but the gums.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

My blood pressure was cause for concern after my last visit to the heath people. :(

By the way, I sent you an email you might like.

[altivo]

Diet and exercise can do a lot for blood pressure, especially for the non-geriatric like yourself. ;p