Snow and pain

We got a bit of snow yesterday.

I took pictures as I was on my way to the endodontist.

As you can see, this was the perfect kind of snow. Pretty, etching the trees, and most importantly -

NOT on the roads! This disappointed Moe a great deal. Schools were in session as usual.

The snow was gone by 2 pm. It was pretty while it lasted....

Two pm was about the time I was in full misery after seeing the endodontist. I have The Worst Teeth in the World. Ok, not just me - my brother shares that distinction too.  We take care of our teeth, brushing, flossing, seeing the dentist regularly, but we still have a zillion crowns and are now losing teeth. Dr Endodotist started drilling away on me (root canal), straight through a crown (an interesting experience on its own), and then he started rooting around in my tooth. It was then that he said "Uh-oh" in an ominous way, and stopped digging. Because he found what the crown had hidden from the x-ray - that the tooth wasn't salvageable due to decay into the fork of the root. He offered to pull it, but I'm going to an oral surgeon next week to get that done.

The worst part of this is I am now being forced to get a dental implant so that I can chew on that side of my mouth. Dental implants are not covered by my insurance, and they're not cheap. As in there goes any vacation for the next couple of years not cheap.

Le sigh.

Anyhow, the drilling and the shooting of needles into my mouth, combined with the discomfort from the dental infection melded into some whopper pain. It's well known that I have an extremely high pain tolerance, but by early afternoon I was about to bang my head on my desk to distract myself from my dental affliction. It's better now, but the pain will soon move to my pocketbook.

Speaking of pain, I drove in to work today in olfactory pain. Curly had borrowed my little car briefly last night to apply for a job. This morning, I opened the door of the car and a huge wave of Axe cologne hit me. He must have put that nasty cologne on in the car and saturated himself. What is it with boys and their stink? I drove in choking and gagging from the smell - it gave me a headache and made my eyes water.

So what's giving you pain these days?

Cats and Snow Days

We are still having snow days. (Freezing rain on snow, combined with days of freezing temps makes for impassable roads.) I'm working from home, sort of. Moe is enjoying the freedom of no school. And the cats find their own way to enjoy a snow day.

Some cats like to view the snow. Here is Sophie checking out the snow at dusk.

Some cats - well, they do other things. Vader has been enjoying my tatting chair while I work .

He's been enjoying the chair in other ways too.

He is bad! But we love him...

Moe goes sledding

Not only do we have snow, there is an icy crust on top due to freezing rain. So Moe went sledding. (We have no sled - this is an ancient cutting board for sewing.)

Ten Lights

Jen tagged me for this meme - ten things that amuse you or make you happy. I haven't done a meme in a while, so here goes! Things that make me happy these days:

1. Snow days.

We don't get much snow here in Hotlanta, so this is a novelty. And I love the starkness that the black and white shows. If only I didn't have to work from home...

2. Having DH tell my how good the pork chops and gravy I whomped up for supper were. It's nice to satisfy one's family.

3. Lovely sky. This was sunset going home one day last week. Glorious - God's hand at work.

4. The lovely softness of a kitty who loves you. Cisco is my Big Boy - and he does love me.

5. Listening to my children giggle. There is nothing that warms a mother's heart more than listening to her boys laugh together, especially since they're all about grown now. And it's infectious - I have to laugh too.

6. How silly Vader is. He's always laying on his tummy with his legs stretched ALL the way out. Here he is lounging in the foyer today. He always makes me laugh!

7. Fourteen year old Moe still wanting big hugs and saying "I love you, Mom." Aw. He's such a sweet, funny kid. And he likes to hang out with me too!

8. Looking out the window of my new office. I love my new space, the room is so pleasant and orderly. That's Moe taking a break from shoveling the driveway. And if you look to the left, that hanging heart is one tatted for me by Jane.

9. My friends, both near and far. I feel really fortunate to have many people who care for me - and I care for them a great deal.  They cheer me up in unexpected ways, like Sharren who called me early this morning on my snow day. What a treat!

10. Laughing at DH and Moe just now - DH dared Moe to walk up the driveway and across the icy street, saying it was too icy to cross. It's after 11 pm, and both are in their pajamas. And Moe trotted across to the neighbor's yard gingerly, his bathroom open and showing his shirtless chest. Fortunately, he was able to make it back inside without falling. My guys are so funny!

So - I'm passing this meme on to some other folks, and I'll be watching for what they say. Green Girl  in Wisconsin, Blackbird, Isdihara, Abnormally Normal, Karrieann, and Sharren - it's your turn for a meme! What little things make you happy these days? Tag, you're it!

A Room of One's Own

If you will recall, I have been moving furniture and painting and cleaning. Remember this?

I've made serious forward progress. I've now moved my office into Moe's old bedroom. (FYI - he loves being in his new-to-him room.) Want to see?

 

The room is painted and furniture moved in (I love the paint color). And it looks very good. Not all my Pez are unpacked, but I need new display stands to do that. I've taken advantage of the large closet to use as tatting/crafting storage. Oh- please ignore the messy piles of paper on the lower bookshelf shelves - they are mostly genealogy paperwork that I need to sort through.

My desk is set up - I'm typing at it now. Vader and the other cats like my room. They are very excited about all of the mess made and the cleanup afterwards. Moe's sitting in my chair, watching a movie. Yes, I have entertainment in my room.

A thrift store lamp looks nice on my desk. I find thrifting to be really fun - I think I have a good eye. The lamp base was a whopping $3.73; the shade I found at Target cheaply.

And finally - my tatting corner. This chair and ottoman were in my bedroom, being mostly used as a resting place for clothing. In fact, the lamp, paint, and a DSL connection were the only things I had to buy to get this room set up. The chair is super comfy, and that's my good Ottlight beside it. I may find a little side table via Craig's list to add to my corner, but otherwise the room is complete.

I'm a happy camper! I can tat in peace and happiness!

And Moe is a happy camper right now, as it is snowing fiercely. Three to five inches are predicted. School is already canceled for tomorrow.

I guess I've got time to tat tomorrow...

Christmas in Hotlanta

Santa provided us with a big surprise here in Hotlanta - snow!

It started snowing on Christmas Day at about 10:30 am, and snowed on and off all day.

By evening there was 2 inches of snow on DH's car. It was the first measurable Christmas snow in Hotlanta since 1882, when they got 1/3 of an inch. For those with math issues, that was 128 years ago. No one living has ever seen a White Christmas before in Hotlanta.

It was lovely.

The cats stuck their noses out the door and came straight back in. This was a typical cat pose, courtesy of Cisco.

Vader got really excited about a catnip toy. He loved all the Christmas mess.

I have now crocheted 7 sets of these fingerless mitts for folks, and may do more. I made 2 sets for Mom and she loves them. Who would have thought she would like these? This pair is for my sister in Charleston.

I hope your holiday was good....

Thanks - a bit better now

Curly is back home, no longer in the pokey.  He had been found with some of his morning meds in his pocket (not inside of him) and also some OTC meds.  To have any medicine in one's possession at a school is a big no-no here, and he got charged with this.  Stupid of him.  Scared him pretty good to spend the night there.  (I couldn't bail him out until today - bail had to be set by the judge.)  We are not done yet.  He has to go back to court and address the charge and punishment. I really hadn't planned to have to spend money on attorneys and other legal crap, but as a parent you do what must be done.  It's that, or eat your young.  (Wonder if Curly would taste good fricasseed?)

Thank you all so kindly for your warm wishes and prayers.  It means a lot.

Also yuck...

More snow in Hotlanta.  Will winter never end? This was leaving the courthouse.

And the snow picked up more - the back deck.  There should be flowers blooming now.

And more - this driving home with Curly.  They let the schools out 2.5 hours early because of the weather.  Streets are very slushy and yuck.

(cultural art center in my county)

I am toiling away on the Kitty blankie for my neice.  It's starting to look nice - pics soon.

Blessings to all...

The White Stuff

White stuff is coming down.

and some more

and some more

and more

and still more.

A cardinal flew onto the back porch and left his mark.

(Now I know what you in the hinterlands are saying - rookie!  But we don't get snow often, so it's a real novelty.)

The Stooges were out of school today.  I did go into the office, but left very early.  And now we are all snug at home.

I like snow.

And just for Jane, our bluebirds!