December 14, 2009
What other option did I have?
A few days ago I was running my tongue along my teeth and my tongue caught on a sharp edge. To say I panicked to was an understatement. I was afraid I had cracked a tooth. There is no way I’m going to the dentist here! While in Argentine I learned under no condition do you see a dentist outside the states.
So I had to look for sure and see what was what in my mouth. I tried everything, every mirror I had, heck the web-cam even got a shot. I ended up just shoving my camera in my mouth and snapping. When I zoomed in on the pictures my worst fears seemed confirmed, I saw the crack. That’s when the dread hit.
I started thinking of all the possible causes. I love the partially popped kernels at the end of a batch of popcorn but I don’t remember anything cracking. Sunflowers seeds, disgusting habit I’ve picked up here, nope those aren’t that hard.
This weekend in Qingdao I finally admitted to the gang about my tooth. For some reason the fact I stuck my camera in my mouth to get a picture just sent them rolling. As Thomas’s dad was a military dentist Katie had the necessary Chinese qualifications to give me a quick exam. The conclusion was a lost filling, which would explain the lack of nerve agitation.
So fingers crossed I can go to the dentist as soon as I get home and I don’t do any permanent damage before then. For now brushing will be stepped up and Listerine is my new best friend.
November 30, 2009
The only way to sleep some nights.
Oh, how do habits start? My first few nights I was sleeping strange hours so I continued wearing my sleep mask I purchased for the plane and ear plugs. Now it seems I can’t sleep without the mask and the ear plugs have become essential since the mid-night construction has started up again. Really who does construction at 1am unless it is a busy California free-way?
So I’ve always had trouble getting to sleep. What I wouldn’t do to be one of those people who just seem to have a light switch in the body that can be flipped on an off at will to go to sleep. I never look forward to bed time for two reasons, one the agonizing two hours of boredom it takes to finally turn my brain off and then the vivid horrible war torn dreams. I don’t even watch war movies! But it never fails there always seem to be a war going on which causes for a fitful night of constantly waking up and falling back asleep.
Anyway last night was the topper since I’ve been in China. After an hour I just couldn’t take it any more and grabbed a book Dantzelle had lent me. I started at page 1 and decided to read until I got sleepy. For the first time in my life I read a book in a single sitting. 5 hours later I finished the book stared at the clock and wanted to cry. It was 4:30am and I still didn’t feel tired!!
I have a bottle of sleeping pills I bought for the plane ride over but they don’t seem to do much when I take the suggested dosage. Sleeping pills aren’t exactly what I want to experiment with to find the right dosage so they’ve sat unused on my night stand. I finally drifted off around 5. Luckily I didn’t have a morning class and could afford to sleep in, but that didn’t matter. I was up and wide awake at 8am! Surprisingly this morning was the first morning in weeks I felt wake and not groggy. Maybe I’ve been over sleeping with the whole 8hour bit.
Suggestions anyone, on how to fall asleep quicker? I just don’t think it is going to be a healthy habit to start this going to bed at 4:30 especially if I have to get up at 7.