Another new blog

I decided to start a separate blog to chronicle my adventure in braces.  I talk about too large a variety of topics on here already.  

 

Looonnggg weekend

I love “observed” holidays. J  Usually because I get the day off of work.  Ah, the 3-day weekend, who doesn’t love that?

Like most of my weekends, this was a busy one.  The DH and I enjoyed the rare occasion of spending the entire time together, and surprisingly he doesn’t seem sick of me…yet.

We started off Friday night by seeing “American Gangster”, an excellent film about Frank Lucas, the man that used American military planes to smuggle heroin into the US during the Vietnam War.  Plenty of action and drama, but like most action and crime movies, it was a little too sexist for me.  There were 3 female roles – the trophy wife, the mother, and the no-speaking-lines woman that ran the drug shop.  But if you don’t focus on that part, it was a good movie! J

Saturday we went to the Nebraska-Kansas State football game.  Wow, it’s a lot more fun to watch football when your team is winning!  J  We stuck around until the Husker had scored 73 points, then headed home to meet the in-laws for dinner and catch the Kurt Cobain documentary “About A Son”.  This film was OK; not spectacular, but I thought it was interesting.  A lot of the people we went with seemed very disappointed, but I thought the way the filmmaker put it together was cool – it was basically just a recording of phone interviews with Kurt Cobain collected over a period of a couple of years before he died, set against a visual backdrop of scenes and video footage of towns in Washington state.  No real action or story, just Kurt talking about his childhood, early adult life, and influences.  He was a sad, strange child who turned into a sad, angry, and pretty damn lazy adult.  Dying was probably the best thing that could have happened to him, at least artistically – his music might not have gotten nearly the recognition and praise if he’d lived.  

After the movie, we headed next door to Slowdown for the Nirvana tribute show – a bunch of local bands performing Nirvana covers.  It was…kinda sucky.  For one thing, each band played one song, and then the next band took 15-20 minutes to set up.  So we really didn’t hear all that much music.  For another thing, it sounded like either none of the bands were very good or they had just never bothered practicing the song they chose.  I’m hoping for the latter, ‘cause most of the bands have decent followings around town and I’d hate to think that many people would support bands with no musical ability.  There were a couple of exceptions, but quality covers were not the rule at this show.

Sunday morning the DH and I drove back downtown to a brunch for Jun Kaneko.  A collection of his work from 2004-07 was on display, so we checked that out while munching on lobster quiche and crème puffs.  Mmm…crème puffs…

After watching football (DH), sewing (me), band rehearsal (DH) and dance practice (me), we met back up and headed to the Waiting Room to see the Meat Puppets.  Now, I only know like 2 Meat Puppets songs, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Well, we didn’t hear either of those two songs…and neither of us was too impressed with the songs we didn’t know, so that kinda sucked.  However, the opening band, Ha Ha Tonka, was AMAZING.  Enough so that I picked up their CD, a rare thing for me to do.  The last time I bought a CD at a concert was for Devotcha, whom I still love like no other band.  So, yeah, Ha Ha Tonka was that good!  I can’t wait for them to come back around – we’ll definitely be there for the full set.

Yesterday was a government holiday, so I celebrated by finishing up my BurdaStyle Marie skirt, getting a flu shot, and going for a consultation with my oral-maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Deva.  Dr. D explained the surgery to me, including the possibility that my insurance will pick up part of the tab.  Cross your fingers!  He said I should be in braces for 9-12 months (probably closer to 12), then have the surgery, then stay in braces for a while longer for “fine-tuning”.  The braces will correct the alignment of my teeth within my arch, and the surgery will match up my bite.  I will need both lower and upper jaw surgery for the best possible results.  I will spend the night in the hospital and then be off of work for 10-14 days…I guess I better start banking my vacation hours now!  But if I get my braces put on in the next month, I could be looking at surgery by next Christmas!  Whoo-hoo!  I want to do this, but I really just want it to be over already! (and I haven’t even started yet…)

So, how’s that for a jam-packed 3-day weekend?  Not bad, not bad at all…

High school all over again

The most horrible thought occurred to me during my body sculpting class today…If I get braces within the next month or so…I’m going to have them during my 10-year high school reunion.  Eek!  This horrifying realization raised several questions, such as 1) do I even want to go to my 10-year high school reunion, and if so 2) can I handle facing all the people I went to school with looking like that?  Does one ever get over their high-school insecurities?  I guess it takes longer than 10 years… 

Maybe I’ll just skip the reunion.  I think there are about 3 people I would even care to talk to, although I do find it interesting to see what triumphs and tragedies have befallen my fellow alumni.  I went to a teeny-tiny school – I was one of 23 in the class of ’98 – but amazingly sometimes people from my town go on to do really cool stuff – travel the world, invent things, make tons of money…and more predictably a lot of them go nowhere and do nothing.  I like to think I’ve fallen right in the middle.  I didn’t go too far (geographically), but I feel worlds apart from that place.

 

New obsession

I’ve discovered the wonderful world that is other people’s orthodontics and orthognathic surgery blogs.   I could read their stories all day.  It’s amazing how into a subject you can get when you are about to go through the experience yourself.

I haven’t told too many people what my plan is.  The DH knows, of course.  I told ML, some folks at work, a friend in the Jr. League.  I haven’t told my mom yet, or my sister that has braces.  I’m sure they’ll notice eventually. J   I’m not staying hush-hush out of embarrassment necessarily; more likely to keep anyone from talking me out of it!  

I feel like I’m reverting to adolescence; 28 going on 13…not only ‘cause of the braces, but also ‘cause my skin is throwing a fit, as well.  Great.  All the fun of my teens with a master’s degree and a mortgage…

Money is no object

Well, of course that’s not true, but at least it’s no longer the obstacle keeping me from getting my teeth fixed.  The DH found out that his insurance doesn’t cover orthodontics (mine does), but we can use his FSA to pay for the first 6 months of treatment, then use my FSA for the rest (my FSA doesn’t kick until July).  So, now that the money question is answered, I’m just waiting to meet with the surgeon.  Of course, paying for the surgery is an entirely different story!

 

The DH finally got to record last night – he laid down his drum tracks and the bass player did his as well.  Hopefully it turns out as well as they think it will.  I’m really excited to hear some of their music! 

 

Last night I spent my evening sewing, as usual.  I fixed the pinstripe vest that goes with my Belly Dance Business Suit – it gaped in the back.  No more!  I need to come up with a new choreography for the next hafla so I can show it off right.  

I also sewed some prototypes for these reusable shopping bags ML convinced her friend I could make.  We’ll see… J

 

Tonight is another night off, kind of.  No outside obligations, except stopping by the Omaha Marathon Volunteer Appreciation Night gathering after work, and then grocery and Halloween costume shopping with the DH.  I am totally against buying Halloween costumes, but maybe we’ll come up with some decent ideas while looking around.  I’m having “costume block” this week and we’re running out of time.

The rest of the week will be busier, for sure – tomorrow I’m helping demonstrate helmet safety at a Jr. League HIP Kids Family Night, and Friday ML and I are handing out CFLs with the Sierra Club at a home and garden show.  Good times…

 

Kinda Scared

When I was in college, my mom suggested I get braces.  I didn’t.  A couple of years ago, once I was out on my own and had money and insurance and all that good stuff, I looked into.  Eek, it was expensive!  Not only would I require braces, but also surgery to correct my jaw.  I spent the money I had set aside on Lasik instead…  Recently, the subject came back up.  The DH agreed that we could afford the whole procedure if I were something I truly wanted.  

Yesterday I made the call to the orthodontist.  Today I went in for diagnostic imaging.  X-rays, plaster molding, photographs galore, the whole nine yards, the results of which fit in a 8 ½ x 11 inch folder.  Now I need to visit with the maxillofacial surgeon (and figure out the insurance drama) and within 24 months, I’ll have a whole new smile.  I’m excited.  And scared.  Terrified actually.  I’m not a big fan of pain…or giving up foods I love…or not being able to talk well…or just looking weird in general.  And I’m about to sign on the dotted line to PAY for all of these things!  Am I crazy?!?  Probably.  I know it’ll pay off in the end, but the end seems so far away…

Something that is nagging at me, though, is the whole superficial nature of it.  True that my bite is WAY off and I’m starting to have some pain in my jaw, but am I doing this for health reasons or just in the name of vanity?  I recently finished reading Jessica Valenti’s Full Frontal Feminism (I highly recommend it – a must read), and I agree with most of what she says, especially when it comes to looks and the value placed on them for (and by) women.  Men aren’t judged by their looks nearly as much as by their ability, but for women, appearance seems to be held higher than any other factor when determining worth – self-worth especially.  I’ve never felt pretty.  Is this my fault, or have I just been conditioned this way by our silly supermodel-loving culture?  Does fixing my teeth mean I’ve fallen for the whole pretty-girl con hook, line, and sinker?  Does it make me shallow?  Am I less feminist because I want to like my smile?

On the other hand, it’s not like I’m getting breast implants or collagen injections or something.  This is dental work.  It is as much about the health of my teeth as it is about self-esteem.  

Hmmm…I guess I will justify it to myself anyway I have to, because it is something I want to do…