The Week of Pain

My legs still hurt. Just sayin’.

In keeping with my summer fitness and health efforts I paid a visit to the dentist this morning. I’ve probably been to the dentist three times in the last 10 years. Considering that if I’d played by the rules I would have been at least 20 times, that’s not a pretty picture.

So there I sat, smiling nervously up at the hygienist, (who was very kind and enthusiastic about the smoking thing, by the way) when the question I dreaded most came out of her mouth: How often do you floss?

I could tell by the way she asked the question that she already knew the answer by looking in my mouth. Apparently, “whenever I get popcorn stuck in my teeth” was not the answer she wanted to hear, nor was she amused.

To make it up to me, she pressure washed my teeth and gums with a jet propelled needle of water for about 30 minutes. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. It fuckin hurt like hell. And when it was all over she told me I could go up front and schedule an appointment next week for the actual cleaning. And the cavity filling. Do I look like a masochist?

In one visit I met my deductible so at least next week I will be spared the indignity of having to pay for torture. I know it’s my own damn fault but I can whine if I want to.

The best thing about the visit was that she took my blood pressure. The first time that’s been done since last year’s physical, before I quit smoking and joined the gym. My usual, perfectly normal 120/80 was down to a lovely 113/70. I don’t remember it ever being that low. Lets hope my cholesterol numbers will be as good.