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Because It’s Been Over 24 Hours Since My Last Post

It’s the middle of the week, and it’s been 24 hours since my last post.  No, I’m not sick.  Just busy.  And rather out of things to say.  The March doldrums are in full swing.  That, and this week I’m suffering from the Princess Must Scream syndrome.  (I have to give FULL CREDIT to Lysa TerKeurst for coining that phrase.)  Just ask my husband.  He’s a gem to put up with me.  Truly.  You have NO idea.  But really, it’s his own fault.  He knew what he was getting into.  My hapless children, on the other hand, did not choose their lot in life.  Please send up a prayer for them today.

Yesterday was one of those days that I spent barely surviving.  Besides the fact that every little thing was getting on my very last nerve, I also had a dental cleaning scheduled for 7pm that I was dreading.  I always schedule my dentist appointments at night so I can go unfettered by whining children.  The way I look at it, a trip to the dentist is torture akin to a Jack Bauer interrogation, and the last thing I need is to add children to the mix.

dental equipment

But the unfortunate result of scheduling my appointments at night is that I have an entire day to dread the event.  Which is exactly what I did all day yesterday.  I considered about three or thirty times calling the office and rescheduling.  Because why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?  But I knew that doctor offices generally frown on cancellations the day of the appointment, and if nothing else, I am a people pleaser.  And besides, I couldn’t think of a particularly good reason to cancel anyway.

Finally at 5:00 I decided that I ought to make something of myself, even if it was just to spend an hour laying in a pleather chair with my mouth propped open, trying to focus on the Food Network show du jour (or du hour — anyone know French?) while the dental hygienist uses all manner of sharp metal instruments to inflict injury and trauma on my poor neglected gums.

So I ran upstairs and washed my hair and threw on some makeup, but I stopped short at changing my clothes.  I figure if I have to endure the torment and indignity of a dental cleaning, I might as well be as comfortable as possible in my cozy sweats.

I came back down and started preparing dinner, all the while bemoaning the fact that I would have to rush through my salmon and mashed potatoes and broccoli (one of my all-time favorite meals) in order to put myself through the abuse that awaited me in the dental chair.  My husband came home and rounded up the kids and set the table while I put the finishing touches on our meal.  As I was plating the salmon, the phone rang.  It was the dental office.

Suddenly there was a glimmer of hope.  What were they calling for, an hour before my appointment?  Could it be that they needed to reschedule?  I crossed imaginary fingers as I said, “Hello?”

Karen wanted to know if I could possibly come closer to 6:30 than 7:00.

Um, no, I live a half hour away and I am just putting dinner on the table.  I’m pushing it to get there at 7.  BUT.  If Karen wants to go home early and reschedule for another time, it won’t break MY heart.

Oh yes I did!  That is EXACTLY what I said.

She laughed and said that that wasn’t necessary, but I ASSURED her that I didn’t mind IN THE LEAST, so we rescheduled for NEXT Tuesday at 7:00, and I told her to tell Karen to enjoy her evening.  She assured me that Karen would be delighted with this turn of events.

With that I hung up the phone and told my husband to pour a glass of wine!  I wasn’t going out after all.  Everyone rejoiced that mommy was staying home.  Which was really quite surprisingly, considering the Princess Must Scream syndrome we are all enduring this week.  You’d think they would be thrilled to get rid of me for a couple of hours.

Despite that, we happily sat down and enjoyed a leisurely dinner — probably the only 30 minutes all day that there was no squabbling or whining or complaining.

But you all know what this means.  I escaped my fate last night, but now I have to live that whole day again next week.  Such is the life of a procrastinator.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto

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20 Responses

  1. What a nice change of events for you 🙂 I’m also dreading the same fate next week, which my husband avoids by not going to the dentist at all. Not the smartest plan, but I won’t be the one to tell him that!

  2. Oh, my goodness! Such a narrow escape! I have to go today at 4:00. I know what they are going to tell me. I need my wisdom teeth out, fillings for some microscopic cavities they found with the laser (never had one), and my gums are getting worse. Yeah… I can’t wait.

  3. I dread the dentist too and wonder why anyone would WANT to wholeheartly go into that profession. On the other hand I like the feeling after the torture of having super clean teeth.

  4. Now that my dear, sounds just like me! I SO would have said the exact same thing and I so would have rescheduled and I so would spend the next 7 days kicking myself in the but because I still have to wait for the appt. and the dentist and I are NOT friends – I mean we are, I like Steve I have known him since I was 8 but I have serious dental anxiety disorder and it gets worse the older I get not better. ARGH.

  5. Lucky you! I cheated earlier this month…I called the day before and just plain cancelled saying I’d call back to reschedule…well, I left it on their answering machine 🙂 Uhhhh…gee, it has slipped my mind until I read your entry today…oops!

    I wish our dentist office stayed open at night. Ours faithfully closes at 5 PM and on Fridays. They always want me to come in at 7:30 AM…NOT!

    I’m glad you were able to stay at home with your family last night and maybe next week will go smoother.

    Have a great day!

  6. You know, you may have really dodged a bullet. When the Princess Must Scream here at the Red Clay Estate, she especially screams about pain. She seems to be extra sensitive the whole time she’s here.

    Next week may be better for that reason.

    And now you’ve gone and reminded me that I have an appointment next week. Dang.

  7. It was my turn yesterday….and it wasn’t pretty! Had a little surgical procedure and now my jaw is the size of a walnut. UGH! Glad I have it behind me. If there was a survey done, I’ll bet dentist appts. are the most canceled appt. there is!

  8. LOL! That is sick! Yes, I do love how it feels about 3 days after the swelling and bleeding dies down. @@

    I have very bad dental history. Most cleanings hurt like the dickens b/c there are always a few undiscovered cavities that the metal fork thingy jot into action. YEOW! and then I usually have to return for fillings, and NEEDLES. Oh the humanity…

  9. UGH – Did someone say root canal? Oh boy.

    For me, the problem with fillings and root canals is that dang needle. After I’m fully numb, it’s honestly not that bad.

  10. Had you kept your appointment we’d have been sitting in the dentist chair at exactly the same time. You at 7 on the east coast and me at 4 pacific time. Mine was much worse though. I had to have a filling replaced. UGH.

    I don’t like procrastinating appointments. I’d so much rather get it over with…

  11. Did someone say, “Red Clay Estate?” I’m so bummed that I didn’t think of that first, since I am taunted and abused by the red clay that surrounds my home here in GA. But I digress. I actually went to my cleaning appointment yesterday. I look forward to it. Don’t you love that squeaky clean feeling afterwards? And even though it is 1/2 an hour away and I have better things to do, I returned later in the afternoon with my 5 year old for his second set of fillings (yes, mother of the year award is in the mail). He likes the dentist so much that he goes back BY HIMSELF! Sick family, aren’t we?

  12. Maybe I’m the only person in the whole world who doesn’t mind going to the dentist or maybe I’m just too much of a people pleaser, but if they had asked me if I could come in 30 minutes early, I would have said sure! 🙂 I used to LOVE the dentist until I had my wisdom teeth out, which was slightly traumatic since I was on valium and was out of it, but not out of it enough to not remember parts! Now I don’t love the experience but I don’t really mind. I even had a root canal a couple years ago that wasn’t too bad. I watched a whole episode of Trading Spaces, and then it was over. All’s well that ends well!

  13. Dentists – ugh. They are my least favorite of all the “health” visits. I’m so very grateful that I cannot afford them right now LOL

  14. Oh, I am SUCH a procrastinator. Case in point I’m reading your blog and leaving a comment instead of doing the research and writing I need to get done. 🙂 And the whole dentist thing? I’m totally procrastinating MAKING my appointment never mind going to it. 🙂

  15. Now I want Salmon…lovely…lol

    How wonderful…a week long reprive. Hopefully the day goes faster next week.
    Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

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