never a dull moment...

 It started as an ache, turned into a throb, but it didn't ruin my day:  a tooth that was crowned a long time ago, a crowned tooth that has given me trouble time and again through the years, but I've ignored, because it usually works, and it's what I do best.  (years ago, the orthopedic dr. looked at the X-rays of my knees, filled with arthritis, and asked, AREN'T YOU IN PAIN?!   Well, yes, I replied, but I've given birth to X amount of children, and I'm fat, pain is part of life!).  But this pain that woke me up yesterday...um, no ignoring it.  I finally took three ibuprofen, and had some relief.  Hmm, I thought, I might not have to call the dentist....but, this morning I woke up and made the phone call.  Lucky me, I can go in tomorrow.  I am a drama queen, I know it, but having that crown put on was worse than the worse childbirth pain I ever had.  He kept putting it back on, having me bite down, and if it wasn't quite right, he'd yank it off and file it down again.  This was when I was pregnant for Camille, but thought I had miscarried her, so may as well have the tooth taken care of...the entire experience was awful.  Not knowing I was still pregnant, still being exhausted and nauseous and overall yucky, I thought I was just mourning the pregnancy loss.  Anyway, ssshhh, here's the It's My Fault part:  it was awful when he yanked it off and filed it again, so the last time he had me bite down, it still wasn't right, but I insisted it was fine.  I wanted it DONE.  I was tipped back so far in the chair, thought I was going to be sick, it didn't so much hurt as it was just so uncomfortable and the grinding sound and the yanking...ugh.  So I said it was fine, and it's never been fine.  I've ignored it for 16 years.  I'd get a little abscess here and there, they'd go away, and I'd be FINE.  So I'm not sure what'll happen tomorrow.  Will I need a root canal?  Will it magically clear up with the antibiotics he called in, and I won't need anything done?  What?  I can hope.  

Yesterday was a wonderful day, despite the ache in my face.  Sonja and I took a quick trip to Walmart for ice, snow cone syrup, and drinks.  We stopped for iced Americanos, and headed home, with coffees for Margaret and Kathryn, who came bustling in the door right after we arrived, with Rhys and little Jamison. Their husbands had taken the boys fishing with Paul.  Evelyn came over too, then Sam (Grace is visiting her parents in West Virginia with Grant and Ruth). 

I had put ribs and wings in the smoker in the morning, and those wings were done! I took them out, put them on the grill, slathered them with barbecue sauce, and oh dear they were good!  We ate some on the pool deck.  The boys came back, then Emily and Mariel, then Molly and Josh and Ophelia (Lydia was with her dad).   Paul grilled steaks, hamburgers, coneys (the NY white spicy hot dogs), we had watermelon, two different macaroni and cheese (Evelyn's with spicy gouda, and Kathryn's), salt potatoes, chocolate chip cookies (Mariel!), cupcakes...

I wish I took pictures better.  9 of the 11 girls were here (all but Abigail and Suzanne).  Sam was the only of the boys here.  

Achilles

Tennyson

That's Miss Cam floating, kept the leg dry, she's nimble at getting in, and the little ones didn't splash her.

Kathryn with her kids...Rhys, baby Jamie, and Achilles

We roasted marshmallows and had s'mores...Tennyson.

See what I mean about the pictures?  rather random...Paul, Emily, Molly Rose, Darius with his baby Jamison.

Adrian and Sam, then Evelyn, Char, Cam

Ophelia loved the snow cone.  It's like ice cream, she said. 

Kitchen snap:  Mariel in the plaid, Sonja in the back, then Evelyn, Kathryn, and Char with baby Jamie.

Snow cone machine!  And, Adrian, Sam, ect.

We sat by the fire in the evening, what a beautiful night, clear skies, clear half mooned brightness.  The house was a mess when everyone left, but the girls here helped and we got it mostly cleaned.  The floors need vacuuming and mopping, sweeping.  There are towels to wash, and flowers to water, and the pool needs to be turned on and skimmed.  The new grill needs to be cleaned, and the smoker needs to be cleaned out.  (Did I mention how absolutely yummy those ribs were?  Smoked for four hours, then slathered in bbq sauce, wrapped in foil, and smoked a few more hours...mmmm)

Well, my coffee is gone and my conscience is niggling, there are things to do.  I should go pick up that antibiotic, too.  I like my comfy chair, but the sun is shining...but also, my face is aching, the tooth is killing.  wah, poor me, ha.  

This afternoon, Sonja is going in for a study session, and I might drive her and drop her off, and go visit Robert's grave...it's been a while.  I was going to pick up some little t-shirts from the craft store, too, for Activity club tonight...ah well...have a really good day!