Had a really good day today...

[Kcwhippet]

...NOT!!! Very similar to WW's experience, but with a slight difference. I had a rot canal that was apparently failing, so the dentist guy sent me to an endodontist. She said "Hmmmmm. I'm not proficient enough to do what needs to be done." This from the President of the Massachusetts Association of Endodontists and a professor of endontotry (or whatever) at a prestigious dental school. So, I was moved over to her colleague and he said "Hmmmm. We have an interesting situation here." My options were to have the tooth pulled and an implant put in at incredible cost, or to have an apicoectomy done at considerably less expense and hope for the best. Well, this morning I had the apioectomy done. If you don't know what that is, they cut a flap of skin in front of the offending tooth, drill a hole through the bone, suck out all the crap in there, cut the bottoms of the roots off, pack them, fill the hole and stitch up the skin flap. That took three hours, and after some follow up x-rays he is very encouraged.Part of the instructions are to abstain from alcohol for a week, so I questioned that. He told me just to take it easy - not to go over two bottles of wine a night (he said that with a chuckle not being aware of our wine consumption proclivities). Instructions are also for soft foods or cool soups. So, while waiting for Judy to get home, I've been making a roasted tomato soup for dinner and a loaf of soft Italian bead. The soup's really great - I roast halved Roma tomatoes with shallots, garlic, rosemary, thyme and EVOO (all seasoned with Kosher salt) until they start to break down. Then simmer with my own unsalted chicken stock until it's well reduced. Then I put it all through a food mill, back into the pot heated up with chopped basil, some balsamic vinegar, white pepper and salt to finish. There'll be some Parm to top when I serve, with a Zin and the bread. Been working through some Cline Zin while cooking. Oh yeah, he gave me prescriptions for Motrin AND Vicodin if the pain gets bad. So far so good - it's been eight hours and the local is just now starting to wear off and no real pain to speak of - just some expected tenderness. Of course, after over 400 sutures from various injuries and accidents over the years, this is getting to be old hat. I'll keep the Zin close by. I'll check in later if I'm still coherent.