No, I'm not talking about that abscess on the ass of humanity, Rick Santorum. I'm talking about the abscess I have in one of my teeth. More below the fold...
I clench my teeth - in my sleep and while I'm awake. This is a fairly new thing, due (I feel) to some life stresses that have cropped up over the last couple of years.
Anyway, I woke on Sunday with one of my eyeteeth feeling somewhat loose, and some gum irritation. By yesterday, it hadn't gone away, and kind of felt worse. Knowing that I don't have a nerve in that tooth, due to a root canal, I decided to go to the dentist.
Side note here: I tried to eat some of the
chocolate-dipped strawberries I made for Valentine's Day, and it was painful (although I powered through and managed to finish one :-)
Anyway, I went to the dentist and found that the 12-year old root canal is failing, and I have an abscess, which we have all heard such tragic stories about recently.
I got some antibiotics, and I will be getting a dental implant in 2 weeks.
I am so very grateful that my husband and I both have dental insurance, resulting in dual coverage for this condition which will kill if left untreated.
Even so, my cost after all is said and done will be about 5K, which isn't just lying around. Thanks to family, we'll manage it though.
And what is even sicker than my tooth tonight is my spirit, knowing that there are too many people who wouldn't be able to treat this situation.
And the incredibly stupid and ridiculous farce going on in Congress, talking about employers and insurance companies being able to deny coverage for anything due to "moral" objections.
The awful, reprehensible "representatives" and "spiritual leaders" who want to pick and choose not to cover anything for anyone get their healthcare through our taxes. We are paying for them to receive FIRST CLASS healthcare. And these guys (I will not refer to the cowards as "men") want to decide things like contraception is cheap and affordable, and shouldn't be covered. And Mr. Aspirin-between-your-knees, don't even get me started.
I hope, sincerely, that all this BS creates backlash after backlash from the American people, until we push the legislators to universal healthcare. That is the only way that everyone will get the care they need.
This contraception fight (farce) might open a few eyes to the fact that if things can get this bad, depending on who is in power in Congress - maybe a backlash (long term, over the space of a few election cycles) will result. Because it is possible that legislators who have cranio-rectal-inversion could make stupid laws taking away basic care. It is not likely, but I am not comfortable just saying "it'll never happen". The fact that it is being talked about at all makes me a tiny bit queasy.
I think I'm rambling a bit now - my thoughts are tumbling over each other. So apologies for that. But FFS, this is so basic - just care for each person. Health. Care.
I hope people are paying attention to the contraception debate (damn, it's 2012! This should be settled!!).
If you read this far, I thank you. I'll be watching as this asinine, insane "debate" continues, and I'll be hoping for the best, for all of us.
Peace all!
P.S. I don't know what the family emergency is with Stephen Colbert, but I'm thinking of him, and I hope you're keeping him in your thoughts, as well. Let's send Stephen our positive energy. Love my Colbert - I hope he and his family are ok.
Night all!