Today I went to the dentist for the first time in over 5 years, not because I thought it was finally time I go, not because my insurance covers it (which it doesn't), but because I got a groupon deal! 50 Bucks for an exam, cleaning, and x-rays.

Turns out the dentist world has some new high tech thing-a-ma-jig that allows a panorama x-ray of your whole mouth. I had to stand in a room by myself with my teeth biting this little nook as this full head scan happened. The girl told me to smile big so she could see all my teeth, which wasn't a problem as I continually laughed at how ridiculous I must have looked.

It wasn't too bad. The good news is my teeth are healthy and strong. Bad news is my back four aka wisdom teeth suck. Turns out I have cavities in just about all of them, mostly because they are so hard to reach. Not my fault! It's totally nature's fault. Also turns out I have to floss more often as I'm in the caution area for gum disease. It seems when your gums bleed from flossing it means you have to do it more. Or so they say...

Part of me hates buying into all these products and procedures that we didn't have for YEARS and wants to trust that nature has a way. The other part of me knows thanks to science we are living way too long and I'd like to avoid having English people teeth (OOOH! Slam!). Plus if nature did have her way I'd be way hairier than needed AND would probably wind up having to do some self dental work like Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Anyone got a pair of ice skates I can borrow?

Another amusing part of the trip was the dentist asking if I was an actress because I have the facial bone structure for it. According to this middle aged, slightly overweight man, I have "a good look." Only in LA do the dentists second as casting directors.

One of the things that stands out in my mind from my trip back home is the fact that my cat, Lucky, who I got in the third grade is STILL alive, but barely, as observed in the picture. She just turned 18 and my family is convinced she will outlive us all. In fact, my brother and I have a theory that she plans to sneak herself into our parents will and steal the house out from under us. She has outlived 3 of our dogs, done the Oprah weight gain, gone blind, mellowed into a lap cat, and most recently she's thinned herself into a Zombie. (She's so topical! - Notice in the picture the lack of weight and inability to keep her head up).

In many ways she's become a tragic metaphor of my childhood; not quite gone, but basically, it's over. She now just walks around in circles, eats, and pees in the fenced off section of the kitchen. Yet she's still as happy as a clam and purrs as soon as you pet her, probably because she knows she's so close to owning the house and when she does she'll pee where ever she wants! She's totally Charlie Sheen "winning!" on us.