Mad Tooth!

Mad tooth

Never underestimate the power of the madness of a tooth. Thankfully we have come up in the world with regards to dental help. The days of bite the bullet have come and gone but there have been a few times it crossed my mind.  Some time ago I went to the dentist with hopes of a simple checkup and cleaning. A Thursday morning appointment seems easy. Right! By Friday noon ish and I am climbing the walls and ready to go eight rounds in the MMA cage with a wild critter with the craziness of pain. So, wouldn't ya know no one is in the dental office that I had the cleaning done in to help me with the after math of the killer madness in my mouth. My dear wife with her heart of gold does her best to find me a dentist with heart to help my case of trouble. Being in so much discomfort I considered resorting to pulling out my own tooth. Yep, the thought comes to some of us that have lots of tools around. Luckily, we found an office open, with time to spare me a bit of a looksee at the enraged chopper. Any one that has known me for some time, knows I don't find comfort in a chair for dental purposes.

 I would rather visit with a doctor or a dentist in the canyons or the woods than their office. Seated in the chair and looking out the window thinking about how this royally bites. Doc J as we will call him enters the small room. We get the howdies done and get to the let's have a look around. Some touch and probing and we can tell the general area and tooth. So just to be sure and clear Doc J does a somewhat simple and small test for clarifying the exact irritated spot. A super frosty Q-tip and Wow! I was a thrashing like a crazy soul a looking to exit the window. Mind ya me moving forward with that much effort would be like maybe a Bear after me kind a deal. By this time the Doc is like yep “we call that a hot tooth”. Hot or mad either way is fine kind of a mess to be in on a Friday afternoon. He is like we're not drilling in to that critter today. We will have to give it some antibiotics and pain relief for a few days to get it workable. Knowing how life goes for me with some substances I would cross my fingers with some 800 ibu and clove oil and hope for the best for the weekend. Anyone been mouth and tooth impaired knows ya get to the point of “I so much need a burger and fries” kind of hungry. Between pain and starvation, it really reminded me of having tonsils out in midlife. Yes, I had my tonsils out in my thirties. Soft foods do not do life justice by any means and if someone should be bold enough to try to tell you anything different they have obviously been living with too tight of jeans on. I was sure hoping for the Hulk to rock me to sleep or even Thor to tap me with his hammer upside the head so I could get a little shut eye. By the time Monday morning came I was thinking why it can’t be Tuesday already this is getting super old. But by Tuesday morning I was just wanting to sleep in, I was dragging around like a zombie. Wouldn't ya know I was thrilled to cheese on crackers at an ants family picinic to go to the dentist for once in decades. Mind ya I still would have been happy with seeing Doc J out in the back country and not with his pricey chair in his office. 

About this time, I am reminded of the John Wayne saying “courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways”. I saddled up and found my way to the dental chair. Doc J worked magically and at a point in the process turned some of the task of the madness to his very skilled partner Doc B for the extreme curved rooting of the mad tooth. One of those super hard to get at curvy rooted monster teeth. There are moments that I haven’t feel super excited to be in that pricey chair but being numbed of the pain was relieving. Do not underestimate the driving force of pain to change the course of daily living in one form or another. The worst smells, feelings, and sounds have always been around the dentist or doctor cubicle for me and they aren't some fond memories either but I couldn't think of them at the time. Happy to have that pain to a livable point and knowing I still would have to return for a crown, I thought of ways to get out of sitting in that chair any time soon. I will tell you that I have had lots of pain filled times from road rash and burns to head smacks with hard objects.

 Some painful moments being a bit more emotional than physical. I recommend meeting people in more joyous ways than at painful rock bottom but should you be in a painful situation I hope you have good people that help you find relief. Hopefully those people that help you with your struggles have some super great friends and associates that are there to back them up. As much as some of the biggest tough guys would like you to think they don't fight battles with an army of prime picked gladiators they are more successful with some friends by their side or even behind them. Still not feeling super excited for visiting the dentist but should I find myself crawling walls in pain I hope that help is there with someone like Doc J.

We share our thoughts, feelings,............

We share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas on the internet daily but do we think about the messages we see and share. Think for a moment about the last post you shared to a social media sight what was it and what was the intent in sharing it? Yes, I get that we are surrounded on all sides by not so good of things because that is a reality of the world we live in but we need not roll around in the darkness and expect others to join us.

Here are some questions to ask about things as we consider sharing them (many if not all can be found by great advice from inspired people). Is it true? Is it nice? Does it inspire others to be better? Is it informative? Is it positive? Is it humorous without being demeaning to someone? Does it contain inappropriate language and thoughts that someone would be Leary in sharing with a clergyman? If by some means the status, meme, article, picture, etc. really can’t pass at least two of the pointed questions it may well be best to dump it than to post it. “If it is not light, then what is it? – Unknown

May we work to find the good in the world. Some would have ya believe that we should face reality as it is but I submit that we can look for good even at that. There are more than enough places on the internet sharing the depressing put down so called news but let’s be on the other side of the line and go for the good. Live life, breathe, love fiercely, and have fun.

Howdy!

  

Howdy!

Some know me very personally but many just glance in the direction of this page now and again. So here is my run down. I’m a seasoned gent that on occasion has some time on my hands. I’ve been call a bunch of names but Hun, Papa, and Crazy Soul are my favorites. I’m a Christian and love God with most of my heart. The part of my heart that isn’t placed on God is reserved for my wife. So ya do get a dose of I love her and relationship gooey stuff in there. After almost three decades together we are well connected with each other.  I have walked a path with recovery from darkness and addiction. I counsel many in changing their path of life for the better. I have moved around some but at present live in a small house by a Hollar just a short hop from some grand kiddies. I like to spend time in the outdoors and play with the peeps we call the crazies. Yes, I like a good laugh now and then too. Every now and again I post from my blog some thoughts and some stories with maybe just a little bit of McManus style of embellishment. So, enjoy. Feel free to share with those around you.

Forgiveness and Time.

This is a post from a Facebook page in the Cedar City area. I have copied and pasted it with the originators permission. RE: Fire burning in Iron and Garfield counties of Utah. The following post is by a resident of Brian Head, Utah.

Kim Mayne:

I have been out of my home now as an evacuee for a week tomorrow. These are my thoughts, My heart breaks for those who've lost homes, for those who won't enjoy family time in the precious mountains this year, for the firefighters who give there all and the families who go without during that time to support them, for the children who just want to go home and the adults too but mostly my heart breaks for a world with no forgiveness. Yes, there should be consequences, some natural as this person has to live with this, and perhaps monetarily and maybe even lawfully but let me remind everyone that he who is without sin, cast the 1st stone. In no circumstance, is it right for us to be the judge, that is up to the proper authorities and ultimately to our maker. I have never met the person responsible, I do believe that things could have been done by the proper agencies that would have decreased the odds of this disaster and my family is suffering but hate and judgement will not bring back our homes, our forest, our playground. It will not bring peace, but do you know what does? Forgiveness and Time. The land will heal, homes may be rebuilt, and new memories made, it is my prayer that we ALL find this healing.

My Thoughts:

In times of adversity we can become better or bitter. Hopefully we become better people and can put our best foot forward and be kind, understanding, and forgiving. I am saddened by the situation because of the places that will be so ever change that hold memories of myself and many but knowing that we can move forward with hope for better and that we are alive and pray for those effected as well as those that fight the flames and smoke to save what they can. I may add that many walk through more than one crisis in life and yet they have a good outlook of what can be out there for them and others. Often when disasters strike it draws people together in helping others. Forgiveness is not easy and yet it is a part of what makes us better. Be grateful, forgiving, and share good whenever possible because the world needs better not bitter. Choices always have consequences whether they be good or not so good. Yes, there will be a time when justice must be paid but hopefully there will be mercy present to balance justice. Many there are that say “blame this” and “blame that” but there are so many factors that we can best let it go. I am reminded of a situation a few years back with a similar situation. A good person was also engaged in clearing land and the control of the situation was lost. They as with many others could never imagine the extent of the reach of the consequences until later. Bad things happen to good people. My family has at times been displaced for various reasons and it is trying and heart breaking. I thank those that in times of crisis reach out to others with shelter and help.

 Pray for others that they too can find peace in the storm and that the storm may find a calming. Pray for those with broken hearts and lives to heal. Pray for understanding. Pray for those that walk in the fires of life to keep us safe. I have in days past also walked among the smoke and flames and I hope and pray for the souls that work to tame that Beast. I have read of many that have given to others in bad situations, thank you! It shows us all humanity is there. Having life coached people for many years and worked with them to make changes in their life for the better when they have made not so good of choices I leave these thoughts. “God grant me the serenity to except the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” “Joy isn’t found in riches and gold but knowing you have lifted another”- Unknown

*Thanks Kim Mayne for in spite of adversity looking for the silver lining!

Twenty-nine priceless years!

Twenty-nine priceless years!

Three decades ago, I saw this dark-haired and dark-eyed beauty in a large hallway in little old Manti, Utah. Wow has life changed with a six pack of kids and a small band of grand kids. We have now lived in about a dozen places together. We have flown scared, climbed hills, an extended boat trip, dropped into canyons and crags, and fallen ever deeper in love with each other. We have learned a lot about each other over the years but more about ourselves and why we do what we do. Yes, I’m hard to deal with. I’m kind of like a deck of cards with no Aces and a lot of One Eyed jacks. She has put up with me just the same. She’s no quitter and has pushed the limits of life a lot. She pushes me to be better than I see myself. We have been back to the great hall many times since that day and we were married in that fine structure in June of nineteen eighty-eight. One of the girls she worked with a few years ago was helping her try to make a negative type picture of that building for an artistic project. The girl thought for sure it had to be a castle in Europe. When the girl heard we had been married there, she was in shock and thought it must have cost a fortune. I add it was the most priceless place to be married in the world, but there are many of those priceless places in the world that are amazing also.

Many things have changed for me over the years, from less fly-off-the-handle to I say less of what just pops in my head. I have learned that filtering lots of things can end many a bad situation. I have learned to talk to others instead of closing off and bottling things up. I have a soft spot for the underdog and the down trodden. I love adventure as shown by the crazy pack of six kids we have and all the places we have visited. Been many places a cell phone is useless yet unwanted also. The best places I have been are always with my number one Cheerleader (yeppers I found a cheerleader). Yes, I have had her fuming mad at me and love me profusely all in the same day.

She’s like a fine box of chocolates with gold leaf on the box. She is always full of surprises. Every now and then she still manages to scare the critters loose in me. She can best me in so many ways but we have fun just the same. I think she is getting more at ease with the chapter of life we are in now. She likes little hugs and kisses from those little ones that call her Nana. She claims that I didn’t remember that we danced with each other one night not long after we had met first the first time but I was a bit stunned from a lot happening. Then I moved in a few doors down from her and she claims I kind of stalked her some, but I was hooked so what can I say. Secretly at the time, she says now, she was intrigued some.

Some of the super road trips have included stops for some very tasty food in some of the most unique places. You might be surprised the cool places out there that we have visited once or twice. Still many to add to the list of places still to find and dine at.

Lots of adventures in the twenty-nine years we have been married and the plus part of that before we said “I do”. I’m not say’n we are perfect but we are perfect together. We still have a large bucket list of things to do together and yes, I have to get some of the promises in for her before I even think about push’n some daisies up. So, here’s to another basket of fun years of adventure. I’m sure we will think of more to add to the bucket list and maybe we will do a few fun things that we have done many times before again. 

She is the Mama of Six awesome kids!

     Yeppers! She is the Mama of Six awesome kids and many others that see her as Mom. I know she down plays herself but she is like a fine diamond ring. The value is so priceless that it and her cannot be compared to anything else out there because there is nothing that comes even remotely close to her. She has the distinction as a tough one but has had to be at times to keep a few teenagers on a path going forward and uphill. Also, she is very loving and has one of the warmest hearts any mother could ever be given by the Great Creator. For many of the world that have ever crossed life’s path in some way with her they know that she cares a lot about seeing people become what God sees in them. Just like many in the world, we all struggle with beating ourselves up and even down. We too often try to feed ourselves the lie that “I don’t add up.” She more than adds up and stands out. Yes, she isn’t so much a big fan of being in front of a camera but I love to see the smile in her dark and beautiful eyes. I love to see her smile when she is surrounded by her kids and the countless others that bring out the smile in her. Start with the six and add them all up and she has a well-stocked house full of very awesome and special accomplishments. 

     Granted I haven’t been much help in a lot of the training of the kids but I am grateful to have the best of the best in a parenting companion for me. She has so many cool names she is called by the six and a few others. They call her Mother, Mom, Mama, Mamita, Grandma, and Nana. I’m sure Mama and Nana are the names that she hears and loves best, but she has many more that some very dear peeps call her or have called her that listing them is kind of hard. No one affects us in our lives quite as much as the mothers, grandmothers, and aunties in our life. Please friends don’t compare you or yours to any one because God made the women of the world different so we could help each other in so many ways and every one of them are extremely special. This awesome mother of six has so many talents that are not seen by the world and in many ways should be, but the kids in her life know some of those awesome things. She is a diamond in so many ways that to know where to start counting would be hard to do without missing some along the way. So, Happy Mother’s Day to the Mama of Six that has effected not just six and others but me in so many ways. 

*Papa’s cheesy taters*

*Papa’s cheesy taters*

9x13 pan

1 ½ lbs. O’Brian style hash brown potatoes frozen

2 jars GF or Classico alfredo sauce

24 ozs Sour cream 

2 lbs. Colby jack cedar cheese (save ¼ of cheese for toping when nearly done)

½ onion fine diced

2 teaspoons pepper

Sautee the onion. Mix ingredients in large bowl. Spread in pan. Bake at 375 to 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Top with remaining cheese. Continue baking for 10 t0 20 minutes. Best if served with Papa’s favorite meat loaf. If you have family and friends like Papa you should consider an extra pan of taters so that Papa’s first house rule can be adhered too. “If you leave hungry it is your own fault”. You can sub some cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup and a cup of milk rather than the Alfredo sauce. If you’re like Papa and have a Dutch oven or three it is a nice summer classic. Cooking tip: The cheap and easy one use pans and oven liners make cleanup up a cook’n dream. Enjoy!!