Unexpected Learning Curve

My other unexpected event this month happened when I went to the dentist. I mentioned that it felt like my back teeth were trying to make one of my front teeth turn because there was so much pressure on it.

And guess who is now the proud owner of a retainer?

I never had a retainer before, so it's been a learning experience. I ended up buying tabs to clean it that I have to remember to use every day. On the plus side, it only takes three minutes per the instructions on the box.

For a week or so, I debated buying a box to soak the retainer in, but once I realized it didn't need to soak all day to clean it, I decided to just use a plastic cup.

So far (knock on wood) I'm doing pretty well with the retainer. I'm not pulling it out while I sleep and there's only been one night that it kept me from falling asleep for a while. I only need to wear it overnight, not during the day.

I'm both surprised and unsurprised to have a retainer. Surprised in the fact that I've never had one before, but I also knew that the pressure on that tooth from the back teeth was a problem and there probably was no other way to resolve it except a retainer. I'm good with it.

While I titled this post Unexpected Learning Curve, it really isn't a steep curve. I have the hang of getting it in and out now--it requires two hands. Cleaning it--three minutes of soaking in warm water with the cleaning tab. And I've remembered to put it in every night.

I feel like I'm doing pretty good here. And if it keeps my teeth where they belong, it's a win. 

Reframing my Perspective

This falls under the heading of wow, I didn't expect this.

Since I moved to Georgia in 2012, I've shopped primarily at two grocery stores. Both were near the condo I lived in temporarily, and when I sold my house in Minnesota and bought one here, it was in the same area as the condo, so same two stores.

Fast forward to the other day. I had an appointment to get some work done on my car, but even though I arrived 15 minutes prior to my slotted time, they had no mechanics available and they'd get me in soon. Thanks. The only reason I went in on Thursday was because they said 10am appointment, less than an hour to install. I had a follow-up doctor's appointment that afternoon.

I also needed to get groceries. My plan was get out of the car place before 11am, go to the grocery store by my house, put the food away, and go to my doctor's appointment.

That's not what happened. It was after 11:30 before I got out of there. I punched the grocery store into my app, got the estimated time of arrival, factored in shopping time, and realized I couldn't do it. I would be late for the doctor if I tried.

Another factor: I drive right past the doctor on my way home from the car place. They also happened to open a grocery store recently right near the doctor's office. Like it's literally on the other side of the same complex of buildings. I did have time to stop at that store, do groceries, and make my appointment. I'd have to buy a thermal, reusable grocery bag to be safe on food temperature, but it was cool enough here that I didn't think it would be a huge issue.

I set my store app to the new location and noticed everything was arranged differently in this store than in my branch of the same grocery retailer.

I didn't expect to feel annoyed over shopping at a new location, but I actually was. I hated that things weren't where I expected them to be. My store is older, and arranged completely differently than this newly built store. What do you mean tortillas are on aisle 2? They should be on aisle 6.

And I was annoyed at myself for being annoyed. I found everything and only wandered lost for a little bit. The app guided me without any issues, but it wasn't my store. Which I guess was the bottom line. I'm too used to the stores I normally shop at.

I think overall this was a good thing for me. It woke me up to how set in my ways I've become. Not a fun realization, but maybe necessary. Next time I have to deviate my routine, I'm going to look at it as a minor adventure and not an irritation. 

Happy New Year!

Clueless

I had a scathingly brilliant idea to organize myself. I didn't write it down because something this perfect is unforgettable. All I needed was a monthly planner.

Of course, they weren't on sale when I went to the website that sold exactly what I wanted. I didn't want to pay full price and so I decided to wait until there was a sale. I had the cover, and everything all picked out. Just give me that sale code, baby.

And then I waited. And waited.

Then a few weeks later, the sale announcement showed up in my social media feed! Yes! I hurried up and ordered and then waited a few weeks for it to ship and then days for it to arrive.

But at last, it was in my hands!

And I forgot what my scathingly brilliant idea was. Like it was completely gone, not so much as a hint remaining in my brain.

So now I have a monthly planner with blank pages behind it and no use for it because despite having it for over a month now, I still have no idea what I was thinking.

I should have written it down. With ADHD, even scathingly brilliant ideas aren't guaranteed to stay in my head. It's just that I get so tired of having Post-it Notes everywhere. And then, of course, the notes themselves get lost.

If I don't come up with a use for the planner, I guess I'll save it until I do have a use for it. It's a Sunday start, so I'd be redating all the monthly pages anyway because I prefer Monday start. I like my weekend days together.

On the bright side? I have learned to always record my story ideas. It's why I have so many notebooks. I'm on Notebook Three for the Paladin League. I needed to reference Notebook Two the other day, and for a few minutes I was really concerned I'd lost it, but then I managed to unearth it. Good thing because I needed to verify one of my sketches.

I'm not sure where Notebook One is, but at least I shouldn't need any information out of that one any longer. I hope. Because it's mostly for the first four books in the series.

Merry Christmas!

For those who celebrate, Merry Christmas!