Small diversion: Invisalign

I started Invisalign last November.  When I was researching the pros and cons, I came across several blogs who just wrote one or two posts about their journey. These helped me a lot because they weren't paid for or written for anyone.  So I knew I'd write one at some point as well.
So please excuse this one small diversion which I hope will help someone researching Invisalign.

Invisalign is a clear aligner system to straighten your teeth.  I have to be honest...i love it.
I'm at the half way point*.  I change aligners every 10 days and there are 37 total.

Things I have learned over the last 6 months:
-I can successfully brush my teeth at work without getting toothpaste on my shirt. My lanyard has been hit a few times, I will admit.
-My  mouth will toughen up and heal up quickly.  I doubted this the first few days adn the first few days after the attachments (think small spikes of doom places on the outside of your teeth for superior leverage)..but my mouth has moved past the pain and with the help of a little filing, everything is fine.
-Public restrooms.  They are a difficult thing for me on a good day.  So now add having to brush my teeth and rinse my aligners in them.  I will tout disposable pre-pasted toothbrushes forever now for this purpose.  I agree..not environmentally friendly. But for an OCD microbiologist who must brush her teeth in some pretty scary places..there is no choice.  I also like the Wisps for those times I just can't bring myself to do it. That has happened.  Twice.
-I have had to decline taste testing or samples in stores often.  I thought this would be a good weight loss activity but apparently I make up for it during the meals.
-I take protocols and tweak them to my needs.  I do wear the aligners a lot and almost the 22 hours they recommend.  I also ALMOST always only drink water while wearing them.  White wine is REALLY close to water, so it counts.
-These:

little devils made of rubber designed to move your teeth in large swathes.  I do not like them.
-I thought traveling would be difficult but it hasn't been. My purse is extra heavy with the oral hygiene items already so traveling is really  nothing more. Eating in the car is definitely more difficult but I do that rarely already.
-They do work.  My top aren't as noticeable yet due to the major renovations required in the molars. so while I can tell, no one else can. The bottom on the other hand have made a pretty good move so far.

Someone likened it to wearing shoes.  You notice them when you first put them on in the morning and likely in the evening on your home after a long day. But on average, you don't really 'think' or notice your shoes.  Same with the aligners.  I notice them when they first go in and usually after a long day of talking, I want nothing more than to take them out a minute or two.  But normal segment of the day, I don't notice them.
Which explains the occasional time when I try to tear tape or hold something with my teeth. Which when your teeth are coated in plastic, that no longer works.
so that's my intrusion. I will move back to doggie blogging now.  I may post another final one once my fronts are done and I have a more normal smile. ;-)


*half way is relative.  The first round is the big one of 37. But then they will re-scan my teeth and I will get another set of 'refinements' which should be much less. So in reality I have no idea of when this will be over. BUT I do know it will be worth it in the end.

I'm famous

OK...not quite. But a blogger in Yorkshire, England stumbled across my blog and contacted me.  He loved my action shots and was doing a piece on 'bitey face' with his lurchers. 
So..my 2 minutes of fame
http://greydogtales.com/blog/

Anyone attending Greyhounds in Gettysburg, Stop by the Virginia Greyhound Adoption booth and say hi!!!!

BFFs

Roxi and Lizzie are definitely besties.  Which is great..they definitely need each other for energy release!

 Roxi loves to sling herself on to the ground..

 Which leads to her looking like this the majority of the time!  She's a pig dog. ;-)

Lizzie will occasionally "turn it on" and run too fast for Roxi..which leads to Roxi getting frustrating and barking at her.  This is Lizzie trying to be slow..

"you still back there, little dog?"

It is amazing how much lean they get in the corners..

 Best friends.

 If any greyhound person is going Greyhounds In Gettysburg this week, please stop by the Virginia greyhound Adoption booth (near Houndstown) and say hi!!! 

Friends come to visit

We had our friend's dogs for a long weekend and they are very photogenic.  Bob just adopted Duff recently so he is new 'photo material' and he is gorgeous.

 His sister is Daisy

 He's not even two yet so he had a short attention span..

 Daisy decided she didn't want Duff to upstage her..

 And I couldn't forget Dobby the whippet.

 This makes me think he is pursing his lips together

 Cora didn't think my focus on them was appropriate..haha

Spring

It's nice to get out and photograph the dogs in the warm weather again.  Last spring/summer was overshadowed by sick dogs so I'm enjoying watching my healthy and relatively young pack run around.  Cody celebrated his 7th birthday last week.

The girls enjoyed the recent warm snap a lot.

Cora is doing so well.  She's a joy to have around and such a sweet girl.

 Roxi and Lizzie play very well together when it is just the two of them.  Muzzles came out (and on) when all three greys are out and about as they tend to gang up on the squirrely Roxi.  But as a pair, it may look horrible but it is quiet and very polite.  And they seem to have such a good time.

 

 Roxi strikes a pose

 A parting shot of Cora..she reminds us so much of Dana.

40 in Portland

It was my turn to hit 40 so we packed up and headed to the Pacific Northwest coast of the US to bring it in in style.
Portland, Oregon is a neat city with a great vibe.  They had a downtown river area

 We came upon these two guys and their dogs enjoying a beer in the afternoon.  One lived on that boat and the other on a boat out of frame.  It was cool watching the 'boat dogs' enjoy their lifestyle. We probably gawked at them a bit too much. ;-)

 The next day we hit wineries..we had a driver/guide and we went to four different ones. The region there is well known for Pinot Noir.
They were all beautiful

 They all had these glasses specifically made for Pinot Noir tasting. we've never seen this style before and I like them quite a bit. and apparently, they hold an entire bottle of wine!

 This day was oddly beautiful and clear.  So we could always look and find Mt. Hood in the distance.

 On Friday, we went to a Sake distillery and had an amazing dinner that night.  I didn't take many photos that day! 
Saturday, we picked up the same guide and went to the Columbus Gorge.  it was overcast, drizzly and a bit chilly but it was still fun and beautiful.
We visited several waterfalls.   I was amazed at how green the trees were due to moss.  it made for very cool landscapes.

The problem became lenses...my camera is weather proof and sealed so I was happily running around with it in the drizzly and waterfall spray. But the lens...that was hard to keep clear.

 This fall was beautiful.  to give you a size scale..that is Jason walking down the path.

This fall was 'two tiered' and had a bridge in between.  It apparently was the most visited spot in Oregon until a outlet mall opened up..that is sad.

 I made the climb and this is the view from the bridge down to where that photo was taken above.

 Finally, we went to a fish hatchery. Salmon is very important there and it was neat to hear of all the things they do to ensure the salmon can make their trek to breed.  This is a salmon ladder that helps them get around a damn and also funnels them through a tube that allows them to count numbers.  We also saw where they hatch fish to replenish the population.  Very neat!

 All in all I had a wonderful time! I enjoyed the area, company and food tremendously.  

Birthdays and babies

Puppies...i'm referring to puppies. Just clearing that up first. ;-)

Cora celebrates her 9th birthday today!  I think she's enjoying her new life on my couch. She is very snuggly, love to play and fits in so well.  She even learned to enjoy a good bully stick.

She has Dana's ears for sure. 

She's pretty awesome.
We have gained a boarder with 2 legs who brought a 4 month old puppy.  My friend Martha will be staying with us a few weeks and she brought Pax.  Pax and Roxi have become besties.

 We had a few inches of snow last Monday that stuck around for a few hours.

 Pax is all ears and legs.

 She's very cute. (and it's a good thing she is..puppies aren't always easy)

 I got a new lens for my birthday and have been quite happy with it.

Roxi and Lizzie still play a lot as well. Pax will join in sometimes but the greyhounds still scare her a little (even muzzled).

 I had to laugh at this photo.  While not a great photo, it certainly shows the pack mentality.  cody is relaxed and staring at me waiting for a cookie.  Lizzie is on high alert.  Cora is staring a me.  And Roxi has  a toy. 

Heading out of town next week for my 40th birthday adventure.  Stay tuned.