Because We Can II

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Zach’s Jujitso Kata Contest, Feb. 21, 2009

Megan told us that Zach was having a Jujitso kata contest on Saturday. A few years ago we were home for one of these contests and were able to attend. The following is from the web “The word kata, coming from the Japanese meaning 'formal exercise' is basically a prescribed sequence of movements which demonstrate the techniques and principles of pre-defined martial arts moves.”

Here is Zach and his partner with his instructor or Sensei.

Here Zach is performing a kata move with his partner.And here is the happy winner. He received a two metals, one for 2nd place in his kata moves and a 1st place metal for his combative sequence. He is one happy boy!!! We are very proud of you Zachary. Zach will be having a birthday this coming Thursday, he will be 10 years old. We Love You!!

It was overcast all day today, so that usually means a spectacular sunset.

In this special moment in life…make some mistakes.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Mexican Dentists, Feb 18-21, 2009

Don’t you think it was time to wash the windshield? Here it is partially washed-just hate that salt spray. See the condo in the reflection.

Here I am washing the windshield, I like having the mirror to keep my balance. Washing the windshield in the middle tests my balancing ability. So far so good!

Here I am sitting in the office of a Mexican dentist. The LG Dental Offices. Today I am getting my teeth cleaned, they charged $60.

Well, these were my two front teeth. They have crowns on them. These crowns were put on about 12 years ago and my gum is receding, so you see a dark line above the crown.

The need for all this dental work happened when I was a kid, I stepped on a mattock and the handle flew up and hit me in the mouth. I didn’t know it then, but that incident killed my front four bottom teeth and my top two teeth. I now have a six teeth bridge on the bottom and the top front two are crowned. All this damage did not show up until after Bob and I were married. Bob always jokes, he should have looked me over like you do a horse-you always check their teeth before you buy them.

The dentist said they could replace the crowns with a porcelain over gold crowns and when my gums continue to recede there will be no dark edge as it is gold, a lighter color. The crowns above are porcelain over a dark metal and it is the dark metal that you see in the above photo.

So on Thursday (2/19) I went in to have the old crowns removed and molds taken for new ones. They also made me some temporary front teeth. Today, Saturday (2/21) I went back and had the new crowns fitted and cemented on.

Here they are, I am happy!

They charged $375 for each one. I had one crown done two years ago in Oregon and they charged me $1,000.

After the dentist we stopped at the produce market and Bob is looking for the best avocados, this is also where we get the huge papayas and juicy tomatoes.