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keltonwrites · 3 years ago

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I bought a house in the middle of nowhere

“Yeah, I loved it, but she’d never move there.” It was something akin to that, at least. He didn’t mean any mischief, no deceit or planning. It was an honest take on what, at the time, was true. I saw the road into town on Google Maps, noted that it was closed during the winter, acknowledged the reality that a person can own a snowmobile, and I said, “we are not moving there.” But, all good truths are just dares in the making.

And here I am, living in the “there” I said I would not. Two years ago, I left my job at Headspace for a life reset. It was pre-pandemic, and Ben and I were planning a big road trip. Our perfect paradise in Topanga, CA, had crystallized itself as many people’s perfect paradise, and those “many people” all had more money than us. Our options to buy a home were nil, and home-buying was essentially all we wanted. Ben’s a builder and I’m a world builder, and we wanted somewhere to invest that didn’t belong to someone else. We packed the car with the tent and the bikes and the dog and all the things that come with tents and bikes and dogs, and off we went on our own Tour de l’Ouest, looking for a place to call home. We knew what we wanted, knew our odds of finding it, and hit the road anyway. Here was the dream list — concocted by two pie-in-the-sky dummies who married each other:

Not rainy or consistently windy

Notable access to the arts

Remote and challenging to get to/close neighbors

Wild West influenced architecture

Progressive community

Exceptional trail access out the front door

High-speed internet

In our budget

And my personal favorite: had to “feel right” Good luck to us with a list like that, but thus began our hunt. We camped in the snow, tried every dirty chai in the Rockies, and explored every town we could. Whatever a good time it was, it felt useless. Every town Ben was OK with, I hated. Every town I was OK with, Ben despised. And the few places we both loved required money we just didn’t have. We came home with our sails down, limping into the harbor of our rental. But as is the way with romantics, our dreams began to slowly eclipse our reality. Books fell victim to Zillow and Trulia. TV was replaced by the MLS. All writing time was dedicated to Realtor.com. Hours were spent pouring over maps, county records, and updating spreadsheets that tracked price per square foot compared to beds and baths. Over time, all that internetting led to one singular town of 180 people at 10,000 feet in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado with a road that said “Closed Winters” on Google Maps. Look, I don’t know what happened. Ben found this town on a map, I said don’t be ridiculous, and after a year or so of him telling people I'd never move here, here I am, being ridiculous. Was it reverse psychology? Maybe. Was it the charming “town plan” that mandated all houses be rustic cabins and forbade AirBnB? Could be. Was it the fact that when I looked at Strava’s Heatmap, it showed what seemed like thousands of miles of trails just out the front door? I mean, yes. All these things played a part, but all I know for certain is that one day I woke up and said, “we’re going to move there.” Ben doubted this conviction (and the realities behind it) thus cementing it into place in my head. In a town of 180 people there’s only ~60 houses, which means maybe 2 or 3 get listed per year — but my spreadsheet had the proof: we hadn’t missed our chance yet in this tiny town. The data showed a strong likelihood there would be at least two houses listed within the calendar year. This, however, was also our last chance. The spreadsheet also showed that if we didn’t find a house this year, we wouldn’t be able to afford one the next. We called a realtor, made our case, and harangued her until she believed us that we were truly the kind of yahoos who would move to an avalanche field and stay there. And then it happened. A pocket listing. It was a darling home built in 1890. It had the beds, the baths, and the views. We were the first and only to know. We put in an offer, they agreed, and we would come to see the house in a few weeks. But in those few weeks, the circumstances changed. The sellers lost their own sweet deal, and they couldn’t sell yet. Their agent promised we had right of first refusal, it was only a matter of time. Ben lamented, I preached patience, and we went to see the house that was no longer for sale anyway.

It was a quiet winter morning in Covid when we drove across the packed snow to meet our realtor outside the house. The sun was out and the 13 degrees Fahrenheit felt warm. I unzipped my jacket, mask on my face. I took long videos and talked about where I would set up my office and where we’d put the bikes. As we closed up and I settled into a future where this house would eventually be mine, our realtor told us there were comps in the area — other residents quietly interested in potentially closing out. Would we like to see them? Sure, let’s.

One home came with an incredible commercial kitchen. The whole house was a whopping 3500 sq ft if my memory serves me correct, which falls under the category of “houses too big to find your cat in."

Another home had an open-air-to-the-kitchen bathroom.

The third was dark and overpriced with cracked windows and open beer cans scattered about.

And then, plans changed. “Hey guys, there’s actually one more house we can see.” The last house we saw was a log cabin, nestled in the hillside by itself, with massive A-frame windows looking out onto the peaks beyond. Inside was a labyrinth of a life lived long and large. The cabin was built and loved by a man we’ll call Jack. Jack was 82, and as we walked toward the front door on that sunny winter morning, he exited with two beers in his pockets, headed to the mountain to ski. Jack was an attorney — in his life he’d been both criminal and defender — and from the stories, somewhat interchangeably. There were artifacts from running in the same scenes as Hunter S. Thompson and Willie Nelson; there were stuffed birds, bad books, sheet-covered couches, smoked spliffs, and piles and piles of mouse shit. Every inch of the house was lived in, and not just by people. You think millennials like plants? No. This man likes plants. The biggest monstera deliciosa I’ve ever seen, spanning some 10 feet wide and 15 feet tall. Draping cactuses, spider plants, massive aloes, and an ambitious hoya carnosa clawing its way to the top of the massive fireplace. But there were problems. I’m trying to be diplomatic saying the house was lived in. The wood by the door handles was dyed black from years of hand grease rubbing against it. The carpet in the upstairs was soiled almost everywhere with bat scat. Newspaper was stuffed between the massive logs to keep the wind out. There was cardboard taped over almost every window, blankets nailed over the others. Half the doors wouldn’t open. It was unnerving to touch the crusted light switches. It was early enough in the season of Covid-fear that touching anything felt like gambling. On our way back to our rental in the bigger neighboring town, we shared our awe and our no-ways, lamenting how long we’d have to wait for the little 1890s fixer upper. That night, I sent the video I took of the cabin to my parents. “Can you believe this?” I asked. And do you know what my dad said? “Great log construction.” After that, the cabin was all we could talk about. “Could you believe those plants?” “Did you see how big those logs were?” “I just googled Jack, look at this.” “Do you know what the insulating factor of logs is?” “How much did he say he was asking?” It came down to the plants. Amidst all the chaos in that house, the tender care of those decades-old plants sung the clearest. This wasn’t just a place Jack lived in, it was a place that wanted to be lived in. We made an offer the next day.

Jack had six months to clear out his 30 odd years of collecting, and the town had six months to speculate about the worrisome Californians moving to their high-altitude, high-risk town. The town itself is an old mining town. It rests in a high valley, surrounded by peaks over 13,000ft, and is over six hours from the nearest major airport. Five people died around this town in avalanches this past year. The dirt road into town is littered with avalanche fields, warning visitors to not stop when driving in. The other way out is a pass road, only drivable in the warm months, but you could skin out if it was dire. Most August days, the high is in the mid-60s. The valley is blanketed in wildflowers, and the aspens littering the mountainsides suggest a promising fall display. The town had a heyday, a low day, and now it’s a community of preppers, adventurers, appreciators, and “get all these idiots away from me”ers. We don’t know these people yet, but the ones we’ve met have the same like to live hard attitude we do. Heli-ski guides, ex-CIA agents, woodworkers, bakers, teachers, just a general can-do group of people. The kind of people that see a California license plate and peer with skepticism between the thin gap over their sunglasses and under their caps.

You might say I’m romanticizing the place, but the residents are worse. Like all good old-timers, they’re full of threats: “wait’ll you see the snow drifts,” “let’s see how you do outrunning an avalanche,” “good luck with the winds,” “the last Californians didn’t last a year.” God, what does that remind me of?

“Yeah, I loved it, but she’d never move there.”

With every taunt, my teeth ground more enamel, fingers rolling into a clench. And maybe Jack recognized this intensity, because on the day of closing, he hosted a gathering for us in the town's open space. He had us introduce ourselves to the skeptical locals, and I made my case in court, eyes narrowed and lips curled. “I’m the daughter of a smokejumper and wildlife biologist. I grew up watching the wind and the door. I’ve lived in big cities, small boats, and more than one cabin. I always take the stairs, I never use air-conditioning, and I’m a very good shot.” I’m just a girl, standing in front of a town, asking them to give her a fucking chance. Jack stepped forward to speak. “You know, I had my doubts about a couple Californians coming to look at my house. But these people? These are the nicest people you’re ever gonna meet.” And then I helped Jack set up his cot so he could spend his last night under the stars in the town that kept him young. Cooper ran circles with the other dogs. People brought homemade cocktails and bowls of dip and we felt welcomed. Even the mayor, a fellow writer, came and she struck up a conversation. “I hear you’ve got a little bit of a following on social media!” She teased. “I guess, nothing wild.” “Well I just wanted to let you know if you ever geotag this town, I’ll drag you out of it.” She grinned. This was a special place. And every visitor who couldn’t handle the realities of being here threatened the very wellbeing of the people who lived here. This town survives on a delicate balance. They source their own water, manage their own roads, and fervently protect the land and the people around them. Their stories about racing avalanches, snowmobiling in the dark of night to the doctor’s house, hunkering down in each other’s homes as the storms pass — these stories were bylaws. You can join when you’ve proven you’re ready to join. By their own projection, they are hardy and steadfast people, and when they see a Californian, they see something fleeting. Many years ago, I worked in the British Virgin Islands. The people born and raised there were called Belongers. At the customs office, the placards above the lines literally read, “If you belong, stand here” and “If you do not belong, stand here.” Whether or not we belong isn't up to the town council, and it's not up to these residents. It's up to years spent drifting my old Mustang in the snow on the way to school, up to Ben's months and months spent in the backcountry, up to my years of reading fire reports and assisting with evacuations, up to Ben's ability to read the landscape and the weather, up to my doggedness, his diligence, and our pathological love to do difficult things well. It’s up to us, to these old logs, and to this valley. Doesn't mean we'll belong, but it does mean we'll try. And for the record, the road is open in the winter. But do these sound like the kind of people who’d tell Google that? Next week, a tour of the house that we get to call ours — stuffed with newspaper, run by plants, and filled with mice. P.S. Here's where we get our mail.

Subscribe to the newsletter here. Follow on Instagram here.

#newsletters #amwriting #relocation #home renovation #cabin life #cabin living #colorado #log cabin

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shadowdianne · 7 years ago

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SQ Ficlet: Or the one in which Regina takes care of Emma

While defending Regina from the mob, Emma gets hurt by someone who was trying to kill Regina and Regina loses it - gets super protective and scares everyone off, takes Emma in to heal/care for her. Fluff? Pre-SQ to SQ. (Asked by @pseudomonalisa) (Thanks for the prompt; I hope you like it ;))

It happened in a flash, too quick for anyone to catch onto it except Regina who had been staring at both Viktor and David ever since the former had been forced out to free her. Still grasping the lapels of her blouse with one hand, trying her best to look nonplussed by the mob that kept on glancing at her with hate on their pupils, Regina saw the way Viktor’s smirk widened, chin jutting out as he spoke, seething with anger at David just as Emma moved closer towards both men. The blonde’s own eyes were glimmering with anger, with worry, and Regina could almost see a shimmer on top of that, something that spoke of magic and power in a way that made her tilt her head just as Viktor growled an “I won’t follow you, nor you, Swan.” That finished in a punch.

A punch that impacted squarely on Emma’s cheek, sending her backwards just as the screams of the mob spiraled out of control, cries of injustice filling the air as well as gasps. Regina could see how Snow reached forward, trying to stop her daughter from hitting either Regina’s porch or the floor itself.

That was when everything slowed down for the former queen, her vision tunneling as she watched the blonde who have tried to save her from Viktor hit the paved ground, the resulting crack unleashing the magic the brunette had tried to reach into, bubbling out of her chest and burning through her veins as she opened her mouth, an unnatural scream filling her lungs as she turned towards the one her brain claimed for them to be the responsible for the blonde’s sudden pain.

Purple crackling, seeping from between her teeth and eyes, glowing on her shadow, she snarled as she reached for her usual fireball, the mob gasping now, eyes widening at the sight of the Queen, the real one.

A part of Regina, the one not imbued with rage, didn’t truly understand the reason behind her actions, just the unadulterated magic that kept on calling for Emma’s safety. The show of power, luckily for the few ones that were still standing in front of her, was enough to make Viktor blanch and take a step back, raising his hands just as David grasped him, worry etched on his features in a way that was also on Snow’s.

“Mom!”

Regina could feel her magic depleting, dormant and sluggish in a way that hadn’t been before the curse. At Henry’s name all traces of rage halted, letting her address her surroundings. The mob was still there, faces aghast, filled with fear, and Emma, sporting a cut on her right temple, had Snow at her side, gentle, soft words coaxing the blonde to open her eyes.

“Lead her inside.” She clipped and, for a moment, she thought Snow was going to question her. For a reason she truly didn’t understand, however, the woman merely nodded, lips wobbly as she asked for her husband’s help.

“You hate them.”

For some reason her inner voice didn’t take hold on her like it usually did and so Regina turned, letting both David and Snow to carry Emma inside just as Henry reached for her, his hand clammy and almost cold on her now overheated skin.

“Mom?”

His voice was fragile, devoid of the hate and fear Regina had heard coming from him ever since he had started to read his book and, for a moment, the former queen, almost basked on it before smiling softly at him, trying her best to look nothing of the terrible queen she had just appeared in front of those who kept eyeing her.

“I think you all did enough for today.” She started, straightening her blazer in an attempt of covering the way her fingers trembled. “Leave or I won’t hesitate on using my worst hexes against all of you.”

Grasping Henry by his shoulders and closing the door behind her she rose both of her hands, calling for her magic just as the mob -like one- started to mob against her, the sound of footsteps and hands hitting the wood of the door muffled just as she turned towards the sight of both Charming’s staring at her, completely astonished and still keeping the blonde’s head up.

“Don’t keep staring at me.” She growled, the sound of her footsteps drumming against the floor of the foyer making the two Charming blink. “Leave her there.”

Following her instructions David -as Snow latched onto Henry’s side, the look that passed among both of them making Regina’s heart shrink painfully- led Emma to the brunette’s living room. The blonde seemed still out of it; pale cheeked and close eyed, otherwise, she seemed fine and when Regina’s magic grazed her the only injury she could feel was merely the one at her temple.

“Is she alright?”

The question woke Regina’s up from her reverie and, for a second, she almost thought on cackling in front of the Charmings, on the way the two of them had momentarily seemed to have forgotten about their feud as they kept staring at Regina, almost waiting for her as any healer would have been stared on their own world.

Healer, the world felt strange on the back of her head but Regina simply crouched in front of Emma, raising her hand in front of the woman’s now slowly blinking eyes. Green dulled out of pain Regina could hear the way Snow first and David second hold their breaths as her magic shone purple between her digits, the power gentler now, less angry, less mercuric, as it had just been.

She didn’t understand her actions, the way her body kept reacting to the blonde or the rage that had filled her vision the moment Viktor had hit her. All she could think about was how the blonde had screamed, running among the others with white fire on her eyes and pushing the doctor until the man had freed her, the pressure of her fingers still too real for her, for her skin.

Pushing against the confusion and merely focusing herself on the blonde woman Regina channeled her magic once more, gentler even than before. Cut beginning to disappear Regina rose her eyes only to find Emma’s focused on her, a similar glint of doubt shimmering on the back of her gaze before Regina stood abruptly, magic leaving her connected to the younger woman a second too long as she turned towards the Charmings, tiredness suddenly washing over her.

“Leave.” She croaked. There was too much; her mind whispered, just too much and something should be cracking through her face because David opened her mouth, seeming to be about to protest when Henry interrupted him, his voice clear but still etched with the same worry that had laced his “mom” a few moments ago.

“I’ll stay.”

Regina didn’t understand what was happening, why, out of nowhere the woman who she had considered on killing mattered her enough for her magic to react when it had remained dead a few minutes before. She, however, didn’t truly want to dwell on it, not as she could feel the presence of said blonde at her back now, long legs pushing Emma up until she could circle Regina’s figure, eyes keeping on throwing glances at her.

“Leave.” She repeated, calmer this time, colder. “They will be gone by now. You can come and finish me tomorrow if that’s what you want.”

It was Henry’s time to gasp, a string of “No” falling from Snow a moment after.

Regina didn’t listen to them; she didn’t feel like it.

That night, however, she received a message; one she found herself unable to delete.

“Thank you.”

#swan queen #prompt #pseudomonalisa

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goodverbsonly · 4 years ago

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The Last Jedi is a practice in nihilism, and I just...wish it wasn't.

This is a genuinely good novelization, even if personally, I want to see more than entirely possible into Kylo Ren's mind. I think if The Last Jedi wasn't the exactly opposite of what I was looking for in a Star Wars story, then I would have even really enjoyed this novelization. Alas, here we are, two and a half years later, and I am angrier about tlj than ever. To be honest, sort of as a disclaimer before I begin: I was completely ambivalent about tlj in 2018. There were things I liked (Yoda, Kylo Ren's hissy fit on Crait, The Nuns), and things I didn't like (Rey, Poe's attitude, the way the Resistance went from being an entire fleet on the heels of a "major victory" to 6 transport ships who had no contact from whatever remained of the Republic, seemingly abandoned); I even defended the plot - I thought it was perfectly precedented and in some ways, when executed well, I think a story about running out fuel and being saved at the last second is very good. Unfortunately, in this novelization, it sort of dragged - especially knowing that Finn + Rose would ultimately be unsuccessful. That, coupled with inisight into the characters, bring this book from a 4 to a three star read. (Also, and I'm going to talk about this moment in a second - towards the end, Finn reflects that DJ will have to learn the hard way eventually that not choosing a side in the face of evil will only hurt him in the long run, and this would be fine, if it was: Finn reflects, and realizes that was what he was doing, and he cannot do it anymore, INSTEAD OF Finn reflects, and pats himself on the back for not doing this anymore - anymore being, he must have had this realization in the lat 30 minutes). So the good of this novelization stands out to me in a couple of key sections: the beginning and the end. The novel opens with (view spoiler). This section is beautifully written, references characters from ANH who have been written out of the movie, and is thematically relevant to Luke's journey in tlj. I had high hopes that the rest of the novel would move me in the same way that the prologue did. The end covered both the boy from the end of tlj who uses the Force (the moment that tricked me into thinking I enjoyed the movie), and also the NUNS!!! I was so excited about the NUNS???? I love them! Wish this whole book was about these alien space nuns!!! and their relationship to the Jedi!!! and the Force!!! I know that's ridiculous, but wow. And also, it is well written, I think Jason Fry might be trying to refute some of the nihlism that occurs in tlj, and it's engaging for the most part. Wish I liked the story so I could give this book it's due. Okay, to be fair, this isn't my idea: my phil professor last spring was like: Yo, was it just me or was tlj wack? Like...nihilism (this is NOT a direct quote! and only half an idea, he almost immediately moved on with the lesson, realizing we did not have the time to start dissecting this movie, and so idk how he really comes down on it, but I've been thinking about it for the last year, and FINALLY, I've got it! I know what he was saying). There's one section that could have been really really cool if it didn't absolutely stand against everything that I believe Star Wars is about and it turned out to irk me, ticked off every single star wars nerve I have: In the Throne Room Scene, Snoke reflects on the beginning of the First Order and the Fall of the Empire: 1. Palpatine was planning a Contingency and this eventually turned into the First Order. 2. Oh we're doing: Palpatine was An All Knowing God again (if we recall this was my problem with tLords of the Sith) and it was Luck that Vader was able to stop him and not Palpatine's hubris. Boy does this SPIT in the face of the Original Trilogy (not to mention the prequels, which is really what I care about) - Luke didn't really save Vader and the Galaxy - Palpatine knew that the Empire would have to end so he started the First Order (known to him as the Contingency) to not only replace the Empire but to weaken it. Oh this makes me SO angry! Palpatine doesn't have any flaws (except that he's evil, I guess, but this isn't really a flaw as much as like, A Character). He is undone simply by the Will of the Force, not because he is, at the end of the day Human. Really minimizes Luke's impact, and I'm beginning to see why people were Big Mad at tlj now. Although, I don't think it was about this. 2b. is like...I guess they knew they were going to work Sheev back into the mix somehow, unforunate that Snoke is like...a Sheev clone or something. Still unclear about ros tbh. Glad the st is continually retconning itself in an attempt to show off. 3. In addition to it being just...an illconcieved mess, this is just...the villain believes in Nihilism, he believes in Will to Power, and there is just no solid refutation of this philosophy. I'm not saying that there needs to be for other people to find value in this story; I think tlj and the sq as a whole come down pretty heavy on the side of Neitzsche - the only refutation being that they are going to make themselves into powerful people through the power of love, but a) I do need a more solid refutation to find value in it, and b) I just don't think that's star wars. I do think there is a struggle between the light and the dark, but I don't thinks star wars had historically taken a stance of: the dark will always triumph. I don't think star wars works with that philosophical assumption, so tlj, which really wants to take that sort of position, has to shift and say: the darkside is always out there trying to squash out the light, and if we don't meet it on it's own terms (vie in the Power struggle of the universe), then it will overpower. This is seen in Palpatine manufacturing the Empire's own undoing in the Contingency, NOT JUST the rise of the First Order. This is The Resistance Fleet (a military organization) being specified to be a Weirdo But Brave Group of New Republic Defectors (or something) because the New Republic wouldn't take the First Order seriously (but if Palpatine built it, of course there was no chance) becoming nothing more than six transport ships with no one else in the galaxy at their side - no one except themselves, and they have to Fight, as Finn says. This is seen in Luke INSISTING that he can't save Ben. >:| Sir, you saved Darth Vader, I think you can save Ben Solo! The ending of the ot was the exact OPPOSITE of this stance: Luke does not fight Vader, he does not give in to his hatred. In fact, the rotj novelization specifies that Luke doesn't save Vader because he loves his Father but because he is a Jedi and it's the right thing to do. If Vader saving Luke "undoes" his mistake from rots, then uhhh...Luke wanting to burn down the tree with the Jedi Order undoes THAT sacrifice. Luke sacrifices himself to give the Resistance more time, but I've decided that you were all right: Luke should have had a better end, no matter how much it moves me when I see it. I think it's a trick. I think so much of this movie is a trick!!! . Also: I think Rey is overpowered and her connection to Ben and her connection to the Force is contrived. I don't like how little time she spends with the rest of the Resistance, I think there are too many characters. And that little boy gets too much credit for what Rian Johson was trying to say about Star Wars or the Force, especially since if it was about "democratizing the Force" as I read one reviewer describe it, uhhh, sir, the Force already is like that, please watch a Prequel I BEG of you! The above isn't really Jason Fry's fault, but I've never felt so clear and confident about why the st doesn't engage me until I finished reading this book. All in all: If you like tlj this is Good and I think You'll Really Enjoy this, but this review details why I didn't

#i do like kylo ren now unfortuantely #star wars #review

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tokeepuhappy · 8 years ago

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I keep seeing all these posts about Ouat’s 7th season, and honestly I’m surprised that I have yet to see one post saying it would be better to end Ouat with this season. (Or at least I have seen a very few of them).

Obviously I understand the love for a show even when it gets increasingly more… flawed. I, too, am still some kind of victim of this show… well, a SQ victim, really. I see everyone focused on speculation about who’s going to leave the show, who’s gonna stay, how it’s going to change, about a possible LI for Regina for next season that people inexplicably already ship.

I’d prefer if season 6 was the last one, instead. I’m talking as someone who stopped caring about the show itself a long time ago. I came into this fandom because of SQ and that’s also why I stayed, but at a point I loved what the show was portraying. I think it’s clear they’ve gone for too long and their narrative is full of plot holes and not making sense most of the time. I mean only this year they set up an episode to show sexual chemistry between Rumple and Regina to justify Golden Queen, a chemistry that was never there through out the series to begin with. But God forbid making SQ canon, which would be the only thing that makes sense.

I have to say that if I keep myself updated about Ouat is because SQ means a lot to me. I have never been in a fandom so long, I grew up with SQ, and I mean both growing in age and a personal growth. I loved, love, this couple so much, for a lot of reasons that I don’t have time to list here. I know for sure that until the moment that there’s going to be the possibility to see new scenes between them, to have them together on my screen, I’ll never be able to say goodbye. Even though the hope to see them canon disappeared after S5A, and even though I’m painfully aware of the queerbaiting that keeps me watching, I know I could never let them go. Their story is a story I love too much.

So I’ll be free only when it’s over, or in case one or both Lana and Jmo decide to leave. I know it might seem contradictory me loving their story and at the same time wanting to be free of it. The truth is that it’s just too painful to keep watching this story evolve and knowing it’s never going to go the way I want it to. The truth is that all the queerbaiting makes me angry, because it duly stirs up that little sparkle of hope in me that I have to repress immediately to avoid being disappointed time and time again. So yeah, I’d like it to be over sooner rather than later, although it will be so painful to leave behind something that has been part of my life for so long. Even though I won’t watch the remaining of this season, except the SQ scenes of course, I hope it’s the last one.

Also for the dignity of the show, that truly keeps loosing everything that made it original and special.

Obviously if the new ideas for season 7 include SQ canon, count me in. It’d be a good way for the show to change its mentality without really changing the core of the show. Things would be interesting, the show would be talked about again, both online and off. Entrusting the plot to Emma, Regina and Henry would be a good move, being their dynamics the ones that work better. But of course the problem it’s still the same: I see all this potential, dream about what could be, only to be led to disappointment. I’m tired.

#swan queen #ouat

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perspectief1 · 5 years ago

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Joint Dental Sleep Medicine and Craniofacial Pain Practice Thrives: Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS

Joint Dental Sleep Medicine and Craniofacial Pain Practice Thrives: Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS is republished from https://www.perspectief.org/

Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS, articulates the links between sleep and pain.

By Greg Thompson | Photography by Charles Anderson/A.S. Photo Studio

Enthusiasm radiates from Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS, when the topic turns to dental sleep medicine, and it’s clear that the owner of Atlanta-based Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Georgia has found his calling. While all that optimism serves him well as an educator and clinician, the positive mindset does not cloud his realism.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” Patel says. “Many general practitioners [GPs] with CPAP noncompliant patients are dealing with their patients’ hypertension and diabetes with only medication. We feel resistance to oral appliance therapy from primary care medicine, but we are merely trying to get primary care docs to see that there are viable alternatives to CPAP.”

Far from disparaging CPAP, Patel’s aim is to educate and increase options for patients who ultimately care nothing for medical turf wars. If and when patients go the oral appliance route, the 47-year-old Patel is quick to remind his colleagues to do thorough follow-up.

“Too often patients will get a device, and as long as patients say they are good, clinicians will let them float. Patients must have oversight because complications can arise with oral appliance therapy,” says Patel, who is also coauthor of the books Sleep Apnea Hurts—The Cure Doesn’t Have To and Take a Bite Out of Pain. “Dentists need to have a system to bring patients back and make sure devices are intact and there are no negative consequences of the oral appliance therapy.”

Ongoing Education

Patel teaches other dentists at a continuing education course organized by Nierman Practice Management. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

In the realm of traditional dentistry, Patel learned proper follow-up as a dental student at the University of Tennessee. After working at general practices in Norcross and Duluth, Ga, he went on to receive his Certification in Orofacial Pain at Rutgers in New Jersey in 2004.

From the early 2000s to about 2008, education for dentists who wanted to learn about oral appliances was essentially a “hodgepodge of courses” all with different speakers. “I had the opportunity to get a master’s degree at Tufts University on orofacial pain and dental sleep medicine,” Patel says. “I took a distance learning accredited program, and it really opened my eyes to many different avenues of sleep and pain.”

Patel has also earned Diplomate status from many organizations, including the Academy of Integrative Pain Management, American Board of Craniofacial Pain, American Board of Orofacial Pain, American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine, and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine—the latter being the most critical to his dental sleep medicine practice. He is also a registered polysomnographic technologist.

Along with Terry R. Bennett, DMD, DABCP, DABDSM, from Tulsa, Okla, Patel developed a sleep mini residency that has been adopted by various organizations. “We basically offer a 4- and/or 8-day session,” Patel says. “In the past we have done them in Canada and several at ResMed in San Diego. The idea was to create a structure: Start with basic science; then on to sleep medicine, where we have our medical colleagues lecture; an ENT discusses nasal passages; and of course, there’s an entire dental component.”

“Dr Patel and I have presented this program 13 different times,” says Bennett, who has two practices in the Sooner state. “We also developed a 5-and-a-half day TMD course and have given this course three different times. Mayoor understands the two disciplines thoroughly and is able to articulate the problems and solutions to his patients and to students. He is a compassionate person, and he is the consummate teacher at heart.”

Patel accepts the “teacher at heart” mantle willingly and dedicates a portion of each week to lecturing. A typical routine goes something like this. “I work three days a week in clinical practice—Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,” Patel says. “That gives me Thursdays to travel so I can be at a destination to lecture on Friday, Saturday, and in some cases even Sunday.”

Three years ago, Patel moved into a 2,200-sq-ft office in Atlanta that includes a 24-student capacity lecture hall. It’s a highly convenient space that occasionally motivates students to come to him. “If I’m not traveling for work, then it’s happening here in town. I can actually see my family and not travel as much,” Patel quips.

The huge emphasis on education is a direct result of Patel’s own lengthy journey to the sleep medicine side of dentistry, a time he says that “took longer than it should have.”

Patel opens his office to colleagues who wish to “shadow” and watch him work. “Since formally there are no fellowships or residencies that one can do, we try to didactically provide that education, and clinically they can visualize the whole process,” Patel says. “Education is my next forte, and it’s time for me to give back so this knowledge base can move on and we can provide better care for our patients.”

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Educating colleagues and patients is one thing, but clinicians in other areas of medicine can occasionally be a harder sell. Patel and Bennett are doing their best to expand the understanding.

“Sleep doctors in my area weren’t really very accepting to the idea of dentists trying to treat sleep problems and also infringing on their turf,” Bennett says. “They didn’t understand the oral devices well, thought they were too expensive, and I had a hard time getting through to them. Times are now changing and we are starting to become more respected by our peers in the medical world. We are working toward a collaborative effort with physicians to treat all these patients.”

Ultimately, Patel wants more private sector courses to be offered in the university setting where students who are already in school can benefit. “When they graduate, they will have at least some foundational knowledge as opposed to graduating from dental school and having to seek out this knowledge,” he says. “We do have a joint program with the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with Dr Greg Essex. We would like similar programs at the institution-level to get better exposure for the students.”

Orofacial Pain Background

Patel conducts an examination of a TMJ for an audience. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

Patel readily admits that burnout is a “big problem” in the field of general dentistry, with practitioners experiencing back and neck issues, in addition to a “drill and fill” routine that can get tiresome. In addition to being a new and invigorating challenge, dental sleep medicine presents some less well known advantages, he says.

For example, when Patel broke his wrist in a car accident earlier this year, he did not have to stop working. His knowledge was more important than his dexterity. He explains, “The beautiful thing about dental sleep medicine is that once patients understand the benefits of oral appliances, everything from that point is passed to assistants to get the impressions. When devices come back from the lab, assistants fit them, and dentists verify that everything is fitting properly. Even with the necessary follow-up visits, there is little physical contact.”

Patel’s orofacial pain background laid the foundation for a firm understanding of what it takes to move the jaw forward and open the airway. More importantly, knowing the anatomy and physiology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) helps considerably when determining possible complications that can arise from oral appliance therapy.

“TMJ issues, muscle, and sleep are three things that go hand in hand,” Patel says. “Even though we move the tongue forward by using oral appliances, we’re going to have an indirect effect on the jaw itself. Since I came from the pain background and understand the joints and the joint pathology, I know how to defuse possible problems [from oral appliance therapy] and how to minimize the complications. We need to understand the jaw because the tongue attaches to the lower jaw.”

Greater understanding has led to better results throughout the years. For example, a woman in her mid 40s was referred to Patel with dizziness, ringing in the ears, and right jaw pain while chewing food. She had seen numerous practitioners, from chiropractors to acupuncturists to traditional medicine, but the root cause remained maddeningly unaddressed.

After a diagnosis of severe sleep apnea, followed by CPAP dissatisfaction (leaking and discomfort), she emerged more fatigued than ever. Patel recalls, “Her right joint disc had slipped and she was a significant grinder, which contributed to her pain. Being that she was apneic and noncompliant to traditional treatment, our choice was to manage the joint and find a way to oxygenate a bit better. We did splint therapy to re-support the jaw and try to recapture the tissue and the right jaw joint.”

In addition, Patel and his team “fitted a dorsal appliance to manage her sleep, but we modified the dorsal device to also act like a night guard. However, we did not advance it as much as we would advance a typical appliance if we were only managing it for sleep apnea. We wanted something in there to prevent the jaw from falling back, but at the same time we did not want to strain the jaw until it was healthy enough to move that jaw forward.”

Her first follow-up after receiving the devices showed significant reduction in her symptoms and reduced fatigue. “She did have light snoring but nothing loud or aggressive,” Patel remembers. “It was about 4 to 6 weeks for the jaw joint to calm down, and at that point we started advancing her lower sleep appliance to the point where subjectively she felt great and the bed partner had no snoring complaints.”

She was eventually tested with the dorsal device in her mouth, and the numbers showed that the apnea had reduced more than 50%, while her oxygen saturation remained above 90%. The physician agreed that the appliance therapy was working, even though the patient had residual apnea. “She was not fatigued and jaw issues were no longer a concern,” Patel says. “For her, it was back to living a healthier life and being a mom, which were her goals.”

As Patel prepares to inject 2% lidocaine, assistant Otilia Gustke stands by with fluoromethane spray to numb the jaw area.

On the strictly pain side, Patel uses appliances for clenching/grinding, in addition to splints and orthotics. Specifically, he favors Glidewell Laboratories, Great Lakes Dental Technologies, True Function Laboratory, and Apex Dental Sleep Lab. “Bio Research is a company that sells lasers for pain,” Patel adds. “Whip Mix has a Gem Pro, an ambulatory unit that looks at bruxism/snoring/pulse ox, to see if there’s an underlying sleep issue that will require a referral to a sleep physician. I also recommend pharmaceuticals such as over-the-counter NSAIDS and prescription antiinflammatories.” For injection therapy, he buys anesthetic from a dental distributor. For software to manage his TMJ and sleep practice, he prefers Nierman Practice Management for its clinical data capture, letter writing templates, and medical claim forms. (Patel also lectures for Nierman Practice Management.)

With pharmaceuticals, oral appliances, splints, and orthotics as possible solutions, Patel cultivates a continuum that is entirely dependent on patient needs.

While so-called “turf wars” are not a thing of the past, Patel seems confident that day will come, preferably sooner than later. “The level of respect for dental sleep medicine has come a long way,” he says. “Today there is a lot of awareness and we have a lot of medical practitioners who are oral appliance-friendly and understand that many patients are not able to tolerate CPAP. They understand that when that happens, they need to offer alternatives. I look forward to a time when respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and MDs all have a firm understanding of oral appliance therapy.”

Continue this discussion in person at an industry supported event at the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine annual meeting. Patel is doing a clinical Q&A on dental sleep medicine and pain on June 7 at 7 pm at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio. Contact host Nierman Practice Management for details.

Greg Thompson is a Loveland, Colo-based freelance writer.

from Sleep Review http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2019/05/dental-sleep-pain/

from https://www.perspectief.org/joint-dental-sleep-medicine-and-craniofacial-pain-practice-thrives-mayoor-patel-dds-ms/

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ellymackay · 5 years ago

Text

Joint Dental Sleep Medicine and Craniofacial Pain Practice Thrives: Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS

The following article Joint Dental Sleep Medicine and Craniofacial Pain Practice Thrives: Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS is republished from The Elly Mackay Blog

Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS, articulates the links between sleep and pain.

By Greg Thompson | Photography by Charles Anderson/A.S. Photo Studio

Ongoing Education

Patel teaches other dentists at a continuing education course organized by Nierman Practice Management. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

The huge emphasis on education is a direct result of Patel’s own lengthy journey to the sleep medicine side of dentistry, a time he says that “took longer than it should have.”

Educating colleagues and patients is one thing, but clinicians in other areas of medicine can occasionally be a harder sell. Patel and Bennett are doing their best to expand the understanding.

Orofacial Pain Background

Patel conducts an examination of a TMJ for an audience. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

As Patel prepares to inject 2% lidocaine, assistant Otilia Gustke stands by with fluoromethane spray to numb the jaw area.

With pharmaceuticals, oral appliances, splints, and orthotics as possible solutions, Patel cultivates a continuum that is entirely dependent on patient needs.

Greg Thompson is a Loveland, Colo-based freelance writer.

from Sleep Review http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2019/05/dental-sleep-pain/

from Elly Mackay - Feed https://www.ellymackay.com/2019/05/13/joint-dental-sleep-medicine-and-craniofacial-pain-practice-thrives-mayoor-patel-dds-ms/

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marclefrancois1 · 5 years ago

Text

Joint Dental Sleep Medicine and Craniofacial Pain Practice Thrives: Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS

e0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eepostlinke0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22ee See more on: https://www.marclefrancois.net

Mayoor Patel, DDS, MS, articulates the links between sleep and pain.

By Greg Thompson | Photography by Charles Anderson/A.S. Photo Studio

Ongoing Education

Patel teaches other dentists at a continuing education course organized by Nierman Practice Management. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

The huge emphasis on education is a direct result of Patel’s own lengthy journey to the sleep medicine side of dentistry, a time he says that “took longer than it should have.”

Educating colleagues and patients is one thing, but clinicians in other areas of medicine can occasionally be a harder sell. Patel and Bennett are doing their best to expand the understanding.

Orofacial Pain Background

Patel conducts an examination of a TMJ for an audience. Photo courtesy Nierman Practice Management

As Patel prepares to inject 2% lidocaine, assistant Otilia Gustke stands by with fluoromethane spray to numb the jaw area.

With pharmaceuticals, oral appliances, splints, and orthotics as possible solutions, Patel cultivates a continuum that is entirely dependent on patient needs.

Greg Thompson is a Loveland, Colo-based freelance writer.

from Sleep Review http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2019/05/dental-sleep-pain/

from https://www.marclefrancois.net/2019/05/13/joint-dental-sleep-medicine-and-craniofacial-pain-practice-thrives-mayoor-patel-dds-ms/

0 notes