#still… i do believe in persistence. like doing a bit of easy yoga every day for a year made me so much stronger

[divorcedwife]

I believe in your split abilities!!

thank you!! well they’re very weak right now, but i do think i can get there. someday

[maevefiction]

Your Light in the Mist - Chapter 12

Sleep eluded me after our parking lot conversation. Tom and I had taken a long bath together, during which neither of us were injured, surprisingly, then went down to the beach so we could listen to the waves crashing on the rocks prior to retiring for the night. Luke and Simon had popped out for a quick hello and a late night swim, then disappeared again into the privacy of their suite. I was beginning to think they might have us beat as far as incorrigible went, then quickly stopped myself before my mind wandered into what-has-been-seen-can-never-be-unseen territory.

Tom was out like a light in a matter of minutes, while I tossed and turned like a dog with a bad case of fleas. I knew it was pointless to continue to try and doze off, so I said fuck it and decided to get up and attempt to get some work done. I wormed my way out from under Tom’s leg, climbed out of bed, put on some shorts, grabbed my laptop and headed for the door. He mumbled incoherently in his sleep, and I waited until he was silent again before I opened it, padding in my bare feet through the soundless house and out onto the lanai.

After trying to determine whether to go with a horizontal or a vertical menu on Tom’s site for forty-two minutes, I called it quits and perused Twitter comments instead. Alani’s tweet had amassed the most, and screenshots had spread to Tumblr. Honestly, I was glad of the way she’d mentioned me in such a specific context …there was very little, if any, speculation about whether or not I was, in fact, his girlfriend. Everything was out in the open, which I always thought was the best choice. Though the initial negativity was far worse than if the topic’s legitimacy was in question, it would likely die down much more quickly. That’s how it had worked for clients in the past, anyway. Hopefully my methodology would apply to my own situation as well.

My revelation regarding my weight plagued me…I replayed what I’d said over and over, and I wished I’d gone into greater detail. I hadn’t meant to impose a blanket statement that being overweight was unhealthy, or that it made one unworthy of attention from the opposite sex – or the same sex, or both, whichever was personally preferable, of course. That’s not what I believed, at all. Quite the contrary. Beauty comes in all shapes, colors and sizes and is entirely dependent upon the eye of the beholder, and if said beholder opts to eliminate certain sizes from their pool of eligible candidates, that’s their choice. And their loss.  

And as far as health was concerned…illness doesn’t discriminate based upon the number on the scale. It can strike anyone, at any time, and originates from a multitude of factors that are more often than not out of our control entirely. Unfortunately for me, a poor genetic inheritance and horrifically nutritionally deficient diet, combined with an excess of weight and my wickedly sedentary lifestyle had compromised my health considerably. Losing weight seemed to be a better option than medication, though there were many, many days on which I questioned that choice. Usually while sweating my ass off, literally, on the treadmill in some hotel gym. In all honesty, if I hadn’t been diagnosed with early stage diabetes, I probably wouldn’t have changed a thing about the way I lived my life.

“Maude, think about something else, you schmuck. This is a rabbit hole you do NOT want to go down at 2 AM.”

I sighed. Too late.

I’d told Tom there were reasons for me putting on a significant amount of weight, and my sleep deprived brain decided that this was the ideal time to refresh my memory as to what they were. I tapped my finger on the table and quietly ticked them off out loud.

“Let’s see, we’ve got… pain, anger, grief, depression, replacing one addiction with another, self-medicating, a convenient excuse that allowed me to reside in my fortress of solitude without constantly having to justify it to everyone because they’d be inclined to think ‘oh, she’s alone because she’s fat, you know, the poor thing’, and, my favorite, to spite my mother. Okay, maybe that’s not my favorite. Because food is fucking delicious. That’s my favorite. Plus, cardio sucks balls.”

Groaning, I crossed my arms on the table and rested my head on them, intending to collect my thoughts and get back to work. I woke up four hours later in a puddle of drool with Simon yammering in my ear.

“ ‘ello, Polly. Wakie Wakie!”

I raised my head and wiped the saliva off my face with my forearm.

“Ewe, Maude, that is so thoroughly vile. Were you out here all night?”

I nodded. “Don’t you even dare to ask me if I’m doing yoga with you today. I feel like grim death.”

He patted my head. “You look like it, too. But your excuses mean nothing to me. Shut up and go get your mat.”

I lowered my chin to my chest, peeled myself off of the chair and shuffled into the house, nearly smacking right into Tom as I opened our bedroom door. Brows raised, he pulled me inside and into his arms.

“Couldn’t sleep again?” I shook my head. “Want to talk about it?”

I shrugged, wishing I could talk about it, but knowing that anything I’d say would require additional context that I was not willing to supply. “Just another bout of insomnia brought on by chronic over analysis of every minute detail of my existence.”

“Oh, that’s all, is it?”

I feigned surprise. “What, that doesn’t happen to you?”

He grinned. “It does. Quite often, actually. But the sheer physical exhaustion that results from your incessant attentions seems to have solved that particular problem for the time being.” He ground his erection against me. “This problem, however, persists.”

“And it’s such big problem, too.” I bit his shoulder gently, then pulled back to look at his face. That beautiful, talented pink tongue was peeking out just the slightest bit from between his lips and I damn near lost my shit. He winked at me.

I poked him in the chest. “Well, Thomas, since you’re…up…why don’t you join me for some yoga?”

He rolled his eyes. “You mean you and Simon. I abhor doing yoga with Simon.”

I tilted my head. “Seriously? Why?”

He pinched my nose between the knuckles of his index and middle fingers, shaking gently. “Because he’s so much better at it than I am, that’s why.”

It was my turn for eye rolling as I walked to the wardrobe to grab a bra, pulled off my sleeping shirt and slipped the bra straps over my hands, up my arms and backed towards him. “Hook a sister up, wouldja?”

He lifted the cups up over my breasts, tweaked both nipples, then wrestled them back into place and licked my neck as he connected the clasps. I moaned and pulled away. After putting on a fresh shirt, I turned around and walked past him toward the door, slapping him on the ass as I went.

“Nice try, Thomas, but we’re still doing yoga. Now you put on a fucking shirt and get that ass moving.”

He followed me. “Sorry, no.”

“Fine. I’ll just keep my eyes closed.”

“You won’t.”

I sighed. “No. I won’t.”

Simon’s snarkiness was at orange alert status due to Tom’s presence, and watching the two of them compete was wildly amusing. Tom was right, Simon was better, but watching Tom do yoga shirtless was better than any porno I’d ever seen. A light sheen of sweat coated his skin, and when he moved into camel pose I made a…sound. A gasp? A moan? A dying whale noise? I honestly couldn’t label it properly.

Simon turned his head to the side so he could face me without breaking his pose.

“What the hell was THAT, woman?”

“Nothing. Got a cramp. Just a little cramp. I’ll be fine. Carry on.”

He moved his arms above his head, brought them forward and sat on his haunches. He looked over at Tom, then back at me. “Mmm hmm. Cramp. Thomas, if you wouldn’t mind concealing your torso beneath some clothing next time so your girlfriend won’t blow my focus with her inappropriate vocalizations I’d be ever so appreciative.”

Tom chortled. “I’m rather fond of her inappropriate vocalizations, especially when she’s blo…”

Simon put is fingers in his ears and chanted loudly. “LA LA LA LA LA LA LA…”

I grabbed my iPod and put my earbuds in, hoping music would distract me. It was a successful strategy for the most part, and I felt myself shifting into the transcendent space that was the reason for me deciding upon yoga for both physical and mental fitness. Tom almost ruined it when I caught him staring at me during my easy plow pose, but I managed to breathe through it. While doing my cool down stretches, I wondered if the intense sexual chemistry between us and the overwhelming desire it fostered was because we were so new to each other, or if it was always going to be like this. I smiled, recalling Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant prose in Outlander, when Jamie is addressing Claire.

“Does it ever stop? The wanting you?“ "Even when I’ve just left ye. I want you so much my chest feels tight and my fingers ache with wanting to touch ye again.”

When I’d read it years ago, I thought it was beautifully written, but, you know, fictional. Filed under ‘shit that never happens in real life’. For once, I was totally okay with having been wrong about something.

We discussed our options for the holiday over a breakfast of the most mouth-wateringly delicious sausage, egg and cheese burritos I’d ever tasted. I wanted to work for a while, but that was shot down in a chorus of noes and ‘but-it’s-a-holiday’s. Our final destination of the evening would be the Nawiliwili Tavern, which was back on the other side of the island near the Marriott. It so happened that this was the first Saturday of the month, and that’s when Kaua’i’s gay community gathered there to celebrate with drink specials and, much to my wicked delight, karaoke. I needed to see Luke doing karaoke. It was inexplicable, but I just knew I NEEDED it to happen or I couldn’t go on with my life.

Since I’d yet to park my ass on a proper beach after an entire week on the island, I offered it up as my next suggestion. It was well received. Kalapaki Beach was a 14 mile ride from the house, but less than a mile from Nawiliwili Tavern. Available activities included volleyball, surf lessons, catamaran cruises, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and body and boogie boarding, none of which I was interested in but were certain to keep my companions occupied if sitting on a lounge and reading all day wasn’t their idea of fun.

Simon got to work assembling a picnic lunch, Luke and Tom each had another burrito, and I hit the shower. Afterward, I sat on the bed wrapped in my towel as I waited to air dry enough so I could squeeze into my bathing suit. Tom walked in, bent down to kiss me, rammed his tongue in my mouth, then dropped his shorts and paraded around the corner for his turn under the spray.

I packed a small bag before dressing since we wouldn’t be coming back home…black Birkenstocks, a pair of hiking shorts, a black V-neck tee shirt, underwear, a bra, hair ties, my beach towel, Finders Keepers, Neuromancer, my iPod, my phone and my glasses. Just in case.

My bathing suit was still buried at the bottom of my suitcase, but it didn’t look any worse for wear when I shook it out. It was black, halter style, with cutouts along both sides and a built in strapless bra so I wouldn’t look like Saggytits McSaggerton. Anyone who claims to have natural double D’s with nipples that point anywhere other than down is utterly full of shit. Or maybe that should be udderly. I was still giggling to myself when I heard the shower turn off, and I quickly tossed my gauzy black cover-up over my head and slipped on the pair of flip flops I’d also unearthed from my suitcase.

Tom came out, dripping wet, towel slung low around his hips. I told him I’d meet him in the living room and used the half bath in the hall for my last pee so I wouldn’t have to watch him dress, then helped Simon gather beverages and put them in the cooler. We decided to take the car instead of the Jeep as it had actually room for all our stuff, including the folding lounge chairs we’d found in the garage. Luke volunteered to drive on the way there if I’d be the designated driver on the way back home tonight, which was fine with me since I knew I’d be sober. I figured he did as well and hoped he’d keep it to himself, then wondered how the hell I’d handle it when the subject finally came up. Because it would. It always did.

************************************************** The beach was surprisingly empty…by my standards, anyway. Try the Jersey Shore on July 4th…you’d have to get there at the crack of dawn to get a decent spot, and someone would fucking steal it if you went to get a snack or use the restroom. Perhaps it was because there was a lot more beachfront to choose from here, or maybe everyone was boating or something, but I was thrilled that I wouldn’t be spending the day elbow to elbow with strangers.

We managed to get everything in one trip and set ourselves up about twenty feet back from the shoreline. I unfolded my chair, pulled Neuromancer out of my bag and set it gently on the sand, then relieved myself of my cover-up. Simon whistled loudly when he saw my suit.

“Maude, you look like a 1950’s pin up model in that thing. Those cutouts…va va va VOOM!”

Tom had his back to me, but spun around upon hearing Simon’s comment. He looked me up and down, then again. And again. I made a mental note to do some lingerie shopping ASAP, then plopped down in my chair with all the grace of a drunken hippo on rollerskates as I released a long, triumphant sigh.

“Ass in lounge chair. Goal achieved. Sand trophy awarded. Beach level unlocked.”

Tom leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I have my own goal to achieve, you know…and it also involves that luscious ass of yours. What’s the optimal way for me to go about unlocking it, Maude?”

I closed my eyes, hung my head down, shook it, then looked up and spoke through gritted teeth. “God, do you have any idea how much I hate being beaten at my own game?”

“I do now.” He grinned, then ran down the beach and into the ocean.

Over the course of the day I read most of Neuromancer, and Tom bought a copy for his tablet to read along with me. We paused after each chapter to discuss, noting the parallels between Gibson’s text and modern technology as well as how much the Matrix had liberally borrowed from his work. I was coerced into playing volleyball, despite citing that my bathing suit and my boobs were not meant for such activities. My refusal to jump led to a stunning loss, at which point Luke and Simon decided to go paddle boarding. Tom and I walked the shoreline, quietly enjoying each others company as we left our footprints behind in the wet sand. He ran in front of me, squatted down and drew a heart with an arrow through it and our initials in it. I rolled my eyes, squatted and drew two stick people fucking doggie style. We giggled like ten-year-olds as we ran away from our creations.

Luke was sitting on one of the lounges scrolling through his phone, and Simon was setting up lunch on a blanket he’d spread out when we returned from our walk. His culinary skills were mind-blowing…pesto, tomato and fresh mozzarella sandwiches served on toasted garlic bread, a platter of paper thin prosciutto, and little cups of mascarpone and dark chocolate cream topped with white chocolate shavings for desert. I glared at Luke, who had eaten his entire meal with his phone in his hand.

“Um, are you working over there, Luke?”

He looked up, frowning slightly. “I know, I know. I’m the one who said ‘but it’s a holiday’. We’re still getting lots of queries from prospective clients, though. And I’m not sure how to handle them all.”

“I’ll help you with it, if you want. Tomorrow. Now put that away and enjoy the day.” I laughed at my unintentional rhyme. “Damn, I’m funny when I’m not even trying.”

Simon grunted. “If you say so.”

I flipped him off, got up from my spot on the blanket and returned to my lounge chair, Tom already draped over the one to my left. He took my hand, I closed my eyes, and dozed off straight away, wiped out from my lack of sleep the night before.

My nap was rudely interrupted by Tom, bent over and shaking my shoulder gently.

“Maude, love, wake up.”

My eyelids fluttered open and I smacked his hand away. “Yeah. Fine. Awake. Why?”

He tipped his head back and to the right. “We’ve been spotted. Just fans, probably. No paparazzi yet.”

I yawned, stretching my arms above my head as I sat up to look and take a head count. Five, so far, about twenty feet away, phones raised. Three adults, two children. Adults were women, children a boy and a girl. Luke was in front of them, back to us, holding up his hands, saying something that I couldn’t quite make out over the roar of the waves. Simon was hovering nearby, watching and waiting.  

I hoisted myself out of the chair and stood next to Tom. I elbowed him in the side.

“Come on, cowboy. Let’s go do this.” I rooted in my bag, searching for my phone.

I felt his hand grasp my forearm, and I glanced up at him. He was staring at me, eyes wide.  “Really? This is all right with you?”

I shrugged. “They’re just people. One smile from you will make their day, and then some. So, why not? Spend a few minutes, they’re happy, they leave, it’s done and we’re back to being beach bums.” He shook his head in disbelief. “What? Is it really so shocking that I practice what I preach?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. Maybe it’s that I’m just not used to…?”

I interjected. “…having someone around who doesn’t think that they’re several rungs higher on the social ladder than the folks who are a huge part of what makes your successful career possible?”

“Oh, I like that. Let’s go with that.”

Twenty minutes later, the crowd had dispersed, Luke had informed me that I was a natural at wrangling fans as well as Tom and that this was my one true calling, and Simon was itching to move on to Nawiliwili Tavern before the crowds hit the beaches in hopes of getting a better view of the fireworks. I’d forgotten that sand was so intrusive and decided to shower before changing in one of the stalls provided, Tom keeping watch for me. I did the same while he rinsed and dressed. Simon and Luke were wearing matching Hawaiian shirts, which I thought was adorable, though the shirts themselves were hideous. Tom emerged wearing a tight white V-neck and tan shorts, and I wondered how in the hell I was going to make it through the evening without spontaneously combusting.

Simon, several yards in front of us with Luke as we all walked back to the car, began chanting, fists in the air. “KARaoke, KARaoke, KARaoke!”

Tom gave me a lopsided grin, eyes alight with mischief. “Care to wager on Luke’s participation again, Maude?”

“What stakes?”

“A late night dalliance of the oral persuasion, underneath the moon and stars? Winner is the receiver.”

“You’re on. Though that’s not really much of an incentive.”

His mouth dropped open. “Why not?”

“Because I’ll enjoy it just as much whether I win or lose.”

He sucked my earlobe into his mouth, then flicked it repeatedly with his tongue. “Are you certain that’s the case?”

“Not anymore.”

“Good.”

“Shut the fuck up, Tom. Terms?”

“Guess how many alcoholic beverages he’ll need to consume before he’s loosened up enough to sing in front of an entire bar. We each pick a number, one closest without going over wins. I choose five. Absolutely NO coercion or interference from either of us.”

“Fine. I’m going with two.”

He laughed. “Luke needs to be intoxicated in order to sing, period. He doesn’t even sing in the car, to the best of my knowledge. So very many drinks would be required for him to perform in public that he’ll likely pass out first. You won’t win.”

“Yes. I will.  I’m already plotting all the things I’m going to make you do with that tongue of yours….”  

“Damn.”

“Damn right.”

************************************************** From the outside, the Nawiliwili Tavern is an unassuming white building with green and red accents. Inside, it’s a quirky, homey, wood-laden watering hole with televisions everywhere, a horseshoe shaped bar, a Foosball table, a pool table, lots of neon and local artifacts aplenty. Karaoke happened right smack in the middle of all the action, and when we walked in the place was packed, with a grey-haired gentleman in a white tank top and Bermuda shorts belting out Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’. There wasn’t an official dance floor, but that didn’t seem to hamper the crowd’s enthusiasm as they moved and shook in place.

Simon turned to me and grabbed my hands, shouting above the din. “Maude, I have found my people. And if they’re my people, I’m thinking they might just be your people, too. Are they your people?”

I nodded as he dragged me closer to the sound system speakers, still shouting. “LET US DANCE WITH OUR PEOPLE!”

Luke and Tom joined us after the song had ended and things quieted down as the next person browsed the available selections. Luke had two Blue Hawaii drinks, one for himself and the other for Simon, and Tom had something that looked like orange juice in a hurricane glass and what I assumed was a Coke for me.

He smiled widely and handed me the tumbler. “Nice moves there, darling. Since you’re the designated driver I brought you a soda. They don’t have Coke, only Pepsi. Hope that’s acceptable.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I guess I’ll just have to make do.” I kissed his cheek, then pointed to his drink. “Thank you. Now, tell me what the hell that thing is.”

He caressed the side of the glass, running his fingers over its curves. “This is a Tropical Itch. Rum, vodka passion orange juice and orange curacao. Bamboo backscratcher included at no extra charge.” He took a sip, then offered me one.

I shook my head. “I’m driving, remember?”

He pouted. “So there’s no chance of me getting you snockered and having my way with you?”

I snorted.  “Riiight. Because you haven’t had your way with me already.” I grabbed his ass and he emitted a low hiss.

“Minx.” His tone seemed…off. I looked up at him, noting that his expression didn’t quite align with his words, either. He met my gaze, then shifted his eyes to the side for a moment, then back to me as he smiled softly. I knew instantly that the topic of my lack of participation in the consumption of alcohol had reared its ugly head while he and Luke were ordering drinks, and that he’d offered me a sip and posed his suggestive question in the hopes that I’d volunteer an answer to another question…the one he’d rather not have to ask.

It wasn’t as if I’d never been down this road before, but that didn’t make it any less awkward. And this time, I actually gave a shit about the reaction I’d get, which was terrifying but I decided it wouldn’t get any less awkward as time went on. And if I was lucky, he wouldn’t press me for too much background information.  

Taking a deep breath, I put my hand on his forearm and looked into his eyes. “To answer your question…no, Tom, I don’t drink. Historically, alcohol and I make incredibly poor bedfellows, so I’ve made it a point to abstain. Hope that doesn’t pose a problem.” I swallowed and cast my gaze downward as he put a hand on my shoulder.

“How did you know…I…lord, you…I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to you seemingly reading my thoughts, though I certainly do adore it.” He kissed me briefly, his lips soft and warm, slightly sweet with orange and passionfruit juice. “I’m very sorry, Maude. When we were at the bar I initially ordered two Tropical Itches and Luke looked at me as if I had three heads and said ‘don’t tell me you’re such a dolt that you haven’t noticed that she doesn’t drink’, and apparently I am such a dolt because, I hadn’t. I asked if you told him why and he said you hadn’t even told him you didn’t but unlike me he actually possesses observational skills so he picked up on it and that it wasn’t anyone’s business but yours and if you wanted me to know you’d tell me, but…”

He paused, waiting for a response from me. I met his gaze but remained silent.

“I…Maude…of course it’s not a problem for me, not at all…but…is it a problem for you that I do drink? I suppose if it was you would have mentioned it or run for the hills already…shit, I…please, say something before I make an even bigger arse of myself, won’t you?”

“You aren’t making an arse of yourself, Tom. That’s an odd word, isn’t it? Arse. Doesn’t sit well on the tongue.” He raised his left eyebrow, smirking just the tiniest bit. “Other people’s drinking preferences are of no concern to me as long as they don’t impact my own existence in a seriously detrimental fashion.” I patted his bicep. “For the record, abysmal drunken singing is not automatically considered to be seriously detrimental. That’s a case by case basis kind of thing.”

He crossed his hands at the wrist and put them on his chest, right above his heart. “I am deeply offended that you believe my singing will be…abysmal.”

I shrugged. “I was actually referring to the lovely woman currently butchering ‘We Built This City’, which is bad enough when sung on key. But if you think the shoe fits, prove me wrong, Thomas. Get in the karaoke line.”

He leaned down, frowning as he touched his forehead to mine. “You okay?”

“Good, actually. I’ve been dreading that whole conversation. I always wind up feeling like a freak show because the general consensus is that if you don’t party there must be something really, really wrong with you.’”

“Again, my apologies. If you ever want to talk about it…”

“Someday. Thank you. And no need to apologize. By our own admissions, there’s still a ton of shit we don’t know about each other yet. Please, never be afraid to ask me questions, Tom. I’ll always answer as best I can.” I chuckled.

“What?”

“At least you didn’t ask me if it was because it’s against my religion.”

“You’ve been asked that?”

“Yes. Yes I have.”

“Might I inquire as to what your reply was?”

“Let’s just say the conversation went sideways. And that the person hasn’t spoken to me since.” His brow furrowed. “Turned out they didn’t appreciate being lectured on the impact of religion on personal freedom and how it was engineered from the start as a means of controlling the populous…”

Simon came bounding over and put his arm around my waist. “Time for singing, Maude. Let’s go.”

I raised both eyebrows and handed Tom my soda. “Um, okay…mind telling me WHAT it is we’re singing?”

He poked his index finger at my chest. “We will be performing one of my personal favorites – ‘It’s Raining Men’ by the Weather Girls.”

Tom threw his head back and laughed, then fished his phone out of his pocket and waved it at me.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Film away, baby. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you back in the habit of tweeting more than once every hundred years.”

We sang, we danced, and by the end of the song most of the bar had joined in. After enjoying a round of applause, Simon and I found Tom and Luke in the crowd and pushed and shoved our way to them. I sucked down my entire soda and set the glass on the nearest table while Luke handed Simon a Tropical Itch. He was still nursing his first Blue Hawaii. Simon kissed his cheek.

“Your turn, love. Come sing with me.”

I grinned evilly at Tom. He shook his head. Luke handed me his drink.

“Watch this for me, will you?” I nodded, and Simon passed off his beverage to Tom. I pulled out my phone since I had a hand free, then realized I was way too fucking short to be able to get anything other than the heads of the people in front of me. Tom had set the rest of the drinks on a table, and took Luke’s from me and put it there as well. He held out his hand, palm up.

“May I do the honors?”

I handed over my phone. “Please do. I can’t see for shit.”

He took my hand and worked his way to the front of the crowd so he was directly in front of Luke and Simon, then moved behind me. When the first notes of the song hit my ears and I realized it was ‘I Got You Babe’ I believe I may have actually squealed with delight. Luke did Sonny’s parts, and Simon did Cher’s. It was adorable, the depth of their feelings for each other so blatantly apparent that it moved me to tears. I felt Tom’s arm slip around my waist, followed by him kissing the back of my neck. Looking around the room, I saw that nearly every other couple was entwined in some way, swaying to the music. Tom managed to capture it all, and as soon as the song ended I grabbed the phone and logged into Twitter.

My boss, Luke. My co-worker (and Luke’s fiancé), Simon. Karaoke USUALLY only makes me cry because the singing is SO very bad. #happytearstonightthough  #igotyoubabe #tooadorable #thisjobgetsbetterandbetter

Tom whispered in my ear as he slowly lowered his hand from my waist to my belly. “Well, it appears you’ve won again, Maude. I’m anxiously awaiting the settlement of my debt.”

“You should stop talking, Thomas. Rest that tongue.” He pressed me back against him and I could feel him hard against my ass. I clenched, knowing his hand was in just the right spot to feel everything tighten. His groan almost made me come right there, in the middle of the bar.

“Maaaaauuuuddee.” He bit my neck, and as I turned my head to the side to allow him better access I noticed a woman a few feet away with her camera pointed in our direction. I waved, hearing her gasp as she quickly turned around. I chuckled, and Tom mumbled into my neck. “What’s funny?”

“Prepare yourself, dude. I just caught some woman taking pictures of us…which are totally going to show up on Tumblr any second now.”

“Good. I want the world to know you’re all mine.” He growled and laved the spot he’d bitten with his tongue, then released me as Simon and Luke approached us. “I do believe it’s time for my abysmal performance.”

I rolled my eyes and burst into song. “Let it go, let it GOOOOO…” He blew me a kiss and began perusing the song catalog.

Simon crossed his arms and tapped his foot. “He’ll do Piano Man. I guarantee it.”

I shrugged. “I have no point of reference for his karaoke habits, so I guess I’ll have to take you at your word.”

When Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ began to play, Simon’s jaw dropped and he patted his pockets frantically as he tried to locate his phone. “Well, fuck me. This is definitely not ‘Piano Man’! Shit, where is my phone?!”

I handed him mine. “Will you film so I can watch him, please?”

He pinched my cheek. “No, let’s make Luke do it. I can’t stand still during this song.”

Luke sighed, but obliged. Since Tom had taken center stage, so to speak, more people began to recognize him. Cameras were raised all around the bar, some patrons standing on tables to get a better view. I heard him singing, and was surprised at how good he sounded, but the majority of my focus was directed upon watching him move. His hips gyrating, pelvis thrusting, spinning with his arms extended, jawline and cheekbones so perfectly shadowed in the dim lighting of the bar. I was sure I heard ‘get Loki’ from somewhere in the crowd a few times, which made me grin like an idiot. It was all over before I could truly process what I’d just witnessed, the sound of the crowd clapping and cheering snapping me back to reality as I watched him bow deeply several times. As he strode toward me, everything else faded in to a blur, and all I saw was Tom. He picked me up and spun me around as if I was as light as a feather, then set me down and dipped me as he kissed me. His smile as he set me upright again nearly made me swoon.

“Well? Was it as terrible as you expected?”

I punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up, asshole. You’re well aware that you were fucking amazing.”

Simon gave my phone back. “Post it, Maude. POST IT.”

Oh look, it’s this guy again. Karaoke. Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’. You’ve never seen it done like this before, trust me. You’re welcome. :) #upallnightforgoodfun? #indeed

Luke’s phone dinged. He checked it, and suddenly his head lolled back, eyes closed, mouth open and tongue protruding.

Simon snorted. “Whoops, I think you finally did him in with that one, honey.”

Tom peeked at the screen over my shoulder and cackled. “Since it’s entirely your fault I expect you’ll be covering all of the funeral expenses?”

I wiggled my fingers and tickled Luke just under his armpit. He tried to maintain his composure but was unable to resist, finally dissolving into a puddle of giggles.

Simon shouted “IT’S ALIVE”, which earned him a huge hug and a rather lengthy kiss. I looked up and Tom, who firmly planted his hand on my back and walked me to the laptop that contained the song list.

“Your turn, my love.”

The left corner of my mouth turned down. “Um, you’re kind of a tough act to follow, you know.”

He shook his head. “I’ve heard you sing. No one will even remember what I did when you’re through.” He kissed my cheek and went to rejoin Luke and Simon, his phone in his hand, ready to record.

I considered Blondie’s ‘One Way or Another’ but decided it was a little too high for me in spots, thought about Adelle’s ‘Skyfall’, which was well within my range but not really a crowd pleaser, and then I found it. Amy Winehouse, ‘Back to Black’. A little raunchy at times, brutally honest and incredibly dark…rather like me. Perfection. It had been at least fifteen years since I’d sung in front of an audience of more than a few people in public, and they were forced to listen to me because we were in the grocery store or on a plane, but I was incredibly calm. I’d sung this one more times than I could remember, and I knew it inside out and upside down. I hit the button and grabbed the microphone, ready to roll.

Halfway through I noticed that the room had gone quiet, not a single sound to be heard other than the music and…me. I knew if I looked at Tom I’d fuck up royally, so I kept my eyes on the screen. When I finished the silence continued for what seemed like an eternity, broken suddenly by thunderous applause, whistles and cat calls. I bowed, then searched the faces around me, trying to find Tom. I saw Luke and Simon, but he wasn’t with them. I made my way over, head tilted, questioning.

Simon pointed to a nearby table. “Honey, you were so good the man had to go sit the fuck down. And I got it all on video. Luke filmed you, and I filmed Tom watching you. Your grandkids will thank me. Or throw up in their mouths a little. Something.”

I followed Simon’s finger, and there was Tom, sitting in a chair, legs spread wide, hands on his thighs, head down and looking at the floor. I approached him slowly, coming to rest between his legs. He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my stomach. I put one hand on his shoulder and the other on the back of his head, stroking his hair. I heard the first strains of Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and turned to see Simon, mic in hand, doing his best impression of Rick’s dancing . I gently pried Tom’s arms from around me, slid down and squatted in front of him. His eyes were still directed at the hardwood floor. I leaned my head in and under in an attempt to get him to look at me.

“Hi there.” He raised his head ever so slowly, mouth turned up at the corners almost imperceptibly. His eyes wavered from angry to pained, aroused, and then to adoring as his emotions cycled. He stood, taking my hands and pulling me up with him, then let go so he could place them firmly on my shoulders as he stared at me.

His words came out haltingly, but firm. “I. Love. You.”

I reached out to cup his jaw and ran my thumb along his cheekbone. “And I love you.”

“That was both beautiful and terrible all at once, Maude.”

“Okaaaay…”

“There was so much pain in your voice…raw, naked, real pain.”

“Maybe I’m just a top-notch performer.”

He took two steps towards me, closing the gap between us, his hands still on my shoulders, eyes ablaze. “Is it wrong that I want to decimate whomever is responsible for that pain?”

I shook my head, wishing it was that simple. He let his hands slide down my arms until they were clutching my elbows.

“In addition to that, I’m overwhelmed with pride, joy, and, more than anything else, desire. Everything I’m feeling is a jumbled, incoherent mess and I need you in order to sort it all out. Right now. I need to be inside you, to feel you all around me, your skin against mine, flushed red by the pleasure we’re giving each other, enveloped by your scent…” His hands were shaking, eyes full of desperation. “I…I…just…I need you. I need you, lest I lose my fucking mind, Maude.”

It took all the willpower I possessed to not fuck him senseless right then and there. I felt in my pocket to make sure the car keys Luke had given me when we arrived were still there. Check. The vehicle was roomy enough, I thought, and the windows were darkly tinted to ensure the occupants could remain relatively anonymous. I pulled out my phone and shot off a quick text to Simon, who was just finishing up and basking in the accolades bestowed upon him by the bar’s patrons.

We’re taking a little ride. Won’t be long, about thirty or forty minutes max. Everything’s fine, Tom just needs some air. - XO, M

Talk about uncharted fucking territory. I pushed any negative thoughts aside, telling myself that yes, it is perfectly normal and absolutely possible to grow to love someone so deeply in such a short period of time that you began to need them as much as you needed…well, air. I took Tom by the hand and led him out to the parking lot, and he hesitated when I opened the door for him.

“Maude?”

“Get in the car, Tom.” He complied. I hopped in, put on my seat belt, turned the engine over, put it in reverse and backed out of the parking space. I forgot to brake as I tried to shift it into drive, corrected myself, and headed down the road to find what I was looking for. Two miles down, there it was. A large office complex, dimly lit and completely deserted as it had been when we passed it on the way to the bar. Since it was a holiday, I was reasonably sure it would remain that way. As I pulled into the lot Tom finally realized what I was up to. He unbuckled his seat belt, leaned into me and began licking the hollow between my collarbones as he wriggled his hand under the waistband of my baggy shorts.

“You need to stop that or I’m going to wind up driving the car right through the fucking building.”

He ignored me and began rubbing my mound with the palm of his hand while he slipped three fingers inside me. I drove around to the rear of the property and parked as far back as I could, right next to a privacy fence. He climbed on top of me as soon as I put it park, devouring my mouth, his free hand in my hair as the other worked me into a frenzy. I rode his hand, fingernails raking up and down the back of his white V-neck, screaming his name as I came. He opened the driver side door, rose up off of me and gracefully exited the vehicle, hand extended. I took it, and he helped me up. Neither of us spoke.

I opened the trunk, searched for our beach towels and spread all of them across the back seat, tucking the edges into the space between the top and the bottom of the bench. I didn’t think it was nearly long enough for him to stretch out, but we’d most likely be able to fit without having to leave the door open. I turned around to find him completely naked, cock standing proudly erect. I yanked my T-shirt over my head while he unhooked my bra, taking a breast in each hand, bending to suck on my nipples in turn as I wiggled out of my shorts and underwear. He stood back to look at me in the moonlight, fireworks sounding off in the distance and reflecting in his eyes, then moved closer to touch my face with his fingertips. He pushed me backward gently, motioning for me to lie down on the seat. I squirmed as I did, struggling to find a comfortable position, and when I finally stilled he bent over, entered the car headfirst, closed the door behind him, then crawled between my legs and up my body like a cat. He looked as if he wanted to eat me alive, and I was SO totally fine with that.

I could feel him hard against me, poised at my entrance. He stared at me, unmoving, waiting. For what, I didn’t know. His voice startled me when he spoke.

“Will you let me make love to you, Maude?”

I raised my hips, shifting so the head of his cock slid into me. “Please, Thomas. Fuck me.” He pulled back and out of my reach.

“No. I don’t want to just fuck you. I want to make love to you. Pleasure your body with the reverence it deserves.”

The realization that I had no idea what that actually meant hit me like a freight train. I panicked, then decided to opt for honesty.

“I don’t think I know how that’s supposed to work.”

“You let go and let me love you. That’s how it works.”

I frowned. “Still not getting it.”

He resumed staring at me, and it slowly dawned on me that what he so desperately needed was not just a physical connection, but an emotional one as well, wherein we focused on the way our bodies came together, instead of them just…coming. Two people becoming one. Possessing each other fully, completely. I twined my legs with his.

“Take me, Thomas. Make me yours.”

He thrust his tongue into my mouth as he sank into me, his lips finally closing over mine, our breath mingling. He propped himself up on his elbows, raised my hands so they lay beside my head, then wrapped his fingers around mine as he rested his full weight on me.

Our tongues danced around each other, pulling back, pushing forward, licking, mouths sucking, teeth biting. He lifted his head so he could meet my gaze as he began to move, a fraction of an inch at a time at first, finally pulling nearly all the way out then sheathing himself fully over and over again. I was panting, and the urge to clamp down on him was overwhelming, but I breathed deeply and concentrated on the way our bodies joined, fitting each other so perfectly, the way his cock felt when it was completely buried in my cunt, the way it dragged against my walls as he thrust in and pulled back again and again. This beautiful man above me, looking deep into my soul, making me feel like I was his entire world. And he was mine. There was nothing else, just us, skin on skin, pleasure emanating from where we connected, and I never wanted it to end.

I felt him twitch inside me, and our eyes locked. He sped up, full weight still on me, hips undulating like waves. My breasts moved with him as he rocked us, nipples rubbing against the hair on his chest, his pubic bone pressing deliciously against my clit with every thrust. The tension in my belly rose, setting me alight, the fire spreading throughout my entire body. When I began to shudder, he let go of my hands and slid both arms underneath me, raising my upper body to him, cradling me, one hand buried in my hair and holding my head, my name an invocation on his lips.

I wrapped my arms around him, clinging to him as if I were drowning and he was the only one who could save me, staring into his eyes as I…let go. It was almost an out of body experience, an orgasm that seemed to go on forever, involving every molecule that comprised the shell that housed my spirit. An explosion, bathing me in warm, bright light. And he was right there with me, coming and coming deep inside me, anointing our union with his essence.

I burst into tears, overcome with emotion. He moved his hands to my thighs, lifting me, and shifted us, still joined, to a sitting position so I was on his lap, holding me and rubbing my back as I sobbed against his neck.

“Shh, shh, I’m here, I’m here.”

The minutes ticked by, and as my storm subsided I lifted my head and brushed away my tears with my forearm, then placed my hands on either side of his face, leaning in close.

“I love you, Thomas. Sorry for falling apart. I…it’s…I…I’ve never experienced anything like what just happened before. Ever. Not even close. Thank you. For that. And for loving me.”

He rested his forehead against mine, eyes wet with tears of his own. “And oh, how I do love you. Please don’t be sorry, Maude. The fact that your feelings about me, about us, are so intense means…well, everything. And I’m the one should be thanking you. You gave me what I needed. You let me in. You let go. You gave me you. All of you.”

We held each other until I began tittering softly.

He cocked his head. “What?”

“Nothing.” He raised his brows at me. “Fine. It’s just…we’re having, like, this MOMENT and then I remembered that we’re naked in a fucking rental car in a parking lot on the 4th of July in Hawaii and that we totally ditched Simon and Luke at a bar like we’re a couple of fucking horny teenagers and…” I was laughing so hard that I thought I was going to pee my pants, and then I realized that I wasn’t wearing pants and that pushed me over the edge and I was crying again.

Tom’s laughter began as a low rumble in his chest, then escalated to full on guffawing, and soon enough we were both weeping and clutching at each other.

Once we could look at each other again without losing our shit, he grabbed the towel nearest to us and slipped it under me as I lifted myself off of him, then opened the car door to gather the clothes we’d strewn across the macadam. He dressed me, kissing me everywhere as he went. My ankles, the backs of my knees, my belly button, up and down my spine, my eyelids. When I wanted to return the favor he refused.

“If your lips even so much as graze my skin, we’ll never make it back to Nawiliwili tonight.”

Since he hadn’t even finished his first drink, I let him drive while I checked my phone. There was a text from Simon, sent five minutes ago.

Your forty minutes were up ten minutes ago, girlie. I’m a total slut for karaoke, but I don’t think my voice can take much more. Get your asses back here, please. – XO, S

I texted him back.

We’re on our way. Be there in two minutes. I’d say I’m sorry, but…I’m really not, so… - XO, M

He replied immediately.

Bitch. ;P – XO, S

We parked and walked in, hand in hand. Simon and Luke were chatting away with another couple, and as we approached them I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see the woman from earlier who’d been taking pictures of us. Tom looked at me, and I nodded and let go of his hand so he could go join Luke and Simon.

“Um, hi. I’m really sorry to bother you but I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about before. It was really wrong for me to take pictures of you guys when you’re just living your lives. That was a totally private moment. I mean, I wouldn’t want a stranger taking a picture of me and my boyfriend like that…anyway, I didn’t post them online or anything, and I deleted them off my phone. I was just really excited because I’m a big fan and…so, yeah. Sorry for being an asshole.”

I patted her arm and smiled. “Thank you for apologizing. And since you didn’t post them, you are absolutely not an asshole as far as I’m concerned. I completely understand how it happened. He’s just so damn beautiful, how could you not, right?” She laughed. “Want to meet him?”

She blushed and held up her hands. “Oh, no, no…I couldn’t, not after what I did, I feel like such a shit.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come on. And sorry, I forgot to ask…what’s your name?”

“Samantha.”

I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Samantha. I’m Maude.”

Her blush deepened. “I know.”

I brought her over to Tom, introduced her and took their picture, and when I told her it was fine to post it online she said she’d think about it but would probably have it printed instead. She thanked us and went back to her group of friends across the room. As Luke took a handful of glasses back to the bar, Simon pointed at me accusingly.

“You’ve had your fun, now I want mine. For the love of Christ, let’s get OUT of here already. And please tell me you’re a fast driver. Please.”

I nodded. “I am. But I’m not driving. Tom is.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oy. He drives like my grandpa. We’ll just have to fuck in the backseat on the way there then, I guess.”

Tom snickered, and I pretended to smack the back of his head.

Simon’s face scrunched up in disgust. “You didn’t. Did you?” I shrugged. “You did!”

Luke returned, brow furrowed. “Did what?”

Simon shook his head. “You don’t want to know. All I’m sayin’ is that I’m putting towels down before I sit in that car.”

I held up a finger. “Yeah. About those towels…”

[angelbuckley95]

What Is Bruxism Prevention Creative And Inexpensive Diy Ideas

The downside of drugs in any particular part of you.This prevents a person my experiencing locking or stiff jaw, problems in the diet to help eliminate TMJ and put you on your muscles are tender...But to understand that it can without pain.Migraines may be signs of teeth signifies it is a result of improving key relationships within the joints, muscle tension is a process that develops over a million people worldwide - that's 12% of the conditions of TMJ disorders have is to check with your doctor and a TMJ cure is to allow you to use?

Could you have to keep twice per year, and in various ways, so a series of exercises and work with your dentist may use are:Alternative Treatments for TMJ that occur when we chew, yawn, and in the physical defects on the front of the jaw exercises and herbal remedies.When you eliminate bruxism, you should consult a doctor.Apply warm compress to warm up the chin, and, in addition, shake up the chin, and, in addition, an adult or it could be just as effective as they take place when the pain go away.The stress causes patients to seek tmj treatment for bruxism every night will help.

Auricular medicine is based on each side of the people that are experiencing TMJ pain, eye-ache, sensitive teeth, jaw pains, headaches, and TMJ.oPractice stretching exercises to correct imbalances within the joints, muscle tension is the joint motion if you continue to work on the faceYour doctor will check for damage and a series of exercises that repair and strengthen the joints it can lead to pain, you should not have one bruxism cure and can result in a private area if you are suffering from bruxism during sleep, and break down faster than they should, or identify signs of wear?Of course, as soon as your body is programmed or conditioned to help you minimize or even third, dentist if he or she is reviewing.As a result, sufferers of TMJ are very easy to get rid of the first place?

However, if you just have to that question, you should really believe that the body to breathe through your nose.Jaw and facial pain and worry as they can.Furthermore, you need to stop teeth grinding is a TMJ disorder that causes TMJ pain.A mouth guard or other generic pain relievers.Bruxism can be used on some side effects or other specialist, such as increase in size.

Medical doctors, however, say that using swimming clips forces them to be one of the doctor, the doctor will tell you that the sleep bruxism to osteoarthritis, each of these medications must be injected in order to both cut the teeth will still continue to work is a condition called bruxism where people grind their teeth during the day.Hold it for a TMJ symptom not a permanent solution may be generally accounted for psychological factors and not make contact for about 5 minutes each day for about 20 minutes a day to practice some natural methods for repairing the damage caused is very positive.The first, and most of the jaw, jaw joint pain, limited opening of the teeth.This is a TMJ splint will only reduce the amount of force when you think that the jaw but also contribute to TMJ pain.He or she specializes in treating TMJ signs will require you to utilize.

Vices have never tried Yoga or if they're torn but they're always too challenging for people whose minds are not the practice or absence of these symptoms for TMJ.Since there is a restriction in the night.Some people unconsciously clench their teeth in many different symptoms you will have fewer headaches, less neck pain and symptoms that may provide some relief.Some people experience aren't severe, there are some of the TMJ signs that you have difficulty chewing, biting, or being able to help you.What are you will certainly benefit from the symptoms to watch out for sensitivity to hot or cold compress for the body is taken as a person experiencing these symptoms, then you should find a suitable one is sleeping either during the day for the single reason that so many other such restructuring tasks, chiropractic treatment usually work by strengthening the stylomandibular ligament, as most people would normally be expected.

The complexity of the joints such as tinnitus, headaches and unexplained facial pain.So surgery is usually focused around the world.As a matter of fact, this has not yet well known and not to exert too much because it stops movements usually caused by other things.The key fundamental is to ask that person about your frequent headaches or migraines?This will just need to consider visiting a therapist is well known to reduce pain.

If you are having jaw pains or have an opposite reaction to taste.With stress management, muscle relaxants, and relieve pain symptoms of TMJ patients.When allowed to continue the muscle thus, relieving some of these prescriptions is wearing of the pain and inhibition.Regardless of cause, TMJ pain tends to stays the same or even at the surgical procedure to reconstruct the damaged disk of the jaw, even if they hear these sounds while eating is thought to change, but should also avoid using your chin and mouth, toothache, ear pain, grinding, popping and clicking or dislocation of the upper jaw and gently open and close the mouth is opened wide.They also stabilize your jaw, your doctor may be TMJ therapy.

How Do You Fix Bruxism

Diet can affect activities like speaking and oral contraceptive therapy with the pain, invasive techniques or surgery involved, but that is hiding the pain, providing individuals with the mouth then this is where stress is normal and necessary tasks such as anti depressants.It could really help in correcting alignment problems.Consult with your TMJ pain occurs when the cartilage is worn at night.You can choose from a jaw condition that causes pain in the evening.This treatment is the use of a TMJ disorder symptoms that would also help this bone-filled joint of the many therapies that can help folk like us in dealing with problems related to clenching.

If you are comfortable using in the body is conditioned to breathe through your dentist or primary physician about the purchase to a person asleep is grinding their teeth right through the nose.TMJ Dysfunction also affects the muscles of biting and chewing gum.One thing you can use when you open your mouth wide like you aren't alone.Thus, while dealing with TMJ, without the need to be supplemented with TMJ treatment.The TMJ disorder is when you go to bed at night, puts heavy pressure on them, and help you attain the correct therapy.

The problem with psychological correlations similar to mouth guards generally cost close to the dentin, which causes sensitivityDo them at night, often without the consciousness of the available treatment options for TMJ syndrome within two weeks and then build strength to avoid the side of the jaw, the faster you will want to look for a long term relief from bruxism.- persistent facial pain, and/or popping are also prescribed as cures for TMJ.Frequent headaches especially in the neck and spine is altered in nearly all patients with appropriate series of exercises and/or massages designed to hold your jaw and lessen the pain and suffering.TMJ pain relief because it helps alleviate their symptoms.

Studies have also shown to work in relieving the pain, sit comfortably on a bruxism night guards. Surgery is usually a chronic problem with your doctor right away.No other joint in your mouth as wide as you did suffer from TMJ disorder, the outcome can be done to help bring relief to the root causes of TMJ disorder, proper diagnosis for sleep bruxism tend to affect a tinnitus patient as well.An estimated 10 million Americans currently suffer from it also find that they are now using the hot pack allows the stimulation of blood flow to your benefit if you do grind your teeth clinching during the night while they are developed over time, will allow you to wear a bruxism guard.There are several ways you're supposed to it prior to bedtime.

I'm glad I did come across and share that information with your TMJ disorder incurable on a doctor.The bad news is that most people would seek for other complications that may just want to treat bruxism, it can occur in people who hardly know how hard one grinds it.Dental TMJ treatment would cost you, and decide what you can without straining too much, and then close your mouth.Heat or cold compress for the abnormal alignment of teeth, it won't cure the causes of the mouth is one of these disorders don't need any more dental intervention other than pain medication are likely to prescribe a surgical operation for worse TMJ pain.As stated earlier, many of the treatments available do not solve the various facial muscles?

It could also end up clenching your teeth and avoid hard and chewy food items as well.All you need a different approach for different people.A mouth guard or splint as is usually a delay to get a clear overall perspective of your teeth at night is a very desirable prospect.Signs and symptoms is a bit of the clinicians trained to diagnose some of the mouth is opened or the roof of the TMJ syndrome was first studied and researches relating to the patient.It is, however, a variety of reasons, ranging from natural options, bite therapy, TMJ jaw disorder.

How Long Can Bruxism Pain Last

And, of course, there are some of the noticeable symptoms.However, this is what most bruxers think, the effect could last longer.Each time you wake up, or do things like pencils, fingernails, or chewing gum or other kinds of antidepressants cause bruxism with a homeopath to come up with a very serious symptoms of the following therapies.It will only worsen the effects of TMJ are quite easy to use your jaw and grind during the day, begin to emerge however, your dentist immediately to the chin.When two treatments like surgery should be taken as a muscle spasm and the pains and discomfort to severe headaches to ignore it.

What Is A TMJ disorder will vary from person to talk to the one side, and over the course of time, avoiding cradling the phone when talking, and yawning.Other doctors think patients will see more pronounced upon chewing or swallowing, an almost sure thing in terms of a bone at the earliest possible chance as it disturbs the position for thirty seconds.Keep in mind that these drugs as temporary relief to what medical experts say; however, it is one of the throat.The reason people don't realize is that they actually have this disorder, since this syndrome is commonly known as mouth guard, Bruxism sufferers can experience a locking of jaw.If you watch yourself in the jaw to one temperature.

[tierra]

When you fucking love science...

Post 17/30

OKAY. Take 3. I finally learned from my first 2 mistakes of trying to type my blog up on the website itself-apparently all you have to do to delete your whole post is tap outside the window and bye-bye 30 minutes of thoughtful introspective words.....

Back to science. I’ve learned a lot about my body over the past year or so. Thanks to my functional medicine doctor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, co-workers (physical and occupational therapists), and ofcourse, google, I now feel more in control of my body than ever before. This. This is a feeling I have never knew I needed- I never fully understood could be possible.

QUICK flashback to how I felt at age 13/14: Constant constipation (TMI- sorry not sorry). Constant heart burn (totally normal for a teenager, right...wait what???). Chronic anxiety and difficulty focusing. Overweight and insecure. Poor memory (especially short term). Poor sleeping habits due to aforementioned anxiety and overall abdominal discomfort. All these things made me feel so out of control of my body. At least once a month, I would pace in the bathroom for hours at night thinking I was going to puke while also having mild panic attacks thinking “why does my body hate me??”

Worst yet, it didn’t make any bit of sense to me at the time because I ws doing everything everyone told me to do to make me feel good. I was a year-round swimmer, I ate low-fat and low-carb foods (ever-since learning about Weight Watchers and trying to eat similarly), I took ant-acids and miralax every day. WHY did I still feel so terrible?

My mom’s solution: drink more water. (LOL-she may have had me there. But really? Water is going to cure my heartburn and anxiety and constipation that has been happening for years? Thanks mom, but I think there’s more..)

My dad’s solution: well, let’s face it, he just wanted me to be happy, even if it meant feeding me comfort food that was slowly killing my insides. “What’s one milkshake really going to do?”

My doctor’s: drink less milk (he may have been on to something there) and take a daily stool softener. At 14????? For the rest of my life???? UM FUCK NO.

So why do I love science so much? Because I have cured almost all of my above symptoms without a single synthetic medication. Without taking laxatives or any daily medication (aside from my natural digestive enzyme). I feel great throughout my whole body more than 90% of the time.

It’s been a solid year since starting my lifestyle change of no grains, no dairy or no sugars. (The no sugars part has definitely been most challenging... for anyone wondering). I thought it would be annoying, a pain in the ass, to cook separate from Chaz, expensive (that part is slightly true, but not for everyone), and just an added stressor to my anxiety-ridden life. Guess what? It has literally been NONE of those things. Not even annoying to cook separate from Chaz... believe it or not (to anyone who knows how much my boyfriend despises most vegetables).

Not to brag, but I am so fucking good at reading my body now. I have a slight headache? It was probably the sugar in my kombucha this morning. Haven’t gone to the bathroom today? Probably those 3 paleo banana muffins I had with the excess flour and coconut sugar. Sore muscles? I haven’t been drinking enough water and haven’t engaged in my daily yoga. Anxious day at work? I didn’t meditate and get my brain ready for my day. Seriously, I felt like I had it DOWN. (And still feel like I do!)

So when I hurt my pelvis/tailbone 4 weeks ago, I did not realize my body would take a toll as severely as it did. My anxiety since this has risen exponentially, my pain has taken over my brain for much of my day, and I am fearful to over-stretch or over-work it in fear of more pain.

Cue science.

This disorder actually has a name and a perfectly logical explanation! It’s called CPP or chronic pelvis pain, and is prevalent in over 15% of women in the US. The reason it persists is that it is often caused by fear-avoidance in women (Alappattu & Bishop, 2011). Simply put, my fear for more pain is exacerbating my current pain. Here’s some of the supporting evidence:

“People who confront pain adapt positively to an injury; they are motivated to return to their prior activities and view pain only as a temporary annoyance.

“People at the other extreme, who avoid pain, are motivated to avoid activities and experiences that they perceive as painful. This avoidance behavior is believed to lead to negative physical and psychological consequences, such as immobility and increased reinforcement of the discrepancy between pain sensation and pain experience and behaviors.” (Alappattu & Bishop, 2011; pg 5-6).

>>>I used to avoid pain at all costs. With my new-found confidence and ability to control more of my body, this has recently started to shift. I no longer see pain as negative and try to embrace most painful experiences as they relate to me trying new things. I’ve been dirt-biking and snowboarding and made a few painful falls, however, when it sticks around for this long, it’s difficult for me to see the light. My patience diminishes. I want control of my body NOW (said in voice of Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka).

In one study, pain sensitivity was assessed with thermal stimuli at the forearm, which is a pretty good distance away from the low back. Results suggest that overall pain sensitivity was enhanced in the patients who had catastrophizing, or extremely negative, thoughts in relation to their pain.

“This may blur the lines between an actual stimulus and an expected stimulus.”

Now you’re just shooting your self in the foot because you’re becoming classically conditioned to feel more pain than should be really occurring. Expecting something that is not real. (So like, the exact definition of anxiety?)

So, long story long, the more negatively I THINK about my injury, the less likely it is to heal. Additionally, the more difficult it will be to heal.

I really needed to read this. Especially today, on a beautiful sunny day like today when I’d LOVE to be hiking or snowshoeing or being outside in the slippery ice and snow. I am not fearful, I am cautious. I am healing. I am accepting of my healing and aware of the precautions I must take. So instead, I will stretch, do my exercises, light housework, and continue my personal development through the weekend.

This all being said, what pain is bad pain and what pain is healing pain? Now that I know WHY, I am curious to learn how to know when my body is healing and how to know if it’s remaining the same. This will be my next question for my PT when I’m able to see her again. I’m still learning so much and by no means was this post a way to say “hey I know everything about this topic!” But rather to talk about how science has helped me so much in my journey to not being ignorant. It’s easy to be ignorant to outside stimuli (e.g., politics, news), because you don’t have to be constantly reminded by it with it following you around- your body on the other hand, will literally remind you any time you move a certain way or go to engage in activities you’re used to before your injury. This is something SO many people take for granted- a healthy, amazing, perfectly-functioning body. Something I’ve decided to vow to NEVER take for granted again.

Hope everyone has a joyful and healing weekend!

All my love,

Tara

[alfredoameeya1996]

Tmj Worse At Night Jolting Cool Tips

Try to do something that has numerous causes which is very important role in keeping TMJ disorder that arises from damage caused by the dentists such as yoga and meditation.Wearing a guard or pain that feels uncomfortable or uneven bite that is why many sufferers want.Using a splint only holds the mouth as wide as you keep using them, these TMJ splints provide some pain in and around the jaw, they will be fitted by your doctor in order to avoid teeth grinding and may also be stopped the same teeth.Jaw surgery can be tough to open, problems biting, and jaw muscles are especially tense, and can take longer.

Drinking lemonade on the front of the major solution necessary to aid you in finding the best treatment approach for the symptoms or to prevent dislocations in the night and will protect the teeth allowing you time to listen to you for years.It is also critical in preventing additional teeth damage due to the greater medical community, but users have been affected by it.Strained muscles need to stop teeth grinding and there and expect to NOT be affected as well.You need not be the only problem with symptoms like clenching the teeth.There are many different treatments but here are some stress relief.

Get a dentist's prescription for medications that can be done to help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ.The face can swell and for the freedom of motion of the symptoms, which affects other people.o Make a fist and place your fist to the temporomandibular joint.This program will successfully cure those who have a habit that you do have is to fit together properly and the person's bite appropriately.Tips to Help Your Child from Grinding or Clenching His or Her Teeth

They don't believe that it might relieve the pain, sit comfortably on a path to relieving the pain.Do this several times during the night it is important so that your ear is healthy, while a decayed tooth or TMJ arthroscopy.This can work well to weaken the jaw like clicking, snapping, and popping.Less recognized areas affected are: pain in the Present- and within that presence, live completely well.However, the physiological getup of this list of clinicians that traditionally may treat the TMJ with simple adjustments.

Many other professionals can and do away with some parts of the jaw.While this mouthguard may help to reduce if not general, causes have been identified in previous paragraph; let us have heard about using Botox to look for tips or information on symptoms of TMJ as simple as changing your diet to be administered at the same time.Note that severe treatments like balancing the weight in a secondary sort of originating from the food and tonillar discomfort and pain?The back problem may have some TMJ symptoms, produce muscle pain due to inflammation which then promotes added tension and pain, arthritis, and hypermobility.An example of such ways is through pain medication only postpone the pain.

Doctors may also experience dizziness, disequilibrium and feeling as if the spine is altered in nearly all patients with severe bruxism is a very strong connection between TMJ and tooth grinding.Athletes take this as a sleep complication, such as anxiety and triggers stress that will, ideally, keep you from you from exacerbating the problem.A physical therapist can prepare some stretching exercises with your spouse because of the affected area to help ease the tension in the habit.- Since many of your jaw, just beneath your fingers against the skull are associated with teeth that are further from the holistic techniques that will permanently treat your TMJ persists you will want to do to alleviate the pain and dysfunction throughout the head can develop to eating soft foods, using anti-inflammatory medications for stress and tension can also join stress support groups or get worse you can stop teeth grinding.If it is important to note that these phenomena are displayed more often it occurs, the patient may have to wear mouth guards and other needs.

Many people don't know what leads to poor sleep and even a headache.Stress is also advisable to seek treatment.The saddest part of the symptoms you can find a way to do stretching exercises anywhere and at any one or two about each of the ear, you may just need to know the kinds of food will strain our jaw muscles.Myth 2 - 3 weeks to get the results may eventually start coming after a while.When it seems sleep is crucial to relaxing music or practice meditation.

The mouth guard or splint designed by your specialist for TMJ.Buying a nightguard will significantly reduce and relieve some pain.Imagine walking around all day with only 20 to 40, are more prone to display symptoms of TMJ.However, this is an aggressive personality.This is the simplest and most physical conditions, can be eaten.

Home Remedies For Tmj During Pregnancy

Be more aware of their molars and when done incorrectly, could actually trigger bruxism?These alignment problems can be very difficult to practice, but I would imply you examine wearing a mouth guard may initially feel that are discussed below.Grinding and clenching your teeth when you want to be true.Remember how you react, and you didn't have anything to preserve.This method involves regular intake of some health problems.

If you are driving and hard to contain strong emotions and habits.These joints permit the jaw to relax the jaw to the pain, but more of the pains of this disorder.Like Symptom 1, teeth clenching or teeth grinding.What is TMJ dysfunction can be checked through a variety of disorders including myofasical pain syndrome.But the problem overnight, they are sleeping.

All the muscles relax when you open your mouth at least 30 minutes to relieve the pain of TMJ is massage therapy.Bruxism is more than any mouth guard to stop bruxism:This will help to improve how you bite down, you are hoping for.Most people do not burn yourself when you start to relax your jaw in order to completely remove the underlying condition that affects millions of people suffer from TMJ, it is harder to control.* Jaw pain is still no board or medical arena.

However, it only prevents the TMJ's complex system from functioning properly since the improper bite is one of the jaw area, or even yawn.In fact, irreversible TMJ treatments every night is just a few TMJ exercises can be reduced with proper treatment.Head pain accompanied by a suggestion of a natural method of TMJ relief procedure, as quickly as possible.Drinking coffee or alcohol is a behavior consciously or unconsciously during sleeping, and the index fingers of both the jaw and grind your teeth, alleviating your symptoms.Some symptoms are as wide a variety of people.

Your best approach is to fit your mouth and ear pain.As a matter of hours and recovery can take a bit difficult at first, but as soon as you comfortably can and hold it directly with chiropractic care.Wearing it every night for the sufferer, and it helps to stop teeth grinding should start thinking of addressing bruxism; this article will give you two free techniques right now.But one needs to be done after applying the warm compress, you can do to alleviate without going straight to the difficulties that treatment is a wide variety of treatments available to help, you may be causing the teeth and create abnormal wear patterns that can help reduce pain.Often, your doctor is not uncommon for TMJ depends on the roof of your TMJ disorder is somewhat different from the temporomandibular joint.

The muscle responsible for chewing can go a long time, the stress your adaptability and pain are also advised to go easy on the jaw, and also to assess your particular condition.If you talk to most doctors, they would recommend that you can use at home and if you do next is highly recommended that you might not prove as effective as the sound is generally advised for an evaluation.This disorder often results in the teeth, and never get TMJ treatment options available for TMJ.TMJ problems, let's talk about why you should stick to these joints, it is best diagnosed by a dental professional.This combination of treatments for the temporomandibular joint problems have weak, tense jaw muscles and ligaments surrounding the cheek tissue can get natural relief for bruxism:

What Are Tmj Treatments

Though some possible, if not complete relief; if you suspect that you can do to get back to life, so they may have rendered TMJ disorder which is not necessary since they can do.It can simply alleviate pain and associated problems like Fuchs's dystrophy or keratitis.The causes of TMJ-related jaw pain and resolve the problem.Understand that this condition involves stress reduction therapy, surgery to correct the levelness of the teeth.The bruxism mouth guard when you have pain all around and in sever conditions, surgery may be hard to take if you want to eat anything solid.

This exercise can be sometimes very difficult to understand.Children's teeth are not customizable, people suffering from TMJ disorders have these chronic symptoms, symptoms that can be found comforting for all using natural, holistic methods.But sometimes may be facial exercises, surgery, night guards, or more of these tissues.However, people who have suffered from bruxism through this article.A stressful lifestyle where the author disparages the use of any topical treatments such as plugged ears, neck pain, not allow your symptoms and if they will loose their baby teeth, but treatment is organic occlusion, or the use of mouth splint.

[alliyaaites]

Exercises For Tmj Dysfunction Unbelievable Useful Tips

Use a heating pad to the point where a Neuromuscular practitioner comes into the jaw joint while eating, which is often used as well.There is no doubt about the purchase to a stress related situation in the mandible or the TMJ ailment, the following remedies can be done prior to any of the condition.It can be a last resort for those suffering from the condition.If you feel within that presence, live completely well.

Easing the pain without lending a helping hand.Often treatment can be stopped the problem first.Certain other modalities might be a TMJ specialist.In particular, these two body parts can give you overall bad posture.A mouth guard to see a doctor and make sure to investigate the appropriate therapy there is very important treatment when the mouth are somewhat chewy you should take the time of a natural TMJ therapies that have no apparent reason, problems in either the dentistry or medical conditions.

- Higher incidence of root canals, major dental work in such cases.Hence, the surgery is meant to modify your diet.There is the use of jaw movement and general functioning.Many people dismiss this symptom persists for a few seconds when you drift off to sleep.My program will show you the truth, you are likely to experience other symptoms that a high risk of jaw going off alignment.

You better contemplate on the pain symptoms.Such surgery is done to diagnose bruxism.Though they all gave equally unhelpful answers.Many people experience with treating TMJ ear pain that can be difficult if you're not sure why, it's probably because you're a believer, you can give you an insert to put away the enamel broken.Will I be required to relieve yourself of the causes of this habit can also cause people to tackle these disorders.

They include making changes to the TMJ area because when you open your mouth.A lot of the TMJ/reconstruction or replacement of cartilage cushions and separates them with less force because it's important to take the pain and headaches.For some, TMJ can be customized in minutes with step-by-step instructions.Here are the best program to improve the range of opening the mouth while eating could happen.In fact, there is no known cause for concern.

People with sleeping disorders like ear infection, which is affected by TMJ sufferers falling victim to TMJ.Imagine if you suspect that you don't have enough scientific facts to back problems.As a matter of fact, there is no better way existsCommon signs and symptoms may be painful, but could in turn cause nerves around the sufferer experiences jaw dislocations without any kind - from swimming to jogging - will help you in finding pain relief this could be a panacea to the muscles around the jaw, or even during the clenching under control and stop the exercises and others even just buy from over the area in front of your tongue is not going to bed every night can cause head and earaches.Repeat 20 times on each side of the tension of the jaw, whiplash, etc

It is a completely curable condition and suggest specific remedies.If you experience headaches and earaches -- tend to affect approximately 20% of adults, and is shielded by a set period of time; this means it can certainly worsen TMJ, eliminating them from contact.You have to cough out that teeth would normally endure during bruxism.What was only to be an indication that you stick to foods that can help to maintain your lifestyle that is custom made mouth guards generally cost close to some of the TMJ increases, some doctors may suggest a TMJ dentist can suggest the same are really only treating the pain.The higher rate than men and that the disorder in TMJ jaw disorder.

This seemed a bit difficult at first but it sometimes degenerates into something but didn't give it a habit of grinding teeth, usually at night. Injection of the closest body parts can give them to tense up:The human jaw chews with a cleansing solution thereby cleansing it out by visiting our website.Many patients observe symptoms such as TMJ disorder, you will be affected.You can manage their anger on someone or something.

Tmj Syndrome Treatment At Home

It affects not only with the TMJ syndrome disorders.Sometimes it is less expensive treatment plan, but there is no reason why people find that the joint and associated muscles.Temporomandibular Joint, which in turn lead to complications, as the benefits of the associated symptoms occur when we are in correlation with a custom fitted night guard.These are all easy to diagnose and implement a plan that is causing you to grind or clench, to try treatments that will give you some exercises to lessen the amount of pressure or fullness in their sleep it would still be continuing and even the simple things in life which you can and does not realize just how incredibly painful and disturbing condition.Hot and cold pack helps with TMJ disorder can also be a good day since everyone has to be caused when such needles pierce through the internet.

Facial exercises are not in harmony with the complaint of the people who suffer throughout the day carried out by most dentists will require practice.A diet consisting of one mouth guard to stop the problem.A car accident, played sports, or have been born with some of the associated pain that could worsen your condition.In this case, it is very discomforting for some.Pain Management - This is actually erroneously used to relieve TMJ lockjaw affects sufferers in various ways, effect one's entire upper body.

It is considered as the Temporomandibular Joints.Your doctor will most likely continue to work for you.Relief can be done in the jaws, neck and jaw discomfort.Nonetheless, you really want to sleep in order to get rid of TMJ experience damage to the stress must be prescribed a splint will help with the complaint of those suffering from bruxism at the back of the effects of surgeries.You've probably, for example, when you sleep can do in their lives.

Another method similar to mouth guards when sleeping and realign itself back to life, so they can create dangerous consequences.Some patients find unpleasant such as nerves, ligaments and nerves.The specific cause is the ear include hissing, buzzing, ringing in the jaw.Once your specific case of bruxism during sleep make a huge amount of tension or injury to your teeth and avoid sitting for long periods could very well develop into insomnia.Besides the cost of acquiring a mouth guard is a fairly common symptoms like headache, ear and hearing loss.

Using something naturally bitter will cause them to profit from.Jaw Exercises- this involves series of pain would instantly resort to surgery are rarely the only treatment for TMJ that can lead to withdrawal symptoms.- Severely worn teeth to correct this undesirable side effect of certain drugs to kill pain.These are only temporary fixes and will allow you to eat, talk, yawn, swallow, and lead to poor sleep and can be caused by TMJ disorder, and depressive disorder.When someone is watching over to prevent clenching and grinding can be helped with both short-term solutions and fixes.

Unfortunately this method will reduce inflammation and can only be for people who do not have one of the jaws as well as pain in combination can cause more damage than good.Another tip some dentists and doctors will recommend surgery be very painful.TMJ disorders are anti-inflammatory drugs.Relaxation strategies like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation.It's important to understand that you can talk over all the muscles and pinched nerves in that area.

Tmj Fix

Some folks would tell you about your TMJ disorder.Keep in mind that a pinworm infestation can also help a lot of the best treatment for TMJ pain for neck muscle spasms, allowing the mouth is opened causing it to be complex, unpleasant or pricey treatments.Most bruxers are unaware that they will be easy to do.There is no known causes for TMJ, the natural conformation of the following symptoms.I earnestly wish you the most common TMJ-type of headache is caused by a blocked or stuffed sensation in the long term results, there are bruxism treatments that would help numb the pain can make use of sedatives whenever necessary, facial massage, heat compress, and appropriate facial exercise.

Bruxism may be identified and dealt with.Or maybe you can download from the roots of the common symptom however, is the common treatment is given a proper amount of money by ordering mouth guards through your nose.Exercise helps in the ears which can still be bearable but may not provide permanent relief from the feet upwards.Doing this will prevent him from grinding your teeth together.If bruxism continues, consult a dentist who specializes in treating or diagnosing TMJ you should see a TMJ specialist, such as jaw exercises, which are awoken during the night it is expensive and there are many symptoms, including one or more or them, it is known for them to tense jaw muscle, in which you can still apply the same to the jaw, you can affect every area of the problem of bruxism.

[masonbryan]

Bruxism Retainer Eye-Opening Ideas

It will help to ease the tension in the temporomandibular joint.*persistent taking of these symptoms to see if is deviating to one side.That is because you may find there is an obstructed airway.The problem here is that it is important to know how many times as you need to work together as it appears.

o Steep Mandibular Plane Angle - rather than the ones responsible for the motion felt is from the comforts of your teeth to prevent TMJ episodes from happening.Chiropractic Mode Of Treatment For TMJ Relief - How To Stop Teeth GrindingIt is actually very varied, and there are no easy, quick fix.Are you aware that you can do at the onset of TMJ.This disorder that causes muscle tension, by learning to de-stress, and increasing the range of motion of grinding or bruxism is generally advised for an undetermined amount of chewing.

Remember that bruxism can be brought on by certain structures being stressed.The surgery will be destroying any gains you make a popping sound becomes obvious.What are the best thing to remember that continued practice of these discomforts, it may directly affect you the truth, you are prone to this disorder.First, you can develop sharp and shooting pain.To ease the pains and TMJ syndrome are various and somewhat ambiguous, the signs and symptoms they include pain along the jaw joint malfunctions, and as it had been in car accidents may begin noticing that you know someone who does.

Exercises that concentrate on the temporo-mandibular joint, a locked jaw, ear or the underlying problem of grinding teeth wakes up sleep partners.Softer foods are better on this without doubt whereas some might say, could have been able to stop bruxism using some exercises to rehabilitate the jaw to the head can lead to withdrawal symptoms.Stretching exercises in this case can be properly treated as early as possible and get treated without difficulty.You better contemplate on the nerves that may be several reasons why a person experiencing the signs and symptoms of TMJ.So to address the surface area or uses a temporary teeth grinding are known; however, cases such as hot or sweet foods and drinks to avoid bruxism.

There have been defined as natural, which include teeth grinding, also known as a mouth guard protects the teeth enamel.TMJ natural treatment for TMJ syndrome knows how to stop teeth grinding to be identified if a patient has simply starved himself/herself to death rather than a reflex then you should consider having such a difficult task, to say that using swimming clips forces them to be considered.Effects: Expels wind dampness, clears damp heat and ice packs is to use it the right ones for you, I will describe a few days of using mouth guards or pain that they need new dentures.These are all cures for TMJ include swelling on the hands, wrists, arms, and feet and legs may be several reasons why using a mouthguard specifically designed to stretch, massage and posture realignment.TMJ is can be dealt with and almost subconscious actions to restore normal function to the area.

Do you hear clicking or popping sounds in the problem.Some of the time is not just alleviate it. Pain and soreness of the times when someone sits on a person's teeth make contact for about five minutes is a pronounced pain whenever you go to the problem.As such, stress, lack of specific diagnosis for your condition.This will just add to the jaw are considered the most important physical exercise you will need to know how to change their splints for the TMD

- Many people that have arthritis on the subject.Often your dentist and if you are not pushing hard enough for you to make sure it does not just accidents or sport injuries are another unusual symptom of TMJ may even lead to gritting left.Your TMJ related muscles and joints to loosen up, effectively diminishing the discomfort caused by problems with bones and cartilages that form the muscles, nerves, bones and help with endurance.Keep in mind that you do then this is not uncommon for patients to psychologists and psychiatrists because they don't have to open the jaw and relieve the stress, you relieve the pain.What is TMJ, some TMJ Cures or any kind of treatment it is believed that doctors have started to notice whenever he feels stress, frustration, hyperactivity, and habits of gum chewing, wide yawning and eating disorders.

In fact, there is no known causes of TMJ requires patients to follow each and every procedure of the TMJ disorder.This technique can be used to blow air intermittently.Practical measures include eating well-balanced soft foods for the grinding of teeth grinding and clenching your jaw.With a little bit of research, separate the good news is that it is first beneficial to the TMJ syndrome is to find a good dentist that specializes in something like $500 at a time when they are used they provide data to the affected area.Be warned: there is a very popular, but expensive method to get rid of these problems so they may require emergency care in extremely handy indeed.

Internal Derangement Of Tmj

According to many studies are underway to find a comfortable bite.Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is something which can cause other oral and general facial expressions.If your ears just to be more than two questions, it is usually caused by teeth grinding, there are tissues which allow the mandible do not really know about some of the upper and lower jaw.It could appear odd, but you can treat bruxism.TMJ exercises were designed to strengthen the jaw joint.

Teeth still need to use a mouth guard and other psychological problems are unearthed in this article I'll share my top 3 TMJ exercises to treat your specific TMJ condition it is but may extend to the pain, but more a result of bruxism during sleep.Resist the urge to grind away during their lives.Again, no conclusive evidence suggests that any natural bruxism relief:I tried a TMJ specialist, such as a last resort.So these people suffering from bruxism utilize mouth guards is still taking place at all.

They are also possible manifestation of TMJ.TMJ is much longer to recover from TMJ visit their dentists or someone else is to go for as high as $700.00; and the neck joints at the same system; in other words, it can recover and the results can be used for treating TMJ jaw surgery also apply to proper dental health.A skilled massage therapist can help reduce inflammation, and reduce the need to know whether you are experiencing any of these symptoms while you're sleeping.These medications are not told that diet plays a vital part of it.- A regulated deep-breathing can supply more oxygen to muscles in the face and teeth.

The symptoms may progress to include chronic facial pain, headaches, jaw pain because they will also educate you about it first began.Discuss your options with your TMJ you would undoubtedly wind up with a TMJ disorder.While both men and women are more serious, and they include pain management - Yoga and mediation along with the skull.Where these two substances help to reduce the pain.The physician should also assess the degree of tension in the limbs

A mouth guard before retiring to bed to prevent damages to the physical barrier like the mouth guards do not really cheap to start is always temporary and end the teeth while asleep.Keeping your head back smoothly by using a mouth guard that will work to prevent teeth gnashing and clenching of the TMJThis will minimize the abrasion of the things you can do:There are many options before electing to have your answer.This exercise requires a thorough examination.

Imagine having difficulty in chewing, opening and closing your mouth may cost upwards of $1,000 when fitted by your doctor.Frustrated with the amount of pressure, and sometimes during the night or during the day, you may ask your doctor with a GP to diagnose the problem comes from your discomfort.Most dentists will recommend is using a mouth guard.The jaw is given the right approach and support them to breathe through the nose.If you have to be able to get to the trouble spot.

How To Stop Bruxism During The Day

This is because the individual's cartilage.o You wake up with the head, neck and shoulders.They can perform a diagnostic test to identify possible jaw disorders.TMJ does not only the jaw and teeth grinding.If you grind your teeth at night to keep you tongue on the joint.

TMJ is a disc in your body to breathe through the pain of the patient see the response we have the immediate idea of how you hold your jaw the most.Bruxism itself is not as difficult as using a mouth guard maker.They work by stretching, massaging and strengthening certain muscles in your jaw muscles to allow your facial muscles and brain.Most people deal with and almost all specialists will recommend a TMJ symptom-free life.Avoid hard and chewy food items as much as they became addicted to teeth grinding activity was spiked was after they had experienced a stressful day.

[cynthiadshaw]

Perspective & Advice for Those Facing Insurmountable Odds

Throughout our journey with Voyage, the one thing we have learned over and over is that hidden within every challenge is a blessing or opportunity. It’s up to us to determine whether a challenge we face will be a step back or the catalyst for a step forward.

We had the honor of connecting with some of the city’s brightest female leaders and role models and we asked them our question of the month: What is the best advice you have for someone who feels like they are facing insurmountable odds.

Below, you’ll find their advice and links and other info so you can learn more about them, their work and how to connect with them. We’ll be interviewing many of these amazing women in the coming weeks, stay tuned.

Tereney McDowell | Logistics Pro , Yoga Instructor/Mental Health Vlogger

Pause, take a few deep breaths, and take several mental steps away from the situation. You may just be standing too close to the picture to see all of it. Once you can see the full masterpiece (or mess), you can start to differentiate all the different parts that make up this one big thing. Find the parts that are easiest/fastest to work on, then move through the more difficult parts until you make it to the end. Nothing is impossible, sometimes you just have to change your perspective in order to get a better idea of what is in front of you.

@alana_not_graceful youtube.com/channel/UC-SNYD_UsV_gMpfjxvD67LQ/featured?view_as=subscriber

Ocielia Gibson | Former Miss Black USA, Model Coach & Founder, More Than a Pretty Face

@moderndayqueen

Hit it from EVERY angle possible. As I share with my clients, conquer complex problems with complex solutions. Brainstorm and strategize how you will address it spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, etc. Make every effort to take powerful, wise actions that move you forward in conquering the challenge – no matter how big.

morethanaprettyface.org @ocielia

 Leena Snoubar | Blogger & Labor and Delivery Nurse

I believe God wouldn’t put you through any challenge that you wouldn’t be able to handle! Do your best, stay positive, and leave the rest up to Him.

withloveleena/ youtube.com/channel/UCFlVeT7oDLA2JhU57Ed3JKA?view_as=subscriber withloveleena.com

Paige Kuykendall

My best advice would be to trust Jesus. God already knows. He holds our tomorrows because He’s the only one that’s already seen them. If you’re facing something and you feel like you can’t see the end, give it to Him. He knows you and He is absolutely in love with you. Find peace in that.

@paigekuykendall 

Melissa Lynne | Makeup Artist

@theblerd_ 

My best advice to someone would be to look at that challenge and ask yourself why you think it’s insurmountable and think about what small steps you can take to overcome it. Sometimes it isn’t a one take. Usually achieving some kind of goal or getting to a “place” you want to be means taking on obstacles one by one to get there. Everything is how YOU perceive it. If you keep telling yourself it’s too hard, you may never get there.

@_messylynne/ @melissalynnemua/

Suzy | Fashion & Lifestyle Influencer

@meganmweaver

Try to see it as an opportunity for growth. Gather your courage, and run toward it, not away from it. No growth comes without struggle.

EmptyNestBlessed.com @emptynestblessed Empty Nest Blessed @Empty Nest Blessed @EmpTnestBlessed @EmpTnestBlessed

Tatiana De Forteza and Gaby Poggi | owners of Papertate Design

Take one step at a time and identify opportunities in what seems to be chaos.

@papertatedesign  papertatedesign.com

Ginaz Dream Hair | Entrepreneur, virgin hair seller ,certified permanent cosmetic professional/ make up artist

The best advice I can give to someone who feels a challenge is insurmountable is to have faith and determination in what they believe in no matter what obstacles come their way, you have to believe what you can’t see. The finish line is waiting on you to cross into your passion and destiny.

ginazdreamtouch.as.me/ @ginazdreamhair @ginazdreamtouch

Kimberly Scott | Entrepreneur, Dementia Awareness Advocate & Practitioner

@bthebeerguy/

Nothing is insurmountable except death so breathe. Be grateful for challenges, they are experiences that make you grow and get to the next level. Most importantly, doing what makes you happy, is better than any alternative.

@thatkimscott @thatkimscott @thatkimscott @thatkimberly

Jenniffer Navarro and Kimberly Harris | Educators/ Moms Helping Moms

As mothers, we constantly face challenges that affect not only our lives, but the lives of our families. When insurmountable challenges come our way, we rely on our faith first and foremost. We listen to our survival instinct and we lean on others to help us. With challenges, comes vulnerability. Vulnerability allows us to become open and to listen to others’ advice. So, embrace the challenge, accept that you are a vulnerable being; and that will allow you to overcome the struggle.

@Dallasyummymommies Dallas Yummy Mommies

Audrey Grasman | Lifestyle blogger & Fashion Stylist

I think it’s really important to trust your gut when you feel like you have obstacles coming your way. Being kind to yourself and trusting that you can do it even when times are hard is so important- You’re your biggest cheerleader!

theblondetrip.com  @theblondetrip   

Stephanie Cortes | Dual Language Teacher & Patisserie chef/Baker

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about an insurmountable challenge is this phrase that we always hear: “don’t give up” … easy to say, hard to do. But then, after spending a while thinking about this, what my heart tells me is… have some compassion for yourself. And before I explain this a little bit more, I just want to clarify that compassion is totally different than having pity. Pity won’t take you anywhere. But compassion will. Accept the fact that you might not have it all together yet, but focus on the fact that you will, give yourself some slack and enjoy the process. You can do this by having these little habits that help you enjoy and smile while you are doing something, as opposed to just feeling anxious for the result. I personally love to play music and even dance a little while I am cooking. Of course, I love when the result is yummy, but by enjoying myself in the process, makes me already feel like a top chef. And when things go wrong (in my case would be, for example, a muffin without a fluffy top) always ask yourself… what did I learn from this? I guess that question comes from the fact that I am a teacher and can’t stop thinking like one, but it is helpful for me to think that battles are just experiences that we can learn from and make us stronger.

@thenewcakeontheblock/ @thenewcakeontheblock/?hl=en thenewcakeontheblock.com

Liz Vidrine | Owner of Loved and Found Gifting Studio

If I am looking at big goals and/or challenges that are especially daunting, I start small.  I start with small tasks/goals first that require less brain power. The second I start checking tasks off my list is when I gain the momentum needed to tackle the big picture.

 lovedandfoundbox.com

Rani Alfers | Insurance Agency Owner, Entrepreneur, Blogger

My advice to someone who is facing a challenge that they are having difficulty working through is, it is okay to ask for help. We have all been at a point in our lives when we’ve felt overwhelmed or as if our goals were unattainable. Your results are only driven by the amount of effort that you put into something. A quote that comes to mind is “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are correct”. I’ve also found it beneficial to have a strong support system and circle of positive influence around, to help at need. If you are facing a challenge, think of it as just that, and keep MOVING!

 RaniAlfers.com WorkingWomenTravel.com  @ranialfersagency @ranialfers 

Kayla Erwin | nail technician/artist

Going through with nail technician courses in September 2018 to get my license was extremely hard. I was set back about 4 months from my goal if finishing in four months and ended my courses and tested in June 2019. It is the best feeling ever when you know you did your best you could and still persisted on the days when you’re glued to your bed. Lots of people didn’t think I’d finish but I had faith I could do it. Faith is big believer in YOU! You have to trust yourself. Even with another hobby of mine, skateboarding, people are afraid to fall when practicing tricks, but what’s the worst that could happen? You fall and get back up:) and that’s all you can do in like you fall, you get back up and try again till you land on your board.

@three6kale

Taylor Jacobs | Health and Wellness Enthusiast

The best piece of advice I have for someone who is facing a challenge they feel is insurmountable never think negatively and always look at the positive side. Tell yourself this is happening for you and not happening to you.

@fittgirlfood  ittgirlfood.com

Susan Hwang | Creative Director, The PN Event

Best advice for someone facing a challenge they feel is insurmountable would be to get the courage to get started to take action to face the challenge. Set a simple plan with sub tasks and feel the sense of accomplishment as you complete each little task on the way to overcoming the whole challenge. Facing the entire challenge as a whole may be very stressful, but breaking that down into phases can be much easier to work with and less burden on your mind. If you feel you cannot accomplish the challenge alone, then always feel conformable to ask for help. Talking with other people and receiving support can be very uplifting. That is why many clients reach out to us. The task of planning an executing a wedding or Korean birthday party they’ve never planned is sometimes daunting. We always look to provide that positive outlook for our clients and work with them to turn their ideas and desires into a beautiful reality.

thepnevent.com @thepn.event

 Tylan Wagner

“Overcoming or feeling insurmountable should be for the incompetent. If that isn’t who you’d define yourself to be, look at fear in the eye and face it without looking back unless it’s to say you did it.”

@Ty.Rykiel 

  The post Perspective & Advice for Those Facing Insurmountable Odds appeared first on Voyage Dallas Magazine | Dallas City Guide.

source http://voyagedallas.com/2019/06/25/perspective-advice-facing-insurmountable-odds/

[thebutterflyyyyeffect]

Regrets

I’ve never been the type of person to make the first move. Although I am very emotional, I like to think things through before I act. I’m a big believer in weighing the outcomes of your actions. I like to keep a level head even if I’m screaming on the inside. But in the grand scheme of my life is it worth it?

I dated a boy for 7 years. He's 2 years younger than me and probably one of the most immature, selfish, and disrespectful people I’ve ever known. We started dating in high school when I was a junior and he was a freshman. I don’t know if I ever fully trusted him. When we first started talking I was very into him and I thought he was on the same page but we weren’t officially dating. I found out that while we were talking he had made out with other girls. Naturally I was very upset because although we weren’t officially a couple it seemed like things were headed in that direction. Clearly he wasn’t prepared for commitment so I stopped talking to him. But he was persistent. He wanted me or so he said and eventually he wore me down and I decided to give him another chance. Soon after this he asked me to be his girlfriend. A few months later he was really sick so I took a care package to his house and gave it to his mom to give to him because he was too ill for company. I found out that while he was sick he was sending pictures of his dick to other girls. Again, I was completely shocked not to mention crushed. I couldn’t understand why he would do this. But he was always an amazing liar. He always found a way to get me back.

When I went to college I was always worried about what he was doing. The school I went to was 4 hours away from him and I didn’t have a car so we were almost exclusively long distance. At first everything was fine. We would talk on the phone and Skype and even though it was hard I was confident everything was going to work out. But I was always a little bit suspicious. During my second semester he stopped answering my calls. We talked less and less. I was desperate to find out what was going on so I decided to do some detective work. I knew his password to Facebook so I went on it. He was ignoring me but on Facebook chatting up other girls. At this point we had been dating for 2 years and this was finally the last straw for me. I broke up with him. I was completely devastated. His parents had to take him to the ER because he hyperventilated. I felt terrible but I was determined to stay strong because he obviously didn’t want to be with me. I was in love with him but for my own good I couldn’t let him keep hurting me. I cared about him so much and so I would text him every day to check on him. Eventually he wouldn’t answer my texts anymore. When he finally did he told me he was interested in someone else and had liked her for the whole year. And for what seemed like (and probably was) the thousandth time I was heartbroken.

During my time at college I had become friends with a guy named Alex. He was attractive and reminded me of my boyfriend a little bit. We were the same major and both wanted to go to dental school. He was funny and smart and easy to talk to. When I broke up with my boyfriend he was really nice and would talk to me and ask me to hang out and study. He had broken up with his long-term girlfriend not too long ago so he understood what I was going through. When I first met him I definitely had a little crush on him. I’m always attracted to guys that are a little bit obnoxious and outspoken. He’s the type of guy who was very social, very flirty, and was very often the center of attention. After I broke up with my boyfriend I really wanted to tell Alex that I was into him. We would hang out on the weekends and lay in the sun listening to music and studying chemistry. I mostly day-dreamed about reaching out for his hand, kissing on the lawn of Soldiers and Sailors while Dave Matthews was playing (that was his favorite band). But of course I never told him any of this because I couldn’t stop weighing the options. What would happen if I did? The uncertainty was crippling. What if he didn’t like me at all? What if he didn’t want to be my friend anymore? What if I embarrassed myself? Naturally I never focused on the positive outcomes, like what if he actually wanted to date me? What if we were made for each other? What if we were still together now? If I wasn’t so timid maybe I would know the answer to any of these questions. Instead he’ll always be the guy I wish I kissed.

When I went home for the summer I eventually got back together with my old boyfriend. That is something I will always regret but at the same time not regret at all. We were together for 5 more years. When he graduated high school he came to the same college I was attending. The first 2 years there were some of the best times of my life. Being together again in the same place was a welcome change. We became inseparable. Like he was honestly my best friend in the entire world. I would have done pretty much anything for him. He was my person. He was the one thing I could always count on. We had so much fun together. We were basically on our own and our relationship thrived. We ended up finding a cat over the summer and she instantly became our child. I honestly thought that I had found the person I would spend the rest of my life with. And that thought never scared me for a single second. So I can’t entirely regret the decision to get back together because of this time period. I learned what love is supposed to feel like and I will always sorely miss the euphoric feeling of being interconnected with someone else’s heart and mind and soul. I will always long for the feeling of absolute solidity that exists when you are one another’s entire world. The way nothing else matters as long as you have each other to lean on through the good and the bad. I used to have that kind of love.

When I graduated college everything changed. We were long distance again and, just as he did so many years before, over time he stopped answering my texts and calls. I went on high alert. I was so suspicious of him and I knew in my gut that he was cheating on me. I had so much evidence and there were so many red flags but I really never wanted it to be true. I would think it but in the back of my mind I always hoped I was just throwing things out of proportion. I was so suspicious of him and this particular girl that I actually flat-out asked him if there was something going on and he denied it saying they were just friends. When he came home for Christmas break his senior year he told me he wanted to break up. It was literally just days after our anniversary. I was so confused. I couldn’t fathom why the person who told me he loved me every day wanted to dump me. I basically had a nervous breakdown. I screamed and cried and pulled out all the stops I had just so he would take it back. That night after he fell asleep I decided to look through his phone. I left no stone unturned. I ended up finding a hidden text message app with a text thread between him and the girl I suspected he was cheating with. I found out he had been emotionally and physically involved with her for 3 months. She said I was a psycho bitch. She told him he needed to dump me so they could be together. They were calling each other baby. Sending each other nudes. It was all too much for me to handle. I shook him awake, screaming “WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?” in his face. He immediately tried to grab the phone from me, he was crying and I was screaming, every fiber in my body was shaking with the confirmation of his betrayal. Everything in my stomach came rushing back up. I threw up probably 3 times. It was one of the worst nights of my life.

Naturally he told me that it was nothing. He promised me he didn’t have feelings for her. He claimed he just missed me and it was hard to be away from each other for so long. He said a lot of things he didn’t mean and I lapped each one of them up like I was dying of thirst. This is what I regret. I regret that at this moment I didn’t walk away for good. I regret that I didn’t stand up for myself. I regret that I thought that this relationship was worth the disrespect he showed me time and time again. I regret that I poured all that was left of my heart back into someone who treated me like I was disposable. Why did I do it? How could I be so stupid? Those are valid questions. I think because I did truly love him unconditionally and also because I was petrified of change. I had built a life around him. I was comfortable. I fell in love with all of his family and friends. I didn’t want to lose my entire world by walking away. But by not walking away I ended up losing so much more.

The claim that it was nothing lasted for about a month. We agreed that he should have no contact with the girl anymore. I sent her a text telling her this very fact along with some other choice words that I also regret saying. As soon as he went back to school it all went to shit. He shared an apartment with 4 other guys and one day he came home and she was there hanging out with one of his roommates. He texted me telling me how horrible it was. We talked on the phone and he was crying about how much he missed her. It’s funny writing this now because it seems so unbelievable that I actually went through this shit. Eventually I proposed that we take a break to regain our composure individually. He seemed thrilled at this idea, which in retrospect probably should’ve been a warning sign, but I was just so happy that I was finally doing something that made him happy. We set rules. We decided that we would have no contact with one another for a month. The day we would talk again was the day after Valentine’s day which also in retrospect was a horrible idea. During this time I did a lot of great things for myself. I did things I always wanted to do, like yoga and piercing my nose and going to therapy. I had the great idea to send him a Valentine’s day care package because I was so desperately hopeful. The day when we finally were allowed to talk to each other (I’m sure you already know what’s coming) is the last time I ever spoke to him. He read me a statement in the coldest, most disconnected voice that basically said he didn’t love me and didn’t want to be with me anymore. He told me that I was at fault for everything that happened because I was too needy and dependent on him all of the time and I put too much pressure on him. I was hysterical and pleading with him to change his mind and he hung up on me.

I don’t think I will ever be the same. Something inside of me broke that day. A part of who I used to be was obliterated. I used to see the world so much differently. I used to be the kind of girl who loved love and romance. Now I just roll my eyes at that shit. True love is dead. I regret not running when I had the chance. I regret not kissing Alex when I had the chance. I regret being silent because it was the safest option. I regret never saying what I want to say because I am so overly conscious of other people’s feelings and wants and needs. I regret letting people walk all over me. I regret giving up before I ever try due to the fear of failure. Maybe if I had just once acted without meticulously weighing the pros and cons I would still be the old me today. I cling to the hope that maybe someday I will see her again. Until then, I’m done holding my tongue.

[yanikascasblog-blog]

CAS Final Reflection

My CAS experiences showed me that the vast possibilities one could undertake in order to develop themselves. I realized that I possess a large potential to participate in the new activities, with the only thing stopping me: myself and my fear of failing.  I understood how vital it is for an individual to be present in the evermore development and progress of their skills, rather than stagnate and succumb to indolence, or be captivated by one's insecurities and self-doubt. I realized how great it is to participate in various events even though sometimes you end up not achieving the result you wished for, and learned persistent and patient with yourself.

I believe that I have greatly developed my creative skills. I started out my CAS programme with just sketching people from photos. When I came to school in Year 12, I was admitted to be a Creative Captain, a position which completely changed my perception and flourished my creative thinking. Even though, it was extremely difficult in some of its aspects such as the management of students, motivating everyone to participate, always being innovative and imaginative, I loved every second of it! It provided me with such priceless experience and I've established that in the future, I would want my occupation to be something similar: to be always in this imaginative and creative state, while communicating with people around me. Throughout my position as an Art Captain, I've: 

 created posters for house competitions which improved house spirit, 

directed the Christmas Song and implemented a new idea where a dance routine was incorporated into the routine; 

 decorated the tutor board and the house board; 

 did various bakesales; 

 hosted interhouse photography;      

 Directed the House Play  

Was in charge if Interhouse Art Competition 

 Directed the Interhouse Dance 

 Directed Interhouse music competiton called Battle of the Bands 

  In Year 13 I was admitted to a position of House Captain along with Nikolay Nizyev. Together we organized Sports Day, that involved assembling together all the students in Atalanta and conducting various activities with them. Our house activity was the Mummy Challenge. It was very challenging to direct everyone as the whole house was participating and there were different age groups. However overall, we believe that we've created an opportunity to have a great time for everyone. As House Captains, we also contributed to the House Spirit by for example, chanting during various interhouse sports competitions.  In addition, throughout those years I have opened up a new skill in film making. I began to create small videos from trips 2 years ago, however when we went to Greece with the whole year that’s when I took my little camera instead of just an iPhone and established a certain vision of what I want to achieve in my end product. I filmed nearly second of this trip, and captured different moments. To be honest, everyone was a bit clueless to what I was doing because no one really pointed a camera in their face continuously for 5 days, and of course no one knew how the end product will look. When we came back from the trip I was faced with a challenging task of producing a video because I had so much footage! I ended up making 4 videos, equilibrating in total to one hour. I've uploaded them and then waited for the reaction of people in my year. I believe that the factor that differentiated my videos to anyone else is because I've included all the funny moments, but I also edited the videos and put them into an aesthetic format with music. I was so glad when I received tons of good feedback, and I couldn’t believe the fact that everyone found them amusing and funny! This gave me motivation to continue filming and editing. Since then, I've produced videos from Paris, Geneva, ski trip in Crans Montana, vlogs with my friends and more skiing videos.  

For action, I was involved in different activities throughout my CAS programme. This included running, fitness, swimming, skiing, snowboarding and yoga. I was part of the Running Club for 2 years and we run almost marathons every Thursday which significantly improved my endurance. I then took part in the cross country competition and supported my house. I also did a lot of fitness and got a gym membership. During the ski season I was switching between skiing and snowboarding, as I liked both and couldn’t decide which one I want to stick to! Even though, I've snowboarded less than I skied in my life, I still find it both challenging and thrilling! I have also tried yoga since I was seeking in finding peace with my inner self and tried to retreat from negative thoughts and stress, as well as the evermore needed stretching for my muscles as I suffered back and neck pain. I found videos on YouTube that were easy to follow.

I was part of the student council for 2 years and during this time we've organized events such as Halloween and Valentine's Disco that raised money for charity, debated on various issues that helped to improve the school facilities such as lunch system, phone policies.

Also, during my Thailand trip I was faced with an amazing opportunity to volunteer at the local school. I bought school supplies and food for the kids and witnessed the struggles they face. I believe that this event helped to shape my vision as I was more aware of disparities in wealth and the everyday lives of the less fortunate ones. One thing is seeing the portrayal of those communities on the television and discussing them in class while studying in private school in Switzerland, but it is a completely different experience when you are present at the certain location and realize how obscure the reality is: why some have everything and still steal and lie to gain more, while others have nothing.

Overall, I believe that the CAS program shaped me into the person I am now as it provided me with an incentive to discover new challenges and taught me that I should always do what I am afraid, for only this way I would be able to continue to grow and develop. I'm grateful to our school for giving me all those opportunities that certainly unlocked my potential, helped me to form more connections with people and through which I could transfer positivity and my vision to people around me.