Friday 19 February 2010

Dental Angst and Diagram Delight

Well, God knows I need cheering up. Had root canal treatment on Tuesday. On Wednesday, tooth ached. Never mind, I thought, it's just a bit narky after the treatment: it'll settle. It didn't. Phoned dentist yesterday, saw him today and had an uber-fun session. He extracted the root seals, cleaned everything out. Ow. And Ow. I'm now on antibiotics because there's an infection there and my face hurts lots and lots. Can't even comfort eat - how unfair is that?

So what can lift my mood? Well, first of all, bookings are coming in for the new fictionfire courses in the spring, so I'm delighted about that.

Secondly, it's that time of year again, when the Bookseller runs its annual competition for the Diagram Prize for the weirdest title published during the year. This year's shortlist has just been announced and you can vote  at http://www.thebookseller.com/ until 26th March. To be honest, I don't think this year's list is as good as in some previous years (check out my Diagram blog posts under the Quirks and Funnies label) - but that may be the toothache talking.

Here's the shortlist:

Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter
Collectible Spoons of the Third Reich
Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes
Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots
The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
What Kind of Bean is This Chihuahua?

What kind of sense does that final one make? I like the Collectible Spoons - but spoon-boxes featured strongly in a title a couple of years ago, and there was a title 'How Green were the Nazis?' back then, so I think things cutlerian (have I just invented a word?) and Teutonic may well be played out. Currently my frontrunner is The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Sounds like it would make a good Tim Burton movie.

Now, my people, I'm off to take more paracetamol and groan, while clutching my lower jaw. Poor me. Poor poor me.

10 comments:

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Oh I know how bad toothache and a route canal gone wrong feels. It is absolute murrrderrr as they say in Scotland. Teeth are great things that work so very well until they go wrong and work no more. The pain is unbelieveable, total agony. Especially with an infection - you really feel like the world is at an end. You have my total sympathy Hen. Scotch does work wonders - or Brandy as I hate Scotch - that's fighting waaaatter! A pint of who urr ye lookin at?

Anti inflamatories, a wee Brandy and bed after a hoat bath. That'le sort ye oot Hen. Aw ra best. Teri (MOB)

Lorna F said...

Thanks so much, Teri. What is it with us Scots and teeth, eh? As dear old John Laurie would have put it, 'We're a' doomed! Doomed, I tell ye!' The antibiotics are doing sod-all so far and the pain is getting worse - and it would be the weekend, wouldn't it? I'll have to resort to the brandy .. x

Denise said...

Ow, eek and eww - hope it's better today. Tooth ache is horribly demanding of attention. If the brandy isn't helping I'd be banging the counter at the chemist for something strong!

I had a tooth out in hospital and they removed my wisdom teeth at the same time 'whilst you're here' (Why???) which gave me tooth ache in all corners. I found some ice wrapped in a cloth was quite soothing. Then again I wasn't offered the brandy option!

Lane Mathias said...

Oh yes, indeed - poor, poor you:-(

I hope you're feeling much better now.

I agree that the titles aren't as great as last year, what with the fromage frais. These ones don't exactly flow do they:-)

Karen said...

I'm rather drawn to Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots for some reason. Not sure I'd like to read it though!

I do hope your poor mouth is feeling better now - I've got some root canal work coming up and am dreading it :o(

Lorna F said...

Denise, Lane and Karen - thanks so much for your sympathy. I'm going back to the dentist tomorrow, so wish me luck! I'm sure your experience will be better than mine, Karen. The Saga of Lorna's Teeth would make a triple-decker saga - if only it didn't make such painful reading!

Daniel Dragomirescu said...

Original and interesting. With all means, go ahead!
Daniel D. Peaceman, writer and editor

Lorna F said...

Thank you, Daniel.

Jo said...

I empathise with the dental trauma. I've experienced my fair share over the past few months, including a lot of root canal treatment, infection etc. All seems fine now, so fingers crossed it'll stay that way. I hope yours settles down very soon. It's horrible not being able to eat properly, isn't it?

Lorna F said...

Jo, I'm glad you've survived root canal treatment! It's not a picnic, is it? I've had lots of it before and usually it's done the trick but this tooth just does not want to calm down. Well, it's calmer than it was, but could flare up again at any time. My dentist thinks I should cut my losses and I'm due to see him next week, but my feeling is that I need to hang onto every tooth I can, twingy and grouchy though it may be!