When you find out what Chompdown is, you will never miss another.

What is the elusive Chompdown? Each year, at Wakarusa, a communal breakfast is held.  This year the breakfast will be held on Friday morning starting at 9:00 am.   The Wakarusa forum members, many of which are part of a volunteer group called the St. Bernard's, puts on this feast.  The St. Bernard's run the information booths, lost and founds and other assertive services at the festival. 

The breakfast goes on for several hours and includes a great live music show. Traditionally, Dirtfoot plays an extra show during the breakfast to entertain the masses. Below is a great video piece of them rocking it out for Chompdown.   

I highly recommend checking it out for the music, food and community. The Chompdown official mission is "To put the human back into humanity by joining with our fellow man in cooking, eating and dancing at the most wonderful breakfast celebration of the year."    

The first breakfast was held, and organized, in 2007 under its founding leader Rabbit. Over the years the organization hard hit as Rabbit was diagnosed with lymphoma and after a long fight lost his battle.  At several of the Chompdown's buckets have been put out to raise funds to fight the disease that took our friend and founder.

At first Chompdown spread by word of mouth with people showing up with just a little more food then they needed. People would bring a dozen eggs, a package of bacon, some fruit.  As the years passed it grew to feed several thousand people and include upwards of 100 volunteers giving of their time, camp stoves and good vibes.   The event has spirit, music and soul, all the things festivals brings people together to share.  

The love flows as people bring what they have extra of enjoy with a wonderful eclectic meal. There always seems to be enough food and enough variety to keep everyone happy.  As the majority of the food comes in as the line up builds, the food offering constantly changes based on supply.  This is one morning of the festival that people, who are awake, have a good meal and start the day off strong. 

Last fall Chompdown was held at the Yonder Mountain Harvest Festival, at the same venue. The idea is spreading.  Hopefully this fall Chompdown will continue to spread it's love and be a part of the Phases of The Moon Festival taking the place of the Harvest Festival.  

So how can you be part of Chompdown Wakarusa 2015?  Come out Friday morning and help us make it happen.  A pair of hands will not be refused.  If you want to come and enjoy the show and breakfast bring some extra eggs, bacon, juice, fruit, cookies, plates, cups, utensils, or anything else you think will complement the offerings.  
Come hungry.  See you there.  

Ever wonder what old hippies bring to festivals.... Part 2

This is a continuation of the previous post.  If you missed it go check it out after you finish reading this one. It starts from #6 for that reason. Don't miss the first post.  Click here to link to it.  Ever Wonder What Old Hippies Bring to Festivals... Part 1.

6) I dedicate this one to Dirtfoot.  Dirtfoot is a fantastic band that plays the best swamp grass music I know of.  We are lucky enough to call them friends and even camp mates at times.  

The draw of the home pad is a big deal.  You will want a cool place to come back and hang including shade, crafts, food, drink, etc.  Yes I mentioned CRAFTS.  For the last few years I have been bringing some canvases and a bunch of multicolored sharpies to the festivals.  I get a set of cool tip pens and small canvases from Michael's and leave them out on the picnic tables of our site and those around us.   People move in and out of the camps and draw little thing, leave a saying, maybe a signature or even dominating an entire canvas spending a few hours.   The outcome is great and it is a creative fun thing to do.  

One of my favorite part of the craft project is that you get to see a creative side of folks that you did not know existed.  A couple of years ago the members of Dirtfoot dominated a canvas making the most wonderful keep sake I could have gotten at the festival.  One member did the majority of the drawing and then the others signed it and made their Dirtfoot drawing. I have it hanging in my hall along with the other canvases from that year. 

7) I dedicate this one to Miss Wildheart who is the queen of ground score, in a good way. When it comes to VALUABLES at a festival you have to be careful.  First things first, be careful with your car keys.  Leave them in the same place each time you go into the car.  You are better off not taking any valuables and leaving your car unlocked then losing your key down a portable potty.  You do not need to take them with you to the shows.  Find a place to stash them and leave them there. Better yet bring an extra key and stash it in another location. 

Your phone will quickly become a paper weight so leave it somewhere safe and dry as well.  Have a smart stash spot or lock it in the car. Unless you are going to keep it going with charging cubes you don't really need it on you.   I cannot tell you the number of phones that end up in lost and found, out of battery and with cracked screens.  You owe your phone a more dignified end.  Once it is dead even find my phone apps will not be of any help.  Also the internet service will be so overloaded by the first day that it will go down to almost nothing, so don't make yourself crazy trying to post to snap chat.  You probably should not post anything anyway. 

When it comes to money my old travel senses take over.  Don't bring too much.  You can use a bank machine, of which there are plenty.  Don't put all your money in the same place.  Put some in a bag, some in the car, and some on you.  Don't carry it all on you at once.  You are just as likely to drop it as have it stolen. Wear a fanny pack or use a zipper pocket in your water bag for anything you cherish.  

When you are out and about, keep your money close by… not 20 feet away in your bag as you dash off to see one.  People are generally kind at festivals, however losing things is easy to do and finding them is almost impossible.  To some festival goers finding things, i.e. ground score, is a way to fund their trips. 

8) This tip comes from someone I will call the Bloody Mary King.  He makes a killer Bloody Mary that will wake you up in the morning and give you a buzz before noon.  His tip is a HEAD LAMP.  He says "With cash and a head lamp I can do anything at a festival."  The head lamp will save you from falling over passed out novices and stepping in piles of unmentionables.  It will keep you from a bad scene in a portable potty and help you find the way back to hopefully your tent.  You might say that you phone has a light but remember without access to electricity your phone will become a paper weight soon enough.   

9) This tip comes from a wonderful woman I will call The Queen of Mardi-Gras. She has beaten Cancers’ butt and continues to share wisdom, generosity and strength.   

This is actually one of the most important items and one that I would be lost without.  EAR PLUGS.  After a few days without sleep you will sleep no matter what.  However if you want to sleep the first couple of nights of the festival, ear plugs are your best friend.  Also, if you are an avid music person and want to be able to hear your grand-kids in 30 or so years you might want to start using some ear plugs at shows like Basenector sooner than later.   Trust me they will not make it so you can't hear the music.  At a Basenector show you could be in the next county and still feel the music.  

10) I will dedicate this one to two great guys that always keep the music going at our camp site no matter what.  I will call them the Dynamic Duo.   

You may ask why you would want to bring a MUSICAL INSTRUMENT to a festival where you are surrounded by 5 stages full of talented musicians, and I will tell you that not a festival has gone by where a 3am jam session did not grace our campsite.  Often late into the night, after the main stages have shut down, music is be heard coming from little jam session happening all over the place.  Even during the day little musical interludes will pop up made up of lay people and artist alike.  Many of the musicians will stroll around looking for impromptu sessions to get in on.  If you come prepared you might get in on one too.

At the same time our home grown music at our camp has seen us through some rough times.  Two years ago when a huge storm came blasting across the top of the mountain the Dynamic Due played music while we all hid under the lowered easy up.  They kept our spirits up and the crowed entertained.  

Lastly, most music festivals will have a drum circle at some point in the schedule.  Usually this will happen on the last day of the festival and is a great event.  People will bring anything they can make percussive sounds out of and will pound and dance for hours.  You will not want to miss this experience and will be more a part of it if you have something to bang on. 

Bonus:  Bring a Yoga Mat.  Most festivals will offer a daily yoga practice. It might be too early to get most people going.  However I would not be a yogi if I did not bring the full yoga set up.  If I don’t make the practice I will often do a shorter routine outside my tent, assuming I can find some dry flat ground.  Bringing the mat and assorted Yoga accouterments and make this a pleasant addition to an already relaxing adventure.   

Ever wondered what old hippies bring to festivals... Part 1

We camp in upgraded RV.  We have some tree coverage, can get our cars in and out, and have access to the better bathrooms. However we were in your shoes before you stopped watching the Disney after school line up.  So here is some festival gold from those that went before you and keep going;

1) This is one of my personal inventions so I dedicate this one to my feet. At some point in the festival you will be very thankful for your FOOT BUCKET and bag of fancy bath salts.  You will put some water in the bucket and pour in the salts, plop your feet in it and sit back and feel like you are in the best spa having a full pedicure. The smell of lavender or ylang ylang will waft up to greet your senses.  You may have just danced for so many hours that only the schedule tells you which day it is.  You may have been sliding around in mud trying to get to vending.  You might even have been having a shoe malfunction and have some sore spots or blisters.  Your camp mates will willingly line up to take your cast off water. I know that sounds unbelievable but you have to walk to get new water, so just wait and see. 

2) I will dedicate this one to Mr. Party that brings 1000's of glow sticks and makes the most amazing glowing costumes. At any festival you will need GLOW STICKS.  I mean lots of them.  Go to the dollar store or craft stores and get a bunch of tubes.  You will toss them, decorate with the, put them in your hair, share them and even make costumes out of them.  

Last year, a friend created a costume where she was a bug.  She used extra-long glow sticks that went from her hair around through the spacers in her ears sticking out both ends like antenna.  She combined this with some scary clicking sounds and a tutu to make a very unnerving bug.  

A couple years ago, some friends took about 1000 or so glow sticks and made an enchanted forest path for people to navigate on the way through our camping area. The glow world had crazy shapes, flowers, mushrooms, a Cheshire cats, and even Alice herself.  Glow sticks are an essential.   

3) I dedicate this one to Peacock Lady. WATER is by far one of your most important assets at a festival. You need to drink, as it may be 105 and you will be dancing off your feet.  While the festival organizers will do their best to keep the water running there is no guarantee. These venues are often off the beaten path, in areas with traditionally low population.  I have been to festivals where the water was off for two days and those of us that brought extra water were glad of it.  We did not have to go without or pay crazy prices for small bottles.  

Having water is also about being able to carry it.  You might think you can carry a bottle around with you, however you will put it down or start regretting carrying it quick enough.   Make sure you have one of those packs with the water bags.  If you don't bring your own, you will spend the festival envying everyone else who does. The first day or two of the festival security may make you pour out the water as you enter the venues, however after that they will chill out. You can re-fill the bag from the water station inside each gate. Do not put other liquid into this pack.  You will destroy your bag and grow fungi in there that will make you sick.  

Lastly, you often have to lug water from the few water stations to your campsite.  Peacock lady has this wonderful fold out wagon that is light, reliable and can hold a heavy load of water or ice.  It is fantastic beast of burden and saves everyone from hating this daily task.

4) I dedicate this one to Ray Ray, who sported the fiercest set of healed, rubber cow boy boots you would ever want to see. A couple of years back Wakarusa became Mudarusa.  It was so muddy you could not really walk anywhere without sinking into at least three inches of mud.  Even getting to the bathroom was a nightmare for the hip joints.  I did not have Mud Boots and learned why I needed them that year.  

I enjoyed the festival but saw only about 1/4 of the music because we got 11 inches of rain over a three day period.  If the music was not canceled the stages were too deep in mud to make the process enjoyable.  I will never go to a festival without MUD BOOTS again.  Even if it does not rain you can wear them into the woods and be free of poison ivy or into the portable potties and not care what you are stepping on.  They don't have to be fancy, however live it up and get some cool ones. 

5) I dedicate this one to our founding leader Etiquette the tiger. The name of the site that I often stay on is called Bacon Alien.  Like most sites, we have appropriate DECOR. Our flag is a diagonally crossed pieces of bacon with an alien head in the middle. We dress up our site for both form and function.

Decor has several purposes.  On one hand it is to show people who our camp is and what our own personal style is.  On the other hand it outlines the boundaries, gives protection from the sun and ensures some privacy.  Decor is a wonderful parade of colorful tapestries, easy ups, hammocks, blow up items, flags, and anything else you can imagine.

Over the years I have seen amazing set ups including full geodesic domes and 20 foot tall palm leaves made into tribal huts. Often people will put up range sticks or flags to help people find their way back to their camps.  If you camp in general camping you will be crammed in there like sardines and at night it will all blend into one big caravan. So let your freak flag fly and guide you home at the end of your night to your colorful bohemian wonderland. 

Stay tuned for the second part of this post with even more great tips for festival life. You can find the second post here.  Ever wondered what old hippies bring to festivals... Part 2. 

No Till Gardening - 4 reasons why you should never till again.

This will be the fourth seasons that I have not tilled my garden. It may seem counter intuitive but it saves me time, energy and money. Not tilling even increases my yield.   I own a nice mantis tiller, yet these days it lives in a friends garage and is only used when I lend it out to folks.

For years I used to break out the tiller each spring and run it diligently through the beds.  I would use shovels to break up some of the hard ground and then would till until everything was a fine consistency.  I would often stop while tilling to clean roots out of the tiller wheels.  I would see very little worms and was surprised how hard the ground got each year.   Usually by two weeks after I tilled a nice crop of weeds would spring up everywhere to be fought over and over all summer.  

So a few years ago, when I was really into listening to the Self Sufficient Gardener podcast, I kept hearing about no-till gardening and finally listened to an entire episode on it. I  thought that what I was hearing from the podcast made sense.   http://theselfsufficientgardener.com/episode-197-no-and-low-till-planting-methods I have included the link for those that might like to listen to it.  Frankly, Jason Akers' podcasts are like gold, so check them out. He has not been active since 2013 but his stuff is still relevant.  He has published several books which are also great content.  

From my experience and Jason's podcast here is why tilling is bad:

1) You disturber the natural layering structure of the soil process when you till. Soil has a natural looseness to it when there is organic matter in it.  When there is not enough organic matter in your soil and it appears hard and needing to be broken up, yearly tilling it will only help the soil stay hard in the long run. If you just put organic matter on top of your beds each year, it will slowly work through the soil naturally.  Microbes and worms work through the compost and tunnel back into the soil leaving castings and nutrient by-products as they go.  Your soil will stay soft and healthy with stratification of organic material each year.  To make it even better the organic material will work as a mulch keeping weeds down. 

2) When you till you kill the microbes, soil bacteria, fungi and others digesting in your soil. These mini beasts convert the organic materials to nutrients your plants can absorb.  You can't re-arrange or till these habitats and have the microbes survive.  So when you till the soil you are essentially reducing the life value in your soil.  The lower the life value, the lower the nutrient conversion, the lower the yield.

3) Tilling causes weeds.  You till to make the weeds go away but you in fact you are causing more weeds. As you till you are mixing up all the weed seeds sitting on top of you soil and the ones laying dormant under ground. The weed seeds in the soil are released so they have a chance to actually germinate causing the unavoidable break out of weeds you get shortly after tilling.  Also, tilling will propagate root spreading plants like dandelion or mint.  Think Medusa and her many snakes.  So the tilling actually brings on future weeds.

4) Tilling reduces water absorption capacity of your plants by pulverizing the micorizal fungi that connect to your plants root systems. The networks of fungi under the soil connect to your plants root systems increasing their capacity to access water by up to four fold.  This makes for deeper and stronger root system that tunnel through nutrient rich soil. If you till, then each year the fungi is weaker and your yield will show it.    

If you are worried about hardening soil, rotate the areas and put in carrots of other root vegetables that will naturally loosen stuff up.  However, if you are putting organic material on the beds, and keeping the beds as foot free as possible, you will be good to go with soft, healthy soil structure.  

So, why would one till up the ground each year, breaking up the networks of fungi, worms, etc. just to unleash all the weed seeds.  Combine this plan with a technique of adding about two inches of organic materials each spring, and presto you will have incredible yields each year.    

So tilling is bad, MmmmKay.  We have figured this out.  However, now we need to consider one more point.  The materials you layer with each spring must be of good quality.  It can be well broken down compost from your own garden or trusted sources.  It can come in bags from the hardware store. Just watch out, sometimes the bags have a terrible almost gasoline smell and a tar like consistency.  While, sometimes the bags are beautiful, fine and healthy.  If you do have to get compost from a store don't be afraid to make a small finger tip size hole to check out the quality of the compost before you buy.  Do you want your soil eating Prime Rib or McDonald?  Input - output my friends.  Happy no till, just add your compost and watch what happens. 

Important Things Not on My Resume: Good taste in Scotch

For a Canadian to admit that I do not drink beer is a big deal. Of course Canadian beer is very different than American Beer.   Wine, while it has it's place, is also not my drink of choice.   I have never been one to drink regularity or too much.  I do not have the best after game for drinking, often feeling a hang over for several days.  So when I do drink it is in moderation.  Thus, the thought that if you are going to do it do it right comes to mind.

So while others might want to have a beer or a rum and coke I prefer a nice sipping scotch.   At least I come by this honestly.  My father's family enjoyed several generations in Scotland, I have pictures of him in short pants running around Glasgow. My folks were never big drinker's but kept a nice quality liquor cabinet for guests.  My mother liked B&B while my father often had good Scotch and Cognac on hand.

I developed a taste for Scotch.  I matured into this over the years, however one night is responsible for long term obsession.  Back in 1993, during my traveling days I spent some time in Scotland.  While in Edinburgh, I was lucky enough to meet a friend who had a fantastic understanding of the elixir.  We met in a bar drinking scotch.   I was obviously not from around there, and he obviously was.   We got to discussing scotch and he said I aught to do a scotch tasting up the hill.  I agreed and we decided to meet up the following evening.

We met up and began the upward journey through the winding ancient streets of Edinburgh.  As we got off the beaten path each pub became less tourist focused and more local hangout.  In each one we tried a scotch.  Each scotch like each pub was different. Some pubs were low light and heated with peat burning in a corner fireplace and some where all bar stools and track lighting.  Here is a web site that lists at least 50 pubs in Edinburgh.  We frankly made it to less then 10 that night.

Some of the scotch's had stronger, earthier flavors than others and others had less of a burn. Each ones was unique.  I must admit that with my poor ability to handle liquor I was probably not noticing the exact differences after a while. I did come out of it with a favorite, Bunnahabhain  12.  Its a lovely single malt from the Isle of Islay.  Every once and a while you can find it where I live, however it is something to be savored and respected.

So why is this important to understanding who I am.  Well when one drinks a good scotch they do not slosh it down with coke and ice. They do not shoot it seeking a fast buzz.  They often let to swim around their mouth savoring it's texture and feel.  This is a savoring and deep enjoyment of a sensation.  It takes a person with patience and deep consideration to drink scotch.  My resume may tell you about my job experience, however, it will not tell you about my patience and appreciation for quality. It will not tell you about my level headed intelligence and respect for those that have gone before us.  It will not to tell you the degree to which I enjoy life and appreciate all it's brilliance.  So, the next time you see someone order a scotch in a bar look a little deeper and see what you might find.

I end this blog with a quote by the Scottish Jewish Historian, David Daiches. While he was born in Lithuania he was raised and live his life in Scotland writing, teaching and drinking Scotch. This is from his 1969 book aptly called Scotch Whiskey.

“The proper drinking of Scotch whisky is more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilization, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a manifesto of man’s determination to use the resources of nature to refresh mind and body and enjoy to the full the senses with which he has been endowed.”

- David Daiches,

Spring Garden Tips : smells like sun and spring - hardening off plants

The dog came inside from a nice long sleep on the deck in the sun.  He was warm to the touch and it felt like there was an electric charge to his fur.  He had the happiest smile upon his face.   He smelled of sunshine and spring.

Spring has finally starting to show it's face here in Missouri.  For those of us that garden is a big sign to start getting things ready.   For me the preparation began a few weeks ago.  I started my garden starts indoors.  The trays are full of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, flowers and other assorted plants growing in the south facing window of the kitchen sliding glass doors.  

As the plants grow, on warm days, I will take them outside to harden off.  When I first started growing plants starts I had no idea what hardening off was.  Is it like tough love for plants? What exactly needs to be hard here, hard water?

When you get plants at a nursery or a garden store they are often sitting on racks or platforms outside.  The wind is blowing through the plants, the sun is shining upon them. Their soil has the opportunity to dry out and get wet at different times.   These are hardened off plants.  They are ready for the real life of living in the soil in someone's garden.   

So when we start plants indoors from seed, we need to get to this hardened off plant some how. While I don't intentionally use this method, I once knew this amazing farmer dude who grew the best pepper plants.  I used to get my plants from him each year at the Columbia Mo Farmers Market.  He was a retired Navy man and we connected once on a trip I was to take to Norfolk.  He had been stationed there many years earlier during his Navy service.  I picked him up a little magnet with the ships on it and he was over the moon.  I digress.  

So he grew these fantastic hardened off plants with strong stems. They were really thick and stocky plants.  He told me his secret was that he pumped music into his green houses for hours each day.  The sound waves would make micro abrasions in the stems that would cause the plants to grow incredibly strong stocks.   While we often have music playing in the house.  I wonder what my 11 year old's trombone practice must be doing to the poor dears.  

As the plants grow I try to get them out in the sun and wind. You really have to be careful with the wind.  The little plants can get hurt really easily.  I try to go for days with less wind and even make a wind barrier if possible to block the area of the porch with the trays.  I have used those shelving units with the plastic covers and usually end up ditching the plastic covers.   It gets too hot in there for most starts.   

The trick seems to be limiting the amount of total time the plants go on these excursions to the porch.  Slowly building up over time as we get closer and closer to putting them into the garden.  As we approach the end of April, I may even leave them out over night on a few nice nights to get them ready for the cooler ground temperatures.  

When the plants are well hardened, they go through less transplant shock.  Have you ever put plants in the grown and watched as they did absolutely nothing for a few days, even looking worse off as the days go on.  Eventually the plant come back and takes off and does it's thing.  However, during that time you feel this deflation.  Well that is transplant shock.   If your plants are well prepared you will have a shorter adjustment period.  So take advantage of the good days to get your starts ready for their permanent homes.  

In Honor of my Root Canal

March 31st 2015.  The day I had my first Root Canal.  This process deserves a post.  A rant and some reflection.  Not only did it cost approximately $1,200, it reinforced once again my skill with the yoga breath.  In honor of this I will share two great scenes about dental procedures.

The Pink Panther Dental Scene

The Carol Burnet Show Dental Scene

The history of tooth number 3 top right:  A few years ago ,when I first started going to my current dentist, she replaced the majority of my old mercury fillings.  Tooth number 3 was a troubled case.  There was so much tooth gone on the side, on the surface.   The dentist told me off hand, "oh this one will need a crown and a root canal."  I asked her how much something like that costs, she shrugged. "Not more than two or three thousand."  I went into shock and was furious.  She stated this like it was no big deal.  Sorry but to most people dropping a couple grand does not happen every day.  

So, being of gentle and balanced temperament, I swore I would not deal with either issue and would let it be, frankly it caused no pain.   Number 3 was strong and I was not giving up on it.   Then one day, about 2 hours before I was leaving for the airport on a Toronto trip, a good part of #3 broke off. Just fell off in my mouth.    I freaked, called the dentist and she got me right it.  They smoothed it out and booked a crown appointment for right after I returned from my trip.

I gave in to the first part of the expense and got a crown.  The dentist, of course gave me some grief about getting the root canal.  I told her that unfortunately that year our medical funds were already accounted for due to my son's hospital stay.  She kind of shrugged as if to say "suit your self' like Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein.  

Number 3 had a new shinny top, all strong and clean.  I felt like I was on the top of the world.  Only problem was that cold liquids seemed to be a bit much for Number 3.   I called the dentist and they said it would go away over time after the crown.  Only it did not go away,  it got worse.

Slowly, slowly I changed the way I chewed and drank using the left side more and more  Recently I noticed a sour taste and more sensitivity.  I broke down and booked the appointment.   

So I got up this morning knowing I was looking down the barrel at the dreaded Root Canal.  With a name like Root Canal what is one to think. It sounds like a bone marrow transplant, or a joint replacement.  It sounds like pain and suffering.   At 12:45 I was in the office with the forms filled out and reading the same three lines over and over on my iPad.   They called me and the procedure began.   

The numbing stage began.  Boy I hate needles.  I could never be an inject-able drug user as I can't stand needles.   No thank you.  Anyway four needles later I feel like a stuck pig waiting to feel my face melt of.  They took some shots and waited for the numbing to take full effect.  I read some of my romance novel, again reading the same lines over and over.  

They began preparing me. The entire concept of a dental dam is a horrible thing.  Lets block off your mouth so you can't breath and all you can do is feel your epiglottis drying up and hope it does not stich to your throat and make you vomit.  If you vomit then you would breath in my own vomit because it will be blocked by a stupid balloon stretched across your airway like a evil April fools joke.   

Moments of panic flashed as I struggled to breath and keep calm while the drilling went on and on.  All of the flesh inside the roots was smoothly removed. The canals were prepared for stints like you were shoring up a concrete supporting wall.  Random Smells and tastes processed through, disinfectant, clove.  Each time I felt ready to panic I would go into yoga breathing.  Calmly focusing on each in-hail and each ex-hail one at a time.  Finally they put in the packing material of the temporary filling and we were done.   

Two hours out the door.  That is approximately $600 per hour.  Not a bad take for an afternoon's work.   I felt like I looked like I had a stroke.  My right side was of my face was not moving and Number 3 was starting to pulse.   I went home, had something easy to eat and then went about my day waiting for to get my face back.  I tried to drink a soda and had that wild feeling of only feeling it has it passed the left side of my lip not the right.  

There was a point this afternoon where I felt like I had been hit in the face with a football.  This was at the height of the de-freezing experience.   It was pulsing and I was feeling kind of sad for myself.  Yet as the numbing wore off it hurt less and less.    By dinner time I was ready to try to eat on Number 3.  

As I ate dinner, I realized it was the first time in several years that I purposely ate on the right side.  I did not realized how much I had been holding back.  It felt pretty good.  It was not sensitive when I drank some cold water and did not hurt as I chewed.  It felt a little beaten up but probably less painful then when day began.  So all and all it was not too terrible.  The procedure was worse then anything else.  I hope that this will be all for Number 3 and we can let it just hang out and be a happy tooth from now on.