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It’s been six months…

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Six months today was when you couldn’t call me brace face anymore. I was no longer calling myself ‘shark tooth’ or ‘metal mouth’. Though, I am what you would call a tooth snob now. I can’t help it. I wear my retainer during the night time, but when I’m out around on the streets and I see people who have crooked teeth, I want to rush home and pop that blue retainer back in my mouth. These babies cost me an arm and a leg but was well worth it. I have silly reoccurring nightmares that my teeth are denting in, moving back to their old places, chipping.. etc. It’s very strange.

Do you know how many new types of chewing gum comes out in 18 months? A heck of a lot! (Somehow I managed to get my hands on a complementary, well designed and very impressive package of Stride gum – which really does last a ridiculously long time. Have you seen it? It almost looks like you’re opening up a mini pack of cigarettes. Cute. Then there’s the old lady favorite Wrigley’s 5 that has the same flavors as Stride but doesn’t last ridiculously long and pomegranate by Trident. Damn that stuff has a strong smell on it. The flavor? Doesn’t last 5 minutes!).

Chewing gum and sticky candy are a few of the things you should really stop eating when you get braces on. But my goodness the delicious new flavors and brands of gum out there … unbelievable. If you haven’t tried the Denytne Blast (Wild Winter is a personal fav), I suggest you do. When you first bite into it, there’s a gush of cool mint that surrounds my mouth like nothing else. I’ve been chewing gum like it’s been going out of style, for the last six months, mainly at work because I don’t want to snack and get a huge bum. I guess I’m making up for it now (chewing the gum! Not the big arse!), I actually buy the jars of 40’s and it lasts me about a week. It’s my sugar–free vice, and could be a lot worse, right?

Thinking about getting braces? Here is the run down:

  • Orthodontic consultation: Free (I’m not sure if he was just nice, or if it’s always free.)
  • Two teeth extractions with a visit from the dentist: $200
  • X-Rays, molds of bad teeth, photos of face, and initial cost braces being put on: $630
  • Monthly payments of $160 x 2 years: $3840 (Even though I had braces on for 18 months, the contract said 24 months. BOO!)
  • TOTAL COST: $4670.00

I got things done quickly once I moved to Ontario. I graduated school in June 2006, and flew straight to Ontario 3 days after. Initially I wanted to purchase a car but I thought that since teeth will last forever, I’d get that over with and get my pretty smile fixed. I’m glad I did. Those 18 months flew by, and even though I liked every moment checking out my teeth in my hand held mirror, watching my shark tooth go back into place with all the rest of my bottom teeth – I’m glad they’re off. I don’t smile any less or anymore than I used to, despite what others say. I never let my teeth get the best of me. I didn’t have low confidence about showing my teeth off. I just wanted straight teeth, is all! Seriously. My teeth didn’t look bad except when you looked at them at certain angles, and boy did I not know what angles they were when the camera was shining on me. Har har.

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Daily, Health

On the run

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My BF mentioned to me on Monday that there is a small 2.5km, 5km and 10km race on Sunday. I started running the very next evening. BF came with me to keep pace and make sure I didn’t get mugged in the dark. We did the race loop (2.5km per loop) which has me stoked since it’s only in our backyard basically. I already broke my record, second day on the job. That’s motivation for ya — like I said, I like breaking my own records.

However, I’m still unsure about registering for the race. I plan on doing the 5k. I wanted to start off slow. I’ve never been in a race before, and I haven’t been at the gym training and having competitions with myself since May. I’m very self–competitive and I want to do well. If I don’t think I will do well, I won’t enter and be devastated by a crap time. lol

Tuesday: 25:10 (I wanted to die, my lungs were so tired by the end of it. Then I cooked us a feast. heehe)
Wednesday: 23:48 (Lungs felt a bit better. Also wanted to die again. Busy time to run 6:30P)
Goal for Thursday: 22:55

I’m estimating it was 4.3 km because I didn’t do the loop that goes around the football stadium and back on the road again which would make it an actual 5k run. I may chicken out. I still have 3 days left to train my butt off.

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Daily, Photos

Half Ironman = Half a tattoo

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I was joking with my Boyfriend the other week saying once he completes his 70.3 Muskoka Ironman, that he needs to get half of an ironman tattoo somewhere on his body, as completing one of those is an enormouse accomplishment, especially only getting involved with Du’s in 2006 and Tri’s in 2008.

His race went well, of course he wishes he could’ve done better in certain parts of the race. The swim was 1.2 miles, Bike 56 miles and ran a half marathon (13.1 miles) after all of that! It was raining on race day but it wasn’t windy or cold at all, which made it all better for the athletes. His time overall was 5:59! And what a small world it is, indeed. During registration, I glanced over the hundreds of bodies (about 1,800 in the race I think!?) and spotted a guy I knew from Newfoundland! He flew up to Ontario with his wife, just to do the half ironman that weekend. Wild hey.

Ooohhh….I got my photo taken with Craig Alexander the world champion triathlete of 2007! Unfortunately the picture quality is poop because the flash on BFs blackberry didn’t go off. Craig won the race on Sunday as well. He alsooooo won Newfoundland’s 70.3 half ironman distance (that’s where I’m from!) I love it when people know where Newfoundland is located on a map.

The 70.3 distance race was a lot different than the Guelph Lake Tri in August, where a racer collapsed just feet from the finish line and had to be resuscitated with the defibrillator and had performed CPR on him. Of course, everyone was rubber necking and checking out what the deal was, as was I. They backed up an ambulance to the finish line and finally got him breathing again. When the young man was awake after all the mishap on the stretcher, he certainly had a sense of humor… pointing, winking and doing the wave to all the spectators and athletes as he was being wheeled into the ambulance.

So what’s next for this triathlete? Only bigger and better things to come. My BF has already registered for the Ironman Canada in August of ’09 which will be held in British Columbia. I’m already stoked!

(More pictures will be added in the next few days)

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