Casual Fridays

Y'all. I've been trying to avoid this, but I think I need to have my wisdom teeth extracted. I've had two different dentists tell me that it would be a good idea to have them out (the first of which told me this more than 5 years ago, but he wasn't very professional and I just didn't believe him). I hate, hate, hate the dentist and am terrified slightly anxious about the idea of going under anesthesia for oral surgery. I never had braces or even so much as a cavity until a few months ago, and when I went to have it filled: I cried. (But for the record, my husband told me I was very brave and he's a nurse and he doesn't lie about stuff like that.) Anyway, my bottom left wisdom tooth occasionally causes me pain (which is why I went to that first dentist 5 years ago), and this week, my jaw has been hurting so bad. This is possibly the worst it's been and the longest it's lasted. Or maybe it just seems that way because it's fresh in my mind that my dentist told me I needed to have them removed. Cody and I went to the dentist a few months ago for the first time in our marriage because we figured it was about time we started taking advantage of the dental insurance we have. I hadn't had a cleaning in more than 10 years. So, I mean, I think I'm taking pretty good care of my teeth if after more than 10 years of nobody cleaning my teeth but me, I only had one small cavity starting. Right?! Ok, we are wandering all over the place here and what is the point of all this, Hannah?! The point is this: have you ever had your wisdom teeth removed? Did you live? And did any of you actually have a good experience with wisdom teeth extraction? (Isn't "extraction" the most painful sounding word you've ever heard??) Is there an oral surgeon in the Central Florida area you would recommend? And realistically, how long was your recovery? No horror stories, please. As you can see, I'm having a hard enough time with this as it is. 

Moving on, since today seems like a good day to be taking your advice and opinions on important matters, please send me all your favorite go-to recipes. I've been lacking inspiration in my meal-planning lately and could use some fresh ideas. What does your family love? The easier, the better.

On to the next topic: as you may have read, I recently read The Taming of the Shrew, and I am now accepting suggestions for which two Shakespearean plays should go on my 2018 book list. I read Macbeth last year, and I still intend to read Hamlet this year so that leaves your choices for a tragedy as follows:

• Antony and Cleopatra
• Coriolanus
• Cymbeline (is this a tragedy or a comedy? I've seen it listed in both categories)
• Julius Caesar
• King Lear
• Othello
• Romeo and Juliet
• Timon of Athens
• Titus Andronicus
• Troilus and Cressida

I'm personally leaning toward Romeo and Juliet. I haven't read it since 9th grade. Your options for a comedy are:

• All's Well That Ends Well
• As You Like It
• Comedy of Errors
• Love's Labour's Lost
• Measure for Measure
• The Merchant of Venice
• The Merry Wives of Windsor
• The Tempest (once again: tragedy or comedy? I've seen it on both lists)
• Twelfth Night
• The Two Gentlemen of Verona
• The Winter's Tale

I'm thinking Twelfth Night for a comedy, but I'm seriously open to any suggestions you have. What say you? As you can see, I have 10 tragedies and 11 comedies to go. My long-term plan is to read one tragedy and one comedy each year until I get through them all and then I'll move on to his histories and poetry after that. I just realized that I'll probably be 50 before I reach my goal of reading everything Shakespeare ever wrote and that makes me feel very old. Like, really will I still be blogging when I'm 50? Oy with the poodles already.

To sum it up: wisdom teeth, recipes, and Shakespeare. Heaven help. Have a great weekend!