There's a clinic in Milwaukee that will put you under for even routine care if you're that freaked out.

I think the trick for a lot of the dentist phobics is getting them to make an appointment and actually going into the dentist's office. Once there being knocked out will certainly help (and maybe help in alleviating the fear the next time they go). But getting into the dentist in the first place must be the big hurdle.

God, my EYES!

[link]

Next time I go to the dentist? TOTALLY asking for an epidural.

Cashmere, you want to get your teeth all squared away, before you start trying to sprog, again. Remember last time? t /nag

Okay, I am off, again. Have I mentioned Thursdays beat me down, because they do. Ugh.

I'm so getting that second cut as soon as my hair grows out.

Cindy, oh, definitely. Although I now have a sonic care toothbrush which should take care of the gum problems that happened with O. *shudder*

I like the second cut. I'm trying to picture it on me, in fact.

Have I mentioned Thursdays beat me down, because they do. Ugh.

"'This must be Thursday,' said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. 'I never could get the hang of Thursdays.'"

Update on Big!Boss: we just heard from his daughter. The surgery went smoothly -- his arm was removed about 2 inches above the elbow. The doctors said after examining the arm that all the muscle and nerves were gone. (I assume that's b/c the flesh-eating bacteria destroyed them.) He's so doped up still that he's kind of out of it 24/7, and so he has not been told about his arm yet.

I can't actually process this.

I'm going to the gym.

Since you're around... any thoughts?

It helps to speak in stylist language since they have to translate all kinds of babbling into actual haircuts. Don't wave your hands around your head and say, "I don't know..." vaguely.

Give them a framework to start with. Specifically how short you're willing to go and what is too short. What you know doesn't work for you (short bangs, razored layers). Tell them about your hair: it's thick, it's wavy but it loses the wave when it is too long (or too short). Tell them how much time you're willing to spend styling it. Tell them what you need for work (aka, how much funky is allowed).

Helps to bring in a picture of when you really liked your hair (maybe your wedding pics). Tell them what you liked about that cut, but what you'd like to change. Let them know if you're feeling conservative or adventurous.

Except at the very high end of freestyle haircutting, most cuts are going to fall within a fairly narrow range of choices. I expect you'll want a length below your jaw, but above your shoulders. After that it's layered or blunt, bangs or not. If layered - probably long layers with face framing. Or shorter, more shag style layers (as in the cut Aimee linked). OR something completely different. But I don't sense that you're that restless yet.