The white puff is apparently a fire starting at the base of the Oquirrh Mountains at about 2:05 pm, July 27, 2007.

Sometime about two weeks ago, I broke a tooth.  As usual, I don’t just do something partially; this time I broke the tooth so that it is cracked in two places.  This means that every time I bite down on it, the tooth splits apart and … well, the sensation is a bit hard to describe.  The dentist was quite impressed with the degree of fracture though and had to pull out a camera to show it to me.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have any time in his schedule on that day to do a crown preparation so I’m going back in tomorrow morning for that.  I have learned in the last ten days to chew on the right side of my mouth but for some reason I forget when I drink.  The first swallow of cool or warm liquid reminds me quite forcefully that something isn’t quite right.  I can’t drink from a cup as it will always hit that tooth but I can use a straw and get around it.

Tomorrow morning can’t come soon enough – the tooth is starting to ache constantly and I’m sure everyone is tired of me complaining about it. Molly (TIP) indicated that mouth pain is worse than childbirth but not having endured that I don’t have any comparison. 

As some of you are are aware, I have had some trials getting a passport issued. The post office in some locations has an appointment list of five to six weeks just to accept the applications! Once the application is accepted, there is four to five week wait while they do whatever has to be done to process and produce the passport and that is for the expedited process. The non-expedited process can run up to six months or more.

However, you don’t have to go to the post office. After kvetching a bit about this, someone clued me in that I could go to the County Clerk’s office for Salt Lake County for the interview and drop off the application, no appointment necessary. Hurrah! An hour later, it is in process and I’m back on track for being able to make my trip.

If you don’t live in Salt Lake County, please check with your clerk’s office to be sure that you clerk’s office accepts applications.

A couple of pointers before you go:

• Check or Money Order only for the State Department payments.
• You can get a duplicate birth certificate on a walk in basis from the county health department. You must appear before 4:00 PM.
• Clerk’s Office opens at 8:00 AM.

In case you are wondering, the costs associated with a passport are:

State Department fees (expedited)

143.50

Clerk’s fees

35.00

Duplicate Birth Certificate (if needed)

15.00

I know it is strange that I haven’t needed a passport before now, but until recently you didn’t need a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico and I haven’t been further abroad than that yet.

I received this text message from my brother a few minutes ago:

“I know its short notice but [his fiancee] and I are taking off for Vegas tomorrow to get married on 7/7/07. The luckiest day ever. You are invited but I understand if you can’t make it. We just decided yesterday.”

The boy is not pleased with the thought of getting back into the car for yet another unplanned trip. 

Not pleased at all.