Teething again

Today I arose at a more decent hour. Another thing that woke me the other night was this teeth situation. They don't exactly hurt, but with my new -- ta da -- braces, my teeth tense up. So I have to work on that. I don't mind. It's all part of the adventure.

The other day I was on the phone with LP. That's how I refer to Leonard Pennario in my notes and sometimes in person -- I got that from his close buddy Robert Wagner, the actor ("It Takes a Thief," "It Takes a Reverse Mortgage"), whom he calls "RJ." Today's picture shows the two of them on an outdoorsy fishing trip they took to Aspen, along with RJ's wife, Jill St. John -- who, come to think of it, may have taken the picture. You cannot see it in this particular shot but LP is wearing these huge, hilarious boots. I have teased him about that.

Anyway, on the phone with LP, I mentioned how I'm not the only one with braces, that JoAnn Falletta, our symphony orchestra conductor, has them too. Pennario adores JoAnn. He was her soloist about 25 years ago, when she was with the Denver Symphony. She said because she was right out of Juilliard and it was the first time she was conducting with a soloist, the orchestra broke the bank and got someone they normally wouldn't have been able to afford, someone great who wouldn't give her any problems. Leonard laughed when I told him that. But he sounded distressed when I told him that JoAnn and I are now both running around with mouths full of metal.

"Oh, dear!" he exclaimed.

I said, "Oh, Leonard, it's really more funny than anything."

Still, I appreciate his sympathy. Even though when I go back to see him next month I am dreading that first time he makes me laugh and he has to see this, um, appliance in my mouth. Not pretty!