Then I took the dust of a long sleepless night and I put it in your little shoe.

Last week, a package arrived from Zip-N-Squeeze, emblazoned with their striking motto: "No Sucking Required!" This would have been more disturbing if we hadn't recently ordered feeding pouches for post-surgery recovery, but still! I should have asked if they had a discreet brown-paper-wrap option.

The package comes with a handy booklet entitled "Get Ready...Get Set...Squeeze!" Thank goodness for page 11, which helpfully advises me about Foods to Avoid Blending, such as: tacos, popcorn, pepperoni, candy, and bacon. You'll be relieved to note, however, that Spam is on the list of Foods Approved for Blending. Huzzah.

The delivery did serve, however, to remind me that the surgery itself is in less than three weeks (9 June). We've created an Amazon list of resources we'll need before then.

The procedure is a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). This will lengthen my mandible (lower jaw) and correct my bite. There will also be a bone graft using bone from my hip. [Edit: It will actually be a graft of synthetic bone, made from coral.] The surgeon will be going through my cheeks (near the jaw line) to affix three tiny screws on each side, but the rest of the incisions will be intra-oral (inside my mouth). I've been told to expect swelling and bruising for several months, but there shouldn't be any lasting scars. There is a small chance of permanent nerve damage, resulting in loss of sensation in affected areas. Even if this does occur, however, it shouldn't be serious. I will be on a liquid diet for six weeks (hence the zipping and squeezing). For four weeks, I will need to sleep upright, and cannot lift over 10 lbs. My brackets will come off six months after surgery (November 2008). I'm very much looking forward to that part!

Twitterings of the Day

• 09:33 Need some pudding. Tapioca, mayhap? #
• 09:58 Alex CF presents his Chrono Displacement Device: alexcf.com/blog/?p=80 #
• 11:21 Beautiful laser etchings on Moleskines: tinyurl.com/5jwl74 (I simply must learn to laser etch now.) #
• 12:06 Breathing. #
• 15:38 ♫ I have your heart/it beats inside/it's only three inches wide/I have your heart/I have your heart/I have your heart... ♫ #
• 19:58 Whenever I wear black velvet, Spencer (my mostly-white kitty) wants to cuddle. Ah well. #
• 00:43 Pleasantly sleepy and loved. #

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Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds / I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down

For various reasons, I've been giving some thought recently to how we appear in real life and in our blogs. I identify with several ideologies and affiliations not readily apparent upon meeting me or reading my blog. Due to some recent conversations regarding being visible as a member of such groups or choosing to blend in and affect change from within, I thought it might be interesting to see how people in my life perceive my views. [Brief poll malfunction; if you filled it out earlier, please do so again. Apologies!]

[Poll #1191839]

[Poll #1191840]

In addition, dangerpudding recently posted a charming poll asking readers to identify her current sweeties. I thought I'd do something similar, just for amusement. ( Relationship Meme Poll )