Mr. Ibuproufin and Mr. Tylenol are my good, good friends now, and will be for the next two years.  My top braces are on, and it'll be another month and a half until my bottom ones are put on (September 13).   They hurt for now, but by next Wednesday I should be used to them.  I was finally used to the spacers when they took those out this morning.  C'est la vie, or so they say.

Anyway, life looks like it'll be fine.  I mean, the tempest isn't settled by any strech of the imagination, and frankly I think my step-dad's "If I can't see it, then it's not happening" attitiude is childish, but what can I do?   He'd never listen to me in a million years even if I did tell him.  However I know that if things get stressful I do have some excellent friends here, and my dad has said that I can call him any time I need to.  Even though my relationship with my dad isn't the best, it's nice to know that he's there for me if I need him.