The Tick Round 2

Okay, if you see a tick, RUN the other way. Do not run up a tree. Take your yarn money with you. These little devils live in trees and they cost the host (victim)big $$$'s. They have no mercy. Whining about money means nothing to these teeny creatures.

It's been exactly one month since the tick bite. I have now been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Now before you feel sorry for me, keep in mind, I have a sense of humor. So here are a few questions that I am asking myself. (I certainly don't expect any of you to answer these.)

First of all where in the world did anyone come up with the name, Lyme Disease? Sounds like lime stone to me. How about Lymette or Lyminosis? Just plain ole' Lyme? Really now, I think they could do better than that.

Second: What are the chances of me getting Lyme disease? According to my family it's a 99% chance. (They say that with a chuckle.)
Third: Since when am I host? I don't recall inviting the little varmint to have dinner on me. I don't recall inviting the nasty little thing to even inhabit my territory! As a matter of fact invitations were not sent.
Did this little bugger travel around outside with his pals, take one look at me and decide, "yup! That's the one. See ya later, guys. I'm going out to dinner?"

I now have a double dose of strong antibiotics, several trips on the calendar to the lab where the vampire (phlebotomist) can drain my blood supply and more yarn money can be spent on a stupid blood sucking bug! (change that to money sucking bug)

p.s. I'm going to knit myself a cocoon and crawl in it until things get better. Oh wait. Skip the cocoon. That puts me in the same catagory as a bug. I don't care if it is a butterfly in waiting. I want nothing to do with bugs.

The Tick Round 1

I spent last evening in the medical clinic again. Getting real sick and tired of the "white coats."

There is a nasty little bug that failed to head for hibernation this year. A Tick! If you see one, Run the other way. A tick (also referred to as an arachnid) found shelter in my upper arm. It went undiscovered for an undetermined amount of time. Now, I know you're asking, how can that be? How could she not see a tick on her arm? Keep in mind I failed my driver's license eye test a year ago. Remember? On my birthday? And I had to get new glasses to pass the test? That should explain it:).I can't see 1 foot in front of me without my glasses. I measured and from my eyes to the back of my arm where Mr. Tick made his home, is exactly 1 foot.

The doctor was very nice to point out that it is necessary to look in the mirror at one's unclothed body for ticks, if one has been exposed to the outdoors.

I have a few comments on that suggestion:

1) I had 4 kids (that should explain the body shape) B.C. (before children) I had a lovely shape. Thin, tiny waistline etc. It went downhill A.C. (after children) very quickly.

2) Looking in the mirror is not something I care do. This includes department store dressing rooms that have mirrors on all sides to show every angle of one's body.........I mean seriously, why is that? Like that's a sight I'd want to see!!!!!! Refer to Comment #1 if you have any doubts.

3)I would never under any circumstance, venture outdoors without being properly and decently clothed. Therefore my body parts are not exposed. I certainly wouldn't want the clothes police to give me warnings:) Again, refer to Comment #1

4) At my age, reason #1 and #2 are enough that the rather young "Dr. Kildare" should never toy with the thought that I even own a mirror much less look for ticks in front of one!

I'm sure his own mother would advise him that he was not utilizing his medical knowledge (and common sense)to the fullest when he made a suggestion such as that to someone in my/her age bracket.

The domesticated tick happily left a bite the size of a 50 cent piece and the bite was a lovely shade of purple and red. I've never seen a tick leave this kind of bite. So, off to the clinic we went. Two hours and $253 later ($$$ that could've been spent on yarn and I would've actually enjoyed it) they numbed the arm, lanced it and got the rest of it out. I recieved a shot in a part of my body that I will not mention (much less look at in a mirror) and 10 days of antibiotics. It is now 3 inches in diameter and quite a lovely shade of red just in time for the Homecoming game this weekend. What a Mess!

I'm off to knit.