What does summer mean to you? To me, it means a lot things: picnics, Shakespeare in the Park (one of my fave things), vacations.
Unfortunately, ever since I moved to my current location, it has also meant some type of medical problem (usually a skin rash). We moved into our current house (and current city) in July 2007. That first week, I got poison ivy clearing some overgrown bushes. I've had it before and it wasn't that bad, although it didn't make for a very good introduction to the house. It got even worse a month later when I was bit by a brown recluse spider. I had a rash all over my body and couldn't sit down due to pain at the bite site (my rear end).
Fast forward to July 2008. We were meeting my ILs for dinner and I had a headache, but it could have been just a long day-type headache. Nothing serious. I had to cancel an out of town meeting the next day due to what I thought was a bad migraine. The next thing I knew, I as being treated for viral meningitis.
June 2009 I was working out in our flower beds and was bitten by an unidentified bug. I had a small localized rash that lasted for a few weeks, but never got very serious. I thought maybe my bad luck was waning.
Now the poison ivy is back. With a vengeance. Yes, I knew it was a possibility since I knew we had poison ivy plants in that area before. But I tried very hard to look for the leaves as I was working in the yard and didn't see anything. This time the rash is much worse. I had a blister the size of a marble on my arm and several other minor spots in other places. Today I noticed it on my eyelid. I've had my eyes checked and it is not on my eye at this point. I've started a steroid pack and have a prescription for steroid eye drops just in case.
I don't know if this is a sign that we should move to another city or what. I'm hoping my only medical condition next summer is pregnancy. I will gladly be full term in the miserable weather of August here if that's what it took.
Dancing in the Rain…
5 years ago
I'm so sorry. I get poison oak regularly - I don't know how similar it is, but the poison oak gets worse every time I get it. I'm trying to learn to shower right away any time I think I might be exposed to it, but it's usually impossible to predict. I hope you get over it quickly!
ReplyDeleteYuck, poison ivy is nasty stuff. I've never had it on my eyelid though, that must be so awful! Hope it clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite beet recipe- Beets glazed with honey, orange and clove. Cut all but 1 inch of the stems from 4-6 beets. Rinse well, and steam until tender 25-40 minutes (typically closer to the 40 for us, but they need to be as easy to fork as a baked potato). Rinse the beets, slip off their skins. Trim away the stem and root ends, cut into wedges or chunks. Then, in a saute pan over medium heat melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add the beats with 1 tsp grated orange zest, 2 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and 2 whole cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat and cook until the beats are heated through and the liquid is reduced to 3tbsp glaze, about 6 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tsp parsley.
ReplyDeleteHope you like it!