Sunday, June 10, 2012

Altered Plans

Saturday’s plan was simple: mail out copies of ROUND TWO to contributors, finish proofing a collection of my crime stories, and publish the next BTAP story on the webzine.

Reality: Staples had in stock only half of the padded mailers I needed, so fifteen out of thirty books were sent out, leaving more to do this week. Then, the Internet was working sporadically which meant the other items on the list were getting done in bits and pieces.

And to top it off, while taking an afternoon break watching GHOST PROTOCOL with the family, I discovered a bump on the top of my head that was kinda crusty. Dandruff? Not a stranger to that but when something popped and puss ran down my forehead, I jumped up and had Little d take a look. At first, it seemed like a pimple but when examined under the light, it looked more like a rash a good half dollar in size.

Off to the doctor—an old, country sawbones at that—who said it was too soon to tell. Could be a rash, could be an infection. It was in a spot difficult to diagnose so early, and because it had popped open, he suggested I should wait twenty-four hours to see what happens. “This is the same treatment I would give to my brother if he was sitting across the table from me and asked my opinion.” That didn’t make me feel any better, but I smiled kindly.

I left the office thinking about the time I slammed my head into the corner of a cabinet door in the camper a couple of weeks before. Was it that? An infection? Or it does resemble shingles—I had the chickenpox as a kid, so it could be that. Though shingles usually happens to men and women over fifty.

And now here I am. My Sunday is shot for the most part as I sit here and wait to go back to the doctor. Ava wants to go to the pool and Little d will take her. I’m going to read the Vin of Venus novella that Garnett Elliott sent to me. With fingers crossed for a simple infection and not shingles.

How’s your day/weekend going?

11 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Hope the "rash" goes away post haste, man. I haven't been getting much done myself, and with no reason not to.

Randy Johnson said...

Considerably better than yours it looks like. I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case.

Naomi Johnson said...

I'm betting (and hoping) against shingles.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I can't tell you now often I find a bump on my head and spend hours trying to remember how I got it. And then days hoping it goes away. It always does. Sounds like an infection healing itself.

Leah J. Utas said...

I am sure it is something simple that will heal on its own.

David Barber said...

It'll turn out to be nothing, buddy. Hope all is well otherwise. Had an eventful weekend myself if you want to catch up.

http://davidjbarber.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/updates-15-2/

Thomas Pluck said...

If it popped, my guess is it was an infected hair follicle on its way to becoming a sebaceous cyst. They are rather unpleasant and painful, but harmless. I hope whatever it is, it is as common and temporary as one of those.

G. B. Miller said...

I agree with Thomas on the dianogsis as I had a couple of those in the past few years. Annoying, but harmless.

My weekend is going pretty good as I'm knee deep in a well deserved one week paid stay-cation.

Been doing tidying up of the blog and adding a slideshow to it.

Ron Scheer said...

Can't tell you how anxious any little odd symptom like that gets me. I can think of a couple examples in recent weeks. They invariably turn out to be nothing. Most seem to be stress-related. I think you're gonna be fine.

David Cranmer said...

Thank you, all.

I'm still not sure what the hell it is but Patti and Thomas probably have it figured out. Good news is, so far, it hasn't gotten worse.

Dave King said...

Shingles usually occurs past 50, but not always. Your sawbones sounds almost stereotypical. When I was 5 my mother called in the doc because I was having breathing problems. "A flash in the pan!" was his diagnosis. "Will be gone tomorrow." The next day I had double pneumonia and pleurisy, an ambulance and oxygen. The doc said I might not make it to 6!