Iowa

Iowa

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Thoughts on a Winter Night

Sprout wanted me to blog, so here I am, Sprout. This one's for you.
So, how many of you have ever had cold sores/fever blisters....whatever you want to call them. Well, I felt one coming on and immediately began treatment of it, since they tend to spread, get ugly and hurt my entire face. But, you see, when they begin, you really can't tell where they are. Two weeks ago I had one between my nose and my upper lip....very attractive.
This one appeared to be coming out on my lip. I woke up the next morning hoping that I had treated it in a timely enough fashion so that it would be unnoticeable. Alas, there it was......LARGER THAN LIFE. This humongous thing on my lower lip distorting my whole face.
Since I had to go to work, the dilemma becomes whether to put a bandage all over my lower face, try to cover it with many of the colors of lipstick (knowing that the lipstick would immediately have to be thrown away), or go au natural. I chose the latter.
Working in customer service with a distended lip with a huge blister on it can be disconcerting to customers. They don't want to appear obvious, but they are. The glance, then look again with horror in their eyes, then look away and don't make eye contact. They move on quickly, whispering among themselves, casting sidelong glances as the walk away.
For those that know me, I make up lies about what it is....the cat bit me, I was mugged coming from the parking lot, I fell on the ice and got stabbed by a fallen icicle. I am good at making up lies, as anyone who knows me can tell you.
I have been going to the gym also. Pretty, young girls with their perfect bodies, perfect tans and very white teeth stare in horror. I make some comment about this is what happens when you turn a certain age and go to tanning booths. They immediately look at their skin to see just how much time they should be spending in a tanning booth, then look at my lip, shaking their heads in fear and wonder.
My lip is better today, hardly noticeable, thank goodness. My face isn't as sore, so perhaps there will just be the one and they will go away.
Road trip plans are under way. We picked out the room at the cottage without too much fighting. Plane reservations have been made....I know, it's a ROAD trip, but this one also includes a SKY trip.
Monkeyboy had a hockey game last weekend and scored the only goal. Great job, Monkeyboy.
The weather has been good for sledding (DUH). Sprout had her first sled riding experience and seems to have enjoyed it. Bird and kids built an incredible track which was ruined by the warmer weather and a water leak that flooded their drive.
Winter is a wonderful thing, and I'm sure in July and August we will remember this winter differently. Thinking about those of you who might be getting the nor'easter going up the coast right now. Be safe, and stay warm. Better days are coming.....I hope!

20 comments:

Lori said...

I HATE WINTER. It was a lsugh to see the picture. I get soes in my mouth and they make me miserable. Good job, Monkeyboy, and hi to Sprout.

Michele said...

As noted before, I think you have found a use for that old lipstick. Simply use the most horriffic colors you can find next time. You can walk with confidence that people are staring at your poor choice in lip color, rather than what is hidden beneath. :-)
I'm glad you opted for the road/sky trip as I think it will make everyone happier in the end!
Next year, I think you should end up in Ocean City the same time that I do, so we can all enjoy it together!

Cathy said...

I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think, mia. We are all more concious of these things than the public. Those people weren't really looking and whispering. I have had a few in my life, and they are painful and unsightly. Wonder what causes them?

Jen said...

Ahhh, sprout, that first sled riding experience. My first was in a park and down a very large hill. I remember the feeling of freedom, almost flying. Now I worry about falling off the sled and plowing into a tree. Way to go, Monkeyboy. Maybe some day we will see you on the Olympic team. Yes, I think of Twigs and Tigger, hope they are surviving okay, and anyone else in the northeast. It has been a winter to remember...or forget.

Nate said...

Snow stinks, but what can we do about it? Just shovel, I guess. We have a quarter mile drive and we are fortunate enough to have a snow blower. I use it and then lend it to neighbors. Makes things a lot easier.

Angela said...

We are still sledding, climbing out of wet clothes into dry ones, hanging mittens and coats everywhere. This will be a winter to remember. Sometimes sky trips are the way to go, Mia. We have a limit of twelve hours distance before we consider flying. But if we go alone with one driver, eight hours is it. I have had cold sores, and they are awful! And of course, they come at the most inopertune time. I think stress adds to the possibility of getting one.

Tigger said...

We are getting hammered, but so far we still have power in our neighborhood. Supposed to get another foot or so. I think I need a road trip, to someplace warm and sunny!

Twigs said...

I hear you tigger, we are so very snowed under. Mia, I get cold sores too. They are awful looking and painful. I get a prescription from the doctor, and if I get it soon enough, it works wonders. Sprout, we have lots of snow here, you can sled anytime you want!

Ben said...

I'm sure the people weren't agast, Mia, but I did see an article in the Trib about an employee at Phipps scaring small children. Hmmm. Sled riding is the best, and it's good that Bird and kids have a good track and that Sprout enjoyed it. Have a warm and snow fun weekend.

SocialWorker2 said...

Wow, good luck Twigs and Tigger. The news is full of pictures and it looks awful, and another one to come next week they say! Surely this will end soon! We have had snow, more than usual, but not as much as the northeast has had. And Ben, sledding is the best, I agree. I like ice skating too.

Nurse Kitty said...

Oh Mia, I was so surprised and tickled to see your post. And I needed a good chuckle with Snowmagedon 2 currently underway.

I have become quite the little expert on this particular virus. In the same family as chicken pox, shingles, and well you know...Thank goodness I am not prone to them. Experienced shingles with family members. Yes, stress does seem to be a trigger. Be well.

Bill said...

This winter has been something else. But, to get over it, just remember, spring is coming. And planning ahead will get us thru it. My wife is planning a trip to Disney over spring break. They may have cancelled break, but we are going.

Jessica said...

All I can say is that I am glad this is happening now and not in November and December. The end is in sight...I hope so for Twigs, Tigger and all of the folks on the East Coast. We are getting snow, but the cold temperatures have been the problem here. Love the picture, it made me smile.

JD said...

I have been told that if you find something good to do in snow, then you will look forward to it. I haven't found something good to do in snow yet.

AllieCat said...

We cats don't much like snow...hard to find critters.

Mark said...

Good for Monkeyboy! Looks like his family has found lots of fun in the winter. I'm still looking, too. Meanwhile, I'll grab some snacks and soda and watch basketball.

Kevin said...

Shoveling snow is becoming very tedious.

Kevin's wife said...

You haven't shoveled snow since you broke your ankle.

Carrie said...

I get cold sores when I am stressed. Got one three days before my wedding that sent me into tears, fits of rage and wanting to cancel the wedding. Fortunately, my doctor gave me a prescription that pretty much tamed it before the big day.

ginger said...

Have had a few cold sores here and there but managed through them without too much trauma.
Now shingles are another story.
Skipper had them really bad a couple of years ago. He couldn't even stand a shirt on his body. It was not a good time.
I got them a year later and didn't even have to go to the doctor. It was a very mild case and I was lucky. Since then we have gotten the shingles shot so knock on wood, they won't be back again.

If we get one more blast of winter and snow, I'm thinking that will be the end of it. I even put my bird feeder out and they are coming to eat and that makes me feel spring is not far behind.

Nice picture, Monkeyboy and keep up the good work at Hockey. Sounds like another Crosby in the making.