Itching
So, on Monday when I was out walking I felt this pain on my arm. I looked down and had this big ol’ bug (black fly? horse fly?) chomping on me. I eeeeked and slapped at it and it flew off. Then, probably 5 min later, it was back! Since then, the 2 spots have been itching like the devil. I think it is time to buy some anti-itch/burn ointment with lidocaine in it. ugh.
That, compiled with the bird that attacks me near my half-way point is enough to keep me from walking.
I have actually altered my route lately and moved my half-way point shorter so that the bird doesn’t attack me. Of course, with it being hot, I am pretty much walking back and forth in the shaded section lately (the bird is on the sunny/hot section). But still. Damn bird.
Speaking of itching and flying (well, in a round about way) I’m also itching to fly away on vacation.
Just found out today that I have to do one more pain-in-the-ass experiment before I leave. This is to teach a grad student in the lab how to do it – for posterity. This would be the experiment that I was optimizing for 3 months and that took me 6 months more to actually get the data that is in the paper. That would be a total of 9 months out of my 2 years here. All for one figure in a paper. That would be ONE, numero uno, figure. Not two, but one. one.
I sound grumpy, don’t I? I think itching for a night and a day is getting to me.
Flowers will be on Friday. I actually took a whole ton of close-ups yesterday. So, I’m good for a couple months or more. 
There, something to smile about.
That and, can you say vacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation?
jenski says:
Ick. And for that reason, science sucks. Then you spent 9 months getting an experiment working and someone else just gets trained on it. Grrr….
I HIGHLY recommend good old calamine lotion for any bites. Stuff is amazing.
squirl says:
The itching is such a drag. The mosquitoes have been driving me bonkers this year. Good luck with the experiment.
Have fun on vacation! I’m looking forward to your Friday flower pictures.
Danielle says:
Well, I thought about calamine lotion last night when I was at the store. I stood there and had visions of that pink crusty stuff and decided not to get it.
I ended up with aloe with lidocaine in it. It has been a wonder. Plus, if I get sunburned on vacation, now I have aloe with lidocaine which is way better than plain aloe. I speak from experience on that.
Jenski, I don’t mind so much just handing off a perfected protocol to someone, because I know he will struggle with parts of it. The parts I don’t want to talk about here. I just hope he appreciates it.
Squirl, thanks for the well wishes on my vacation. And I’m looking forward to sharing the flower photos too. I think there are some good ones in the bunch.