public health announcement
everything you've ever wanted (or not) to know about SHINGLES:
- "doctor-y" name: herpes zoster. yes. HERPES. zoster.
- causes a rash of nasty skin blisters, complete with pain, itchiness, and tenderness
- usually brought on by encounter with chickenpox virus, stored in spinal nerves (?)
- almost always found in very young children or very old adults
- reactivated during times of severe emotional stress or whacked-out immune system
- treated by two medicines: (1) the same medicine used to treat genital herpes and (2) vicoden
why, faith, why do you suddenly know all about this icky viral infection?
well, dear reader, auntie faith happens to be one of the only 27 year olds in the history of mankind to come down with this stupid virus. did i ever think that i would be diagnosed with anything with the word HERPES in it? not so much. but hey, vicoden. i'm actually not to that stage yet - but i have it on hand, just in case. here's the scoop: i saw my principal's kid, all chickenpoxie, for about 30 seconds, three weeks ago. then i got all stressed out - my computer died again, i had my observation (during which the fire alarm went off), and the ISU class was about to drive me into the ground - and sickly, and i guess my immune system was just eager and willing to have visitors. stupid-head virus.
the punchline
so, as i'm feeling all gross and disgusting due to the nastiness on my shoulder and walking around barnes and noble in my pajama pants and sweatshirt, with my hair in pigtails and my glasses on... a cute boy hit on me, totally randomly. i've seen him there before - smiled, made eye contact and whatnot - but we've never spoken. tonight we had first contact. yay! even if nothing comes from it (probably), it was sweet to have the reassurance that even when i'm slumming, i'm not a total troll.