My trip to the ER and other fun stuff

This morning started out like the usual Monday morning. (Where did the weekend go?) So I'm on my way to work, la la la, getting off at my exit off I-10, innocently reach in to my purse to get my phone to call Ben to tell him about the road rage incident I just had (more on that later), when I feel something stab me through my pinky finger nail. I let out a yelp, pull my hand back to find blood gushing out. The pain is excruciating, but I expect it subside, which it never does. I get a napkin to absorb the blood and put pressure on my wound, but the pain gets worse and worse. I somehow managed to get myself a mile down to my school parking lot, all while still screaming and crying in pain.

I get out of my car and call a fellow teacher and friend over to examine me. She says it looks like a splinter right through my nail. She walks me to the nurse's office (nurse isn't in until 7:30 and it's 7:00). A couple of people try to get the thing out with some tweezers, to no avail. By now, my entire arm is in pain and they tell me to go to the ER.

So off I go. I call Ben and he tells me to pick him up (we live close to San Antonio MC, so I don't even have to side track). I check in and get seen within 20 minutes. The doctor numbs my hand, which quickly balloons up, but at least the pain is gone...for now. When he finally starts digging out the thing (which we thought was metal, maybe a staple) he has a hard time getting to it. He thinks he got it all out, but it seems to have broken up during the "surgery" so it may be out completely or not. The pain returns, I get discharged with a prescription for antibiotics, and am left to wonder what the Hell stabbed me. I have nothing in my purse that could have caused such a fiasco. Nothing...my cellphone, wallet, eyeliner, mirror, nail clippers, lipstick, Chap Stick, classroom keys. That's it.


So I am placing the blame on the A-HOLE on the freeway. He must be a witch and have had such animosity toward me for honking at him, that he performed some kind of voodoo curse on me.

I was in the far left lane minding my own business when this jerk, without signaling, decides to casually merge into my lane, with hardly an inch of distance between us. I honk thinking maybe he's still asleep. How dare I!!! He slows down to 60 mph in the fast lane, perhaps to get his revenge on me for honking. Still, I maintain my distance and merge onto the next lane to get past him. The sonofabitch cuts off the person I got behind and slams his brakes! I think he wanted me to rear end this person. I slam on my brakes and get back into the fast lane...and so does he! Can you believe this guy? He is so pissed off at me for honking that he is willing to wreck his brand new Lexus and maybe kill someone (especially me) over it! My God! I slow down to get as far away as I can and make my way over to the far right lane...good riddance. I am beyond disbelief.

At my exit, I stop at the red light and that is when the finger-stabbing debacle occurs. What a morning. So I am off from work today and am thanking the Vicodin Gods. The pain has been killed and I feel like I'm floating in the clouds.

It's finally over...

Working on my master's degree and PPS credential has consumed my life for almost two years now. As of yesterday, I have completed my required 600 hours of internship service. It is a huge weight off my shoulders. I cannot emphasize my relief enough.

This degree is something I never thought I could do; much less maintain a 4.0 through it all. I could never have done it without the support of the most important people in my life. I did it mainly to continue making my mom proud, wherever she is. I had told her I was going back to school for a master's and I kept my word. She would be so proud today.

On my graduation day (May 3) I will be holding her picture close to my heart as I receive my hood.