Band-Aid Aisle

Wok with me to the Walgreens bandage aisle. It's a complicated place with far more choices than necessary. There are so many options that your wound will very likely be invaded by a staph infection before you can find the right sort of Band-Aid.

I had too many things on my mind the evening I poured the frozen broccoli into the wok's heated oil. We all know that is a no-no, and I'm sure my seventh grade home ec teacher, Mrs. Starr, is shaking her finger at me right now. Well, duh, the ice and oil exploded, giving me an ugly burn on my pinkie finger and wrist. Now that it has healed, I can share both my stupid moment and my amazement about bandage varieties.

For over a decade my minivan glove compartment contained a box of 1990 lime green Ninja Turtle bandages. One Ninja Turtle bandage remained in the zippered inside pouch of my purse until I had a son in grad school. After 1990, my sons had matured, if that's the word, with far fewer small Band-Aid-able kiss-to-make-it-better scrapes. They advanced to occasional major injuries requiring casts, crutches, x-rays, and collarbone contraptions

In my own preschool years I wore many Band-Aids on my knees. My favorites were shiny bandages in solid green, yellow, blue, and red. My parents called them "battle ribbons". Been Googling in search of those circa 1957 vintage bandages without success. Think they must predate both the Band-Aid "Stars and Strips", and the Curad "Battle Ribbon" tins. I've appreciated the unofficial online Band-Aid history museum and the Johnson & Johnson and Band-Aid websites.

Large antibiotic Band-Aids don't stick very well. I needed them because my wrist was irritated by sleeves and mousepads. Eventually, my wrist was irritated by the adhesive of those Band-Aids, too.

Tapered finger Band-Aids are a useful invention. The shape allows for wrapping around bends and knuckles. They are a useful addition to the home medicine cabinet.

I was really torn trying to project a boring, grown-up facade after my painful mistake. What I really wanted to sport were the Walgreens brand Crayon adhesive strips that reminded me of those old "battle ribbons" of my childhood. No Ninja Turtles from the glove compartment for me.


© 2007 Nancy L. Ruder

Deep Tropical Moisture And Disturbances Aloft

Shoot! The National Weather Service predicts I will regret not writing bodice ripping romance novels. I am visualizing fabulous coconut butter massages under shady palms amid extravagant flowers, and hot-air balloon lift-offs from pristine white sand beaches.

AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM OVER THE ROCKIES WILL CONTINUE TO BRING DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO ACROSS NORTH TEXAS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES ALOFT WILL HELP TO LIFT THIS MOISTURE AND CREATE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. IN ADDITION... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTH OUT OF OKLAHOMA TONIGHT AND STALL NEAR THE RED RIVER LIKE THAT DAMN BLUE FORD AEROSTAR THAT WAS ALL BELLS AND WHISTLES AND RECALLS. THE FRONT WILL HELP TO FOCUS THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF NORTH TEXAS WHERE THE FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT.

Spill the wine and take that pearl, Spill the wine and take that pearl,
come on come on

You're listening to the Top Forty countdown and the tornado warnings at the same time on 1480 A.M. KLMS through the earphone connected to your transistor radio with its own vinyl carrying case. You smell like Sea & Ski suntan lotion.

Lunch Crunch

Steven's car (okay, his dad's old van) was rear-ended by an SUV following too close while stopped in a line of cars behind a jerk making an illegal left turn on Independence near the Parker Road Tom Thumb. Thank heaven Steven, Ryan, and Jason were all wearing seat belts. They each got an ambulance ride to Plano Med Center, and the car was towed away in bad shape. Ryan has contusions on his knee, but no fractures showed up in the xrays. He was in the "captain's chair" that became unhooked from the floor of the van and fell over backward. Jason was in the front passenger seat, and had just turned his head to compliment Steven on stopping safely when they were hit. His xrays were okay, but he has lots of neck and back pain and Vicodin. Since Steven could not remember the impact, the police sent him to the ER. He knew he had braked safely to a stop. He knew he climbed out the car window because the doors wouldn't open. He just couldn't remember the actual impact. He had an xray, then a cat scan. Steven's okay, too, but we have to watch for warning signs of head injury, such as "Decreased interest in sex." Yikes.

My thought is to never post about ERs again! It's a bad sign when you recognize the ER doctor and the guy pushing your gurney to xray.

The voice on the hospital intercom calling for "Respiratory STAT" sounded just like Slim Pickins in Dr. Strangelove.