3:00 snapshot #649
I sustained just about the most minor injury that could possibly make me lose time at work (except for back muscle strain, which I've already done twice). I was cutting up a diet (greens for a box turtle, if you must know) when I cut off the tip of my finger, including some of the nail. It didn't hurt too much, until I got to the hospital and the doctor poured some sterile water over it to clean it. "That smarts a bit," I said, clenching my eyes shut and writhing about the edge of the wax paper.
The doctor got me some pain meds (she initially offered muscle relaxants for some reason) and some cookies and ginger ale. Perhaps she's used to pediatric patients? Then she put on the giant bandage, the base of which is a Star Trek fabric called Surgicel, which will bind to my skin. The paperwork sent back with me indicated I could return to work so long as I didn't "lift, carry, push, or pull" anything, which summarizes my job description pretty well. My boss sent me home to keep me out of the way of the more useful people who will be expected to do my job. I stayed home today mostly out of shame.
Alexis redressed the bandage today, and the injury is a nice healthy gangrene black. It's just clotted blood but it's pretty gross. Tomorrow, which I had already taken off to pack and clean (lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling things) I have a morning appointment to have the injury reevaluated and hopefully a new bandage put on that is small enough to cover with a nitrile glove. Alexis' twitter followers were treated to my winter glove improvisation: a wool sock with the heel cut off so my giant finger can protrude. I'll say one thing for the bandage, it's keeping the finger nice and warm.