Ayiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi! I’ve never had poison ivy in my life, only a very small case of poison oak once when I was a teenager—I don’t even remember how I knew it was one and not the other.

But last Sunday I spent five hours picking up dead branches (damn walnut trees!) and clearing out brush growing along one of the fences in the back yard. I knew we have a lot of poison ivy in there, but I didn’t see any as I was cutting and chopping.

You know where this is going. Really, it wasn’t too bad. Just four little spots on my arms and hands. They itched like crazy, but I’ve pretty much avoided scratching them, even though it’s been an intense day, coding PHP which I’m not very good at.

And then tonight, on the phone to Elise, I mentioned that the side of my nose felt weird. As we talked, I went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Oh. My. God. I used a facial scrub this morning and then forgot to put anything on my face after that, so I figured that was why my cheeks had been a little itchy; I was working so hard I barely thought about it.

Let’s just say I am very, very glad I don’t have any gigs this weekend. And the pizza delivery can expect some phone calls. (Quick, somebody cue Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor!)