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Hangout for experimental confirmation and demonstration of software, computing, and networking. The exercises don't always work out. The professor is a bumbler and the laboratory assistant is a skanky dufus.
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2004-06-20Attack of the Naughty BeesWell, I knew I was clueless, but I didn't realize that it extended so nicely beyond my cyber-life. While mowing the tallest backyard grass and weeds first, I start pulling wysteria vines out of a tree they keep strangling. Suddenly, after pulling on a dead but resistant vine, I feel these burning stings and there are critters flying around my face. I am busy waving my hands around instead of backing out, so I keep getting more bites. I back away and I see these mostly-black bees flying back up into the branches. OK, I've been stung. Multiple times. I'm not seriously worried about that, and it hurts. I come right to the computer, get a search site (Kartoo, programmed into my middle mouse button), and look up ["wasp-sting" first aid]. The first site is for Apinal. The second is actually about first aid, and it mentions calling 911 a lot. It also mentions baking soda paste, ibuprofin, and then an antihistamine for itching. For kids, the shock time is from 20 minutes to 2 hours after the sting, and the idea is to stay inactive and be observed. I'm home alone, so I call Vicki to see if we have baking soda. She tells me where it is and I take care of that and the ibuprofin part. I'm thinking that tonight I might take Benadryl if itching becomes a problem. I start the chronometer on my watch and I go outside and finish mowing the back lawn. So much for inactivity, but I figure I'll have time if there are symptoms to be concerned about. I never had a problem with childhood bee stings, and while that was a long time ago, I am not expecting trouble, just discomfort. I'm done mowing and I take a picture of the nest, once I figure out where it is, with my new tele-macro lens before coming back inside, about 45 minutes into this adventure. As I walk in Vicki calls, distraught because she has been calling and not reaching me. She's upset imagining me collapsed somewhere in the house. Friends are on the way over to check me out, and the doorbell rings as I am speaking with Vicki. The friends leave -- I have them look me over to see if I have missed anywhere that I've been stung and didn't apply baking soda. By now I know my right ear lobe hurts, but most of the sting(s) are pretty painless, including the one right in the center of my chin. I call Vicki and let her know I really am all right and I will now just cool down and take it easy. I don't know exactly what stung me, and I am going to have to do something about it, just to protect the kids next door. Because I live in a genuine urban neighborhood, the hardware/garden store is three blocks down the street. When they see me walk in later they'll know what advice I'm there for! Oh, I just found another sting at the rear of my jaw on the left. Ok, easy to treat. I'm about 1 hour and 20 minutes into this little adventure. I'm appreciative that I was wearing glasses and wondering what other little chores are needed around the house.
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