Thanks for your concern, Mary, Sandi, and Eric. I'm being careful to keep Neosporin on the fingers and palm. The most affected skin is shiny but not bubbled, and the swelling is nearly gone as of this evening. If/when the skin peels or breaks open, I'll keep it wrapped in gauze -- or go to the doctor -- to avoid any chance of infection.
I'm on countdown to my new teaching job (teacher certification courses for adults who have bachelor degrees in fields other than education but are presently provisionally teaching in county schools because of the major teacher shortage here) -- my class begins a week from tonight. I still need to finish reading; prepare lesson plans, lecture-discussion notes, and group activities; complete and process my syllabus and mandatory program hand-outs; and get my faculty ID and parking permit. I'm really psyched up for this career move!
As noted elsewhere in this forum, spring is definitely here -- as I drive east toward the interstate on my way to work in the morning, I'm no longer just barely catching the first rays of dawn, but fully enjoying the magnificent glowing gold smile of the sun which has cleared the ocean cloudbanks.
I'll leave out a tin of delicious imported Swedish gingerbread cookies -- very thin, very crispy, and very ginger-y -- and a pot of decaf tea (so you won't be up all night!) if y'all are stopping by the PBS tonight.
Have a peaceful night!
