Ouch.

I'm miserable. Ever been stung by a wasp? I thought I had, back when I was a kid. But I don't remember anything like this.

I was pulling weeds in the landscaping because after we returned from vacation Tropical Storm Ernesto left behind a growth of Tropical Crab Grass. While leaning over the hedge I yanked on an alien foot-long grass strand and felt a flaming rake tearing across the back of my left hand. I envisioned poison nettle, but as I fell backwards, cursing in a way mommies do in front of their 5-year olds ("Holy SCHARFENBURGER!!!!") I saw the slow, taunting retreat of a wasp where my hand had been.

That was Sunday morning. It is now Monday night, and my hand has swollen to freak-size, so I guess the Benadryl, Ibuprofen, ice packs, and Icehouse aren't doing the trick. If I make it through the night without losing a digit, I'll be heading to the doc tomorrow morning.

Stupid nature.