Yesterday, after I watched the early morning Football matches from across the pond, I spent a few hours doing my usual Claire related chores out back.
This included emptying the industrial gray water out of C&H’s 100-gallon trough by the barn because a week ago, my most devious gran, Stella had defied my instructions NOT to put mud into the mules drinking water.
Honestly, had I caught her in the act I would have dunked her like a witch, although I’m certain she would float.
7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests | HISTORY
But the proof of her defiance lay at the bottom of the emptied tank. Which is now pristine again.
Anyway, after I came back in the house Lisa commented on my recent facial evolution whereupon I was gaining the characteristics of Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame bell ringer.
(Side note, as part of my literary pilgrimage in 2008 I visited VH’s apartment on the second floor of 6 Place des Vosges (formerly Place Royale) in Paris’s 4th arrondissement, where he wrote The Hunchback of Notre‑Dame and Les Misérables. Very dark, a bit shabby, but full of cool creative energy.)
Now my left eye had been bothering me for a few days – a mild itching sensation that I believed was caused by getting particulate matter in my eye while working around the barn during a recent severe windstorm. This happens regularly enough that I figured it would pass in a few days, like the others. But yesterday the eyelid started to redden and swell, giving me a pugilistic demeanor, so Lisa made me do a virtual doctor’s visit –
During which a very nice and attentive Indian doctor took a close look at my eye and after reviewing my on-line medical record and performing a very professional interrogation, which included a closer examination of the affected eye –
determined that I have a stye – How to Get Rid of a Stye: Safe Treatments and Home Care – and along with recommending hot and cold compresses she prescribed some antibacterial ointment. Which I picked up from the pharmacy, and I am now applying it (or at least, Lisa is applying it). Modern technology is a wonderful thing. Of course, Lisa shared my affliction with another vengeful and devious McCaffrey female, my daughter Jackie, who took great glee in my suffering. She showed her compassion by sending along the opening cartoon.
When it was all said and done, three generations of McCaffrey females got to take the piss yesterday.
So yesterday was one more example of “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” [Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 1)] imposed upon this poor devil here at Casa Claire. On the bright side, at least it wasn’t the contagious pink-eye. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. Hopefully my facial appearance will return as close to old but ruggedly handsome as my hard knock life properly warrants.
Well, we are again at another mandated Day of Rest for the true believers, so I advise my fine, five readers to take full advantage of it.
I intend to watch this morning’s PL football matches, so I have to flee. Chores will wait until later.
But no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.
