Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Not so pretty in pink blotches

While I was writing about my Thanksgiving holiday this week, the ups and downs of a normal week were taking place.

Earlier in the week, I was feeling really under the weather: tired and nauseous much of the time. I talked to The Gryphon about it, and he looked up the side effects of the antibiotic I'd been on to combat the illness I'd brought back from Vermont. He pointed out that my symptoms coincided with the most frequent side effects and recommended I talk to my dad, who'd prescribed the medicine.

Sure enough, once I talked to my dad, he determined I'd been taking the antibiotic long enough and that I should now go off it because of the negative reaction. But my worst night was actually the night I stopped taking it. I'd stopped halfway through the day, not taking the evening dosages, but I was already sick with a migraine and nausea, while trying to complete my regular night's work.

I actually threw up, breaking multiple blood vessels in my face, creating a red, splotchy pattern that looks like I've had an allergic reaction to food. This has happened before, and it's very embarrassing. It's not at all painful or uncomfortable; it just looks bad. It tends to fade within several days and completely healed within a week. In the meantime, it's fairly easy to conceal with makeup.

I joked with The Gryphon that he knows now that I'll never be bulimic. If I were, the blotches would be a dead giveaway.

Fortunately, after I went off the medication, I started to feel myself again. By the end of the week, I was feeling pretty good, if not looking so great.

Then there was a strange encounter that happened earlier while I was out running errands not far from where I live, on a road I travel all the time. Driving the car which was stopped at the opposite corner, I could swear I saw The Luser. Now there are very few exes I'd like to run into, and he's definitely not one of them.

It was only for a brief moment, but he seemed to have the same sort of short pompadour haircut, the same thin body type. He was smoking a cigarette with a very familiar looking sneer on his face, and as he raised his arm to take another puff, I could almost swear I saw the painted leather jacket he always wore. He didn't seem to see me, and after the customary pause of only a few seconds, he drove away and was gone.

I looked in the rear view mirror but didn't catch the license plate. I only know it was a four-door white sedan, dating to about the late '80s or '90s.

There were a number of strange things about this sighting, not the least of which was a strong impression I got of an aura of sickness hanging over his head. It was almost like there was a dark, inky cloud, with a death's head skull, clinging to him. I don't know what to make of that, except that it could be my internal visualization of the fact that he's soul poison. Either that or he may be very sick; whether physically, emotionally or spiritually, it's hard to tell.

It's not entirely odd that he would be in the Philadelphia area. He did know people from Philly, and he could be mooching off them temporarily, as is his habit. It is odd, though, that he would be driving, more so driving alone, which would seem to indicate it's his car. As long as I've known him, he didn't have a license and got around by bumming rides or taking the bus.

Still, he could have borrowed the car or bought it cheap. He also could have gotten himself a license, or he might be driving without one. Certainly wouldn't be the first time he'd done something illegal.

Frankly, I don't think he'd recognize me even if he saw me, unless he's been reading Musings. I look a lot different than I did when I kicked him out in April 2000. And I don't think I have anything to fear. The last thing I ever heard from him, he was making overtures towards being friends again, but I knew better. I still haven't replaced all the CDs he stole from me.

If his pattern holds, he'll probably wear out his welcome in a few months and be on his way.

For a little more positive news, yesterday I had my hairdresser add highlights to my hair. We decided to go for a more natural, subtle look, rather than dramatic. So she lightened my dark blonde hair to a honey blonde and blended in the lightened areas in a very natural way. I doubt any but the most observant will notice.

I was pleased with the results, and we both agreed it's a nice change, especially for this type of year. Maybe when warmer weather comes around, I'll go for something more dramatic.

Also on a positive note, The Gryphon has been finding things to do with the squash we were given over Thanksgiving. First was a delicious vegetable pot pie. Then last night, he concocted a squash soup and squash bread, which it turns out should be eaten sparingly. I had no idea when I first started eating it, but I looked it up today in my Weight Watchers books and discovered it's about twice as many points as a normal slice of bread! Not quite as bad as cake, but much worse than I'd thought.

This means I'll have to be very good today, but considering that earlier this week I could barely stomach anything, I think my Thursday night splurge was OK. Plus, after I mentioned it to The Gryphon, he pointed out that he'd made a somewhat low-fat version of the recipe and so it wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

Trust The Gryphon to make me feel better, no matter what.

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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