Alright so it's been almost a full year since I last blogged. I've actually written a lot over the last year, but haven't "published" any of my posts. Most blogs I follow are written by interesting people who write about their travels, their journeys of weight loss, their thoughts (usually educated thoughts) on different issues, their struggles/successes with parenting, or they are just down right funny and excellent writers. When I first decided to blog, I had no idea what direction to go in (I still don't) so I lost all motivation. However, one of my new year's resolutions (I made 13 for 2013) is to write more, so even if it's just for a year, I'm doing it. I don't pretend to be a writer, and I most definitely will make a ton of grammatical errors (English teachers be ware), but I honestly really enjoy it. So read if you wish, but don't expect anything too profound.
So this morning....
I got ready for my morning run like normal. Being that it was 17 degrees outside, I put on a couple of extra layers, grabbed my Garmin, grabbed my Mace, and was out the door by 5:50. Why Mace you ask? Well I'll tell you...
Getting out so early in the morning means most of my runs are in the dark, especially in the winter. I've never been too concerned with my safety since I'm usually on busy streets with plenty of street lights, not to mention I live in Columbia MO where the crime rate is pretty low. However, bad things happen even in Columbia, so my good friend Brenda bought me some Mace a few months back. I read the instructions...test before using, wash immediately if it comes in contact with skin, discard after three months, etc... This morning I decided to test it out again to make sure it still worked...it didn't. Instead of spraying out like it should, it dripped everywhere drenching most of my right hand. So just like the instructions said, I discarded it. Thinking nothing of it, I wiped off my hand, put my gloves on, and headed out for my run. Oh if I had just remembered to WASH my hands! I didn't feel anything until I was half mile away from being done with my run. That's when the I first noticed the tingling. Thankfully taking my glove off and exposing my hand to the cold air made it go away. I got home, immediately threw my gloves in the washing machine and washed my hands. It was too late. As my hands warmed up by being indoors, the burning on my knuckles became more noticeable. I tried to ignore it. Still feeling chilled from being outside, I jumped in a hot shower (usually the most glorious thing ever). Oh my gosh!! My hand couldn't even come close to touching warm water. Scalding! From then on the burning just got worse and worse. I spent the next few hours running cool water over my hand to get relief. Three hours later, the burning was gone. It's comforting to know Mace actually works. I have no doubt it would deter an assailant. I can't imagine how painful it would be to have that stuff in your eyes!
So thanks Brenda :) I dedicate this post to you. I'll be buying more...I'll be smarter next time.
So this morning....
I got ready for my morning run like normal. Being that it was 17 degrees outside, I put on a couple of extra layers, grabbed my Garmin, grabbed my Mace, and was out the door by 5:50. Why Mace you ask? Well I'll tell you...
Getting out so early in the morning means most of my runs are in the dark, especially in the winter. I've never been too concerned with my safety since I'm usually on busy streets with plenty of street lights, not to mention I live in Columbia MO where the crime rate is pretty low. However, bad things happen even in Columbia, so my good friend Brenda bought me some Mace a few months back. I read the instructions...test before using, wash immediately if it comes in contact with skin, discard after three months, etc... This morning I decided to test it out again to make sure it still worked...it didn't. Instead of spraying out like it should, it dripped everywhere drenching most of my right hand. So just like the instructions said, I discarded it. Thinking nothing of it, I wiped off my hand, put my gloves on, and headed out for my run. Oh if I had just remembered to WASH my hands! I didn't feel anything until I was half mile away from being done with my run. That's when the I first noticed the tingling. Thankfully taking my glove off and exposing my hand to the cold air made it go away. I got home, immediately threw my gloves in the washing machine and washed my hands. It was too late. As my hands warmed up by being indoors, the burning on my knuckles became more noticeable. I tried to ignore it. Still feeling chilled from being outside, I jumped in a hot shower (usually the most glorious thing ever). Oh my gosh!! My hand couldn't even come close to touching warm water. Scalding! From then on the burning just got worse and worse. I spent the next few hours running cool water over my hand to get relief. Three hours later, the burning was gone. It's comforting to know Mace actually works. I have no doubt it would deter an assailant. I can't imagine how painful it would be to have that stuff in your eyes!
So thanks Brenda :) I dedicate this post to you. I'll be buying more...I'll be smarter next time.
