Worst conversation of the weekend (I hope)

[triadruid]

During the Wayside Waifs expedition yesterday, I seemed to have acquired a tiny critter on my right hand. I say 'seemed' because it was so small I couldn't really tell if it had legs or not, but it did seem to be securely attached. The staff there couldn't really tell either, and I finally weaseled it off from my skin. Holding it up afterward, the guy they had gone to as the best-chance for an expert took another look at it.

Him:"Hmmm, small dark body, light spot. Yeah, it's probably a deer tick. You'll be dead in a week." (obviously joking)

Me: "Great! My mom died of Lyme's disease complications."

Him: Oh Sh--!

Me: (laughing) No, it's okay. You hear about this sort of thing happening, but you never actually get to see anybody actually do it.

In a related note, does anyone (or their kid, more likely) have a low-power microscope? 10-20x would be plenty I'm sure, but the magnifying glasses we have in the house just aren't cutting it, and the digital camera can't get the resolution I want. Also, I found an almost identical widget attached to my left forearm this morning. Since God Auction ended, I am officially tasty to bugs again.

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

You can preserve it in rubbing alcohol (or vodka) and bring it to your doctor for confirmation. As I understand it, that's how they verify it quickly enough to napalm your system with antibiotics and what they need to make a report to health authorities.

Take care, sweetie, (hugs)

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am going to see the doctor if they have legs, but at this point I can't even tell if it's like that. The Interwebs are relatively unhelpful, as they generally seem to show more prominent legs that should be noticeable even on the larva, so I'm only mildly squicked so far...

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

I replied to the email on the Gaia list, but I'll answer here too. The YCP has a microscope. Do you want me to bring it along to ritual today?

[cynthiaweb.livejournal.com]

Any progress on the identification? Does it definitely have a head?

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Don't know yet, as I came home and crashed last night after dinner, and then woke up too late this morning to prepare a slide. I'll probably be able to look this evening after SJ.

Right now, my new best theory is fleas, but we'll see...