The needle and the damage done…

On the way to buy groceries this morning, I popped into the emergency room at Baypointe Hospital on the old Navy base. I told the doctor on duty I’d been dog bit, but the dog in question had allegedly been vaccinated. The doc said it doesn’t matter, I needed to be shot. For tetanus and rabies that is. Well, I had a tetanus booster last year after my encounter with barbed wire, so I just needed to take care of the potential for rabies.

It seems to me that back in the day a rabies treatment involved like 12 shots in the stomach. I nervously asked what regimen was in store for me? Well, the vaccine dose is predicated on weight and based on mine I need a series of five shots administered once every three days. Then I was asked if I had insurance, which made me a little nervous (I do, but I have to pay as I go and file a claim afterward). Turns out the total cost is $250 so I can deal with that.

Before they gave me the first shot a cute nurse came in and said she was going to test me for an allergic reaction. She scraped something on my arm which hurt more than I could let my male pride admit. After about twenty minutes she came back and had a look at the mosquito bite-like lump on my arm. Does it itch? Not anymore I told her. She had another nurse look, then fetched a doctor. And then another doctor. I guess they concluded that I was allergic so they wouldn’t use that medicine. I still got a shot of something though, and I’ll be back Friday for more.

Pretty exciting, huh? But wait, there’s more! How about some photos from yesterday’s Hash?

It was a very nice 7 km trail. Very similar to the one I had hoped to use next week when I’ll be a co-Hare. Damn it!
Although on my trail I wasn’t planning on squashing everyone into the back of the Hashmobile…
And we are “ON-ON!”
Hey, that’s me near the back of the pack. As usual.
Through the rice paddy we go…
The old dirt road.
The Hares promised there was only one climb. That was mostly true and it was only moderately difficult. That’s something this old guy appreciates.
A view from on high…
We eventually intersected with My Bitch, a trail I hadn’t walked in quite a while. I was very pleased to see someone had hacked down the thatch grass…
I guess they hadn’t gotten this far yet though. Burn it down!
Probably the nicest view of the day…
Made it back before the sun went down which is always my goal.
And then we enjoyed the ‘”on-home” festivities from our newest Hash venue, Queen Victoria bar.

I’m not sure why, but I have the urge to lift my leg when I pee now. Just kidding. I hope.


I caught you knockin’
at my cellar door
I love you, baby,
can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

I hit the city and
I lost my band
I watched the needle
take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done.

I sing the song
because I love the man
I know that some
of you don’t understand
Milk-blood
to keep from running out.

I’ve seen the needle
and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie’s
like a settin’ sun.

3 thoughts on “The needle and the damage done…

  1. Impressive photos, as always. Looks to have been a good walk! Sorry to hear about the injection regime, but ya’ gotta do what ya’ gotta do.

    Maybe instead of threatening to kill the dog, just carry a huge can of bear spray to blast the fucker next time. Bear spray has capsaicin in it.

  2. Penultimate photo genuinely impressive. Upload it to pixabay with a demand for accreditation if used.
    I’m no anti-vaxxer but I simply wouldn’t bother with those supplementary rabies jabs. More poison than good.

  3. Glad you guys enjoyed the photos.

    I’m not sure about the availability of bear spray here but have considered carrying pepper spray. But then again, back in my mailman days that didn’t always prove effective. Half the time the shit would blow back in MY face!

    Yeah, I debated about the need for these shots. The dog was purportedly vaccinated and doesn’t appear ill (although he is underfed). All the Filipinos I talked to thought getting a shot was a foregone conclusion. And not too long ago a foreign tourist got bit, went home, and died of rabies. Why take a chance?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *