It’s hard to believe that the Red Sox will be playing in the World Series today, after being down three games to the Yankees in the ALCS… Anyway, where was I?

Oh, right, my allergist appointment on Tuesday. You may or may not know this, but I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to sharp objects, especially as regards their ability to draw blood. This has been a problem for me as long as I can remember – I especially remember the color draining from my face during a high school classmates’ presentation on snakebite remedies, and I certainly remember having to leave the classroom during an anti-abortion presentation. We had to stop the car once because I was reading Jurassic Park – bloody dinosaur mayhem mixed with a bit of motion sickness was clearly a bad combination. Fortunately, I can generally recover by removing myself from the situation. I’ve wondered what the end result of my discomfort would be, but I certainly never imagined that it would result in unconsciousness. That is, until this past Tuesday.

Strike one was when my allergist mentioned the possibility of allergy shots. This wasn’t even likely at that point, of course, but it may have got my subconscious on the wrong track. Strike two was the skin pricks on my back to test for allergies.  But they didn’t really hurt that much, I couldn’t see them, and I was pretty sure there was no blood. Strike three was the doctor’s decision to make absolutely sure that I wasn’t allergic to a few things – seven little shots under the skin in my right arm, like tuberculosis tests.

I was brave, and still felt fine even after the shots, though the last one was a bit painful, and there was a little blood there, and there… But, no big deal, it’s over, the nurse is gone, just fifteen minutes and she’ll be back to check the results. I’ve got time to read my book. Yes, this is an interesting chapter. But why am I feeling pale? Ugh, a little more blood on my arm. I need to clear my head. Walk around a bit. Deep breath. Not getting better. This is not good. What is wrong with me? I think I’ll step out of the office. Get some fresh air in the hall. A doctor walks over, wonders if I’m okay; I rub my eyes, can’t see very well…

And the next thing I know, I’m looking up at a number of faces, lying on the floor, leaning slightly against some equipment. A nurse lifts my legs, and they give me an oxygen mask… How embarrassing. Apparently the seeds of subconscious discontent had been sown, and there was no turning back. Fortunately, I got away with only wounded pride and a rug burn on my knee. The doctor insisted that I take this seriously in the future, warn people that I might have this reaction, and lie on the floor the next time it gets bad, so I don’t hurt myself on the way down. Sigh.

Thankfully, I’m not completely limited by my strange reactions. I was pleasantly surprised to make it through three childbirths without so much as a light head. I don’t tend to have much trouble at the dentist, either. A bloody nose is no big deal. But, please, keep the needles away. Try not to talk much about blood, particularly about it leaving the body. Blood drives are out of the question for me – please give a little extra on my behalf. And certainly don’t suggest any kind of surgery without anesthesia. Just knock me out – that’s probably where I’m headed anyway.

It’s been an interesting day. Because the Red Sox just won three games in the ALCS after losing the first three to the Yankees? Well, sure, but that’s not all.

I went to an “asthma and allergy” clinic this morning. My family doctor referred me because I’ve been in to see her one too many times for sinus headaches. A week or so ago I went in for a CT scan to make sure that it was sinusitis, and that there was no obvious physical problem with my sinuses that might be correctable with surgery. There didn’t seem to be, so off to the allergist I went, to see if allergies are my problem.

As it turns out, of all of the common allergens I was tested for, I’m quite allergic to grass, but nothing else. I was pretty surprised by that. I figured I’d be allergic to dust mites, mold, etc. – the kinds of things that we found out that Sarah is allergic to when she went through the same testing some months ago. I certainly didn’t think I’d be allergic to grass, as I’ve been cutting our lawn for years and have never really noticed a problem.

In any case, since my sinusitis has really been year-round and not obviously tied to the grass season, my allergist finds it unlikely that my primary problem is allergies. So we’re going to try for the full treatment to see how good I can get – powerful antibiotics to clear any infection, powerful anti-inflammatories to reduce sinus swelling, and twice-daily nasal irrigation followed by a nasal spray. It will be followed up with another CT scan and a report of my progress. Fun stuff.

I wish I could say that was the end of the story, but there was more adventure to be had at the doctor’s office. Stay tuned for the next installment, coming soon to a blog near you…

Julie's parents invited us on a nice three-mile hike today at the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve east of Bellingham. Rebecca enjoyed the view from my back, and the rest of us followed a trail loop that wound its way through a dense forest with lots of moss, leaves, mud, and a few bridges, which are always a highlight. It's good for the soul to get away from the sights and sounds of modern life every once in a while...

Update: Corrected the name of the reserve; added a link for more information.

I had a great birthday party last Friday evening with some of my best friends – ten good friends from work.

As I said, it was a great party, and not just because I conquered the world. The evening started out with “gourmet” pizza from a local pizza place and some non-work-related conversation. Then we started the games – half of the party gravitated toward the kitchen table, where a rousing game of Monopoly was played, and the other half to the card table, where an interesting game of Risk took place. Various snacks were available throughout the evening.

I'm told that James (a fellow developer) ended up the grand monopolist. I staked my claim in New Zealand early on in the game of Risk and played it safe until I was finally able to capitalize on an opportunity to conquer Asia, then North America, and then the rest of the world. A side game of Stratego was also played, won by John.

Thanks to all who came and made my birthday that much brighter. Thanks particularly to Julie, who planned the whole event and made sure that the available food was truly all-you-can-eat! A great start to my next decade of life.

The Seattle Mariners lost 99 games this year, but they somehow managed to end the season with excitement.

After all, Ichiro broke the record for hits in a single season on Friday – a record set way back in 1920.

And on Saturday, well, it's not every day that a person has named after him a week, a street, and a baseball award...

See ya later, Edgar... Edgar... Edgar...