Not really all that daring. First off all, I do appreciate the use of my hands and was not willing to gamble away one of them. Even though this was the left on and I'm not a lefty, I used it today without any protection repotting and some construction, no problem, total healing has taken place. My point really is that our bodies are quite capable of healing them selves given half a chance. I'm a retired physician, my son in law and the neighbor at the campsite both are orthopedic surgeons so we had enough talent there, just no instruments like sutures and needles etc. The Jack Daniels and the beer made up for that deficit. My daughter, also a physician represents the opposite end of the spectrum. She freaked out and would have me admitted to an ICU and the wound sutured in an OR, damn the expense. Their 4 little boys are the most protected yuppie larva you can imagine. Them eating an apple is an experience worth watching. First the apple is washed, then sprayed with Veggie Spray, rubbed in this and then washed again. Then it is polished with a paper towel and cored with a gadget she has that eliminates the center and makes little apple wedges. These go on a plate which is carried to the table where they are eaten. To just grab an apple and start munching on it is unheard off. She had nightmares about my hand and wanted me to start heavy duty antibiotics. As long as there was no pain, no red swelling and no fever, these were absolutely unnecessary. She is amazed at the results and can't believe that modern medicine is not really needed to get good results. Nick

aw thanks you guys! Audrey, when I was first choosing roses for climbers I tried hard for non-thorny ones with lax canes since I'm a newbie... but.... I loved Sombreuil too much to not get it... so she will be one of my only scary thorny climbers. :) I'll just have to wear gloves. Though, I'm a little more dubious about the entire "it's just thorns" endeavor now that I heard about flesh eating bacteria. ( Necrotizing fasciitis )

I'm not a germophobe, I'll let my Dad be the main one of those in our family, but I'm going on a mini-vacation and for the last week I've refused to go anywhere but the vet's office (a had-to-keep appt) because I'm scared I'll catch a cold at the worst possible time. I've had Woody running all my errands, he's nice enough to do that for me. Normally, I don't worry about it and usually catch 1-2 colds a year, if that many, but I don't want to risk it right now. The woman with the popcorn-grabbing hands? I'd have stood up, shoved the whole thing at her and told her to enjoy it because I wouldn't eat from it again, thanks for nothing. If you don't TELL them, they will never learn. I hate when people stick their hands in my food, germs or no germs, it's just rude. Sometimes, with some people, there's no way to get your point across without beating them over the head with it. Subtlety just doesn't always work.

@BLFenton ... From what I have read, and feel free to dispute or argue this, the rate of shingles is on the rise because kids are getting chickenpox vaccinations. NO, it isn't. That was an early thought, but the rate of shingles is rising in countries that do not routinely give the chickenpox vaccine as well. Here's the current hypothesis: 1 - More people are living into the ages where shingles is commonest. 2 - Because there are now drugs to ease the misery, more people are going to the doctor about it. 3 - It's now a "reportable disease", so the cases aren't going unknown.