Oy! What a day... I can't remember the last time I needed a Friday this badly. 

For whatever reason, I forgot to set my alarm last night and woke up an hour late.    So there was no time to take a shower. Had to just wash my face, get dressed and go straight to work. I had a dentist appointment afterward, and I was afraid that I was going to be late for that too, considering that my mother was late to the office and I still had to stop at home and brush my teeth first. Fortunately, I made the appointment on time and things went pretty well. The dentist said that I had a great set of teeth. 
    However, I was out of gas when I reached the dentist's office and had to drive all the way back to my hometown before I could stop at the bank and then get gas. I was hoping against hope that my poor little car (which was running on fumes by then) wouldn't simply die in the middle of the road somewhere along the way. Of course, when I arrived at the gas station, every single pump was taken, so I had to sit there and wait with my engine running...without a/c because I needed to conserve fuel...in the scorching SoCal sun. 
    After that, I stopped at Target to pick up a few things before heading back home. It was almost 4:00 pm by that point and I still hadn't had a shower, so I was a greasy mess.   
    So after putting away the stuff that I'd brought home from the store, I jumped into the shower without hesitation. OMG, did I need it! Though I didn't wash my hair because I was going power walking only hours later...so I did a COW with my Suave toasted vanilla & sugar conditioner. Left it on for the duration of my shower, then rinsed with tons of cool water. No detangling or anything - just let my hair air dry, then wove it into a braid before my walk.

Tonight, I'm going to do another heavy overnight EVOO treatment, followed by a WTC tomorrow morning. Speaking of which, after the day I've had, I'm exhausted. So I'll see what I can do about sleep. G'night, all!

Aww, thanx, everybody! *careful hugs*

As for what happened, it was a disaster with a chemical depilatory which I had never used before. The acids in it were very strong and ate through my skin, exposing raw nerves and severely damaging the epidermis. When time came to remove the stuff, the top layer of my skin was so dissolved that its texture resembled melty wax and the washcloth that I used to remove everything actually put holes in the damaged skin. The pain of it was excruciating as one might imagine, and I spent most of the day lying in bed with my arms spread out at my sides, trying in vain to fall asleep just to escape it all.    As with many types of burn injuries, I developed fever symptoms as well. Certainly not an experience that I care to repeat.

Today I am doing much better, though. So all of your well wishes and healing white light have been working and I greatly appreciate it.    For as severe an injury as it was, it has made remarkable progress in recovering.
    As for treatment, at this point, there's nothing that I can do except what I have been doing. Topical solutions are out of the question for the time being due to a.) exposed nerves and b.) the nature of burn injuries. They generate large amounts of heat and skin cannot heal properly with something covering it and preventing the heat from escaping. Fortunately, the latter problem is nearly solved, so the only real issue now is the nerve endings. I have to wear sleeves at work and it suuuucks. 
    But the red, festering boyles have pretty much disappeared and the pinhole scabs from the washcloth are shrinking. With any luck, there will be little to no scarring. When the epidermis has healed completely, I'll begin doing regular sugar scrubs.

Today, I had to clean my arms with a washcloth again. I could scrub a little harder on the right arm because its nerves are more recovered than those of the left. The left arm sustained almost twice the damage, so even going over it with a washcloth still feels like being poked with stinging nettles.    Good news is, the weird burned skin smell has also gone away either completely or near completely. My skin still cannot hold fragrance, but at least the godawful weird smell isn't there anymore.

As for my hair, well, I've had a bit of fun with that lately.    Now that my arms have their full mobility back, I can do pretty much whatever I want with my hair. So yesterday, I stopped at Target on the way home from work and was delighted to find an entire section of brand new Pantene products! *giggle*    Oh, I was like a kid in a candy store, going down the aisle, picking out every new product that I wanted to try and throwing it in my basket (I want this...and this...and this!). Fun! What I ended up with were big bottles of my beloved Ice Shine S&C, Pro-V Fortifying deep fortifying treatment, Nourishing moisture replenishing mask and Silkening silk transformation crème. I'm still giddy about all of it even though there are a few more things I want to pick up! 

This morning, I did a CWC with my Suave toasted vanilla & sugar conditioner and Pantene Ice Shine S&C. On a whim, I decided not to do any wet detangling and instead, just ran the Silkening crème through my strands while still damp and just let them air dry. As I was driving to work, I kept playing with my hair and realized immediately how silky the ends were. It was all dry enough by the time I reached the office that I could comb it out right then and there. OMG, I am pleased! Very, very pleased! I might give up wet detangling altogether with these results! 

As for the long-distance romance, it's still strong as ever. Had a quarrel a few days ago which strained things quite a bit, but we snapped back together as always. I can honestly say that no one else has addressed and resolved my concerns like this kid. It demands a certain level of care and commitment that few can put forth...yet *he* does it all without batting an eye. How he puts up with all of my demands and insecurities, I'll never know, but his devotion is divinely awesome and inspiring. lol Sorry for the sentimental hogwash, but I must give credit where it's due. 
    While on the subject, *his* impending visit to SoCal has been rescheduled for July. God willing.

Anyway, while at Target yesterday, I also picked up a few new nail polishes. Maybelline actually makes a solid black now called Onyx Rush and you best believe that went in my basket along with all of my Pantene goodies. hehe    I'm due for a mani-pedi, but I think I'll go with a metallic black for now.

Despite having to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn (with only 2 hours' sleep) for the early shift at work, it's actually starting out as a pretty good day. Hope that pattern continues!

Sakina: Colliodal silver sounds familiar somehow. I think the hospital gave it to my ex in topical form when he burned himself in a welding accident. I'm pretty sure that I even borrowed it once for a chemical burn on the back of my neck, but it wasn't very effective.
   Fortunately, the burn part is over. My recovery has been remarkably quick, and now all that remains is some nerve damage, rough skin and scabs. Countless little scabs.
   Today, I was actually able to put lotion on my right arm and it seemed appreciative. I rinsed it off awhile later, but the smoothing effects remained. Skin still cannot hold a fragrance, but that's ok.
   The left arm has a ways to go yet before it catches up. It still has a little bit of the weird damaged skin smell. Nevertheless, I was able to wash both with my mesh poofs this morning. I should be healed in no time.  

Trisha: LOL If I go down for that one, then I'm pulling Maggie down with me. She does the exact some thing.    But hey, when something works for your hair...  
   I'm just flattered that you would actually tell your BIL about me. hehehe

Speaking of Pantene, has anyone seen their website lately? Gorgeous! Elegant design, tasteful graphics, easy navigation. I'm loving their new changes this time around! The products, the site, the packaging (love those new midnight blue caps!  ), everything.

Yesterday, I picked up the Pro-V Detangling Light Conditioning Mist and the Moisturizing Essential Hydrating Rinse. Yes, it's an addiction...but a healthy one.  

Today was sort of the "ultimate hair day." I first washed with my Ice Shine shampoo, then treated for over an hour and a half with the old version of the Moisturizing Essential Hydrating Rinse (not the new one that I just  bought). I'm going to try and use up all of my old Pantene stuff before breaking into the new. I have also decided that the next time I'm in the market for a new S & C, I'm going to give the Full & Thick formulas a try.
   Anyway, after rinsing the treatment out, I conditioned with Ice Shine conditioner and then again with the Cabellina horse conditioner that had been taking a siesta under my bathroom sink. I'm going to try and finish off that bottle as quickly as possible too.
   After squeezing the water out with my microfiber towel, I sprayed on both Pantene Detangling Light Spray Conditioner and my oil solution and detangled with my broken RS #45. I'm thinking about replacing it and at least one of my Conair seamless combs with a few seamless combs by the Creative company. Random thought.  
   I oiled the ends and just left my hair down today...unintentionally. By sheer chance, I forgot to bring a hairtie with me to work, so I couldn't braid. Then, I remembered that it was the 1st of the month and therefore measure day. So it actually turned out to be a good thing. I'll measure up when I get home. God, is this year just flying by or what?? Before too long, the Halloween displays will be up everywhere and I'll be carving pumpkins and buying Christmas ornaments.    The very thought of it makes me giddy. Ohh, how long will my hair be at the end of this year? hehe

Anyway, that's about it aside from missing my guy.    He's babysitting his cousins tonight, so I don't know when I'll get to talk to him. *sigh* Ah well.

Everybody, have a fun, safe, relaxing, productive, inebriated or otherwise weekend.  

Thanx, RTG. 

Hair: For the past 3 days, I've been doing CWC's as usual with Suave toasted vanilla & sugar conditioner and Pantene Ice Shine S & C. Over the weekend, I decided to experiment with a new detangling method. I spritzed the length as usual with Pantene Detangling leave-in conditioner + my oil solution and simply worked it in with my fingers. No combing. Then, I just let it air dry, and it seemed to work ok. Especially since it all just went back into a braid anyway. Didn't really matter.
    Today, I wet combed the length. I still prefer that method as it distributes the leave-in's more evenly, but I always worry about pulling a comb (even a seamless one) through my fragile hair. I'm paranoid now about breakage. 

Arms: Still healing, although the progress seems to be slowing now. This morning, I did the first oil-free sugar scrub on the right arm and it came out quite smooth. It did uncover some of the unpleasant "burned skin" smell at first, but that seems to have faded.
    The left still has several scabs, but the rough patches seem to have disappeared. I'm going to hold off on doing the sugar scrubs on it until next week. Since it sustained almost twice as much damage as the right arm, it will need more time to heal.
    Yesterday, I was able to put lotion on both of them and leave it on all day. It felt clammy but seems to have helped a bit. Little hairs are beginning to grow back. In general, my arms are starting to look like arms again.

Other: A few of my WA relatives left days ago, but my grandfather is still here. He and my father have been getting a lot of projects done around the house.
    Last night, we all went to watch an ice skating show that my cousins performed in. Afterwards, the group of us (9 in all) went out for a bite. I had a huge slice of chocolate mocha ice cream pie that everyone had to help me finish, and it didn't do any favours for my stomach. 
    The long-distance whatever is strained yet again. *sigh* I know that every time it seems like we'll never work our way out of something, we do. But I've been recognizing an unhealthy and unnecessary pattern that will prevent things from becoming more serious than they are. As it is now, I don't feel like talking to him or about it. But it's definitely not a good thing if he intends to come out and visit me in a month.
    My manicure is already beginning to chip off and look worn. I don't know if I'm bummed about that or not because I don't really like the colour anyway. I bought a lovely Sally Hansen colour called Pat On The Black the other day which I can't wait to try. I might do both my fingers and toes to match and see how it holds up.

Anyway, that's about it. Not happy today but not feeling like the world is going to end either. Just sort of...meh.