Starting about November of last year, I got this painful, itchy rash on the knuckles of my hands. I blamed the new dry and cold weather for it, and left it at that. I would put cream on them every now and then, and that seemed to help a little, but it was still there.

After much nagging from Ame, I went to a dermatologist last month to get my hands looked at. As it turns out, I have these markers in my DNA that express themselves as a rash when I get too much stress. Eczema. Woo.

Oh hey, and guess what started in November? My new job. Training started late October, so I’ve officially been at this new job for a year, and this is the cause of my newly expressed eczema. I guess this skin condition really speaks to how much this job stresses me out.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I got this eczema from my dad. Besides this itchy, painful rash, I’ve always had a very mild strange skin thing on my arms and legs. It doesn’t cause any discomfort in the least, it’s just a little weird. My dad also has this stuff in the same spots on his body. Also, when I was growing up, I had strep throat infections a lot. One of the extra bonuses to having the markers for eczema is if you catch strep throat, there is a small chance of expressing a form of psoriasis. It didn’t happen every time, but again, I did catch that damn bug an awful lot as a kid, and those damned white dots appeared every now and then.

Thanks for the skin, Dad.

Apparently the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile is truly a sight to behold. I got this in my in-box today, font screwiness and all:

Look what we saw this past weekend on our way back from Austin along I-10. Last time I saw this I was about 10 years old!

My dad, who is now in his mid-50s, must not get out much. I’m 23 and I’ve seen the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile a handful, practically a dozen, of times. I’m compelled to say something like “You saw the hot dog car; how very exciting for you,” but that’s just hateful. I then thought to share in his enthusiasm, but that’s just like lying, you know? I can’t lie to my dad.

Next time we speak on the phone, I’ll just say I saw it and say it was neat when he asks me about it.

That is what I truly want to be
‘Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
Everyone would be in love with me.