The Sadness of the Splinter

No, I don’t post a picture every time I hurt myself. Now, how sad is that? Way, that’s how.

Subject was proceeding downstairs to feed the cat when this gentleman allegedly stuck a splinter in her hand.

The Perp
The Vic

Looks like it’s right on the surface, dunnit? Looks like you could just lift it off. Not so. I tried. Oh, yes, I tried.

The Tools That Failed

Got a needle and a pair of needle-nosed tweezers. But there was nothing to grasp; it was all out of reach.

Who could save me now??? I turned to the only possible resource.

Interwebs to the rescue!

I made a paste of baking soda and water, put a glob of that over the splinter, covered it with an adhesive bandage (or, for my English-speaking friends, a sticking plaster), and left it for 24 hours. After that time, the splinter was easy to push out from behind with my thumbnail until enough stuck out to be gripped by the tweezers.

I love a happy ending!

Today, I’m posting at Fatal Foodies about stuffed green peppers. Yes, they are, too, good! Yes, they are. Yes, they are. Yes, they are. I know you are, but what am I? Mo-om, my readers hit meeee!

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Your main character gets a bit of wood stuck in. This is especially traumatic for those of you who write about vampires.

MA

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About

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but now live in the woods in southern Indiana. Though I only write fiction, I love to read non-fiction. The more I learn about this world, the more fantastic I see it is.

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One thought on “The Sadness of the Splinter

  1. Dan Antion

    March 21, 2017 at 7:44am

    Oh my goodness – 24 hours with a splinter in your finger??? What’s wrong with you woman? I would have carved that area open to the point of requiring stitches.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      March 21, 2017 at 8:45am

      It wasn’t in my finger; it was in the fleshy part of my palm. And I really wanted to cut it, but I promised #4 Daughter. See, part of having a depression/anxiety disorder is that the quick fixes are kind of self-destructive. It’s stepping on a slippery slope to justify cutting myself for any reason. I found out when I cut myself in another DIY medical procedure how good it feels when you’re really stressed, so #4 made me promise I wouldn’t do it again. TMI? πŸ™‚

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  2. Dan Antion

    March 21, 2017 at 8:50am

    @Marian Allen – OK – I understand. I was just being flip. I hate splinters, and since woodworking is my hobby, I get tons of them.

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    • Author

      Marian Allen

      March 21, 2017 at 3:44pm

      I’ll bet you do get tons of them! What are your top tips for removing splinters?

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  3. Joey

    March 21, 2017 at 11:06am

    Owie!
    There’s a rail at work, a metal rail, mind you, that manages to stick me at least three times a week. Every time I get stuck, I say to myself that I really do need to carry my handbag with my right arm and use the other handrail, but I don’t. I don’t. How sad is that?
    Good for you, not cutting. <3

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      March 21, 2017 at 3:46pm

      Eee! Metal ones are the worst! The second worst: The worst is when you step on a runaway toenail/fingernail clipping and it digs in! Glass splinters are bad, too, since they’re so hard to see. And thorns. Can you tell I’ve had lots of experience, getting things stuck in my paw? πŸ™‚

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      • Joey

        March 21, 2017 at 9:26pm

        I can tell! But you’ll not hear any judgement from me! I’m just as bad!

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  4. Dan

    March 21, 2017 at 4:54pm

    @Marian Allen – I have needle nose tweezers that have a magnifying glass attached. I dig until I get it or, worst case, I let my wife dig.

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  5. Deborah

    March 21, 2017 at 7:33pm

    I usually light a match then burn the tip of a needle and then disinfect the area with the splinter and open up the top and sort of pry the splinter out enough to grab. Usually squeezing along the way too. It’s probably really not sterile, or sanitary, but it’s worked so far sans infections or loss of limb or digit. πŸ™‚

    Good for you for not cutting! I can’t relate to it ever feeling good, but GOOD FOR YOU for keeping that promise!!!

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  6. Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

    March 22, 2017 at 1:10am

    Must be the topic of the day: I just removed a splinter from the husband before he went to bed. It has been YEARS since I have removed a splinter from him – and I was very pleased to extract it quickly with tweezers, thus enhancing my reputation.

    I was sure it wouldn’t come out.

    If there is any left under the thumbnail, I will propose your solution.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  7. Jeff

    April 14, 2017 at 3:17am

    Hope you didnt suffer too much with it. I had one go right into my foot off the decking and it was very difficult to get it out. Took 2-3hrs messing around to get it out.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      April 14, 2017 at 7:51am

      Ouch! Foot splinters are the worst! Unless you practice yoga, you can’t get a good view or a good grip. πŸ™

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply

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