The Attack of the Yellow Pepper, Plane Rides and Boston Gimlets

What you see before you may appear to be a yellow pepper. But for me, it is a killer. Today at the allergist I happened to mention what happened to me in Hawaii a few years back when I had unknowingly consumed my allergic nemesis, the yellow pepper. After the doctor stared at me, he said “This is very serious Ms. McCall. What you experienced was anaphylaxis.” Yeah. “You will need to come in for further food testing and carry around an epipen. As well as get a medical alert bracelet.” Uh-huh. “You could die Ms. McCall.” All righty. Then I was instructed on how to save myself via the epipin and watched a movie about anaphylactic shock. And now for the rest of my life I will carry around an epipin and wear a medical alert bracelet because I am allergic to god darn yellow peppers. However, this is pretty exciting in the sense my nerd status has risen to “Stephen J. Hawking” levels. Also, I was told "never to eat alone." So I better not get divorced.

Two days from now John and I embark on our adventure east. We are both a tad bit fearful on this completely booked plane that our kids are going to go ape shit and make us the hated McCalls of Row 5. I am going to look positively towards this trip and negate all memories of the trip back home with Maggie in March. The one in which I think hell is loosely based, because positivity gets positive results right? Right? Anyone with me? Help me.

Anyway, see you soon Beantown! If you are in Boston and would like to get together for a drink, remember, I like gimlets.

The Hawaiian Adventure

Well I have officially returned to Hawaii. It is official because Owen has a 101 degree fever. It seems the young child is incapable of plane travel without succumbing to the airborne attack of various viruses. Which is entirely understandable given the developing immune system, but still a pain of the ass when you realize you might have to call in sick from a job that you have been absent from for over a week. But luckily for me, and not so much for him, John was able to work from home - which translates to suffer immensely at home while balancing job and sick child. And that would be the post-vacation you are back to working hell homecoming. Yeah! Also yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, and I would like to state that I began my beer at 6:30 p.m. to finish it at 8:20 p.m. During that time I (a) drank first sip, (b) bathed Owen, (c) read to Owen, (d) put Owen to sleep, (e) started dinner, (f) cleaned the kitchen, (g) finished dinner and (h) had last sip. Which is quite the departure from my usual St. Patty's routine of (a) drink a shot, (b) drink a beer and (c) repeat until pass out and drooling. So, back to Hawaii, it was in a word fanfreakingfabulatastic. We swam, we snorkeled, we sunned. It was a most relaxing vacation to have experienced and a true horror to have left. But even the best of times when you are me (and cursed) have their downs. A few weeks before our vacation, the San Francisco Chronicle did an article on the Poipu area of Kauii, the exact location where we were staying. They listed many things to do and see, and in particular, told of a must eat experience, that of the Shrimp Truck. It was said the coconut and garlic shrimp were out of the world, and had to be tasted. So basically John and I salivated for 3 weeks, dying to eat the shrimp. The first full day, we went to the truck, ordered accordingly and headed home to eat. As I devoured my coconut shrimp and he his garlic, we were happy - happy in the sun, happy with our food, and happy that the boy was about to nap translating to an escape to the beach for boogie boarding. John, his Dad and I all headed to the beach and had much fun in the sun. The waves were great, the water refreshing, the boarding a blast. Reluctantly, we headed home walking the path to our condo. It was then I began to feel a tad off. Pretty dizzy, but I sucked it up and continued to walk. We got to the water spout to wash our feet, and it is here all went bad. I remember saying "I don't feel so good, I think I am going to faint." And well, that is exactly what I did - out cold, three times it happened. I remember waking up and having no clue where I was just John and his father standing over me. It is this point that John's Dad runs back to get some water as he is of the belief I am dehydrated. I drink and nothing is getting better, the illness coming in waves. I can't focus, pass out a few times, and sometimes slur my speech. An ambulance is called, and I am rushed to the hospital as my blood pressure is all over the place and my heart is racing and slowing down. I get the hospital, where they undress me and take notice of about 1,000 hives on my body. Seems my lead ambulance guy was color blind and could not see them. Now, I would think that as an EMT, you might want to be able to see the hives that could possibly indicate a severe allergic reaction. Just saying. It is determined at the hospital, I am suffering from anaphylaxis. Also known as an allergic reaction to something I ate. That something, the highly touted (and highly delicious) coconut shrimp. I think if I could punch that Chronicle writer, I would. Because honestly, do you think I would have eaten there if not for that article? After an IV of benedryl, a coma like sleep, a test of my blood pressure, 6 hours later I am released with the strict instructions never to consume shrimp, yellow pepper or mango - all three of which could have been the ingredient responsible. Although I truly do not believe it was the shrimp, am I going to risk it? Well maybe for Burma Superstar's salt and pepper shrimp - good god that stuff is yummy. But nope, I can't. I am officially shrimp free, which is okay since I often them of them as the cockroach of the sea. I guess the only thing of this entire experience I am grateful for is the fact that John's father now truly believes I am allergic to yellow peppers. Something, I am pretty sure he thought I was making up. Oh, and the fact that it was an allergic reaction, and not dehydration, which I think would have been brought up for years after the fact. Go me and my hyper sensitive immune system! Wooooo.