Barreling along on the Willow Street Renovation Project, we'd decided to re-tile the linoleum in our formerly hideous, but now covetable pantry. (formally renamed the Crystal Palace, for it's white, glowing qualities.) The chosen tile is yellow and orange and brown, and.. just slightly less horrible than the former. However, it's relative condition, and it's low, low price (free) was enough to win our favour over the old.

Your lovable editor, Optimuscrime Halifax took the task of cutting tiles on sunday night, and was doing a wonderful job until disaster struck! Everything was going smoothly, there were less than 6 tiles left to cut and lay, when SLICE! The boxcutter (you know, the kind you're not allowed to bring onto airplanes) slid quickly, and cleanly, away from the tile, and through my left index finger! Panic set in, and I rushed to the bathroom, with blood gushing from my digit.

Roommate Michael Catano came swiftly to my aid, and after bringing me a cloth and ice, walked me down the front stairs (while I swayed, and tipped, almost blacking out.) and to the car. (where, once seated inside, I did black out.) We reached the emergency unit in just under five minutes, and after having my finger wrapped, we waited about an hour and a half to be called.

There was nothing that could be done for my poor finger. As the illustration clearly shows, there was no skin to be stitched shut.. just a big, gaping lack of fingertip. They wrapped it up, and gave me a tetanus shot.

Me: "Oh great, and a needle to boot!"
Nurse: "Oh come off it! It's only a needle. You got any tattoos?"
Me: "Yeah, but..."
Nurse: "Than quit whining!"

For the record, I wasn't whining. But tattoos, or no tattoos.. I think that it's reasonable to not be excited about a tetanus shot. Plus.. my finger hurt as though it was recently missing a piece off the tip.. which it was.

Three and a half hours later, we drove home from the hospital.

So now, my finger is wrapped up in a wad of white gauze, and there is a band-aid stuck to my gaping wound, which I'm too afraid to pull off, for fear of opening the floodgates (or in this case.. "bloodgates".) again. And I'm officially missing a piece of my finger. It may not all grow back. I may likely be deformed for life. (I can't figure out if that's cool or not. Reader's poll?) Plus, I'm pretty much useless with my left hand.. for who knows how long.

ie: This has taken me close to half an hour to type.

Sigh.

Once I can get the band-aid unstuck, who wants to see actual bloody photos?