Attack of the Saddleback

Usually Nature and I get along fairly well, but this summer Nature was out to get me.

First an introduction is in order. This little bugger is a Saddleback Caterpillar. Sure he may look interesting, but he is NASTY!

WARNING: This caterpillar has urticating hairs that secrete an irritating venom. Stings can be very painful. They can cause swelling, nausea, and leave a rash that can last for days.

When a person comes into contact with a Saddleback, the pain is instant and can cause severe reactions. The poisonous hairs are hollow and connected to underlying poison glands. Contact with them causes a burning sensation and inflammation that can be as painful as a bee sting. The irritation can last for a day or two and may be accompanied by nausea during the first few hours. Usually the site of contact reddens and swells much like a bee sting. I am lucky to have only brushed by one of these while walking by a plant. The pain I experienced was intense but only in one area (like a bee sting that sent fire through my veins). After washing the area I did some online research to see what the best way to treat the sting would be... here is what I found.

1. Immediately wash the affected area to remove any hairs and poison that remain.

2. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling of the area and to help with the pain.

3. Apply a Baking Soda and water mixture to the sting or apply creams/lotions with steroids to lessen the discomfort

*** If you are allergic or sensitive to insect stings, the reaction to this sting could be similar. Seek medical attention if symptoms escalate quickly.

In addition to my encounter with the Saddleback, earlier this summer I had a BAD case of either Poison Ivy or Poison Sumac (the Dr.'s couldn't tell which one it was, there is really no way to tell from the rash). My case was so bad that i had to go through two rounds of Prednisone treatments. This steroid is the most common and effective way to treat a reaction. Be sure to consult a Dr. about which treatment is best for you.


These plants carry the poison through your blood stream. Once you have washed away the oils from your skin, you can not spread it to anyone else. Be sure to wash any exposed clothes with hot water, or just discard them to be safe. Often the reason why patches continue to appear on your skin is because the poison stays in the blood stream for several days, even weeks.

For more information on these plants (symptoms, treatments, preventions, etc.) go to the following website.

Poison Ivy
Poison Sumac
Poison Oak

OK, so I guess two incidences isn't too bad... but next summer I'll stay away from the woods.

Checklist Update

COMPLETE!

And so it begins... New Jersey today and Thursday, Panama City Friday. See you in 2 weeks!

The Essential Travel Checklist... Destination, PANAMA CITY!!!

In just 4 days I will be jet-setting to Panama City, Florida!!! BUT before my flight, I will be driving to my boyfriend's house in NJ on Wednesday morning. As such, I have a "for the trip" checklist that is ALMOST finished...

1. Paint toes and nails - Check

Nails: OPI "Royal Flush Blush"

Toes: Cover Girl "Fuchsia Girl"

Check out the OPI Website and browse all of their amazingly fun, and creative colors!

2. Haircut, Hirsute Salon off Atlantic Ave in Rochester - Check

3. New Bathing Suit (my first treat, for myself, using my summer job money... the rest is in my saving for school I swear!!!) - Check

Victoria Secret - Stripe Pink and White!!!I also, bought a bright pink bandeau top to wear with the bottoms =)

3. Fill my car with gas - Check, $40.00 later =/

4. 5,000 miles = First oil change - Check

5. Try to get some color, 15 minutes a day in the sun, so I don't burn to a crisp in Florida because I have been sitting in an office all summer and could not be more pale in the first place (deep breath) - Check

6. Spend some quality time with my family before I head off - Check!

7. Girls night with my three best friends (they will all head off to college while I'm gone) - Check, Tomorrow Night!!!!

Ryann, Rachael, Me, and Kaitlen
aka. Ry, Rae, Hez, Kay
here we are... one of my favorite goofy pictures =)

8. Buy some snack food for the drive down - Check

9. New book on CD for the drive, The Da Vinci Code - Check

10. Pack my suitcase - Still in Progress....

So there we have it, and I suppose I should really finish up packing ASAP. So, I'll leave you with a link of my destination... Marriott's Legends Edge at Bay Point, Panama City, FL.

The Story of Bailey's Book

June 26, 2007 is a day that the Fairport Community will not soon forget. I remember it was 2:00am when I received a text; five names and an heartbreaking message... five of my classmates had died in a car crash. Bailey Goodman, Hannah Congdon, Meredith McClure, Sara Monnat, and Katie Shirley. We had all graduated together just 5 days earlier and each of these girls had plans to attend college in the fall. That morning their faces were all over the news as I left my house and headed to the High School were friends and family were gathering on a hill; Angel Hill it would later be called.

... I'm finding it hard to go on with details about that day, so I will simply say that we were all there to try and make sense of what had happened, but it seemed impossible... they were gone. That day there were a lot of tears and not so many words. Looking back I realize that we pulled together in that moment to share our pain and while tears and hugs were all we could offer one another, it was more than enough.

Ask anyone in the Fairport community and they will tell you that all of these girls were bright, energetic and vivacious young women. Each was known individually for her quirks. If you would like to know more about who these amazing young women were, I have attached links to Facebook pages dedicated to each of them.

-Bailey-

-Hannah-

-Katie-

-Sara-

-Meredith-


While the heartache will never completely fade, this untimely passing of five beautiful girl has inspired some truly amazing things. And so, I'd like to tell you about Bailey's Book - A Community Celebrates Its Assets

While in High School, Bailey, Hannah and I served as Asset Ambassadors for the Leadership Asset Training Program in Perinton. Being a part of the Fairport-Perinton Healthy Communities-Healthy Youth Developmental Assets® Initiative was a turely positive and unique experience. We served as an essential part of the program’s mission; to provide leadership, knowledge and resources to promote healthy children, youth and communities. The program took place monthly at a community center, where a group of 9th graders would arrive by bus for a entire day of skits, videos, group activies, and of course food. I remember on one occation the students were supposed to sign up with a group to create a skit. Bailey, Hannah and I were group leaders, and not one person signed up for our group. So, we went around being goofy... I did have a video tape of this day, but I have looked everywhere and cannot find it.


It was because of Bailey’s involvement and commitment to the Initiative that her family designated the program as the recipient of contributions made in Bailey’s memory. Those contributions are being used to produce Bailey’s Book: A Community Celebrates Its Assets, a compilation of student and community written essays linked to the 40 Developmental Assets® identified by the initiative.

I feel deeply honored to be a part of this project. As a committee member, I have seen each step of this process and witnessed our idea grow into something more amazing than I can explain with words. I know that Bailey would be elated with how this book has turned out. It is because of her that this book was created and will give people the chance to learn about the assets; something she was passionate about. I hope that Bailey's Book will also inspire those who read it to make positive choices, to reach out to others and give back, and to live a happier life. Bailey was truly an inspiration in my life, and I hope she can inspire yours too. I am grateful that I knew her, and will always keep her and her family in my heart.


The book is expected to be released by October 17th, Bailey's birthday.

You can can get involved too. One of our goals is to donate copies of Bailey's Book: A Community Celebrates Its Assets to as many classrooms and students in the Rochester area as possible. Details on how you can donate are on the Bailey’s Book website. Donate Here

Find out more about the Developmental Assets® Initiative in Perinton and the 40 Developmental Assets: More Information Here

RIP Angels -BG.HC.KS.SM.MM- 6.26.07