After taking more Tylenol last night, I slept much more soundly and checked my temp as soon as I got up this morning. 97.3. That’s low, even for me, though I normally tend to run cool. I’ll have to keep monitoring it and I’ll probably call Dr. Santiago’s office today. I sure as hell hope that I won’t have to go back to the hospital early. Other than the fever, I have no other symptoms. No chills, no cough, no body aches, nuffink. I’m increasingly of the opinion that this fever is related to the redness and swelling in my ankles. I also find it interesting that the ankle issue began just a couple days after I stopped taking the prophylactic antibiotic in the hospital. The ankle issue has happened before, on my third break, but at the time I was more worried about the weird swelling on my nose and as soon as Dr. Santiago prescribed an antibiotic for that, the ankle issue resolved. It has to be cellulitis, I don’t know what else it could be, since it’s caused by a subcutaneous bacterial infection. Just how the hell my legs are being infected, though, is a total mystery.

Back out on the deck this morning. It must have rained earlier in the morning before dawn because it’s really wet out here. Our crape myrtles are shaking themselves off over my head and I’m occasionally being sprinkled on. It’s a beautiful bright, clear morning and the grass is sparkling with tiny water droplets. Diamonds in the grass! Far more ephemeral but far more beautiful than the real deal, in my opinion. I don’t have much patience for those over-rated shiny hyper-compressed lumps of coal anyway.😄

Leyna and I planned the week’s menu on Saturday but I may switch up tomorrow’s offering. I’m supposed to be fixing a vegetarian pasta but I may just swap it out for the eggplant Parmesan that I was going to make on Friday. If I do this I’ll probably make the sauce for it today. The prep time for this dish is lengthy and due to the discomfort in my legs, I shouldn’t be on my feet for long. Plus, the sauce will hold well overnight in the fridge and may improve some in flavor.

I’ve ripped out the toes in a second pair of compression socks and now I’m parked in the rocker with my feet on a cushion while the sauce for the eggplant Parmesan simmers and reduces. My temp is still well within the normal range but it’s climbing again. I checked it a bit ago and it was 98.3. The ankles are doing okay encased in their ridiculous socks. I tried calling Dr. Santiago’s office earlier but got nowhere, just a recording telling me to leave a message and someone will get back to me within 24 hours. I have Dr. Santiago’s direct line number but I don’t want to use it unless it’s a drop-dead emergency.