#109 don't put a jalapeno in your eye

I had a rough night yesterday. After I watched the Jazz beat the Rockets in game 2 of the first round series (HOORAY!), and got my fix of post-game comments, I remembered that I wanted to put a roast in the crock pot in the morning and I needed to chop up my veggies so I could just dump them in with the roast. Since I was planning to shred the beef for tacos, I'd purchased a few jalapeños and other chili peppers to flavor the meat. I chopped and chopped until I had everything just right. I washed my hands vigorously. I know from past experience that jalapeño juice can really burn sensitive parts of your anatomy if you don't practice good hygiene.

By now the time was nearly midnight, and I was really tired and ready for bed. I washed my hands vigorously a couple more times before taking out my contact lenses. I guess I wasn't vigorous enough because the instant my finger touched my eye to remove the lens, it felt like I was putting a match out in my eye. OH THE PAIN! I did manage to pluck the lens out before my eye involuntarily squeezed shut, burning and tearing and turning a brilliant pinkish-red color. I howled in pain. I'm surprised the boys didn't wake up. The worst part was that I still had one eye to go!

I scrubbed my hands again, but I had the same result. More howling. More burning and tearing. And how am I going to rinse my eyes when my hands are apparently covered in toxic, non-removable jalapeño juice?

Eventually the stinging, burning feeling subsided and I was able to see what I was doing and get to bed. Maybe I should have squirted some lemon juice on my hands after the chopping? Would that have cut the toxic jalapeño juice? I just don't know. Maybe I'll just wear rubber gloves for future chopping.

And the tacos...they were delicious!

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This afternoon I had to drive up to Morgan, Utah for work. My friend Kyle recommended that I take the scenic way home, driving east on I-84 before cutting over to I-80 and coming through Park City back to the valley. It was a really beautiful drive. There's still a bit of snow on the hills around there, although the roads are clear. I bet in a month it will be gorgeous and green and maybe there will even be a few wildflowers to be seen.