Word. from yo mutha

Exhaustion and hot melt glue guns are not a good mix.
Result? Second degree burns on both hands.

Arriving home from a graduation party at 9:00 last night, dog tired, but not ready for bed, I decided to spend a little quiet time gluing together the corkboard I've been making for, oh 2 months or so. Having carefully arranged the corks for the 3rd time and installing corner grommets with which to hang it upon completion, I thought I'd spend an hour or so gluing the corks to the backboard. It was going well. Much better than anticipated. Hot melt glue gives you just enough time to adjust the position before it sets up. So soon, 2 border edges were in place. Enough to provide a framework for the interior pieces. I was happy. Within minutes, the first stick of glue was used up. Insert another.

(cue dramatic background music & get ready to yell: "NO! Don't touch that!!!)

That's when the trouble started. How long does it take for the stick to be ready? Apparently, not long at all. I saw a little drop on the napkin and wondered: could that be from this stick or the last? You can guess what happened. Gotcha - left hand in agony. The rest was a flurry of inexplicable behavior involving a flying napkin baited with hot glue, me trying to catch it and unfortunately, succeeding; with the right hand, glue side to two fingers, one with a ring.

What I've learned: hot glue burn is especially unpleasant because IT STICKS while it's burning you. No amount of flicking will remove it. So while you furiously attempt to remove it from your skin, it inflicts even MORE burns.

The upside is: the Yarn Harlot had just posted a link to the Mayo Clinic burn treatment page on her blog earlier this week and I had read it. (Her poor daughter had it WAY worse than me).

The downside: I didn't remember WHOSE blog had it so I fumbled around on the keyboard with burnt fingertips searching Google and blogs until I remembered. All the while, aided by a cold compress.

Endorsement time: every home should own an "ACE Reusable Cold Compress with Exclusive Soft Touch Fabric". They have many uses and I am thankful it was in the freezer at the ready.


It kept the crying to a minimum and within 2 hours of running the burns under cold water for 5 minutes, applying the compress, Solarcaine AND Bactine, gauze bandages and washing down some IBU with wine, it was tolerable. Wives Tale Alert: DO NOT USE ICE OR BUTTER ON BURNS!

Today, the blisters are hard but barely hurt. See? I'm typing about it. Once fortified by one more cup of joe, I'm ready to start anew.