The last parking space in the world

I got pretty much the last parking space in the world today, at the edge of the universe...er...campus. Of course, it lies in the exact opposite corner of campus from my office. Of course, it's also about to start raining and I left my umbrella in the car.

That's March for you. It's possible Eliot got it wrong, and March is indeed the cruelest month. According to some of the old-timers around here, February and March are the months when everyone on campus is in the worst mood because it's been raining for the last two/three months, and everyone is sick of school and each other. Some Marches are wonderful and mild. Last Saturday, it was 80 degrees, but the past few it's been about half of that.

In a totally unrelated matter, remember this remedy. If you ever get horrible stress-induced (or weak-immune-system-induced, which I guess can be the same thing) mouth ulcers, the miracle cure is to swish 'n' spit with an unholy mixture of one part Children's Liquid Benadryl and one part Mylanta. These days, you can even get them both in cherry flavor so the taste isn't discordant.

We learned this trick from my mom's oncologist when she was undergoing chemo. Among the many infuriating indignities chemo patients must suffer (as if losing your hair and your white blood cells weren't enough) is a tendency toward thrush and horrible mouth ulcers. The human mouth is a funhouse of food particles and bacteria ready to throw a raging kegger on your sensitive gums.

But the Bena-lanta cocktail really knocks that shit out. The first time mom tried it, our only flavor choices were grape Benadryl and lemon Mylanta. Talk about unholy. Oh, and be warned that your tongue will go tingly numb for a while. Do not be alarmed. Two doses of the treatment, and you'll see a major improvement, guaranteed.

Who says cancer can't teach you a thing or two, though I'd rather have learned it any other way.