How quickly the wheel turns. One day I'm on top of the world (previous post), a couple of days later I'm in the hospital emergency room!

I'm about one mile into my scheduled 7 mile jog, when out of the bushes races a huge white bulldog toward me. Usually, he runs right past me, but this time he full out lunges at my groin area and sinks his fangs into my inner thigh (thankfully just missing my privates).

I went down in a heap, blood gushing out. The little 6 yr old girl the dog was protecting went in to get her father. He came out in a disheveled state with the usual "He's never done that before--what did you do to provoke him?" I ask him to get towel to help stop the bleeding and then call the sheriff. He refused!! Turns out he's been in trouble with his dog before and was warned this better not happen again. I said I'm bleeding to death, and you better call.

While we're waiting, I'm going into shock--sweating and near passing out, and vomiting. I was fading fast. Somehow, this feeling passed, and by the time the animal shelter guy and sheriff came, I felt better. No ambulance needed as I drove myself to the hospital after I was driven home.

"Emergency" is an oxymoron. I mean all I had was a dog bite--no broken bones or concussion. They were in no hurry. But finally, after all the necessary paper work, etc., I was checked out, bandaged (the doctor decided not to stitch me because the risk of infection was greater than without), told me what to do, and sent me home (via the pharmacy).

Now I'm doctoring myself with ice, pain killers, antibiotics, cleansing soap, tons of bandages (my wounds are still "weeping"). I couldn't sleep last night because I sleep on my side, and my legs touched the wounds painfully. My thigh looks like hamburger meat, bruised and swollen. But I think I'll live. No running for awhile.

I'll be soon calling the sheriff to find out what's become of the man and his dog. He's unemployed (of course), so who knows whether I'll get him to pay for all this. They better shoot the dog-- that's all I want.