Blue Handed

[Niagara]

Today is supposed be the last day that I will visit with my client at the rehabilitation center. My client is suppose to be released to go home tomorrow and then I'll be joining her at her home as usual. This is plan and as long as she doesn't fall again between now and then all will go according to plan.

I got to go to the massive physical therapy gym with her again today. To get to the gym we have to take the elevator one level down.

I was the first one out of the elevator and I hand my hand in the thresh hold of the elevator doors so that the doors would stay open for everyone else trying to get out of the elevator. As I had my right hand in the way of the doors, I was holding my store bought plastic water bottle in my left hand.

My left hand accidentally set off the automatic hand sanitizer station and my plastic water bottle and my hands got all wet from the sanitizer. Of course the paper label on the plastic water bottle is blue so the ink of the label leaked onto both my hands.

I'm about to go soak a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol to help remove the ink on my skin. I had to share this with the Lounge today because I thought it was hilarious!

Don't worry, I won't have blue hands forever.

[True Dough]

1. Well, that's not as bad as I started to imagine

Based on blue-handed and then your story mentioning sticking your hand in front of the elevator door, I immediately pictured the door malfunctioning and closing on your hand long enough to cause a loss of circulation, ergo the "blue" hand.

Glad that wasn't the culprit!

Your blues will wash away after a while, Niagara.

[Niagara]

3. No serious malfunctions today

Only comical malfunctions. I'm glad that elevator door wasn't the culprit either.

It's really funny because yesterday when I took my client for a walk, I was getting hand sanitizer off the automatic dispensers as often as I could. It smells really nice and I was pushing buttons and touching handles frequently.

The blue ink is slowly washing away and then I won't be so smurfy looking, True.

[True Dough]

7. Maybe

Aggie fades away as your nickname in favor of Smurfette!

[Niagara]

10. I like Aggie for the marbles reference

I have this weird thing about marbles.

[True Dough]

8. And don't you find

that hand sanitizer, no matter how nice it may smell (although usually it's not great), dries your hands out badly? I wind up with hangnails and peeling skin around my fingernails from using it only a few times.

[Niagara]

11. I'm at the age now that my nails are so weak

They peel, split, break, and bend back. So awhile ago I received my new vehicle sticker registration and it took me over an hour to remove the sticky from the label because I have no nail length left. I seriously thought I was going to have to use scotch tape to place it in my windshield.

My skin has been terrible and it feels "off". I don't know how else to describe it.

The bottom of my feet this past winter were so dry.

About 3 weeks ago, I purchased pure castor oil without hexane.

I put the castor oil on the bottom of my feet and hands alone without mixing it with any lotion or moisturizer. Yes, castor oil is thick sort of like honey.

I've been putting a few drops of castor oil in lotions and moisturizers for my face, neck, arms, and legs. My skin doesn't feel "off" anymore.

Every since I've been using it my nails seem to be actually growing. I don't want to jinx myself but it really does seems to be helping but it's only been 3 weeks.

I normally wouldn't use hand sanitizer because of how bad my nails have been for the last several years. But now it feels like I found a secret to my skin and nail problems.

Also, I'm weird about touching certain surfaces. I always keep washable gardening work gloves in my car to pump gas with. I was like this before Covid. I also keep full size alcohol wipes in my car too.

Sorry, didn't mean to talk your ear off!!

[True Dough]

13. I've heard of castor oil

but didn't know much about it. Googled it and saw that it also offers anti-inflammatory qualities. So there's another added bonus.

I do not wear gloves when pumping gas, but it would be a rare occasion when I reach for the gas pump without thinking about how filthy it must be. There are few objects I touch that have been handled so communally, some of them sick and contagious, some with extremely poor cleanliness. Ick!

[Niagara]

15. I've heard of castor oil too

I just never took the time to learn about it until I really needed to learn about it.


I buy a 3 pack of these gloves for less than $20 at the local hardware store, I use 2 pairs around the yard and the other pair rest of the floor in the back of my vehicle. I throw them in the washer on occasion and let them air dry. They look like motorcycle gloves and I think the brand is Westchester.

Another ick factor is going to public store or shop with a handled door. That's why I always carry full sized alcohol wipes in my vehicle. They come in a package that at first look resembles a baby wipe package and they're the size of a baby wipe. The only place I can find these wipes is on Amazon.

[True Dough]

16. We actually have dog wipes in our vehicle

It's a thick pack, probably 150 wipes or something. They're less harsh on the skin and they smell okay. I will use those periodically.

They're probably not truly sanitizing, though (that's what a dog's tongue is for, ha ha!).

That's why my policy when I'm out and about is to NEVER put my fingers near my face (especially eyes and nose) until I get home and have washed my hands thoroughly.

[Niagara]

19. I would assume that dog wipes have some antiseptic cleansing properties in them

Whatever works right??



I'm terrible. I'm always touching my face. Always rubbing my eyes. I do wash my hands at all the proper times but I'm terrible about touching my face!

[some_of_us_are_sane]

2. I'm hearing a song.....

(It's similar to an old Doo Wop hit by the Marcels...............
Ba-bom-a-bom-bom
Ba-dang-a-dang-dang
Ba-ding-a-dong-ding ....."Blue hand,

I saw you changing yourself

Ignoring label's demand.... with ink that's bluer than Delft."

[Niagara]

4. I'll try to behave myself with the sanitizer dispensers, some_of_us_are_sane

[Sogo]

5. Sounds like a slap stick comedy routine.

One accident befalls another....

[Niagara]

6. I sort of felt like I was in an episode of a slap stick comedy

I couldn't do anything except for laugh about it since it was comical.

[JoseBalow]

9. Tell the truth

You dropped something into a porta potty, didn't you?

[Niagara]

12. hahaha

Maybe....

[zanana1]

14. Are you a physical therapist?

I just got out of a rehab center because of a broken leg. I can't tell you how much I admire the people who patiently and steadfastly worked with me to get me going again. Their creativity knocked me out. Kudos to you.

[Niagara]

18. I'm a personal care assistant or in-home caregiver

I generally go to people's homes that need help with meal prep, showering and dressing assistance, bathroom assistance, sometimes light housekeeping, reminding them to take they're medications on the daily. I have done and encouraged assigned physical therapy with my clients as well. Each individual has individual needs.


Sometimes when I have a client that falls, I'll go to the rehab center where they are. I'll get them out of their rooms and spend time with them so that they have that interaction. This particular 84 year old client fell on a day that I wasn't assigned to work and they had been picking up the neighbors newspapers off the sidewalk and throwing them on the porch. And that's when the accident happened.


I went to the physical therapy gym with my client last Monday as well. I was sitting there watching all the interactions with the many physical therapists and the many rehabilitation patients. I feel like that I missed my calling, I should have went to school to be a physical therapist.

I've been reading your posts. I can't remember if I said anything or not but I'm so glad to know that you're on the mend, zanana1!

[debm55]

17. Thank you , Niagara. That is funny.

[Niagara]

20. You're welcome, Debbie

Just so you know my hands are not blue today!