I now have a lovely case of otitis externa in both ear canals. Both are swollen and have ear wicks inserted, so I’ve got greatly diminished hearing. This will be the case for the next few days as my immune system and the antibiotics fight back, so if you need to contact me, please do so by email or other textual conveyances if at all possible. I can hear, but just not that well. [Well, I can hear myself breathe quite well, thanks.]

If you want to know what this is like, go draw a bath and turn a radio on in the bathroom. Place the radio on the counter, get in the bath, and then duck your head underneath the surface of the water. See how muffled things are? You can still hear, but man, if you hum, or breathe deeply, or anything else, you drown out the sounds around you. For example, I can only hear the clacking of my keyboard if I really concentrate and line it up with what I know to expect of that sound as my hands actuate keys.

I have the feeling that I’m going to go slowly crazy this weekend.