Greetings Gang,<br /><br />If I make it on the Monarch, it will be a miracle.  Poverty looms, that&#39;s for sure as my bonanza weekend<br />of call is not happening&#33;   Monday, as I said earlier on the dock, on the way to work ( actually, I was on Potrero - not a good street for me - it was also the site of the falling tree Jan 4 ) when I felt an excruciating pain in my right ankle.  Really, it was so severe, I couldn&#39;t even press on the gas or the brake.  When I got to work, I took off my sock and my ankle was totally swollen and purple and I had what looked like a bite on it and two raised red welts above it.  It continued to hurt all day.  I took Benedryl, kept it elevated and put frozen peas on it.  I saw Dr. Yan on Tuesday and she immediately started me on Keflex.  By Thursday, it was swollen and starting to turn purple.  By Friday, my entire foot was purple and swollen and it was progressing up my leg.  I kept waiting for my doctor to call and, in the afternoon, I bit the bullet and went to the ER.   I was in there for seven hours.  The doctor didn&#39;t think it was from a bite but, perhaps, a DVT or some deep fascial infection ( rare ) though he said it had the appearance of a traumatic injury ( I hadn&#39;t twisted my ankle, fallen or anything ). They did a doppler to rule out DVT - that wasn&#39;t it.  Then x-rays - no fracture, then they took me back for more x-rays as the radiologist thought she saw something suspicious.  She still isn&#39;t sure what she saw, wants me to have an MRI on Monday.  They took me off work for a week.  I told them I have a cruise planned.  He said I could go - wouldn&#39;t have let me if I&#39;d been flying to the east coast -better than working but I have to have the MRI when I return.  I said is it a malignancy or something- or, god forbid, necrotizing fasciaitis - no reply&#33; What the hell?  It hurts to weight bear and it is very swollen. I still think it&#39;s related to the bite.  And I have a general malaise and still ache all over.<br /> <br />My friend, Claire, called last night for the particulars so I have the crazie exchange went off without a hitch.  I just realized we have both Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year this cruise so crazie will have big celebration.  We&#39;ll try to keep her reasonably sober - if we can keep ourselves reasonably sober&#33;<br /><br />Mary Lou, glad the crab fest for Jim went well.  <br /><br />Robin, thanks so much for the lanyards for our key cards....they are so nice in Mardi Gras colors.  Maybe no one will notice my purple foot&#33;<br /><br />Adios for now...have to elevate my foot and spray for spiders.