Poisen Ivy Lips...aint NO joke.

Well actually it is.

When I was a kid I was highly susceptible to poison oak and other forms of plant life that release their toxins into your skin like salt in water. I remember my mom taking me to a hippie Dr. or "shaman" with a long white ponytail and at 9 yrs I remember him getting quite upset with me because it was the third time that summer I had been in. I remember him growling at me saying " You have a heightened allergy to poison oak and a heightened sense at finding it!" I remember him giving me small, green, chalky, poison oak pills....at the time I didn't like that too much, it didn't make sense to me. But without the pills my eyes would eventually swell shut and I would look like "a chubby Japanese person" I hated when my parents would make fun.

Enter the mango, I love mangoes. I could eat those til I 'ploded! However I have a weird allergy to mangoes where I get this weird rash on my lips, so I can only eat the flesh, my lips can't touch the seeds or the skin. I knew that I had this allergy but I didn't care I scraped the skin clean a few days ago and now I am suffering. I looked up this strange allergy and found out that mangoes have the same chemical (Uroshiol) as poison oak and poison ivy in their skins, only a smaller amount. Those who are susceptible (me) gain a beautiful, swollen gob for a few days. I walked into work today and my co-worker accused me of getting popped in the mouth! At lunch I was trying to eat soup but ended up looking a lot like "The Beast" when I would take a bite, it would kind of just spill all over and only half would end up in my mouth. When I finally looked up the issue I couldn't help but start singing "poison ivy" and dancing around my co-workers and explaining the science behind the show.

In addition, I talked to my mom today and told her about the issue, she thought it was funny. She then told me that dad has gotten a "medical marijuana card" and they are both very pleased that he can now carry it around legally...up to an ounce. Oh and my sister's army boyfriend left his sniper rifle in the backseat of the car and my sister drove around town with it for hours...even days.

You can't make this stuff up.