OAK and STONES

No, we're not talking about the natural world in an environmental sense -- more like a personal sense: That's right, we're talking about what's ailing Mick again.

Poor guy not only suffered a kidney stone passing off-and-on last Thursday from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., but somehow a poison oak rash kicked in earlier this week, as well -- with its itchy little blisters.

What to do???
Still trying to come up with a urologist who takes his insurance and can schedule Mick soon to zap his stones. As for the poison oak, he'll have to ride out the symptoms for 2-3 weeks. (Not sure where he got it, but perhaps on a hike to ride a rope swing with the kids 2 weekends ago; seemed like it incubated for about 4 days, though, before rearing its head. The kids and I have no rash.)