Nature vs. Nutria

When you spend most of your time in a forest, hygiene becomes very important. Though the ears are largely a self-cleaning organ, and ear wax is one step of defense against germs entering the body through one of our many mucus membranes, my ears are small and delicate. I start to notice when there is a bit too much build-up.

And sometimes things get in there which just plain shouldn't.

So a friend of mine and I decided to experiment with ear cleaning techniques. We couldn't find any ear candles, although that was completely appealing. Instead, we used a simple solution of watered-down hydrogen peroxide*. The bubbles felt funny as they sat inside my ear canal. After a short while, I felt a definate "pop," accompanied by screams from my friend.

"What is it?"
"I'm not going to tell you. Just wait."

I drained my ear onto a nearby napkin.

I looked down.

It was a huge bug completely encased in wax.

This was two and a half years ago and I still fully expect to wake up and have my head explode with tiny baby insects.

So that's a lesson.


*I don't remember the recipe. Also, apparently some people are allergic to peroxide or something. You shouldn't do what a nutria does. It will get you shot.

I read only the best parts of the books.

I am sort of like this. Only I brush my teeth.