I don’t quite know what I did to my foot, but I do know that I need new shoes. When you consider all the walking I did, the blisters I already had, and the skin sloughing away from now disappeared blisters, my right foot is a mess of hot burning pain and agony, even when I’m not putting any weight onto it.

As a result, I did something I hate doing: I called out of work tonight, at the Bookstore.

If I hadn’t taken Friday off from the Office, I might’ve not gone in today, either. But I did — oh well, right? I don’t really mind taking PTO from the Office (it’s a combination of vacation and sick time), but I don’t want to use it all up at once, either. Taking time off from the Bookstore — there’s nothing like PTO there, especially for part-time folks like me. No work, no pay. Plus, by calling out, management has to try to locate someone to cover my shift, difficult at the last-moment. And if they can’t find a replacement, they’re working with one less staffer — one less person to help customers, ring on the register, or stock shelves.

So I don’t do it. This is possibly the third or fourth time I’ve called out in sixteen months of employment there. I like being dependable.

In all seriousness, however, there’s no way I can stand — literally, my right foot hurts even when there’s no weight on it. Standing is painful, walking moreso. I can walk on the edge of my foot, or on my heel, but both ways are awkward, clumsy, and presents their own challenges. Getting through an entire night where walking and standing is a big part of the job is a no-go.

I considered hobbling up to DSW — there’s one less than a fifth of a mile from the Office, but I think it’d be too painful, and sadly, all of my coworkers who have their own transportation seem to be out of the office today, leaving just we public transportation commuters. Maybe tomorrow (depending on how much energy I have after my redeux trip to the DMV).

I’ll be stopping at CVS on my hobble home this evening for some Epsom salt, and I’ll be spending the evening with my feet in a bucket of hot water and a movie on the TV.