I CAN'T see clearly now the rain is gone...

My eyes have been giving me the worst time today. This morning I thought it was because I was out late last night, and perhaps I was still tired and maybe my contacts hadnt been in the solution long enough. Driving into work, my eyes were forcing themselves closed. And in the office, I had to play monkey gaffer, adjusting the tract lighting on the ceiling above my desk as to not feel blinded by the slightest hint of light. Though as the day went on, and a little rain shower came and went, and I had sufficiently rubbed all the makeup off from my eyes...I came to the conclusion---I am having allergy problems. I've had some sneezing, and facial itching as well. I grew up with the worst allergies in the world. (The plant I am most allergic to is the Mesquite tree...I grew up next to a town called Mesquite...you do the math). BUT after living in California for 5 years (both in Nor and So Cals), I managed to forget those tortuous years and have been living allergy free. Until recently! I have had about 3 days of unbearable allergy attacks in the last 2 months. WHAT IS UP?? I dont get it. Not only is is uncomfortable, and renders me nearly blind, I also end up looking like a baby mouse. Yes, yes. I have red eyelashes, combine that with the ruddiness on certain parts of my skin---especially my eyelids (I am living up to the meaning of my Russell side of the family name ...http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/r/bl_name-RUSSELL.htm ...) ...and I think I resemble the picture below.  Needless to say, I am not feeling my most attractive today.  Which brings me back to the realization I had last night. I seriously can no longer go ANYWHERE looking like a hot mess, because I see people I know EVERYWHERE. And its no longer I just see people I know that frequent the places I frequent. I see people I would never expect to see in the most random of places. Albeit, last night I wasnt surprised to see the people I didnt expect to see where I saw them, but when you walk into a number of places and know no less than 5 to 10 of the people there...you've got make sure you are looking cute. I don't want my ragamuffin tendencies getting out on the street. Haha. In all seriousness, if you know me, you know I am not THAT vain. However, this does make it a bit more difficult to be inconspicuous with my carrying ons.  :D