Slush Pile: That's hard to face

2006 Slush Pile

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That's hard to face

2006 Reader Submission
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That's hard to faceStuck with letters, Sens booster exposed to curious looks, giggles By HOLLY LAKE, OTTAWA SUN

Zuzu Awada, 24, applied glitter glue letters for a Sens game two weeks ago. A few days after she washed it off, the area turned red and puffed up, leaving the outline of the letters. (Geoff Robins SUN)

ZUZU AWADA'S excitement about her first Senators game Feb. 9 was written all over her face.

Two weeks later, it still is. While the gold and red Crayola glitter glue she used to write SENS on her left cheek is gone, somehow the letters remain clearly visible.

While the Sens left their mark on Awada, in the spirit of sport, she's been a good one and at first found it funny. Unfortunately, those around her still do.

It was her very amused sister who called the Sun this week.

She has drawn looks at the gym, with some wondering why she's written "sex" on her cheek. Her co-workers at Agriculture Canada have also been puzzled by the game's lasting impression.

DOCS AMUSED

"I just want to leave a note on my forehead explaining the whole story," Awada quips.

Even the doctors she's gone to for help have not been able to contain themselves. On Monday, the GP greeted her with giggles. Thursday brought much of the same as she sought a second opinion.

"He was trying so hard not to laugh," Awada recalls. He held it together until she was about to leave when he said dryly: "Next time, I'd use face paint." Ah, thanks.

Game night started off well enough for the 24-year-old. She headed to the Ottawa-Atlanta game with her seven-year-old nephew, Adam El-Sayed, as a last-minute fill-in for her brother-in-law. To get in the spirit, they both painted GO SENS GO on their cheeks -- the GO in black eye liner and the SENS in the same glitter glue Awada used to give herself a Rudolph nose at Christmas, without incident.

Irritated by the glue, her nephew peeled his letters off a short time later. Awada washed hers off when she got home. But a few days later the area started to burn and itch. It turned red, then puffed up, defining the outline of the letters.

"It was just me trying to be a fun aunt," she says. "(The doctor) told me the glue went into my skin, so it's just a matter of it coming back out of my pores. Meanwhile, I'm going to work looking like a dork."

She tries to cover it up, but every day her co-workers tell her it's not getting better. "Thank you -- I'm looking at it every morning," she says in a cheeky tone.

On the upside, one friend did offer the skin on her thigh if it comes to that. Another contacted Crayola on Awada's behalf.

"Get this, they're sending me a $6 coupon," she said. "Okay, my face is worth a little more than that. I normally have really good skin."

She wants Crayola to change its packaging, which says the glue is "not intended" for painting skin.

"It doesn't say do not use on skin -- big difference," Awada says.

Eric Zebley, spokesman for Binney & Smith, a division of Crayola, thinks the warning is pretty explicit, as it states it's "not intended for use on the skin or as a face paint."

"It's unfortunate and we're concerned," he says of Awada's predicament. "Our intention is to help her in any way we can."

The company has contacted a toxicologist, who has been in touch with the doctor treating Awada.

VERY RARE

When asked if this happens often, Zebley says of the millions and millions of tubes sold each year, it's very rare that the glitter sticks users with skin sensitivities.

"People may use it for (face paint), but it's not intended for that purpose. We definitely discourage it being used as a face paint."

In case you're wondering, yes, he too had a chuckle about the mess.

As for Awada, although her cheek might argue otherwise, she was never a big hockey fan, but says she really enjoyed the game.

"Now I'm just bitter," she says with a laugh, only somewhat joking that the Sens should give her free tickets for her suffering and the attention she's brought to their name.

"I'm a walking advertisement."

article can be found @: http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/02/25/1461425-sun.html

Submitted on 02/25/2006

Submitted by: Steph
Reference: OTTAWA SUN, Sat Feb 25, 2006

>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Maybe Toss: Other
If someone died as a result of using this product in a way other than intended, I would consider this a keeper. However, no one died, and no one's ability to reproduce has been compromised. In the end, the "humor" here is that an allergic reaction caused "SENS" to read as "SEX", and that the ongoing condition of the patient is producing embarrassment worthy of a news article! Close, but no cigar! Thanks just the same, Steph, we DO appreciate it!

Jorge said:
Neutral: Other

Charles said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
I see no danger to life or reproductive ability; and I see no blatant stupidity either.

Jason said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Although this is amusing. I don't see any true risk to life or reproductive capacity. Also this subject just didn't seem to have any real stupidity involved.

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2006 Slush Pile

That's hard to face

2006 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

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2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

>> The Darwin Awards, by Wendy Northcutt <<
Link to Fight Evil.