Mailbag: Duct Tape Use #500236

It’s been a good week for mail. Today I share a testimonial from a thoughtful reader who graciously shared her duct tape experience.

Lee Ann,

I don't normally write in with things like this, but couldn't pass up thisone. I read your blog several times a week and enjoy your duct tape uses. When a recent trip to the doctor ended in his recommending duct tape as aremedy, I had to tell you. (Of course, you may already have this one underyour hat).

I took my 9 month old in for his check up this week. Instead of coming with me or scheduling an appointment for himself, my husband asked me toask the doctor about his current ailment--a plantars wart on the bottom ofhis foot. I'll admit I was embarrassed to ask the doctor for advice thatdid not pertain to my son (since this visit was supposed to be about him), but not embarrassed enough to cough up the additional $90.00 for anothervisit for my husband.

When I asked him how to get rid of the wart, he said the best way was touse duct tape! Covering the affected area with duct tape for 36 hours,removing the tape and sequentially the dead tissue from the wart andleaving the area uncovered for 12 hours was his solution. These steps are repeated until the wart was gone (usually 3-4 weeks). My husband is trying it. I'm hoping the doc wasn't giving me a fakesolution for being too cheap to bring my husband in for a visit. If it works I'll let you know.

Amber

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Amber,

Thanks for taking a moment to write! I have been following this treatment, and I am thrilled to hear a doctor officially endorse the duct tape remedy. It started as something of an urban legend until Vanderbilt did a formal study last year. Glad to know of a personal testimony! How is your husband's wart?

Thanks,
Lee Ann

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Lee Ann,

Warts gross me out, but I'm pleased to tell you the duct tape worked great and in half the time the doctor told me it would take!

I wasn't a believer in the duct tape, so I hit the Wal-Mart wart remedy aisle and purchased a $20 wart removal kit specifically for plantars warts. My husband in the meantime attempted the duct tape directions. When he took the tape off for the first time he was shocked at how well (and painlessly) it had worked. Because the wart wasn't completely gone he also used the $20 stuff. After 15 minutes of soaking the foot, then scrubbing it with a pumice stone, then applying the horribly painful "freeze-off-stuff", he said he'd use the duct tape from now on, even if it did take a little longer.

Perhaps this testimony will help plantars warts sufferers throughout the world.

Amber

Mailbag: Post-Katrina Bible Study

Occasionally readers take a moment to drop a line, and I always appreciate it and try to share. Today I include a link to an interesting article passed on by our friend from the Great White North.

Dear Sister Duct Tape,

We residents of heathen foreign countries and non-Bible belt Christianstend to look with envy upon those who live in areas where every secondperson (okay, perhaps that is a slight exaggeration) is an A/P. So this news item is truly shocking:

Bible Study Draws a Crowd (The Times-Picayune)

Best Regards,

From a brother in the Great White North (seriously - we had ice pellets in the forecast this a.m. as temperatures hovered around the freezing mark).
Brook T.

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Dear Brother Brook,

Greetings from the balmy Southland where the only ice we're seeing is in the snowcones we enjoy for relief from the summer temperature.

The article is very interesting, especially since it takes place in mybackyard. Folks from the northshore (term for everyone in the area north of Lake Pontchartrain) usually commute across the Lake to work in New Orleans everyday or have some type of N.O. connection. So I would guess the area to be heavily Catholic. However, I’d like to see an actual breakdown to know the motivation behind the study and the groups involved.

This quote from the article is especially encouraging to evangelistic Christians who are looking for a chance to spread the Gospel. It’s also interesting that the Councilman feels true Bible education can’t be sufficiently acquired through the church:

Coogan, who is Catholic, said he thinks people rediscovered their faith in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and want more opportunities to express themselves in a religious setting. He said people who wish to learn more about the Bible must take it upon themselves to study outside of church.

What should non-Catholics think of his statement?

Thanks, Bro Brook, for sharing
--Lee Ann

P.s. – It’s interesting to see the word “secular” used in a news article.

Favorite Personal Duct Tape Stories

I am always all too willing to share my duct tape adventures, so when Paula requested a recap, I was glad to oblige. Here in no particular order are my favorite duct tape stories for your enjoyment.

#1 – Repairing WandaHonda’s Trunk Lid

#1a – Repairing WandaHonda’s Headlight
As you might have guessed by now, WandaHonda was my first “real” car, and driving was not my strong point then. I got lots of duct taping practice. And I don’t think I got around to sharing this before, but if you ever have an incident resulting in a popped out car headlight, just duct tape it back in and keep rolling.

#1b – Repairing WandaHonda's Sideview Mirror
Garbage cans and mailboxes never liked Wanda and me. One day one jumped out and attacked us as we were driving, and the incident took out the sideview mirror. I tried to duct tape it back on. I’ll admit it didn’t work as well as the headlight patch, but it did keep from altogether losing the dangling mirror.

#2 – Ice Cream Lid Reinforcer

#3 – Duct Tape Handbag

#4 – Skirt Rip Repair
Should you ever suffer a wardrobe malfunction on a canoe trip, be aware that a handy strip of duct tape can double for seam repair. However… also be aware that duct tape is not necessarily water proof.

#5 – Duct Tape Christmas Stocking

I sent in the Ice Cream Lid Reinforcer story to Hints from Heloise. Surprisingly I haven’t heard back from her. Still, I am undeterred in my assurance that she will personally thank me for changing the world with this revolutionary resource.

Mondays with Lee Ann

The world is a beautiful place. But with the combination of packing/unpacking (I moved home this week) and helping with a wedding shower over the weekend, I’m moving a bit slow. However, I’m feeling particularly good after spending time among friends and family, plus an extra special church service.

Has anyone besides me ever found it a huge transition to move from the excitement of an extraordinary church service on Sunday night to the business of the day at your workplace on Monday morning? Talk about worlds colliding. My mind is still basking in the celebration on Sunday while the talk around me is on the New Orleans mayor runoff and starting a new work week. Juxtaposed cultures....