I once ate moldy Fig Newtons. I had done a favor for an elderly couple, and they insisted I have coffee and cookies with them. I didn't want to embarrass them and their faulty vision so I ate a couple Fig Newtons. They tasted bad, but did not hurt me.
At one time field trialers did that to keep chiggers away. They also dipped their coveralls in tick dip - that is until one of them got cancer of the penis - ostensibly from this practice - necessitating surgical removal of the organ.
Brown gravy of course.
I wish I could say I have not picked 11 ticks off of me - just exploring - none feeding, but I haven't done the full body check.
I wonder if the dog tick repellants would work on me?
Laughing is good. I too had a sister. The day we buried our mother I 'divorced' myself from her and have never looked back. You can't really lose what you never had. "Friends are the family you make for yourself."