Cancer Scare

This morning started just like any other Monday morning. Well, except for the fact that I was able to sleep in a few extra minutes because I didn't have to go to lab, but that is besides the point. I noticed pretty early on that there was a slight tenderness on the inside of my arm just below the axillary (armpit) region. I went most of the day figuring that I slept on my arm really funny or that I had bumped into something the day before. After my classes were over with, I came home to take a shower when I noticed that my chest (yes, just superior to my right breast) also had a slight tenderness. I immediately began feeling around, not really sure what I was feeling for and I convinced myself that I had a bump or knot of sorts. I remembered from my A&P class that to have breast cancer, you don't necessarily have to have the lump in your breast and I was certain this was close enough. And, I also recalled my professor saying that a lot of times, people first feel a pain in the axillary region (due to the lymphatic system draining there) when they have cancer, especially if it has already spread. So, I try to remain calm and collected because A) I am not a Doctor and just because I've had 2 A&P courses doesn't remotely qualify me to self-diagnose and B) freaking out will just cause me an unmentionable amount of stress, and I like to put stress off until the last minute. I call my mom, and explain the situation to her, and tell her that I may be exaggerating about the knot, but I need a second opinion. My roommate comes home, and I explain the situation to her and ask her to feel, while reassuring her, the knot is a good 2 inches above my boob, so there are no worries. Sure enough she feels it, and I know I'm not just blowing things out of proportion. All I can think of is the fact that I don't have health insurance right now, and that having cancer treatments must be hella expensive, and mentally I scold myself for not just buying cheap insurance with a really high deductible in case of emergencies.

And then my mind clears, and I have an idea about what might have caused all the soreness. I get out my guitar and sit cross-legged on the ottoman. Sure enough, sitting in that position (just like I did for approximately 3 hours the night before) the edge of the guitar presses into the sore knot on my chest, and as I rest my arm on the end of the guitar as I prepare to strum, I can feel the guitar once again pressing right into exact spot on the inside of my arm where the tenderness is. Mystery solved, cancer scare diverted!

Now, I will get cheap insurance with a high deductible for emergencies.
And, I learned for the first time today some super important information on my family's health histories. Yay for not having to learn some things the hard way.

-) Serving for 4 hours to only make $23 in tips, which is exactly the amount of money I had to part ways with to pay my manager for my work-shirt, made me extremely sad today.

+) Not feeling sick today made me feel really great!

-) Because I was feeling so great, I was semi-miserable that it rained outside today...ALL.FRICKIN.DAY.LONG

+) Since, I had to stay indoors, I was motivated to practice some instruments (harmonica and guitar) so that was a blast. Here's to hoping I really for real for reals make a habit out of it, for that is the ONLY way I can improve. Down with giving up.

So, we have 2 negatives and 2 positives, which should make the overall day neutral, but I'm feeling more like it was a positive day so I guess the positives carried a little more value than the negs. Also, maybe it's because I'm about to +) read more of HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban and +) Wake up a smidgen later than normal tomorrow because I get to skip my MicroLab!! but -) Have to go to the library to write a paper on my unknown organism, which I believe is Neisseria canis.

UPDATE : I was wrong, my unknown organism wasn't Neisseria canis at all. I'm bummed.

brotherhood 2.0

This post is directed to Cassidy, possibly my only reader, if she even still reads this.
I know it's been like 1 and half years since you told me about these brothers Green. BUT today, while I have nothing to do and it's -14 degrees outside I've watched several of the videos and now my side is splitting.

SO, Cassidy, I'm going to yell at you for not forcing me to watch this greatness sooner. CASSIDY!! WHY DIDN'T YOU FORCE ME TO WATCH THIS SOONER!?!? YOU SHOULD HAVE REQUIRED IT OF ME TO BE CONSIDERED FOR BEING YOUR FRIEND!!! Ok, I'm now done yelling.

:)