Where is the summer going?!

Can you believe it’s already JULY?! And it will be gone before I know it! I have one month to prepare for GREs…and I am not even close to being ready. I don’t even want to think about it. Anyway readers, this is going to be a short update because life is sooo busy! First of all, I DO NOT HAVE THYROID DISEASE! This could be a good or a bad thing, besides the fact that it’s incredibly frusterating to think you finally have a solution and then be told that, no, we still have no idea whats wrong with you. The test for the antibodies that attack the thyroid was negative and my hormone levels are completely normal.

^^^ “Well then what’s WRONG with me, Doc?!”

After this, I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician who is also my Endocrinologist. Can we just pause for a second? I have an ear, nose, and throat specialist, a surgeon, an allergist, and an endocrinologist. That’s ridiculous! I am not even 22 years old! Oh well. Anyway, I digress. Upon meeting with my Endocrinologist who I shall name Dr. Thyroid, we discussed my symptoms and my concerns. I was then sent to the lab for three more tests- SedRates (I think that tests for an internal inflammatory response), Lupus, and something else that I forgot entirely. I doubt that any of these will come back positive. My current prognosis is “Idiopathic Urticaria” which basically means the following: I get reandom hives caused by an unknown/ undeterminable source.

^^^ HAHA!

Personally, I think an overabundance of UV radiation (sunburn) or heat in general can trigger my condition. But who the heck knows?! That’s why they call it “idiopathic.” In short, this is nothing serious. When I explained this situation to Mogli during a mayfly outing yesterday, his response was, “So you’ll have to work inside now.” Oh hell no. That is the entire reason I chose Biology as a career: So I wouldn’t be inside!!! I will wear a burka before I sit at a desk for the rest of my life. 75 SPF and white long-sleeved shirts…at the same time. I don’t care WHAT I have to do. The trees are my home and I will do whatever it takes to live the life I want. My response to this was, “I would rather have hives.” He told me to be careful what I wish for. I wish for fresh air.

^^^ Yes, please.

Aside from that, I got to visit a dairy farm for DEQ the other day!!! It was a BLAST! (Again, need I say more? I am in love with my job.) I even got licked by some of the more personable cows. Cows in general tend to be very wary of people. But dairy cows are more docile and dairy farmers take very good care of their “girls.” The farmer I met was incredibly nice and gave me the grand tour of his farm. I learned about the different types of grains that go into their feed and even the ratios at which the grains are mixed. He showed me the newborn calves and even let me take pictures! I got to wear plastic boot covers and assess their rain runoff ditch. It’s basically a big hole in the ground placed downhill from the main cattle area to catch any overflowing nutrients so they don’t leech into the watershed. His farm passed with flying colors.

^^^ Dairy cows have it good. They also get pasture time!

In other news, I am visiting Indiana with a friend with coming weekend and I get to see Purdue University. Hopefully this visit will inspire me to study more! But for now, I must get back to work. Much to do! Until next time!