I am a full-time teacher and (technically) a full-time student as well.  But I bet you didn't know about my third occupation - I am a self-proclaimed fully certified doctor of internet-based self-diagnoses!

I've used the internet for lots of ailments - there was one difficult winter when my chronic coughing must have been cough variant asthma.  Then there was a period when I was convinced the shortness of breath I was experiencing when I walked up the stairs had to be due to a mitral valve proplapse, and not merely the fact that I was out of shape (I'm still wavering on that one).  This time, however, there's no doubt in my mind that I have chondromalacia patellae, also know as patellofemoral syndrome.  I have all the symptoms; it must be true.  And to think my doctor spent all those years in medical school to learn how to diagnose these things, when I figured it out in 2 minutes!

The ironic part of my most current absolutely definite, without a doubt, no arguments here ailment is that the pain I get in my knees occurs most frequently after prolonged sitting.  So I'm on my feet, running around all day, legs tired and feet aching, and when I finally get the chance to sit down - for example, when I spend 3 hours at one of my classes - I get up again feeling like both of my kneecaps have been made one size smaller and then as an added bonus have had sandpaper placed behind them.  Working wears me out, and resting causes me pain!!!  But I'm not worried; I figure that within a few months I'll have my do-it-yourself on the internet physical therapy degree, as well as my license to administer x-rays and practice orthopaedic surgery.  I'll also be sure to get an online law degree so I can sue myself for malpractice - I have to cover all my bases!

Word of the Day:

elated (adj.) - filled with joy