So, I’m posting the above picture because I think I look pretty awesome in it…like a I drink beer and make out all the time and borrowed my dad’s truck without even asking kind of awesome.  And that awesome is going to have to hold you all over for a while, because I’m not going to be doing very much awesoming in the near future.  I’m just going to be sleeping and resting because…I have malaria.  I know, WHAT? 

I had a rough night the night before last and woke up yesterday feeling mighty shitty.  All WebMD signs pointed to malaria, so I decided to get tested.  Then I cried because I’m really out of control of my emotions when it comes to anything medical.  (My annual pap is a real treat.)  I made a bargain with myself that if I stopped crying, I’d let myself wait until the next day to get tested.  Not only did I not stop crying, but my roommate walked in on my tearfest and convinced me that getting tested as soon as possible was a good idea.  So, we went to a clinic where I met with a doctor and cried all the way through telling him my symptoms.  English wasn’t his strong suit and I’m sure that my tear gulped words and more-whiney-soprano-than-normal voice didn’t help.  He seemed to think that I had some sort of allergy problem or maybe a sinus infection because I was tearing and snotting so much.  I guess he doesn’t get a lot of criers.  After much back and forth that somehow devolved into him asking for a stool sample, which I politely declined, I finally managed to convey that I wanted to get tested for malaria.  I took the test (didn’t even cry when I was pricked…progress!) and it came back positive.  The doctor gave me pills, I cried some more, and then came home and frantically e-mailed my parents for sympathy and malaria research.  I took the pills and fell asleep for about 12 hours.  Right now, I’m feeling a ton better, but still will be taking it easy, meaning lots of naps and not doing my laundry until I’m done with the three-day treatment course.  So, stay tuned for stories about dirty underwear pile-ups because that’s all I’m going to have for the next day or two, I think.