My stomach is all tied up in knots today.

This morning, when I tried to login to the internet, I was greeted with an “your account is expired” message. Tie the first knot in my stomach.

We have problems with the Internet every single week and I’m just sick of it. When service was finally restored after three hours (sorry we weren’t on webcam this morning, Mom and Dad!), I updated my ongoing log of internet access problems and wrote a long and detailed e-mail to the service provider’s business director. After I sent the e-mail, I discovered a major calculation error and had to send a follow-up e-mail to correct it. I’m sure that lessened the punch of the first e-mail. Tie the second knot.

I’m either a dream or a nightmare customer because I keep such detailed records and provide constant feedback. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave us another month of free internet access worth $66 USD (we received a total of two months free last year). But I’d honestly rather have a guarantee of little to no problems plus dependable speed than to accept another free month.

Then there’s my Genetics and Public Health Blog. Even though it has been less than a week since it launched, I’ve already received comments from a few people there (thanks, !) and here on LJ. And, I’ve also made it onto the blogroll of at least one other genetics blog.

Just as with this blog, I’m aiming to write at least one substantial post a day. But, the genetics and public health posts require a lot more effort. I love doing the research, synthesizing the material, and writing in a way I hope non-scientists can follow. The problem is that all of this takes more time and concentration. Stephen was very cooperative today but also got to watch more TV than I would have liked. Tie the third and fourth knots in my stomach.

Blogging is starting to feel like real work! (Tie the fifth knot.) And that’s one of the reasons I joined the About Weblogs Network. We’re hoping to make money at this. It’s also a way for me to reimmerse myself in genetics and public health and see if I can do a job focused primarily on science writing.

Expressing and defending my opinions in a professional capacity has not only tied the sixth knot in my stomach but it has also gotten my heart pounding; both from the excitement of intellectual stimulation and the fear of being found a fraud. I’m planning to unveil the blog to my former colleagues next month, but just thought of it makes me queasy.

The seventh and final knot was courtesy of the very greasy fried rice and tofu lunch I had earlier.

Antacid tabs are untangling some of the knots. The others are probably permanent additions to the calcified knots from previous years.

ETA: The internet service provider gave me 9 days of free service.