The day was February 20th, my 30th birthday. I was attending a workshop one of my co-workers organized on spatial forecast verification methods. I had been feeling weird the day before, but on this day in particular I was in a lot of pain. I had an awful pain in my side, felt exhausted, and had eaten almost nothing all day.

I was preparing to give three presentations the next day at a workshop. I was to give the opening presentation, a talk on the project I'm currently working on, and one that was an overview of the current state of probablistic forecast verification.

I went home early that day, hoping a day of rest would do some good. I decided on the evening of my big 3-0 -- on Fat Tuesday, I might add -- I would rest, since I wasn't hungry, was extremely tired, and had a pain in an odd place.

The next day, the pain in my side had become even worse. I showed up at the workshop, preparing to give my three talks, when my supervisor approaches me and says, "You look awful. Go to Urgent Care right now!"

I sort of nodded my head, not really feeling in the mood to argue. My hubby had the day off and took me in to an urgent care clinic. After a lot of poking, prodding and examining, the doctor sent me directly to the hospital. Do not pass go. Do not even think about going back to the workshop.

There I was... the day after I turned 30, getting my appendix removed.

No career-fortifying presentations, no birthday party... just a back-less hospital gown and one less internal organ (removed via laparoscopy).

Appendicitis - thou art cruel!!