Despite all the aches and pains I already endure, I voluntarily let a confused and obviously overworked lab tech stick a needle in my arm this morning and draw forth three vials of blood. This was the three-month checkup that my doctor was so insistent about the last time I saw him (three months ago). Tonight, the bruise isn't too bad, and the worst pain (pulling off the tape holding down the cotton ball) is over.

When the test results started rolling in this afternoon, I was mostly satisfied that the numbers in the areas we're watching closely (cholesterol, blood sugar, that kind of stuff) are better overall than they were three months ago. There's some drop-off in HDL, which I'm sure is because I've been lazy about exercising. Even that one is close to normal range, if not quite there.

If there were any glaring abnormalities, I would have to make an appointment with the doctor. I'm satisfied, and I hope he is, too. Assuming that's the case, I'll get another blood test in three months and then see him.

Since I had to fast for this test, I tried to go to bed early last night, but it didn't work out. I tossed and turned and woke up from mad crazy dreams all night long. I didn't want to leave the house until 10:30 am, to make sure I'd fasted long enough, but that meant I was up for three hours or so, unable to eat anything, before I walked out the door. It's a good thing I only put myself through this every three months.

On the other hand, a little more fasting in between tests might make the results come out more in my favor next time. If I want to avoid a lecture, I'm going to have to make some changes. The trouble is, that's the same thing I say after every test and every appointment. If the numbers were so jarring that I felt I was in danger, I'm sure I'd do better. Instead, I just toddle along at the level of barely acceptable and hope that's good enough.

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General Hospital: Or, as it's now known, "Everybody Hates Franco." If this guy doesn't get out of jail and out of town in a hurry, any of about ten people are in line to kill him off. It's great to see Sonny and Carly working together, even if it's on something as harebrained as this. I still say Franco will eventually be rehabilitated in the minds and hearts of Port Charles. I'm not saying it will happen soon, or even that it should happen, but look at A.J. How has he suddenly become an accepted member of the community, after all the things he's done in the past?

Baseball: The Giants are off today, but they're in a stretch during which they play twelve out of fourteen games on the road, all against teams with winning records. How is that fair? They've been terrible in road games ever since their two-day trip to Toronto last month. And there's a story behind that.

Melky Cabrera was the Giants' most valuable player for half of last season until a failed steroid test got him suspended and then dropped from the team. He was signed by the Blue Jays during the winter, and I assume he's playing clean this season. In any case, he seemed to be on a mission to destroy his old team when they met in Toronto, bashing them for hit after hit. Tomorrow's game marks the first time he will be back in San Francisco since his shame and infamy came to light. The only two home games the Giants play during this stretch are over the next two days, against the Blue Jays.

Cabrera was even more valuable to the Giants after he was suspended last August, because it brought the team together. Other players stepped up, and Buster Posey went on a run that won him the league MVP trophy and led the team into the playoffs and on to the World Series title.