It’s been a while since I’ve written anything or taken any photos, been a right lazy bastard - it’s been good.

Set up a flickr account - feel free to check it out. 

Apparently skin cancer isn’t a big deal in Canada.  After a day which had started with a brilliant stay under the covers type of thunderstorm, I had decided to get out and about in Montreal, only to find myself stuck in the afternoons rays on another sticky day.

Later, to my shock which quickly grew into a feeling of great anxiety, I found that my once small, flat, light-coloured mole on my forehead had turned into the spawn of Satan and was raised off my brow and had turned into a darker more fiery colour.  Fearing the worst, I dragged myself out of bed at a "look at me, I have a career" sort of hour the following day to seek medical attention.  Having just watched "Sicko" a couple of weeks ago, I was kind of excited to see what the much famed Canadian medical system had to offer.

After being directed to a walk-in medical centre in downtown Montreal, I found myself talking to a rather nice French Canadian receptionist.  The thing that amused me most was at how apologetic she was that I would have to pay to see the doctor, as, and understandably so, foreigners don’t have access to the same free health care as non-residents.  With little regret, I paid the consultation fee and waited about an hour or so to see a doctor in a seemingly freshly renovated waiting room, whilst reading a month old Movie magazine.

My inability to speak French was definitely not helping the situation, however a friendly nurse showed me the doctors office, took my details and blood pressure, after which she left promising that the doctor would be in shortly.  I took the opportunity to grab a little shut-eye and fell asleep with my head on the doctors desk.

The loud bang of the doctor slamming the door woke me.  "Why are you sleeping?" he abruptly asked.
"I didn’t get much sleep last night"
"Why not?"
"I was worried about this" I replied, motioning towards the spawn of Satan protruding from my forehead.  To which he replied, from the other side of the desk, without really looking at it, "That’s nothing".  I kindly as possible pointed out to him that yesterday it had been light and flat, and now it looked like something out of a late 70’s horror movie.  "That means nothing" was the staunch response.  To which I informed him, that especially where I’m from it’s kind of a big deal, and cause for some concern.  The doctor then offered and continued to try and talk me out of getting it removed and tested, because "It’ll hurt and leave a scar", which I insisted that he do.

After a quick cut, three stitches, and about half an hour, the spawn was on it’s was to Forensics.  The stitches come out in about a week and the results come back in about a month.

The cost breakdown was as follows:
- Consultation: $100CA
- Anaesthesia: $15CA
- Transportation: $15CA

Overall I was impressed with the facilities, the shortish wait, the kindness and professionalism of the nurses and office staff, just disappointed with the work of this one doctor.  And for $130 which I’ll hopefully get back from insurance, I feel a whole lot better about the situation.

Plane to Los Angeles (Hollywood, Six Flags, Disneyland, Dodgers game, hanging out with the Durans, Tim, and heaps more), Car to Tijuana and San Diego (Day trip with Steph, Melissa and Christina: ripped off by Mexican Police, shopping in San Diego), Greyhound to San Francisco (Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, tour of Giants stadium) drinking with Eilen and Daniel), Bus Tour to Yosemite (Hiking & biking, but no canoeing - talking crap with the Kiwis), train to Portland (Nothing to do but drink with Alvin and Laura), train to Seattle (Jimi Hendrix, Bruce & Brandon Lee, EMP, Space Needle, Walking Underground, tour of the Mariners stadium and hanging out with Dulcie, Rob and Fernanda, Seeing Peeping Tom with Tim), train to Sacramento (half day - Arnies Office, bumped into one of the kiwis, aka the Doctor), Denver (Crap), train to Chicago (Painting up a storm with Sarah, hanging out with Maurice and Katie, Sears tower, drinking with the Kiwis, Cubs game, the most depressing zoo), train to Austin (The History of Texas museum, biking and canoeing), train to Houston (Empty streets, boredom at NASA, Aquarium and the Art Car parade), Greyhound back to Austin (drinking with Dulcie, the Blind Pig, Weired Wednesday at the Alamo "Daydream" with Bree and Dulcie), train and bus New Orleans (Hanging out with Dulcie, drinking in the streets, dancing with Megan at the Spotted Cat, The Expialodocius Band & The French Quater All Stars, Pool party at India House), train to Memphis (Still travelling with Dulcie, Rock n Soul Museum, drinking with the French Canadians - Luig & Sebastian, Gibson Guitar Factory, Mississipi River replica, coffee with Daniell & Zoe, The Get Up Johns @ Overlands Cafe), Greyhound to Nashville (Country Music Hall Of Fame, "Fractured", drinking on the balcony, the FRIST, more hanging out with Dulcie), Greyhound to Washington D.C. (Still travelling with Dulcie, Holocaust Museum, heaps of monuments, place with all the pots, catching up with Cassie, randomly meeting Marie again), China Town Express to New York (reunion with Bree, Marie, Rob, Kev and Dulcie, getting lost in Harlem, WTC, Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Grandma style pizza, Brooklyn Bridge, Strawberry Fields, The Village, Work exchange @ Jazz On The City, loosing days upon days in Central Park, working with Mike, Bree, Mel, Clyde, Natalia, Ney, Vanessa, Eamonn, Carlos, Tricky Ricky, Madel, Darlene, Eddie, becoming World Champion of Shithead by beating Flo, getting shot with a fire extinguisher by Irish Eddie, spending heaps of time on the roof and the stoop, Jazz Club with Diana, seeing Yoko Ono with Bree, meeting heaps of cool people, talking to Crackheads, and far far more that I’ll never forgive myself for not being able to remember), train to Buffalo (The American side of Niagara Falls, Team Australia at Bada Bing (not a strip club), drinking with Stacey, Katie, Rob and Larry The Cable Guy). Coach Canada into Canada.