Library school didn't prepare me for questions like this...

"What is... a-n-a-l cancer??"

That's one of the first reference calls I took this morning at the library. At first I thought maybe it was a prank call, someone trying to get a librarian to say "butt cancer." I very nearly accused them pulling my leg, but decided to err on the side of professionalism. The library already had a bunch of people there, and I didn't want to explain too loudly that it meant cancer in the opening of your butt, so I covered the mouthpiece of the phone and mumbled, "It's cancer of the butt." The person kept not understanding me so I had to say it about four times, at which point they go, "OH! You mean like rectal cancer?"

Umm... yeah, pretty much. I opted against prolonging the awkwardness by getting into the distinction between the rectum and the anus.

Then I remembered when I was working in the county fiscal affairs department and once received a call from someone who'd received a letter from "The Department of Fecal Affairs." It took every last ounce of self-discipline to not burst out laughing. (Not long after that, a coworker in charge of the county repository got a call inquiring about the "county suppository.")

Moral of the story: I don't like having to talk about butts and poop in a professional context, but it's given me some funny stories. And also, I could never be mature enough to be a proctologist.


P.S. Closed on the house about a month ago. Still no internet at the house, but I will eventually post before/during/after pictures once there is. And once we are out of the "during" phase, for that matter.