i don't post too much about myself personally... i tend to post about my work, the things i like or dislike, my thoughts on game design, maybe political beliefs. i tend to avoid putting too much detail about my life online. but hey, cohost is closing, the world is everchanging, and maybe this would be a fun little tidbit for you to read. it's not particularly dark or deep, just a glimpse into something unique about lily.
my right arm is a full 2+ inches shorter than my left, from shoulder to elbow. you wouldn't notice it looking at me, unless you saw me with my hands down by my sides, and once you see it it's really hard to miss. it's the result of a unicameral cyst i was born with, which left the humerus (the bone/ball joint of my shoulder) hollow, instead of filled with bone marrow like it's supposed to be. it's just empty.
this made my right arm really prone to fractures! when i was ten, i slipped on some ice and cracked my shoulder, and when i got it x-ray'd the doctor told my parents, wow, that sure is a hollow bone. i had a few surgeries for the next few years to try and stimulate natural marrow growth, but it didn't take. when i started getting microfractures at 17, they offered to pack it with dead bone marrow (kerotin... i think?) so at least the bone would have a solid foundation and hopefully break less easily. i had a big scar going down my right shoulder (much smaller now) that i would tell people was from a bear attack when i was younger. no one has ever bothered to believe that.
one side effect of all this is that my right arm ended up at least two inches shorter than my left, which is an annoyance at times. i stand funny. i can't comfortably put my right hand in a waist pocket. long-sleeved clothing is always too short or too long for one side. doing pushups or bench pressing is more difficult, because i can't lift something evenly. i basically require a desk chair with adjustable arms. none of this is a particularly big deal, just something i've had to adapt to. i've also ended up semi-ambidextrous, as my right hand is more adroit for writing or drawing, but my left arm is stronger and more balanced.
the more annoying side effect is that my right arm is more prone to injury. the muscles and tendons are all a bit off, and this made me weaker to the RSI i've juggled since my twenties. and once every few weeks, i'll suddenly get a shooting, sharp pain in my shoulder, something like getting a tooth pulled. the bone starts to feel weird, like something's fallen out of place, but it usually only lasts for 10-20 minutes, so i just kinda have to chill. i used to occasionally wake up and have a hard time moving my arm at all, but that's more or less stopped happening. all in all, it's a pain, but just something i have to take care of, like any other weird little chronic thing.
finally, the upshot of all this: i can lick my right elbow. this is mostly considered impossible for the average person, and i usually use this trick when they make you go around the room and list an interesting fact about yourself. when i was in college i would take bets and get people to buy me cheap beer. people are always shocked by it and often immediately try it themselves. no one ever figures out how i do it, until i tell them. a fun little game for lily ~
anyway, that's a little bit about me. i imagine everyone has their little oddities... writing about myself feels pretty indulgent sometimes, and i'm usually to shy to do so, but i hope this was fun, anyway. thanks!

