Seamus, your mind is a weird and wonderful place.
As someone who was regularly afflicted with nosebleeds as a kid, and even occassionally now, I must admit to checking. The first thought is almost always, "Is there blood?" It's human nature...I'm willing to be we all do it regardless of who will admit it or not.
I must admit that I'm in the club with the gnats and whatnot. I'm also a motorcycle rider and you would be amazed at the creatures & debris we suck into our sinuses on the average ride. Anyone who gardens or works in a garden supply center will have interesting results as well. Since so many things have a fine powder to them in addition to whatever the bulk of the product is made of, it makes you wonder what your bloodwork would look like if a chemical analysis was done. Perhaps another tangent to explore Seamus?
Dianne