Third try was not the charm ☹️

Well, I tried again. I went to the Kentucky Blood Center for the third time this month after being deferred twice for low iron. Hemoglobin on the first stick (right finger) was only 11.9, but she really had to squeeze to get it out, so it may have skewed the results. Left finger on second try was 14.2 so yay!!!!

Unfortunately, the stick didn't get the vein well, and even with adjustments from another phlebotomist, the little tiny bag wasn't filling up fast enough, so they had to abort, and it left a bruise. I can come back and donate after my hematoma has healed, they said.

Sigh. I did get another $20 gift card to Amazon, though. But I did want to donate. The stars are not aligning. I haven't had this much trouble in about 25 years.

Yay!

My second doctor's appointment got out in record time--an hour. I did get a not-quite-stern talking to about donating blood when one is on iron supplements, since the whole purpose is to conserve the iron in the blood, not give it all away. I didn't even think of that, to be honest. Afterwards, I went and got my allergy shots, and then I came on home. I just submitted my book review for a book on collaboration. I think I will take a break for a few minutes and then work on the house some. And I found a $1 bill, and I'm sorely tempted to go get a Mega Millions ticket, with an insane jackpot, even though I am very unlikely to get even one number to match.

So yesterday was a busy day

although I did put off a doctor's appointment, which would have made it busier, to assure that I would be at my library committee meeting on time and be prepared. Then at 1 pm I went out to donate blood, but the bloodmobile was not there. Apparently, they had a radiator leak and were delayed. I went back and worked on my data entry, finishing those for the day, and the OR reconciliation, and the referrals. At 2:45 or so, they announced that the bloodmobile had arrived, so I went out there, along with several other people. But unfortunately the stickers that they put on all the paperwork and the blood didn't make it onto the new bloodmobile, so someone was having to run it out from headquarters. So we waited, and waited. A few people went back inside, figuring they could go to the blood centre and make their donation instead. Those of us who waited were rewarded with T-shirts for our patience. Eventually someone arrived with the stickers, and they were up and running. Although I'd had the first appointment (I'd been the first to sign up), I let several people go ahead of me because they were getting off work earlier than I. But eventually I made it in there, filled out the paperwork. (They ask women if they've ever been pregnant now. I'm not sure why.) And yes, they've included questions referring to Zika. Fortunately my iron was up high enough and everything else looked good, and I was able to donate. About 3 out of the 11 who came out had low iron and couldn't. My iron was low at the doctor's office six months ago, so they put me on iron supplements, yay. It was my 43rd pint, and five more will make 6 gallons, which seems like a lot, but I've been donating since I was 17, and usually donate twice a year, and I could do it more often, and probably should. While I don't donate for the incentives, in addition to the T-shirt, they gave everyone who donated a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart. Yes, I know, it is the Evil Empire, but I also have $0.33 in my bank account, and the one in Hamburg has a gas station, so I earmarked it for that. We also got a voucher for a free meal in the cafeteria. The woman running it from our end had a list of our names with numbers in front of them, and asked an employee to choose a number, and mine was chosen, so I won an additional $25 gift card to Wal-Mart. It's not the first time I've won; we don't usually have a huge turnout, so the odds are high. But it was very timely, and even though I do not normally shop at Wal-Mart, that $25 meant some food and more gas.

Today after work (yay, I'm off for four days!) I went and got my allergy shots and then dropped something off at YKWIA's and wound up keeping him company while he cooked, helped him clean up, fed the animals (one of whom bounced on my foot as I arrived, cutting my toe with her nail), cut his hair, and then helped get the kinks out of his back. We also watched an episode each of 'Grace Under Fire' and 'Hot in Cleveland'. He rewarded me with food. Then I stopped by Wal-Mart and got $17.10 worth of food. Considering how much they go on about low prices, I think Kroger has much better ones. I mean, really, 25 cents per banana?

This weekend's agenda:

1. Saturday: Take a friend to the pharmacy, to an appointment, pick him and another friend up, take them to the store. Do some cooking and housecleaning at my house.
2. Sunday: No plans as of right now, beyond normal housecleaning at my friend's house.
3. Monday: Clean house, see if a friend will help me with the mattress and box springs so I can re-attach that strut, and then watch the fireworks that night.
4. Tuesday: Not exactly the weekend, but I'm off for two doctors' appointments, and I'll go get my allergy shots, too.

Okay, I got some Breyer's Girl Scouts Samoas ice cream, and ate far too much of it. I've made myself a little ill. I'm going to go work some of it off. Good night! Oh, and PS, Happy Canada day to those of you north of the our border! YKWIA and I listened to a lovely version of 'O, Canada' in French earlier. It was quite lovely:



and en Anglais:

Happy leap day, or

as my word of the day puts it,  bissextus. Just a quick note to say hi,  really.  Yesterday we played the game again for the first time since before Christmas,  and while it was fun,  I got home late and didn't get much sleep.  The highlight of my day today was giving blood (pint 42). I've been tired all day,  unrelated to that,  and as the day wore on,  I've gotten quite a few aches where rain is coming.  A friend gave me some 8-hour Tylenol Arthritis,  and I made him soy dogs and we watched 'Ugly Betty'.

I'm home now,  which is good,  as I have to go over at 5:30 am tomorrow to pick someone up and get him to an appointment by 8 am,  which is always a challenge. So now it's a little after 10:30 pm,  so time for bed.  Good night!

So--

I don't give blood as often as I probably should, but it's about once or twice a year, and today I completed my fifth gallon (40 pints!), which took 31 years of giving. :) If you can, consider giving blood. Thanks to the Kentucky Blood Center for all their help.

So I went ahead and gave blood

and that went well. The folks were very nice, and took my iron level first before I filled the paperwork out. Apparently those children's complete chewable multivitamins help, as I was at a good level. All in all it took a little less than an hour. I think they separate the blood into three parts usually, so a donation can help save the lives of three people. If you've never donated, and can, or maybe haven't donated in awhile, consider it. With all the horrible winter weather lately, blood drives get cancelled, regular donors can't make it, etc. Every bit helps. It's actually quite easy to do.

I went over to my friend's house afterwards, visited for awhile, and we watched an episode of 'Hart of Dixie'. Now we're at the appointment, so I'm typing on my laptop with the hotspot from the phone going.

It's been pretty nice to have a day away from work today. It's been a bit leisurely, even with times to be at various places. I'll be back at work tomorrow, though. But then in a couple of weeks there's the Chicago trip, so that will be fun--three days of mostly vacation with some meetings, too.

Speaking of Chicago, I brought my Fodor's book with me. I may see about looking through other places in the Loop and nearby environs that I can go to while I'm there. I'm sure there are restaurants, etc. I don't really have the money to go to the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum, although it would be nice to. I went to a planetarium in Wichita years ago as part of a school trip and really enjoyed it, and of course there's the Hubble Planetarium in nearby Richmond at Eastern Kentucky University, which I haven't been to before. But I definitely want to do the Field Museum.

That was incredibly easy

I got over to the hospital at 8:30, and since I'd already pre-registered, they just needed me to sign a couple of sheets of paper and give them my ID and insurance card to verify. Then I waited just about five minutes after being taken back to radiology. The CT scan itself was much easier than an MRI--I didn't feel closed in (of course, they were just doing my sinuses), and was able to stay still, except for breathing. I got back to the waiting room by 9:01 and the longest wait was actually the one for my disc with the scan on it that I have to take to my doctor. But I was still out of there before 9:20. I could have actually gotten to work by 9:30 or 9:45. But a friend has an appointment of his own today at 2 pm, so I took the day off. I really thought the scan, or at least the waiting, would take longer.

So now I'm eating some plain low-fat Greek yoghurt with raspberries and blackberries because 1) I haven't eaten yet today and am a bit peckish, and 2) I'd like to give blood, especially since I have time now. So the plan is to finish breakfast and then drive over to Mapleleaf to the Andover branch of the Kentucky Blood Center, which opens at 10 am, and see if I can donate (sometimes my iron doesn't cooperate). Then I'll head over to my friend's house.

Tomorrow

Both Santa and the bloodmobile are coming to our workplace. I plan on giving blood, but I may watch Santa arrive and pet the horses (our Santa comes on horse-drawn carriages, with beautiful draught horses, as we rarely have enough snow for a sleigh when he comes). Of course, then I'll have to wash my hands thoroughly, as I am terribly allergic to horses. Then I'll go to the bloodmobile and hope that I have enough iron in my blood to donate. (Sometimes I don't, although I've been taking chewable vitamins, which should have helped).

Okay, time to work on some things before it gets too late. Good night.

A pleasant day so far

I tried to give blood at the blood centre today, but got turned away because my iron was just under acceptable. It's happened before, but not in a long time. I guess it still isn't back up to snuff after the oral surgery or something. Or maybe I just haven't been eating enough spinach.

Frozen, however, was absolutely wonderful--great music, a good story, and really one of the best recent Disney films I've seen in a long time. I'm glad it and 'Let It Go' won Oscars. There was even a short cartoon beforehand, that mixed old-style and new animation seamlessly, and it was pretty fun.

After that I went to Meijer, still trying to find some de-icer to pay my neighbour back. I think I'll just leave what's left (about half the bottle) as well as $5 and a thank you note. That's the second place I've tried without luck, and while I've been told to go to Wal-Mart, I don't spend money at Wal-Mart.

So now I'm back. The weather is lovely. I'm considering opening the windows. It's 57, and while that's maybe a little on the cool side still, I think it would be nice to get a breeze in here.

I got some quarters at the bank earlier so I can do my laundry tonight. So here are my plans (subject to change) for the rest of the day:

1. Take off my shoes and do a little more reading.
2. Take the things out of the trunk that make it hard to do grocery shopping and clean out the car in general.
3. Take my friend to the grocery.
4. Help him wash his dog.
5. Do the game notes tonight.
6. Do laundry tonight.
7. Watch 'Grimm'.

We may not be playing the Cthulhu game tomorrow. If that's the case, I'll work on the house, although really the laundry is the main problem. Oh, and I should run a load of dishes. If we do play, I'll still have done the important stuff today.



By the way, I am so glad I did not read the New York Times review of the movie before going to see it. The reviewer, Stephen Holden, reveals the main plot twist in the very first sentence and the ending itself later in the review without so much as a spoilers alert to be seen. Many of the comments reflect the annoyance of the readers for this. Shame on him. If you're interested in reading the review, it's From the Heat of Royal Passion, Poof! It’s Permafrost: Disney’s ‘Frozen,’ a Makeover of ‘The Snow Queen’. But if you plan to watch the movie, skip the review before going. Also, keep in mind that while Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' is referenced in the credits and certainly inspired parts of the story and characters, this is no adaptation and is not so much as a makeover as much as an homage, perhaps, in the same way that the White Witch of CS Lewis could be said to be based somewhat on the Snow Queen and yet it is not the same story at all. But I glad they did reference it. Hans Christian Andersen is an author I like quite a lot, and not just because we share a birthday. :)

Got up a little later than planned

and am having a couple of string cheese sticks for breakfast. I don't really feel like eating anything else, but should eat before I give blood. I'm not sure I'll get out in time for Frozen, but I'll give it a try, anyway. If not, I'll come back and work on the house, which desperately needs some attention. But it's sunny outside and it's supposed to climb to the upper 50s today (it's 43 right now), so that's good.

I read for quite awhile tonight

Gregory Maguire's Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, to be exact. (It's the first book in a series upon which the musical is based.) I got through the first seven chapters (not as impressive as that sounds--they're short chapters. Basically I read 53 pages plus the introduction.) But still, that's more than I've read in a good long while.

I also tried out an application that is free and for a limited time, ad-free, that is available from Samsung for its devices only, called 'Milk Music'. It is a streaming music service built over Slacker radio with an interesting interface. I tried out some preset genre channels and created one of my own, and enjoyed listening for awhile. You can get it in Google Play. I'll need to look to see if it is available at all on my television, which is also a Samsung.

I fell asleep before 'Grimm' came on, but I did record it on the DVR and will watch it tomorrow. Turns out I'm free till about 4 pm. I'm going to go to the blood centre and give blood (the recent weather has really caused their supply to be down), and also on second thought I think I will go see Frozen. I do have a free ticket, after all, and it's not like I have to visit the concession stand. Then there's 'Grimm', game notes to do, and maybe some things around here as a bit of spring cleaning. [I so want it to be spring, and it'll be in the upper 50s, so I could probably open the windows and air out the place.] Then I'll go take my friend to the grocery and help him wash his dog. Bless her heart, she's having some issues and it's leaving her quite stinky. Hopefully those will resolve soon.

Okay, I'm going to go do some things before heading back to bed. Good night.

I have

negotiated a $50 discount on my Time Warner Cable bill. Tomorrow I'm going to stop by the YMCA and cancel my membership, saving $46 a month. I am also going to stop by T-Mobile and see if I can cancel my broadband for my tablet, which I used regularly when I was on the bus but now I could just use it on wi-fi, and save maybe $30 a month. The tablet itself is paid off, so I don't think there will be a problem. I have an unlimited data plan on my phone and so use it more for looking up things. I mostly use the data on my tablet for updates, which I can do through wi-fi instead. Also my phone plan comes with a 2.5 GB hotspot that I can use if I'm in a non-wi-fi area with the tablet.

So that could save $176 a month right there. My plan is to take my tax refund and pay off two low-balance credit cards so I don't have a monthly or at least have a minimal monthly payment. And Lane Bryant is definitely one of them. I got behind and owed a minimum balance of $39 after months of paying higher than the minimum. Comenity Bank was calling me maniacally on my cell phone today, at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 10:35 am. The last time was five minutes after I'd paid them $50, and I'd had to talk to a representative to get my web payment to go through correctly, so I'd already talked to someone, paid it, and not 5 minutes later, got another call. I politely told the man that 1) I'd just paid, 2) I would appreciate if he took my mobile phone number out of their system, as I was being bothered at work, and 3) no, I wasn't going to give him my work phone to be hounded with either. They could call my home phone--that's what it's there for, to catch things like confirming doctor's appointments or other business stuff in such a way that I am notified (I receive e-mails on my phone of the transcribed message immediately), yet without annoying me while I'm busy doing things like working. I won't say I'm going to cancel the card just yet, but I am going to pay the $250 I owe as quickly as I can so I don't have to deal with these people. Gee.

So if I pay off those cards, that would save an additional $150 or so a month, and that would give me a small net gain rather than the loss I've been operating at for months now. I should be able to pay my bills and have maybe a small amount to go into savings for things like car repairs and other emergencies. That's the plan, anyway, if I can stick to the budget I've drawn up. My expenses have gone up this past year. I went from spending $30 for transportation by bus each month to about $240 for gas and car insurance monthly. That's a big difference. And I will have to pay on the dental work, too, so I needed to make some adjustments, cause all these little bills do add up.

Okay, having worked out those sorts of things, it's time for bed. Tomorrow I have completely free to myself. My plans:

1. Give blood.
2. Watch Catching Fire in the theatre with my free ticket from work.
3. Cancel my YMCA membership (I have to go in person).
4. Try to see about eliminating the broadband fee for my tablet.
5. Work on the book reviews.
6. Clean house, including trash and laundry sorting.
7. Talk with the leasing agent at my complex about the rent situation. I should have the money soon, but not necessarily in time before she files for eviction.
8. Work on game notes, although we're not playing Sunday.
9. Read.
10. Make arrangements for a ride for my oral surgery.
11. Get an overdue oil change.

Okay, good night!

Had a nice dinner with friends

I kept the cook company and did some prep work for tomorrow, and then I helped clean up afterwards, loading the dishwasher (I am so glad they got that) and washed a few dishes that can't go in the dishwasher. Technically that had been second dinner; I had some baked fish with almonds, macaroni and cheese, and a small serving of mixed vegetables after I'd clocked out but whilst still at work. At my friends I had some broccoli soup with a tomato base and Gruyere cheese, a small serving of carrots with raisins and onions, and a salad of tomatoes, herbs, feta cheese, and onions. So together I've had quite a bit to eat tonight, but I think I'll be okay for tomorrow. Mostly it was either protein or vegetables.

I didn't manage to get to work early today, although I did get there on time. But it was a productive day and I'll try to go in tomorrow to make up some of my time from Tuesday. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday, though. And YKWIA is talking about making kugel on Saturday, which is great. I can almost do that from memory, I've helped enough. Kugel is a wonderful thing.

I did give blood today, my 35th donation (that may sound impressive, but it's over about 29 years, so it averages out to be about once or twice a year). It went very slooooowwwly for some reason. The alarm kept going off and they had to reposition the apparatus the needle was attached to several times. But they managed to get a minimal pint out of me, although it didn't look as robust as the ones I've done in the past. But otherwise it did alright, no complaints. The phlebotomist was good, everyone was professional, I didn't have any light-headedness or anything. The site does itch a bit, but I think that's normal; they used latex-free stuff on me, I know. I'm very vigilant about that ever since a dentist washed my mouth out with soap as I was having a mild reaction with some swelling when she accidently regloved with latex.

Well, if I'm to get up early, I should turn in soon. I'm listening to some music right now (more of the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men). I've taken my insulin (I forgot the Lantus last night and my blood sugar was a bit high (but not like it had been) as a result today). Have a good night.

Wow

Today I was energised, alert, and had a really pleasant day. For one thing, my blood sugar was near-normal all day. In fact, before lunch, it was 101. Even two hours after lunch, it was 121. That's very good. I'm still a little high in the mornings, but I suddenly realised this morning when updating my medication list that I'm supposed to take two metformin a day, and so I'm supposed to take an evening dose as well. That should help with the morning highs. But even so, it wasn't nearly as high as usual. And although I know part of it is water weight, I've lost 12 lbs since Thursday. Really. I was really productive today, and so much clearer mentally. When I got home, the first thing I did was change into my swimsuit and go to the pool, where I did exercises (I didn't really attempt to swim, exactly, nor did I float about, as there was a young girl splashing all over the place). But I did some good exercises and got my joints moving. That's what counts.

Tonight I have a quiet evening at home. I have a few things to do around the house. One of my co-workers really wants me to watch 'Downton Abbey', as she has finished season 3 and she's afraid she'll let something slip since I'm only five episodes into season 1. :) I think tonight I will watch some of that, and also start 'The Big Bang Theory' from the beginning. I might work on the game notes a bit, too, and get them squared away.

I do have a headache (I have almost all day), but I think that's because of the rain that's due tomorrow, and maybe because my blood sugar is lower than it has been, too. I'm resisting taking ibuprofen because Thursday is our blood drive at work and I don't want to have to have them mark it for having had aspirin/NSAIDs exposure. I do think I'll listen to some music for just a bit and rest my eyes, hopefully without actually going to sleep. I'll set several alarms. :)

Sweet

The other day I gave blood, and the phlebotomist was somewhat distressed to find that the largest shirts they had on the Blood Mobile were medium, meaning, of course, that I couldn't wear one. She asked me my size and asked if they could send it to me, and I said that would be fine, but not to worry about it, it was okay. I didn't think much about it, and I didn't really expect her to follow up on it. Today I had a package crammed into my little mailbox, a Kentucky Blood Center T-shirt in 3X. Thank you all. I do appreciate it.

It's May Day, and I'm having the urge to garden

Which is somewhat difficult to do, when you don't have a yard, balcony, or really even a private patio. My solution? Window boxes. I could have gotten some lovely flowers, and it's true the purple sweet potato vine looked promising, but instead I got some herbs and strawberries. There are six strawberry plants, two for each box, plus a rosemary, sage, lemon thyme, oregano, sweet basil, and dill. Wish me luck!

Work went really well today. I got there a little early and stayed a little late, in order to make up some of my time from Monday's doctor's appointment. I had a lot of sheets to enter, and I dreaded it, alphabetising them slowly. But then I sort of caught a second wind and actually got everything in, meaning I've caught up there. Tomorrow will be a lot of shelving and doing interlibrary lending in preparation for being off again on Friday.

I also gave blood this morning. The phlebotomist got the vein in one stick, yay. I try to give blood about twice a year, and I'm on my fourth or maybe even my fifth gallon of donating (I started when I was 17). I don't always manage to, of course, and there's lots of people who have given more over their lifetime. But I do try. What I forgot was you're not supposed to lift anything heavy for about 24 hours, so instead of doing the rest of the books, I'm going to go through boxes of papers and some of the lighter stuff. I am going to do some laundry tonight, though, but I don't have heavy loads of it, and I have the carts and the car for that matter, if need be.

But I'm going to start the evening's work by opening up my windows. It is far too warm in here, and it's a lovely day, sunny and about 81 degrees. :)

I think I deserve a nap

All 'nap' mocking aside, I have done the following since the last entry:

1. Took out the trash AND the recyclables.
   
2. Walked to Circle K.
   
3. Walked from there to the farmer's market. Bought a small watermelon and two quarts of pear/cherry tomatoes for $6.50 total.
   
4. Walked back home.
   
5. Looked up bus times for one friend.
   
6. Texted with a another friend.
   
7. Took the bus to Kroger. Got contact lens cleaner, hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and garbage bags.
   
8. Took the bus to Andover Shoppes.
   
9. Gave blood. The folks at the Andover blood centre are super great and professional; I had no problems. So now someone can have some blood, and I'm entered for the Toyota Rav4 drawing. :) I did forgo the shirt; they can save it for someone else.
   
10. Ate a nice meal at the buffet at Tandoor, an Indian restaurant near the blood centre.
    
11. Took the bus to Mist Lake Plaza, off Richmond Road.
    
12. Got my hair cut. (Not the wowing kind, but it was only $8 before the tip--they were running a special--and my bangs are out of my face. Plus, after two years, I finally got my card for a free haircut filled.
    
13. Took the bus back to my home stop [after waiting while a woman hogged the only two seats at the stop and smoked clove cigarettes and spit repeatedly--ugh!] near the Eagle Creek Library (which is still closed until Monday for renovations. It's been that way since 7/31. I have a list of books I want to place on hold to have delivered there, but I can't until things return to normal because all holds that normally go to Eagle Creek are going to Tates Creek, which is a pain to get to on the bus:
    
    • Map of Time
      
    • Thieftaker
      
    • The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
      
14. Walked home.
    

So now I'm drinking something and considering taking some naproxen (which I held off on for the last few days because I planned on donating blood), because my foot and ankle are really hurting, and just taking a nap.

Well, I found one additional benefit to posting about my life

Blood supplies are pretty low this time of year, so I'm getting appeals from the Kentucky Blood Center, with a twist. If you donate at KBC during their Summer4Life promotion, which runs through September 14th, you are automatically entered to win a 2012 Toyota RAV4. Now, I would donate regardless, but as someone who doesn't own a car, this did, I must admit, pique my interest. Granted, I probably couldn't afford the taxes and delivery costs to actually accept the prize, but it would be fun to win, even though I have some issues with SUVs. :) At least, as SUVs go, it's a small one, not one of those types that take over the road. Anyway, I thought I might schedule a donation this Saturday (although the weather may be an issue, as it will be very hot), but I didn't know how long it has been since my last donation, and whether I'd be eligible. By searching this blog, I was able to find out that it was April 24th, so I should be able to donate then. We'll see. I am all about donating when possible, but waiting for a bus in 104 degree weather is not good).

I got two t-shirts in the mail this morning. One is for a friend, which I think he'll enjoy immensely, and the other is a Miskatonic University Department of Library Sciences shirt with chains on the book with a phrase in Latin around the design that translates to 'fire is to be used as a last resort'. That sounds awful if you're not familiar with Lovecraftian Mythos books. :) The shirts were from www.offworlddesigns.com, the same people who did my League of Extraordinary Librarians shirt and the cat in glasses reading a book that so many people compliment me on. I would highly recommend them in terms of their products and service. I am definitely wearing this shirt to the game Sunday, even if it is black and it's supposed to be 102 degrees (slightly less than Saturday).

C-c-c-cold

When I checked the forecast this morning, it looked like it would be in the high 40s when I got off work, so I wore a light jacket. But noooo, it's 39 degrees with a wind chill of 30, raining a very cold rain, and the wind is high enough that an umbrella is almost useless. I am chilled to the bone. I was going to make red beans and rice for dinner tonight, but I'm too cold to even contemplate it, so I'm having cheese and crackers.

I managed to get my bus pass today, but not the library book. Apparently it was sent back yesterday, although it was still listed as being ready to pick up last night. Since I never received an e-mail telling me it was there, they waived the fee, and I'm back in the queue. Of course, I waited about two months to get it, so who knows when it'll pop back up.

The lack of reading material was felt even more keenly because I switched from a purse to a backpack so I could take my shoes with me and forgot, of all things, my Kindle, which even now is sitting next to my recliner. I had my cable with me and everything, just not the actual device. I felt naked, like when you leave your cell phone at home.

I gave blood today. It was my 29th pint. Three more and it'll be four gallons. Of course, that's averaging only a little over once a year, since I've been giving blood since I was 17. I could do so much better. But it's better than not, I suppose. They didn't have to spin my blood to see if the iron was okay. I guess those children's chewable vitamins are helping. :) It's very rare that my blood sinks fast enough into the solution.

Today was pretty productive. I'm a little tired as a result of the blood loss, getting a lot done, and standing out in the cold for a half-hour. I may go ahead and take a nap. I know, my 'naps' tend to be all-night affairs. But I'll try to get up before it get too late, maybe watch the recording of 'Tower Prep' from tonight.

Okay, hopefully I'll write later, as I need to check the news. But for now I think it's time to take out my contacts, get into a warm bed, and snuggle.

Up early

With the idea to work on game notes early in the week (well, earlier than Saturday, anyway). After days of rain there's not a cloud in the sky and it's quite sunny, although very cool.

I keep thinking it's Tuesday, when it's Wednesday. I lost time on Monday when I was feeling so awful and spent the day at home. The nice thing about this is pay day crept up on me and refilled my bank account whilst I was unsuspecting. :)

Yesterday's highlight was giving blood (I hadn't been contagious on Monday, after all, just full of fibromyalgia soreness and fatigue). It was a day to bleed, apparently. When the guy went to check my hematocrit it burst from my finger all over his lab coat. They still had to spin my blood to find out if I could give (it never just sinks in the copper sulfate solution--I guess it's a problem with being female). Anyway, the phlebotomist got the vein on the first try, I was done quickly, and chalked up yet another almost-universal-donor gift for life. They didn't have any of that blue co-ban without latex so she had to tape me up with gauze and regular tape, and I liked to never got that off later.

I've never given as often as I could, but mainly do it at bloodmobiles that come to work. (It's not that easy to get to the main centres on the buses. I've only donated once at a centre--it was at the old location, which was easier to get to, and it was September 11, 2001.) But I'm working on my fourth gallon. Of course, I started when I was 17, so I'm kind of slow. But I'm O+, so I get lots of reminders from the blood centre.

I'm also on the bone marrow donation registry, although if I ever go to insulin my diabetes will probably prevent me from donating there. But in the meantime I keep up my contact information should it be needed.

Okay, let's see what I can do about these notes. Time to transfer the recording to the computer for transcription.