I spent my weekend being very humanitarian if I do brag so myself. Donated $200 to the Red Cross Katrina fund, $100 to my alma mater (the least I could do since they gave me this cool looking piece of paper that only took 5 years and thousands of dollars for me to get), $50 to the Police Athletics League who arrange activities and clubs for inner city kids, and I gave blood.
I haven't given blood in like 5 years. Back in the day when I had piercings, having a thick needle shoved through my eyebrow and especially my ear, the sound of my skin tearing, didn't phase me. When I decided to have my eye bar removed, I didn't mind it when the guy at the shop tried to pull it out with pliers several times before snapping it off with wire cutters. And yet, the little finger prick they do to get a test sample of your blood is always enough for me to want my mommy.
I was a tad bit nervous. If you knew me, you'd know I'm a fairly quiet person, but when I get nervous I will talk like there's no tomorrow. The nurse that hooked me up to my pint bag was cool though, I'm sure she deals with nervous Nelly's like me all the time.
It wasn't so bad. Things have changed in the last 5 years. The finger prick was hardly noticeable and once I was hooked up, it took me little more then 6 minutes to fill the bag. The best part was the snacks they had in the break room. After donating blood, the body is a little low on blood sugar, so they recommend eating sugary snacks and drinking plenty of juice to help with that. It's like a buffet of cookies, snack bars, fruit rolls, you name it. If you ever donate blood, I suggest wearing cargo shorts. I walked out of there with several boxes of raisins, rice krispie bars, and a sour apple fruit roll to cleanse my pallate.
The rest of the day I was all good. On Sunday, I felt really mellow which I enjoyed tremendously. Ran some errands, walked around all Zen like, nothing bothered me. It was awesome right up until I got home and felt like ralphing. I made some tea and laid down on my bed for a while. By dinner time I was feeling well enough for a large size double Whopper meal. I usually get the king size, but common sense told me I should take it easy.
So, that about sums it up for me. No all night parties, hot sex with strippers, or unplanned road trips
, but it was well spent just the same.
I haven't given blood in like 5 years. Back in the day when I had piercings, having a thick needle shoved through my eyebrow and especially my ear, the sound of my skin tearing, didn't phase me. When I decided to have my eye bar removed, I didn't mind it when the guy at the shop tried to pull it out with pliers several times before snapping it off with wire cutters. And yet, the little finger prick they do to get a test sample of your blood is always enough for me to want my mommy.
I was a tad bit nervous. If you knew me, you'd know I'm a fairly quiet person, but when I get nervous I will talk like there's no tomorrow. The nurse that hooked me up to my pint bag was cool though, I'm sure she deals with nervous Nelly's like me all the time.
It wasn't so bad. Things have changed in the last 5 years. The finger prick was hardly noticeable and once I was hooked up, it took me little more then 6 minutes to fill the bag. The best part was the snacks they had in the break room. After donating blood, the body is a little low on blood sugar, so they recommend eating sugary snacks and drinking plenty of juice to help with that. It's like a buffet of cookies, snack bars, fruit rolls, you name it. If you ever donate blood, I suggest wearing cargo shorts. I walked out of there with several boxes of raisins, rice krispie bars, and a sour apple fruit roll to cleanse my pallate.
The rest of the day I was all good. On Sunday, I felt really mellow which I enjoyed tremendously. Ran some errands, walked around all Zen like, nothing bothered me. It was awesome right up until I got home and felt like ralphing. I made some tea and laid down on my bed for a while. By dinner time I was feeling well enough for a large size double Whopper meal. I usually get the king size, but common sense told me I should take it easy.
So, that about sums it up for me. No all night parties, hot sex with strippers, or unplanned road trips
, but it was well spent just the same.
andromeda:
What a good person you are. Thanks so much for the comment on my journal. Let's hope I don't make any major decisions that I will regret later. I'm terrified of giving blood, but you make it sound not so bad. 