That's not what the Death card means

Man, what better way to feel better after a sick day than losing a pint of blood!

(No, not that way.)

My temperature was within reasonable standards, I felt fairly well, and I had been hydrating myself since the night before, so I donated blood today.

Things I learned, or should have learned before and was reminded of today:

• Bring your ID. They want to make sure you don't try and donate someone else's blood. That would be anarchy.
• Be prepared to wait a while. Today they only had about eight blood extraction technicians (or as I like to call them, "exsanguinators"), three or so interviewing nurses, and three volunteers at the sign-in desk. Add to this people whose blood does not gush forth in a timely manner, and you can get a pretty good delay going.
• Lady exsanguinators are better than boy exsanguinators. Maybe that's just my bias, but I watched a couple of male techs casually discussing a girl's inability to maintain consciousness right in front of her. I'd be a little offended, were I her. Also, my personal exsanguinator was efficient, kind and alert. And a lady.
• Skinny girls should bring back-up. I saw a number of skinny girls unable to fill the pint bag, or unable to walk after donation. I spent some of my orange-juice-and-Cheez-its recovery time talking to one skinny girl. She alluded to the fact that the same thing happened last time she gave blood. I applaud her initiative in trying to donate again, and I hope she got home without falling down.
• Free orange juice, free Cheez-its. A sticker that used to say "Be Nice To Me - I Gave Blood Today" and now just has some slogan with Ziggy on it. Your choice of colored bandages. (I picked red. Like, "OMG, they smeared blood all over your elbow - wait, that's just a bandage!") There's so much that's good about giving blood. Plus, saving lives. I get to claim an affinity with many superheroes in so doing.
• Cheap drunk. Well, I wouldn't know, but I hear that's true.
• Re-hydrating after donation is important. I'm having Gatorade. I didn't check with any of the staff, but I believe bright green fluids are better for that purpose. It stands to reason.

Now, of course, I have a quiz tomorrow. It's not quite a midterm, but I think it's pretty important. So, my laundry, my minus-one-pint bloodstream and I are going to go study. And probably treat myself to dinner. You know, because of the loss of blood. (See!? It's a multipurpose excuse! I could probably rob a liquor store as long as I had my little sticker on!)

10.05.05, 4:33 PM, EDT, Ada, Ohio

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