Well. New email in my inbox.

Tornado warning for northern Baltimore County (I'm about 15 or so miles south of the area in question-Shawan/Butler.) Warning means DUCK.

Weird. I guess work is notifying all of us (15 miles AWAY) in case someone is telecommuting from up there.

Yeah, we're universal recipients, my sister is a universal donor (for rh positive). Sorry I got you and your sister reversed, Kathy, I had it right in my head, but my fingers messed it up.

Interesting. I don't even know what type of blood I have. I feel like it would be a good idea, but even thinking of it is making me slightly queasy.

Now, if a family member or a friend needed it, I would bite the bullet, but as is, I just...bleargh.

I used to give regularly until they added something about CJD that prevents me from giving now. Needles don't bother me in the least. A couple of years ago, I had to go to the doctor every morning before work for blood tests for about 8 weeks. I quickly got over any squick I may have had about needles then.

No problem. My own mother can't keep us straight at times (I'm "Kr--athy", and she's "Ka-Kris"), so I definitely don't expect anyone else to! My grandma had it worse, what with 24 grandchildren who seemed to have been born in batches. There were five boys born within a few years of each other, including my brother, so when Gramma would see him, she'd run through the list before finally getting it right. ("Pat? Jim? Tim? Joe? Kip--finally!")

See, I had no problem giving my old kitty Solomon his diabetes shots, but they were subcutaneous and I didn't SEE the needle go in -- fur obscured it.

I can't watch needles on TV. I have to hide my eyes. Scapels, sure. Surgery, blood, guts, no prob.

Teeny needle -- GAH

Don't get me started on the blood donation restrictions.

I hadn't heard they changed their Europe visit guidelines. Now I can resent the ARC a little less, although I don't know if NY has changed its rules.

I hadn't heard they changed their Europe visit guidelines.

Me either. Great. Now I have no excuse but the bizarro reaction I get well after the fact. I'm not that squeamish when it comes to nice, controlled blood cirsumstance. In fact, I used to end up fascinated by the color and flow and whatnot. I just didn't like the feeling like death that would happen 30 minutes after even the smallest draw.

It's strange--I was a typical kid screaming at the very sight of a needle, but I remember going to the doctor's for something or another (maybe the time I swallowed a coin and my mom freaked and had me X-rayed), and watching with complete calm and fascination as the blood went from my arm and up the syringe. Today, I'm not quite as engrossed in watching the needle go in, but once it's there, it's not too bad. I actually like to see how fast I can fill up the plastic bag with my pint--I usually beat out the other donors around me. (I take pride in the little things...)