The woman who drew my blood a few weeks ago made a little fun of me when I warned her I might get upset. But I forgave her, because she found a vein quicker than anyone else ever had, and I had pretty much no bruising. That's never happened.

I've never had bruising, and I've been told my veins are easy to find. I think she might have been pretty inexperienced.

Gift certificates to a bookstore sounds good to me, plus a personalized card.

I've got a pain in my right arm that's been pretty constant for a week and more now, at varying intensities. It's on the outside muscle, from the attachment into the shoulder down to the elbow. It twinges when I use the arm, or try to reach to the right. I've tried leaving it alone, I've tried using warmth, I've tried muscle relaxants, but it isn't going away on its own. (I don't suppose carrying stuff this past weekend with all the travelling helped any.) I'm beginning to this that seeing some sort of medical professional about this might be a good idea, but I could use some sort of guidance, about what kind and how I should sum up my problem -- muscle strain?-Repetitive injury?-What?

msbelle still need entertainment?

Scary chocolate: [link] (er, you REALLY don't want to see the last slide. Trust me. Heed the warning!)

Even scarier cakes: [link]

Especially [link]

Cabbage, anyone? [link]

Gift cards to a bookstore sound good. You could also do Staples or other office stores, because teachers are always buying supplies for their rooms and it adds up.

I need an intervention for my reality TV watching. Last night, I found myself flipping between So You Think You Can Dance, Made, and How Do I Look. And they were all so good. I think I'm addicted.

Yeeich, Sue! That tech needs to go back for some remedial training.

My veins are pretty easy to find, but I still tend to bruise like a mofo. Then again, I bruise easily in general, so I can't really blame blood draws.

You could also do Staples or other office stores, because teachers are always buying supplies for their rooms and it adds up.

This sounds good to me.

Shots fired in the Rayburn building? Anyone else hearing about this?

'Digging around' sounds like a no-no to me, it's a very good way to ensure a hematoma, as blood leaks into the surrounding tissue via the mangled artery walls. I suspect the real and responsible protocol is to start over again.

Yes, brenda -- I'm walking distance (ok, a bit of a stroll, but not too far) from there. The Rayburn building is still locked down, but the Capitol has been reopened.

Eesh, Sue. That's horrible.

Trust Sarameg about the last link on the chocolate page. There's a oh so wrong chocolate desecration there.

Perkins, I was tired.

I know. Still made the world not make sense though, just for a minute.