Erin, The prof I talked to didn't suggest meds because of the fluky nature of the fear response (plummeting blood pressure, potential for random violent outbursts...which I'm ashamed to say I've had).

He recommended avoidance, saying that niether chemicals or desensitization works with this 'orphan' phobia.

These days, if I absolutely HAVE to have a blood test, I've trained myself how to hold on until it is over. So I tell the tech,"Here is how it will go. Do what you do best and as quickly as you can. Do NOT ask me if I am okay because I am not and I will not respond. I will make noise and I will cry but I will NOT faint and I will not move. Let's do this thing and get it over." I then ask them to make sure they leave me alone as quickly as possible and to take all the equipment with them.

Then I shudder and cry and feel just about as ashamed as an adult can that, despite being a professional problem solver, this is simply a problem in my life that will not be solved. It is what it is and I just have to deal with the consequences.

ION, I'm so inspired by Cashmere's red, I might just have to jump in the color pool myself. That's gorgeous.

I'm jumping back into the Red pool, myself.

I'm going to grow out my hair [cue: sound of a thousand Hec's crying], but am getting a cute, razored bob with bangs first. Fire engine red with blonde streaks in the front.

I'm also changing my make-up.

I love Perscriptives. What's another line that's a little more funky but around the same price?

Cashmere is just Gorgeous!

I'm cracking Emily up...or driving her nuts, one of the two.

I'm actually thinking of getting out of the red pool. Maybe a sable brown, or even my natural color.

AHAHAHAHAHA.

Okay, not that last one, but something different.

Fire engine red with blonde streaks in the front.

I prolly should have gone with blonde streaks instead of the black--but I'm pretty pleased with the way the color turned out.

I don't know why I even bother trying to grow my hair out--it just feels so good when I finally cut it all off. Maybe it's the feeling you get when you go a week or so without shaving your legs and then when you finally do, the difference feels incredible.

Cashmere, you're so beautiful. I love you haircut too, and the color is fantastic. No more baby blahs on you, baybee.

No more baby blahs on you, baybee.

Thank you. That's what it was! I was feeling awful and hated going outside among the humans.

I've been thinking of red, but when I went to buy hairdye at the store Saturday, they didn't have any reds I loved, and I realized (after first thinking they didn't) that they had the light brown I wanted, so I figured it was a sign.

But I might still go with red next time.

In other news: I'm SO ANNOYED at people. When there's a deadline, and all it involves is sending me an email? And I send you like, THREE reminders about it? Could you just SEND ME THE SHIT? Instead of making me hound you and beg? Becuase there's a hell of a lot of people involved, and I don't want to have to make crazy-ass charts like I'm doing, and send zillions of personalized emails, and i wouldn't HAVE to, if you'd just send me the info the FIRST time! Or the SECOND time! Or the THIRD time!

Lordy. Just caught myself singing along out loud with the iPod while out walking the dog. And you know how you sometimes modify songs as you sing them?

SuperLu never made any money
Saving the world from squirrels and bunnies....

if you'd just send me the info the FIRST time! Or the SECOND time! Or the THIRD time!

... and please don't tell me to stop nagging you. (eta, and by "you" I don't mean meara, I mean the person on the other end of her email. Just to be clear.)

brenda, that sounds adorable. I want someone to walk by my office singing that because it would make me happy.