I also have tiny veins. Luckily there's one in the crook of my left elbow that's pretty reliable. I don't mind if they do it in the hand either. I'd just rather get it done than have to try multiple times.

Good veins is one of the reasons I try to give blood regularly (although, no, Red Cross, when you move the drive location across town, I can't still go right after work).

She turned around and asked another employee something I didn't hear, and when she was all finished ringing up my stuff, the other employee returned with a bouquet of fall flowers, which the cashier gave me!

So nice! And nice of you to send the note.

With the rest of my day off, I had a meeting to finish up planning for a workshop I'm doing at church on Sunday, and made pretzels! Delicious!

Those of you who've been text-banking, is it working out okay? I am not prepared to deal with angry people yelling at me, even in text form.

Once I was lying in bed with Marti the Medical Student and she idly stroked the inside of my arm in an affectionate way.

Then pronounced, "I could get a 10 gauge needle in there..."

Dana, there are a few angry people each batch. If they tell you to stop, you simply click Opt Out and are done with them.

Ryan's class had an interesting exercise this week, they each had to give a Powerpoint presentation. (Not something I had to contend with in primary school.) They could choose any hobby or interest for their topic. (One kid chose hunting, which I can't help finding a bit startling.)

Ryan decided to do Doctor Who. (My son!) We had fun setting up the first slide, a photo of our collection (which runs to 129 DVDs, 115 books and 21 audio adventures). He got a couple of laughs from that one. ("This is our small collection..." "My dad has been watching it since he was five years old, and it's probably about time he got some sleep." Ah, kids.)

His teacher advised the class that they should prepare palm cards for the talk. Ryan planned to do his over Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Until he turns up to class on Tuesday and discovers that he's giving his presentation that day, not Thursday. So up he goes and gives his speech entirely without notes. It was supposed to go for two minutes; he did 2:01. His teacher was reportedly quite impressed, he was the only one without cards. (What impressed me: he knew not to let on that it was unintended. My son!)

Anyway, he seems to have developed a taste for public speaking. And just possibly learned to be prepared for the unexpected.

Wow! Impressive kid.

Most impressive! I'm looking forward to seeing his TED talks! Not being thrown by giving the presentation 2 days before expected is amazing.

My mother went to the grocery store and votes it's too rainy to go back out to the mall. Maybe I'll put on my rainboots and still go.

Wow, Ryan! That is a lot of awesomeness.

Rainboots! Or staying when it's rainy out. Both good!