denied.

I am typing this post with the laptop on the tips of my knees, and my arms stretched out completely straight. I went to give blood this afternoon, and there was a little incident. Now, I'm not squeamish at all about giving blood. I have no problem with needles or blood or any of that silliness. But today diminished my bravado just a little bit.

The technician sets up all the tubes and bags and such, swabs a good three-quarters of my entire arm in iodine, I squeeze a little foam toy to wake up my little girly veins, so far so good. But when she sticks the needle in my arm it hurts. A lot. To the point where I actually make a face.

I do not make faces. I do not grimace. I have balls of concrete dammit.

Then she makes a startled noise and I look down to see far too much blood pouring out of the hole in my arm, and not nearly enough going into the little baggie.

Apparently my vein collapsed when she stuck me.

After she cleaned me up and strapped an ice pack to my elbow, I offered her my other arm but by then my veins had gone into hiding like frightened rabbits. So, sadly, I wasn't able to make my contribution today. They did, however, give me fig newtons to soothe my sense of circulatory inadequacy, so it wasn't a total loss.