successfully donated

I successfully donated blood this morning!! This is a big thing for me, considering the times I've been turned away for low iron and most recently stopping in the middle of the donation. (Seriously, the blood just stopped coming out!) I really feel productive and helpful when I give blood, and I feel very strongly that I (and everyone) should donate. That's why it is so frustrating when it doesn't work out that way. I have to stock up on iron-rich foods and lift weights and drink lots of water before donating. I call it my "training" to donate. And it worked this time, so YAY for me!!

Interestingly enough, the last time before today that I was able to successfully donate was October 20, 2006. October 20th must be my day!

Grandpa Muller

He was 94 years and 1 month old when he passed away yesterday late afternoon. In my last conversation with him this past Saturday he told me to make sure that I wipe my feet before I get into my car. He's always been taking care of me through my car, and he still does.

Pirates

A pirate walked into a bar with a steering wheel sticking out of the front of his pants.
The barkeeper said "Sir, do you realize that you have a steering wheel sticking out of the front of your pants?"
The pirate said "Arrr, it's drivin' me nuts!"

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day everyone! :)

shopping list: rubber gloves

I got a bunch of chili peppers at the farmers market today, to make a big thing of salsa. I decided to cut up everything this evening to make it tomorrow. I didn't use any gloves. I am seriously paying for it now, and wondering how the heck I will be able to fall asleep with these burning hands... I will be buying rubber gloves post haste.

a thought

I was just thinking, I kind of like being in an industry that is predominantly male. Lots of male attention, and although it's not THAT kind of attention, it is still nice to be interacting. I sometimes think I do better in those situations, where the majority of members are men. It's a good competition factor for me, enough but not too much to be personally destructive.
But then again, I most definitely DO NOT do well in fantasy football draft situations where I am the ONLY female having an unclear concept of my job as draft coordinator where ALL the other people are men, men who have a clear understanding of the whole fantasy football thing. That was an interesting scene for sure. I was the auctioneer at a co-worker's fantasy football draft on Thursday night. It was not horrible I guess, but it was definitely weird. At least I made $50 so I have cash to spend at the Minnesota state fair today. Yessss! :)

plan confirmation

I'd just like to expound a bit on the concept of plans. When one makes plans, whether they be personal activities or professional meetings, it is incumbent upon those involved to be aware of these plans. That's the reason plans are made in the first place, no? This whole concept of confirmation is ok when both parties connect, but some people take it a little too far, particularly when they call to confirm within say a few hours of said appointment. I am particularly frustrated with one such occurrence which has me twiddling my thumbs for 20 minutes til a friend/date/who-knows-who arrives. I had left my phone in the car and he called 15 minutes before we were supposed to meet, saying "call me back." I thought there was some reason he was calling, like he couldn't make it, or he would be late or something, and being the one who left my phone in the car, was fully prepared for that. It turns out he was just waiting to hear that I was here, that I was still wanting to get together (for dinner mind you, and you know what I get like when I am hungry). Why did we make plans in the first place if you are just going to base it on whether it is confirmed immediately before?? What if one is out doing other things, structured around the plan of being somewhere to meet someone at a certain time?? It is my responsibility to let you know if I am going to be late or whatever, a responsibility that I fully accept, and hold dear as part of my anal retentive side for that matter. Let's not overlook the reality that I rushed through the end of my day, saving things til tomorrow that I could have done today, to be home in time for 5:30.
This has happened to people I know with job interviews and work meetings too, as if those people didn't have anything better to do than sit around waiting for the plans to be confirmed.
It just gets under my skin, and like I said before, doing that at a time when I am hungry? Not a good move.

safe at home

Just in case folks are seeing the news about the bridge collapse in the Twin Cities, I am safe and sound at my apartment. The part of the bridge that fell is just after my exit, so I normally am not on that stretch, thankfully today. It's absolutely amazing to watch though. The whole bridge, both north and south bound lanes just dropped into the Mississippi...