August 25, 2005

Blood Drive

The NZ Blood Service is really short on blood at the moment. They called me last night and asked if I could come in and donate, and the targets on the wall showed they were struggling to get quota.

So, if you are able to give, now might be a good time to take 30 minutes and save a life or two.

I always think that beneficiaries like me should give blood unless they have a good reason why not. I take so, so much from the health system in this society, and it feels good to be able to give them back something they cannot buy and really do need. In fact I'm going to start platelet donation, because that can be done more regularly (about once a month instead of once every three months) and it takes about an hour and a half (and I have time to do it).


Actressing

I went over to see Sock yesterday and I'll go back over again tonight for a little while I think. I have managed to keep it all very civil thus far and I am aiming to maintain that. I should get her back in about a week and a half I think. God that seems like such a long time. Smile and talk only about the pups seems to be my script until then. Everyone loves pups.

I will post photos soon too. Everyone likes photos. :)


Addenda

I can't drink V anymore. The "cockroach" series of ads sticks in my mind, unfortunately.

That Zip coffee ad that says "for people who can't stand bad coffee." How on earth can he tell that the very sexy "european" girl would have bad coffee? I would pick her more for the type who would make excellent coffee and probably have her own grinder. But, if you'd rather go to a service station and pay for a coffee in a paper cup...

Posted by phreq at August 25, 2005 06:39 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Do you think it's better to lie on the form because you know they won't let you give blood if you tell the truth, even though you know that you don't have any diseases, OR to be honest and not give blood?

I fit into about three of the categories that they have a problem with (have used IV drugs, piercings or tattoos in the last year, have had sex with a gay or bisexual man in the last ten years), so I've never been able to give blood honestly.

Posted by: suraya at August 26, 2005 10:31 AM

Erm, I know it's good to give blood and all, but are you sure you should be? You're not that well yourself chicky.

Posted by: Emba at August 26, 2005 04:41 PM

Hey hun! Please read your email for me ok? I need your snail mail addie please and thanks. hugssssssssss missing you, Tracy

Posted by: Tracy at August 26, 2005 05:49 PM

They check your haemoglobin levels each time to make sure u r healthy enough to give.

Suraya - I wouldn't know, but for myself, if I had been clean for X years, I'd probably follow my gut instinct and give anyway. But that's a hard question...

Posted by: phreq at August 27, 2005 08:17 AM

hmmm... but maybe you should leave it for another year or two, given the piercings and IV use within the last year. The blood service plays it straight.

Posted by: phreq at August 27, 2005 08:19 AM

Just for the record, the IV use was in 1997. I see how my phrasing was misleading. Last time I gave blood they wouldn't accept blood from anyone who'd used IV drugs in their entire lives.

Interesting that you think I'd allow myself to be tattooed or pierced by practioners that employed anything less than the utmost standard of hygeine. I'm sure some people do, but nobody that I know of.

Posted by: suraya at August 28, 2005 11:43 AM

I've held hands with various friends being stapled, impaled or coloured in, and while they are intelligent women 99% of the time, for some reason they throw all caution to the wind, and figure that the oily rag in the corner and the meth pre-op were signs of a 'real' piercing. ;)

Posted by: phreq at August 29, 2005 08:14 AM

There needs to be government regulation of body modification practitioners. The current state of affairs makes it all too obvious that as a society we don't think the health of people who want such services is worth protecting. Balls to that.

Posted by: suraya at August 29, 2005 10:26 AM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?