Ang's reasons NOT to give plasma...

I feel like writing, though I'm not sure what I want to write about.
I'll tell you about my strange day on Friday.
With thoughts of moving out and moving to a new state, I seem to be overwhelmed with thoughts of how to make money, not only when I move but before I go too.
So this lady that is living with us told me about giving plasma, and that you get paid to do it; sounds perfect for me (a person who hates hospitals, needles, blood, etc.)! I decide why not give it a shot... I'll just pump myself up for it and it won't even phase me. Friday was my first appointment. I go in, and there is all sorts of paperwork and testing crap that I have to go through... no big deal, though it does take quite some time to get through and I'm not a patient person to begin with. Whatever...
So finally they get me into my little 'bed' thing... this guy comes and explains what he is going to do, how it works and what I need to do while it's doing what it does. Basically, I have to pump my fist while the cuff is tight on my arm and I can relax when it is not. After doing this for about 20 or so minutes (and being told this process lasts about an hour total), my arm is starting to get sore and uncomfortable... whatever though, it will be over soon, I thought to myself. The next thing I know, my hand is starting to fall asleep... or so I thought. My eyes are starting to feel strange and heavy, my body gets warm, and my hearing is starting to diminish... I call for the worker and tell him I'm not feeling very good. After he came over I felt comfortable closing my eyes for a second... which turned out to be longer than just a second.
I was having some amazing dream, which for the life of me I cannot remember anything about; I was there though... in the dream... it was so real and so clear.
The next thing I know someone is tapping me on the leg telling me to keep my eyes open. The guy I called over is now holding my arm straight and talking to me, but I still couldn't hear normal, so I probably just looked at him like he was crazy. Once my hearing came back, I asked him "did I pass out?", and he told me that I did. I asked some other questions and I guess had a conversation that I don't recall... I do remember asking if I could finish giving, and he, very nicely, laughed and told me "No!"
When I asked him why he was sitting there and holding my arm down, he told me that when people faint, they naturally want to bend their arms, and while he was calling for help I started to do that and he couldn't get to me in time. Keep in mind that I had a needle stuck in my arm when I bent it!! He told me I might have a bruise there because of it (and boy do I!).
I had to sit there for another 15 or so minutes while they ran this saline solution into my arm, and they were trying to make me eat and drink.. I'm cold as winter, I feel like I'm going to vomit, I'm confused beyond belief, there are tons of people around me along with the other donors staring at me. Finally, after they took the needle out, they took me into this other room so they could monitor me and while my vitals (blood pressure, pulse, etc.) got back to normal. The lady with me told me that I was green when I woke up... might be my favorite color, but it's certainly not a color I want my skin to be, and not something I want to hear when I already feel like I'm going to vomit! About 1-1/2 hours later, I finally don't feel dizzy anymore and my vitals have reached a point where they feel comfortable letting me drive myself home. I'm still cold though, which they said is normal, and to just go home and lay down... try to sleep it off.
I drove home, in a complete daze, changed into my warmest clothes and curled up in my warmest blanket and slept like crap for the next 1-1/2 hours. My head has felt strange all weekend, I've been cold all weekend (maybe because it's been cold and rainy/snowy here?), and my arm is still killing me.
I did get paid for the one time attempt to donate though... but I doubt I'll be going back for more; just doesn't seem worth it to me for the extra money!
Lesson learned.
ugh.

Happy Earth Day

I was thinking on my way to work this morning, as a plastic bag flew over the roof of my car, Why do people litter?
Ironically, the next thing I heard on the radio was something about it being Earth Day today.

I was at Target last night, and I came across a very plain white t-shirt that said My White t-shirt is Green, which basically means it was made with recycled materials. I almost bought it, but was already spending too much money on stuff I didn't necessarily need!
Here is something you may or may not know about me: I am a huge recycler. I get on everybody about it, if I see someone throwing something in the wrong bin.
I don't know that I'd call myself "Green" per se, but I do think about the little things I can do as an individual to help better our Earth.

Nothing annoys me more than seeing people throw cigarette butts out the window of their car, while driving or stopped. I am seriously to the point where I almost get out of my car to scream at them- though with today's world and the right to conceal and carry, I would never do that.
Do any of you smoke? Do you throw your butts out the window? I hope you think twice next time you do.. and maybe the time after that you won't do it at all. Shame on you for doing it to begin with... what gives you the right to help destroy our planet?
I seriously hope none of you litter... that is so 10 years ago! IF you do... can you give me one good reason why? ...didn't think so.

I despise people who litter.

Have any of you taken steps to try and become green? I'd like to hear about it, if so. I know that one person won't do much on their own, but chances are if you are doing green things you'll probably talk to your friends about it... causing them to do one little green thing. If we all do one thing, it will eventually have some effect, right?
I don't know how to have an effect on everyone, nor do I expect to, but I hope that those reading this will take my words and try to do something to help. Our planet isn't going to fix itself and we've done horrible things to it; why not pitch in and try to help clean it up?
I'm not saying donate money, I'm not saying go 100% green and change your life completely...but, you could be saving money by changing to those new light bulbs, you could help generate less waste by taking advantage of paperless billing options, and do you really need to take that extra 5 minutes in the shower to see how your shower head can work for you?

I'm just saying think about it... be aware of the things you do.

Today is Earth Day - The sun is out in Princeton, MN - It's a beautiful Earth we have been blessed with, don't you want your children and grandchildren to be able to enjoy it?

Maybe start by picking up a piece of litter today... it's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction.

Thank you for your time.
~Ang

something to share

As some of you know, I was in New York City this past weekend. I wanted to make it a point to stop by ’ground zero’ to see how it’s changed in the 2 years since I’d last been there.

I didn’t take any pictures, as I feel it’s just something you need to see for yourself. Pictures don’t come close to showing the emotion surrounding the area. However, I did find some info online about how they are rebuilding and what the memorial will look like. It’s a pretty neat site: Check it Out