Donation No.1 of 2009!

 Since my new year resolution this year was to donate blood and components as much as I am allowed I though I would write about two firsts for the year. Today was my 1st donation of the year, and also my first platelet donation.

 Platelet donation is great because they are able to take several 1000 times more platelets out of your blood then they would be able to get from just a single pint donation. The platelets are then used for cancer patients, accident victims, and bone marrow transplant patients to name a few. The amount I donated today is enough for two transfusions.  

  The whole process takes about two and half hours, which is a bit long but not bad it all!

The quick version of it is:

You do the mini physical/screening.

The put one needle in one arm where the blood will be taken from, and a second needle in the other arm where it will be returned to you. You blood is taken out run through a centrifuge filter machine, separating out the platelets and the plasma and returning the rest in the other arm! 

So for a bit less than two hours this is what you are doing. They have little TVs to watch which is very cool, and they gave me some nice blankets to snuggle in. (When your blood comes back in it is cooler than your body temperature so you get a bit chilly during the process. I took a nap for a bit of the time and talked to the phlebotomists who were working. 

I am going to document the process more next week when I go to do my next donation and will take some photos.  More then!

Looking Forward

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I know we did here. Christmas was a bit hectic seeing as classes ended and finals were going on up until the 23rd. (Nothing like baking, studying, Christmas cards, studying... all at the same time!) I managed to survive it though. I vow to start earlier next year (IE: plan for holiday crafts early, start earlier on cards, bake and freeze cookies ahead of time) The 5 days before Christmas was just a huge blur of baking, crafting, studying marathons. My apartment is a disaster from the past week. Anyway.

So here are some updates:

-I have received all my finals grades except for one and I did *amazing*. I know the one I am waiting on is very good too. 

- DH is leaving on tour with his band this week. I will be sad and will miss him! He will be gone for three weeks on the road. Down the eastern seaboard, through Florida, New Orleans, Tennessee, Texas and back up here.

- Christmas gifts of note: A gig bag for my Ukulele, Electric toothbrush (sounds lame I know but so amazing) Japanese books, Gift certificate to knits picks. "Santa" brought DH an X-box 360 too.

-Knit picks shopping spree! I ordered a yarn ball winder which I am so excited for!

Looking Forward to 2009

Official New years resolution

This will probably be the best one I have ever made. And pretty easy to keep.

I will be donating blood every 56 days! I started the week of Christmas. I went on the Monday, the donation center was absolutely dead. Which is not good. This time of year (among others) there is such critical blood shortages. That's why I'm going every chance I can this year. Really that is only about 6 times for the whole year. Much easier that the standard loose 10 lbs resolution. I just need to show up and do it. 6 hours for the whole year and I'm done. I am also going to try and donate platelets during the in between times. Platelets can be done every 3 days up to about 26 times a year or so. 

Some other things I am going to try to do this year.

-The bento challenge over at Just Bento. 

- Do more food blogging, start doing more food blogging events too.

- Blog more about knitting, publish some patterns on ravelry.

-Find a new apartment in the beginning of April.

-Organize things better around the house.

-Cross a few items off of my Omnivore's Hundred List, and blog it.

-Go to Lebowski Fest in Louisville this summer! Just for the record, if you have not seen the Big Lebowski or do not know what that is, go! Run and go rent/buy it. It is the best movie ever.