"IRISH BLOOD, ENGLISH HEART"

Hey guys, Chicago needs some blood. Chicagoist says:

From ABC 7 today, local blood banks have only a one day supply of Rh-negative blood in stock. A safe level would be considered a 5-7 day supply. Although all blood types are encouraged to donate blood, it goes without saying that type Rh negative blood (it can be used in transfusions for both Rh positive and negative patients) is of critical value to the banks right now.

You can schedule a time to donate blood by calling LifeSource at 1-877-543-3768.

"HOW I LOVE ALL OF THE VERY SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE"

Oh, for the love! There has been a LifeSource Bloodmobile parked and running across the street from my building all day. Everytime I look out the window (and it's hard not to be looking out a window in this place) I see it! Sitting there! Running! Doing things with blood and needles! It makes my feet and wrists weak. I've seen bodies, I've seen a bloody corpse exactly twice and that's not creepy. It's the needle part. Oy vey, I can't deal. The crule irony is that there is a beautiful snow shower happening in Chicago today, so I'm inclined to keep my curtains open to watch the snow. But the bloodmobile! Damnit.

So, what's new, let's see. Comcast still sucks worse than the suckiest suck that ever sucked a suck. Getting my bill to me regularly has proved a huge task for them over the past two and a half-years at this address. Anyway, I called today to bitch about my interwebs being down and also to pay my bill since I had them on the phone and so I don't forget next week when it is actually due (I remember these things, since the bills arrive only occasionally), and realized they assess a $4 fee for paying your bill while speaking to an operator. Douches. I'm no cheapass, but that seems a bit much. Bitchass operator made me hang up, call back and redial to avoid paying the $4. So shady.

My house is clean. My To Do List is getting shorter. The snow is falling. Other than the Bloodmobile in front of my digs, today is gorgeous.

"HAIRDRESSER ON FIRE"

Wearing the ridiculous shower cap thing to color a section of my hair this evening made me realize that I'd look okay as a surgeon. Tis a shame I have such little interest in such a pursuit-- I can't even get a flu shot without fainting! Pathetic, isn't it? Yes. Pathetic, but true. I am unafraid of plenty but terrified of needles. Particularly in my inner arm or the top of my foot or the back of my hand. Anywhere veiny. Ack! See? I can't even really say or think "veiny" without getting woozy.

A year ago October, I was in a serious car accident. I was fucked, for the most part, but was keeping my cool in the middle of paramedics and glass and all sorts of shit. Until, that is, "...Start an IV of..." and I came unglued. Now, imagine! I'm calm and trying to focus on the situation and being A Responsible Adult when suddenly a woman with a needle reduces me to not only tears but big, pathetic sobs and gasps and apologies and my eyes rolling back into my head. I wish I could say that I was making this up, but, alas, it is true. I flipped and fruck out until her metal needle was replaced with a plastic one that would have to stay put for a while. The plastic one still hurt my feelings and made me uncomfortable and was torturous, but it was, somehow, better than the metal one. I have no idea why that is, that metal creeps me out so much, but I have come to accept it. When it comes to needles, I'm a total pussy.

What I'm not a pussy about, though, is haircolor! And, in honor of my (shh!) approaching birthday, I am making my stripe magenta. Glorious. And, to keep the color rolling, I painted the office in my apartment green. Something about this birthday seems different, somehow.