Day 20: Put My Earmuffs On The Cookie

[anarchist_nomad]

Disclaimer: I am quite knackered as I write this entry. So don't expect coherence. You have been warned.

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Eighteen months ago today, I arrived in England to begin life as an expatriate. Although there were definitely some difficult times last September and October, it has overall been a pretty spiffy ride so far. I agree with my assessment of six months ago, that moving here was definitely the right choice.

Yesterday, I gave away half a liter of my blood. Not like I was doing much with it, anyway. No bite marks on my hand this time, either. This makes the fifth time that I have donated blood in the UK -- they will only take it every sixteen weeks, so the count advances more slowly -- which means that I have earned my way to blue donor card. To celebrate, I think I shall throw a party in a couple of weeks, when I get back to the States. How does October 13^th at the Event Horizon sound? See you there? Embarrassing though it is to admit, I lost track of how many gallons I donated in the States. Maybe I should call the New York and Heartland Blood Centers to see if they know. Of course, if I ever move back to the States, they will never take my blood again... now that I have lived in the UK.

Tomorrow I leave for Italy. My graduate student, JI, is coming along for his first trip to Gran Sasso. I will be showing him the ropes and training him on how to keep the experiment running.

I have not even begun to pack yet, but I think that can wait until tomorrow. Right now, I think sleep is a really spectacular idea...

Comments

You're so generous

[frogcastle.livejournal.com]

Even generous w/ your blood, and that from a man who has a needle phobia. I'm very impressed. The fact that you gave blood so much in the States that you lost count is not embarrassing. In fact, considering how much it must take for you to lose count, it must have been a LOT. And anyways, it's not something to be embarrassed about.

[winewiskeywomen.livejournal.com]

Neether* of my sons can give blood here in Amerikkka 'cause they lived in G.B. for a while during the 'mad cow' thingy of the early 90's.
What is 'knackered'? From the context i gather it is to be 'fagged'.



*So averse am i to the latest trend of pronouncing neether as nyther that i resort to phonetics.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

I expect that eventually the US will lift their restrictions on blood donors who have been to the UK. I know they've gotten a whole lot more relaxed about blood donation from people who have tattoos.

[parallelgirl.livejournal.com]

Of course, if I ever move back to the States, they will never take my blood again... now that I have lived in the UK.
*splutters indignantly*
Bah! Don't they know that your blood will be enriched with History and Culture? And about the purifying effects of leaf tea and warm beer?

[envoy.livejournal.com]

if I ever move back to the States, they will never take my blood again... now that I have lived in the UK.

I know this was the case for me *before* because I lived in the UK for more than 6 months between the years of I think 1995 and 1997. I didn't know that had now become a permanent thing? That sucks.