From the I’m easily amused department: I fill out my timecard on-line, and I just did last week’s timecard. Because I left the office midday Friday for a blood donation appointment, I listed a four-and-a-half-hour lunch. Hey, it’s honest, but how often does a 4 ½-hour lunch appear on a timecard?

So two days ago I did the blood donation, my ninth since fall 2003, so I’m one pint past a gallon. Hey, people, the reasons for donating blood are good, and not just from the helping-and-maybe-even-saving people angle. It’s a regular blood pressure check – mine is low, thank everything – and the sample gets tested for anything funky; the phlebotomists (they who take the blood – I like that word, “phlebotomost”) would let you know of anything that looks like it shouldn’t be there. Plus, it’s a place where they encourage you to eat carbs: the Red Cross donation center I go to has a spread of cookies, crackers, and (on some days) donated Krispy Kremes, along with plenty of water to replenish our precious bodily fluids.

I actually find the science of blood donation really interesting, but I don’t want to gross anyone out, so I’ll stop. You’re welcome.