Telemarketers

I got one of my daily telemarketing calls today.  Usually it's a marketing company calling on behalf of a bank or some other institution, but today's call took a new approach.
The lady who called sounded exactly like a recording, to the point that I didn't answer her first question because I hadn't realized that she was really talking to me.  When I did answer her, she gave me some scripted small talk about it being refreshing to talk to a real person since all she's gotten all day is answering machines.  I gave her a little bit of silence on that one.  Then she went on and ON about some police foundation for needy and starving children and wouldn't I like to help out these poor children?  I declined, knowing that it's probably a scam (there are a few going around right now).  Then she asked if she could ask one more question before she hung up.  I said ok.  She then went on a sob story about how these children are abused physically and sexually and would I donate just $25 to help out the abused children?
Wow..  talk about laying it on thick.  I can't believe that they would use tactics like that.  And I can't help but wonder how many people fall for it.

Bloodwork - The Bane of my Existence

I hate bloodwork.  Due to a run-in with cancer as a child, I have given a LOT of blood over the years.  If only it had been given as a donation to needy people, eh?  But instead it was all given in the name of science and tests.

I invariably forget to drink the morning of my blood test.  I dunno why.  I do know that I lose my appetite when I'm nervous, so maybe it's kinda the same thing.

I have fainted after bloodwork.  This was not my shining moment to say the least.  Now my doctor give me a hard stare before sending me off.  I don't know if it's a certain shade of gray that she occasionally perceives but sometimes she tells me to lie down, suck this lollypop, and for heaven's sake, don't look at the needle.

Once, I even hallucinated.  I'm not sure what I might have looked like when this happened, but my mom didn't notice me being any different.  I remember being very nervous that day about having to get a needle, so my mom said she'd go first to show me how it was done.  The nurse took a vial and let me hold it.  I told her it was very warm and mom said something about her warm heart.  They gave her a green, shiny pencil for her efforts.  I then had my blood test with little fanfare.
Later on the subway when I asked to see the pencil, she gave me a confused look.  After a couple moments, we figured out that I had hallucinated the whole thing.

Does anyone else have a harder time giving blood from their stronger arm?  It makes me more nervous to give from my right arm.  I'm not sure why.

Well, today's test didn't go well.  I forgot to drink.  I gave everything I had.  And it wasn't enough.

I feel like a pincushion.

Babies, babies, and more babies

My friend's wife just had a baby a couple weeks ago.  She's beautiful.  And I don't say that lightly.  I think most newborns are squashy and slightly non-human looking.  So I'll usually exclaim, "Oh, wow, she's so small!" or "Look at those tiny little feet!  How precious!".  So for me to say this baby is beautiful means that it's the truth.

I was looking at pictures of her online, and noticed that I don't have that hard-to-ignore type of yearning that a woman my age is "supposed" to feel.  That's not to say that I don't want kids.  But all things have their time, right?  And right now is not the time for children for me.

I was again creeping online and saw some wedding anniversary congratulations for a girl I've met.  Two years today!  That's nice news :)  But the last congratulatory note had this tacked onto it: "It's been long enough now!  Time for babies!"

um..

I know that it's an age-old practice for older women to tease younger brides about having children, but in today's day and age you should be a little more careful about doing that.  I can think of several friends of mine, some even younger than me, and also myself included who have medical conditions which may or may not hinder future fertility.  I'm sure they get teased often about not procreating fast enough because heaven knows they've been married long enough!  What if they're already trying to start their fairytale family and and feeling heartbreak month after month?  Why rub salt into the wound?  I mean, society has always dictated that all women are happiest when they are bearing and raising children.  And let's not forget that biological clock that keeps on ticking whether you've already conceived or not.

Have a little courtesy, people.