Famous last words

Well, I didn't have a very good day at work on Thursday. It was the day of the quarterly blood drive and if you went and gave, you got this really cool St. Louis Cardinals shirt. And yes, I really wanted it. Now, the only time i've given blood was at the doctor's office, but I figured, nothing went wrong then, so whats the worst that could happen?

So I go down there and they make you answer a bunch of questions, many of them centered around have you ever gone to an African nation or been around someone from an African nation (if yes, leave now). Which is sad. They are losing an entire generation to the AIDS virus. But anyway, I answered no to everything but piercing (in my ears) and that was fine. So they prick your finger and put it in a vial to test for iron and that came back just as good also. So, I go over and sit in one of the chairs and wait for the nurse to come over and we could get started. So, she cleaned the area on my right arm with iodine, gave me a little heart ball to squeeze and put the needle in that was hooked up to a bag. Everything starts off fine and I'm just sitting there, when I start to feel a little light headed. So I just put my head back and closed my eyes. Only it got worse and I started to feel really reall naseaus. One of the nurses came over and asked if I was okay because I was pale and sweating and thats when it happened. I was able to cover my mouth in time for them to run over and get a trash can. And that started me sitting there in the chair repeatedly throwing up into a trash can while they put wet clothes over my face and neck. During all of this, I never even felt them take the needle out of my arm and bandage the area up. The throwing up lasted about 2 minutes and then I laid back down and they put more wet towels on me. And I laid there for quite a while.

It was sort of weird, that was an older guy that came over to me and kept patting me on the leg saying it would be okay. And all I could say back was I'm sorry over and over. But, there were only 2 other people there at that time (and they won't say anything) so at least it wasn't a room fool of people. I was finally able to make it to the area where they had food and downed a bottle of water, a chocolate chip cookie and a box of raisins. But, I wasn't feeling that much better. I had to go back up to work with my hair matted down and my shirt collar soaking wet. For the rest of the day, I felt so tired and completely drained. I was so tired in fact, that while I was driving home all I wanted to do was lay my head on my steering wheel and go to sleep. But, I made it home just fine and laid on the couch and watched TV and was asleep by 9pm.

This morning when I woke up, I felt like I had a hangover. But I had a bunch of water throughout the day and felt better. I was able to join my friends at dinner tonight at the St.Louis Gast House. A totally awesome German resturant and they are expanding into the next building and making it a German pub. And yes, I will be there. For dinner I had the Hühnerschnitzel with Kartoffelpuree and Gemüse. And for desert I had the Apfelstrudel. In review, I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and apple strudel. All awesome.

Here, hold my sparkler

Well, I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July. I did! I went over to my parents house for BBQ dinner and then we all went up to the park to see a great fireworks display. After the fireworks I went home and watched Sophie's Choice. I wouldn't have watched it if I knew I would have gone to bed totally bummed, but I had not seen it before and I'd tivod it in HD. Oh well.

On another note, Missouri has new liscence plates that everyone will be getting when they renew their tabs. The plates are totally lame! Booooooo. The little bird is dorky. I don't know why they couldn't have put a steamboat or something. So, when it's time for me to renew, I'm either going to get this one (for obvious reasons):
Or, I'm going to get this one. Because I like puppies and kitties too! In fact, if I could put the Mizzou one in front and the pets one in back, that would be even more awesome.

Where's the beef?

On Monday we went to Taco Bell only to find out that they were out of beef and I have been laughing about it ever since. They were also out of sour cream and tomatoes, but I wouldn't have touched those 2 to begin with. But beef! How would I eat my grande soft taco!

Now I really really want Taco Bell since I didn't get it on Monday...

O! Pioneers!

Well, it's been awhile. I just got back from a two day work/vacation in the lovely city of..........Omaha, Nebraska! One of the biggest companies I work with is located in Omaha and they invited me to come down. Even cooler, I got to go to three games of the College World Series. And how cool was that! It's just a huge Nebraska block party were people from all over the country come together to watch college baseball. It was so much fun and I can totally see why people flock there every year. And the people that live around the ballpark make out like gangbusters allowing people to park on their lawn.

Even better, this turned out to be a two state trip: Nebraska and Iowa! Two places I have never been too (or ever thought I would). Our hotel was in Iowa and I am proud to say I contributed to their economy. We went to the Horseshoe Casino of Iowa and I lost $20 at the nickle slot machines. I actually had my total all the way up to $30, but I was convinced that if I kept playing, I would hit the big time. Alas, I was mistaken.

Omaha is..well..Omaha, but they did have a nice little district called the Old Market. We ate at an outdoor resturant where they had Omaha steaks. I had fish and chips, and they were good!

I was only in Omaha on Monday and Tuesday, so going back to the weekend, it has been a good couple of days :) On Saturday I played in a golf tournament and even though our team didn't place, I won a new putter (Which is good. The one I have is lame). And on Sunday, my birthday/father's day, I drove down with my parents to Fulton to visit my sisters. It was good family day and we all went and saw the movie "The Happening." And, it wasn't happening. The best part of the whole movie was the great stage actress Betty Buckly (Cats) trying to smash her face and head in on the house and window.

I've been stimulated!

I was going to talk about something else on here, but then........my economic stimulus check came in the mail! How exciting is that! Thanks President Bush (could I have one more though?) Here is how I plan to use my $600:

-1 year supply of contacts and new lenses for my glasses
-Oil change
-Pay that annoying bill from Des Peres Hospital
-Re-enroll in Triple AAA
-Shopping spree at Sams Club/Shnucks so I don't have to go grocey shopping for a long time
-Buy "The Sister" by Poppy Adams; hardcover edition out June 17th
-Pay down my Mobil Gas Card *sigh*

Now, what I was going to say before my check came was that I keep on seeing all these advertisments on TV and in the paper about Fathers Day on June 15th and not one of them mention that it's also my birthday. How rude!

Good for something!

"California has seen some of the highest prices; a gallon there now averages $4.436 a gallon, the most in the country. Missourians are paying the least at the pump, with a gallon in the Show-Me State selling for a relatively cheap $3.802 a gallon."
-MSNBC online 6/7/2008

Our long national nightmare....

Is almost over. Sure, I wanted Hillary to win the nomination, but I am just as happy with Obama. It's pretty cool to watch history unfold in front of you. But...can you say RFK? I'd be terrified if I was his wife. He'll probably need triple the Secret Service because of assasination worries. I just couldn't imagine what it would be like to know there is a large faction out there in the country that wants to see me brought down at all costs. Oh, and I am just going to think of Obama as our President starting now. I just don't understand John McCain. He is 71 years old. Why on earth would you want the worry of protecing the free world at that age? Can't he just go and be a bagger at the grocery store? WalMart greeter maybe? Jeez.

I have this issue with someone I know. She is not a friend, not an aquantiance, just someone I know. Her perfume is so strong that I can't breath around her. And its a weird scent, like pine on steriods. When I walk past a place she was once, it still lingers. Like walking through a forest. It's so strong! Does she think smelling like a pine tree is hot or something? It makes me want to cut down a tree, not save one, just to get away from the scent. Arrrrrrgh.