Bloody Friday

Back when I worked at the CSRC, we liked to make office trips out of getting coffee, going to 'the Magee,' or helping out with some society-changing-do-gooder event. At DOPE, however, office trips are apparently made of blood donating runs. Yesterday, the office coordinator rounded up a few of the research assistants and coordinators to give the gift of life as a group. There was going to be a trip to the ice cream parlor for those that gave blood. While I love my Larochelle twins and believe that donating blood is very important (always loved it when my dad gave blood 'cause the Taiwanese Red Cross gave out these delicious crackers just the right balance between sweet and salty), I've never given blood myself. I used to dodge behind the weight limit and when that went bust, decided to volunteer at drives instead of give blood. Now for two more months, I have a convenient malaria advisory travelling restriction preventing me from being a great person. While I was happy not to feel woozy and pricked, another research assistant in the office, Lil', was upset to find that she was restricted from giving blood. Some people apparently want to help people and do not hide behind excuses. I tried to empathize with her indignations but found it really difficult. So we had our own ice cream run instead. Hers slightly bitter, mine wonderfully sweet and painless.