Right--at the Blood Center.

It had been a while, what with one thing and another, but this afternooon I stopped at the Blood Center where they made sure my blood was the approved shade of red, then spent close to an hour taking a platelet donation.

They had someone there I hadn't seen before, and I suspect she was relatively new, since she kept asking other staff members about some of the paperwork.

But she was able to do a good stick, and about an hour later I had a band aid on my arm and they had a baggy of platelets.

Actually, I had a band aid on each arm because the phlebotomist was sort of new to the platelet machine and had to start all over again when she set it up wrong the first time.

I've noticed that new staff members are steered to regular donors, who are a lot more patient than someone who has never donated before.

From there I went to Arby's, but instead of eating inside I went through the drive-up window. (Actually, I didn't go through the window, but paid for and received my order via it.)

Over all, however, it was definitely an IUD.