"Bad Blood" written by Gardenmama on estrip.org

Category: health

10/01/08 08:56 - 52ºF - ID#45884

Bad Blood

I tried to give blood last week but the blood donor center wouldnâ€™t take it. They said my iron, and some other thing identified by 3 letters that I didnâ€™t know what it was, were too low. Can anyone tell me how far in advanced of giving blood I have to stock up on iron-rich foods to get it high enough for them to take? When I was a teen/young adult I had some problems with borderline anemia, but not so much in the past 10 years, at least not that Iâ€™m aware of. I was giving blood regularly about 5 years ago but stopped after about a year because I got a tattoo (no - not a midlife crisis - kind of a tribute to my husband). Anyway, I didnâ€™t have any iron problems at that time. After a tattoo, they donâ€™t want you to donate for a year, and I just sort of got out of the habit. So, I made a conscious effort to go back and then, go figure, my blood is too weak. Anyway, I want to try again but need to get my iron up. I canâ€™t take vitamins with iron as they make me sick to my stomach, so I guess itâ€™ll have to be the good old-fashioned red meat and spinach way. I just donâ€™t know how long I have to do that before my levels are any good.

metalpeter writes at 06:45:05 10/02/08 - Comment #39573: I'm not a doctor but I would think having Anemia might stop you from giving blood. I all ways thought that Anemia was that your RBC (red blood Cells) and not the White Blood Cells didn't carry enough oxygen but I could be wrong about that, it has been some time since I've studied that in school. Well I was close it is that there isn't enough RBC's here is a link to some more information about the different kinds :::link:::

gardenmama writes at 04:04:09 10/02/08 - Comment #39545: Thanks for all the info Tiny.

tinypliny writes at 10:34:12 10/01/08 - Comment #39495: Your iron storing capacity is controlled by the relative balance between your "absorb-able" iron intake Vs iron-loss via menstruation. I lose a lot of blood every month and I am a vegetarian so this puts me on a shaky footing for a healthy iron level. In fact, if I stopped my iron supplements, I would turn anaemic in a heartbeat.

The type of iron that you eat matters a lot. Iron from animal sources (Eg. red meat) is very good because the iron compound is in the form (Haem Iron) that is easily absorbed by your body. Ferrous Sulphate, on the other hand, is a notoriously tough to absorb form of iron. Unfortunately, this is the form that most multivitamins or stand-alone iron tablets have since its cheaper to produce in mass scale, stable and has more shelf-life. It also causes the most stomach upsets and constipations. :/

Ferrous Fumarate is better absorbed and tolerated better (with almost no side effects that sulphates have). The drawback is, it is costlier.

Spinach and green-leafies are good sources of iron but again, the iron form is very tough to absorb! You end up absorbing hardly 5-8% of the total iron content of the green leafies!

You can increase your iron absorption and make it more efficient by drinking any citrus drink (eg. lemon juice, grapefruits, or vit C tables) immediately after eating an iron source (red meat, spinach, iron tables etc). This is because vit C increases the bio-availability of iron in your stomach.

Good Luck in the fight against Anaemia!

tinypliny writes at 10:18:29 10/01/08 - Comment #39493: Detailed eligibility criteria for blood donation are are here: :::link:::

You need to have a Haemoglobin level of 12.5 grams per decilitre of blood. Haemoglobin is the protein that carries iron in your blood. Your Haematocrit needs to be more than or equal to 38%. Sometime this is abbreviated as Hct. It gives you an idea of what percentage of whole blood is red blood cells. Since red blood cells contain haemoglobin, Hct is also an indicator of iron.

paul writes at 09:52:50 10/01/08 - Comment #39485: Since I am gay and I traveled to Africa my blood is considered unacceptable too, despite the fact I do not have AIDS. I actually have never donated blood.

Permalink: Bad_Blood.html
Words: 243
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

09/30/08 11:36 - 55ºF - ID#45871

Really good cucumber salad

My sister gave me some more fresh cucumbers from her garden - they seem to be going crazy - though I'm sure that will end soon with the changing season. Anyway, I made this really good cucumber salad with it from a recipe that one of my camping friends gave me. Figured I'd share the recipe in case anyone else has an abundance of cucumbers. (I'd take a pic to go with but the camera's out of batteries - sorry.)

Cucumber dill salad

3 large cucumbers â€" peeled and sliced
1/2 cup whole milk plain yogurt
1 cup sour cream
1 TBS. dried dill
1 TSP. salt
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
Lots of ground black pepper
2 cloves of garlic â€" crushed

Combine all ingredients and let set for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

We were talking during our camping trip this summer about putting together an Allegany cookbook of recipes we've all made while we were there. A large group of us has been camping together for many years and when we're there we take turns making dinner. That way, each family/cabin only has to cook dinner one night. It's kind of like communal living. We've had some very interesting, really great meals. Of course, it can get kind of interesting trying to figure out what to cook for 30 to 40 people. If we ever manage to get the cookbook together I'll let folks know.

Permalink: Really_good_cucumber_salad.html
Words: 228
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: weirdoes

09/29/08 08:03 - 58ºF - ID#45851

Home Depot Weirdness

My niece moved back to Buffalo after 8 years in NYC over the weekend. She's living in a beautiful apartment over on Linwood (near Utica) with 2 of her friends. (I told her she should check out this site.) As a coming home/house-warming gift to her, I took her shopping yesterday to get some essentials and some basic things that she wanted. We went to Home Depot to pick up a few things and while we were there, a guy who worked there actually tried to pick her up. Now, I will be the first one to say my niece is beautiful with a very interesting look. She designs a lot of her own clothing and has a very unique, funky style. She is stunning. So, this brings me back to the HD guy. I've gotta give the guy credit for having big enough ones to actually make the advance, even if it was a little weird since it probably looked like she was there with her mother and little sister (me & my teen daughter), but she is, nonetheless, way out of his league. She, however, was kind and politely tried to tell him that she wasn't interested and had just ended a long-term relationship that didn't go well, at which point she then walked away. Lo, and behold, before we could exit the store he again came up to her, while we were in the check-out, and did the: "hey, I would really like to see you, and here's my number" thing. Now I'm not sure, but besides just being inappropriate, I think he was actually a little closer to my age than hers - which made it even more wierd for her. After we left, she was a little creeped out and I don't think she'll be going into Home Depot again anytime soon - at least not without a male companion. Weird! We did get some nice paint though.

tinypliny writes at 08:23:27 10/01/08 - Comment #39466: I would be creeped out as well. Sometimes, I am really thankful that I look like my avatar. :D

gardenmama writes at 03:13:55 10/01/08 - Comment #39425: I by no means was suggesting a lawsuit, simply pointing out that there are people out there crazy enough to pursue one. This man approached someone and was, at the least, irritatingly persistent, whithout having any idea who she was or how she might react. And no, my niece was not assuming she was better than the guy, for a number of reasons she just wasnâ€™t interested. He should have taken the hint after she POLITELY said no the first time. Woe be those guys who donâ€™t believe that no means no. And even with the persistence, she still was not rude. Later she said even though it was creepy, he at least was polite didn't act like a total douche bag. As for her going off on the Amvets guy, her response was totally appropriate considering the man was snapping his fingers and whisteling at her trying to get her attention (hello, sheâ€™s not a dog), and when she chose not to respond, he grabbed her shoulder to get her attention. Under those circumstances, no, I donâ€™t believe telling him off was really â€œshocking behaviorâ€.

joshua writes at 09:23:31 10/01/08 - Comment #39413: That is creepy, but let's stifle the crazy suggestion about a sexual harassment lawsuit. That is absolutely, positively ridiculous. Woe be to those who approach a girl who thinks she is better than most guys!

Incidentally this is why I don't bother to date ANY girls in Buffalo. I don't have time for that immaturity, and believe me, Buffalo is packed to the rafters with girls with oversized attitude. I'm sure your niece is a fine young lady, but snapping on someone that would approach her is shocking behavior for any human being, full stop.

gardenmama writes at 07:07:36 09/30/08 - Comment #39395: I tried to tell her she should go get some free stuff but she said that wasn't funny. Anyway, it might not have been so bad if he'd just taken the very polite no thanks my niece gave him and left it alone. That he came back and tried again was kind of pushing his luck. He's actually pretty lucky she didn't go off on him at that point as she's been known to do that when men approach her in some stupid way. She totally blasted some guy in Amvets once who laid some really stupid, incredibly obnoxious line on her.

metalpeter writes at 06:39:22 09/30/08 - Comment #39391: Well if she would have touched his shoulder and winked and taken his number and went to the department he works in to check out she could have gotten a mega discount, HA. I don't know the guy so I can't say if it is creepy or or not. But what happened happens in reverse a lot that customers hit on the help so why not a little bit of the other way around, hey some chicks like older guys and some like younger so why not go for it. On a side note if she is hot hook me up with her, ha. I don't see how hitting on someone could be sexual Harrasement if it is kept clean and friendly. But I so get why she could be freaked out by it also.

hodown writes at 02:13:31 09/30/08 - Comment #39383: There have been a ton of studies on this. Dudes always think they can get the hot girl no matter who they are.

gardenmama writes at 08:25:13 09/29/08 - Comment #39365: Yeah, I thought about the work thing too. It could kind of be a law suit waiting to happen - sexual harrassment sort of thing. My niece isn't like that but people sue for less (and win) all the time.

paul writes at 08:10:41 09/29/08 - Comment #39362: Wow that is crazy. You would think it would be so risky for him to do that at work. Hope she starts a journal. It would be fun to have some more Linwoodians ;)

Permalink: Home_Depot_Weirdness.html
Words: 322
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/28/08 12:08 - 65ºF - ID#45825

Financial Markets ala Bill Maher

From New Rules by Bill Maher
http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/

"New Rule: Stop calling what's happening to the financial markets "an adjustment." An adjustment is something you do in your sweatpants when your penis falls out of your underwear. This is a cluster-f*ck."

I love Bill Maher...

Permalink: Financial_Markets_ala_Bill_Maher.html
Words: 51
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/27/08 11:32 - 66ºF - ID#45813

Some days just suck & crazy parent rant

This has been a really bad week. I feel like Eeyore when Iâ€™m generally much more like Winnie-the-Pooh (in a happy-go-lucky way - though not quite so, shall we say, dumb). Work has been terrible and, on top of that, I had to put in 8 hrs. of overtime today working on some stupid state report that shouldnâ€™t actually even be my responsibility. Also, weâ€™ve been understaffed since April and Iâ€™m already working really hard at fighting the burnout. (whining - sorry)

In addition, took my darling teenage daughter to a friendâ€™s for a 2-night sleepover b-day party last night and realized (when I got home from my glorious day of OT and the phone was almost dead) that MY phone charger was gone and was most likely with her (we have the same type of phone). She, of course, left HER plug at a friendâ€™s house in S. Buffalo last weekend. So, I call her from the house phone - because mine is now completely dead - and yell at her for a while as she tries giving me some crap like â€œwell, I donâ€™t know if I have it; maybe itâ€™s in my bag, I have to check but weâ€™re out and the bagâ€™s back at the houseâ€ - blah, blah, blah. Teenagers are so incredibly full of crap sometimes. Of course, she was supposed to call me back and hasnâ€™t, and, she now has her phone set so that it goes right to voice mail. Like thatâ€™s somehow going to make things better - duh - can you say ostrich? Well, I have now left her several messages, each a little escalated in its nastiness. When I pick her up tomorrow Iâ€™m going to try really hard not to be a screaming maniac and will simply take a deep breath, take back my plug, and take her phone, which, if she manages not to act like a butt, she might get back in a couple of weeks - or not. Arrrrrgggghhhh! (yelling - sorry)

Anyway - some days just suck - that's all.

"No Give and Take. No Exchange of Thought. It gets you nowhere, particularly if the other person's tail is only just in sight for the second half of the conversation."
Eeyore - The House at Pooh Corner

Permalink: Some_days_just_suck_amp_crazy_parent_rant.html
Words: 397
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/24/08 11:32 - 64ºF - ID#45787

Somethin tells me it's all happenin...

...at the Zoo. I do believe it; I do believe it's true...

OK - so I went to the Buffalo Zoo Sunday with some friends and family. Of course, it was raining (drizzle) - because it always rains when I try to plan an outdoor activity - but it didnâ€™t even matter. Despite the rain, we all had a great time! The new Rain Forest Exhibit was so cool (well, warm really), I will definitely go back to see it again. The only real drawback for the day was, we didnâ€™t arrive until 2:00 and they were starting to close down around 5:00. We didnâ€™t have time to see the giraffes (which I love), so I guess that gives me the perfect excuse to go back soon.

Following is just a little peek at some stuff we saw, but the pix donâ€™t really do it justice. (note: the really blue pic is a bat cave with a bat)

Permalink: Somethin_tells_me_it_s_all_happenin_.html
Words: 179
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/21/08 09:20 - 54ºF - ID#45752

The Garden

My escape, my haven, my garden...

Permalink: The_Garden.html
Words: 16
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: movies

09/20/08 07:14 - 72ºF - ID#45740

Deniro & Pacino

I was thinking about going sometime to see the new Deniro/Pacino movie, Righteous Kill? Has anyone seen it, and, if yes, how was it/would you recommend it? Thanks.

Permalink: Deniro_amp_Pacino.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/20/08 12:20 - 60ºF - ID#45735

Phone trouble

My daughter went on a slip-n-slide at school today with her phone in her pocket. While it didn't get completely soaked, it is now not working correctly. It does seem to work, however, if she uses my battery. Her friends (no doubt of superior intelligence, as all teenagers are) recommended she put the battery in a bowl of rice (obviously to try to draw the water out). Aside from buying her a new battery, does anyone else have any ideas - just in case the baby-geniuses' idea doesn't work out?

Permalink: Phone_trouble.html
Words: 90
Location: Buffalo, NY

09/15/08 09:28 - 59ºF - ID#45693

Sarah Palin

Had dinner with a friend tonight - engaged in some political discussion while chatting. She relayed a story about a recent conversation she had with one of her sisters-in-law where the SIL asked her what she thought of Sara Palin. My friend replied, "I think she's trailer-trash."

PERFECT!!