Try scheduling an apheresis donation, if you can. It takes longer and is kinda a pain in the ass, but platelets are constantly in high demand.

I used to donate blood constantly, but one time in college, I donated my blood to the Red Cross only for them to write me a letter a month later saying that they threw it out cause it tested positive for HIV!
I don’t even know anyone who has HIV…
Even after confirming with my doctor that I did not have HIV, I was reluctant to donate blood again.

But this post really made me get over myself and want to donate blood - so that more lovely and wonderful girls like Rowen are able to have their “routine fixes” and live their lives, you know?

It means Rowen doesn’t have as many snacks as she would otherwise, but she’ll survive. And anyway, when I was getting her snacks I was eating them before she could. I do need to get her some stuff for her lunch. Will have to see if I have the willpower to resist or if we have to work out a scheme where she keeps it hidden for herself.

Julie is beautiful, BTW. And looks like she’d take you for a real ride on those walks.

I have issues mostly because I spend so much time at home and by myself. With our new dog Julie, I was hoping to get out more often, but we’ll see. I have a tendency to eat when I’m stressed, and I stress a lot.

Anyway, good job and keep it up!

I let my self indulge also, I just stretch it by making one day a lunch and the other a dinner.

My ideal weight is somewhere between 220 and 230, I think. If I attain that I might look at 210. I was 210 when I got out of the Army, so it’d be a real challenge. I was 180 after boot camp, that wont be happening again.

Congrats on the good health!

I had another full physical in November, and it was all good news. Still, I decided after Christmas to tone up and get down to 195. My methods are similar. 90% = don’t eat it, 10% = exercise. I’ve been using Lose it! (loseit.com) on my ipod for the last month to track weight and calories. It has one of the most detailed dictionaries (including restaurant menus) for food that I have seen. They have a great web interface too.

I follow the same method for weighing myself that you use. I weigh in every morning, after my shower and before I eat. When I cross a 5lb line, and stay under it for 5 days, I credit myself as having achieved it.

My doctor passed on 5 rules when I started this process that have proven quite helpful:

1 - No carbonated beverages.
2 - Avoid HFCS, especially in beverages.
3 - A serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards. Have 2 per day.
4 - If it’s white, you should probably avoid it. (rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, ect.) I do bad with this one. He recommends the whole grain versions, where it applies.
5 - 2,000 calorie per day limit. I commend you for the 1500/day calorie limit. I couldn’t do that. I fight for 2,000, and don’t always win.

I know it’s nothing new or Earth-shaking, but it helped me a lot.

Oh yeah, I give myself one rule free day per week. Friday is take-out and movie night. All told, when I am diligent, I lose about 1 lbs per week.

Keep up the good work!!

It’s hard to like a politician this much, but I’m trying.

Could you unpack that slightly? About false witness? Do you just mean that those against gay marriage are liars? I think a lot are. But I think more are simply conflating the role of state and church.