first I got cleared after being XXX out previously from any donations because I lived in Germany for a year. . . .(btw. . .rules have recently changed so if you were not eligible before. . .check again)

second. . .saw an e-mail that if you donated blood by a certain date, you'd be eligible to win a harley donated by keifer sutherland.

third. . .calendered that date.

forth. . . searched frantically on sunday in brentwood and parked illegally behind an ambulance set up on display for a childrens festival of some sort (the farmer's market apparantly was going on too. . .go figure).

fifth. . . made it to my appointment on time.

sixth. . .gave blood. . . didn't pass out. . . .

seventh. . . flashed sincere smiles and appreciations to the ambulance driver that had since blocked me in. . . and had to move so I could get out. . . (thanks guys)