A Halloween Blood Letting

I had to get a bunch of blood drawn for a laundry list of tests my doc wants to run, so, with a cynical snicker, I scheduled it for this afternoon. Needles don't necessarily scare me, but medical stuff in general does, since I associate doctors' offices with panic and pain and general awfulness. So what better day to do something scary than Halloween, am I right?

Plus I had secret hope that the nurses would be dressed as vampires.

So I just got back, freshly bandaged on both arms, uhthankyouverramuch, and maybe this is just the Xanax talking, but life is pretty dang good right now.

I know you guys are probably sick of hearing how wonderful John is, but he really outdid himself today. Before we left I briefed him on what the phlebotomist would need to know (sometimes my anxiety makes it hard for me to talk), and as soon as we arrived he ratcheted his usual charm up to 11. Within minutes we were laughing and joking with the guy doing our paperwork, and when the worker revealed that *he* was the best phlebotomist there, John shamelessly used every compliment & trick in the book to get him to do my blood work - up to and including offers of bribes. 
("I will go next door right now and buy you a sub. You want lunch? Let me get you lunch.")

The worker, whose name was Abi, was eventually won over (though he laughingly refused the bribes.) And even though he was supposed to be working the front desk, he agreed to make an exception for us.

True to his word, Abi was the best blood sucker [snerk] ever, even without a vampire costume. (Poo.) He even agreed to use a butterfly needle, which - pro tip! - is so much less painful. I barely felt the pinch! Which was especially nice, since we needed so much blood that he had to do both arms.

While we waited for all the vials to fill, John played an episode of Frasier on his phone for us, and kept me talking and joking. He tells me he only got woozy once. (Did I mention John sometimes faints at the sight of blood? That's love, my friends. TWU WUV.)

I also practiced some slow abdominal breathing when the nerves got especially bad, and was surprised how much it helped. Within less than five minutes my freezing hands and feet were warm again! I always shrugged off breathing exercises for anxiety, but now I think I'm sold.

Anyway, I've been meaning to have this check-up for years, so it's a relief to have the scariest part over with. I'm hoping to get a clean bill of health so I can really start tackling by anxiety treatment - but that's for another post. For now, your Halloween Treat:

That's John the Death Eater, boogieing down with Bellatrix at the Yule Ball during Dragon Con. 

And one more, since I feel like this post needs at least ONE creepy Halloweenish photo

 (Also from DC - because someday I will post the rest of my cosplay photos. I will, I will!)

Maybe I can convince John to put on his mask & robe tonight while we hand out candy. :D

Oh! And one more treat:

My art winner this month IS.... Renee from PA whose profile says she's an attorney & has a little girl! Which I hope is specific enough. Heh.

Congrats, Renee, and please e-mail me your mailing address & choice of art prize from my Pinterest give-away board!

And to everyone else: have fun tonight! Eat lots of candy! Oh, and share pics of your costumes over on the Epbot FB page! That'll give me something fun to look at between answering the door.