*Swainson's Hawks - I am having several sightings a day now. They must be getting ready for migration to Argentina
*Seeing the little prairie dog who lives along the side of our dirt road
*tomatoes ripening on our plants

I donated blood yesterday. I usually donate every two months, because an iron storage disease runs in my family where you can accumulate too much iron in your body. I usually tolerate it well, but once in a while I don't feel good after donating. Yesterday we had a meeting that I had forgotten about, so I didn't get to bring water and I was behind on water consumption. I did make sure to eat a good meal right before the donation. I had 4 oz of chicken, a generous serving of brown rice with olive oil, and an entire summer squash, steamed.

When I got to the blood drive, my blood pressure was lower than usual. I made sure to drink two bottles of water when I was there. I felt all right when I was there. Later in the day I did not feel well. I made sure to keep drinking water, and I had another meal before leaving work. When I got home, I rested and watched a favorite show on DVD while drinking water. After my husband got home, I had a fourth meal. After meal number 4, I started to feel much better. Today I feel normal, although I don't know if I will work out at lunch the way I usually do. I will continue to drink lots of water today, and I've packed lots of good food, including some blue corn chips because it's good to eat something salty after donating blood.
Allison