I made another platelet donation (apheresis) at the Minneapolis Red Cross this afternoon. Same place as always but I cannot see it the same way–it is close to the site of the now collapsed I-35W bridge, and the west end of the bridge is clearly visible from the parking lot. I could not get any closer–the area beyond is taped off. Access to the Red Cross Building is more controlled–they have a guard in the lobby with a sign-in sheet. However, they are certainly not turning away donors. Must have been a madhouse a week ago. Anyway, looking at the bridge was a good reminder of why I was there.

The apheresis session itself was perfectly normal. My blood pressure came in at 124/78, which was good to hear. With the stress at work I do not take it for granted these days.

I got in about three miles of walking today. First, I got off the inbound bus at University Avenue East of the River and walked the last mile in. To get to the Red Cross I took the Light Rail from Government Center to the Metrodome, then walked the last 1/2 mile. Afterwards I walked a mile or so back to a bus stop, and took the first bus I could catch back to Roseville. This was a 261 bus, rather than my usual 260, so I had to walk a last 1/2 mile back to the Rosedale Park-and-Ride to retrieve my car. All of the afternoon walking was in 90^oF weather, with my backpack.