Hospitals, Job Interviews, Crafts, and Lobster

What do these things all have in common? Oh yeah, my life. 

Yesterday was absolutely crazy.

At the beginning of the day,  I rushed out the door late to take a quiz in design class. I forgot my jacket at the house, which is always a bad idea in a town with the topography of a pancake; there's nothing natural to stop the cutting wind, and the old brick buildings on campus act like wind tunnels.  Following the quiz, I battled the rainy, windy weather (my umbrella was a casualty) and drove across town...to a job interview!

I finally landed an interview at Jo-Ann fabrics, which is a goal I've had since I moved to Mount Pleasant.  I must have fixed my hair a hundred times in the car before I got out, where it was promptly disheveled by the raging wind. As I walked to the building, the hollow click-clack of my heels and the unfamiliar feeling of fresh lipstick made me feel like I was trying to look much older than am, and I wondered if the manager would see right through me. Despite the weather, I managed to get in the door without getting much mud (or lipstick) on my white pants, so I guess I did alright. 

The interview went surprisingly well, and I felt nervously hopeful after I walked out. Making a quick run home to change into comfy clothes, I then drove over to BioLife to give what I thought would be the beginning of regular plasma donations. 

Long story short, I was feeling a bit stressed about my busy schedule, but not worried about the donation process at all. The staff was polite but rushed me as I went through donor registration, impressed the receptionist by having extremely good protein and iron levels (pretty good for a pesce-vegetarian, huh?) and proceeded to the donor questionnaire.

And then I woke up.

I was looking up at a tile ceiling, and three strange ladies were leaning over me and shouting, asking if I was okay. My head hurt, I was confused, and I was lying on a cold tile floor, but being my usual perky self, I gave them a cheery "hello!" (Which seemed to surprise the hell out of them)

Eventually, doctors told me that I had passed out during the questionnaire, and that I was going to be required to go to the hospital because I had hit my head after collapsing out of a tall stool onto the floor. There was a mark on my face where my questionnaire headset had cut me, and I felt terrible. Nevertheless, I felt like I wasn't in any true danger, and was very unhappy to be unceremoniously strapped to a backboard with a neckbrace and hauled off in an ambulance. 

After a few hours in the hospital, (and lots of wires, monitors, and blood testing) I was cautiously released and directed to take the bus home. They're still not sure what caused me to collapse, so I have to watch for signs of an anxiety or heart condition. It's a scary experience, being alone in a hospital and realizing that you live in a new town with no support. Chris was gone for the weekend, and my Mom and stepfather ended up cancelling their camping trip to drive two hours and stay the night with me. 

Once my parents arrived, I uncurled my bruised self from my position on the couch and explained the whole situation. Although I was embarrassed that they felt the need to come all the way to my apartment, I was really grateful to have someone with me after something so strange and scary had happened. They took me out to dinner at Red Lobster, (delicious!) and we had a nice time talking and relaxing. I like having guests in my apartment. Little things like having some wine or coffee with others is part of what makes a house a home, even if it's just a little house attached to a bunch of others.

And by the way, I got the job!!!