October 17, 4:18 pm.
I’m writing this post under the effects of PPS — Post-Plasma Syndrome. Dizzy, cold and tired. When I was living in Tucson, Arizona, I used to go to Centeon BioServices to sell my plasma twice a week. $15 the first plasma extraction of the week, and $20 the second plasma extraction of the week. For a while, I had it worked out so that I’d spend $30 a week on groceries, and make a net $5 on the input-output system. That was before I started dating someone who had nutritional standards. I sold my plasma for six years, but was able to stop in 2000 when I moved a rung up the economic ladder.
Today I started selling my plasma again, and I’m kicking the PPS with ramen.
Am I better off than I was eight years ago? Not economically, no. And I know I’m not alone in this. There are a very few Americans who have reaped massive economic gains, offsetting a much larger of us who are struggling to get by. In 2008, you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t vote for the candidate telling me the tiny set of Americans raking in massive amounts of income needs another break.
Memories of college… Selling plasma was my ticket to a fun weekend. Looks like you were compensated the same amount as I was. Funny, but I never experienced PPS; however, I still have faint scar marks on either arm.
I think a lot of people would be better off economically if they stopped using credit cards and stick to a cash-only budget that fits their MEANS, not their dreams. I’m seeing a financial advisor right now, and his advice has totally changed my life.
It’s amazing how well you can live if you don’t have debt.
Jim: sorry to hear that. I have never been under that needle myself, though I came close and had friends who did. it’s not a good sign for the health of our society.
The part I hate the worst is sitting there for three hours with a needle in your arm–and being so cold. Back in 1972 it was $5 the first time and $7 for the second time in the same week in Minneapolis down on University Avenue. That was a lot of peanutbutter in those days. They threw me out, though, after only a few times, saying my veins weren’t good enough and they couldn’t keep the IV open. Even now when someone wants to draw blood they just look at the little scars over my veins and I have to show them which one to use that’s still good.
You need to start connecting with community services now. My food stamps were decreased to $13 a week after I got a three month back pay in one lump sum, and it’s tough to live on that but I do it. I used to work in that office so I know what to say otherwise if you’re white they know how to mess with you so you don’t get anything. (It’s a federal program so it might not be that way in your city.) In November the local community center will start offering heating assistance through the LIHEAP program for the under-65 crowd, so pay your rent before you pay the heat and lights. Call up and find out their requirements, like which paychecks they use for income verification (here it’s the last 30 days and there’s a maximum amount depending on how many in the household), so if you get one check that is unusually large you can plan ahead for when to apply. They also ask for you to pay something on the bill here before you can get assistance, so don’t pay anything on the bill before you apply or you won’t have enough to qualify for the program. The local catholic church has a food pantry once a month and I’ve been taking the stuff my neighbor doesn’t want from the package. Right now I’m having bean soup and powdered milk from that stash until the food stamps hit on the 20th.
As far as the second house George Will goes on about, I’ve never seen that one. During the Clinton years I was able to pay the bills though.
Not quite time for community services, Anonymous. With the help of the plasma, I can pay the bills, for now. But thanks for the sentiment. You too, Vynce. Actually, of the options available I like the plasma bit because I know I’m at least helping some sick person with my healthy plasma.
*warm virtual hugs and blankets* O O O [] [] []
Get it? “blank”-ette, hee, hee, as in “small blank”
Whenever I’ve donated blood I’ve been exhausted for weeks afterward because they take the red cells. The last time I did that was in the Middle East during the intifada, had to think about that one a bit. I mean, does that contribute to a war effort? Finally I decided it went to people who were already injured and wouldn’t make a bit of difference one way or another to supplying the hate machine. Later I started thinking about what kind of safe needle handling procedures they have in a place that and regretted doing it.
Donating blood here they always ask if you have eaten that day and they give you orange juice afterwards, so perhaps blood sugar level is a consideration?
You can get paid for donating other biological, uh, specimens in Columbus too.
http://www.spermbanker.com/bank/info/cryobiology-of-columbus-ohio
I knew what you were implying before I even looked at the link.
Now that I’m too old for children, it doesn’t seem like such a weird idea.
These outfits claim to be anonymous, but I remember seeing the tail end of some program where the offspring contacted the donor after winning a court case–and finding out about some half-siblings.