The acupuncture worked for about 20 minutes. As I lay there with the pins in my hands and feet, my appendages felt warm and liquid and relaxed. The acupuncturist (who talked too much if you ask me) said I’d know when I was done, and that seemed to be the point when I started to become aware of little pin pricks in my body.

I felt cured, but the soreness returned just before martial arts class. The class didn’t make it feel any worse. In fact, I’ve found that sore muscles feel better when moved, like it loosens them up and prevents stiffening.

Sleeping, on the other hand, makes them more stiff.

I was concerned at bedtime on Monday that my neck was showing no sign of getting better, which is why I decided to go to an acupuncturist. By Tuesday, though, I could tell that the slow process of healing was under way. It’s no worse today than yesterday, but I wonder if it was worth the $75 acupuncture treatment. (It’s covered, but I hadn’t met my deductible.)

Alsoooo, I keep forgetting that chocolate makes me break out. Since I eat the stuff in some form or another every day, you’d think I’d be aware of this. But I don’t have actually chocolate bars (or M&Ms) every day, and when I do, I get big ugly zits. (At least my boxing gloves don’t seem to be causing them anymore.)

We went to Canada on Sunday, and I don’t know if you know this, but their chocolate is different! Some say better. I’ll refrain from making judgment, but I will say that we bought several chocolate bars (mostly for Rob’s coworkers) and declared them at the border.

These days, I very rarely go to a 7-11 and buy a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or Hershey Bar, so don’t ask me why I thought it was appropriate to eat a Cadbury Crunchie on Sunday, an Aero dark chocolate on Monday and a Cadbury coconut thingy on Tuesday. (Hey, give me credit for spreading it out over three days!) But I do know that I have a pimple for each of those bars on the left side of my face.

I’m in day 4 of excruciating neck pain. Have discovered why I never see professional photogs with their cameras around their necks. I do it so I won’t drop the thing. No more.

Am waiting for my insurance to give me the OK on acupuncture treatment.

Had a bit of trauma at the blood bank yesterday.

First, there was some concern that my iron count was too low, but they tested my blood and pronounced me good to go. During those five minutes, I decided I wasn’t even going to try to donate any more. Saved lives be damned, I don’t need the hassle of having my finger pricked (right after getting stung by a bee) only to be rejected.

Then, the tech hit a nerve, literally it seems, when sticking me with the needle, after declaring that I had three good veins on my left arm. The first two times I gave blood, it hardly hurt. The last time, I felt some discomfort, but hey, think about what it must be like for chemotherapy patients.

Last night, it was excruciating. After sticking me, she moved the needle and there was an electric, shooting pain all the way down my forearm. She adjusted it again, and I said, “That’s really bad.” So she took it out. It continued to sting well after the needle was out and an ice pack was pressed on my forearm.

My options were to go home or to give up my other arm. While they were prepping my right arm, I cursed my altruistic self. What assurance did I have that things wouldn’t go horribly awry again? But I knew that if I left, I’d never be back, and think of all the lives! Think about how much easier this is than chemotherapy!

So she stuck my right arm, and maybe my pain receptors were too busy with the left arm, but it went in like butter. No problems.

The left arm hurt until I went to bed last night, even all through The Simpsons Movie, which I sat through with an ice pack. The tech told me I’d have a bruise, but you know what? It’s only a little bit sore. Both arms have just one track mark each. I was worried about having a giant swollen purple Popeye arm, like my high school boyfriend did after giving blood.