Writer's Block: Full Moon Fever
I used to work at Aventis Bio-Services which handled plasma donations and you could always tell when it was a full moon. In plasma donations donors are paid because of the length of time it takes, the big needle, plus it is something you can give twice a week. Alot of our donors were crack heads, ex-cons, etc. It never failed on a full moon that we had to be prepared for fights, hissy fits, manic attacks, and just general mischief and attitude. Not just the evening of the full moon but the entire day, and the next morning. The insanity slowly comes in and then slowly moves out.
Things that happened when there was to be a full moon that night....or it was the day after the full moon.
I had to split up a fight between two men, much larger than me.
I had to clean blood splattered all over the men's bathroom. There had to have been at least a couple of cups of blood splattered all over the walls and urinal. (This would happen if someone pulled their arm wrap down it would create.. the opposite of a tourniquet and blood would squirt because of the pressure)
Not to mention the time I had to pick up and throw away someone's pants they'd left... they were covered in shit. I still don't know how he left without us noticing him missing pants and underwear.
and then... and then...
We had a donor who was the sweetest guy every time he came in. Always had a smile on his face, was respectful, patient.. very uncharacteristic of most of our donors. One day he came running in our building saying he was being chased by a man with an axe..I was working out of the manager's office that day while they were moving my office.. Just as I was exiting the donor rushes past me into the office...and blocked the door behind him. He refused to come out no matter what I said. Myself and another extremely large individual tried pushing open the door, but it was no use. What was so amazing though.. was he was able to keep us from entering just by using one hand to keep the door shut. The strength he was using was just intense. With his other hand he'd dialed 911 and told the police that there was a man with an axe in the waiting area.. waiting for him. I continuously reassured him that there was no man, because we did go up and look, because we really did think someone was after him. He was so scared and he'd been a donor for so long... we really did take him seriously.... but there was no man with an axe! So, since he is on the phone with the police, we also call 911 to let them know what is happening on our end. The police arrive, very promptly, and he opens the door, no problem. Turns out.. (we had no knowledge of this) he was a schizophrenic having an episode. They didn't arrest him or anything, and there was no way we'd press charges, but they did take him to the hospital to get some much needed care. What was so funny though.. as he was leaving he looked at me and said "So, I guess this means I can't donate anymore?"
No, no he couldn't.
Things that happened when there was to be a full moon that night....or it was the day after the full moon.
I had to split up a fight between two men, much larger than me.
I had to clean blood splattered all over the men's bathroom. There had to have been at least a couple of cups of blood splattered all over the walls and urinal. (This would happen if someone pulled their arm wrap down it would create.. the opposite of a tourniquet and blood would squirt because of the pressure)
Not to mention the time I had to pick up and throw away someone's pants they'd left... they were covered in shit. I still don't know how he left without us noticing him missing pants and underwear.
and then... and then...
We had a donor who was the sweetest guy every time he came in. Always had a smile on his face, was respectful, patient.. very uncharacteristic of most of our donors. One day he came running in our building saying he was being chased by a man with an axe..I was working out of the manager's office that day while they were moving my office.. Just as I was exiting the donor rushes past me into the office...and blocked the door behind him. He refused to come out no matter what I said. Myself and another extremely large individual tried pushing open the door, but it was no use. What was so amazing though.. was he was able to keep us from entering just by using one hand to keep the door shut. The strength he was using was just intense. With his other hand he'd dialed 911 and told the police that there was a man with an axe in the waiting area.. waiting for him. I continuously reassured him that there was no man, because we did go up and look, because we really did think someone was after him. He was so scared and he'd been a donor for so long... we really did take him seriously.... but there was no man with an axe! So, since he is on the phone with the police, we also call 911 to let them know what is happening on our end. The police arrive, very promptly, and he opens the door, no problem. Turns out.. (we had no knowledge of this) he was a schizophrenic having an episode. They didn't arrest him or anything, and there was no way we'd press charges, but they did take him to the hospital to get some much needed care. What was so funny though.. as he was leaving he looked at me and said "So, I guess this means I can't donate anymore?"
No, no he couldn't.