Re: I remain clean, but pissed . . .
Surgury in '78 went with many transfusions. A drunk retired sergeant major folded my Datsun during my first tour in the Army, and my first tour in beautiful Panama. Very fortunately, it occurred right in front of the Corozal Fire House, and Gorgas Hospital was just down the road.
Anyway, after Sep 11, I went to the local Red Cross to donate blood, something I had done many times in the past. I am now informed that, since I lived several years in Italy (1988-1991), they will not accept my blood. It's a mad cow fear.
Dan