Blood Letting

I had the most brutal bloodletting this morning.  I went in for blood and ultrasound monitoring, and as usual, the nurse had trouble finding my vein.  Usually they have to look around for another vein that's more cooperative.  But this nurse had a thing for this particular vein, and started slapping it to get it to puff up closer to the surface.  She hit and hit, harder and harder.  After a while it was like she was taking out her anger on my inner-elbow.  I dreaded what would happen when she came at me with something sharp.  But that part, the needle part, was fine.  It is five hours and my bitch-slapped arm is still smarting. Ah, the joys.