The needle thing is a mixed bag. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes I barely feel it, but most times it is somewhere inbetween. It helps me if I don't watch them put the needle in.

I'm AB positive - 4% of the population.

I used to give about four or so times a year when the blood drive came to my place of work. About three years ago the Red Cross asked me to try pheresis (platelet donation) and I've been doing that ever since. It is a 2+ hour process using both arms, but I get to watch a movie while donating, so I've caught up on quite a few movies I've not had the chance to see. Also, with pheresis, you can donate within two weeks of you last visit, so I've been giving every 2-4 weeks. Not having to work allows me to do this. The Red Cross has been throwing incentives my way to keep me coming back for pheresis. In the last year or two I've received a couple of t-shirts, a hat, a $25 gas card, a $25 movie gift certificate, a $75 store (of my choice) gift certificate, a nice wheeled travel/duffle bag, a folding camp chair and a food gift basket. I almost feel guilty receiving these because that is not why I'm donating. Oh well.