Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Life as a Vampire Must Suck. **Updated**

Ha ha, snort. Sorry. There are some cheezy jokes that I can't pass up. But I really do have a serious point. Oh and to those of you who were dreading yet another Twilight post, this sure isn't it (You're welcome Heather). I have not read the books or seen the movies and I really can't say that I plan to. Feel better? On to bigger and better then!

People just aren't willing to give up their blood. And you can go ahead and give me the "well, duh!" but I don't mean the whole exsaguination level. I just mean donating blood.

I was caught off guard earlier this week when I heard about a British lab that has managed to create synthetic blood from stem cells. Do me a favor and bypass the stem cell debate. It's not the point.

The point is that donating blood is free. It's charity and while no it won't provide you with a tax deduction, it is doing something for humanity. So why don't more people do it? I understand that there are health limitations for some. I get that and you guys are off the hook. But what about the rest of us - and yes I did say us! I haven't donated in 5 years. Mainly because I have been perpetually preggers but that's my own insanity.

Do you remember the out pouring (literally!) that happened after 9/11? The Red Cross was actually asking people to wait and give later because they had more than could be used before it expired. So what happened to those people? Why are we back to a shortage?

And I should be particularly ashamed. I'm O something. I don't think I'm the Super BloodType but I'm O and that's still in pretty high demand. I would be willing to bet that a lot of people probably don't even know their blood type because donation has never crossed their minds.

I remember going to blood drives with my parents when I was younger. It really is a pretty good gig. You lay around for an hour and then you eat cookies and drink juice. How much cooler can it be?

I know it all sounds very random but I'm thinking that maybe one day next week when Beloved goes into work late I might drop Mo at school and stop by the donation center on my way home.

At least Dracula will have lunch.

*Edits - I will not take any excuses people! If you are using the "I don't know where to go" excuse , I'll eliminate that for you right now. Visit the Give Life site and you can find a donation center near you and even set up an appointment so that you don't have to wait in line to give. Take that you weenies!*

5 comments:

Laura Marchant said...

Sadly I have never given blood. I honestly don't even know where to go to give blood.

Heather, Queen of Shake Shake said...

Thank god this post wasn't about Twilight. I'm so relieved and I thank you.

Me? I'm so chicken of needles. I should get over it and go donate my O+ blood.

Ragmansdaughter said...

You are O+ by the way. I was a regular at the Vampire station until I went on a cruise. I have a year to come down with malaria, and then they will believe that I am not sick, and I can donate again.

Jennifer said...

Until today, I thought you had to wait a year to donate after getting a tattoo, but my sister went to donate today and said they told her that's not true. Hmmm. Now that I know that, next time the bloodmobile visits the hospital, I'll go take a nap while they suck my blood =)

Anonymous said...

I used to donate plasma at BioLife twice a week. And my husband and I always dontated blood at the drives on the base or wherever we could. But then the Red Cross made a mistake and after scaring the holy hell out of us by telling us one of us had Hep X or some shit before checking their records and making sure they sent the letter to the right damn people. So they made the clerical mistake and then they find out it was a false positive on whoever's blood it was but "sorry, you guys can't donate anymore, we don't want your blood." So, Red Cross, don't look here for sympathy cuz you don't have enough now. I got nuthin' for ya!
*steps off soapbox and stops twitching*