Today I learned the real reason why I donate blood

Today I donated again, and I expected it would be just the same as any donation of a pint of blood. Feel dizzy, get free pseudo-Oreo cookies and some orange juice, and then merrily go on my way. I never know the recipient of my blood...I know it's someone in need, but I always enjoyed the anonymous donation.

Then a man stopped by my table as I was opening a box of raisins while I sipped my orange juice. A veteran (I believe from the Vietnam war era) came to tell me of his bone marrow disorder, which no longer makes blood cells, and that he needs to get a pint of blood every six days so he can stay alive. He told me he was excited to soon be meeting his new grandson, visiting with his family from Southern California in a few days. Then he reached out to shake my hand and thank me for my kindness to allow people like him live another day, week, or year, so he can be included in his family's Christmas celebration one more time. Tears welled up in me big time.

I shook his hand as I fought back tears. I had never put a face to those who get my blood. He represented someone out there. Someone's grandpa, someone's friend, someone's child, or someone's lover, who depends on a simple blood donation to stay alive.

When I got to my car I let it all out - bawled like a baby. Shaking his hand was in some way a commitment to keep on giving every 2 or 3 months. I've been staving off anemia with iron pills, and seeing his face and feeling the genuine warmth of his handshake and gratitude makes it all worth it. Every time. I'm still getting choked up as I write this, but I had to get it out.

The attached photo is relevant. I wish to credit it here:
www.flickr.com/photos/chr.../128837407/

Kinda cool - an airplane in flight in Google Earth

I was browsing around River Pines CA and found an airplane flying - right over a poof of smoke in a summer photo.

You can find it at

38 deg 33' 15.41"N
121 deg 43' 34.83" W

Or look south of the intersection of Mount Aukum Rd. and Cedar Creek Rd.

Look at this beautiful fern fiddlehead!

This is an amazing shade of gray-blue-purplish, and it's of a fern I photographed in Hawai'i last week. It was on the Kaumana Trail, on the Saddle Road, linking the northern areas of the east and west on the Big Island. Aside from the scientific details, Check out the color on this beauty! I have not modified the picture!

Details: Family GLEICHENIACEAE
Species: Dicranopteris linearis

Patriotism - Made in China!

Hey folks,

On July 5th, I was in Philadelphia with my family, checking out the Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell and all that stuff, celebrating the founding of our nation. I went into the gift shop, noticed a cute stuffed bald eagle, and read the label: "Made in China".

Hmm....OK, maybe I'll check out the mugs. "Made in China".

*bleh* - anything made in America?

Postcards? Printed in China
"We the People" baseball cap....Made in Vietnam
Laura Bush Bobblehead...Made in China
Talking JFK doll....Made in China
U.S. Constitution T-shirt...made in Guatemala
We the People T-shirt...made in Venezuela
American Flag baseball cap...made in Macau
We the People travel coffee mug...made in China
Ceramic busts of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington...Made in China

I found ONE patriotic T-shirt made in the U.S.A., stuffed in the back corner. About 95% of the products in that store were not made in the U.S., although is was the center of celebration for our nation's freedom and independence.

I find it ironic that at the birthplace of our nation, when we told England to stuff it, we won't buy American products to sell in our gift shops. Let's sell out on our own people, and instead of putting our own people to work, pay overseas companies to make our consumables. Let's all celebrate our Declaration of Dependence on Other Countries. With all the hard work and bloodshed and wars and sacrifice our citizens have made to make this country great, we'll buy our red, white and blue patriotic products from overseas.

Are we really Independent?

I made it in the cruise!

OK, although I was the only car ridin' high (there were some scrapers!), I managed to be one of the 800 cars in the West Coast Kustoms cruise in Paso Robles on 5/25. I discovered the Buick (still unnamed with a nickname - any suggestions??) doesn't like slow cruises - I made it up Spring Street about 10 blocks (enough to get a photo taken) and then she wanted to overheat. The 440 mile round trip on highways 101, 680, etc. were nice and cool though!

BTW I just installed a 25 oz. Foster's beer can as my radiator overflow tank - it looks pretty wowzerific! Of course I'm trashed now but the sacrifice was required to stay eco-groovy.

I'm also excited to say that she's now getting 12.5 m.p.g. (up from less than 6 when I got her) - it's still too poor to be a daily driver.

Wow! I have officially donated 3 gallons of blood (not all at once, though).

Yup, today I donated my 24th pint since one of my students challenged me to donate if she got straight A's for a semester back in September of 2002. She got straight A's, and she helped me overcome one of my worst fears. Now I'm hooked.

That's 3 gallons! I don't get any killer license plate frame, but I got some kick-ass pretzels, raisins, and 2 cups of orange juice.

Happy to share my manbroth for whoever else needs it. Besides, it's a natural high.

Anyone else care to spread the love? Just be sure to eat a super duper breakfast and drink lots of fluids beforehand, and it's a piece of cake. If you don't eat or drink beforehand, it can get pretty miserable and gray and weird, and you might poop yer britches.

This was the snow we woke up to yesterday.

Friggin' cold all day, but amazingly gorgeous.