I'm sure that you guys have all heard about what happened in Boston by now. There is also always a national blood shortage; too many people need it, and not enough give it.

As some of you may know, I am a lymphoma survivor. Therefore, I cannot donate blood (people with a history of blood-based cancers, like leukemia, simply aren't allowed since our blood could really make somebody sick.) I worked in the medical field for a long time, and it absolutely killed me that I couldn't help somebody by donating blood (since I was able to see the necessity firsthand).

So, please. If you are physically able to donate blood, please pick up my slack because people really need it right now -- and every day, but we often forget until there's a big disaster.

Remember, needles aren't so bad. If I was able to put up with them so long, then you can, too.