Early and Often: Blood Donors Needed!

If you can donate blood, please do it ASAP!

I have donated frequently over the years, but last year was the first time I made a concerted effort to donate every eight weeks. My next donation is Monday afternoon. See the news release below, from Heartland Blood Centers.

To find a donor center or blood drive near you, visit Heartland's web site or call 1-800-7TO-GIVE.

Swine Flu Affects Local Blood Supply: Your Help is Needed Now!

AURORA, IL. - As potential cases of swine flu reach the Chicagoland area, schools and public facilities will continue to take precautionary actions and close until any suspected cases can be confirmed. Blood drives scheduled to be held at these locations will likewise be cancelled. Case in point, yesterday a blood drive scheduled for a school in Kane County which closed while confirmatory tests are performed, was cancelled. As the prospect for additional closings is likely, officials at Heartland Blood Centers are concerned about the impact on the blood supply.

"It is even more important today for all healthy, eligible blood donors to step forward and donate blood", said Dominique Bazile, M.D., Medical Director for Heartland Blood Centers. "Heartland Blood Centers must be ready to respond to all routine and emergent blood product requests."

In recent weeks, inventory levels of O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative blood types have begun to drop nationwide. Heartland Blood Centers has seen similar patterns in their blood collections. "As the summer months are fast-approaching, we ask everyone to make a renewed commitment to donating blood for others less fortunate", said Ann McKanna, Vice President, Marketing and New Business Development with Heartland Blood Centers. "The gift you will have given patients in need through your blood donation is immeasurable for those whose lives depend on your kindness."

While the four types listed above are in the greatest demand, blood donors of all types are asked to give as soon as possible. To find a donor center or blood drive near you, visit www.heartlandbc.org or call 1-800-7TO-GIVE.

Based on current knowledge and added safety precautions, donors with fever, cough, and/or respiratory infection are deferred. Donors reporting confirmed, probable or suspect swine flu influenza will be deferred for a period of at least 7 days from the onset of symptoms and must be symptom-free upon completion of treatment. Until further guidance is provided by the agencies governing the blood center, donors who have traveled to areas identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as affected by swine influenza (including the entire country of Mexico) will be deferred from blood donation for 7 days following their departure from the affected areas.

As always, to be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, or 16 with written permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom-free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the U.S. within the past 12 months should contact Heartland at 1-800-7TO-GIVE to determine eligibility.

SEUSSICAL: A Production that Really Rocks

If I want to have a good cry--or at least get the eyes welling--then I know which books to read to my kids.

For some reason, the American Girl series hits me in that sensitive zone. Same with "The First Bear," by Felicity Hansen. My kids routinely steal befuddled glances at me as my voice cracks and I struggle to get through the final stages of those poignant pieces of literature.

By contrast, in my numerous readings of Dr. Seuss books over the past few years, there has been deep enjoyment, amusement and amazement (at author Theodore Dreisel's unpredictable imagination). But never have I come close to something that could be termed an emotional state.

So I was caught somewhat off-guard a few weekends ago when I joined my wife, Bridgett, and our 5-year-old children, Zachary and Maggie Rose, at a performance of SEUSSICAL at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre for Young Audiences.

It was all I could do not to burst into tears as the protagonist, Horton the Elephant, goes to zealous lengths to protect the planet of Who. (After the show, my wife shared a similar sentiment.)

Guess that shows us the power of live performance. I can only imagine how many Kleenex I’d use up if I ever go see an American Girl show.

As for this Drury Lane production, it wonderfully weaves in a variety of Dr. Seuss tales, taking some liberties with the original plot but remaining true to the essence of Dreisel's messages. Echoing the dominant theme of "Horton Hears A Who," Bernie Yvon (pictured below, in a wonderfully warm portrayal of Horton) issued this refrain over and over: "A person's a person, no matter how small."

The Cat in the Hat (the energetic, engaging George Keating, pictured at the top of this post) narrates the story of Horton the Elephant and his friends as they go on a voyage from the Jungle of Nool, through the mountains and across the ocean, to help a young girl named JoJo bring harmony back to the tiny planet of Who.

Along the way, they must contend with harmonizing birds, a cantankerous kangaroo (Melody Betts, with a booming voice and presence), and some trouble-making monkeys (convincingly portrayed by the athletically built Scott Alan Jones and Jason Shuffler).

Rightly billed as a rock musical for all ages, SEUSSICAL imaginatively depicts friendship, compassion and bravery amidst adversity. For particularly sensitive children, some of the plot turns can be jarring--my daughter at times held her hands over her eyes--but in the heart-warming end, all is well.

Capping the 60-minute production was a 15-minute cast introduction and question-and-answer period, emceed by the fun-loving Cat in the Hat. This phase delivered yet more entertainment. Kids ask the darnedest things, and the cast did a wonderful job of fielding them and offering answers that kids, and adults, could grasp and appreciate.

The show draws from more than a dozen Dr. Seuss classics, such as The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Horton Sits on the Egg, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, McElligot's Pool, and Oh, The Places You'll Go!

It plays through May 16th at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

More Notes about SEUSSICAL:

The musical was created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind the acclaimed musical Ragtime. Ahrens and Flaherty conceived the project with the assistance of Monty Python's Eric Idle.

The performance schedule for SEUSSICAL is as follows: select Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10 am; select Saturdays at 11 am (and at 10 am and 1 p.m. on May 16. Call 630.530.0111 for exact schedule, as some show times and dates may vary. Tickets for all shows are $10, excluding tax and handling fees. A

Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets with a major credit card, call the Drury Lane Oakbrook Box Office at 630.530.0111 or visit Ticketmaster.com.

Max McLean Brings "Screwtape" To Life

I have a passion for reading books. With so many yet to be read, I rarely circle back and read the same book more than once. An exception is Mere Christianity, by the late, great, heavenly gifted C.S. Lewis.

To that short list of repeat reads I will soon add The Screwtape Letters, the 1942 Lewis book that catapulted him to literary renown.

When I first read Screwtape, about five years ago, I found it to be a richly told, insightful and, at times, hilarious look at an uncle-and-nephew demon team's efforts to snare the soul of a man in World War II England.

So when a friend from Harvest Bible Chapel organized a "date night" for couples last Friday night to see the current stage production of Screwtape, at the Mercury Theater in Chicago, I leapt at the chance.

The 90-minute show was tremendously, wickedly good. Max McLean, who has played the Screwtape role for about 200 shows, was a commanding, powerful presence. And his sidekick, Yvonne Gougelet, played his cat/secretary, Toadpipe, with remarkable energy. Without uttering an intelligible word, she communicated so such as she encompassed a wide physical range assisting Screwtape and embodying various personalities he conjures.

After the show, McLean (pictured with me) graciously fielded questions and shared insights about the process he undertakes to perform. The impromptu 15- to 20-minute Q and A with me, Bridgett, and a friend were almost as rewarding as the show itself.

Radio personality Mancow Muller was among those who attended the show, and I told McLean that Mancow was profiled by Cathleen Falsani in her excellent book, The God Factor.

Interestingly, Mancow had interviewed McLean for his show recently. At one point, off the air, McLean mentioned his own Christian "conversion experience" at 23 years old, he told me. Mancow, however, did not discuss his own Christian faith with McLean, the actor noted. Falsani outlines Mancow's spiritual side in The God Factor, and McLean was intrigued to check out the book, not only to read Mancow's journey but those of the many others profiled, spanning an array of faiths.

You can learn more about McLean at MaxMcLean.com and The Screwtape Letters' production at Screwtape On Stage.

This is an occasional blog on various musings and experiences. To read more about my professional work, visit the Inside Edge PR blog.

Chester Arthur Photo and Mention

Our 21st U.S. president, the relatively obscure Chester A. Arthur.

Ask your neighbor/friend/postal carrier if they've ever heard of him, and see how few have! He served precisely one century before Ronald Reagan, taking over in 1881 after the death of James Garfiled (everyone's heard of him) and serving until 1885. He died the next year. His sideburns live on!

In fact, below you can see a November 2008 photo of my facial-hair interpretation of Chet--which my wife let me keep for about 11 minutes.



This is an occasional blog on various musings and experiences. To read more about my professional work, visit the Inside Edge PR blog.

Athletes For Life & Five Seasons Team Up

I did a heart-stress test via the Athletes For Life mobile unit the other day, at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge.

A great cause, and some great people behind it: Athletes For Life's website.

For more on the efforts at Five Seasons: See my PR blog.

Check out the video below for more background:

Warning: Contagious Video

Reminiscing About Red & Roundball

Found this video online of legendary Boston Celtics coach (and GM) Red Auerbach and it brought back memories of August 1985 (around the time this video was shot, I'd estimate.)

At that time, I was about to enter my senior year of high school and was attending the Red Auerbach Basketball Camp in my hometown of Marshfield, Mass. Along with another basketball player, I was picked to demonstrate a 1-on-1 move that Red had just explained.

I shot from about 15 feet away and the ball bounded off the rim--a respectable miss, I thought, at least not an airball. Next thing I know, Red is hollering, "Hey! What did I just finish explaining to you?!?"

I was mute, as Red grabbed the ball and (re)lectured me and a few hundred other players about the importance of "shooting with the seams" of the ball. Doing so helps ensure that balls won't spin off the rim, he explained, but will instead drop into the basket.

Today, 23 years and thousands of shots later, I instinctively grasp for the seams on most every shot I take. Alas, having the proper rotation is no help when I fire airballs, which is more often than I would care to admit.