Rusty the Rooster

Four colly birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a ... fainting rooster?

We know we often write about our urban donors living in the Bay Area, but we have many donors, recipients, and staff who live in rural areas of Northern California. Ellie Delgado, our Administrative Director at our Shasta Blood Center, wrote a fun little ditty about Rusty the Rooster!

Rusty the Rooster
by Ellie Delgado

Got home later than usual last night and went to count chickens and Rusty the rooster was missing!  It was pitch black outside but we went out with flashlights and combed the whole area for him. Didn’t see any feathers, so that was good, but where oh where could he be?  Did someone steal him?  I saw the postman eye balling him the other day. Did he go off and fight for the girls, did an owl get him, oh gosh, was he stuck in the fencing somewhere?  I went to bed with worry and woke at 2 am thinking, well, maybe he will crow when it gets light out, he has been crowing a LOT lately.  He is 26 weeks old and just now understanding and, ahem, “performing” as a man Rooster. 

Well, Glory be, at first light I heard it, Rusty crowed. I leapt out of bed and rushed outside to the chicken yard.  Nothing… c’mon do it again, rooster.  So, I did what any chicken mom would do:  I crowed. He did answer back and I finally found him:  in a tree on the OTHER side of my fence.

I decided I’d better get dressed if I was going to go tromping around in the muddy rain in my neighbor’s yard.  By the time I ran back, Rusty had jumped out of the tree and was pacing the fence line.  At first, we tried giving him some bread but all he would do is call his girls.  We let his girls out on my side of the fence hoping that he would fly back over.  We did make one lunge for him and he growled and I’m pretty sure he said some things that a lady doesn’t repeat on a public forum. 

The neighbor came out with a big fish net and a club… wait a minute, was he actually going to club my baby boy?  Yikes!  Nope, it was a big scooper with grain in it.  Well, I was going to grab the net and run around trying to nail him but my neighbor had obviously done this before and was way ahead of my non nimble morning brain.  He set the thing on the ground and put the grain in the middle.  Rusty stepped in slowly of course, not wanting to make this easy.

Then the neighbor scooped him up and netted the big rooster and handed him over the fence.  Rusty was struggling in that big net and when he was laid down, he just went out cold.  I mean, eyes closed, not moving, just laying there.  Oh my Gosh, did he just kill my rooster?  hit There was ‘dead’ silence for a few seconds as we three adults looked down on the “dead” rooster.  Well, nothing to do but get him untangled from the net.

With heavy heart his limp rag doll body was lifted up and out of the net when he suddenly “came to”.  Rusty the Rooster had fainted!! He got up, shook himself off and went over toward his girls. 

Now I know that if a rooster is upside down (though technically he wasn’t) that they get quieted down and still.  This boy was out cold. 

Guess instead of a partridge in a pear tree we should change it to rooster!

Blood Centers of the Pacific is thankful

I’m thankful because Blood Centers of the Pacific donors were able to help many of the San Bruno fire victims. Dr. Nora Hirschler, President and CEO

I am thankful for all the blood donors who volunteer to participate in our research studies so that we can improve the quality of the blood supply as well as the blood donation experience. And for the ready supply of donuts to be found in the canteen at the end of every blood donation. Who can feel faint when you are having a sugar rush! Zoom! Dan Hindes, Research Associate, Blood Systems Research Institute

I’m thankful for all my GREAT Apheresis donors in Shasta for sparing 2 hours of their time to come in to donate their platelets! They have definitely helped save the lives of our cancer patients and also without them we wouldn’t be able to meet our needs. Vanessa C. Kamekona Apheresis, Special Donations Coordinator

I’m thankful for BCP’s Building Services Department! This department oversees all BCP facilities and safety is a priority to them. Facility inspections are always successful thanks to Craig, Peter and their team. They are proactive and always respond to my crazy requests right away. Thanks Building Services and Happy Turkey Day! Angelina Lee, Safety Specialist

I am thankful that the Giants are the World Series Champions!!! Alana Tupasi R.N.

I am thankful for my wonderful account coordinators and their dedication, enthusiasm and great efforts, time and energy they take in making their Blood Drives a success and helping to save many lives in our community! Wendy Theisen, Account Representative

I am thankful for BCP giving me challenging projects to keep my mind active and alive! Terrina Yamamoto, Director of Donor Collections

Very thankful for a great maintenance team. Without them and a little duct tape, we might simply fall apart. Craig Anderson, Director of Facilities

I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with people who make me laugh! Lisa S. Bloch, Director of Communications

I am thankful to be working with an effective and knowledgeable staff. Together we are able to provide safe and reliable blood products. Most important our blood provides healthy outcomes to many precious lives. Raina H. Snyder, Donor Service Coordinator, Cupertino Center/ Peninsula Center

I am thankful for all of the staff in the component production and donor testing labs who worked so hard during the influx of donors after the San Bruno fire. Denise DuBay, Director of Technical Operations

I am thankful that the authors of the Constitution included the unalienable right to the pursuit of Happiness. Eileen Everett, Data Analyst

I am thankful that I have a good job, that my family is healthy and safe and that I work with wonderful people who, by doing their jobs, ensure the safety of our blood supply which will save the lives of patients who we serve. Paula Butterfield, Account Representative

I am thankful for the many friendships fostered with my coworkers, many of whom I can rely on and turn to especially for that candy bar, cookie or cake fix when 3:00 pm rolls around. Angela Woon, Communications Specialist

I am thankful to work for a company that cares about the welfare of their employees. Ellie Delgado, Administrative Director Shasta Blood Center

I’m thankful for all the blood donors who keep coming in spite of the rain, wind, World Series parades, fires, fog, wanting to sleep in, street closures due to marathon, donation time lasting longer than expected, etc. Bless You! Don Burghardt, Director of Donor Recruitment

I am thankful for the opportunity to continue building a community of changemakers online through our wonderful friends on Facebook, our followers on Twitter, those who read our blog or visit our website, and everyone in between. Over the past two years I have learned so much about this important cause from everyone in our online community and I look forward to what is yet to come. Ashley Messick, Social Media Specialist

I’m thankful for our incredible staff whose commitment and hard work makes it possible for BCP to successfully meet the expectations of northern California donors and patients. Roger Svoboda, Chief Operating Officer

Thank you blood donors for continuing to give the lifesaving gift of blood donation. Thank you blood drive coordinators and volunteers for helping allow our blood donors to give this gift. Thank you to the hospitals we serve for the incredible work you do in saving patients’ lives. Thank you to our staff for all of your hard work and dedication to this important mission. Thank you Northern California and each of our communities for supporting this cause. Happy Thanksgiving!