Hurricane Box

One of the fun parts of moving to Florida includes putting together a hurricane box- a box of food and supplies that are there "just in case." I am new to this experience. But, on the advice of a colleague, I went out today and (in addition to picking up Tiger Woods 09) put together my first hurricane box. It contains:

• Frosted Mini-Wheats
• Pop Tarts
• Cereal Bars
• Graham Crackers
• Wheat Thins
• Triskets
• Tuna Fish
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Pineapple
• Canned Pears in Light Syrup
• Apple Juicy Juice
• Peanuts (Lightly Salted)
• Mixed Nuts (Lightly Salted)
• Werther's Hard Candies
• 3 Gallons of Water
• Dog Food

My goodness, I'm so proud of myself I almost hope we're without power for five days so we can put that box to use.

But its not all about the team

I join John Saunders as one of the few college football fans who doesn't necessarily believe college football needs an extended playoff system. I would like to see a four team, two round system, but I don't believe we need a 16 team, multi-round format.

I bring this up because many broadcasters and writers will spend time this season lamenting the plight of those powerhouse teams in the SEC who will not get to compete for the national championship. These teams will eliminate each other in the country's best conference; while top programs in weaker conferences-- notably USC and Ohio State-- will "roll" into the playoffs. Or so the story goes. God forbid a Big East or ACC team go undefeated.

So, here's my sophist position: its not about finding the best team (defined as the players / coaches / system participating on the field), its about determining the best program (which, in addition to everything on the field, includes everything it takes to get those players, coaches, and systems to the field of play). Building a championship program includes acquiring resources. Teams in the SEC have an incredible, ridiculous, borderline criminal advantage when it comes to signing day. Given this huge recruiting discrepancy, I don't pity Georgia's schedule. I find it more remarkable that Jim Tressel can lure kids away from the state of Florida to the middle of the midwest. While Ohio State might not be the greatest collection of individuals every season, it does represent an amazing program- able to recruit significant talent every year. Programs such as USC represent the best programs because they are able to recruit more of the talent available to them. Yes, this is a slippery slope. And no, I don't think an undefeated Bowling Green team should play in the national championship. Yes, I'm o.k. with having a national championship determined by "gray" matter, things that cannot be reduced to simple black and white (or, in more cliche terms, "on the field of play"). But, then again I'm a rhetorician. And...

As a rhetorician, I'm not ultimately interested in the absolute truth of any one champion, I'm more interested in the debate that inevitably surrounds the final verdict. College football provides more debate than any other sport- which is probably why I find myself interested in it more and more each year.

Journalists are Evil, Good

The good news is that the media coverage of Rowan's plight has already led to one retinoblastoma diagnosis in England. We hope the continued exposure can help other parents (and friends of parents) discover this sooner. On that line, we would like to stress one thing: most of the pictures of Rowan that TV and internet news outlets choose to use came after her first treatment; this means her tumor is very noticeable. The drugs included in her treatment dilate her eye and accentuate the tumor. Before her treatment, the tumor was only noticeable in photographs. When you look at old photographs of Rowan, you'll notice that instead of "red eye," one of her pupils has "white eye." The only change we saw with the naked eye occurred very late- a slight darkening of the iris. While we didn't notice any change to her iris until around August 1st, old photographs reveal "white eye" as early as February.

A very good story on ABC. Here's Britain's Mail Online and The Mirror. There's also the Digital Journal. There's more. Jenny put up a very sweet and sensible post; when this is all over I'd like to write an article stressing how the internet isn't just porn, piracy, and pedophilia. Its also the power of (life saving) networks; the collaborative contact with others, which opens the possibility of response, compassion, and love.

Rowan continues to be the story of the hour; we're getting [persistent] interest from some pretty big media outlets. We've declined most requests, and gone exclusive with one show that agreed to fly Madeline (the woman who first recognized Rowan's tumor) over the pond to meet us. This is exciting to both of us. I cannot begin to describe how sleazy, for lack of a better term, the contact people for news media shows can be. As a professor of rhetoric, I noticed just about every dirty trick in the rhetorical handbook yesterday, and a few from the art of war. But I'm trying real hard to let the small stuff go. And not all of them are evil. But, while trying hard to avoid a strong defense/weak defense position, let me say: ughhh. We're emotionally spent. Make the phone calls stop.

If you're up really late...

Megan is going to do a phone interview with GM TV, London's version of Good Morning America. Problem: they want a live interview at 8:30 UK time, so that's 3:30a.m. EST. I will be sleeping through this one.

In the good news department: Rowan is home and very happy to be out of the hospital. She's walking laps around the kitchen and playing with her toys.

15 Minutes of Fame

For those that didn't know, we initially discovered Rowan's tumor thanks to a mum in England through one of Megan's baby groups. Proof that the internet isn't just porn and piracy. Anywho, the story has been picked up by many of the bigger news outlets in Great Britain including The Manchester Evening News and BBC news. We're hoping that the press coverage can inform other parents and friends to be alert for white pupils. Although this only afflicts 250 babies a year, it is something that everyone can be on the lookout for.

Thank You

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has helped us over the last month. Words cannot express what it has meant to us.

Rowan (and Megan) are still in the hospital. Rowan had developed a UTI- that's what caused the fever. It is a very low grade fever, and Rowan's white cell count is still strong (Rowan's in the most danger 8-12 days after chemo). She's happy and energetic. This morning she "read" her first word: "Moo," off page one of Sandra Boynton's "Moo Baa La." For those unacquainted, Boyton's books completely enthrall anyone under the age of five. They make anyone over the age of five want to rip their ears off.

Meg's mom is in town giving us some extra help and relief. We might try to make a movie this weekend (is Batman still in theaters?). Thanks again to everyone.

You're not going to believe this...

But we're back in the hospital.

Sigh.

Rowan had a temperature this morning (we got 101.6 in the ear, 100.8 under the arm), so we had to go to St. Joseph's Children's hospital in Tampa. That was one o'clock; now, at 7:00, we find ourselves checked into another pediatric oncology office. This is all precautionary, as her fever has completely gone away. Still, she'll receive 24 hours of antibiotics. We're praying that she'll be released tomorrow- but she might have to remain in the hospital until Wednesday. We'll know more tomorrow morning after the attending doctor does rounds. Once again, we're waiting to find out how long we have to wait.

Sigh. Mother-F@#kin' Sigh.