Over the past few days, Jinni has been poked and prodded just a bit.  The surgeon is trying to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of her body.  In addition, they are working to "type" her cancer so everyone knows what they are up against.

Bone scan - clear.   Blood work - wonderful and red and healthy.  Chest x-ray - clear.  CT scan - next week.

Oncology and radiation docs have had their people call our people (me) to set up their respective appointments. The games begin in two weeks with her first visit to oncology on November 19th.

I will keep track of the costs of this whole thing and keep you posted, I'm sure it will be an obscene amount of money but what's a patient to do?  You bend over and take it and be damned glad for the bills because, as with any war, good reconissance and the best ammunition costs money.

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I drove to Charlotte today to check on my crew and make payroll.  Things have gone very well this week in my absence. We are running about a week behind schedule - not bad for such a huge undertaking.

Comments keep coming for Jinni and we are now hearing from far-flung friends who are offering their prayers and support but no meatloaf.  (Did I mention we love meatloaf?)  Many of my old Kaman Music cronies are poking their heads out and saying hello thanks to a heads-up from Don and Melissa in Nashville... OK, Melissa... make that Brentwood.

I'm going to like one aspect of this cancer stuff.  Food.  Susan Edwards brought by a great meal and Kris Cooke showed up with brownies.  No one has yet brought by any Knob Creek, I hear it is a proven anti-carcinogen when fed to the spouse of the afflicted party.  (Milk it David... milk it for all its worth)

Thanks one and all, it will be difficult to respond to everyone, but your love is felt.

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We have been part of Greensboro Indoor Roller Hockey for many many years.  In my opinion it is the finest sports program offered under the Greensboro Parks & Rec umbrella.

Ed Hathaway, the program's long-time director, has called in the hockey troops in support of my family's upcoming warfare.

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Long post alert

Politics hath no fury like a parent group scorned.  Today's N&R has an article (not posted) about the rise of various groups of activists parents who have opposed school board decisions over the years, and their subsequent disbandonment after the issue that got them started is resolved... or not.

The focus of the article is on the latest incarnation of parental fury in the form of ABC of Guilford County.  That group elevated parental activism to an art form in the election just past by raising and spending tons of money to relieve the Guilford County Board of Education of anyone who voted to implement the High Point "Choice" Plan.  They failed to accomplish this during Tuesday's election - but they got damn close.

John Graham, the Michael Murphree of the last "throw the bums out" parental group - Truth in Education - is circumspect in the article about why it is hard for a group of like-minded volunteers to carry the fight more than a couple of years, "It's impossible because what you'll have is children who graduate and move on."

Indeed it is, even on this site some of the most outspoken members of ABC (at least I think they are "members") have indicated that they are just counting the days until their kids can get out of our school system, but in the meantime - they want change.  Well so do I.

I hold high hopes for ABC or some rendition therof.  This county is in dire need of what they (we) may someday deliver - a system wide network of very involved parents who can be looked to as an ombudsman/liason between families and the administration - kind of a county-wide PTA on steroids.  A "2 Wants to Know" whistle-blower with a very large whistle.  It's the kind of game I like to play... and will... but...

What any group of activist, parents or otherwise, must understand is human nature.  People are drawn to a positive message and a positive tone like moths to the light.  A negative message and tone, which is how I have perceived ABC's political efforts, is repulsive to the vast majority of those who have limited time to devote to volunteerism and activism.

The article states that ABC Director Murphree has "hope that the group can impact the 2006 elections when board incumbents Alan Duncan, Susan Mendenhall and Marti Sykes come up for re-election."  Well here is my hope....

Many of the changes that ABC and others (incliding me) want for our school system can be acheived with the current board.  I know and have worked with all of those folks who ABC has targeted for past and future removal and they are dedicated, caring, responsive and responsible people.  They should not be demonized, they must be respected.

If I were one of the majority of the school board who has, or had, been targeted for ouster, and the group that is plotting my demise came to me and asked for a sympathetic ear for some issue that they need resolved - I truly doubt that I would be particularly motivated to act on their behalf.  A declaration of war certainly gets an enemy's attention, but it also forces that enemy into a defensive posture.  Peace talks are needed here - not war and rumors of war.

So, if ABC hopes to defy the odds and actually exist beyond its second birthday next year, they need to exude the very essense of positivity with a message for the Board and potential volunteers that goes something like this: 

"Our school system has made some major advances toward excellence but we still have some problems.  We want to help the administration solve them and we have 1300+ parents from all over the county who stand ready to help where they are needed.  In addition, we are dropping our political opposition to sitting Board members pending future decisions and how those decisions align themselves with our stated mission.

One last thing - and this is a deal breaker... The forced lottery system for High Point high schools is a piece of crap and must be revisited."

*************

Update: Recently re-elected School Board Member Kris Cooke demonstrates my contention that bridges need to be built in a comment to this post on the election returns.  Note to Kris... paragraphs are a good thing but understandably hard to remember when unloading built-up emotion.

Update II: The Shu has additional advice for ABC.

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