Clancy's blog

I've been meaning to link this for a while. In the Spring 2008 issue of Computers and Composition Online, I'm interviewed by Meredith Graupner and Christine Denecker. I'd like to thank everyone involved, especially Meredith and Christine, who were great to work with.

In a couple of days, I'll be 27 weeks along. Some people say that's when the third trimester starts; others say it starts at 28 weeks. At any rate, Jonathan and I have completely dropped the ball when it comes to getting ready for this little guy. We have done bupkis. We have not:

• Filled out that pre-admission form for the hospital
• Looked into taking any kind of class (Lamaze, childbirth, Bradley method, newborn care)
• Read up on various models of carseats* in preparation to buy one
• Bought any baby stuff whatsoever

Poor thing...he's going to be sleeping in a laundry basket, I guess. Not really, of course, but I so do not feel like doing a bunch of research and shopping.

* Just today I found out there's some kind of difference between a portable carseat and a regular carseat.

I've been thinking a lot about how I'd compare my administrative persona to a character or characters in popular culture. The closest I've come to is Dr. Cuddy from House, but without so much of the drop-dead gorgeousness:

She's a good administrator, but she's a little too nice and is preoccupied with damage control.

I'd like to be more like these next folks. Or, perhaps, I feel that I'm already a lot like them, but I have to keep the qualities they and I share -- impatience, snarkiness, antisocial inclinations -- in check.

So what's your administrative persona? I know not many people will be able to answer this one, but maybe Dean Dad and Collin could have some fun with it.

Wow, am I some kind of mom-type person already. I hate it when the little fetal boy goes a long time without moving. Yet, yesterday he was doing some kind of triathlon in there all day and night, and since I was so busy from 8:00-5:00 with administrative work (it being the beginning of the semester and all, a hectic time for writing program administrators everywhere, I would guess), I felt guilty all day about not being able to stop, concentrate on the movement, and really appreciate it.

But last night, I was reading on the chaise, and the Sweetest Cutest Little Thing happened. I happened to have my hand on my belly, and I got a big kick which was more like an isometric stretch. Anyway, I think I had his little foot* in the palm of my hand for a few seconds. I loved getting a sense of how big the foot was. Then, later, as I was in bed watching The Wire, I think he did it again, but with his head.

* or hand, or elbow, who can say?

This one's for Pi:

Games...can provide many varieties of satisfaction. Here we are looking at their role as media of communication in society as a whole. Thus, poker is a game that has often been cited as the expression of all the complex attitudes and unspoken values of a competitive society. It calls for shrewdness, aggression, trickery, and unflattering appraisals of character. It is said women cannot play poker well because it stimulates their curiosity, and curiosity is fatal in poker. Poker is intensely individualist, allowing no place for kindness and consideration, but only for the greatest good for the greatest number -- the number one. It is in this perspective that it is easy to see why war has been called the sport of kings.

Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media, p. 240

Got this from a friend in Baton Rouge:

Here's an update from Baton Rouge. While we suffered very little damage from the hurricane here, the aftermath of what happened in New Orleans has hit us pretty hard. In less than 48 hours the city doubled in size; BR is now the largest city in the state! Services are still out in a large portion of the parish and things are getting a little crazy. The refugees who arrived without anything have bought out most of the grocery stores in town. Even cellular phone service is questionable, but I've made it through a few times to Mama and Daddy back in [location omitted].

The university has been turned into the search and rescue headquarters and the campus buildings are being used by both refugees and various relocated NO organizations. The dorms are packed with students' family members with nowhere else to go. Classes at the university are supposed to start up again on Tuesday, but it's possible that the semester may be cancelled completely like those at the NO schools. We still aren't sure how many students or faculty will be returning and as of now, classroom space is limited. Many of us have considered heading back to our respective home states, but the gas stations are now out of gas and having trouble getting shipments in.

I live between campus and downtown and there is the almost constant sound of sirens. The looting and civil unrest you've seen and heard about in NO is now happening here as the city continues to swell. A group has apparently started pillaging in the downtown area and we have been advised to stay inside with doors and windows locked after 7pm.

Of course, tensions are extremely high all around as we try to figure out what to do. Right now I'm housing a friend and her boyfriend who both lost homes in NO and don't know when/if they will be allowed back in. As of tomorrow, I'm devoting my time to volunteering with the hundreds of displaced animals; there are too many volunteering with the human shelters already.

Thanks to all of you who e-mailed to check on me. I'm hanging in there and would very much appreciate your prayers!

Terrible. I have a friend in Houston who's going to send pictures this weekend if she's able to volunteer at the Astrodome; she wants me to post them here.

Cooper and Emily of Been There are providing a way to get donations of supplies to families once they're in temporary housing. Hopefully they've got some readers in Baton Rouge, Houston, Atlanta, etc. who can run these goods to shelters, as I'm sure the temporary housing won't have computers and internet connections. Emily instructs:

If you have something to offer, respond to this post with what you have (and please be specific, for example if you have toys, say for what age group, how many, what sort of condition they're in). Families in need are invited to respond to your post directly.

Also, in comments to the post at Been There, Isabel answers a question I'd had for a while. What if you don't have any money, but you have goods you'd like to donate? I called the local Red Cross and the Salvation Army, but they're not taking any goods. Isabel wrote:

2) Goodwill Industries of Houston is accepting and distributing donations of goods. I spoke to the CEO, Steve Lufburrow, who personally assured me that packages marked for Distribution for Families of Hurricane Katrina will be distributed to families. They particularly need children’s clothing, goods, and diapers as Goodwill normally does not receive those goods. You can send your packages to:
Mailing Address
5200 Jensen Drive
Houston, Texas 77026
Phone and Fax
(713) 692-6221
fax (713) 692-0923
http://www.goodwillhouston.org

UPDATE: Lauren posted the address of another organization that's accepting goods.

UPDATE: FYI, I spoke to Goodwill in San Antonio, and they are not accepting goods.

I hate not having cable. No, wait: I hate the fact that television stations have been ignoring the hurricane disaster since Bush's speech earlier. Here's what's on TV right now where I am:

Ch. 2 (public television): Clifford (that red cartoon dog)
Ch. 4 (CBS): Dr. Phil
Ch. 5 (ABC): Ellen
Ch. 9 (FOX): Montel Williams show
Ch. 11 (NBC): Access Hollywood
Ch. 23 (WB): some cartoon
Ch. 29 (UPN): Yes, Dear

It's driving me nuts.