9.21.2010

When Kids and Wine Go Together

 The cure rates for pedatric cancers, leukemia in particular, have shot way up in the last 30 years.   Still, the 5 year event-free survival rate for ALL is around 85%.  That means that if a whole classroom of kids was diagnosed with ALL, within 5 years ~4 would relapse or die.  I don't know about you, but I would find a different school.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.  Cancer can strike any child at any time.  It could be your son or daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, neighbor, or someone in your child's class.

There are a lot of "facts" about childhood cancers being thrown around on the internet and I don't have a lot of time or energy to fact check, but the bottom line is the way to prevent and cure cancer is through research and that requires money.  Pediatric cancer does not get a lot of research money.  Why?  It's not profitable for big pharma companies, it is relatively rare (so hard to get enough numbers to do big studies), and (I think) the kids can't advocate for themselves (and their parents are too strapped from the whole ordeal).

What does this have to do with wine?  Well, it is one of the few "gold ribbon" products that you can purchase to help support childhood cancer organizations (you can choose between two).  Order your bottle of 2009 ONEHOPE Arroyo Seco Reserve Pinot Noir before the end of September and $5 per bottle will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand or the Children's Miracle Network (both awesome organizations).

It is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  How many gold ribbons have you seen? 

9.20.2010

Practically Perfect...

It has been a good week!


Mollie and I went to see the musical Mary Poppins on Tuesday.  We got dressed up for the occasion (and she dressed her doll to match).  It was fabulous evening.  To start off, we got a great (and free) parking spot just a block from the theatre.  That left us plenty of time to grab quesadillas before the show.  When we got to the theatre, they upgraded our seats... on the house!  The show was magical!  The new songs (like Practically Perfect) fit seamlessly into the story.  It was a fun show and the actors interacted with the audience quite a bit; I think Mollie is starting to appreciate how rich live performances are.

This weekend we took our inaugural family camping trip.  There were a few bumps- Liam tipped over in his chair and scraped his face and our old tent broke when we were breaking camp (better than when we were setting up camp)- but all in all it was a good time!  The weather was lovely and the park (Pilot Mtn., NC) was very pretty.  The kids took to it very well and enjoyed the experience.  We are looking forward to doing it again in the near future!