Trevor and Ellie
and Stella-Bindi
Connor-man is 12!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
STELLA!!!!!!!!
So we were denied Roscoe-Chico. Then we missed out on Tandy, but we got STELLA Bindy. She is part terrier, part something else. She is a very gentle and kind girl. Rudy is a great big brother and is showing her the ropes.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
January. I love walking to work in the mornings. Even on cold days when I find myself stalling and scheming to get a ride, I realize that once I am out the door and on my way, I am in therapy. My immediate neighborhood is characterized by the working sorts, some with families, some single, some with dogs and pets. There are also an increasing number of retirees who are fighting to hold onto what they have. In the fall the air is crisp, and the leaves lend a gentle amber glow that soothes the soul. In the winter the cold, biting frost tends to make the branches fuzzy with crystals. Internally I yell "bastards" every time I encounter an icy sidewalk and have to tightrope walk. Sometimes the song on my MP3 player just guides me through and I realize I am nearly to my job at the hospital and have not really processed anything on the way. In the spring, I can gauge the earth's progressive warming by judging the stage of the magnolia blossoms on the trees, and in the summer I can predict the day's coming heat by feeling the level of humidity as it curls my hair. There are certain people I tend to encounter in transient ways, like the donut-lady, for instance. She obviously must live in a house that is within walking distance from the hospital, and she must work the night shift either in housekeeping or in dietary at University Hospitals. She must get off work sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 am. Years ago, she would nearly always stop by Melrose Market and get a donut or sweet roll, and by the time we passed she had munched about half of it away. Then there was that sad interlude when the market closed and when we passed, she would have a forlorn expression. No treats for you today! Soon after that, I noted the treats were back, and surmised that an alternate location popped up. (The hospital cafeteria, no doubt). This person is so steady, so routinized that I surmise she has a mild developmental disability. She never appears to recognize me, never acknowledges our now 10-year relationship, in spite of my smiles of greeting. There is the couple who live up the street. Some days they will have begun their journey just minutes before I did, but I come upon them and usually pass them. They are the sweetest. I have met them at neighborhood picnics, but only in passing. In my mind, (perhaps there is merit to this) he is a professor who works with trees, the earth, or some sort of earth-related field. She is "the rat" lady. I don't know for sure, but I think her specialty is in a lab and I love to think she is hot on the trail of a cancer cure, but most likely she is more mundane. I know she had some sort of orthopedic issue a few years back as she walked with a cane and looked very frail. Now, however she appears to be as hale and strong. He has a German accent, is slight in stature, but wiry and European in nature. This year there have been some new, younger faces. A family of children who live on Melrose, I believe. The girls are so full of spirit, and they dress in very trendy, ethnic clothes--must be in the upper unit at Horn Elementary. They have a little brother who knows my son Connor and his name is Dante. Connor and Dante gave a presentation this fall and I think they worked well together. I try to get Connor to invite him over, but he resists. Finally, there is the lady I call the ChataOOkwa (Chautauqua) lady. My version of her includes that she is a vital, integral person to the Iowa City culture. Her house is a Cape-Cod/bungalow style house, and she and the love of her life meet there to plan their next social justice campaign. Many mornings I see her in her driveway talking to her love (in my version--what if he is her brother for God's sake?), as he is stopping by to visit her in the morning so they can plan their day. What makes her get out of bed on those cold mornings and stand there in the drive talking to him with such enthusiasm? Is it their love, their passion for justice? I take a silent vow to be like that someday, as I walk the last block to work.
About the author:I'm 45, a wife and mother of three, just finished my PhD in Speech and Hearing Science and I do research with Deaf children who use Cochlear Implants. I love Prairie Home Companion and was VERY excited this February when an ice storm knocked out our electricity and the kids and I could just listen to Garrison on our battery-powered radio.
First Person ArchiveMost recent:Untitled (08/22/07)Belly Dancing on the Broadkill River (08/22/07)2007AugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary2006DecemberSeptember
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wow we are so excited on the first day of school
Two stoic boys...Connor begins 6th grade and Trevor begins his
FRESHMAN year in High School,
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Kira Departs, Thus Officially Ends Summer '07
A Proclamation: As of Sunday the ghastly, appalling, terrifying and trying summer of ’07 is gone! I will forevermore shudder within at the horror of the memories it conjures up. The Vegas trip was only somewhat edifying and mildly relieving in the midst of all the Spencerfam went through this summer. We ring down the curtain on this summer, and thank all our loving friends who gave us support and love when we were in despair. Thank you to the NIH for granting me the LRP funds. Thank you for the editorial board position, and the invitations for colloquia presentations. For me my Faith has strengthened. I fully believe that if one is entirely self-centered, it is akin to being limited by one’s range. This will be a guiding principle for all of us as we step into a fresh, crisp, autumn. We have full knowledge that the paths we will all take will meander, yet it is also certain that we will be guided by the eternal beauty of light. We, as always, are survivors.
Monday, July 23, 2007
UNCLE NEIL'S 75TH B-DAY...
Plane fare for Connor $200.00
Plane fare for Trevor and Kira $400.00
Plane fare for Nathan $200.00
Plae fare for Grandma $200.00
Monday, June 25, 2007
Pneumonia Kicks Connor's butt!
Wow what a week we had with our sweet C-man! He got so so so sick with pneumonia and it was 5 (count 'em) 5 days before I FINALLY got a doctor to believe me. He had skyrocketing fevers (peaking at 104.6), a febrile seizure, a trip to the ER, IV's, chest X-rays and bloodwork. One Dr. Kildare who insisted it was a virus, and two other doctors who spanked Dr. Kildare. All along, I KNEW it was the same damn thing that Trevor had. SHEESH, will Doctors NEVER realize that mother's always know???? Anyway Connor lost 8 days there with a harrowing experience. Today was the first day he made it all day without a nap. Sweet boy. NOW he can prepare for the Harry Potter Movie and his summer can REALLY begin.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Letter to the Editor
I was so nostalgic for Rapid City that I sent a letter to the editor. It was published on May 22, but here it is...
Both have grown through Rapid City experiences
I said good-bye to Rapid City in the fall of 1980 to go to college at the University of Iowa. I was armed with support from this wonderful community such as: a solid education from the Rapid City Schools from K-12, scholarships from generous local branches of national organizations such as PEO and the Elks Lodge, a rich high-school band experience from Jack Knowles of Rapid City Central and optimism fueled by a community of forward-thinkers.Returning for a visit in 2007, I am now armed with a doctorate degree, a beautiful family and many fond memories. Now I see in his beautiful city that great changes have taken place, yet core things can be depended upon. Now Pat Jones is running Central High for real, a brown-haired Paluch kid is still cleaning up on the tennis courts, and there are wonderful facilities for our retired parents such as Holiday Hills. Storybook Island is going strong. Also, your high schools are still churning out well-prepared students ready to conquer the world.Thank You Rapid City. My, how we both have grown. LINDA J. SPENCER Iowa City, Iowa
Both have grown through Rapid City experiences
I said good-bye to Rapid City in the fall of 1980 to go to college at the University of Iowa. I was armed with support from this wonderful community such as: a solid education from the Rapid City Schools from K-12, scholarships from generous local branches of national organizations such as PEO and the Elks Lodge, a rich high-school band experience from Jack Knowles of Rapid City Central and optimism fueled by a community of forward-thinkers.Returning for a visit in 2007, I am now armed with a doctorate degree, a beautiful family and many fond memories. Now I see in his beautiful city that great changes have taken place, yet core things can be depended upon. Now Pat Jones is running Central High for real, a brown-haired Paluch kid is still cleaning up on the tennis courts, and there are wonderful facilities for our retired parents such as Holiday Hills. Storybook Island is going strong. Also, your high schools are still churning out well-prepared students ready to conquer the world.Thank You Rapid City. My, how we both have grown. LINDA J. SPENCER Iowa City, Iowa
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Our Spring Trip
Began on Saturday May 12. Connor and I made it to St.Paul,just in time to see Macalester Graduates lining up to the tune of Bagpipes. We loaded up all of Kira's belongings from her dorm room and started on our way to Collegeville, MN to watch the finals of the Conference track meet at ST. JOHNS college. After that, we drove to Willmar,MN and spent the night. Started out for Rapid at 8:00 on Mother's day. Windy, HOT and Dry conditions met us as we hit I-90. Prairie Home Companion on the radio and we were set until....KADOKA. Just outside of Kadoka, at the 1880 town, the spedometer plummets to ZERO, then fluctuates between Zero and 180 mph. YIKES. As the RPMs hit 6,7,then 8, I slow her down and pull into the 1880 TOWN, where there is no help available. Cool off the vehicle and think. What could this be??? Transmission? Hmmm. We got back on the road, called my brother-in-law in Rapid and got his advice to put 'er in third gear and ride her into Rapid (about 90 miles) that way. We made it, two hours later, hot and very tired. The temperatures were in the low 90's and the vehicle was strained. Alas, we got Gramma, went to Sue and Bob's and had a great, mother's day dinner. Come to find, we had a relay that went bad, and it took about $140 bucks to fix. Could have been a lot worse! (like it could have happened before MURDO or even at PUKWANA).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)