http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051223/NEWS01/512230304/1079/NEWSBack in 1984, my husband and I were celebrating our first Christmas as a married couple. We were both still in graduate school and were poor as dirt -- in fact, we saved aluminum cans to help pay for our wedding rings. That year, the Hawkeyes were going to the inaugural Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif. My uncle happened to live in Los Angles and he surprised us by sending us tickets to fly out to the game. On Christmas Eve, my husband and I were driving to Lake City to spend the evening with his parents before driving to Omaha, Neb. Somewhere between Iowa City and Lake City, our car, "Old Blue," broke down. We were stranded on a cold December night, literally in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, a family stopped by, took us to their house and let us use their phone. (Remember the days before cell phones?) We were stranded at these people's house for several hours until my father-in-law and brother-in-law could drive the 100 or so miles to fetch us and tow "Old Blue" to Lake City. Of course, it was right in the middle of the family's Christmas Eve celebration. They were in the middle of making homemade pizza and were having a very nice evening. It had the potential for being a very awkward situation, but the family was so gracious. They invited us right into the happenings and we made pizzas with them, and it was such a warm joyous event we felt just at home. To this day, we don't know their names, nor do we even know what town we were in, but my husband and I established a new tradition. Every Christmas Eve, we make homemade pizza with our three children, and we say a blessing for that kind family that warmed our hearts all those years ago!
Linda Spencer, Iowa City
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Five years and you are OUT...we move on.
Five years, and you are out…we move on.
So you know I have an obsession with cacti of the Easter type and the Christmas type. I bought my mom and my sister plants several years ago, and they bloom faithfully. I got an Easter Cactus for our family five years ago IN BLOOM, and we have NEVER seen the darn thing bloom since. SO, this year we go ourselves a fully blooming Christmas Cactus. Lets see if this sucker will bloom next year! It sure looks pretty THIS year!
So you know I have an obsession with cacti of the Easter type and the Christmas type. I bought my mom and my sister plants several years ago, and they bloom faithfully. I got an Easter Cactus for our family five years ago IN BLOOM, and we have NEVER seen the darn thing bloom since. SO, this year we go ourselves a fully blooming Christmas Cactus. Lets see if this sucker will bloom next year! It sure looks pretty THIS year!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Conference Day...an independent story by Connor!
The Kid With a Staple in His Hand
by Connor Spencer
Connor was a small young kid and not very smart. When he woke up he got dressed and went down stairs. And then he got a bowl of cereal. He took his medicine and then went upstairs to brush his teeth. When he was done brushing his teeth, he went to school. At school he wrote in his assignment note-book and put his Personal Journal in the basket. Connor went to put staples in a stapler. When he closed it, his thumb was too close to the stapler. He told his teacher and she told Connor’s friend to take him down to the office. The principal gave Connor an ice pack, then Connor waited for a while, but then Jack’s mom came in and told the principle she’d drive Connor down to the hospital. The principal called his mom. Jack’s mom took Connor, and Connor’s mom came out and then they went into the hospital. The checked in and waited for a little bit. Then the doctor came and called for him to come here. They went to the room and there were two doctors there. They got metal scissors and then got it out. Then Connor got an American flag ball.
by Connor Spencer
Connor was a small young kid and not very smart. When he woke up he got dressed and went down stairs. And then he got a bowl of cereal. He took his medicine and then went upstairs to brush his teeth. When he was done brushing his teeth, he went to school. At school he wrote in his assignment note-book and put his Personal Journal in the basket. Connor went to put staples in a stapler. When he closed it, his thumb was too close to the stapler. He told his teacher and she told Connor’s friend to take him down to the office. The principal gave Connor an ice pack, then Connor waited for a while, but then Jack’s mom came in and told the principle she’d drive Connor down to the hospital. The principal called his mom. Jack’s mom took Connor, and Connor’s mom came out and then they went into the hospital. The checked in and waited for a little bit. Then the doctor came and called for him to come here. They went to the room and there were two doctors there. They got metal scissors and then got it out. Then Connor got an American flag ball.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Health Updates
http://www.emedicine.com/sports/topic94.htm website re: pars fracture
If you read the Spencer Family Blog enough, you will become very learned on medical conditions and procedures. In the spring you learned about Connor’s Toxic Synovitis, and this week you can learn about the Pars Fracture. Trevor’s sore back from TaeKwanDo was more than a muscle strain. After and MRI and CT scan and the addition of a Back Brace, he was diagnosed with a bilateral pars fracture of the 5th lumbar vertebrae. The docs were a little puzzled, as they could see old and new injury. The final story is that sometime earlier (probably this fall in football) he sustained a pars fracture on the left side of his 5th lumbar vertebrae, and on Monday night he went ahead and fractured the right side of the vertebrae. He is now in this “rigid” girdle like thing, and quite uncomfortable. He frankly hates it and I have to nag him over and over to keep the darn thing on.
In other news, Kira has been accepted to the following colleges Coe, with a 17K renewable scholarship, Luther, with an 11K renewable scholarship, and Knox with two scholarships adding up to 14K. She also was accepted to the Iowa Honor’s program. Just got the apps in for Carleton, Macalester, Lawrence and St. Olaf. We won’t hear from those schools until later, however. We sure hope the scholarship offers accompany any acceptance letters from those schools!
Well that’s all for now folks. Better go check on the Trev and get him cinched up!
If you read the Spencer Family Blog enough, you will become very learned on medical conditions and procedures. In the spring you learned about Connor’s Toxic Synovitis, and this week you can learn about the Pars Fracture. Trevor’s sore back from TaeKwanDo was more than a muscle strain. After and MRI and CT scan and the addition of a Back Brace, he was diagnosed with a bilateral pars fracture of the 5th lumbar vertebrae. The docs were a little puzzled, as they could see old and new injury. The final story is that sometime earlier (probably this fall in football) he sustained a pars fracture on the left side of his 5th lumbar vertebrae, and on Monday night he went ahead and fractured the right side of the vertebrae. He is now in this “rigid” girdle like thing, and quite uncomfortable. He frankly hates it and I have to nag him over and over to keep the darn thing on.
In other news, Kira has been accepted to the following colleges Coe, with a 17K renewable scholarship, Luther, with an 11K renewable scholarship, and Knox with two scholarships adding up to 14K. She also was accepted to the Iowa Honor’s program. Just got the apps in for Carleton, Macalester, Lawrence and St. Olaf. We won’t hear from those schools until later, however. We sure hope the scholarship offers accompany any acceptance letters from those schools!
Well that’s all for now folks. Better go check on the Trev and get him cinched up!
Monday, November 07, 2005
The November to Remember
The November to Remember. The big news at our house is that Trevor has a girlfriend. She is a little red-haired girl and sweet as can be. Mom and dad approve. So far they just see each other in band and at the school dance they danced together. So cute!
Trevor is now nursing a strained back after sparring tonight at tae-kwan-do. Poor guy.
Connor is well, and he is looking forward to french-toast stick Friday.
Kira has been offered a nice scholarship at Coe, and is hoping to get like offers from the Minnesota/Wisconsin schools, but they will probably not be as prompt with their offers. The application deadline isn’t until Dec. 1, and notification of acceptance for those schools is after the first of the year, with award notifications coming much later.
Nathan is relaxing after his XC season and has been compiling data.
I am continuing to revise and re-do my dissertation topic and this time the go-round seems to be better situated.
We are raking leaves almost daily, and are looking forward to Thanksgiving, and taking in some good movies. That is about all for now!
Trevor is now nursing a strained back after sparring tonight at tae-kwan-do. Poor guy.
Connor is well, and he is looking forward to french-toast stick Friday.
Kira has been offered a nice scholarship at Coe, and is hoping to get like offers from the Minnesota/Wisconsin schools, but they will probably not be as prompt with their offers. The application deadline isn’t until Dec. 1, and notification of acceptance for those schools is after the first of the year, with award notifications coming much later.
Nathan is relaxing after his XC season and has been compiling data.
I am continuing to revise and re-do my dissertation topic and this time the go-round seems to be better situated.
We are raking leaves almost daily, and are looking forward to Thanksgiving, and taking in some good movies. That is about all for now!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Greetings from Springfield
Greetings from Springfield, MA. Well I wouldn’t recommend coming here for a vacation. I’m here to present at a conference. While the hotel is nice and it overlooks the Charles River, this is one heck of a depressed area. There are shops and shops that are empty, and the shops that are open, well if you like Duncan Donuts or Beauty Supplies, you are set. I’m supposed to get presents for the kids, but it is pretty slim pickings. I am also very surprised at the really blah style the people here have with regard to hair and clothes. This is astounding, because I am really not a fashion hound and cannot claim to have any “style” of my own, but wow, the people here have the maw-maw style down pat. Huge glasses, Maw maw jeans and everything. Astounding.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
OCTOBER ARRIVES!
The first week of October ends and here is what we are up to. Linda submits her first chapter for the umpteenth time and is hoping that it is nearly a "go." Also the grant for work was submitted, and now the wait is on to see if her job will still be there come NEXT October. Connor insists he has been bumped around like a ping pong ball in his latest soccer game, but continues to like his new "competitive" league. He is making very good progress in school and has had EXCELLENT spelling test results so far. Trevor will have a winning season in Football. He is really a BMOC in Jr. High, getting elected to student council, making Jazz band, getting several A+s on his midterm report, having attend his first Jr. High dance, playing both offense and defense on Football, and getting nominated as a peer counselor. Kira is continuing to have a great XC season still varsity, having a PR in her last race for that course, and is going to the homecoming dance tonight. Today we drove to Waverly, IA to see a XC meet and to "meet" several college coaches. Great experience for her! Nathan is rolling along as well, and his Northwest JR. High kids will have thier state meet next Sat. Hope you all have a crisp and fun Autumn.
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