apropos of nothing...

M, s and ss, pictures from this summer.

Its always a big day when the bucket is used. Cleaning the gutters.

We love legos.

Little bit of sunshine.

radio

As winter drags ever onward, I am STILL spending a great deal of time at the fitness center. I would much prefer to be spending more time outside but I am not very tolerant of the cold. When I woke this morning, 16 degrees, still too cold to run outside. So, after hospital rounds, to the fitness center I went. I usually listen to music, but even my favorite playlists are getting old so I switched to podcasts this morning. After finishing up the recent "Wait, wait don't tell me" episodes yesterday, I moved onto this particular "This American Life" episode this morning.

Two things.

First, the quote, from "Its not over until the Fat Man Sings", "No one ever asks how you stayed together, they ask how you met." Very true. Of course, how we meet is a story with an ending, how we stay together is not.

Also the story of the transgender 8 year olds was amazing. The parents' discussion of their children's struggle was profound. The parent's own difficulties accepting their children, other kids other parents, including the idea that people can (more often) accept the concept of gay but not wrap their heads around transgender. Hopefully our culture will continue to learn, evolve and accept all ranges of human behavior and sexuality.

More thoughts

More footage and words about our new president.

looking ahead

Today Grinnell College announced our 13th president, Dr. Raynard Kington. I could not be happier with the work done by the selection committee. At the reception this afternoon I heard, "How could he not be our president?" Indeed, after listening to him talk of the liberal arts, social justice, the education of our students and reading his astounding credentials, I completely agree.

I have been reflecting this week on the past 12 years of the Osgood administration; the college now has a world class physical plant, our finances are secure despite the financial woes of the world around us, our students and faculty ever more outstanding and diverse. President Osgood has done great work here, left us a better place than he found us and is ready to retire. I was delighted at the outpouring of emotion today at the announcement of Dr. Kingston and am looking joyfully and eagerly forward to his arrival.

Holidays 2.

I have a terrible time uploading pictures. So more pics in a new post!

Holidays

What a lovely holiday. We celebrated Christmas with Mom and Dad the weekend before the 25th. On Christmas weekend, we had Christmas brunch at our house, evening meal and games with the Redings, a soup supper with the Wiley's followed by gift opening the next day, also a special overnight in Iowa City with friends. We are so blessed .

Christmas decorating

Every year since the kids have been born, Nana has given them a Christmas ornament engraved with the date and a special event from that year. For example, "kindergarten" for the first year of school, "311 4th Ave" for our first move or "fired up and ready to go" from Barack Obama's campaign speech in Grinnell. As the kids helped me decorate the tree this year, we read the inscriptions and reminisced. A lovely new tradition.