Winter to Spring Update

Not much snow this winter, but Dave made the most of what came late in the season, with a few small forts that the neighborhood kids made good use of. School for me has fallen into a manageable routine for the most part. In just 8 weeks I will take my step one exam. Dave continues to add onto his walking trail at work. Calvin has a lot of fun with his friend Tarek. They love to run around and get covered in mud, or just hang upside down like monkeys.



We went to Florida and visited Dave's aunts and cousins and my brother to get a break from the cold. The kids loved the beach: the sand, the shells, the sun, the waves. They also enjoyed the rides and the shows at Busch Gardens in Tampa. We try to stay away from these things, but sometimes you just have to cave in and take in a little "culture."

I'm still working on my photography and writing project of the south side of the city. Syracuse University and LeMoyne are going to use my essay and photos on their website as part of their community education/multicultural awareness initiative. I've gotten to see some interesting things on my walks.



Just when you think you are settling in, life always seems to throw a curve ball. My mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor in late February that announced itself with a seizure. She has been given less than a year to live. She is doing her chemo and radiation in Buffalo and spending weekends here with the grandkids. Her energy is up and down depending on how her body responds to the stress of the treatment. Last weekend was a good one. We went to a puppet show and then she made cookies with the kids, which were mighty good. I ran the Skunk Cabbage 10K with my friend Chris Schaeffer for the third time. Running still keeps me sane.