KSN 14 - KEB
Usually, every December I peer back through 365 individual strands of details to recall what the previous, now-murky December looked like. However, this year no such hazy reconstitution is necessary because literally the only things that remain of December 2013 are the length of my hair and being single. Comparison is much easier with stark contrasts rather than mere gradations.
Daily Occupation
2013: Figuring out what to do next
2014: Graduate School at Indiana University
I spent the first two months of 2014 studying for the GRE like it was my job, in anticipation and with hopes of making graduate school my job. Because I had decided to apply late in the cycle, I spent March waiting to hear from Indiana University and visiting programs in Oregon in case I needed to reapply for 2015. In April I was accepted into the masters programs in both counseling and counselor education, and applied sport science programs. In early June Mom helped me move to Bloomington, IN, and on June 23 I was sitting in my first academic class in 3,678 days. My brain has finally revved up to speed after being removed from five years in moth-ball storage, although the first research paper had to be teased forth word by tedious word.
Place of Residence
2013: Austin, TX
2014: Bloomington, IN
When I finally left Austin after just over 3 years, I was ready to leave. There remain a few people, more than a few restaurants, and one swim program that I miss every day, but the city itself had lost its luster. To me, Austin is on that part of a roller coaster ride where the cars are inching up the incline before a huge drop-off, and even though the cars are getting higher and higher and higher, they are gaining height slower and slower and slower. Eventually...WHOOSH! the bottom falls out and there's vomit everywhere.
Whereas Austin is the Madison of the South, Bloomington is the Madison to the South and East of Madison. Bloomington is much smaller than either, but feels similar and comfortable, with a lot less traffic. Though, I do get laughed at when I wear my cowboy boots.
Preferred Physical Activity
2013: Masters swimming, running, spinning classes
2014: Age-group swimming
Once I wasn’t required to train every day I had the opportunity to reconsider which sports I actually wanted to do everyday. It turned out to be swimming, and since the masters swimming community in Bloomington is on the verge of Civil War Part Deux, I started training with the senior group of the Counsilman Center Indiana Swim Team. And when I say “senior group,” I mean the oldest group of kids, which is the high school group. Age-group swimming is unlike any kind of swimming I’ve done or trained for before and I get my ass handed to me every single day by teenagers, but they helped me navigate my first swim meet ever, guffaw when I remind them that I could drive before they were born, and call me by my nickname: “Mom.” Between my teammates and their parents, I have found a community that I never could have imagined to hope for.
# of National Park Stamps in My Passport:
2013: not very many
2014: a whole lot more
On the last Friday in July I took my first final exam in more than a decade, and two hours later Mom and I were heading to west toward Yosemite on the Best of the West Tour: Summer 2014, following recommendations from Dad’s previous motorcycle trips. Together we drove over 6,600 miles in 15 days and stopped in 11? 12? National Parks. It was really just a sampler platter of the American (South)west and now I know exactly where I want to go on my next trip out that way. My new life goal is be the official hermit of the northern reaches of Yosemite. Just let them try and collect on my grad school loans.
# of Living Things Reliant Upon on Me
2013: Zero
2014: One, although every day is another chance for a return to zero...
Back in September I started visiting the Bloomington animal shelter every Friday. At first I came home from my weekly visit with only a fur-covered sweatshirt and a cuteness contact high. Then one week I came home with a foster rabbit. Her name is Honey Bunny, after the one half of diner-robbing duo in Pulp Fiction, and she weighs barely two pounds and I think she thinks that she is a cat. My current job is to fatten her up so she can be spayed and put up for permanent adoption, so her job is to be cute and eat timothy hay, alfalfa, parsley, cilantro, and romaine with abandon. We have become a pro-greens household. Whether I will adopt her permanently is under internal review.
Length of Hair
2013: Short
2014: Short
This past Thanksgiving the calendar flipped past seven years since I chopped off my hair and those people who still ask when I am going to grow it out, will continue to be disappointed.
Relationship Status
2013: Single
2014: Single
Trust me, this is for the best.
I head back to Indiana in early January, and will be there in classes through at last late June, and then again starting in late August. The second half of the summer remains a tantalizingly blank slate. My blog continues – http://kelziebeebe.blogspot.com - and my guest room is always open. Please stop and say hello if you travel through. KEB
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Saturday, December 27, 2014
KELZIE'S SCHOOL NEWS 2014
-- Last years KSN13 is posted @
⇒∞ Kelzie’s School News © ∞⇐
*** 26th Edition --- Adventures in Life Series – 2014 –– Yearly Log ***
Instead of a Christmas note at the busiest time of the year
we write a Log of the last year mailed in the new year
Hoping You had a Happy Holiday and are having A Great New Year
beebelog.blogspot.com --
KELZIE'S -Transition from Pro Ironman and Coach to
Graduate Student and Swimmer....
IN ABSENTIA...K is attending IU graduate programs in Sports Psychology (in the counseling department from which we graduated in '72) and Applied Sports Science in the School of Public Health (the former dean of which bought our IN farm).
Kelzie: 617/461-8354
800 North Smith Road - Apartment 2I
Bloomington, Indiana 47408
kelziebeebe.blogspot.com
kbeebe@post.harvard.edu
MARNIE and RICK
We celebrated the New Year and were off to New Zealand and Fiji. Due to Mother Nature and the airline, we spent an unplanned overnight in LA and had to be rerouted to visit Fiji last, rather than first. Arriving in Auckland, we picked up our car and recuperated overnight at an Ibis, starting on the east of the North Island. We explored small towns, visited with farmers, learned about the local culture/history, and studied the interesting variations in climate/terrain/vegetation/ecology/economy, amazed by the high cost of everything. We learned about the Maori tribe's home and geothermal activity of the Rotorua area and were enthralled by the huge sheep farms in the North island's southern mountains. We crossed to Picton on the South Island and experienced high adventure (typical tourist trick of getting stuck in a sand dune) on the way to Christchurch. This city, devastated by earthquakes since 2010, tugged at our hearts as we toured a city in ruins. Further south on the east coast we saw farming, timbering, and sheep shearing on a farm of 4300 ewes, missed the blue penguins and albatrosses but learned about NZ possums, and smelled (& visited) the Cadbury chocolate factory in Dunedin. On the southern east coast we drove thru the Catlin coastal area to the amazing community of Invercargill, where we learned about NZ farming from our retired farmer-b&b hosts.
Having traveled down the east coast on the North and South Islands, we began our trek north on the west coast of the South and then the North Island. After a spectacular overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound in the Fiordland's of the Southern Alps we visited Queenstown (billed as the adventure capital of NZ, the first bungy jumping site and the location for filming The Hobbit). Then we traveled thru the rain forests and the Southern Alps, as well as along a fence draped in bras, on our way to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers area near Mt Cook. As a planned side trip, we took a very rural gravel road up into the mountains to visit The Snow Farm, a cross country skiing training site where our friend, JD trained in the north's summers of 1992 and 93. An unexpected experience on the mtn top was the sighting of the secret Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds where auto manufactures test their vehicles in miserable winter conditions. Continuing north along the coast we made fast friends with Brent and Grace Trolle during a longer-than-intended stay with them at their Hokitika B&B. Two of Brent's gorgeous landscape paintings now grace our home, and we will always recall their exuberant personalities and delicious meals (what a pleasant visit!). Day trips along the coast and into the mountains and rain forests at their direction educated us about this part of the South Island and the dramatic environmental/ climactic/vegetation differences. After a delayed departure from the Trolle's, we traveled thru a more rugged area to the northern coast, exploring the very popular area near the Abel Tasman NP (the sign said onion rings 99cents...R ordered...got one onion ring), visiting the greenshell mussel capitol of the world, and learning that the national sensation, Lorde, won the Grammy for best song. After ferrying back to the North Island, we traveled the west coast past good farming ground (crops and animals), beaches, Mt. Egmont volcano, the sheep shearing capitol, and breathtaking views of the Pacific and spent time exploring the smaller and less touristy towns/areas of the far, far north. Our favorite town on the north route was the very small Cape Cod-like town of Russell, where we paid a dear sum to enjoy a lovely veranda overlooking the park and strolling Strand. As they say, "This is what I'm talking about in a vacation!" Back in Aukland we toured the city and aquarium and watched the Super Bowl minus the hyped US commercials before flying to Fiji. NZ is 1260 miles long (638 north and 563 south) and we drove 4106 miles.... NZ is etched in our hearts!
Having dropped into Fiji's entirely different climate and economy, we stayed in its largest city, Nadi, in backpacker lodging (as opposed to a high end tropical resort area). Luckily we had an AC'd room and a pool, as the humidity and heat were oppressive. Our rustic lodging was popular with young travelers from Asia and Europe visiting Fiji on post grad trips for the weather and adventure (no Americans, as their debt is so great/immediate they cannot take the time to travel the world). We hired a car/driver for three days to tour remote areas and the island's capital and to get a local perspective on the culture. A half-day Mamanuca Islands cruise exposed us to the remote resorts and distant islands.
Back in Madison after painfully long flights, we experienced 2 days of winter before departing for Santa Rosa Beach, FL and a month in a beach condo. Being bored with more tropics, we departed early and did a road trip, visiting Geoff Hubbard and family in Ozark, AL, the Flemings in Pooler, GA and Al/Lin Sturdevant near Hilton Head.
On 3.21 R had planned surgery to remove a (benign) nodule from his left upper lung. During surgery it was discovered that the tumor was carcinogenic, but fortunately all parts were removed. Two days later the biopsy revealed the tumor was not 1 but 2 nodes; one was a very aggressive variety. No further treatment was prescribed except for follow-up every 6 months for 5 years...so far, so good. In the surgery process the side nerve bundle was trapped in the rib spreader, which caused an extremely painful seizure disorder..so a 5 day recovery turned into 2 months with much pain and seizure meds .. Gabapentin. During this time the long-anticipated visit by our ZA friends, the Cowans, who were touring the western US, was cancelled due to an unforeseen event at home in South Africa. Another time!
Our perennial garden work could get underway when the snow melted the end of March, however, a slight hiccup occurred on April 1 (no Fool's joke) for M's planned right wrist tendon surgery. Not to be deterred, she was soon gardening in a cast and back in the live-trapping business when coons, rabbits and chipmunks invaded. With the help of abundant spring rains and a perfect growing season our beds produced beautifully through summer and into fall. Our numerous bird feeders were popular all summer and continue to be a big hit in early Dec. (especially for the 9 squirrels captured and relocated so far this winter).
Spring revealed many coniferous trees on the west of buildings and the west side of trees brown-killed by unusual weather conditions. Rick discovered during his travels that this problem also existed in the northern part of the US all the way to the west coast.
Recovered from surgery but still in weak condition, R was on the road by bike in early May to ride in the only state in which he had not ridden : Vermont. His route took him via TN, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Shenandoah Valley to VT and on to Maine and NH, returning home thru Canada. Along the way he visited Nell Bailey in VA, the Gordon's in VT and Jim Chamberlain in NH.
Early in June M drove K's "new" Honda Element to her in TX to replace the old faithful, but sold, Land Cruiser. M/K packed K's worldly possessions into a Pod for transport to IN; a tight fit! After biding adios to SoCo and Austin for the last time and enjoying final meals of some of the city's wonderful food offerings, they drove to Bloomington and K's new life as a grad student at IU. Mid-June brought on our annual Summer Solstice celebration here including bbq dinner with many friends in perfect weather.
Starting on 5.24 R's next trip was to the SW thru CO, NM, UT, NV and CA before returning home thru Yellowstone and South Dakota (Roscoe and Ipswich). He admits to racking up 2 speeding tickets in 2 days. Since it was too early to ride the mountain national parks with brother Paul, R decided to do Part One of a ride of the borders of the U.S starting 6.24- 1st to Ely, MN, thru the Mesabi Iron Ore range, across ND thru the Bakken Oil fields (where the rain created muddy roads from the dirt of trucks coming back from well heads), past fields of stockpiled 32" pipe from India for the Keystone XL, around Glacier NP in the rain (still closed by snow) to his favorite town of "Twisp" WA, and down to Santa Cruz. The route home took him to LoLo Pass into Idaho and home via SD.
Glacier NP (finally) opened just before 7.12, so Paul/R could depart for their planned trip. It proved to be a great ride to Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, Chief Joseph Highway, Beartooth Pass, thru the Big Horn Mts on WY Hwys 14a and 14, Rocky Mt NP and the Black Hills. Riding back from the BH, we rode 799 miles in one day (..on the interstate). In the mountains, and particularly CO, we saw unbelievable millions of acres of pine deforested from insects and disease. There is no commercial use for these dead trees so they stand to rot.
Mid-July saw M back in Bloomington helping Kelzie move from temporary quarters in a friend's spare bedroom into her new apartment. Ah! Privacy! In August after K finished Summer School she and M took what has been nicknamed the "Thelma and Louise" trip of National Parks and interesting places in the west. They visited friends in Iowa City and Boulder, then struck out for Rocky Mtn NP. They then traveled south through CO, enjoying historic mining towns, beautiful Continental Divide passes, famous ski areas and the pristine streams, rivers, deep canyons and dense pine forests for which it's well known. Continuing on with the top down much of the time, they toured Santa Fe (oh, the art galleries and wonderful Mexican food!), Los Alamos, Aztec (think the X-Files), Durango, Mesa Verde NP, Four Corners, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges NP, Capitol Reef NP, Glen Canyon NRA, Bryce Canyon NP, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Zion NP, Grand Canyon, Sedona AZ, Hoover Dam/Lake Mead, Las Vegas, Death Valley (where K did a run in 116 degrees), Yosemite NP, Arches NP, Canyonlands though barely, Alma CO (highest incorporated US town), Colorado Springs and back across the plains to "Home in Indiana". They each recalled fond memories of past times in some of these places and rejoiced in exploring interesting new places together. K says "I'll be back". . 7000 miles in 15 days. M took up R's habit of logging the journey and K documented the trip in 100's of photos.
In late August and after visiting K and M in Bloomington (just back from their trip west), R rode home via Norfolk, visiting Nell Bailey in VA on the way, along the coast to the top of ME, under the lakes to MI, and up thru lower and along upper MI to Madison. So the borders from Santa Cruz over the top to Norfolk within 50 miles of the border are completed. The plans for another trip this year folded into exhaustion and malaise. Total of 24000 miles by bike this summer.
We have maintained a very rigorous gym routine 6 days per week (2 with trainers) throughout the year when home. Still R is unable to walk more than 1/10th of a mile at a stretch so with trepidation he has researched the necessary back surgery to be more mobile. He has shed weight as required, had all the tests, and scheduled for a laminectomy on 12.31 - Happy New Year!
Winter set in by mid Nov and the first snow was great - we were actually looking forward to winter, having decided we would not go to extended summer this winter. With K home, we celebrated Thanksgiving with friends... and Christmas next to the fireplace for a "day" of discovery.
We miss being on the farm in IN but visited farming friends in the community several times during the year. The IU football season was a disappointment except for watching an All-American running back (Coleman), though we did our share of cheering at 2 games and from our living room for others. Basketball season is upon us, has proven exciting and looks promising for fast action and good results.
8906 Royal Oaks Drive
Verona, WI 53593
608/497-1123 hm
rmbeebe@gmail.com
beebelog.blogspot.com
TRAVEL LOGS are available by email on request....
We are looking for the KELZIES SCHOOL NEWS from 1992 and 1993... Should any hoarder still have copies of those years, we would love a copy for our "25 YEAR BOOK"... REWARD OFFERED!
⇒∞ Kelzie’s School News © ∞⇐
*** 26th Edition --- Adventures in Life Series – 2014 –– Yearly Log ***
Instead of a Christmas note at the busiest time of the year
we write a Log of the last year mailed in the new year
Hoping You had a Happy Holiday and are having A Great New Year
beebelog.blogspot.com --
KELZIE'S -Transition from Pro Ironman and Coach to
Graduate Student and Swimmer....
IN ABSENTIA...K is attending IU graduate programs in Sports Psychology (in the counseling department from which we graduated in '72) and Applied Sports Science in the School of Public Health (the former dean of which bought our IN farm).
Kelzie: 617/461-8354
800 North Smith Road - Apartment 2I
Bloomington, Indiana 47408
kelziebeebe.blogspot.com
kbeebe@post.harvard.edu
MARNIE and RICK
We celebrated the New Year and were off to New Zealand and Fiji. Due to Mother Nature and the airline, we spent an unplanned overnight in LA and had to be rerouted to visit Fiji last, rather than first. Arriving in Auckland, we picked up our car and recuperated overnight at an Ibis, starting on the east of the North Island. We explored small towns, visited with farmers, learned about the local culture/history, and studied the interesting variations in climate/terrain/vegetation/ecology/economy, amazed by the high cost of everything. We learned about the Maori tribe's home and geothermal activity of the Rotorua area and were enthralled by the huge sheep farms in the North island's southern mountains. We crossed to Picton on the South Island and experienced high adventure (typical tourist trick of getting stuck in a sand dune) on the way to Christchurch. This city, devastated by earthquakes since 2010, tugged at our hearts as we toured a city in ruins. Further south on the east coast we saw farming, timbering, and sheep shearing on a farm of 4300 ewes, missed the blue penguins and albatrosses but learned about NZ possums, and smelled (& visited) the Cadbury chocolate factory in Dunedin. On the southern east coast we drove thru the Catlin coastal area to the amazing community of Invercargill, where we learned about NZ farming from our retired farmer-b&b hosts.
Having traveled down the east coast on the North and South Islands, we began our trek north on the west coast of the South and then the North Island. After a spectacular overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound in the Fiordland's of the Southern Alps we visited Queenstown (billed as the adventure capital of NZ, the first bungy jumping site and the location for filming The Hobbit). Then we traveled thru the rain forests and the Southern Alps, as well as along a fence draped in bras, on our way to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers area near Mt Cook. As a planned side trip, we took a very rural gravel road up into the mountains to visit The Snow Farm, a cross country skiing training site where our friend, JD trained in the north's summers of 1992 and 93. An unexpected experience on the mtn top was the sighting of the secret Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds where auto manufactures test their vehicles in miserable winter conditions. Continuing north along the coast we made fast friends with Brent and Grace Trolle during a longer-than-intended stay with them at their Hokitika B&B. Two of Brent's gorgeous landscape paintings now grace our home, and we will always recall their exuberant personalities and delicious meals (what a pleasant visit!). Day trips along the coast and into the mountains and rain forests at their direction educated us about this part of the South Island and the dramatic environmental/ climactic/vegetation differences. After a delayed departure from the Trolle's, we traveled thru a more rugged area to the northern coast, exploring the very popular area near the Abel Tasman NP (the sign said onion rings 99cents...R ordered...got one onion ring), visiting the greenshell mussel capitol of the world, and learning that the national sensation, Lorde, won the Grammy for best song. After ferrying back to the North Island, we traveled the west coast past good farming ground (crops and animals), beaches, Mt. Egmont volcano, the sheep shearing capitol, and breathtaking views of the Pacific and spent time exploring the smaller and less touristy towns/areas of the far, far north. Our favorite town on the north route was the very small Cape Cod-like town of Russell, where we paid a dear sum to enjoy a lovely veranda overlooking the park and strolling Strand. As they say, "This is what I'm talking about in a vacation!" Back in Aukland we toured the city and aquarium and watched the Super Bowl minus the hyped US commercials before flying to Fiji. NZ is 1260 miles long (638 north and 563 south) and we drove 4106 miles.... NZ is etched in our hearts!
Having dropped into Fiji's entirely different climate and economy, we stayed in its largest city, Nadi, in backpacker lodging (as opposed to a high end tropical resort area). Luckily we had an AC'd room and a pool, as the humidity and heat were oppressive. Our rustic lodging was popular with young travelers from Asia and Europe visiting Fiji on post grad trips for the weather and adventure (no Americans, as their debt is so great/immediate they cannot take the time to travel the world). We hired a car/driver for three days to tour remote areas and the island's capital and to get a local perspective on the culture. A half-day Mamanuca Islands cruise exposed us to the remote resorts and distant islands.
Back in Madison after painfully long flights, we experienced 2 days of winter before departing for Santa Rosa Beach, FL and a month in a beach condo. Being bored with more tropics, we departed early and did a road trip, visiting Geoff Hubbard and family in Ozark, AL, the Flemings in Pooler, GA and Al/Lin Sturdevant near Hilton Head.
On 3.21 R had planned surgery to remove a (benign) nodule from his left upper lung. During surgery it was discovered that the tumor was carcinogenic, but fortunately all parts were removed. Two days later the biopsy revealed the tumor was not 1 but 2 nodes; one was a very aggressive variety. No further treatment was prescribed except for follow-up every 6 months for 5 years...so far, so good. In the surgery process the side nerve bundle was trapped in the rib spreader, which caused an extremely painful seizure disorder..so a 5 day recovery turned into 2 months with much pain and seizure meds .. Gabapentin. During this time the long-anticipated visit by our ZA friends, the Cowans, who were touring the western US, was cancelled due to an unforeseen event at home in South Africa. Another time!
Our perennial garden work could get underway when the snow melted the end of March, however, a slight hiccup occurred on April 1 (no Fool's joke) for M's planned right wrist tendon surgery. Not to be deterred, she was soon gardening in a cast and back in the live-trapping business when coons, rabbits and chipmunks invaded. With the help of abundant spring rains and a perfect growing season our beds produced beautifully through summer and into fall. Our numerous bird feeders were popular all summer and continue to be a big hit in early Dec. (especially for the 9 squirrels captured and relocated so far this winter).
Spring revealed many coniferous trees on the west of buildings and the west side of trees brown-killed by unusual weather conditions. Rick discovered during his travels that this problem also existed in the northern part of the US all the way to the west coast.
Recovered from surgery but still in weak condition, R was on the road by bike in early May to ride in the only state in which he had not ridden : Vermont. His route took him via TN, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Shenandoah Valley to VT and on to Maine and NH, returning home thru Canada. Along the way he visited Nell Bailey in VA, the Gordon's in VT and Jim Chamberlain in NH.
Early in June M drove K's "new" Honda Element to her in TX to replace the old faithful, but sold, Land Cruiser. M/K packed K's worldly possessions into a Pod for transport to IN; a tight fit! After biding adios to SoCo and Austin for the last time and enjoying final meals of some of the city's wonderful food offerings, they drove to Bloomington and K's new life as a grad student at IU. Mid-June brought on our annual Summer Solstice celebration here including bbq dinner with many friends in perfect weather.
Starting on 5.24 R's next trip was to the SW thru CO, NM, UT, NV and CA before returning home thru Yellowstone and South Dakota (Roscoe and Ipswich). He admits to racking up 2 speeding tickets in 2 days. Since it was too early to ride the mountain national parks with brother Paul, R decided to do Part One of a ride of the borders of the U.S starting 6.24- 1st to Ely, MN, thru the Mesabi Iron Ore range, across ND thru the Bakken Oil fields (where the rain created muddy roads from the dirt of trucks coming back from well heads), past fields of stockpiled 32" pipe from India for the Keystone XL, around Glacier NP in the rain (still closed by snow) to his favorite town of "Twisp" WA, and down to Santa Cruz. The route home took him to LoLo Pass into Idaho and home via SD.
Glacier NP (finally) opened just before 7.12, so Paul/R could depart for their planned trip. It proved to be a great ride to Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, Chief Joseph Highway, Beartooth Pass, thru the Big Horn Mts on WY Hwys 14a and 14, Rocky Mt NP and the Black Hills. Riding back from the BH, we rode 799 miles in one day (..on the interstate). In the mountains, and particularly CO, we saw unbelievable millions of acres of pine deforested from insects and disease. There is no commercial use for these dead trees so they stand to rot.
Mid-July saw M back in Bloomington helping Kelzie move from temporary quarters in a friend's spare bedroom into her new apartment. Ah! Privacy! In August after K finished Summer School she and M took what has been nicknamed the "Thelma and Louise" trip of National Parks and interesting places in the west. They visited friends in Iowa City and Boulder, then struck out for Rocky Mtn NP. They then traveled south through CO, enjoying historic mining towns, beautiful Continental Divide passes, famous ski areas and the pristine streams, rivers, deep canyons and dense pine forests for which it's well known. Continuing on with the top down much of the time, they toured Santa Fe (oh, the art galleries and wonderful Mexican food!), Los Alamos, Aztec (think the X-Files), Durango, Mesa Verde NP, Four Corners, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges NP, Capitol Reef NP, Glen Canyon NRA, Bryce Canyon NP, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Zion NP, Grand Canyon, Sedona AZ, Hoover Dam/Lake Mead, Las Vegas, Death Valley (where K did a run in 116 degrees), Yosemite NP, Arches NP, Canyonlands though barely, Alma CO (highest incorporated US town), Colorado Springs and back across the plains to "Home in Indiana". They each recalled fond memories of past times in some of these places and rejoiced in exploring interesting new places together. K says "I'll be back". . 7000 miles in 15 days. M took up R's habit of logging the journey and K documented the trip in 100's of photos.
In late August and after visiting K and M in Bloomington (just back from their trip west), R rode home via Norfolk, visiting Nell Bailey in VA on the way, along the coast to the top of ME, under the lakes to MI, and up thru lower and along upper MI to Madison. So the borders from Santa Cruz over the top to Norfolk within 50 miles of the border are completed. The plans for another trip this year folded into exhaustion and malaise. Total of 24000 miles by bike this summer.
We have maintained a very rigorous gym routine 6 days per week (2 with trainers) throughout the year when home. Still R is unable to walk more than 1/10th of a mile at a stretch so with trepidation he has researched the necessary back surgery to be more mobile. He has shed weight as required, had all the tests, and scheduled for a laminectomy on 12.31 - Happy New Year!
Winter set in by mid Nov and the first snow was great - we were actually looking forward to winter, having decided we would not go to extended summer this winter. With K home, we celebrated Thanksgiving with friends... and Christmas next to the fireplace for a "day" of discovery.
We miss being on the farm in IN but visited farming friends in the community several times during the year. The IU football season was a disappointment except for watching an All-American running back (Coleman), though we did our share of cheering at 2 games and from our living room for others. Basketball season is upon us, has proven exciting and looks promising for fast action and good results.
8906 Royal Oaks Drive
Verona, WI 53593
608/497-1123 hm
rmbeebe@gmail.com
beebelog.blogspot.com
TRAVEL LOGS are available by email on request....
We are looking for the KELZIES SCHOOL NEWS from 1992 and 1993... Should any hoarder still have copies of those years, we would love a copy for our "25 YEAR BOOK"... REWARD OFFERED!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
KELZIES SCHOOL NEWS 2013
⇒∞ Kelzie’s School News © ∞⇐
*** 25th Edition --- Adventures in Life Series – 2013 –– Yearly Log ***
Instead of a Christmas note at the busiest time of the year
we write a Log of the last year mailed in the new year
Hoping You had a Happy Holiday and are having A Great New Year
Kelzie’s Korner
By far the most notable events to be discussed in my update will be covered near the end, in the final months of the year, so please feel free to skip straight to that part. You will find it labeled appropriately.
After 3 months spent in Madison to end ‘12, I returned to Austin just prior to my parents’ departure for Southern Africa. Because I worked there in 2002 for Let’s Go, I was able to suggest some worthy, off-the-beaten-path travel plans. Austin was its usual charming self -winter weather of 70s and sun– and I got right back into training, although I did have to re-introduce myself to a few friends. “Who is this person? She looks kinda like someone I used to see around town.” Bringing cheese and Kringle with me helped smooth the way.
In February I took a quick 48hr-long trip to New Jersey to get the majority of my coaching continuing education requirements for the year, out of the way. I took the opportunity to visit friends in Washington, D.C. for less than 24 hours, and spent the night before my flight back to Texas sleeping in my rental car at a rest stop on the NJ Turnpike. Totally planned, but good to know I still have my “roughing it” skills. Shortly thereafter, the friend I had visited announced that she was pregnant. I finally get to be The Cool Aunt!
March and April brought lots of little activities close to home. I became the secretary-treasurer of the Harvard Club of Austin, and joined a regional administrative board for masters swimming (“master” swimmers have graduated from college but are not professionals) in order to represent triathletes in the local swimming scene. The annual “South By Southwest” festival whirlwind came to town, during which I practically had to guard my parking spot with a shotgun, and a close trivia friend left town for Harvard Law School.
All the while I prepared for what would be my first race of the season, in Tyler, TX. That race, over Memorial Day weekend, was surprisingly enjoyable. I didn’t seem to have gathered much rust over the winter (can I put on socks while still wearing goggles, e.g.) and blew through the swim completely alone, ahead of the pack. The feeling of control and smoothness during that swim is probably something I will have to work tirelessly everyday for the rest of my life to recapture. My swim set me up to spend the rest of the day in no man’s land, but it was nice to once again be at the pointy end of a race.
The next weekend I was sent to Tampa, FL, by my parents to represent the family at the wedding of the daughter of long-time family friends, the Howards. In fact, while I am not the bride’s best friend, I am definitely her first friend. Our parents met in a birthing class, and she was born two weeks after I was so we hung out as newborns. I got to hear lots of great stories about West Virginia, myself at a very young age, and my parents as nervous newbies.
Only a few weeks later I headed to Colonial Williamsburg (VA) for a race and once again visited D.C. I think there are some people in D.C. who see me more now that I no longer live there, than they ever did when I lived down the street. It was around this time that my blog writing came to a screeching halt, so if you follow me there, sorry!
From D.C. I flew to Madison and stayed through the second week of July. Dad was away on his motorcycle, and Mom and I drove to Hudson, WI, to celebrate the birthday of my cousin’s husband. My uncle had just recently fallen off a ladder and the increasing severity of his injuries became a theme for my entire time at home as he was transferred to a hospital in Madison and the extended family followed.
Back in Austin, Dad visited on his motorcycle trip and the rest of July and all of August was spent hiding from the heat as much as possible. Each summer I am surprised by two things: because the temps creep up day after day, at first Texas summers don’t seem that hot; and then one day long after summer has already settled in, I suddenly realize that it is really dang hot outside. I guess the converse is suddenly realizing in the middle of January that Midwest winters are cold, well after it has turned legitimately cold.
Mom came to visit again this year to celebrate my birthday in early September. I always explore Austin more during the week she is in town than the other 51 weeks combined. For my birthday meal we drove down to Lockhart for Blacks BBQ, a pilgrimage I highly recommend for anyone visiting the area.
START HERE At the end of September I traveled to Branson, MO, for what ended up being probably the most determinative race of my career. Branson was quite beautiful, a combination of what I have nick-named “Hillbilly Vegas” and West-Virginia-In-The-Ozarks. However, the whole weekend was a series of giant billboards pointing to the fact that I no longer enjoy racing and all of the intrinsic processes therein. Wanting to punch the smirk off the ticket agent’s face when she asked how I wanted to pay for flying with my bike should have been the first sign. Somewhere about 5 miles into the bike portion of the race it dawned on me that I really wanted to be anywhere else but there. It sounds childish and naïve because very few people have the freedom to use this as a determinate in their profession, but I wasn’t having fun – and with so few rewards beyond personal enjoyment and fulfilling the intense drive to improve as an athlete, professional triathlon at least needs to be fun.
On top of that, if I am honest, my brain is bored, and has been for a while. Coaching and racing comes with many benefits –travel, meeting people, a flexible schedule, physical health, helping other athletes reach their goals- but a unique mental challenge is not among them. I need to identify a “next thing” that takes the ol’ neurons out of the mothballs and puts them back to daily use. So, big changes afoot. “Isn’t it funny how day to day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?” – C.S. Lewis.
I came north in mid-November to again spend an extended holiday period with my parents. During my time in the Midwest I visited several universities to explore graduate programs in sports psychology, counseling, exercise physiology, and/or applied sports science. At the very least I will put my practical experiences of the last five years to good use, and remain among “my people,” meaning jocks and (apparently) former jocks who now use their brains to help current jocks.
I head back to Texas in early January and will be there through at least April, but how long I will remain there after that depends entirely on which schools I apply to and which accept me. I could end up in Austin, Oregon, or some place in between so if you want to claim your portion of Texas BBQ, you better visit soon! My blog will return to action – http://kelziebeebe.blogspot.com - although with a different bent. The adventure continues!
Kelzie: 617/461-8354
500 South Congress Ave.
Apartment 102
Austin, Texas 78704
kbeebe@post.harvard.edu
Old Folks @ HOME
On 1.6 R/M departed for 2 months in Namibia and South Africa. We went from WI snow to African summer in 24 hours- flying DC-Dakar-Jo’burg before sleeping 4 hours, catching another flight to Windhoek, Namibia, and driving to Etosha National Park. We sighted animals with coaching from our companions/ hosts, the Cowans and their 2 college boys, for 3 days before travelling to the Himba tribal demo village and on to the coastal dunes of Swakopmund. At the end of a week of sightseeing, the Cowans returned to ZA while we stayed to follow Kelzie’s Namibian travel guide and instructions. During our 2nd week we visited Dune 45 in the Soussvlei, and stayed in Keetmanshoop as a base for exploring Luderitz (in the diamond area) and the Fish River Canyon. We picked up as many riders as possible to hear their stories and see their habitat. Finally we returned to Windhoek for an exploration of the city and the township. We then flew back to Jo’burg and drove to Mashishing Township.
The highlight of our trip was a program the Mashishing high school students and faculty prepared for us. We have been involved with their extracurricular programs (e.g. poetry & debate) since ‘06. a team of Zulu kids danced, several students recited their poetry, a cappella singing groups preformed, and a special lunch was hosted by the faculty and staff. Many insights -the senior class was composed of 4 classes of 30 “learners”, but the 8th grade was 5 classes of 85 learners each; now each kid gets computer training; and in all of the classes, even when we were not announced, the learners were intently studying. Clearly education is increasingly valued in the Mashishing community.
We then drove south to Robertson to spend time with our friend, Sampie, tour the wine areas, and visit with the foster home children and AIDs orphans we have been assisting in the township. throughout our township visits we saw many housing improvements made since 2006, including permanent houses with a solar water heater and indoor plumbing.
After these 10 days, we were free to be tourists. We went thru a fruit district, Addo elephant park, and Rhodes Univ. In the DeRust area, we visited a country school that had an excellent arts/music program. In Gramstown we toured a school for street kids with many special services (classes are structured by skill-so 2 first graders were 14 year olds, kids get 2 meals a day at school, food is sent home for the family on the weekend, and if losing housing would risk a kid’s attendance, the school pays the rent). We noted the very creative and advanced planning and programming at these two facilities.
Then we travelled onto the Wild Coast – the homelands of dissidents against apartheid and the most beautiful coast on the Indian Ocean. In Barberton we took a much needed rest before entering Kruger Park. In the afternoon we saw 4 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lions) of the big 5 animals, and the next day at 5am we saw another 4 (no lions but we spent 45 minutes tracking a leopard) – a near impossible feat of luck. from there we went north to Limpopo near the Zimbabwe border, Mapungubwe NP for more animals, and passed the largest open pit diamond mine in ZA. Back in Jo’burg we joined the Cowans for a trip to Madikwa game reserve and a primitive camp on the Botswana border. here we saw the big 5 plus the most endangered species in ZA- the wild dog.
By streaming with our iPads in ZA and afterwards at home, we were able to enjoy following the IU basketball team. We feel a connection to the team since we lived in IN when the players were freshmen and of “no account”. Wish the kids who turned pro had stayed for another season.
Once home by 3.1 we returned to our daily workouts and twice a week personal training sessions. On the 12th R had his left shoulder replaced – a treatment everyone should try to avoid (8 weeks in a sling). M began cleaning out the overwintered ornamental grasses and Sage preparing for spring (still weeks away). The last week of April we started a 10X20 foot addition to the back of our garage, a project which continued through much of the summer. The result was a very nice motorcycle storage and work area and improved space for cars. The first of May M was diagnosed with right wrist deQuervain’s tendonitis, which is still being treated and will likely require surgery to repair. By mid-May R was rehabed enough to ride his motorcycle. The first week in June he and his brother Paul took advantage of slow construction progress and did a 10-day moto ride to Hilton Head to visit our friends, the Sturdevants, in Sun City, followed by a ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway and a stop at our farm in IN.
The gardens and the construction project were the focus of M’s time through the summer while R went back to riding the Rockies from late June to late July. After resetting G+G Elford’s tombstones in Roscoe, SD, he went to Waldon, CO, where he ended last year’s exploration of the Rockies. He rode WY, ID, MT, and Edmonton Alberta- where he visited an IN friend, Peter Calder. Back on the bike he went thru BC, central WA to Twisp, Mt St Helens, and Portland to visit grad school friends, the Hustons. Finally to the CA coast – Fort Bragg, SF, Santa Cruz before heading east to Ely NV, Moab, UT and Gunnison, CO. Next up was visiting Kelzie in TX and riding the dust bowl area of OK before arriving home.
In June Kelzie came home for a 2 ½ wk visit with M. Late June our brother-in-law, Tom, had a major accident from which he suffered extensive injuries requiring multiple surgeries, lengthy intensive care and long rehab.
By mid-July the gardens were well mulched and in full bloom, M was trapping the rabbits and ground squirrels that were nibbling at buds, and the new landscaping was planted around the completed garage. Rick came home to R&R for a few weeks then was off again late August to ride his moto to the source of the Mississippi, thru SD/ND, and onto MT and WY, thru Yellowstone twice, over/back on Beartooth Pass and into ID for the Salmon River. In Bend, OR he visited grad school friends, the Downings. Then to the SE to Zion NP, Gunnison, Estes NP and on home. All told – R crossed the Continental Divide 24 times while riding 21035 miles in more than ½ of the states this summer. while R was on the 3rd trip of the summer, M visited Kelzie in Austin for her birthday and women’s days out. In Sept, we tripped to Lincoln, NE to visit R’s Aunt Mary and cousins, brunched with grad school friends the Dickels in Omaha, and dined with high school friends the Vedders in Des Moines.
On Oct 16 R had his Right shoulder replaced and commenced the second rehab of the year. M started the lengthy process of trimming back bushes and putting the gardens to bed, with assistance from R as his rehab progressed, and K later. Kelzie arrived the 3rd week in Nov to visit thru the new year – leaving the warmer south for the snowy and cold north – but it is home! Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Gillilands as it has been for nearly 15 years. As we celebrate the Christmas season our thoughts and prayers go out to our dear friends/relatives Tom (now on his way to full recovery), Al, Nell Bailey, Bob G, and Janez, all of whom are enduring major health issues. We are grieving the loss of Nelson Mandela. And congratulations to Gladys and Jewel on the occasion of their marriage. Daily Logs of our travels can be found at our blog adrress.
8906 Royal Oaks Drive
Verona, WI 53593
608/334-3342 R cell
608/772-2036 M cell
608/497-1123 hm
rmbeebe@gmail.com
beebelog.blogspot.com
*** 25th Edition --- Adventures in Life Series – 2013 –– Yearly Log ***
Instead of a Christmas note at the busiest time of the year
we write a Log of the last year mailed in the new year
Hoping You had a Happy Holiday and are having A Great New Year
Kelzie’s Korner
By far the most notable events to be discussed in my update will be covered near the end, in the final months of the year, so please feel free to skip straight to that part. You will find it labeled appropriately.
After 3 months spent in Madison to end ‘12, I returned to Austin just prior to my parents’ departure for Southern Africa. Because I worked there in 2002 for Let’s Go, I was able to suggest some worthy, off-the-beaten-path travel plans. Austin was its usual charming self -winter weather of 70s and sun– and I got right back into training, although I did have to re-introduce myself to a few friends. “Who is this person? She looks kinda like someone I used to see around town.” Bringing cheese and Kringle with me helped smooth the way.
In February I took a quick 48hr-long trip to New Jersey to get the majority of my coaching continuing education requirements for the year, out of the way. I took the opportunity to visit friends in Washington, D.C. for less than 24 hours, and spent the night before my flight back to Texas sleeping in my rental car at a rest stop on the NJ Turnpike. Totally planned, but good to know I still have my “roughing it” skills. Shortly thereafter, the friend I had visited announced that she was pregnant. I finally get to be The Cool Aunt!
March and April brought lots of little activities close to home. I became the secretary-treasurer of the Harvard Club of Austin, and joined a regional administrative board for masters swimming (“master” swimmers have graduated from college but are not professionals) in order to represent triathletes in the local swimming scene. The annual “South By Southwest” festival whirlwind came to town, during which I practically had to guard my parking spot with a shotgun, and a close trivia friend left town for Harvard Law School.
All the while I prepared for what would be my first race of the season, in Tyler, TX. That race, over Memorial Day weekend, was surprisingly enjoyable. I didn’t seem to have gathered much rust over the winter (can I put on socks while still wearing goggles, e.g.) and blew through the swim completely alone, ahead of the pack. The feeling of control and smoothness during that swim is probably something I will have to work tirelessly everyday for the rest of my life to recapture. My swim set me up to spend the rest of the day in no man’s land, but it was nice to once again be at the pointy end of a race.
The next weekend I was sent to Tampa, FL, by my parents to represent the family at the wedding of the daughter of long-time family friends, the Howards. In fact, while I am not the bride’s best friend, I am definitely her first friend. Our parents met in a birthing class, and she was born two weeks after I was so we hung out as newborns. I got to hear lots of great stories about West Virginia, myself at a very young age, and my parents as nervous newbies.
Only a few weeks later I headed to Colonial Williamsburg (VA) for a race and once again visited D.C. I think there are some people in D.C. who see me more now that I no longer live there, than they ever did when I lived down the street. It was around this time that my blog writing came to a screeching halt, so if you follow me there, sorry!
From D.C. I flew to Madison and stayed through the second week of July. Dad was away on his motorcycle, and Mom and I drove to Hudson, WI, to celebrate the birthday of my cousin’s husband. My uncle had just recently fallen off a ladder and the increasing severity of his injuries became a theme for my entire time at home as he was transferred to a hospital in Madison and the extended family followed.
Back in Austin, Dad visited on his motorcycle trip and the rest of July and all of August was spent hiding from the heat as much as possible. Each summer I am surprised by two things: because the temps creep up day after day, at first Texas summers don’t seem that hot; and then one day long after summer has already settled in, I suddenly realize that it is really dang hot outside. I guess the converse is suddenly realizing in the middle of January that Midwest winters are cold, well after it has turned legitimately cold.
Mom came to visit again this year to celebrate my birthday in early September. I always explore Austin more during the week she is in town than the other 51 weeks combined. For my birthday meal we drove down to Lockhart for Blacks BBQ, a pilgrimage I highly recommend for anyone visiting the area.
START HERE At the end of September I traveled to Branson, MO, for what ended up being probably the most determinative race of my career. Branson was quite beautiful, a combination of what I have nick-named “Hillbilly Vegas” and West-Virginia-In-The-Ozarks. However, the whole weekend was a series of giant billboards pointing to the fact that I no longer enjoy racing and all of the intrinsic processes therein. Wanting to punch the smirk off the ticket agent’s face when she asked how I wanted to pay for flying with my bike should have been the first sign. Somewhere about 5 miles into the bike portion of the race it dawned on me that I really wanted to be anywhere else but there. It sounds childish and naïve because very few people have the freedom to use this as a determinate in their profession, but I wasn’t having fun – and with so few rewards beyond personal enjoyment and fulfilling the intense drive to improve as an athlete, professional triathlon at least needs to be fun.
On top of that, if I am honest, my brain is bored, and has been for a while. Coaching and racing comes with many benefits –travel, meeting people, a flexible schedule, physical health, helping other athletes reach their goals- but a unique mental challenge is not among them. I need to identify a “next thing” that takes the ol’ neurons out of the mothballs and puts them back to daily use. So, big changes afoot. “Isn’t it funny how day to day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?” – C.S. Lewis.
I came north in mid-November to again spend an extended holiday period with my parents. During my time in the Midwest I visited several universities to explore graduate programs in sports psychology, counseling, exercise physiology, and/or applied sports science. At the very least I will put my practical experiences of the last five years to good use, and remain among “my people,” meaning jocks and (apparently) former jocks who now use their brains to help current jocks.
I head back to Texas in early January and will be there through at least April, but how long I will remain there after that depends entirely on which schools I apply to and which accept me. I could end up in Austin, Oregon, or some place in between so if you want to claim your portion of Texas BBQ, you better visit soon! My blog will return to action – http://kelziebeebe.blogspot.com - although with a different bent. The adventure continues!
Kelzie: 617/461-8354
500 South Congress Ave.
Apartment 102
Austin, Texas 78704
kbeebe@post.harvard.edu
Old Folks @ HOME
On 1.6 R/M departed for 2 months in Namibia and South Africa. We went from WI snow to African summer in 24 hours- flying DC-Dakar-Jo’burg before sleeping 4 hours, catching another flight to Windhoek, Namibia, and driving to Etosha National Park. We sighted animals with coaching from our companions/ hosts, the Cowans and their 2 college boys, for 3 days before travelling to the Himba tribal demo village and on to the coastal dunes of Swakopmund. At the end of a week of sightseeing, the Cowans returned to ZA while we stayed to follow Kelzie’s Namibian travel guide and instructions. During our 2nd week we visited Dune 45 in the Soussvlei, and stayed in Keetmanshoop as a base for exploring Luderitz (in the diamond area) and the Fish River Canyon. We picked up as many riders as possible to hear their stories and see their habitat. Finally we returned to Windhoek for an exploration of the city and the township. We then flew back to Jo’burg and drove to Mashishing Township.
The highlight of our trip was a program the Mashishing high school students and faculty prepared for us. We have been involved with their extracurricular programs (e.g. poetry & debate) since ‘06. a team of Zulu kids danced, several students recited their poetry, a cappella singing groups preformed, and a special lunch was hosted by the faculty and staff. Many insights -the senior class was composed of 4 classes of 30 “learners”, but the 8th grade was 5 classes of 85 learners each; now each kid gets computer training; and in all of the classes, even when we were not announced, the learners were intently studying. Clearly education is increasingly valued in the Mashishing community.
We then drove south to Robertson to spend time with our friend, Sampie, tour the wine areas, and visit with the foster home children and AIDs orphans we have been assisting in the township. throughout our township visits we saw many housing improvements made since 2006, including permanent houses with a solar water heater and indoor plumbing.
After these 10 days, we were free to be tourists. We went thru a fruit district, Addo elephant park, and Rhodes Univ. In the DeRust area, we visited a country school that had an excellent arts/music program. In Gramstown we toured a school for street kids with many special services (classes are structured by skill-so 2 first graders were 14 year olds, kids get 2 meals a day at school, food is sent home for the family on the weekend, and if losing housing would risk a kid’s attendance, the school pays the rent). We noted the very creative and advanced planning and programming at these two facilities.
Then we travelled onto the Wild Coast – the homelands of dissidents against apartheid and the most beautiful coast on the Indian Ocean. In Barberton we took a much needed rest before entering Kruger Park. In the afternoon we saw 4 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lions) of the big 5 animals, and the next day at 5am we saw another 4 (no lions but we spent 45 minutes tracking a leopard) – a near impossible feat of luck. from there we went north to Limpopo near the Zimbabwe border, Mapungubwe NP for more animals, and passed the largest open pit diamond mine in ZA. Back in Jo’burg we joined the Cowans for a trip to Madikwa game reserve and a primitive camp on the Botswana border. here we saw the big 5 plus the most endangered species in ZA- the wild dog.
By streaming with our iPads in ZA and afterwards at home, we were able to enjoy following the IU basketball team. We feel a connection to the team since we lived in IN when the players were freshmen and of “no account”. Wish the kids who turned pro had stayed for another season.
Once home by 3.1 we returned to our daily workouts and twice a week personal training sessions. On the 12th R had his left shoulder replaced – a treatment everyone should try to avoid (8 weeks in a sling). M began cleaning out the overwintered ornamental grasses and Sage preparing for spring (still weeks away). The last week of April we started a 10X20 foot addition to the back of our garage, a project which continued through much of the summer. The result was a very nice motorcycle storage and work area and improved space for cars. The first of May M was diagnosed with right wrist deQuervain’s tendonitis, which is still being treated and will likely require surgery to repair. By mid-May R was rehabed enough to ride his motorcycle. The first week in June he and his brother Paul took advantage of slow construction progress and did a 10-day moto ride to Hilton Head to visit our friends, the Sturdevants, in Sun City, followed by a ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway and a stop at our farm in IN.
The gardens and the construction project were the focus of M’s time through the summer while R went back to riding the Rockies from late June to late July. After resetting G+G Elford’s tombstones in Roscoe, SD, he went to Waldon, CO, where he ended last year’s exploration of the Rockies. He rode WY, ID, MT, and Edmonton Alberta- where he visited an IN friend, Peter Calder. Back on the bike he went thru BC, central WA to Twisp, Mt St Helens, and Portland to visit grad school friends, the Hustons. Finally to the CA coast – Fort Bragg, SF, Santa Cruz before heading east to Ely NV, Moab, UT and Gunnison, CO. Next up was visiting Kelzie in TX and riding the dust bowl area of OK before arriving home.
In June Kelzie came home for a 2 ½ wk visit with M. Late June our brother-in-law, Tom, had a major accident from which he suffered extensive injuries requiring multiple surgeries, lengthy intensive care and long rehab.
By mid-July the gardens were well mulched and in full bloom, M was trapping the rabbits and ground squirrels that were nibbling at buds, and the new landscaping was planted around the completed garage. Rick came home to R&R for a few weeks then was off again late August to ride his moto to the source of the Mississippi, thru SD/ND, and onto MT and WY, thru Yellowstone twice, over/back on Beartooth Pass and into ID for the Salmon River. In Bend, OR he visited grad school friends, the Downings. Then to the SE to Zion NP, Gunnison, Estes NP and on home. All told – R crossed the Continental Divide 24 times while riding 21035 miles in more than ½ of the states this summer. while R was on the 3rd trip of the summer, M visited Kelzie in Austin for her birthday and women’s days out. In Sept, we tripped to Lincoln, NE to visit R’s Aunt Mary and cousins, brunched with grad school friends the Dickels in Omaha, and dined with high school friends the Vedders in Des Moines.
On Oct 16 R had his Right shoulder replaced and commenced the second rehab of the year. M started the lengthy process of trimming back bushes and putting the gardens to bed, with assistance from R as his rehab progressed, and K later. Kelzie arrived the 3rd week in Nov to visit thru the new year – leaving the warmer south for the snowy and cold north – but it is home! Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Gillilands as it has been for nearly 15 years. As we celebrate the Christmas season our thoughts and prayers go out to our dear friends/relatives Tom (now on his way to full recovery), Al, Nell Bailey, Bob G, and Janez, all of whom are enduring major health issues. We are grieving the loss of Nelson Mandela. And congratulations to Gladys and Jewel on the occasion of their marriage. Daily Logs of our travels can be found at our blog adrress.
8906 Royal Oaks Drive
Verona, WI 53593
608/334-3342 R cell
608/772-2036 M cell
608/497-1123 hm
rmbeebe@gmail.com
beebelog.blogspot.com
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