A Journal of Urban Living

More Productivity

Posted in Vegetables on July 23rd, 2011 by Peter – Be the first to comment

Clockwise from bottom: Pimento de Padron, Jaune Flamee Tomatoes, Emerald Artichokes

The unbearable cuteness of being

Posted in H. sapiens var. Simon on July 22nd, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

A brush with jaundice

Posted in H. sapiens var. Simon on July 19th, 2011 by rmd – 1 Comment

Simon looked a little yellow last weekend. The pediatrician recommended more nursing (more?!) and sunbaths. Here he is, basking in the sunshine in his crib under the watchful eyes of Megan’s Hammies and Jeanne’s stuffed severed arm — stuff our crafty friends made.

It pained my sun-phobic mother to put his tender new skin in direct sunlight. But he’s the right color now.

Simon’s namesake

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Simon on July 18th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Simon got his middle name from my grandfather, Oscar de Jesus Duque. Papito died July 18 in Bogota at age 93, five days after his first great-grandchild was born. Cancer had already stolen his mobility and energy, so it’s not a sad death.

It sounds something out of a Garcia Marquez novel, but we think having a namesake helped Papito let go. My aunt Ellie says he even talked about one last trip to the States to meet him. She says he was scared and Simon Oscar let him make peace with dying.

The only sad part is that my mom couldn’t go down to Bogota for the funeral because she doesn’t have her passport with her.

I hope Simon Oscar shares his great-grandfather’s sense of adventure and his insatiable appetite for life.

Papito and Mom (Oscar and Madeline), Joanna's college graduation, 2007

Simon meets his grandmother

Posted in Family, H. sapiens var. Simon on July 17th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Madeline (aka Mom) hadn’t decided what she wants to be called by her first grandkid. But now she’s lobbying for “Nana” or “Nonna,” like Colombian kids call their abuelitas.

She’s been so much help, up all hours almost as much as I’ve been…

: He was in an interested and alert mood when she arrived.

: 3 generations

My dad is coming soon I hope. Sally and Duke are due in late August.

Simon at home

Posted in H. sapiens var. Simon on July 17th, 2011 by rmd – Be the first to comment

Carmageddon was nothing. We beat the traffic home, no problem. Baby-geddon — now that’s been something! And it’ll never end!

My old friend Gretchen was in town from Albuquerque so she was first to visit Simon. These photos make me happy for two reasons: First, Gretchen got to meet him when he was brand new. Second, I’m a lot less puffy now than I was last Saturday.