I did a Christmas/Holiday letter this year. Since I researched it by way of skimming through my blog, it’s only right that I wrap up the blogging for the year with (among other things), this summary of What We Did This Year.
(For those who read this blog it will be largely redundant, but as a summary I can reference again in the future, perhaps it is useful.)
If I get a chance, I may do a bit more blogging today on a couple of topics. If not, have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve, all, and a better New Year.
Yet Another Christmas Letter, Huzzah!
December 2010
The year 2010 was another Thrilling Epoch of Suburban Denver Bliss in the dull, boring, placid lives of the Hill/Kleerup Consortium.
We started off the year, of course, with Margie still recovering from breaking her ankle at the beginning of 12/2009 (which zaniness led to some very hit-or-miss Christmas carding last year – apologies!). But by the end of January, she was back at work, back driving, and by the end of the year was beginning to wear heals again. Aside from that, the health picture was all good (if one includes Kay getting fitted for braces, which seem to be mostly an excuse for multi-colored rubber bands).
Work was hectic for both Dave and Margie. Dave continues to manage an enterprise-wide corporate systems development group for [redacted], and was tapped to participate in a couple of major management gatherings. Margie traveled a lot, too, as an HR analyst for [redacted]. Kay, meanwhile, turned ten and entered fifth grade, the last step before (gasp!) middle school. (No, we are not ready.)
Aside from business trips (or sometimes adjoining them), we did a lot of family travel, including kicking off the New Year in Hawaii with Margie’s folks for their 50th anniversary. Other trips included Walt Disney World, the big family camping trip above Paso Robles, and Kay attending two week-long Girl Scout camps, one in Colorado and one in California. We also went the San Diego Comic-Con for the first time in a several years (and the first time for Kay ever).
On the pet front, things were not quite as pleasant. Indy, now the “elder” kitty at 14, was fully recovered from his back accident last fall. But Mimi, who joined us in March 2009, went missing, alas, at Thanksgiving.
Around the house, we had some sewer line problems in the basement that required some jack-hammering, but which also started up some serious reorganization of our Copious Stuff down there. We also rebuilt and expanded the downstairs closet, and began prep work and contractor interviews for some major home improvements in the New Year.
Other big events during the year: Margie and Dave celebrate their 15th Anniversary! Margie goes to her 25th reunion at Pomona college (chirp!)! A new car (Subaru Outback)! Dave and Kay reach 1st kyu Brown Belt in karate (one step away from Black Belt)! Dave does the Cookie Manager thing for Kay’s Girl Scout troop! New cell phones for Margie and Dave (Droid Incredibles)! Kay gets a blue ribbon at her school Science Fair! Dave and Kay write novels for National Novel Writing Month!
So maybe it wasn’t all dull and boring and placid … but it was mostly pleasant, and being together makes even the occasional bumps worthwhile.
A very Merry Christmas (and other wintery holidays) to you all, and a Happy New Year, too.
— Dave, Margie and Katherine
For folks who would rather see the pictures instead, I’ve got everything loaded up in Flickr except (to date) for the Walt Disney World and actual holiday season photos.