Category: Band and Music

I think it's cinnamon.

Actually, (a) Kay was on the Straight-As Honor Roll last semester, thus the certificate. And, (b) the principal really did call the treats for the kids after the event "honor rolls".

(Also, she's in her Jazz Band outfit, since they performed for the assembly. Though she's decided that she kind of likes wearing vests.)

Well done, Kay!

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Kay's middle school did a Preview Night for incoming 5th graders and their families, with various band / orchestra ensembles in the hallway providing music.  Here's Kay (on the right) leading her friends Katie and Bella in "Greensleeves". http://youtu.be/xujRLD5_ua4

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Actually, it's this year's Christmas Letter, but, heck, that's a year in review, right?

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The year 2012 was another Thrilling Epoch of Suburban Denver Bliss in the dull, boring, placid lives of the Hill/Kleerup Consortium. 

Health-wise, we've had a pretty good year – no broken bones or critical illnesses. Dave and Margie both got new glasses late in the year, choosing to go for the retro solid frames look, but that's about it.  

Work  very hectic for both Dave and Margie.  Dave continues to manage an enterprise-wide corporate software systems group for [REDACTED], a major multinational engineering firm, but not the same one as last year, having been promoted to lead up a new group covering corporate health and safety, quality, legal, and sales systems.  This, coupled with his work on last year's big acquisition, meant he was still traveling a fair amount, both domestic US and down to India.    

Margie, though, upped her game considerably this year in her work for [REDACTED]. She joined the ranks of management as the new Manager for the newly created Workforce Information Consulting group, to help the organization better understand its 175,000 employees.  This new corporate position means monthly business travel back to the headquarters in Oakland, not to mention hiring for her new department.  

Kay continued in Middle School, the seventh grade.  She's on the honor roll, which has meant a lot of work for her, but has also been making a name for herself musically, both as first chair flute in the symphonic (advanced) band, participating in jazz band, and learning guitar.. 

Aside from business trips, we had some good family travel. Besides the annual big family camping trip above Paso Robles, California, we took an eight-day cruise on the Disney Wonder to Alaska, leaving Seattle and going through the Inside Passage to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria.  It was a gorgeous trip full of side excursions (canoeing, zip-lining, sea-planing) and a lot of wonderful memories. (Next year's plans are in the opposite direction in many ways – a photo safari in Africa!)

The cats are doing great. Kunoichi and Neko remain both best of friends and are friendly, integral members of our household.

Not much this year in the way of home improvement, mostly minor projects.  We did start looking, though, at some big efforts for the next few years, from the mundane (replacing the roof) to the exciting (a major kitchen remodel). More news on those in next year's letter.

Aside from that … well, we just seemed to be busy as all get-out. Work, as noted above, seemed to be part of that for all three of us.  Our leftover time felt like it was largely rest and recovery from that.  When not hunkering down with books or playing online games (including the late, lamented City of Heroes), we had friends over for board games and barbecues, Dave and Kay both kicked out novels during November's National Novel Writing Month, and we all just tried to make sure we were getting enough sleep.
  
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 2013, too.

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A very brief video of the concert.

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UPDATE: Not sure why the video is not coming across properly. You should be able to click on the Google+ link above, or else click here. Let me know if those don’t work.

Kay at her 7th Grade Symphonic (Advanced) Band concert this evening. She's first  chair flute (he said in that smug, "My daughter's first chair flute!" voice).

Katherine, as first flute, at the Symphonic (Advanced) Band concert.

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