Christmas Letter 2011

Warmest greetings to our family, friends, loved ones, and even the people that no one is quite sure who added them to the address book but we are afraid to remove;

The tree is up, lights are strung, presents have been ordered from the internet, eggnog is in the fridge, and we have even had a few flakes of that frozen white death coming down.  It must be time once again for our annual letter letting everyone know that yes, Virginia, we are alive and well in the wilderness of Ohio.

So how did 2011 start?  For me it was therapy.  Now quit getting your hopes up, it wasn’t that kind of therapy.  I started out the New Year getting physical therapy for my hand, because, after our exciting missive last year, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand.  It went off without any problems, well except for getting the flu on New Year’s Eve and not being able to keep anything (including the pain meds) down or in.  The frequent trips to the bathroom were made all that more fun by not having the use of my primary hand. J  Other than that excitement, I continue to work at The Design Knowledge Company (which has nearly tripled in size since I started almost three years ago – a good problem to have); I am working (ok, more like coasting through) my last year as Band Booster Treasurer; I continue to brew beer (with three kegs ready to take to my company Christmas party next week!) and play with toy soldiers (winning General’s Choice at the Buckeye Battles – basically being voted favorite army from nearly a hundred competitors).  So the geek continues to be turned up to 11!

Diane started the year celebrating her birthday birthMONTH (she somehow managed to extend the celebration for the entire month of January) with a trip back home to Minnesota.  If you are looking for any greater expression of affection I would challenge you to find one like voluntarily going to Minnesota in January.  Maybe I do need that kind of therapy after all.  Her health has been improving, but then we have figured this is her ‘off’ year for hospital stays (I write that with a little bit of dread for 2012!).   While the real estate market continues to slump, she has been very busy with the Women’s Council of Realtors and the Dayton Board of Realtors.  She can’t deny that she has enjoyed some of the travelling that she gets to do for these (including visiting her brother in California). 

Becky continues to love her chosen profession of Interpreting for the Deaf, still doing freelance work as well as working at Sorenson’s and picking up a government job covering for a woman on maternity leave.  Burr-d and Lou continue to be the loves of her life, and despite living in the frozen wasteland of Minneapolis still enjoys her life.

Jon continues to face challenges in his academic career, and hopes to move back to the Dayton area in the summer, and eventually get back to school to finish his degree.  He continues to sport the chemo-patient look, keeping his head shaved (and he used to tease me about losing my hair).  He also has realized that despite being the oldest boy, he is now shorter than both his brothers.

Katlyn continues to live in Albuquerque, celebrating her first year out there by moving out of her mother’s apartment.  Not too far, as she is a live-in babysitter for a family she met through her church, just a few doors down in the same apartment complex.  She is enjoying getting involved in the local Mormon Church, and may finally be realizing that at 21 she is, indeed, responsible for her own life.

Erik continues studying Computer Engineering at the University of Dayton.  While he and Emily have grown apart, they remain friends.  In January he will be starting a paid internship at Regal Beloit (formerly A. O. Smith) in Tipp City, the largest North American manufacturer of electric motors for residential and commercial applications (or so their web site says).  He is really looking forward to doing this for both the spring and fall semesters (going back to school in the summer to keep studying).

Matthew has been enjoying his senior year of high school, with a fall highlight taking 4^th place at the MSBA Class A Marching Band Championship, the best that West Carrollton High School has ever done.  He is currently taking drafting courses, and has applied to both the University of Cincinnati and Miami University (in Oxford, Ohio, not Florida) where he is interested in studying architecture.  He is really looking forward to graduating in May.

Scout continues to protect us from any varmint that may dare to enter his yard, or even have the audacity to walk within his sight, including a kitten he caught in the back yard.  The only thing keeping him from constantly patrolling is his overwhelming need to sleep most of the day away.  His sighs of exasperation as he moves from the couch to the floor are sometimes overwhelming.

2011 has been a year filled with both good and bad times.  It is hard for Diane and I to imagine this big house being empty in just a few short months, and we continue to argue about which room we want to turn into the ‘naked room’.  We hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with love and joy for all.

May the blessing of light be on you –

light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you

and warm your heart

till it glows like a great peat fire.

Mike, Diane, Becky, Jon, Erik, Katlyn, Matthew and Scout