We are well and happy this holiday season. This is remarkable given that just two years ago I'd been under-employed for the previous two years, out of cash, and we'd just gambled our home in Portland for a rising real-estate market and steady work in Seattle. As we all know, the real-estate market dove and the economy went bust shortly afterword, but my job is still secure and we are able to pay our bills. In the big picture, we are so much more optimistic about the next four years with new leadership in Washington that the burst of the real-estate bubble is something we are prepared to deal with.
The year started with a bit of magic. The orcas that had entirely skipped south Puget Sound the previous winter, came for Christmas 2007 and stayed for New Years. We got to see them at a distance from our house and up close as they rounded the point by the lighthouse.As spring approached, Jan and Liz conspired to bring home 6 new pets. Chicks as it turned out. After the first month stinking up Liz' bedroom, we moved them to their own new chicken mansion on the hill and it wasn't long before they produced a first egg!
Jan found good part-time work at a consignment shop. Not only could she work around Liz' school schedule, but she got to know most everybody who shops in town. Another benefit: she was called on to fill in as needed on a softball team.
I didn't have much time for such sport; I was spending three hours a day commuting and nine at software development. Not that the commute was without its pleasures. Some of my favorite people can be found on the back of the bus each day.
In fact, commuter friends have invited me and my family to some fine parties, scotch, and sailing. Laura took us sailing on progressively more ambitious trips; first around the harbour, then camping, then just just a few weeks ago I sailed with her in a 50 mile race. That was the night that the first big snow hit. I'll never forget sailing back in the dark, watching the lights of Tacoma behind us extinguished one-by-one as an inky black storm cloud swept toward us.
But in the summer, sailing was warm and glorious. Everything about this summer was glorious. Let's forget about the rains and just remember some of the great sunrises.
Some of the highlights included Liz tubing behind Joel's waterski boat, the chickens growing up, and my attempt to climb Mt. Index with Bob.
When we did take vacation, it was even better. Sequoia joined us for a backpack trip that took us to one of the greatest swimming holes ever. Well, it would've helped if the water was warm enough to swim in for more than just a few seconds and the horse flies were a bit of a problem. :-/ We also went to Mt Baker and it turned out that our dog Emily is the greatest hiking companion ever. Not only is she well behaved on the trail, but it turns out that she has uncommonly good sense about when its not safe to cross a raging glacial stream. Perhaps she saved me from serious injury on this particular hike.
After summer, it was back to the grindstone for me. My major recreation was going to Liz' soccer games on Saturdays. Her team was amazing. With good coaching, the girls began to play together not just well, but with inspiration! There was a lot of talent and they learned to pass effectively and to set up some amazing plays. They had great fun with the games and I was told they ended with the best record in their league. What else notable happened this fall? Oh yeah, we all did everything we could to see Barak Obama get elected. Still, none of us was quite prepared for the election result when it was announced. We were at a big election night party and tears were flowing as our President-Elect gave his acceptance speech. The picture of Evy with balloons is from Mom's birthday party back in August, but let's pretend she was celebrating the election result too.
There's really nothing else to report that tops that, but our big pre-Christmas snow storm was a great way to end the year. I've never seen so much snow at home in the Northwest, but what was most remarkable was that the snow was on the ground for a full two weeks. When there were just a few inches on the ground, I kept biking to the ferry. Even as bus service was disrupted and some co-workers were walking miles to get to work, Expeditors would not close the office. I was proud to be able to make it in, but it started to cost me extra as I had to pay for the passenger only ferry instead of using the bus and car ferry route that I'd already paid for.
Finally, when there was a foot of unplowed snow on the road for two miles between me and the ferry, Expeditors closed the office. That day, we lost power and found the cause was two trees and a power pole across our road, a quarter mile from our house. We had a fine candlelight dinner with all our neighbors that night. The next day, our power was still out, but Expeditors was open. I crawled under the power pole, tiptoed around the dead power lines, and climbed over the trees to get out with my bike. The snow had turned to slush, but was still too slick to bike on. I had to walk up most hills and ride in the ruts to get to the highway. Once there, I still had to hop off and carry the bike off the road when cars passed, as the were no plowed shoulders. That night, I got a ride home in a pickup truck. The power was back on. Christmas eve, Expeditors was closed again, so I was able to enjoy a fine long holiday.
Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!
