A Year's Worth of Updates

For a number of reasons, I have failed to update this blog for a year.

The photo in this entry was taken from the dining room to evidence that we're not alone during the winter season. Somehow, the turkeys seemed very appropriate.

At any rate, let's try to make up for that failure.

Let's see:

In April 2006, Janet and I visited Stephen and Barbara in Salt Lake (great visit touring the city, Mormon shrines, ski areas) and then took a two-week Elderhostel tour of virtually all the National Parks in southern Utah (Zion, Bryce, Canyonland, etc.) plus Glen Canyon in northern Arizona and Utah. We still haven't reviewed the hundreds of photos and videos taken on this trip but you may find something of interest at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmMl .

We had a change of venue for our October trip with the "Gang of Eight". Instead of going to the City, we went to Montreal. Had another great time. For some pixs, try http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmNS.

This past Christmas both Douglas and Jeffrey were here. We had a quiet and happy holiday. We celebrated a day earlier due to scheduling needs - it didn't seem to impact the holiday cheer or festivities. some of the holiday scenes may be seen at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmNw

We also had a chance to return to Doylestown (the scene of so many crimes in the past!) to visit with Jube and Maryanne Stryker and enjoy the piano music of Chris Barrett. For pixs, try http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmMW .

I got involved in a start-up printed newspaper (to end the year and a half of producing the on-line Black River Reporter). It worked for about eight issues until the publisher and I went our separate ways; he liked form, I demanded substance.

We put together a family collage that may be viewed at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmNh .

We also ran a major political debate at the Paramount Theater in Rutland involving the major candidates for the U.S. Senate and House. Over 850 people came; had to turn people away.

Also chaired the committee sponsoring the restoration of the Ludlow Town Hall. Was able to convince the voters to approve a $750,000 bond issue. Work on the restoration is almost complete. The only remaining item is updating the auditorium stage curtain and riggings.

In April 2007 I'll complete my school board term - glad it's over!

This February we met the Brownlies at Owl's Head in Quebec for a great skiing (and non-skiing) week. We spent a good deal of the time discussing our planned Elderhostel venture to Turkey, the Aegean islands, and Greece in April. Some photos are at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmM0 .

For Valentine's Day, we joined a group of 22 for dinner at the Landgroove Inn. Eight of us ventured out for a sleigh ride in the 0-10 degree night air. check out http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmND .

Other items that occurred during this "gap" period included:

• Our annual "Trim the Tree" Holiday fete
• A visit from Douglas
• A rotten year for growing dahlias (didn't blossom until very late)
• Lots of school board activity on school organization and money
• Saw two movies (that's a first) that actually received Oscars (The Queen, An Inconvenient Truth, plus The Devil Wears Prada - didn't win but should have)

We also plan to take a 17 day Elderhostel trip with the Brownlies (our Canadian friends) that will encompass Istanbul, Selcuk (Ephesus), a tour of the Aegean Islands, Athens, and a brief tour of the Peloponese. We'll leave on Apr 14 and return May 1.

Oh, and not as an after-thought, we will be going to Paris in October for a "long weekend" (hopefully not a "lost" one). With the Moores and Almonds, we'll fly to Paris for four nights of sightseeing and adventure-including an evening of dinner on the Eiffel Tower, a cruise on the Seine, finishing with an evening nightcap at the Moulin Rouge. Quite a cultural endeavor to say the least!

I imagine we did quite abit more doing this period but this should cover the main events.