Wow what a ride

The New Year has started, and I have had almost no time to finish the old one.  I could easily have used another month.
Counting backwards, on the last day of 2012, we saw Nicole and Daireus off to their new home in Denver, Colorado.  We wish them all the happiness and may their dreams come true.

Daireus, Patricia and Nicole

Daireus, Nicole and her parents, Ken and Tracy

This year was Gavin's first Christmas, one of many firsts to come.

OK what am I supposed to do now?

Aariel and Oma feeding Gavin

Patricia is now officially retired.  December 21 was her last day at GENI, and I think she will have fond memories of the many years spend there interacting with all the young people from all over the world.

On her last day, some of Patricia's pictures were projected on all the screens

Patricia in the hot-seat, telling her side of her story.

We spent a few great months with our friends Whitney and Don in University Heights. We discovered it's a bit different than living in the burbs.

Don & Whitney

Then there was Mom's 96th Birthday. We went to see her in Fallon, Nevada, and had a great time staying with Patricia's sister, Barbara, and George.

Pretty good for 96, and it has all to do with genes and lots of walking

The sister act, Barbara and Patricia

On this trip, Patricia wanted to show me San Francisco.  We loved spending three great days there, just hanging out and experiencing the town.

Patricia is in paradise at Britex, four floors of fabrics and notions.

Of course, we do need to take photos for the memories

Here she is, living dangerously

On September 22, Daireus and Nicole promised to spend their life's together, and what a party it was.

They made it

Then there was, for us, the most important event of this century, the birth of Gavin Fischer Paradee, a gift to all of us.  Please note the middle name:>)

Gavin graced the world on September 16, 6 1/2 weeks early.

Arriving at home at last, almost too small for the car seat.

Introduction to the family, he seems to take it in stride.

These are only the last four months.  All in all a busy year, and if you follow the blog, you got most of what happened earlier in the year.
We wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2013.
Stay in touch; we love to hear from you.

Our social life has started anew

Arriving home, Odell, the renter of the studio where we lived for 4 years, let us stay in his absence for two weeks. Odell also lives in Arizona where he has a workshop making Native American Flutes, and I am learning to play one now.
Just after arriving, Natalie and Maria from next door came to visit. In the evening, we went to dinner with Daireus, Nicole and Aariel. Then on Saturday Aariel and Ryan came to visit for lunch. We met up with Michal a few times; we visited Mark and Paula and on Sunday, we had dinner with Wendy and Tom. Wendy made a great vegetarian dinner, and Tom and Patricia had a great time looking through her pictures from Australia while Wendy entertained me with their new cat.

Great dish Wendy prepared

Tom & Patricia drooling over bird pictures

And then early Tuesday, Patricia left for Hawaii to visit her friend Selina in Kauai.

Patricia is behind the 8th window

And finally yesterday, I went to see Peter & PMD @ GENI

Peter talking about Sustainability

Today is about getting some little things fixed on the car, and I keep looking for a place for Patricia and me to put our heads at night, and of course, our bodies, too.

Back @ GENI for the last week

Back at work @ GENI after a nice weekend packing more STUFF and bottling our one and only wine this year, Plum-wine.