Christmas 2007 from Washington, DC

Here is the official annual report on the wherewithal of our family and other such nonsense:

Another year older and still having fun at work! I really like my clients and they like me. The current market downturn might prove otherwise, but I don't think so. I become more reinforced in my thought that I will not retire for the foreseeable future because I am enjoying myself too much to consider not working. Further, as I have previous reported, as much as Cathy and I are in love after 38 ½ years, we both agree that being together all day every day might not be for the best. So, we have this mutual agreement that I should continue having fun at work so she can enjoy her freedom to do whatever she does without my participation!

Speaking of the aforementioned Cathy, she is great. She has not had recurrence of her bladder cancer from early 2006 although she must still go in for "look sees" periodically, now down to semiannually from quarterly during the first year. She enjoys her retirement, but also likes to go back to her school as a sub and visit with her buddies. She also enjoys golf and playing in a ladies par-three league every Tuesday, weather permitting. She also plays at least one more day a week with her friends. However, her most enjoyable time is spent with our grandchildren (other than with me, of course!). She travels to Houston several times a year for that purpose.

Speaking of grandchildren, our baby Ryan, and wife, Arria, traded up homes near here in Fairfax, VA, and are expecting their first child on my birthday in January. Lucky child! Ryan is still a Home Land Security consultant and just changed jobs for a great raise with another government contractor in the DC area. Arria is a high school counselor.

Jennifer (ER) and her husband, Jeff (Neonatal), are nurses in The Woodlands, Texas, just north of Houston. Their 17-month-old George is a human dynamo, loves fast cars, and shares his house with his parents, a 125-pound Mastiff, a cat, and two parrots. They lead a very hectic life, coordinating schedules to try to keep George out of child care as much as possible. Jason's wife, Saint Sara, helps out when it just won't work any other way.

Speaking of Jason and Sara, they are also still in The Woodlands, but also in a new home, with children Harris, 5, who is crazy about NASCAR and "Princess" Danielle (Dani) 3. Sara is a stay-at-home mother and child taxi driver. Jason is now Vice President for Finance of his company, which has recently been purchased by an exchange-listed company. During the past couple of months he has had to work the company through required SEC filings and such for going from private ownership to public.

My best friend and I still manage to be gone reasonably frequently, visiting kids and grandkids, traveling with friends (and without), and participating in conventions. My business manager claims I am never here, but that is such an exaggeration! One of our stops next year will be for the 40th-year graduation reunion of my Air Force Academy class in Colorado Springs. Hard to believe that Cathy is that old!

Hope to see you whenever. Come visit, please.