With Tracy on a Christmas Markets river tour on the Danube in Germany, this is about as festive as we got this year.  

We're good, the kids are good and we find ways to make productive use of our time (usually together).  Tracy did two European river cruises (on the Rhine in May with our bestie, Melinda, and recently with local friend Nancy).  We have back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to back (exhausting already) trips to Europe planned for next spring, Rick's first foray to Europe.  More on that later.  

We spent two weeks in Costa Rica in January; did two western road trips that took us through Idaho (Tracy's sister, Margy), Montana. North Dakota and Denver (Jenna & Gamble); took in some Giants baseball in San Francisco (with Redding besties, Julie & Stephanie) and entertained Julie and Jamie for a 3-game Giants series in Seattle.  Rick's dealing with a badly-sprained knee, but others have it much worse.

Our Overseas Adventure Travel trip to Costa Rica (with San Diego besties, DeeDee & Ruth) was fabulous, in spite of Rick's 2-day bout with undiagnosed COVID.  Sloths, quetzal birds, Jesus lizards, caimans, crocs, frogs, monkeys.  Our tremendous local guide, Liza, helped us see it all, from coast to coast.

Below:  DeeDee & Ruth, Liza and a red-eyed tree frog, Tracy & (afraid-of-heights) Rick joined the zip line festivities.  

Beautiful country, varied wildlife, friendly and happy people; we definitely plan to return sometime soon.  Now, if we could only get over our inability to learn Spanish!!

We love to travel, but truth be told, we always love to come home.  If we haven't yet been graced by your presence, please consider this your invitation to join us.

Another cover of our local news magazine; we never tire of this view and consider ourselves extremely lucky to have the privilege to live here and in Alderbrook.  And, just down behind that green, near that yellow tree, is where Rick stood when he captured the Northern Lights (on his trusty iPhone) in May.

And there's always the coastal part of Olympic National Park to explore.  Our favorite spot is Rialto Beach, near La Push (home of the werewolves in the Stephenie Meyer Twilight series) - not far from Forks (the home of Bella and the vampires!).

And we did say Tracy has been busy enjoying the rivers of Europe.    After an initial cruise (with Melinda) in 2023, which found them boating from Amsterdam to Vienna, this year they started in Antwerp (Belgium) and cruised to Basal (Switzerland).  In December, she and local friend, Nancy, toured eastern German Christmas markets, from Vienna to Nuremberg.  And, yes, she's willing to go back if there are volunteers.

We went on two road trips to Denver this year, once in April-May, the next in Sept-Oct - both for the fun of it and to dog-sit our new grand-dog, Indy.  Of course, we combined those trips with visiting family, friends and local sights.  

In the spring we visited Tracy's sister's (Margy - and wonderdog, Whisky) new home in Kuna, Idaho.  Then on to Spearfish (SD) to see cousin Johnny (and the delightful Melinda) for a few days before dropping down a day before a snowstorm hit Denver (it's baseball season for godssakes!).  So we got snow, then baseball at Coors Field (with old friend Jim) in the warmth, then another five-inch snow dump within days.  Oh, my!

There are two units in TRNP - north and south - and you should make the time for both.  The south unit was lovely (and near where we stayed in Medora), but the Badlands in the north unit had more topographical relief:  deep canyons and high deserts.  There were bison everywhere, but the wild horses we only saw in the south unit.  Tracy spotted bighorn sheep in surrounding mountains near the north unit.  We expected cool weather, but it stayed in the mid to high 80s our entire visit, even creeping into the 90s.  It was late September!

Then we had a wonderful 3-week return-to-Denver road trip in late September.  We visited Margy & Whisky again, then headed ENE through Montana to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota (our first visit to ND; we'd go back).  For years, this was Teddy's stomping grounds, and they play up his legacy well here; coming soon, his official presidential library in Medora.

Montana lenticular cloud; at cousin Johnny's log home in Spearfish (SD); with Jenna & Indy at Cathedral Rocks, outside Colorado Springs; a warm Coors Field (note shirt sleeves) between two April snow storms.

More Cathedral Rocks below.

Then it was back to Spearfish to see cousin Johnny & Melinda again; this time we took a side adventure down to Badlands National Park near Rapid City; how many times had we driven past this magnificent park without taking the time?  We gave it most of the day (super windy; Tracy is fighting the wind) and felt we were rushed.

Tracy and her favorite cousin (in-law) Joe at lunch in Denver.  And us on an autumn waterfall hike with our old Corvallis friends, Gene & Susie, near Sisters (OR); they're the parents of Barley, whom you will meet soon.

Oh, yes, our kids!!  We said they are well and happy in their disparate pursuits.  And they are.

Jameson (43) is even happier in her financial consultant/CPA life now that she has shed some of the time- and mind-sucking administrative work (you are shedding it, right?).  She took  time to visit this summer for a Giants 3-game series in Seattle and hosted her mother for a 3-day Disneyland adventure (never gets old for those two young-at-hearts).  Husband Rob (16 years now) is studying for the most-difficult CPA exams before starting on the next phase of his life.

Jennalee (39) is basking in her life as a state water guru, currently heading up the state's turf program (replacing it with natural vegatation).  She dotes on her puppy, Indy, and her black cat, Carol, who seems to tolerate sharing the brownstone-condo life with Indy.  BFF (best fiance forever) Gamble does marketing for architects who specialize in senior living communities.  He does their graphic design, web development, branding, conferences and events, and public relations.  Jenna surprised Gamble this year by taking him sky diving; made him drive without knowing where they were going.  Surprise!!

Because we travel so much, we no longer own a pet.  But that doesn't keep us from taking care of and spoiling yours, from here to San Diego to Denver.

Left to right starting from above:  Local kitty Eleanor (Tim & Nancy) comes to our house on occasion; Barley's first visit while Gene & Susie are in Hawaii; Carol whispering sweet nothings into Indy's ear; Khali's dad (David) travels to see his kids in Portugal & Orange County; snow-faced Indy; Jamie & Rob's Zoey; Idaho Whisky!; Indy seeking post-vet sympathy; Barley back in November, watching TV.

As you might recall, Tracy missed her 70th birthday because we crossed the International Dateline in 2023 and went from October 30 to November 1 - giving her an extra (and very legitimate) year at 69.  So here she is doing favorite things:  Taking a ferry across the Sound to the Edmonds Art Festival; hanging with Debbie & Wendy at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island; enjoying a bDay cake with her Mahjongg partners (not pictured!); hiking the Salmon Center trail in Belfair; preparing for a Giants game in SF with Stephanie, Julie and our friend/host Linda.  Here's another view from the Salmon Center.

We wish you a Healthy 2025; remember to hug your friends and family and be extra nice to your pets:  They're the ones who will keep us sane.

Rick & Tracy

On a sad note, we celebrate the long life of my best friend, Ron Jones, who passed away two days before having to witness Election Day carnage.  

Ron took me to Santa Anita Racetrack on my 18th birthday, teaching me the fine art of the racing form; he taught me how to run football pools (he ran one for years at Coronado High School where he taught history and government); we played innumerable dart, Scrabble, bridge, gin rummy and cribbage games at his house; we did jigsaw puzzles and listened to music with friends - and drank beer; it was where we went to watch the Chargers or the UCLA Bruins basketball wins.  

Burying the lede, Tracy and I met at his house by happenstance 52 years ago; we celebrated our 50th anniversary this past June.

He lived a long life, and we are grateful to have had him in our lives.  He is missed.

On a happier note, we celebrate our friends and family who keep in touch daily with their Wordle scores, Connections guesses and Spelling Bee efforts.  You share more than your scores when you hit "Send," and we're grateful for that - and for you.

We keep active in our community:  Working with terrific people on the Environment Committee, keeping Alderbrook looking nice; Tracy helps run the Ladies Putters Club and social bridge group; Rick is the official photographer of the Women's annual golf tournament/fundraiser; we try to contribute monthly with our much-smarter Team Trivia friends; Rick organized gatherings to send postcards to swing state voters; and we're amassing a growing group of amazing and eclectic friends.

In January, we're going on a two-month road trip to dog sit our old San Diego friends, Spartan & Jackson, seeing family and friends along the way.  Perhaps spend a month exploring in Arizona, thanks to our dear Lake Cushman friend, Wynne.

In April, we take off for Europe, meeting Melinda and Point Loma (and another HS friend) Debby for a Normandy-Paris cruise/tour.  We then fly to Transylvania, cruise the Danube (Budapest to Bucharest) and then tour Prague:  35 days - in the middle of baseball season!!

Our kids in Santa Barbara; our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail!