Merry Christmas!...there, I said it and it feels good!

2016 is just about over.  This has been a great year filled with many great memories, many of which involve the people who read our blog...our friends.  We are fully into the swing of retirement...what day is it?  Really, what day is it? 😃  People ask if we miss work?  I guess that is a reasonable question.  No, we do not miss work.  We miss the people we worked with and have come to know over the years.  We keep in touch with many of them which is good, but it is difficult to replace the day to day relationships that work offers.  We do not miss getting up at 3 am in order to get a run in before work.  We do miss the self righteousness that goes along with getting up that early.  "Oh, you did not run this morning at 3 am?", "How sad"....  We now run, bike and hike at more reasonable hours, like 5-6 am so that we can beat the heat of summer, oh, and still proclaim, "yes, we ran this morning before our other workouts".  Somethings will never change!

The 2016 election year seemed to go on forever!  I think it was probably better or more easily tolerated for those of you who work, otherwise you would be looking at news on line all the time.  Oh, I forgot you do that anyway in between shopping at Amazon and looking at animal videos on YouTube!  I found myself constantly checking the news on my phone for the latest media attack on a particular candidate who seemed to draw a lot of media ire over every comment, tweet or facial expression of which he had many.  Well, all that is over, everyone is happy, resolved to the outcome and finally getting along.  Oh wait, not even close!  I can tell you from personal experience that the 4-8 years goes by fast and holding your nose helps.

2017 is going to be a busy year for Dave, Julie and Pete.  We are planning a ski trip to Park City in March, lounging by the pool in Rancho Mirage in May as well as various trips to Napa for wine pickups throughout the year.  In April we have a reunion with my brothers in Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love, ironic).  We are also going on a bike trip with Western Spirit Cycling Adventures in June which will take us through the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Here is the link if you want to check it out, or come along!  It is a fairly easy ride compared to the Moab ride of 2016.
Western Spirit - Black Hills South Dakota

We are going to run a half marathon with Pete in July in Sonoma!  Yes, Pete is beginning to run!  69 years old and finally running and not just to the toilet at night.  We are starting him off slowly with run/walks...ok, mostly walks, but that is how all of us start.  He is doing great and should any of you consider this elder abuse, he is going under his own free will...sort of.  He can't tell his Julie no.

For fun we are planning to hike the Grand Canyon, Rim to Rim, most likely in October, hike Mt. Whitney in August (highest peak in the lower 48 states for you products of the California School system), perhaps do Half Dome again because we REALLY want Pete to go to the very top.  We may do Half Dome and Whitney back to back to avoid another drive to California.  We may also climb Mount Shasta in June so we can check it off the list. If any of you are interested in joining us, please let us know after you consult your physician and complete your will.

Last thing, we have been practicing our dance moves for months and have put together this Christmas greeting for all of you.  Yes, that is Cookie, Pete, Julie and Dave all dressed up as elves for your entertainment.  If you pay close attention you will note an unknown individual who had to step in when Dave twisted his ankle in rehearsals.  Please have a most wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!