Hi all -

Year 2001 was even more eventful for us than 2000. It was a real year of travel and change. Care and Jon took time off together to visit Australia, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, Irvine, Lake Tahoe (twice - once to ski and once to fly), and Phoenix. Jon went to India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Las Vegas on work-related trips. Care spent lots of time in Montreal for her job. As in previous years, we chronicled the year on our web site at www.rizbee.com/2001/2001.htm.

We are both healthy. We recently celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary by taking a week-long trip to Lizard Island, a desert island in the Great Barrier Reef about 20 miles off the northeast coast of Australia.  The island was inhabited primarily by 5 foot long monitor lizards that looked like miniature prehistoric dinosaurs. We stayed at a great resort and enjoyed swimming, scuba diving (Jon), snorkeling (Care), hiking, and dining on food and wine prepared in the 5 star resort restaurant.

All three of our major trips this year were water-oriented vacations  - in June, we rowed the upper section of the  Grand Canyon, in September, we took an inside passage cruise to Alaska, and in November, we did our Lizard Island trip.

Other travel included a ski trip in Lake Tahoe, a trip to Phoenix for a conference and a visit to Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wright's summer home, a trip to Irvine for Mallory's Bat Mitzvah, a camping trip to Pt. Reyes (about 15 miles from home), a fall trip to Lake Tahoe, and a trip to Ohio for our family holiday party.

Jon's family - parents, sisters, nieces, nephew, and grandmother are all doing fine. Our three Siberian huskies, Trout, Rizbee, and Asia, are also all well. Trout is 15 and Rizbee is 14. Although slowing down, Trout and Riz are still hanging in there and attempting to keep up with Asia. Asia is a teenager (almost 2) in dog years and gives the older dogs -- as well as us -- a challenge. 

This year, Jon fulfilled a long-time goal and became a licensed private pilot. He began working on his flying at the beginning of the year and soloed on Easter Sunday. During the year, several people have gone on his famous "bay tour" including Care, Geof, and our niece Mallory. Jon got his Private Pilot's license on August 28th and is now working diligently on an instrument rating.

For community service, Jon and Care both became trail watch volunteers for the Marin County Open Space District - helping keep an eye on the open space areas that surround our house.

Care continues to work as Discreet's Director of Business Development. In November, Jon changed jobs with Autodesk. He is now the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Autodesk's Building Industry Division. This is the division that deals with architecture and building design, a return to Jon's roots.

We finally began our home renovations. Most of the work is cosmetic including new tile in our kitchen, bathrooms, and family room. We also are carpeting our living room, refurnishing Care's study, and painting a good part of our interior. It is a major project and, unfortunately, the house is a construction zone during the holidays. However, this is something we have been wanting to do for years. As the work is completed it is well worth the effort.

As with most years, we are looking forward to a quiet Christmas at home (except for the sound of demolition as the construction workers proceed with our renovations). 

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2002.

Jon, Care, Rizbee, Trout, and Asia

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