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December 15, 2003

It seems like every year at this time we remark on the speed with which the year has passed. This year is no exception, as it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the start of 2003!

In the spring, Chris took advantage of the fact that he was more than a semester ahead in his coursework, and accepted an eight-month assignment with IBM at their Silicon Valley Lab in San Jose, California. He developed software tools to permit the latest Web technology to connect with IBM’s oldest database system. The work was challenging, and he did well. In fact, some of his code will ship to customers next March.

Chris loved California. In the eight months that he was there, he had time to see a lot of the northern part of the state. It appears that when he settles down, it will be there.

His passion, of course, is sailing. He was racing the first weekend that he was there, and within a month he had hooked up with a very competitive team. They raced in all of the big west coast regattas, including one each in Long Beach and San Diego. They were also very good, finishing first or second most of the time.

All good things must come to an end, however, and Chris is on his way back to Michigan as we write this letter. He has one semester left at Michigan. He will graduate next May, and then pursue his Masters degree. He has applied to UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and Michigan.

Our year has been fun too. In February, we flew to St. Thomas, USVI, to visit our friends Dave & Deanna Hoops, who have been cruising, full time, for more than two years. We spent several days on their boat, and had a terrific time. We’re going back again in 2004, and we’re already looking forward to it!

The highlight of our sailing season was a two-week cruise to the North Channel of Lake Huron, certainly one of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of anchorages, and the scenery is just fantastic. This was our first time there, and it won’t be the last.

Sue and her horse Clint had a good season. They competed in a number of shows, and Clint brought home several ribbons.

Sue has started a custom embroidery business, serving primarily the equestrian and boating sports. She purchased a commercial embroidery machine, and can embroider such things as caps, shirts, jackets, bags, and towels. Keep her in mind if you’re in the market for anything embroidered.

It has been a good year for us, and we hope for you too. Best wishes for an enjoyable holiday season, and for a challenging and rewarding new year. If your travels find you in the Detroit area, please stop and see us.

Sue, Tim, and Chris

Go to our 2003 Highlight Photos