Christmas 2009 |
Warren: RETIREMENT - another phase of our life has begun - although somewhat reluctantly I must admit. Sales in the retail division had been hit very hard this year and a number of our retail locations had closed nationwide. The Florida division would close forty percent of our stores throughout the year. In June Verizon announced that they would be doing an additional reduction in force across the entire management spectrum. A package was offered and Carol and I are now officially retired. Priorities being what they are, the first thing I did was buy a summer membership at the local golf course. I then went to New York to visit our son Brian and his family. Brian also enjoys playing golf and , his wife Karen and son Josh are learning the game. I enjoyed the drive up and down and certainly the opportunity to visit with the entire family. The summer slipped away with golf and a number of meetings with financial planners to arrange the transfer of accounts into what will be a consolidated retirement fund. October arrived along with an invitation to attend my sister Ellen's annual fall bash in Pennsylvania. My job, she informed me, was to cook the hundred pound pig she had ordered. That turned out to be a really simple operation - put pig on grill with appropriate amount of charcoal under it, close lid for ten hours, drink beer, open lid and serve pig. The pig turned out great and everyone had a great time. Carol and I did go on two cruises this year as well and have one planned for March of next year to Aruba. But I will let her describe those as she is much better with that type of thing than I. Merry Christmas to all and I wish you all a happy and healthy new year. |
Greetings Everyone!!!!! October 12, 2009 I hope you all had a memorable Columbus Day; I know mine will be,. How often do I start my letter this soon!?! I figured I do not have much to say, and most of the news would be Warren’s.` So if you do not remember what you were doing today, then you are either doing it up right , or need to take steps and make better plans for next year. December 20, 2009 Well I was probably right about not having much to say, but I will sit here musing and eat the tangerine I just picked off the tree we planted last year (We bought it with about three blossoms and ate its one fruit on Christmas day, last year. This year we have more than three dozen ….yummy!) I will also try to put something besides blank spaces and juice stains on this page. |
Warren was partially right……..but what is this retired stuff? I am busier than I have ever been with a very heavy schedule of painting, an energetic number of shows, plus teaching classes and workshops. It seems I took an unscheduled artist sabbatical from September 2008 until August 2009 where I painted almost nothing and entered only a small fraction of the number of competitions I normally enter. I was motivated by a workshop I took in March; that and some new products lead me to a brand new style of abstract watercolors. One of these new paintings will be published in the book “The Artists Touch IV” By Chris Unwin; it is still in production, but should be available in the next couple months. Let me know if you want to buy a copy, as I will receive several copies at cost. The tax lady said if I keep making money at this I am going to have to actually PAY taxes………hummm…. mixed blessings. For all the latest in my art news go visit my website. www.carolfrye.com There are lots of new painting and a generous number of awards. My newest watercolors can be viewed on a special page, available from the website, then Links/Pages/Critic’s Choic |
senile, but I do not even remember where we went on our cruise in the spring; I know it did involve plenty of deck time, great naps, oh, and yes, some rain forests, howler monkeys and the Panama Cannel. ( The way the Steelers have been playing this year, I am not sure that some of those monkeys may have followed us home!) Now I think I know why my mother wrote journals describing all her major trips. Because it was so recent, the cruise we returned from a couple weeks ago went to the eastern Caribbean. Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and our first visit to Rotan, it kept us really busy, and I missed way too many naps. One thing about these island trips, hurricanes keep places new. |
In spite of the inevitable ravages of time ( gravity wins), and a few aches and pains, we are both in good health, and my recent checkup says I remain cancer free, and my AA meeting last night helps me maintain 30 years of sobriety. I am still one jump ahead of the men in the white coats, so ……………..Life is Good….and so are we! Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night. Love, Carol and Warren If you have been here, please let me know. Contact me!!! |
Family: Left to right Daughter Wendy, Emily, Aaron Joshua, Theresa, Brian, Karen, and Victoria |
Home Team Snickers and Tucker |
left to right The Good Life |
Family: Karen and Brian |
After a hard morning on the golf course. (repeat as often as possible) |