2024 Wrap-up

Posted on December 31, 2024 by John and Paula

**Successful return to Egypt after ill-fated 2020 visit**

2024 was generally another good year for us, the only exception being Paula’s hurricane-related broken arm when she tripped over outdoor items John had moved into the garage. Other than that, we stayed healthy and continued on our mission to replace body fat with muscle mass by walking/hiking, reducing carbs and working out twice a week at Orange Theory fitness centers.

Consistent with recent years we travelled a lot. John scored Diamond Medallion again with Delta and is approaching 3 Million Miler Status. Paula scored Platinum Medallion and is now a Million Miler. International destinations in 2024 included French Polynesia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy, Peru and Egypt. Those added four new countries for John and five for Paula. Domestic destinations included Rotunda West in Florida, San Antonio in Texas and Charlottesville and Alexandria in Virginia twice.

Our immediate family continues to mature and prosper. Stephen and Tanja live near us in Central Florida. Matt and Stephanie are in the DC area of Virginia and Danielle is in Central Virginia in Charlottesville near the Blue Ridge mountains. Leon and Julian are both teenagers and both, especially Leon, are now taller than we are. They are both into basketball big-time. Leon is learning to drive and Julian is focused on robotics. Ben is 8 and is refining his skills as a LEGO master. Jack turned three in late December and is obsessed with trains.

We continue to ramp down our consulting activities and John officially retired from management of 60 Hz. Users’ Groups in San Antonio in June.

**The end of an era. After 22 years John passed the baton for the 60 Hz. Turbine Generator Users’ Groups he founded. He got a gas turbine trophy.**

More detail of 2024 in the pages below.

John and Paula

Our Family 2024

Posted on December 30, 2024 by John and Paula

Our family continues to mature and prosper. As usual, we didn’t manage to get everyone in same place at the same time for a consolidated group picture, but we spent time with everybody both in Florida and Virginia. Stephen and family are in Oviedo, Florida. Matt and family are in Alexandria, Virginia. Danielle is in Charlottesville, Virginia.

**Thanksgiving in Alexandria, Virginia**

We had all four grandchildren with us in Florida for two weeks in June. Their parents were going out of the country, separately, and didn’t think we could handle all four at the same time. But they left anyway. John had great faith in Paula, and it worked out well.

Visitors and Visits 2024

Posted on December 29, 2024 by John and Paula

We always enjoy having visitors and Paula’s brother Dan and his wife Tina were the first in 2024 to visit us in New Smyrna Beach in February.

They were joined by Paula’s uncle Walter and cousin Peter.

**With Dan, Tina, Walter and Peter at Outriggers**

And then by Paula’s cousin Lindy and his wife Linda.

**With Lindy, Linda, Dan, Tina, Peter and Walter at JB’s Fishcamp**

Our visits included Rotunda West to see John’s brother Bill and his wife Lee and family visits to Virginia. We also spent a few days in San Antonio in June drinking margaritas, eating Mexican street corn and visiting with many friends from our 22 years supporting the Users’ Groups.