2024 letter finshed

1 files changed, 30 insertions, 18 deletions

diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex
index 78de703..377387f 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex
@@ -32,37 +32,49 @@
 

 Friends, family---greetings to each of you.

 It's snowing hard here, a few inches on the ground and we're only halfway through the storm.

-Finals week means scrambling to finish up the semester---finish grading, take notes about what went wrong and right, organize the filing cabinet.

-At the same time preparing for next semester and dreaming of big long-term projects.

+Finals week means scrambling to finish up the semester---grading, taking notes about what went wrong and right, organizing the filing cabinet.

+At the same time I am preparing for next semester and dreaming of big long-term projects.

 Glad to have this yearly letter-writing tradition.

 

-\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}

+\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.33\textwidth}

   \begin{center}

-    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./blaise.jpg"}

+    \includegraphics[width=0.33\textwidth]{"./blaise.jpg"}

   \end{center}

 \end{wrapfigure}

 

-Each year I read through my old solstice letters as preparation for writing.

-This year was pretty dramatic---a lot has changed in my life since December 2023.

+Each year I read through my old solstice letters.

+A lot has changed in my life since December 2023.

 I have a new job, a new relationship, a new outlook.

 I'm in a much better place than I was last year.

-National politics are scarier than I've ever experienced, but locally things are looking better and better.

+National politics are scarier than I've ever experienced, but locally things are looking great.

 Trying to focus locally...

 

 In July I left the Electronics Shop for a new role in the Department of Chemistry.

 I'm now ``Instrumental Lab Director''.

 The move is bitter sweet, since this role was previously filled by my friend and long-time mentor Rob McClain.

-Rob did such a wonderful job, I'm intimidated trying to fill his shoes.

-Furthermore, I really enjoyed my work in the shop.

-I'm going to miss the luxury of focusing directly on instrument design full time, especially in a shop with professionals such as Amber, Steve, Matt, James, Sam, Tracy, and Lauren.

-Still, after six years I'm happy to try my hand at something new and this position as lab director is exciting.

-

-VACATION TO PITSBURGH PARAGRAPH

-

-LOST COAST PARAGRAPH

-

-HOUSE WORK PARAGRAPH

-

+Furthermore, I'm going to miss the luxury of focusing directly on instrument design full time, especially in a shop with professionals such as Amber, Steve, Matt, James, Sam, Tracy, and Lauren.

+Still, after six years I'm happy to try something new and this position as lab director is exciting.

+

+In May of this year I visited my friends Darien and Kaitlyn in Pittsburgh.s

+Highlights of the trip included the Glass Center, Botanical Gardens, and Pirates Stadium.

+I recommend Pittsburgh to anyone who hasn't visited.

+

+\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{"./tent.png"}

+

+In July of this year I visited California.

+Claire and Ralph have moved into their fantastic new place on California Ave.

+This year our ``big adventure'' was the Lost Coast---a 25 mile long stretch of wild coastline.

+We spent four days and three nights following the coast, camping on the beach or in small canyons (see photos above).

+It was a walk on the beach, but despite the idiom it was physically demanding.

+The sun was relentless, and the ocean itself provided a special challenge with changing tides.

+We saw wild bear, coyote, river otters, sea lions.

+On the way home I was able to spend time with Uncle Jim.

+

+Home improvement continues at a slower pace than I'd like.

+I broke another bone this year, my clavicle, and had to get surgery again.

+Trying not to make orthopedic surgery into a habit.

+Pets are doing great.

+I'm still blessed by a large number of friends and coworkers locally.

 Thank you all for being a part of my life this year.

 Please---stay in touch.