diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex')
| -rw-r--r-- | memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex | 95 |
1 files changed, 53 insertions, 42 deletions
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex index 0ebeabe..c8aaeb4 100644 --- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex +++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ % text
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
+\usepackage{lipsum}
% graphics
\usepackage{graphicx}
@@ -23,74 +24,84 @@ \pagenumbering{gobble}
-\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2021}}
+\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2022}}
\begingroup
\setlength{\intextsep}{0pt}%
\setlength{\columnsep}{10pt}%
-Hello to all my friends and family.
-Unbelievably, this is the eighth time I'm writing to you all for the solstice season.
-It's become tradition to look back at old letters as I sit down to write.
-Today is the first large snow storm of the year, but I am warm and comfortable writing at my lovely desk.
-My Endlers Livebearer fish gave birth just a few days ago, so I am taking frequent breaks to enjoy watching the very cute fry.
+Greetings to all friends and family.
+It's been a busy year!
+The holiday season has snuck up on me this time.
+Nice to have this opportunity to sit down and review the year that was.
+Hope each of you are finding similar opportunities for quiet contemplation in this season.
+Snow has come to Madison, but it's above freezing at the moment.
+This tends to cause a thick white fog, very quiet and still.
+The sun rises late and sets early.
-\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.5\textwidth}
\begin{center}
- \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./death-camp.jpg"}
+ \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{"./1813.jpg"}
\end{center}
\end{wrapfigure}
-I was lucky enough to go on \emph{many} great vacations this year.
-I'd like to highlight three, starting with the trip to California I took with my good friend Tyler over the labor day holiday.
-We flew into San Fransisco where we were graciously hosted by Jim and Tracy in their beautiful home.
-We stopped by Claire's family in Napa and Tyler's home town of San Ramon.
-We then traveled down Big Sur to a beautiful ocean-side campground near Santa Barbara.
-We visited Tyler's uncle before heading inland to spend a night among giants in Sequoia National Forest.
-Finally, we camped for two nights in Death Valley.
-We had the entire campground to ourselves (see left)!
-Death Valley was definitely the highlight for me, especially the drive through Titus Canyon and the night sky.
-
-\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
+On March 25th of this year I bought my first house.
+Here it is (pictured, right) in May---the front yard just bursting with wild violets.
+I participated in ``no-mow May'', of course.
+What a crazy thing it is to buy a house.
+Losing most of my life savings to a down payment, taking on debt, committing to Madison long-term.
+Yard work, utilities, neighbors.
+Rhubarb in the back yard, a kitchen with enough room to chop and dry dishes simultaneously.
+Fisher Street has come to feel like home.
+What's the point of owning a home if not to take on overly-ambitious home improvement projects?
+My father has incredible construction skills, and he has been generous enough to spend many days helping me learn the basics.
+The first two big projects are a fence along the north border and wood floors in the bedrooms.
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.3\textwidth}
\begin{center}
- \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./porcupine.jpg"}
+ \includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{"./ruffed-grouse.jpg"}
\end{center}
\end{wrapfigure}
-In July my good friends Claire and Ralph Till visited me for a hiking adventure in the Midwest.
-We drove from Madison to Michigan's upper peninsula, where we spent several days hiking through the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness.
-It's been years since I've been backpacking, and it was a new experience for Claire and Ralph.
-The Porcupine Mountains were amazing---very private campsites with long trails and very few people.
-For hours we hiked along the southern coast of Lake Superior, enjoying the dramatic geometric shapes of the rocky shoreline.
-Here (right) we three are---tired but happy near the end of our hike.
+This year's big vacation was a June trip to Maine with my boyfriend Kevin.
+We were able to see Kate \& Steve, and visit the Bates Campus (first time since graduation).
+We hiked Katahdin and explored the Maine coastline.
+Kevin helped me to enjoy the birds of Maine, which I did not properly appreciate as a student.
+In total I saw 76 bird species!
+My favorite bird was this elusive ruffed grouse (left), which we were able to observe ``booming''.
+A wild spirit of the wild forest, for sure.
+Also this year I was very lucky to be the best man in the wedding of Felix Radford and Kendal Musgrave.
+What a power couple!
+All the best to them in this new phase of life.
-\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}[9]{r}{0.3\textwidth}
\begin{center}
- \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./lake-superior.JPG"}
+ \includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{"./blaise.jpg"}
\end{center}
\end{wrapfigure}
-Near the end of September Kevin and I spent a few days exploring Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.
-It ended up being a tour of many waterfalls.
-We started by camping in Amnicon Falls State Park and visiting Big Manitou Falls (highest in Wisconsin).
-We then camped in Tettegouche State Park (below), where we had our own small private beach with signature Lake Superior pebbles.
-We spent several days exploring the northern coast of Lake Superior---full of picturesque waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, and cozy small towns.
-We'll have to go back soon.
-
-I'm feeling grateful for all the joy I have experienced this year.
-I continue to learn and grow in my professional life.
-Congratulations to Kate and Steve on their marriage.
-Thanks to all who have been great friends, especially Zach, Mark, Darien, Kyle, my Bates Buds, and the Wednesday night game crew.
+Professionally I am ``keeping on''.
+There are still mountains of things to learn about software and hardware development, instrumentation, and teaching.
+I now have two job titles: ``Instrumentation Engineer'' and ``Lecturer''.
+I continue to have enthusiasm for both of these domains.
+Here I am (right) in my shop, mostly renovated but always more to do.
-Wishing you and yours a happy new year. Stay in touch!
+Family and pets are doing well.
+I continue to dote on dear Ridgeback (my turtle), who turned 23 this year.
+I separated the endlers by sex to keep them from breeding so quickly.
+Home ownership and improvement projects have brought my parents to Madison often this year.
+Hope that all reading have a restful holiday season and a wonderful 2023.
+Keep in touch, visit!
+Remember, I have a guest bedroom now.
\vfill
\raggedleft
Blaise Jonathan Thompson \\*
\hspace{0pt} \\
-725 W Washington Ave. Apt 306 \\*
-Madison, Wisconsin 53715 \\*
+1813 Fisher St. \\*
+Madison, Wisconsin 53713 \\*
\hspace{0pt} \\
1-424-225-2493 \\*
blaise@untzag.com \\*
|