ANOTHER YEAR GONE BY
Greetings from the Burgess family! This year has flown by, and has certainly brought with it changes for the family.
TRAVELS
Doesn’t seem like we stood still much this year. In Feb., we celebrated our 20th year of wedded bliss with a peaceful & romantic week in Playa del Carmen in Mexico, just hanging out at the beach, with a little shopping, biking and snorkeling thrown in.
In June, we enjoyed a week in San Francisco. Loved this very scenic, walkable city. We pretty much stayed in town, except one day when we rented a car to enjoy the spectacular Muir Woods and the wine country of Sonoma Valley.
Finally, we took the trip we'd been looking forward to for several years! We booked a 14 day tour of Village Italy with Rick Steves, who specializes in small groups and a more laid back approach to travel. So, Kate and I traveled to Rome for 3 days, to see the sights and also get over jet lag before our tour started. We then joined our group in Padua, and had a magical two weeks of travel through the Italian countryside –Assisi, Siena, Ovieto, Lucca, and much more. Amazing pasta, pizza, vino, gelato, and some really fun folks to travel with. It ended much too soon. I was amazed at how easy it was to travel overseas, even without knowing Italian, but memorize a few phrases, like "I'm sorry", "Excuse me”, and “vino rosso, per fervor” ALWAYS come in handy!
A couple of short trips to New Orleans for the SVDP annual meeting, and Houston for a chorus workshop rounded out Sept for Kate, and she got to the East Coast in Oct to see her beloved Aunt Barbara’s ashes interred at Arlington, and visit the Garcia side of the clan.
COMPANY!
We were blessed with a long visit from Kate’s folks in August, and enjoyed many days of cards, movies, pool time and a beach trip to Port Aransas. We also had a visit from Kate’s sister, Anne, and her hubby (it only took them 15 yrs to get out here, but they finally made it), and we had a great week showing them around Austin and the Texas Hill Country. AF-era friends Alice & Andy popped in for a too-short visit in June, but we’ll take what we can get!
ED’S ACTIVITIES
What a year! After early-retiring in 2009, I wondered what I'd do to fill the time. I decided to volunteer with Austin Pets Alive, our local animal rescue group. Their goal is to make Austin a no-kill city, and we're well on our way to that goal! To date, I've built dog cages, put up railings, shelves, and baseboards, walked the dogs several times, bottle fed small kittens, socialized with the older cats, and have scooped countless litter boxes! No matter what your talent, APA can use the help!
I also continue to train with Rogue Running. I ran the Frankenthon Marathon in Cedar Park this October with my good friend Kevin, and am currently training for the Houston Marathon at the end of January. My goal is to finish the race in 4 hours, as I plan to pace another friend, Barb, who needs at least a 4:05 to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I also volunteer with the Austin Runner’s Club, and enjoy helping promote an active lifestyle in the local community
KATE’S DOINGS
Well, although I put my formal working life (at least for pay!) to rest when I retired from the state of Texas in July, I can truthfully say (unlike my dearly beloved), I NEVER wondered how I’d spend my time. I’m thoroughly enjoying my mornings at the gym (so much more relaxing than trying to jam it in after work), zumba, water aerobics, walking and yoga. I’m blessed to continue having relatively good health (heck at 60, everything is relative anyway, isn’t it?!)
I’m still an active volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent dePaul, and now can do home visits to our clients in daylight hours –it’s so refreshing to be able to see house and apartment building numbers! I’m also doing some database entry again, something I haven’t had time for in several years.
I’m just lovin’ my Austin Harmony Chorus (or as we like to say Glee for Grownups!), where I’m on my second term on the management team. We’ve had an exciting year of membership growth, and lots of singing opportunities this holiday season. We’re looking forward to competing again in March in Houston.
I was happy to join Ed in volunteering at Austin Pets Alive, where I’m on the dog walking, pet transport and kitten-feeding teams. A typical Thursday from 7-8:30 AM will find us walking 6-8 dogs each (not all at once!), and then going out for breakfast. It’s a nice routine, and a great organization.
I must say I was hoping to have accomplished more around the house by my 6th month of retirement, but reorganizing 2 kitchen drawers and one home office is all I have to show so far. Still, it’s a start –something to resolve in the New Year, right? My closets overfloweth, and are crying out for relief!
I am doing a bit of nursing work, although I do it from home, on my own time and pace. I’m doing some work for a company that develops continuing nursing education programs in TX, AK, NM, OK & LA. They primarily work with state health agencies for Title X (family planning) program. My piece entails reviewing the various pieces of documentation relating to the program to ensure that it’s appropriate for nursing education credit. So far, it’s not overwhelming, which is what I was looking for.
On the family front, the boys are doing well. Michael and Leia are still in Utah with our grandsons, ages 10 & 7. Sounds like they’ll be there another 2 years or so. David & Jessica are living in Mesa, Az. Both are thankfully working. Although Jess’ 3 girls (12, 10 & 5) live with their dad and grandmother, they get to spend time with them on a regular basis.
THE FELINES
The sad news is the loss of our beloved, but feral cat, Dixie. Ed captured her while working at the Travis County Correctional Complex in 1996, with the intent to neuter and release her back into the wild. However, we couldn't see her faring well on an inmate-provided diet of tater tots and pancakes, so decided to keep and socialize her. HA! She never got over her shyness (everyone called her the white ghost, because you could never see her), but would eventually let us pet her and would sleep at the foot of the bed at night. She lasted a good 13 years, and I think we provided a good home despite her wild nature.
We did add another feline to our brood! After making the mistake of feeding it outside, a stray grey and white tabby cat decided to adopt us! Socks was an outside kitty, but a couple of trips to the vet for various ailments made us decide to bring her inside for good. She quickly settled in, and became used to "3 hots and a cot." So, our population has stabilized at 4.
EPILOGUE
Well, I probably have rattled on far too much for one year, and we would like to get it in your hands before 2011 rolls around, so I’ll end this epistle here. Ed & I wish you the most joyous of Christmas seasons, and a happy and healthy new year. We’re sure hoping to take a few road trips this year, and may be banging on your door if we get close enough, so watch out!
We’re both on Facebook, and other contact info is below, so if you get in our neck of the woods, please stop by for a visit. We’d love to see you!
Peace & Love,
Kate & Ed, and the furry four- Tripod, Lil Bit, Romeo & Socks
4005 Crystal Water Cove, Austin TX 78735
(512) 891-0707 (h)
Kate (512) 698-9560 (c) kburgess@austin.rr.com/nursekateus@yahoo.com
Ed (512) 623-9187 (c) edburgess@austin.rr.com
