2010 Holiday Newsletter

Happy Holidays!

We are sorry that we skipped our newsletter last year. Too many (bad) things going on (more on that later).

In her vet business, Dee had a light year in 2009. Even more light this year. In tough economic times people seem to cut back first on pet care. She is still highly visible in the San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association, where she was President twice, and is now again Secretary/Treasurer. Every time she thinks she's out, they pull her back in!

Of course, the vet business has been going much better than the jewelry business. Almost no sales in either year. However, she is still making jewelry from time to time and enjoying it.

Be sure to visit our gift shop when you come to visit.

Les is still at Foley and Lardner. Things have also been tough in the legal field, but his practice group has been busy enough. He was also involved in the professional community, having held the position of co-chair of an IP committee of BIOCOM, a regional life science trade association and also chair of the Licensing Executives Society (that's right, LES).

Les also was able to do less evil things as an attorney. He helped pro bono clients get disability benefits, representing them before administrative judges on appeal. That's right, helping to expand entitlements in the USA!

Les was making beer last year and entered competitions. He even won a silver medal in the Robust Porter category at this year's America's Finest City (San Diego, if you have not heard) Home Brew Competition. And he still judges at competitions every once in a while. Of course, we both still do "tastings" often.

We have, over the past couple of years made offers on houses, only to be outbid or have other shenanigans occur that prevented the sale. We were this close (thumb and forefinger almost together) at closing on a house in a short sale shortly before Halloween. The sellers apparently were stringing us along so that they could delay foreclosure and keep both staying in the house without paying a mortgage and having a couple of renters at the same time. The sellers pulled a last second stunt to extract significantly more money from us and we refused. In the end, we pulled out of escrow to avoid having our good faith money tied up in endless dispute. As everyone has told us, something better will come along. Considering the outlook in housing, it seems very likely that a better deal will come just for waiting. However, it would have been nice to have the search over. It was very disappointing to say the least to already have in mind where we were going to put things, what new things we were going to buy, and to have about 1/3 of our stuff packed up just to have the rug pulled out from under us.

So we keep looking for that better deal.

Since our last newsletter, we adopted another dog after Marney's death. Dee wanted a little lap dog. Because she comes across many dogs in her practice, we choose to let the dog come to us. She was working at a clinic down in Chula Vista (not far from the Mexican border). She was leaving work and found a couple standing outside with this homely, scared-looking Chihuahua-looking, nearly naked dog. The couple was crying. They were bereft that they had lost their jobs, lost their house and now were having to move in with a cousin - in an apartment complex that did not allow dogs. They were then contemplating dropping the dog off at the animal shelter. Dee realized that this dog did not have a snowball's chance in Vegas to be adopted and said that she would take him in. The couple went on their way and Dee brought the dog home.

Dee does not have many criteria for what she expects in a dog. However, she emphasizes that the dog should not be white and should not be male (that licking thing? - or is it that thing licking?). Of course, the dog is white (but only where it actually has hair) and is male.

The couple had named the dog Freddie. We were not enamored about the name, but Dee decided a wholly appropriate name for him is Freddie Mac, the Foreclosure Dog. And it stuck.

Every bad habit that Marney had, we had to teach her. She was (mostly) perfect (except for that "biting thing"). She know how to sit, beg, shake, fetch, etc. and loved to do it. Freddie Mac (FM) is the worst dog ever. And Dee loves him (He's so cute!). His only redeeming features are that he knows how to sit, sort of knows how to fetch and when he is bad, he voluntarily puts himself in the crate. Otherwise, he gives you the "What me worry?" look and does whatever he wants.

Harvey, the African Grey parrot, is pretty much the same. Talking all the time and still plucking his feathers, but not his down, so he looks like he was tumbled in the dryer.

Melon, the cat, has little sense of humor regarding the dog, but has learned to better tolerate him. FM will on occasion leap on her to play. She swats him, but because she is declawed, FM just thinks she is playing and gets even more excited. They have reached a sort of detente and get along OK, more or less.

Dot, the rat, died of old age. We think she was ~5 years old, which is ancient for a rat. She was one of our best pets ever and we do miss her. We do not feel that she is replaceable.
Dee got a hoard of betta fish from one of the vets she does relief for. They are pretty to look at and very quiet (unlike FM).

We did get some vacations in. We went on another cruise to Mexico in 2009 (at Halloween). In 2010, for our 25th wedding anniversary (25!) we went to Montecito (small town outside of Santa Barbara) and then in August did a cruise to Alaska.

So for the bad news. Dee's Dad passed away in 2009. Les's Mom passed away in February this year. These were both very difficult and we miss them. Dee went back to New York multiple times when her Dad was in ill health and then for his funeral and memorial. Because Les's Mom lived just 5 miles away, we were involved in her declining health issues daily and were there with her until the end. We had become use to talking to her every day and visiting with her almost every week. The holidays we would see her more often, making it even more difficult after her death. Her little clique of friends at the retirement community months later remarked about how she was the one that really kept their group together. In addition, Dee's Uncle Harry, her godfather, passed later in the year.

Overall, not a good time. We miss them all.

We hope for a better 2011. We wish you the best for the holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Les & Dee