xmas2014

Dear Friends and Family:

This past year 2014 was one of success. It was the year of promotion, graduation, 52, Chili’s, March skiing, BMC, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Mt Snow, Fairfax, USS North Dakota, Duke’s, Dole, Japan earthquake, 23, TSO, 26, July Island Party, Hyatt, navy blue, WPI Alumni Boat, Tokyo, BI, typhoon, Head of the Charles, WPI, Boston, FIT, brass ship bell, Charles W. Morgan, Ascutney, Gary’s Party, Kate Field Room, ANA, Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Hale Koa, Newlywed Game, Westerly Yacht Club Xmas Party, North Shore, Luau, France, Air & Space Museum, ND-05, baker, Hanauma Bay, Sarah McLachlan, Premier Gold, barn wedding, NYC and Bryant Park.

Joe started 2014 with an injury that kept him off the ski slopes until March. But he still went to Vermont in February and conditioned himself slowly by snowshoeing with Margie. Joe took Renée to Hawaii for a graduation gift but had to wait for her to return from Europe. He gave Renée less than 48 hours before she had to fly a few more time zones. He got a big promotion to ND-05 (GS-14/15) at his federal job with NAVSEA Newport. Joe hosted a huge 3-day party celebrating his promotion in August. Everyone remembers the ringing of the brass ship bell for rounds of shots. Joe and Margie have been together for 6 years now. They enjoy time together cooking, dining, traveling, boating, snowshoeing, and fixing their homes. They went to Block Island for the first time in late July. They had a blast at Ballard’s Inn and plan to go annually. Recently, they won the Newlywed Game at Joe's Navy Holiday Party. Joe has been a Branch Head at Division Newport for 10 years and is looking for other exciting new opportunities. He’s been recruiting for Division Newport and hired 7 new employees since last year. Joe continues managing the SONAR Program with Japan and went to Tokyo a few times this year. He escaped a typhoon in July and experienced an earthquake in September. Got Yen?

Travis had a year of medical success. He continues treatment at Boston Medical Center and his health is much better. Travis and Jess traveled to France and toured the countryside. He learned a lot about the local folks in southwest France at the Pyrenees foothills, Paris and northeast France near the German border. Travis turned 26 in October and continues snow blading in Vermont any chance he gets. He works for a cool bakery in Mystic and enjoys the art of making breads, cakes, pastries, pies and bagels. Need flour-based food baked in an specialized high-tech oven?

Renée graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a MS in Civil Engineering. She moved to Somerville, MA (metro Boston) in May. She works at Woodard & Curran and specializes in drinking water. Renée turned 23 in June and traveled to Greece, London & Hawaii within 3 weeks.  She continues as coxswain with Riverside Boat Club in Cambridge, MA. Renée raced with the WPI Alumni Men’s 8 Crew team in the Head of the Charles regatta. She spends time in Boston and visiting her boyfriend in Washington, DC. She’s an expert in travel deals. Plane or train?

Merry Christmas 2014 and Happy New Year 2015!

Joe, Travis, and Renée

My 2014 Year in Photos