From 814695676b66b6da356380264cfbee10b329465f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Blaise Thompson <blaise@localhost.localdomain>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:51:40 -0600
Subject: 2024 letter finshed

---
 memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex | 48 +++++++++++++++---------
 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)

(limited to 'memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2024/letter.tex')

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.
 
-- 
cgit v1.2.3

