We just returned (on July 19) from two weeks in the UK and Paris. We had dinner with Jill at Covent Garden. We had several meals and bottles of wine with Rick in Paris. In between, we entertained ourselves in Rye, Canterbury, and Sandwich. It was a perfect, hassle-free trip. We enjoyed the people, the places, and the food.

Will has turned out to be an excellent traveller. He's fifteen now. He's in that cusp where he's fairly self-sufficient but still willing to follow the occasional order. He's six feet tall and 130 pounds. He grows up as I grow out. He's still active in music: he plays in his high school marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band (alto sax); he plays in a rock band (electric bass); and he still plays piano (and did very well in competion this year in the "senior honors" category). He was also accepted to the North Carolina School of the Arts summer session based on his audition on alto sax.

Annette's doing well. She's now working in IBM's software division, writing documentation and tutorials. They're working her to death, but giving her big raises and awards in return.

Things are pretty much the same with me. I'm still doing Web development work with IBM, although I'm being moved more and more toward the administrative side of things as bright, young, easily exploited programmers move in to handle the technical side. I'm actually eligible for retirement this year, although I'd like to hold on long enough to get Will through college before I'm turned loose.

I'm not doing anything with music except practicing regularly and doing the infrequent jazz/blues jam. I'm missing it, and intend to put something together in the coming months.

My thanks to all of you who contribute to the site and keep it going despite my frequent lapses in updating it. I think very fondly of you all and our time in Vienna.

Peace,

David