Festivus 2025 - "You Look Marvelous" Edition

So 2025 is in the books. I denied this for years, but can now confirm that time moves quicker the older you get:

Here is a quick update on the family, again to show you how fantastic we look and how fabulous our lives are.

First, and most importantly, the grand-kids. George is six and in grade one. Edith is two (almost three) and in daycare at Children's Hospital (where Alan works). Edith spends lots of overnights with us over the year, but George not so much now - he's too busy with friends, Taekwondo, his job, his car. Edith is a different person altogether - very laid back, very fashion forward, loves gossip. We're pretty lucky to have two Mensa grandchildren.

Kath and Alan are in the thick of adulting and parenting. They spend most of their free time in the car, taking kids somewhere, getting groceries, having the odd night out, practising witchcraft, paying bills. The same stuff we all did when we were forty. Only now it's turned up to eleven. I get tired just watching.

David moved back home from Korea in September (mostly because of me and my excellent health). He's staying with us till he can arrange

his own place and studio space. Against the odds, he won another painting grant (his third from this same Foundation) which will help him rent the studio and buy some supplies. He's spent the last few weeks catching up with his old friends - all of whom ask "so, how long are you here this time?". We think he's home for the duration (we don't have an extradition treaty with South Korea or China do we?).

Laura is busy as ever, and her health continues to be the polar opposite of mine - it's the junk yard dog DNA. She volunteers a lot at our Crossroads Hospice Thrift Store, where she brings home more stuff every week because it was such a deal. She's also in a quilting guild, and I enjoy the happy dialog (PG13) she shares every time she's at the sewing machine. When she's not volunteering, she's ECEing and teaching children how to scam seniors on the phone.

Me, I'm still here. If you want the nitty gritty on all the details, it's better explained in a short recap here. Bottom line, it's been two and a half years living with my cancer, and am now in a holding pattern, waiting to see what my next CT (January) shows. I've slowed down a lot the last few months, but am still reasonably busy with the building (condo tower). I gave up all the El Presidente stuff I've had for a decade, but am now flexing my "soft power". How do you transfer hidden condo fees into an untraceable personal bank account? 

I know there's a ton more stuff I could talk about here, but I know I dread writing long holiday updates as much as you dread reading them. Reach out!

Here's hoping that 2026 is good to you and yours! Happy Festivus!

Platonic Love,

Doug (and Laura)