2012 IN A NUTSHELL

Dear Family and Friends -- What a year 2012 has been, and we  have a lot to be thankful for.   With our annual Year-in-a Nutshell letter, we send you our warmest wishes for a  Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah,  and a Happy New Year!   Be safe in your travels and in all that you do.  Much Love, 

Pam and Bruce (and kitties Indie & Sophie) 

Nikki & Catie at birthday party in Boston

January -- Three travel destinations: Boston w/family to celebrate Bruce's sister's big birthday; DC with the family; and CUBA for 2 weeks with our favorite traveling buddies.  Nikki gets offered her first nursing job!

The 9 Gringos smoking Cohibas & drinking Cuban rum 

The beach at Club Med Ixtapa

February -- Can't keep a good man home.  Bruce treats Nikki to Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico before she becomes an ER nurse.  Pam plans training schedule for 2000 mile Mississippi River bike ride in May.  

FORE!

March -- Good calorie burn month.  425 miles on Bike for Pam.  Bruce golfs twice a week and brings his score down to two digits.  New clubs!  Pam launches  Biker Chick Gone Crazy blog.  Amy is accepted at London School of Economics for September.

Pam biking near Solvang

April -- Pam burns more calories biking in Santa Barbara;  Bruce eats more calories in Las Vegas with daughter Lauren, Tom & the grandkids.  Poker takes a back seat to the Mob Experience, Hoover Dam and the Pinball Museum!

Amy 

May -- Oh-Oh, Neck Pain!  Armed with steroids,  pain meds & grit,  Pam flies to New Orleans to begin 40-day bike ride.   5 days later she's home.  MRI,  3 bulging cervical discs.  No riding.   Pam's crushed.  Cortisone injections.  Bruce & Amy take pre-planned cruise to British Isles while Pam recuperates at home.  Boo-hoo.



June --  Guess who's having more fun. Golf, physical therapy, Golf, physical therapy, Golf, physical therapy.   Bruce's birthday celebration at Gary Danko's in San Francisco is June's highlight.

Connor in 4th of July parade at Club Med

Catie

July --  Family gathering at Club Med in Mexico. Connor does the catch on the trapeze and Catie Cryan sings Katie Perry a capela on stage.    

Mom Laurie & Dad Tom

Sister Marilyn & her friend Sidney at gallery show

July -- Family gathers for Marilyn's successful gallery show in SF.   Pam reconfigures bike with upright handlebars & is back to riding (slowly).  Annual Sierra mountains retreat at Graeagle with friends to bike, hike, golf, nosh, &  drink.   Nikki performs with Jesca Hoop at Yoshi's Oakland 

L-R Daughter Amy, Niece Jesse Levin, Daughter Nikki

Sophie and Indigo, our  9 yr. old Tonkinese sisters

August -- The good life at home --  Loving our kitties, dinners with friends, biking, gym, golf, movies, theater, furniture shopping, San Francisco, museums, restaurants,  Sunday Farmers Market and celebrating our 11th anniversary in the wine country.  Amy & Pam raise $8000 in a week from family & friends to help a Syrian family of 12 escape from Damascus to Cairo!  So proud of Amy.

Pam & Bruce in Provence

September -- French cheeses, red wine & sausage was our daily delight with Jackie & Ken in Provence.  Museums, restaurants & Philharmonic in Berlin with Heiko & Lo and 4 days in beautifully restored Dresden just Bruce and Pam. 

Bruce, Ken, Pam & Jackie

Bruce, Pam, Lo and Heiko

October -- In DC for son-in-law Tom Cryan's 40th birthday party and, lucky for us,  we missed Hurricane Sandy.  Pam reunites with childhood friends from New Hampshire via email & Facebook. 


November -- Thank heavens the election robo-calls are  over! Back to DC for Thanksgiving tradition and a week with family, friends, movies, restaurants, museums and a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

Jim, Eric, Bruce, Karen, Barry, Jennifer, Judy and Pam 

 Karen, Jennifer, Barry, Connie, Pam & Bruc

December  Club Med, Columbus Isle Bahamas (Bruce's third Club Med this year) for a week with good friends and Pam's brother Jim & wife Judy. So much fun!  Girls beat boys in Taboo.  Boys beat girls in Taboo.