2020 Holiday Greetings
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Peter's UC Berkeley (COVID-reduced) June 2020 Graduation!
Arielle's Message
2020 was a year of change for me.
I started graduate school in June at Santa Clara University, where I am studying for a Master's in Education and working towards a single subject credential to teach Biology. In September I was placed as a student teacher at a local high school under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher with 21 years of experience. As a student teacher I observe classes and gradually take on responsibility throughout the school year, implementing information and techniques learned during my nighttime grad school classes to the next morning's high school classes. Starting in January, I will be solo-teaching two 9th grade Biology classes- wish me luck!
I am continually impressed by the challenges of distance learning, distance teaching, distance learning how to teach, distance teaching how to learn... you get the point. However, I have tremendously enjoyed working with my students and experimenting with strategies to get them connecting with each other and engaged with content that I am so passionate about.
Outside of graduate school and high school, I have found peace in nature and enjoying green spaces around the Bay Area, exploring more local open spaces than I ever have and relishing seasonal changes. Other activities included: coastal winter camping, backpacking, sewing tiny masks for local quail statues, self-cut bangs, countless zoom sessions, a solo road trip, time at the Tahoe cabin, and hosting movie nights via a projector in the backyard.
(click photo for detail)
I am so thankful for the people in my life
who have supported me during 2020 and hope that 2021 brings health,
love, and joy.
Peter's Message
I finished up my undergrad at Berkeley (Architecture with high honors!) with a spring semester starting with late-night studio design competitions and trips to Funk Night at the Starry Plough, then transitioning into online classes and a lot more face time with my roommates. (here's some links to show my work from school + extras)
I spent the spring helping a professor with his design research work, getting my LEED cert. and working with a couple on Nextdoor to design and permit their retirement cottage (call me if you need help ??), then started a job at a boutique residential design firm in San Francisco, where I'm having a lot of fun and learning heaps as the only full time employee, juggling projects in the bay area and beyond.
I'm running and biking the east bay hills more often than not, cooking, gardening, painting and grilling, and otherwise making the best of it.
Dorian's Message
With some planning of adventures with Joe in 2021-22 during the school year, this appears to be my last teaching year: ending my career in a Zoom classroom. All teachers have had a steep learning curve using new technologies and brainstorming ways to make learning fun and engaging. So, even though it's my last year, I'm still learning. And that's how it should be: we keep on learning and growing.
Recently I've been introduced to a metaphor of a marble sliding down a clay brain, creating a deeper groove as it responds to situations in a predictable way. The artist in us starts finding other pathways, we are able to see new possibilities and find new answers. So, I toast to jumping out of the groove, to imagining and relishing new pathways. In 2021, I aspire to live this as I start a new career. I delight in spontaneity, so give me a last minute call and we'll take a hike, play music, or just have a coffee.
In other news, I'm still fiddling around: Jazz, Cape Breton, Irish, old time ... or just whatever you want to play.
Here is my favorite tale I've told in 2020 as my gift to you. Click through to "Bullet". It's about a family dog I used to have named. (?)
Happiness and silliness in the new year and New groovin!
Joe's Message
Last year's holiday message presaged all the 2020 trips that we had planned with others, and all have been cancelled or postponed. It could be worse, getting sick, so we are glad its only postponed pleasures. There are surprising consolations to lockdowns. We have been able to regularly connect remotely connect with friends and some of my family who live in Wisconsin.
I continue regular biking trips. My 82 rides totaled over 2700 miles horizontal, and 43 miles vertical (228,000 feet climbing). This is on par with the last few years of 'retirement riding'. I should do more next year with 2020-delayed trips in the Sierra and Oregon multi-day trips.
Very cool was the purchase of a Tesla Model Y this summer. It proves its cross country capabilities as I drove a 5500 mile round trip to Wisconsin. I was thrilled to see places in Wyoming, Utah and South Dakota that I only saw last as a kid. I included a favorite hike around the Teton mountains last walked in 1977. No so fun was over $13K in body damage from an lesson in the summer about 'paying attention' with a bike on top. Dang, Tesla's parts are not cheap.
I have improved my skills turning wood and paint using watercolor. So many different things to try and experiment in these disciplines that challenge technique and creative juices. I don't think there is enough time left...
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(see galleries at
martinka.org/art )
There is much to look forward to in 2021. It has to be better than 2020! I have a new mantra: "Life is short. Eat dessert first".
How about a Lake Tahoe trip in California this year? Let us know, and we would love to host you at our mountain cabin at on the West Shore. If not that, if you have a hankering to spend a Carnival celebration in Rio for 2022, let us know. We've already reservations!
LINKS:
Family Art Galleries : Watercolors, Woodturnings and Oils
Life is Grand (LIG) Sailing: Past and future trips (email Joe if you are interested)
Past Holiday Letter Archive
2019 -- 2018 -- 2017 -- 2016
2015 -- 2010 -- 2009 -- 2008
2007 -- 2006 -- 2005 -- 2004
2003 -- 2001 -- 2000 -- 1994(NOTE If you have kept any xmas letter between 2011 and 2014, let us know. We would appreciate a copy of it and send a sweet gift in return)
In Desolation Wilderness - August 2020