…We once again celebrate the friendship and support that our friends and family have provided throughout the year. We are thankful for the opportunities that we’ve been given. We are thankful for the love and friendship of our family and friends. We are thankful that we have the opportunity to make a difference in the world in which we live.
It seems to have been a very busy year. First, our job situation. John is still doing the aerospace sales and marketing thing. Ann left Digital Divide Data (DDD) in June for a position with GE Capital Retail Finance as Consumer eService project manager. The Roberts-Breidenbach’s are taking over GE since Jenny and Jill both work there also. I’m learning a great deal and I work with a great group of people.
Somehow we found some time to do a little fundraising this year. So far this year we have raised $12,389 including $2405.00 at this year’s Holiday party. This brings the total since 2008 to over $27,000 for local non-profits. We just can’t thank you enough for continuing to give each and every time we ask. And you know you’ve “arrived” when you get people picketing you at home because of a Planned Parenthood fundraiser.
It was a big travel year. John’s job keeps him on the road a lot. Ann made a few trips to NY and hit some celebrity chef restaurants including Butter (Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli), The Lambs Club (Iron Chef Jeffrey Zakarian) and found some great new NYC restaurants including Maialino and Perilla. January Ann had a 2-week business trip to Austin and John managed to join me for the weekend. I got to share some of my favorite Austin restaurants including Uchiko (James Beard award winning chef Tyson Cole) and Perla’s for brunch.
February Ann headed back to Cambodia for a month. This time John was also able to join me for 2 weeks. It was great to see Cynthia although she was probably getting tired of guests since Steve and Lew left the same day I arrived. While I worked, John did all the touristy things including a trip to Seim Reap. We spent a great weekend in Sihanoukville at the Sokha Beach Resort. We had our own cottage just steps from the private beach. It was a nice relaxing weekend with very good food. April Our annual trip to California for Passport to Dry Creek. In addition to John and I, Don Dawson, John Germroth (J2G), Bruce and Ellen Holroyd, Kristen McFadden, Rodney Player, Darcy Schmidt, and David Strohscher attended the food and wine extravaganza. I’m pretty sure we set records for the amount of food and beverage consumed. 
May We were headed to Phoenix for Steve’s Cinco de Mayo party the weekend after Passport. John, Rodney and Don all went back to work between trips. Ann and David took the scenic route with J2G from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was a lovely drive even if we thought we were going to have to take J2G to the hospital after he wandered off. (You should ask him why he wandered off and how he fell.) After a day or two in LA and NOT in a car, David and I made the drive to Phoenix. 
August Steve’s annual Food Gluttony Chicago trip with Steve, David, Rodney, and Don. More excellent restaurants including a return trip to Girl and the Goat. We also stumbled upon Krissi Schutte (from Pacchia) who is now the Managing Director of Food and Beverage at ch Distillery. If you are in Chicago, stop in a taste the great gin they are producing. Another Chicago transplant from Dayton Gregg Anglebrandt (also from Pacchia) invited us to stop in to Pop’s for Champagne. And we got to have dinner with Deborah Novotny as well. October A quick weekend trip to Cincy which we haven’t done in forever for David’s Countdown to 40. If you THINK celebrating the countdown to a milestone birthday sounds like a good idea…think again. The weekend included a cooking class at The Learning Kitchen which I highly recommend, a stay at 21C Museum hotel, dinner at Boca, and stops at Party Source and Jungle Jim’s. December We were back in CA for Don’s Birthday and found a fabulous restaurant, Madrona Manner. If you go, your must get the 10-course tasting menu…with wine pairings of course. We are headed to St Kitt’s courtesy of a winning ticket from the Dayton Art Institute Art Ball. Thanks Josh and Mark!!!
Most of our food adventures are recorded at Noumena Dining Evernote Food.
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2014!
Ann & John
