What a year this has been!
Greetings from the Lerner’s
Time seems to fly so quickly when you are having fun. If you are not having fun, time seems to drag its heels and go on forever. It seems that we have had a little bit of both this past year.
Lynda just finished going through our calendar for this past year to see where we have been and what we have been doing in our lives.
We actually slept in our own bed a lot more this year. We were only gone 109 days. A lot less than last year. This is both good and bad. Good that we were able to enjoy our home, but bad in that we did not take as many assignments as in the past.
As to the why, blame it on two surgeries for Howard - one in May and the other in October - both on the same shoulder (Rotator Cuff Left Shoulder). This has been an interesting year for Howard. He became an "old fart" turning 65. And, his patience has been tried trying to recover from both surgeries. He has spent 12 weeks with his arm in a sling - six weeks each time - even while we were on vacation.
We all know patience is not one of Howard's long suits. In all honesty, he has done remarkably well. He even asks Lynda for help - something that we all know he hates to do. He would rather just do things for himself. He has spent a lot of time doing Physical Therapy. When we haven't been home, Lynda has been his PT helper.
Of the 109 days we spent away from home, only four times were for taking care of other B&B's. Two were regular short term assignments in Colorado Springs (six days in total). One was an 18 day assignment at the end of the year up in Cripple Creek, CO. It is where we are right now as this holiday letter is being written. This is our fourth holiday assignment at this B&B. Each year it has been snowy and cold. The other assignment we have taken was for the month of August in Asheville, NC. We had a wonderful time and got to see a part of the country that we have never been in before. It was most interesting when guests would ask Howard where he was from because they couldn't place his accent. His answer would be, "I don't have an accent, you do". During our time in Asheville we were able to take in some of the sites and enjoyed the Biltmore Estates and Great Smokey Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Highway.
We also saw a wonderful sign that we passed by frequently in Asheville. We got a big kick out of it.
Time seems to fly so quickly when you are having fun. If you are not having fun, time seems to drag its heels and go on forever. It seems that we have had a little bit of both this past year.
Lynda just finished going through our calendar for this past year to see where we have been and what we have been doing in our lives.
We actually slept in our own bed a lot more this year. We were only gone 109 days. A lot less than last year. This is both good and bad. Good that we were able to enjoy our home, but bad in that we did not take as many assignments as in the past.
As to the why, blame it on two surgeries for Howard - one in May and the other in October - both on the same shoulder (Rotator Cuff Left Shoulder). This has been an interesting year for Howard. He became an "old fart" turning 65. And, his patience has been tried trying to recover from both surgeries. He has spent 12 weeks with his arm in a sling - six weeks each time - even while we were on vacation.
We all know patience is not one of Howard's long suits. In all honesty, he has done remarkably well. He even asks Lynda for help - something that we all know he hates to do. He would rather just do things for himself. He has spent a lot of time doing Physical Therapy. When we haven't been home, Lynda has been his PT helper.Of the 109 days we spent away from home, only four times were for taking care of other B&B's. Two were regular short term assignments in Colorado Springs (six days in total). One was an 18 day assignment at the end of the year up in Cripple Creek, CO. It is where we are right now as this holiday letter is being written. This is our fourth holiday assignment at this B&B. Each year it has been snowy and cold. The other assignment we have taken was for the month of August in Asheville, NC. We had a wonderful time and got to see a part of the country that we have never been in before. It was most interesting when guests would ask Howard where he was from because they couldn't place his accent. His answer would be, "I don't have an accent, you do". During our time in Asheville we were able to take in some of the sites and enjoyed the Biltmore Estates and Great Smokey Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Highway.
We also saw a wonderful sign that we passed by frequently in Asheville. We got a big kick out of it.
So, where did we spend the other 57 days you might ask. Well, we made three trips to San Jose to see Laurie & her family We celebrated Elijah's 
and Josiah's Birthday's. Elijah went right for the cake, and Josiah loved one of his presents. 
He insisted on putting it on even though it was the middle of June and the weather was clear.
and Josiah's Birthday's. Elijah went right for the cake, and Josiah loved one of his presents. 
He insisted on putting it on even though it was the middle of June and the weather was clear. We also visited them at Hanukkah. On one of our trips to CA we went down to LA to see Marsha and Jill's family. We did a quick stop in Salt Lake to do some genealogy research, spent a week at a timeshare vacation in Park City (with friends Sharon & Al), another timeshare vacation with Laurie & her family in Lake Tahoe (where Lynda did some Rock Climbing with Laurie)
.
.We spent some time in Oakland for a seminar, a trip to Denver for a class on investments, and another trip to Denver for the Millionaires Mind Training Intensive. You got to love retirement living.
So, what were we doing when we were home you might ask. Well, we taught four B&B seminars, did five pet sitting assignments, took a Pet First Aid class (do you know how to do CPR on a pet - we do - Mouth to Snout !), Lynda did some mystery shopping (and got paid - but not much), and just seemed to hang out and keep busy doing this and that while Howard was recovering from his surgeries (Lynda is happy that he is finally out of the sling).
We are sponsoring three students this year. We took on another Air Force Cadet - Ben, but haven't seen him much because of other commitments (he is on the swim team). We are still sponsoring Liz who is in her second year of Colorado College. We see her every few weeks when she comes over to do laundry and for a "good meal". Finally, we have taken on another "Saudi Aramco Brat" Lynsey. She is 15 and going to boarding school at Fountain Valley High School. She is kept pretty busy, so we don't get to see her that often although Lynda has been playing chauffeur taking her to a number of doctor appointments.
Of course, Lynda is still doing work for the State B&B organization that keeps her busy whether we are at home or on the road. Thank heavens for computers and the Internet.
We only had two visitors this year in Manitou Springs - Nic & Josiah. They came out for an Air Force football game. We had a great time at the game enjoying 70 degree weather in mid October. That was on Saturday. On Sunday it snowed. This was Josiah's first time seeing snow fall. With a little help from Ammy (Lynda) he threw snowballs at both Papa (Howard) and his father.
Of course, Howard told Josiah that he had to be silly because it said so in the Papa Rule Book that he got when Josiah was first born. He even went to silly school. Eventually, by the time Josiah left, he was convinced that there was not only a Papa Rule Book but also a Mommy and Daddy Rule Book too.
And so the year ends. Our wish for you is a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year. May all your dreams and wishes come true.
Love,
Toot & Teaser (aka Lynda & Howard)
So, what were we doing when we were home you might ask. Well, we taught four B&B seminars, did five pet sitting assignments, took a Pet First Aid class (do you know how to do CPR on a pet - we do - Mouth to Snout !), Lynda did some mystery shopping (and got paid - but not much), and just seemed to hang out and keep busy doing this and that while Howard was recovering from his surgeries (Lynda is happy that he is finally out of the sling).
We are sponsoring three students this year. We took on another Air Force Cadet - Ben, but haven't seen him much because of other commitments (he is on the swim team). We are still sponsoring Liz who is in her second year of Colorado College. We see her every few weeks when she comes over to do laundry and for a "good meal". Finally, we have taken on another "Saudi Aramco Brat" Lynsey. She is 15 and going to boarding school at Fountain Valley High School. She is kept pretty busy, so we don't get to see her that often although Lynda has been playing chauffeur taking her to a number of doctor appointments.
Of course, Lynda is still doing work for the State B&B organization that keeps her busy whether we are at home or on the road. Thank heavens for computers and the Internet.
We only had two visitors this year in Manitou Springs - Nic & Josiah. They came out for an Air Force football game. We had a great time at the game enjoying 70 degree weather in mid October. That was on Saturday. On Sunday it snowed. This was Josiah's first time seeing snow fall. With a little help from Ammy (Lynda) he threw snowballs at both Papa (Howard) and his father.
Of course, Howard told Josiah that he had to be silly because it said so in the Papa Rule Book that he got when Josiah was first born. He even went to silly school. Eventually, by the time Josiah left, he was convinced that there was not only a Papa Rule Book but also a Mommy and Daddy Rule Book too.And so the year ends. Our wish for you is a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year. May all your dreams and wishes come true.
Love,
Toot & Teaser (aka Lynda & Howard)
posted by Toot and Teaser | 9:53 PM
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