Alan is still science editor at MSNBC.com, and
still keeps up a regular MSNBC blog called
Cosmic Log. This year he wrote
a book, "The Case for Pluto,"
which just came out and is sized just right for a last-minute stocking-stuffer. It's all about the planet search, how Pluto was found and demoted,
and all the cool things we can expect to find in the next six years. Pluto
and its little pals just might make a comeback. He was on the road a lot to
promote the book as well as cover the news (preferably during the same
trip), and that's one big reason why this letter is late. In 2010 he'll be
in Portland, Ore., the L.A. area, San Diego and perhaps Boulder, Colo., plus
swings in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Check out the
book's Web site for details.
The family travel highlight of the year was our trip to see Tonia's
sister and her husband in Montreal in August. Tonia's brother-in-law took us
on a fishing trip in the forests of Quebec, and the lake was so well-stocked
that even Alan could catch a trout. In the picture, Alan is wearing a Clan
Hood T-shirt that he scored during SpoCon, a science-fiction convention in
Spokane where he was a guest speaker.
Tonia is finally recovering from the badly
broken leg she suffered back in November 2007. Another round of surgery in
January 2009 did the trick. She's now co-president of the Hoe 'n' Hope
Garden Club here in Bellevue.
Natalie graduated from Western Washington
University with a B.S. in biology and is now pursuing her master's degree in
entomology at Washington State University. She has a fellowship to do
research in bee science, which is the fulfillment of her long-held dream.
Evan graduated from Bellevue High School at the
top of his class (tied with several others) and received a National Merit
Scholarship, along with many other honors. He is now attending the
University of Washington and is focusing on computer science and
engineering.
Our dogs, Bijou (the Tibetan spaniel) and Rosie
(the Cavalier King Charles spaniel) are both doing well and always ready for
a walk, if not a run. Bijou has recovered from her nasty encounter with
raccoons and is cultivating the sans-tail look. Very fashionable!
Click here to see a picture of Rosie and
her siblings, taken at a family reunion in Poulsbo in August.
To see how times have changed, check out these family letters from
Christmases past:
