December 2008
Seasons Greetings from Holly and Matt!

In last year's letter we reflected on "a year of stability".  Well, that's certainly changed!  In short: Matt's dad died (unexpectedly) in January, his step-dad in February, his mom in March, and his aunt Dot in May.  He has been managing the estate of his mom and step-dad, with huge assistance from his siblings.  Holly's job is scheduled to disappear next June, as her boss/mentor is leaving Texas.  Matt's job went to half-time in May and if additional funding doesn't come, is likely to end next fall.  Matt separated his shoulder in late May and missed playing squash for four months. Lots of trips.  Lots of questions about what's coming.  Whew!

We traveled more than usual this year.  Matt made a trip early in the year to see his dad in the hospital and support his dad's wife, and then back to southern California for the funeral later in January. Before coming home, we also stopped in Monterey/Carmel, California to visit family there.  We didn't know that would be the last time we saw Matt's mom and step-dad, but in late March we headed back to Monterey/Carmel for their memorial service. 

We also traveled for work. Holly presented at conferences in Houston and Urbana/Champaign (Illinois). In August, we both went to Montreal where Matt gave talks at a conference and a workshop and we discovered crepes. We just returned from nine days in Cambridge, UK, where Matt gave a talk and did some work with folks there (and we discovered sticky toffee pudding). 

In June, after working with a personal trainer for six months to get ready, Holly took a walking tour through southwest England with friend Freida. In September we went to northern California to attend the 90th birthday party of Matt's Uncle Ross.  What a gathering! -- wonderful to see family in a celebratory setting this time. As a bonus, we stopped in Alameda on the way there to visit with Matt's cousin Marilyn and aunt Sylvia.

On the work front, Holly did her first stint as an expert witness early in the year; and this fall, taught a doctoral research course at UT.  She was involved in a couple of evaluation projects and developed a comedy ethics course for social workers.  Matt continues to enhance the ACL2 theorem prover and do related stuff (like serve on a dissertation committee -- hoo boy, that was a lot of work!) and to do some consulting.  

Actually we're excited about (as the slogan goes) change that we can believe in -- yes, politically, but also, personally.  This coming summer we'll be living in Cambridge, England, thanks to some collaboration Matt is doing with a wonderful professor there.  Holly will be co-authoring a book on the Katrina research she’s been part of for the last three years.  This Christmas we'll be in Las Vegas hanging out with friends Marion and Richard.  

So, what's new with you?  We wish you an exciting (but not too exciting) 2009!  

						Holly and Matt