Ian Increases Influence Ian is in his sophomore year at the University of North Texas studying kinesiology. He turned 20 on Oct 20 and officially ended the family's teenage years. Ian is now bigger, faster, better looking, and stronger than John. (John is still more treacherous). On the bigger stronger front, we are not exaggerating. Ian is now 5-10 and 185 lbs. On the better looking front, attractive young waitresses keep giving him their phone numbers and, well . . . consider the picture and judge for yourself. Shortly after starting school, Ian joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and has been for two semesters the Risk Management Officer. Duties seemed to consist primarily of making sure the fraternity house didnt burn down and arranging a late night taxi service (every night) for brothers who had temporarily lost their ability to operate an automobile safely. Ian has just been elected president of his fraternity chapter.

About Ashley Early this year, Ashley applied for and won a position as an intern working for the Governor of Texas. See a picture at the right with Ashley, the Governor and Mrs. Perry. She started off working for the Dept of Tourism but soon was doing double duty by also working for the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). At the end of the internship, having proved to be indispensable, she was offered and accepted a full time contract position at the ETF. Her contract position ends soon, but three different state agencies appear to be fighting over the chance to hire her. Ashley just turned a quarter of a century old. John and Patrice are not clear on how this happened. Mere moments ago, she was just a little toddler running around the house. She now has her own house, a dog, and in a small ceremony this summer married Luis Javier Robledo-Martinez.

Patrice Particulars Having gotten Ashley and Ian out of the house (which Patrice built, see 2001-2005), and steering the family through the treacherous teenage years, Patrice has returned to the workforce in a very 21st Century mode. Working mainly from home, she assists the amazing Sha-Chelle Devlin Manning (look her up on Wikipedia but this doesnt tell half of her story) in an array of endeavors that is stunning in its breadth and depth. John only knows part of the story and Patrice won't tell him the rest (she claims that she is sworn to secrecy). As best John can tell, most of the projects involve advanced technology being developed in universities, government agencies, large corporations, and small nanotechnology companies.

Just John Junk:

John still works for Zyvex Labs which is a nanotechnology company. He is most occupied with a project that aspires to achieve world domination by the simple tactic of being able to build things with atomic precision. If the technology seems like it might be complicated its simple compared to political, bureaucratic, financial, and cultural aspects of the administration of the project. The funds are coming from the Federal Government, the State Government, National Laboratories, universities, industry, and Johns boss and nanotechnology visionary Jim Von Ehr. John routinely talks to people in six states and six countries in an effort to keep a coherent effort. John was recently honored for sustained contributions to nanofabrication and lithography by the American Vacuum Society who made him a Fellow of the Society. Since a vacuum is by its definition the absence of all matter, this makes John a Fellow of Nothing.

Pet Report: As our faithful puppy of 13 years (Max) passed away last year, we had begun to miss the patter of padded feet, the flying of fur, the bombastic barking, the dollops of dog slobber, etc. etc. To remedy this sad situation, we went back to the very breeder that provided our previous pup, and six months ago brought home Wolfgang, another Belgian Tervuren. When we first got him Wolfie was a fat furry sausage with one ear up and one down. Wolfie is now 9 months old, weighs over 50lbs, likes to lick, chew, slime, run, and dispense fur. When we say chew, we mean that he gnaws off the corners of large plaster objects. When we say lick, we mean that he has actually licked holes in a wall. He is also a love leach and the sweetest puppy we know.

Musical Misadventures
John has now been taking alto saxophone lessons for more than 5 years. He is the worst sort of amateur that actually thinks he can play and has recently taken to entertaining friends and relatives with impromptu recitals that no one has asked for (except his mom Vee) and no one (other than Patrice) is willing to tell him to stop. Wolfie (see pet report) is an exception. He seems to like to howl along with the music whenever John plays.

The Relativity Report: Sadly in 2009 we have lost some of our loved ones. Patrices mother Anita passed away in February after a long convalescence in a nursing home. Johns aunt Lou and Patrices aunt Catherine also died this year. Patrices father Eddie despite having some health issues is still living in his home in Houston. Patrices brother Nigel and his wife Rhonda and son Kyle still live near Eddie, but they had their daughter run off to to College Station. Yep, Caitlin is now an Aggie. Patrices other Brother Patrick with his wife Erica and chillin Leanne and Allen are all still in Clearlake near NASA. Johns Mom Vee is still doing well in Houston but has to put up with Johns brother Mike and cousin David Saxe. Mikes midgets are still mired in Minnesota. Johns sister Cindy and hubby Skip also live in Houston. Their youngest Kelsie is in college and their eldest Shelly moved to Chicago with her husband Matt and then they moved back to Houston again.

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