Merry Christmas Yeah You Betcha!

Ringing in the New Year: I spent my first New Years Eve on the Las Vegas Strip. My new boss and friend Bob Benz, his lovely wife Patricia and I went bike drinking on the strip. Lots of security and I only fell once. True to form it was a beginning and an end.

Cienna Charron came to town: Burt and Linda made a new play thing, and we want to make her stay up all night. Cienna Charron came to town February 4^th

College friends: Dave Pinkerton, Mike Borchardt and later Joe Zweck came to visit me In Vegas. We did some sailing took in a Dennis Miller show, and actually did some gambling. Go figure.

Surprise Another Birthday: My cousin Brenda and a whole host of folks actually pulled off a damn nice surprise party. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you again.

GI John: In February of 2003 a good friend of ours John Giannini got called to Iraq. He made it home for Easter so we had a gathering of good friends at Barb and Jonnies house. It was awfully nice to see him but worrisome to see him leave for Iraq once more.

Fishing Opener: It was this big. Scott Visger again organized a fishing get away that we have been doing for several years now. This year he was not the only one catching fish. I limited out every day Hubert my uncle actually one the largest fish one of the days. The end was capped off with Scott and I snagging a couple of nice bass in the last ½ hour.

Wedding bells: What would a year be with out a good old fashioned Wisconsin wedding? A good friend from my college days Chris Becker married Ms. Heather Tiets. I got to see many good friends, too numerous to count, and get some motor cycle riding in. The wedding was a success and I had a blast.

Father George’s 50^th Anniversary: One week after the Wedding in Madison I was back in Rice Lake to celebrate my uncle Georges 50^th anniversary of being a priest. The place was lousy with Votrubas. I got to see many relatives too numerous to count I got to deflect the usual questions of when are you getting married, how’s the love life and what the hell have you been doing to get so fat. I threw the last one in there no one actually asked. The only downside of the visit was I actually had to go to church.

What’s behind door #1? A new Job: That’s correct I entered the real world June 27^th. A good friend of mine Kris Davidson now has that job. It is nice to have Kris his wife Noelle and daughter Hope back in Vegas. It took me only 15yrs but I finally got a job in my field. I work for a friend Robert Benz at Benzair Engineering. We do combustion control for boilers and general engineering. Mostly energy efficiency engineering. We have been extremely busy lately.

Callie’s Graduation: We postponed the Annual Pig Roast this year because my niece Calie graduated from High school and is now in college at ASU.

The Iron Man: July 4^th I spent in Hermosa Beach and was suppose to participate in an unsanctioned event called the Iron Man. The object is to run a mile, paddle a mile on a surf board then chug a six pack. It is quite a spectacle. Bob (yes my boss) is the event coordinator/MC and I was in the bar with all the judges when the event stated I had good intentions. You can see pictures at www.eppicsurf.com Carl and Lynn Brandt were in Hermosa for a wedding and I got to see their Jess-i-ca for the first time.

Alaska Fishing: Tim Hovde invited me along for a silver salmon fishing trip to Paul Vic’s set net site in Uganik Alaska. We didn’t catch many halibut but we partook in the silvers and sea bass handsomely. We saw a few bear behind the cabin on our flight in. That is now three once in a life time trips to Alaska. Thanks Paul and Tim. I visited Carl, Lynn and Jessica before and after the Alaska trip and we did the tourist things actually went to Leavenworth and the pier as they live in Seattle now.

Work Pleasure: I got to go to a job at Miller Brewing in Milwaukee and spent several days in Madison with friends Mike, Joe, Chris, John and others. We went to the UNLV Badger game and did some more motor cycle riding. After the job Rick Salcedo a co-worker and I took in the Brewer Giants game at Miller Park when Barry was going for his 700^th Homer. He didn’t get a homerun but he did go 3 for 4 I think.

Jon-O’s Bachelor Party: Jonnie red pants Spangler invited us to his bachelor part in Ensanada. We sailed with JonO’s dad Wayne across the ocean so it was only natural that we sailed to Ensanada from San Diego. It was the weekend of the bike ride and we met up with Burt and Linda who had just received a standing ovation for riding a bicycle built for 4 as the Flintstones. One highlight was when some one arranged for JonO to play a few tunes for the crowd. Half way through the first verse Evan Ranes our business partner and professional drummer accompanied him. As this happened the place exploded. Evan then stayed for a couple more songs with the band. And we then retired to Housongs for many more beers.

Home Coming: Jonnie came home for good form Iraq. We later went on a one day hunting trip in the mountains of Nevada. We decided to camp in a shallow valley and it snowed. We got out and had to boogie back to Vegas.

Thanksgiving in Phoenix: Being busy I flew to Phoenix from San Leandro and had Thanksgiving at Burt’s place. Dan and Kim drove down and I got a much needed knap. Back in Rice Lake Lil Brother Rog got a buck and gave it to the food pantry. Also Rice Lake\Birchwood where we hunt was the site of that bizarre shooting of 8 hunters. One of which I played football with. It has set Rice Lake and the surrounding area on it’s heals. I understand there are a lot of rumors going around.

Other stuff:

J The motor cycle runs but needs some work yet. Will it ever end?

J The brewery has made it’s third batch of the BEST BERR IN THE WORLD.

J Bush won the election? Just checking Iraq never attacked us right? It was the Bin Laudin guy right?

J Went Sailing with Mike Borchardt, Dawn and Kris Davison

J Evan Kris and I all caught our first stripper (stripper not striper) out of Lake Mead.

J Marcus Jubber and friend from Sydney came for a visit while Joe and Mike were in town.

J Dan and Kim are expecting Olivia soon.

J Housing prices in Vegas rose about 100% some 200% in the last year.

J I travel a lot now and maybe in your town soon.

J We are in the process of buying another building.

Pictures at http://www.charrons.com/davecharron/pictures/default.htm

1 Sailing Bachelor Party - 1 Wedding - 3 Ninas and one on the way – New Building – Brewery - Fishing - Hunting – Graduation – Sailing – New friends – and a running motorcycle. Life is good.