Just in time before the end of Christmas Day, this is our annual collection of photos, updates, thoughts, recommendations and miscellany—more than anyone should have to wade through, but in grateful appreciation of all the nice cards, messages, and posts we’ve received from all those who are more organized and timely than we are (i.e., everyone). Here’s wishing you and yours the merriest Christmas and warmest holidays.
Photo Gallery (followed by updates, click on image for slideshow)
Holiday Quotes
Submitted in admiration of all the others who have done and continue to do good works:
- “Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”—Epictetus, Handbook 46:1
- “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”—James 2:24
- “A person’s way of being human is the most authentic expression of their belief or unbelief. A person’s life speaks more about their faith than what they think or say about God.”—Tomas Halik, The Afternoon of Christianity.
Preface
If “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” described the French Revolution, we must be experiencing some type of revolution now—perhaps several. (Maybe then, “It is the best of times, the worst of times, and seemingly everything in between.”) Climate, world order, democratic institutions, artificial intelligence, lactose-free sour cream…disasters abound. Or from the classic satirical graduation address, “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”
But lest we lose heart, the season reminds us of all that we have to be grateful for, especially family and friends (not to mention, the nutmeg cortado). With thanks to everyone for their cards and messages, if anyone can actually get to the bottom of this post, we would love it if you left a reply.
Here’s the year-end report on our clan.
Kevin
Goals
This year’s: to navigate a middle path between savoring the moment and trying to save the world (neither successfully, sorry to report). Next year’s: let any regrets be about things done, rather than things not done.
Progress
Refreshed my Spanish during two-month stint in Mexico City (detailed here). Encouragingly, joke success rate in Mexico: 51.3%, versus joke success rate in Japan: 0.00%.
Recommendations
- Best book: So Very Small: How Humans Discovered the Microcosmos, Defeated Germs–and May Still Lose the War Against Infectious Disease (2025) by Thomas Levenson.
- Best podcast: Conversations with Tyler [Cowan].
- Best movie: The Penguin Lessons (on Netflix, trailer here).
- Best album: Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, Little Darling Pal of Mine (Live At The American Legion Post 82) [listen].
Ann
Notable Events
One of my ’25 goals was to explore more of the U.S. and visit with old friends and family. I was able to spend time in Palm Springs with my sister, Atlanta with childhood friend Carolyn, and Miami with close friends Adam and Tracy. Then we were kindly invited by Scott’s family to spend time with them in Door County, Wisconsin; it was great getting to know them, sailing on Lake Michigan, and enjoying my first fish boil. I was also able to check off Detroit, Toronto, and Rochester, NY where I met my great niece Daisy for the fist time. And then Kevin and I left the states for Mexico City which has so much to offer, but the best was hosting friends and family, enjoying the sunshine and good eats, and getting out of the crazy news cycle about “you know who”.
Heard to Say
“I think I am now at a first grade level of Spanish.” And, “Has anyone seen my phone?”
Fav New Music (at least for to me)
Bad Bunny
Hope for 2026
A kinder, less violent, more forgiving nation.
Malena
Notable Events
- I saw Beyonce in person for the first time at my first arena show at SoFi. Cowboy Carter remains one of the greatest albums.
- I entered my gravel biking era with a Salsa Journeyer and an epic ride from Whistler to Squamish via the Sea to Sky trail with Scott to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Don’t worry, we offset the type two fun with the Scandinave Spa and Taka Ramen.
- I left tech start-up life behind for a new job at Salesforce. Despite working in data science and AI for almost my whole career, I believe I will look back on 2025 as when I fully adopted using AI in my daily life and understood how drastically it will change things.
- Although I quickly forgot about this, I came into the year still suffering from chronic back pain (disc bulge?) developed three years ago. I’m beyond relieved and surprised to say that with physical therapy the constant pain is resolved.
Heard to say
“I think we should bike across Korea”
Hope for 2026
Long live the 2005 Prius!
Best audiobooks for a road trip
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs, by Ian Leslie. And Huma Abedin’s memoir, Both/And.
Scott
Notable Events
- Celebrating 1 year with Eco Outdoor in the PNW
- Gravel biking the Sea-to-Sky trail with Malena
- Visiting with family in Door County, WI where we executed a high-stakes, sunset rescue of a boat in distress on lake Michigan.
- Yet another amazing trip to Mexico City (thanks for hosting Kevin & Ann)!
Heard to say
Wanna buy some rocks?
Hope for 2026
I would like to see a mountain goat in the wild in 2026.
Owen
Notable events
Got engaged, changed jobs, got a puppy, oh my!
Book Recommendation
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City, by Paul Goldberger
Music Recommendations
- Getting Killed, Geese
- Bleeds, Wednesday
- LUX, Rosalia
- That Wasn’t a Dream, Blake Mills & Pino Palladino
Heard to say
“She’s just a puppy; she’ll grow out of that soon…”
Hope for 2026
To get married! To have a well behaved dog. A restoration of balance.
Juliette
Notable Events
- Got engaged to the one and only Owen James Harrang.
- Adopted an adorable 8-week-old puppy named Juno, who has been the source of both our happiest and most frustrated moments of 2025.
- Went on an incredible 3-week trip to Patagonia/Argentina that included hiking to famous peaks like Cerre Torre, exploring the Andes mountains, learning about and drinking Malbec wines in Mendoza, eating delicious steak and (attempting) salsa dancing in Buenos Aires, and learning the hard way not to book Argentina budget airline tickets ever again.
- Felt a morsel of political hope on November 4, 2025.
Heard to say
“Sorry if you can hear my puppy crying in the background of this Zoom”
Hope for 2026
To throw a kickass party June 6, 2026 (and to be able to ethically cohabitate with Owen in the eyes of Kevin Harrang)
Comments?
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