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Wrapping up 2011 - a good loop around the sun

Funtastic year with many trips - spanning 3 continents - by air, rail, road and boat (also had a small parasailing in there).

Was able to hit the fastest speed on land in the AVE train from Seville to Madrid (180 mph to be precise) and also the slowest waterway travel (14 knots somewhere along the Pacific coast on the way to Mexico).

The family did many tours of duty and pleasure between Amruta's work trip to far corners of South India to Puja and Uday's east coast extravaganza on July 4th. Fireworks sitting at the Lincoln Memorial with Puja screaming at every large explosion - priceless.

It was a year of watching Puja moving from grade 3 to 4 with her teacher's in awe of her desire to learn. For us it was a first to see her go to a couple night camp away from us and come back with stories to tell about camping and wild life viewing and hiking without mom and dad in tow.

Our collective health held up well considering the spring allergies the little one faces but not to be deterred we managed some local travels in California and racked up another 18,000 miles on our sedan in this 12 mth period.

We explored some new food including the frog legs I had on the ship to Mexico as well as Olive Garlic chutney at a friends place as well as my first ever attempt to cook lobster tail at home - it was chewable.

Climbed mountains and snorkeled through waves, saw abundant wild life (not the usual during CA rush hour) but some exotic kinds - like the Orca extravaganza off the Monterey coast.

Ending the year with some quiet time at home tending to things we need to like fixing the old mailbox in the front yard - I know we do not get much by way of snail mail but for that occasional letter or card or some businesses still wanting to send bills by mail - that black box needs to stand up.

So here it is looking forward to the next 365 - with lots of hope and aspiration and charting a course for a new destination to celebrate what will be our 20th wedding anniversary this summer!

Puja has already approved Italy and its contents as an ideal spot. Time will tell.

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