The Curtis Clan - Fall 2023
Fall Equinox to Summer Solstice
With the girls out of the house the inspiration for keeping the family scrapbook up to date is reduced. I'm 6-9 months behind in keeping it up to date, in no small part because I feel less in sync with the girls lives and finding it hard to chronicle the events of note for them. I know this is how it's supposed to be, but I felt obligated to acknowledge the issue here in the family scrapbook / blog to explain the lake of timeliness to the updates or the depth of material about them.
The first day of fall we fielded a team for Jefferson Township Democratic Party Triva Night at the Eden Seminary though Bethany had to be scratched with 2 days left of COVID infectiousness possible left. We won the first trivia round and never looked back. It helps to demographically be in sync with the people writing the question. We also won a couple silent raffle baskets.
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Jefferson Township Democratic Party Trivia night Winners
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The next day we woke up to find that overnight some pranksters placed a couple of skeletons in our yard. We filed a police report hoping to locate the persons that were missing their loved ones with no success. Several Facebook posts on the local neighborhood pages eventually connected us to the prankees and we were able to reunite them with their bones and restore their faith in Halloween.
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Two Week Party of Uninvited Guests
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Pulltite Camping
The first weekend in October was the annual fall camping trip with former Tuxedo neighbors and others at Pulltite campground of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. After decades of doing this trip (at least 3 decades for Randy), much of the trip is traditions and rituals of floating the Current River during the day, making dinner and spending the evening around the communal campfire with folks letting their pyrophoric tendencies loose.
| Randy and Charlie floating |
Dan and Mary Burk |
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On Friday, we floated from Pulltite to Round Springs and Akers Ferry to Pulltite on Saturday. Thankfully Congress passed the Continuing Resolution to keep the government open and the National Parks where we were camping open too). It's not the same without Bethany and the girls but it's still a good time with Charlie, Jo Ann Wilson, the Burks, Anthony Holmes, the other regulars and new faces.
| Friday gravel bar lunch stop |
Randy & Anthony at next lunch stop |
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| Rescuing a couple thoroughly stuck on a tree |
Pulltite Gang at start of Satruday float |
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The Beneficent and Pyrophoric Order of Hollow Logs [BPOHL]) paid homage on three nights and we did our best to use the trailer of wood that Kevin donated to the cause.
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Hollow Log Fire and Pumpkin Carvings
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A highlight of novelty was seeing the SpaceX Starlink satellites string of lights appearing on the horizon while sitting around the fire.
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Hollow Log FIRE! (after adding a waxed packaging from a 12 pack)
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Anthony joined Randy made a post camping jaunt to Rolla and then up to Columbia to spend Discovery / Indigenous People's Day together. The drive up Highway 63 was particularly fun as we stopped at the Vichy fire tower on abandoned US 63 (fall 1981). We took pictures with potatoes to send to Bosman, pleasing ourselves to no end (IYKYK). We also stopped in Jefferson City to experience the joy of visiting Central Dairy: $3.50 2 scope sundae (1 pint plus). Money can buy happiness in the form of ice cream.
| Pi Kapp alums |
Vichy firetower (30 years later, still too soon?) |
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The following weekend, Bethany went to her 35th High School Reunion at Villa connecting with old friends.
Jane in Switzerland
Jane spent A Term (1st Quarter) abroad in Zurich, Switzerland as part of WPI's graduation required Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP). The IQP is a small team project (4 people in Jane's case), completed in their Junior year, lasting 7 weeks, that is generally abroad. They apply for locations in fall of their Sophomore year and start preparing for the trip a quarter in advance. WPI has a heavy team project focus to their curriculum which is one of the things that appealed to her about going there. Jane got one of the fancier slots which was working in partnership with the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (aka OST); located in Rapperswil, a suburb of Zurich. Her WPI team worked with OST to set foundations for a bilateral exchange program.
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Alpine Jane
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It also allowed Jane to travel to explore Switzerland, the nearby alps and neighboring countries which she did every weekend (e.g., Lucerne, Lake Como, Milan, Grindelwald, Octoberfest, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Matterhorn, & Bern). Hardly what one would classify as roughing it living in the apex of the 1st World with the associated expenses to accompany it (Zurich has the highest cost of living in the world on many lists). Sticker shock was a daily occurrence of her initial weeks there.
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With her IQP gang plus others in Milan
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The IQP credit earned is Social Sciences, so it isn't meant to be a tech heavy semester as much as one working with peers in an unfamiliar culture.
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Their final IQP Presentation (Jane, Jackie, Danilo and Isabella...booo!)
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On the positive side, she felt comforted about the reasonableness of the greater Boston pricing upon her return to campus.
If you want LOTS of pictures and more details, reviewing her 114-slide presentation she made for the Sagemas gathering in December is the way to go.
2023 WPI A term Jane IQP Slideshow.pdf
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All back in the USA
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Mid October
October - Best time of Year in Missouri did not disappoint with colors and temperatures.
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Fall at Tuxelia
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We took advantage of the season for walks in the afternoon and inspiring a personal Octoberfest wine fest on the balcony; no designated driver needed when each of us polished off a 750 ml of bottle of wine. We also began test driving small and midsized SUVs for Bethany as we anticipated the need for all 4 Curti to have sperate reliable transportation the following summer. No car buying rush but wanted to be prepared when the time was right (i.e., February for all the new cars we bought together).
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R&B Octoberfest
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Western PA
The last weekend in October, we made our third trip to Western PA of 2023 for Bethany's cousin Robert Ciccone's wedding to Amanda. Friday afternoon we met up with Randy's college buddy Matt and his girlfriend Jen, exploring the warehouse district.
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Pittsburgh Warehouse District with Matt and Jen
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That evening we were delighted to be asked to the dinner gathering with Ciccones at his sister's Barbie's. Seeing Don with all three of his siblings and hearing the family stories was a treat. With a lazy Saturday morning, we drove to Wash, PA to buy Schafer Light at Capelli beer store (along with some Black and Tans and pickled eggs).
| WashPA Objects of Desire |
Old Main at W&J |
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The wedding was out of town a bit in a converted barn venue that was very nice. It was touching that Robert did half of the Mother-Son dance with Katie and we enjoyed hanging with the Ciccones again.`
| Sampiling the Wedding signature drinks |
Rob dancing with his 2nd mom Katie |
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The 4 Ciccone Sibblings and Mom (the Bird)
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Meanwhile at WSU
| With AHllie at opening of 5 Nights at Freddies |
Party at WSU with roommate Hailey |
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With Ashlan, ? and goats?
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November Cruise
In November Bethany and Randy headed to Florida to go on a cruise. We booked the trip in spring right after Bethany got her tri-weekly therapy schedule in hand allowing us to plan ahead. The trip mark the end of a year of apprehension, challenges, and differed pleasures and so we Carpe Diem-ed booking the cruise that fit in the first window of opportunity for the anticipated treatments. Like the year before cruise with the girls, the timing was more important than the where of the trip.
Before boarding we spent a few days in the Villages with Bethnay's folks Amy and Alvan who decided to join us on the cruise as well. On Sunday, November 5, we left Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades a FUDS).
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Leaving Port Everglades
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Being our 5th cruise, we easily fell into the familiar grove of a cruise: getting dressed up for diner, drinks in the Wheelhouse bar (we got hooked on the booze/ wi-fi tip package when we with the girls) with A&A followed by dinner and a live shows. We weren't up for any adventure on this trip, choosing to stay close to advanced plumbing with moderate amounts of walking. We got off the boat at each stopped but didn't venture inland or sign up for any of the excursions. At Princess Cay, Eleuthera, Bahamas, A&A saved us deck chairs completely in the shade allowing a relaxing reading location on the beach.
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Enjoying cocktails at the Wheelhouse before dinner
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As in the past, recreational reading during the day was a favorite activity, though they didn't have thick blue cushions on the Prominade deck chairs making them far less comfortable for extended sessions. Reading in a comfy chair at a window wasn't quite the same thing.
| Reading on the Prominade Deck
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After a very short recy off the ship at Ocho Rios, Jamaca, we reboarded and found that the Explorers Lounge was starting a 50-60s Music Trivia game and decided what the heck. We ended up winning and getting a free bottle of champagne. It was so much easier than last year with the girls when we really needed them to win it.
| 1st Trivia Win |
Deboarding in Jamaica |
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On Grand Cayman we enjoyed the relaxed vibe in the British West Indies which made us more comfortable wandering further away from the ship (maybe 3/4 mile). We got beers at the White Whale Pub and Ale with a terrific view of the ocean and ship. Watching the traffic and the cars not available in the States pass by was the biggest treat.`
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Venturing a little further at Grand Cayman
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At Cozumel, Mexico, we made a short stopover in the tourist shopping center. We bought some things for bargain fun (hats and vanilla) but not out of any real need. We'd been there 10 years earlier but only one store looked familiar. During the afternoon, we had drinks, played games (Phase 10), a light late lunch and needle point and journalling. Later we stopped in for a general Trivia session, finishing first again (we were two 1st Place finishes for three tries on the trivia games on this cruise).
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Bethany in the sunset before formal night
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On our penultimate night, we realized we had $238 in ship credit with little need or desire to buy most offerings except booze. So, like contestants on a morning TV game show, we bought as much as we could without going over: 2 rum, 2 Baileys', 1 Scotch and an Amarula cream liqueur. Heavy and fragile so not necessarily a great choice but we had an extra bag that allowed us to put all our bottled gains in a carry one. Alvan had 2 bottles of Scotch in the in a box when deboarded and tragically the bottom of the box failed. We gave him Scotch, which was his Christmas present early. Maybe jewelry next time, which weighs a lot less.
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Cruise Booze booty
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After dinner the last night
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Thanksgiving
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The dogs welcomed Cate home on Tuesday after her flight
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Jane choose to stay in Massachusetts over the weekend to catch up on schoolwork amongst all the sorority activities.
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Life is a Beach? at AXiD
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Thankfulness came early on Wednesday, as Randy's second colonoscopy turned up non-cancerous polyps which they were able to take care of right away.
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Randy happy to have solid food again on Thanksgiving
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It was warm on Thursday encouraging some vehicle repair on the Traverse. Replacing the driver's side headlamp bulb, a $200-300 job that took 20 minutes and cost $20 parts. The Curti Thanksgiving dinner had a mimosas and samosas theme.
The family Sagegiving at the Shaws was moving as Bethany and Van's health scares for the year brought out sincere emotional statements of thankfulness from the gathered. It was a year of close medical calls.
| Amy and her girls |
Fun Aunt B with the 2 Youngest Shaws |
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Sagegivng at the Shaws
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R&B at the HiPointe
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December
We had dinner with the Homes at the Swaines beautiful new home at I-70 and I-64 as they returned to St. Louis area from Evertt, WA after Steve retired from Boeing. His restored pinball machines and juke boxes was a treat, as always, plus a few new unexpected whimisical electronic what nots.
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Hypnotized by the Deathly Hollows Storybox
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For the first weekend in December, Bethany got together with some of her Villa Duchesne class of 1988 friends, putting together some baskets for the Christmas basket mass!
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Class of '88 Christmas Basket party
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In DC for work for 2 weeks, on Saturday Randy hung out with Brad, driving to Frederick to enjoy some of Maryland's breweries and eateries: Monocracy Brewery, Cafe Bueno, and Steinhardt Brewing, followed by the Judge's Bench in Ellicott City.
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Enjoying a flight a flight at Monocacy Brewing with Berd
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Bethany getting together with Maria and Elisabeth
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Townie Holiday Caper - Part One
The Sage Sibbling sisters remember brother Van's 50th Birthday with a Christmas Elf surprise.
| Brother Van neeeded a inflatable friend Sammy was NOT a fan |
Christmas Elf visits Van |
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Pepper welcomes Jane home
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Holiday lights outside the Rep
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Townie Holiday Caper 2023 - Part Deux
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