YearSummaries

Looking back, I would say, for me the year was a time of travel. Of course, through September I worked in San Francisco and the commute was 50 miles one way. But then, there were 3 trips to Germany. The first one at year's end 2002. Diether and I went together for his dad's 80^th birthday. My next trip was with Ruth to visit the relatives in Germany. Ruth was out of school a week before Ben and so the two of us went to Germany together; Ruth traveled on to Israel with Ben, who was introduced to the family there. Ben then stayed on in Europe to visit the family in Germany. At the end of this trip, I met Diether for a meeting in Berlin. This was my first time there and I must say, I enjoyed it a lot. It was very quiet at the end of July, the schools were on vacation, the government was in recess, and the theaters were closed. But it still was nice, we visited with the cousins. Marie, the little one, is now taller than all of us, and we'll love her just the same as when she was 3. The meeting was great, we saw many old friends, and while Diether worked, I had time to visit relatives, Museums, the City...

And then in November, I went back just because. I spent almost 2 weeks with my parents, also visiting the in-laws and and relatives, and still not enough time.

We spend our traditional week end in Pismo Beach. Diether and I enjoyed our location, we were right by the door to the beach. The kids were just across the hall, and had the same noise from this door to the beach. It did not bother us, because traffic died down at our bed time. Next year we'll book a different place to accommodate the kids' hours.

Our trip to Tahoe in September was great, and this year Ruth's parents joined us. Ben and Ruth got engaged on Lake Tahoe, but not with us parents around.

And besides all these trips I got to go on vacation with Diether, when we spent a week in late summer in the Nevada desert touring the OHV areas and enjoying the beaches of some desert lakes.

We celebrated Diether's birthday here in the back yard, when we saw many of you. We hope to see you all again in June.

Hopefully, we'll have the house back in order, and our belongings - temporarily stored in a blue container/storage box in the front yard - put back. Yes you all heard me whine about it, we did refinish the hardwood floors throughout the entire house. Believe me, it is worse than moving...

Of course, Diether is still working his long hours, and Ben and Ruth are doing well in school. And I shall be joining the work force again soon.

So you see, we are doing well. We hope this letter finds you equally happy, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

(written by Jutta)

2002:

Another year, and this one seems to have gone by even faster than the one before.
But first the changes which have impacted our lives:
The first week of the year Diether was made responsible for a department, and that has added a couple hours to his day. Diether tells me, that he is not working 16 hours a day like the start-up folks claim, but he sure is in the office 12 hours a day, add 1½ hours for the commute and a ½ hour for 3 meals each, that leaves just enough time to sleep and since every day is like this, he is tired and needs his full night&rsquos rest. The good news is, he seems to thrive on the challenge, and his team has completed several products.
Of course you know by now, this is Jutta writing.
I have taken over responsibility for sales for a small software firm serving the IT market. A new brave world&hellipI go to the office a couple times a week, in San Francisco, Portrero Hills. It is fun; the commute is further than Diether&rsquos, but takes about the same time and even after 6 months I look forward to the beautiful drive and the day in the City. These are the perks, the industry is slow, and so the work is tedious.
Ben is still going to the local college, he received an award for best student of the year with an award check which he applied to a LeMans car body which is big enough to hold his earlier investment, a 432 engine. I had no idea that passenger cars could have engines that big. I thought they are diesels and run semis.
And now the best news, Ruth, Ben&rsquos girlfriend, has returned to College after a year or so of full time work. Ruth is getting a computer/IT degree and seems to like the curriculum. The College is in Fremont and she too has a long commute, but traffic seems kind to her.
If I&rsquod stop here, you all get really concerned, and so I&rsquoll share a few things we enjoyed besides work.
We celebrated the birthdays, Ben&rsquos with a long weekend in Pismo Beach, the weather was kind, and we walked the Pismo Beach beach - check the pictures of our website, it is a splendid beach.
Many of you joined us for Diether&rsquos birthday and it was good seeing you. I sometimes feel that we are neglecting you and I need to work on Diether to set aside a little time for friends. But be aware he&rsquoll wander back to work. (Apologies to any of you, who got caught).
Thanks to all of you, who track us down; short notice is good, but of course you may be pulled in doing things you did not expect. (Thanks Janette for helping assemble the furniture.)
We had houseguests from France. My best friend from the age when one has this one best friend visited with her husband and their 10-year old son. Yes we were 13 back then and turning 50 this year. We spend lively weekends with them, one in Tahoe.
We were late for Ruth&rsquos birthday present. It took us until September to go to Tahoe but the late season was nice and quiet, the Lake was low, let&rsquos hope for rain.
After the end of the fiscal year Diether took a week off and we drove the Wrangler to Nevada. We had a great time, Toyabe at the end of fall: the contrasts of colors from dessert to forest, Pine forest to the fall colored Willow patches, and to make it even prettier we got a dusting of snow one day (check our website for photos http://home.att.net/~Diether).
And now it is after Thanksgiving and almost Christmas. Diether and I will be visiting the parents shortly after Christmas and we&rsquoll be in Europe for the start of the New Year. The kids are staying home, finals, school projects and a New Year&rsquos party.
We&rsquoll be here on Christmas, so if you are free, come see us. Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and the New Year.

Jutta, Ruth, Diether and Ben

PS.: The annual summer party is planned for Saturday, June 7, 2003 at 3pm to 9pm.

2001:

This year was an interesting one to say the least.

We all traveled to Europe, Jutta for her dad's 80th birthday, then Ben and his girlfriend Ruth. They visited friends in Munich, and then the grandparents. They were at Diether's parents' house on September 11, and we are not sure who was scared more, the older generation having lived through war and devastation, with all the memories coming back, or the kids. At least they were not on the road. Diether went at the end of September for his Mom's 75th birthday. Originally Jutta meant to join him to add a week in Paris, but due to the September 11 events, we took the week and went to the Western Nevada desert. For detailed trip reports and pictures please check the diary and photo pages of this website.

Professional: Ben enrolled in the automotive program at the local College, where he takes hands-on courses as well as the academic classes for mechanical engineering. Diether is enjoying his work in the industrial group of his company, where he also initiated a program in proteomics, and Jutta was laid off from the dotcom, she was working with. Yes, she has become another dot goner. And since the recession had already hit quite severely at the end of spring, she took the summer off. By now she also took the fall off, but it is time to get back into the working life.(As a personal note, she really enjoyed staying home. First she cleaned like crazy, but then she learned to live with herself and to enjoy it, much to everyone&rsquos and her own surprise. She doesn't even get annoyed at people cutting her off or at burocrats giving evasive/false answers. She still practices kick boxing and the kids gave her a punch bag to save Ben.)

Personal: We celebrated another year in June with many of our friends and are planing on another party just like it next year. (Mark your calendars: June 8th, 3pm.... ).

Ben, Ruth, Diether and Jutta spent a long weekend in Pismo Beach to celebrate Ben's Birthday and a long weekend in Tahoe for Ruth's.

This year the kids planned a surprise party for Jutta and details and pictures are on the website.

On Christmas eve, Diether, Jutta, Ben, and Ruth celebrated the holiday and exchanged gifts. On Christmas day, they had friends for dinner. We plan to have a relaxing yearend to be re-energized for the work ahead in 2002.

2000:

The end of the year is approaching. The hype about Y2k passed by us. We went to bed before midnight, to be woken by the parents, and the year 2000 started.

It was Jutta's mother's 80th birthday in April. Jutta visited her in Europe against her advice. Ruth's birthday was on Easter Saturday, still in lent. But for the 80th birthday all of the local friends and acquaintances visited. It was great fun.

Ben finished High School, but choose to stay home, and go to a local college - no changes in our household's arrangements.

Then in June Diether turned 50. We all can't believe it, as he still almost looks and certainly behaves like a teenager. But we are getting up there. Diether's parents visited for the occasion, and we did have the yearly party. As determined earlier, we are having this party on the Saturday after the birthday. In 2001, this will be June 9 at 3pm. Please mark your calendars. It was great seeing most of you, and Diether's parents truly enjoyed meeting so many of you.

Jutta started a new job in April. Her ex-boss asked her to work for a new start-up; and since the office stays at the house, and the concept is interesting, Jutta is working employed again. Jutta enjoys the dot-com environment, and has made new friends. Some will last a lifetime. Jutta's territory includes the northwest for now, so she flies to Seattle some. The headquarters are in Cambridge MA, so Jutta flies to Boston some.

Diether's travels slowed, due to a business change at his company. The monthly trip to the Washington DC area is no longer required.

Starting in spring, two lots up, a new fancy house was built, and the old properties were surveyed. The fences were off by about a foot. Our friendly neighbor insisted on moving the fence, and to cut a number of tall tress in the process. Our "hot tub' was in the way, and had to be moved. It is just now back in operation. The new house sold for a ridiculous price.

As for personal travel, Diether and Jutta got a couple of weekends to go to Donner Lake with the parents, to Elko to hike in the Rubies, and to a romantic resort on a lake for their 25th wedding anniversary. This year again Diether did not accompany Jutta to Martha's vineyard, but Jutta spent a relaxing rainy week with friends there.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends. Now the Christmas tree is up, cookies are baked, and we look forward to the yearend visits of our friends.

For additional information by Jutta on the year 2000 follow this link.

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1999:

The Kid
Ben is 17 and contracted Mono, believe me this virus is a drag especially if not recognized and going along with an ear infection. The ear needed to be treated with antibiotics, which in turn caused a rash, as not uncommon with Mono. The good news is no long-term effects to be expected. Short term: a D in history and that could be worse.
No football, but heavy involvement in band, teching for drama, link crew, camp, concerts&hellipBen is enjoying himself.
Others than that, yes Ben is a senior in High School and his longtime Sweetheart since Junior High went off to College and met a new boyfriend. The kids are still friends and if you need proof of that ask Diether for copies of the phonebill, yes copies is right, they never fit on one page.
And of course, he is looking at various Colleges to apply to.
One of them UAF in Fairbanks, Alaska. And that one, Jutta wanted to see and organized a trip during Spring Break. Diether had to travel to Baltimore and still thinks, he did not miss out.

Alaska
Jutta and Ben flew into Anchorage and rented a 4x4 to experience the fist break of spring in Alaska. The locals assured them, it was better weather, than all last summer. But the two would not know, but loved Anchorage, the drive towards Denali, and it crystal clear, blue skies. The University hosted them for a whole day with personal tours of the Physics department, the Music department and all looked great, even the dorms and the cafeteria are quite nice. At night they witnessed a Northern Light display and staying on paved roads, went for a day of relaxation to some Hot Springs. Most hotels were still closed; the few open ones empty. So they received all the attention and lecturing and sharing of the experience of the Alaskan life. Denali was only open for about 20 miles, and they did the short expedition, but the range had attracted clouds and hiking seemed a bit risky and for Jutta&rsquos liking, the temperatures approaching 32F(of course plus), too cold.
Back in civilization, the stayed in the same downtown hotel and for another treat had a private tour of the Center for Performing Arts, 4 venues of different sizes and most impressive architecture, lighting systems and calendar.
However, Ben decided, due to the high crime rate in Fairbanks and the distance to concerts/ nightlife, (Anchorage is about 7hrs drive from Fairbanks and that is in perfect weather conditions) not to apply.
Any of the other Colleges in question, Jutta did not insist on visiting.

Mid-live Crisis
Diether is travelling quite a lot for work and seems to enjoy it.
One highlight of his travels was Spain, a conference in Salamanca. He liked the lifestyle of late nights and even went to the disco.
It carried over, and Diether wanted to go to the opera and saw Louise, after having been to a concert with Samuel Ramey. Jutta , being asked, who Samuel Ramey was, simply responded, why, he is the best.
For pre-opera dinner Diether ordered a Martini dry up no olive. Jutta and Wayne were shocked. Now as for the Martini, Jutta got some of it. But as for the green salad, Diether finished it all. Greens of such quality are found at Star&rsquos in San Francisco.
Diether did see another opera, this time Verdi&rsquos Nabucco, because of a friend visiting from Germany, who loves opera. This was real opera.
Jutta saw a few more, but Alban Berg&rsquos Wozzek was her favorite. Especially as an opera guild member invited her behind stage, and then to the cast party.
Jutta made serious efforts to understand Wagner and listened to several parts of The Ring. One evening though, when going there with Ben, they got tickets for Stravinsky. Patrick Steward (Captain Peckard, Startreck ) performed as the narrator in the Soldier&rsquos Tale. Fabulous, truly a performance to remember.
Jutta had not enough, and went back the next day with her friend Vicky&rsquos son Bobby, and Vicky joined in.
This performance was sacral works and in Grace Cathedral. They all had a great time and went to Chinatown for a late dinner.

Summer vacation
This year&rsquos summer vacation was moved, due to meetings Diether did not want to cancel, and Ben having to go to summer school. So they did not go to Tahoe. Jutta still feels deprived of the beauty of the Lake. Denali should have made up for it some. Diether and Jutta spent a short week in Pismo Beach, 324 steps above the Ocean, with water view and a 20-minute beach walk to town. The waves were beautiful and Jutta missed their calming crashing for weeks. Pismo has so many things to do. On their way Jutta and Diether laid out a few things, they&rsquod like to do, but found a quiet cove to swim in, took the new Wrangler out on the sand, did forego the original plan of taking the Sandhighway, when seeing ATV&rsquos, weighting so much less, having difficulties.

Sales meeting
Jutta got a couple more beach days in on Martha&rsquos Vineyard, where a friend had invited her. The house was located at the end of a sand road in pretty oaks, small lush trees, different to the California oak for sure. So are the birds; the deer looks the same and skunks smell the same. It was like a garden and if Saint Francis would have shown up to feed the wild life; it would have not been surprising. Their little daughter saw her first shooting star; waiting quietly on the deck for a long time to see one. South Beach is outstanding, the island vacationland.

The Family
Jutta flew to Germany to visit her parents and in-laws. They all are well, but the little niece, who had chickenpox. It was a pleasant week visiting many friends. Jutta would have loved to see you all, but a week is so short.
By the way, it was an outstanding fall, the colors were so brilliant, and the first bottles of wine were just bottled, a great year. Earlier they called that a century wine. What a way to end a Millenium.
On her way back, Jutta spend a couple busy days in England visiting her long time suppliers of imaging boards.

The Retreat
Diether and Jutta still enjoy their cabin in the wilderness. Since they now have access to the mesa, they equipped themselves with a new toy, short turning radius, 4x4 and street legal. Jutta and Ben negotiate usage during the week, both of them love to drive it.
The cabin is in need of a new water heater, and last winter some water pipes had burst during the freeze (14F). The pipes were fixed in spring, and it made staying there much easier. The water heater should be fixed shortly. If any of you feel like watching shooting stars, hiking the wilderness&hellip call to make sure Diether is not travelling and pack your oldest hiking boots and drive on down.

Our Friends
We have seen many of our friends this year; it was a good year.
We had Diether&rsquos birthday party, and many of you joined us. Next year&rsquos is planed for Saturday again (after June 7^th). Diether does not want to call it his birthday party anymore; it will be the Recktenwald&rsquos Sommerfest. RSVP mid May, I&rsquoll try to invite for it early May.
The SF Bay Area Studienstiftung&rsquos 2^nd annual party was at the house in Cupertino, too.
Several friends from all over the world stopped by for short visits, we visited many friends and enjoyed it.

Since we already wished you a safe transition, it is now time to wish you a great new Millenium, or at least many happy years into it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1998:

This year brought a professional change for Jutta. She is now a manufacturer's representative again after the US office of her employer was closed. She now represents a number of companies again. She also made two trips to Europe to spend some time with her parents, because her father had needed heart surgery. He is doing well. She also traveled to the East Coast a number of times on business.
Diether went to Europe for the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents, and to participate in company meetings there. He also traveled to conferences in San Diego, Vancouver, Quebec, and Miami. There will be a professional change for him in January 1999, after in late November he accepted a challenging new assignment with BD's industrial business. The job location will be in San Jose, adding about 20 mins a day to his commute. After looking forward to the summer break from school, Ben spent a quiet summer visiting relatives and friends, and preparing for the football season with six hours of practice per day. Because of a knee injury during practice after the start of the school year, Ben had to skip a few games. He also took part in three parades with the Monta Vista High School Marching Band, playing the tuba.
The family spent the traditional vacation at Lake Tahoe in the same hotel room as most years. Because of the warm weather, we spent all of the time close to the lake, and we did not find time to climb Castle Peak close to Truckee again. This year, Ben arrived in Tahoe 2 days late because of conflicts with his other travel schedules. Diether had to leave a day early to participate in the ISEH conference in Vancouver.
Jutta enjoyed the opera season of the San Francisco opera, buying standing room tickets, whenever she was interested in a performance.
Diether continued with his renewed interest in photography by taking thousands of photos with his digital camera, his 1997 Christmas present. Ben developed an interest in photography as well, but so far he uses the conventional film based method.
Many friends from around the globe visited us; we enjoy your visits very much. We also had our big party in June with many of our friends. We are lucky to have so many good friends.
This year, we plan to spend a quiet Christmas season mostly in Cupertino, because Diether needs some rest for his left eye after some minor laser work after PVD. However, we may spent a few days in the quiet countryside near Greenfield after Christmas day.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1997:
There were no drastic changes for the family in 1997, except that our blackberry bush is taking over an area of the backyard, and the book, which Diether edited with Andreas R. is finally completed and available from the publisher in New York.
Jutta is still at AI, Diether at AC; both with new bosses. Jutta travels a bit more these days; so Diether and Ben have learnt to cook dinners.
Ben is still at High School, where he is a sophomore since this fall.
The family spent many weekends supporting his football and band activities (as also obvious from the many photographs on the adjacent web pages). Ben also took a college course at De Anza college this summer; otherwise he had a quite relaxed summer break.
In 1997 we made progress in cleaning up our weekend retreat outside of Greenfield, and experienced the benefits of modern chemistry with SPIKE.
Our vacation at Lake Tahoe this summer was fabulous. Ben and Diether climbed Castle Peak successfully; Jutta joined the YMCA afterwards to work out regularly to climb the mountain next year.

We spent a quiet holiday season at our retreat in Greenfield, only interrupted by a short return to the Bay Area on New Year's Day to accommodate Ben's social responsibilities.

Previous family page to early 2006 Diary 1998 to 2009

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