2009 started with my annual trip south to recuperate from "retardment". Spent January and February In St. Petersburg getting my "ray time" while listening to audio books on my MP3 player. My "job" this year was to scan ALL my slides and get them organized digitally. Took me six weeks to do them all working about four to five hours each day. While in Florida found a good deal on a new "old ladies" car, a 2008 Buick Lucerne. Did not pay much attention to all the goodies on it and found a couple of cool devices. It has blind side warning (two cars about to crash light up in the mirrow on the side where there is a car in the blind spot) and lane departure warning (lets you know when you change lanes without your turn signal on).

While in Florida made my usual trip to see The Graces. Dick and I took our usual sunset photos - he keeps getting awards and I don't.

Also made a trip to See Gerry Vest another former Purdue faculty member and see what she has done in her favorite hobby of minerals and gems.

This year Emilee Cantiri came for a visit and we made a bunch of tourist trips around. Went to Tarpon Springs to see the how they get sponges, toured the island off Ft DeSoto, and off to see the estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in the heart of the city of Fort Myers.

Florida time was extended as daughter Barbara came down and we went for a western Carribean cruise. Here is Barbara relaxing in our cabin at the stern where we had a great balcony for sun bathing. And here I am getting more ray time.

It is a hard life but someone has to do it. So here we are about to embark on all kinds of stops. First we had to fly the elevator up and down to get the view of the ships decks. Great views.

One stop was to see the sights at Cozumel, Mexico and a great sight was that of the alligators all around one area. They look so nice one wanted to just pet them!

A great stop was in Belize where we got to see Altun Ha the name given to the ruins of an ancient Maya city in Belize. The trip there was very exciting with a bus driver who could evade the traffic on narrow roads and not tip over the bus in the ditch. The guide was great in that he knew a lot of the history of the area.

A great little island stop was at Tabyana Beach in Roaton where we just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. Here is Barbara in the water where we just had a great time soaking up the sun's rays.

Spring is the time for a number of Rotary events and for our annual "Bids for Kids" Auction we had to dress up as some TV or whatever character so I went as my self - The Nerd. No one seemed to know any difference. Yes, that is a real slide rule and my "best" pocket protector. I love those white socks and those high bottoms - really miss all that great stuff. Rotary spring tiem was also the District Conference. I will forget I picked up the co-chair of it a a couple of weeks before the joint district meetings in Myrtle Beach. That week was great tiem for me as I had a Corvette to drive to and from the conference. Too bad I did not win it as it fit my personality to a "T".

May caught me going off to Fergus Falls for my Induction into the Fergus Falls Hall of Fame. Click here to see more about the event. While visiting I took a picture of my parents house at 516 East Vernon. It is still standing after over 150 years and looks like I recall except for the color, no trees, and the fence.

Summer went fast as I made a trip to the University of Alabama for my usual pitch on "The Wonderfull Wor4ld of Materials". Later Emilee Cantieri and I went sight seeing in Cherokee, NC where we got to see the sights as well as the drama telling the story of the Cherokee. We also visited Chatanooga to see the battlegrounds, the aquarium, and Rock City.

In August "The Liedl Family Vacation" was at Merrills Inlet ( just south of Myrtle Beach). As you can see there was some time spent in the water and here are three happy girls riding the waves.

We spent a couple of days in the Brookgreen Gardens. Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens to preserve the native flora and fauna and and display objects of art within that natural setting. The sculptures are great as is the whole set of gardens featuring the native plant life.

Here are a couple of sites in the gardens.

Fall brought a trip back to good old Purdue where the School of Materials Engineering celebrated its 50th year as a separate department. It was a sight to see all the alums ( former, not old). Click here for more than you wanted to know. Below is a photo mural on the wall outside the departments main office.

The rest of the fall had some interesting events. Had a "lawn ornament" for a couple of days as they dug up my sewer line. Discovered a leak that has been there for some time and it was nine plus feet down.

An exciting visit was from a part of the Scholar clan ( a West Lafayette family that goes back a long way. Chuck and Sue came through weith their daughter Ginger and family on their way to the beach. Had not met any of Ginger's family so it was a fun time.

So we come to the closing of 2009 with a view from above the clouds in Carrige Park. We know this is THE place to live for surely the pot-of-gold is at the end of the rainbow in Carriage Park. Just check the rainbow ending right here in Carriage Park. Note the second rainbow to the left.

Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Jerry