Family
Sitch Family Thanksgiving in Ottawa
The Sitch clan returned to Ottawa for a long weekend Thanksgiving at home. Ben + Allison drove up from Toronto, Joe flew in from Calgary (H couldn't attend, bummer), and Sara and I flew in from SF. Ottawa's miserable summer broke for this one glorious weekend.
Amelia walks 60 miles in the San Francisco 3-day Breast Cancer Walk
After a grueling 3-day 60-mile walk, Sara's sister Amelia is convinced that their ancestors were nomadic. No foot bandages, no shin splits, no tendonitis, Amelia powered through the walk without breaking a sweat. Okay, I made that last part up. She sweat a lot. Kinda stinky too.
Visiting our old family house in Sheffield, England
I was in the UK and Ireland on business and had a meeting with a lab manager at the University of Sheffield. When our family lived in England we lived in Sheffield! I swung by our old house and it's funny how much I remember.
New York family vacation
My family has suddenly discovered that vacations are fun. It all started with a two week vacation in Italy for John's 60th in April 2008. I met Bekks and John in Brussels on business in September, then Ben + Allison and Joe flew out to California for Christmas and New Years. Who knew traveling was so cool?
Christmas 2008 in San Francisco and Tahoe with brothers Ben (+ Allison) and Joe
Joe flew in first for some extended bonding time. We had a nice Christmas in Napa with Sara's extended family.
Parents visiting for a week
My parents visited for a week; we sent them on a three-day sailing class to get their ASA Basic Keelboat certification. Bekks was a bit afraid of the waves, but overcame her fear and is now known as "Capt. Bekks".
Exploring Naples and Pompei, Italy
Ben and Allison, Joe and Sarah, Amy, and Sara and I took off for a day trip to Naples. We spent the morning exploring the ancient city of Pompei, covered in hot volcanic ash thousands of years ago and perfectly preserved until just recently.
John's 60th birthday celebration in Fondi, Italy
Our first week in Italy was quiet and relaxing. Thirty other people joined us for the second week; we rented four different houses in Fondi, halfway between Rome and Naples. It wasn't quiet!
John's 60th birthday pre-celebration in Puglia, Italy
Sara and I joined my parents (Ann and John), my mother's sister and SO (Jane and Gibbers), and my father's sister (Joyce) for a week-long pre-celebration party in southern Italy. We stayed in a beautiful trulli near a small town named Ceglie Messapica. It was incredible.