Todd is at the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky, competing with the top 72 high school Lincoln Douglas debaters in the nation.

April 2008

Well, I finished the MS150, after three broken spokes, 2 new wheels, and a strong breeze in the face.  But arrived unscathed.  Pictures galore, and some video and audio footage coming soon.

Added a new pet, pro tempore -- Now known as Norman, a Brittany Spaniel.  Unfortunately, he and Beauregard made an interesting combination.  Norman is now seeking adoption, and Beauregard is relieved.

Todd, the first of two Proms.

Jocelyn, in Shanghai, started her new job.

March 2008

Jocelyn left for Shanghai. Christian did a presentation at an Ark conference in NYC on March 19 titled "Capitalizing On the Client-Focused Practice Support Function at Your Firm."

February 2008

Pam and Jocelyn went to New York.  When their cousin Johnnie was in town organizing the Obama rally, Joce and Todd got to meet the Senator.  Here's two pictures.

Jocelyn, Todd, Senator Obama, and Johnnie

January 2008

Bob and Susan had their 60th wedding anniversary.

December 2007

Jocelyn graduated from the University of Colorado on the 21st, having addressed the Honors Convocation the day before, as the outstanding graduate from the College of Arts & Sciences.  She was summa cum laude in Chinese, with distinction, with a dual major in Business Marketing, also with distinction.  At the graduation recognition ceremony from the Leeds School of Business later that day, we learned that she was also the outstanding student in the Marketing Division.  To top it off, she also received the Alpha Kappa Psi Leadership of Excellence Award, having been personally selected by Michael Leeds.  At graduation, she carried in the flag for the College of Arts & Sciences and was on the main podium, seated between the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and the featured speaker.  The President of the University, Hank Brown, told her that if she had any more honors, she would fall over.  We were (and are) so proud of her achievements.  She wore Eugene's Phi Beta Kappa key.  More pictures.

To close out the year, Todd and his teammate Paul closed out the Houston Pinnacle tournament for Strake, both winning their semi-final rounds.

Jocelyn got inducted (finally) into Phi Beta Kappa; Pam went out for the induction. Joce is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the Business equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.  Todd downed in semis at the UT Longhorn Classic in Austin. Another TOC bid, and his Texas points.

November 2007

Jocelyn had a busy month.  First, she submitted and defended her honors thesis ("The Chinese Movie Piracy Phenomenon: Social Considerations for an Effective Solution"), learned that she will be graduating summa cum laude (in Chinese) and with distinction (Business Marketing), and then that she has been named the outstanding graduate from the College of Arts & Sciences.  She will be addressing the Honors Convocation.

Todd downed in finals at Cinco Ranch (and got top speaker points) and at the Minneapple (giving him his first Tournament of Champions bid), and in quarters at The Glenbrooks (that earned him his second Tournament of Champions bid).

Christian spoke at an IQPC event in Pinehurst, NC.

We spent Thanksgiving in Corolla, on the Outer Banks.  Pictures to follow.

October 2007

Todd downed in doubles at St. Mark's in Dallas. Went to the Taylor Homecoming.

September 2007

Todd downed in doubles at Memorial in Houston.  Competed in the Greenhill Round Robin. He turned 18.

August 2007

Just when you thought it was safe to look again, I have posted some more pictures from the MS150.  These are from the commercial photographers (brightroom) who work the event.  The picture of the blue bonnets doesn't capture the impact of seeing acres upon acres of the flowers.

Todd had back surgery on August 6.  Went back to school fulltime on August 27.

Jocelyn visited.

July 2007

Todd has been out at VBI for two weeks.  For the VBI blog, go here.  He placed first in the workshop tournament at University of North Texas (see link below).

Jocelyn has been out in LA, interning at MGM for the summer. 

She did get together with her cousins, Carrie Anne and Johnnie, and her nephew, Jack.

For more pics, go here.

Todd went to a debate camp at the University of North Texas for two weeks. 

In the debate round, he placed first in a field of 100+.  For links to the blog discussing this, with additional pictures, click here.  For the Strake Boys, go here.

June 2007

Todd worked at a YMCA camp for a week.  Beauregard and Tasha playing. Vince and Liz stopped by on their way to California.

May 2007

Christian prepared another set of materials on an introduction to doing presentations in Breeze for a book authored by Ted Banks from Kraft.  For details, go to Articles & Presentations/eLearning. He also gave a presentation at an IQPC seminar on Information Management and eDisclosure in London.  For details, go to Articles & Presentations/Information and Records Management. Todd finished his junior year, and Jocelyn and Pam drove from Boulder to Los Angeles, where Joce will be working for the summer.

April 2007

Todd had a successful round robin tournament in Palo Alto, coming in second.  Beautiful trophies.  Christian completed the MS150 ride from Houston to Austin, raising money to support research for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.  Photos, before, during and after.  For the video of the arrival in LaGrange, go here.  Still time to make a donation in support (the first $5,000 will be matched by BP).  Go to http://ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=198541 March 2007

Todd and Christian week on an East Coast college tour, and had the chance to stay with Scottie and Richard, and Eddie and Susan came up as well.  Here's a picture of Scottie and Todd.

February 2007

Todd has a debate tournament in Harvard.  Dad went along and judged a bunch of rounds.  Quite an experience for both, including Todd's slip on the ice and trip to the emergency room.  Double Octo Finals.  Trophy.

January 2007

December 2006

Todd was in a show with his school chorus.  Debate tournament in Austin.  Jocelyn and Todd get ready for exams.  Pam and Christian and Todd decorate the house.  Beauregard supervises.  Traveled to the Outer Banks for Christmas week.

November 2006

Todd attended a debate tournament in Minneapolis, and broke into the  Double Octo's (the top 32) (trophy).  He won the debate tournament at Cinco Ranch on November 11 (trophy).  Added a new page for Joce's honors.  Went skiing in Breckenridge for Thanksgiving, stopping to visit Jocelyn and the Denver Zoo.

October 2006

Pam and Christian visited Joce in Boulder while Todd attended a debate tournament in New York, and made the double octo's (top 32).  Here's his trophy.  We had dinner with friends, saw Ralphie, saw Joce's apartment and had a good time.  Todd attended Homecoming at Clements.  Christian spoke at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Corporate Counsel in San Diego.

September 2006

Pam and Christian celebrated their 2nd Anniversary.  Pam went to visit her parents and sister.  Todd (and Christian) went to a debate tournament at Wake Forest (where Todd made it to the double octos -- the final 16) and Memorial here in Houston, where he also broke (made the cut).  Pam and Christian spent a half a weekend in San Antonio, and saw our old friends, Kathy and Bruce. Todd turned 17.

August 2006

Jocelyn got back from China, avoiding the typhoon but not the 13-hour delay and the 36 hour travel day.  Todd is still working at HEB, getting ready for school. Pam & Christian celebrated 25 years of marriage. Jocelyn made the ceremonial presentation of gifts, and celebrated her 21st birthday, with the family, at Carmelo's.  She and Pam drove to Colorado for the beginning of school, and had dinner with friends.  Todd had his first debate tournament of the season.

July 2006

Todd left for VBI, the debate camp at UCLA. Christian updated the website.  It's about time. Pam's parents and sister returned to Virginia. Tasha got a new toy. Joce sends her second letter from Shanghai, and provides some more pictures, here and at http://community.webshots.com/user/joceinchina. More photos from VBI. Todd had a paintball tournament in Boston with Epic.

June 2006

Christian gave a speech at the Ark KM Conference in Toronto.  Pam and Christian went to a wedding in Orlando on the 17th.  Christian visited his brother John in Delaware, and saw Dixie and Hugh for dinner. Jocelyn is in Shanghai.  Pam's parents and sister came for a visit. Todd started working, sort of.

May 2006

Joce arrived in Shanghai.

April 2006

Christian is still scheduled to ride in the MS 150 on April 22.  We're trying to update the site with some photos.  Possible advertising opportunity to place a sizable ad on a large expanse of hi-viz yellow Lycra.

Otto Liipfert, my father's brother, died at home earlier this month, age 91.  We had a chance to visit with Otto and Anna Leak in December, right before his birthday.  He was dearly loved by many, and is missed.

Christian did finish the ride to Austin.  Here's the photo history.

March 2006

Pam and Christian went to New York, where Christian co-Chaired the Knowledge Counsel Forum for two days.  http://www.thomsonlegalworks.com/events/pdf/LKCF_26k.pdf  We got to see Wicked, which is fantastic, and Ring of Fire, which was pretty good.  Stayed on Times Square for two nights, and across from the site of the World Trade Center for two nights.  Had dinner with Jack & Shirley Liu, and generally great food everywhere.   For pics, go here.

Todd competed at the Texas State Debate Tournament, where Strake Jesuit won, and he had 2 wins and 3 losses.  While Mom and Dad were in New York, he was at a paint ball tournament in Huntington Beach, California.  Ah, the jet set life. 

Jocelyn sent Beijing, Part Deux, March 1 . She went to Xi'an, the location of the Terra Cotta warriors discovered in the 1970's.  She got notified that she was accepted to an internship program with Marriott Hotels in Shanghai for two months, after she's finished with classes in Beijing.  She'll be working in the Communications Department.  Also, Beijing, Part San, another letter from Beijing.

Tasha's birthday was March 30.

We said goodbye to Lynn & Vince as they prepare to move to Michigan.

 February 2006

On February 2, Christian had a minor bike crash going into work.  No broken bones, no stitches, but serious enough to stop by the hospital.  On February 3-4, Todd got third place at the James E. Taylor Debate Tournament.  On February 9-10, he competed at the John Foster Dulles Tournament, and placed fifth (two more trophies), qualified for the State Tournament, and became one of five sophomores in the nation to get a bid to the Tournament of Champions.  On February 12, Jocelyn left for Beijing, where she will be studying at BeiDa for several months.  On February 19, she sent a letter and some pictures.

January 2006

Christian signed up to ride in the MS 150 in April, a 180-mile bike ride from Houston to Austin, supporting Multiple Sclerosis research.  On January 13-14, Todd competed in a debate tournament at Katy High School, and got fifth place.  Here's his trophy.

December 2005

    Jocelyn returned from Boulder.  Christmas letter.  We visited Otto and Anna Leak on the way to the Outer Banks.  Also saw Eddie and Susan, and Scottie (but the pictures didn't come out).

November 2005

    Thanksgiving in Breckenridge. Christian was in London for a meeting and had a delightful lunch with Neil & Toni.

October 2005

    Parents Weekend in Boulder.  Christian's speech at Association of Corporate Counsel Annual meeting in DC; Visited John & Mary in Rehobeth, and had dinner with Dixie & Hugh in Chevy Chase.

September 2005

    Evacuate for Hurricane Rita.  Long drive to Amarillo (17+ hours), long drive back.  All is and was well.  Lessons Learned: collect the stuff you need in advance; if you're going to leave, make reservations and leave early; Todd's birthday.  Meeting in London. Homecoming at Taylor.

August 2005

July 2005

    Todd and his Epic buddies play paintball.

June 2005

    Tasha graduates from puppy class.

May 2005

    Christian had a speech in Palm Springs, speaking with Dennis Kennedy.  Got the chance to see Carrie Anne and Jack in Venice.  Christian also had business trip to Atlanta -- saw Linn Matthews and Rob Briggs, and the house that we lived in in Alpharetta.

April 2005

    Christian's and Jocelyn's birthday.  Pam & Christian to Columbia for wedding of Scott & Sally.  Met with lots of Liipferts -- Scottie (and Richard), Eddie, Susan, and Worth.

March 2005

    Pam's birthday. Cruise on Carnival to Cozumel & Playa del Carmen. 

February 2005

January 2005

    Christian gave speech at LegalTech in New York -- Collaboration with Outside Counsel.  Saw a lot of the usual suspects.