You might have noticed by now that this annual newsletter didn’t arrive in time for the holidays. This year, it’s not just the usual procrastination that’s at fault; instead, we can blame the massive Puget Sound power outage that stripped us of electricity for almost a full week right before Christmas. You can find some impressive pictures of the aftermath of the windstorm on the Seattle Times site: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews1574/26.html
Prior to the catastrophe, things seemed to be going so well. Dave continues to work at Microsoft on Help for Windows Vista, which shipped to production in the fall and will be, as they say, in stores by the time you read this. Dave was promoted to manager and now has a team that’s starting to work on the next version of Windows that will follow Vista. He’s also continuing to improve the Help content for Vista, since Help will be updated via the Internet on a regular basis. Dave has started playing in a band composed of co-workers and friends, including Denny’s wife Dawn on vocals, Jay on guitar, and Charlene on keyboards (Denny, Jay, and Charlene are writers). Dave has also managed to throttle back his freelance writing to a manageable level. Along with his buddy Rick, he updated one book this year—How to Do Everything with Your Palm Handheld, which is now in its sixth edition. And please bookmark our Flickr site: flickr.com/photos/davejoh. There you can find the latest (though admittedly intermittent) postings of photos of our family. If you click on Dave’s profile you can also find Kris’s and Marin’s highlights.
~ Hobbes/ drj
Swirls & Spots
Wondering when to visit Cheddarwood? Kris’s new job minding the office at Cottage Lake Presbyterian allows plenty of flexibility working with great people, so come see us any time!
2006 kept the crew much closer to home. April and August brought opportunities to see Washington’s Olympic Peninsula on opposite sides of the calendar. Mom Frankland said it just wouldn’t be right to see the rain forest without rain, and Mom Johnson still got to enjoy snow on the mountains. Getting to know British Columbia, Evan’s band toured Vancouver and Marin played mallets, cymbals, and triangle for the Woodinville Community Band in Victoria.
Soon it will be February and time to head back to Lake Wenatchee to play in the snow — although this season we’ve had plenty of snow here in the yard! ~ t&t/kmj
Burning Cat Astounds Cereal Eater
Well, as you all know, we had a power outage, and as these things go there were a few unusual occurrences. 
For instance, we had breakfast by candlelight, and in this time the only person who got up early was Dad. He always enjoys his 3/4 cup of Puffin cereal and half pint of milk, neatly measured into a bowl. It turned out that simply eating wasn’t the star of his morning, as when Muff decided to tax some of the milk he managed to brush against a candle stick, instantly setting himself ablaze. Dad, resenting the fact that Muff was going to tax his milk, did not douse him but patted him down. Muff, oblivious to the flare, simply purred contentedly and wondered at this new antic of his owner. ~ Jasmine/edj
Muff’s Mews
Passion
Passion is what turns gray to silver,
A sloth into a morning glory.
Passion churns our hopes, our wishes,
Until the dough takes form as bread.
Passion holds and passion clings.
Passion molds and passion sings.
We would all be lost in doubt,
Lost for what it’s all about,
Turn and churn and twist about,
If we were without passion.
~ mhj
The Poets’ Stone
My voice is a carving in stone.
The carving lives on past the carver.
Maybe it will be rediscovered after years sitting alone,
Perhaps its words made threadbare by water,
Or maybe the sea will carve out my story,
But this stone will be found by another poet,
Who will work the stone found in time’s sea,
Until, once again, another will find it.
~ mhj
