Top Ten 2024

9.  EPIC skiing with Steve / IKONic skiing later:  

South Lake Tahoe with Steve

A heartfelt thank you for welcoming us into your South Lake Tahoe home. The winter days were filled with family skiing adventures, captured in those slope-side moments with the kids in their colorful winter gear. The evening entertainment with virtual reality gaming in your cozy living room created the perfect end to our mountain days.

Palisades Getaway

Our time at our Palisades place brought more cherished moments. The hot tub sessions with Michael and Karen were perfect for post-ski relaxation, complete with refreshing drinks and stunning mountain views as our backdrop. The evening transformed into a lively karaoke night where Kailee and her friends filled the room with music under the warm glow of string lights, their voices and laughter echoing against the winter evening.

These contrasting yet equally memorable experiences perfectly capture the magic of our Tahoe adventures - from gracious hospitality at a friend's home to creating our own special moments in our mountain retreat.

8.  Business Stuff

This year has shown slight growth for our business, bolstered by the incorporation of Florida properties, where we made the strategic decision to take over property management. However, we observed a decline in short-term rental demand, likely due to shifts in supply and demand dynamics. In response, we pivoted back to focusing on long-term rental properties, which has proven to be a prudent adjustment.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kailee for her exceptional support with bookkeeping. A special thanks also goes out to Michael, Vaishal and Hemant, Jamie, Albert, Jaleel, and Sameer for their ongoing contributions to the success of our business. Lastly, we express our deep appreciation to Michael Adelberg for his leadership as Chair of the Board.

7.  Baseball

2024 marked a bittersweet chapter in youth baseball as we celebrated the final season of Little League with our young athletes. The yellow-uniformed team's joyous cap-tossing celebration captured the pure spirit and camaraderie that defined these precious years. On the softball diamond, determined batters showcased their skills, with perfect batting stances and unwavering focus at the plate. The season became even more poignant as we bid farewell not only to Little League but also to the historic Oakland Coliseum. At the final Yankees-Athletics game, wearing both teams' jerseys symbolized the deep connection to baseball heritage - honoring both the storied Yankees franchise and our beloved hometown A's in their last Oakland season. The sight of Jeter and Judge jerseys in the stands, against the backdrop of that familiar green and gold outfield, served as a fitting tribute to generations of baseball memories made in Oakland.

6.  Trip to Mexico City

Our Mexico City adventure was a perfect blend of culinary excellence and cultural immersion. We explored the historic center with its impressive colonial architecture and iconic equestrian statue, before diving into the city's renowned food scene. Our gastronomic journey ranged from dining at exclusive restaurants to discovering hidden gems during a street food walking tour. The group gathered at a local cantina near the Zócalo, enjoying cold Tecate beers and authentic Mexican snacks, as evidenced by the outdoor dining scene at "Hoy Por Ser." The ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan provided a majestic backdrop for photos under spectacular cloud-filled skies. The trip's highlight remained the electrifying Lucha Libre match at Arena México, where we experienced the theatrical drama of masked wrestlers in Mexico's premier wrestling venue. Between these adventures, we savored both high-end tasting menus at prestigious restaurants and authentic street tacos from local vendors, creating a perfect balance of Mexico City's diverse culinary landscape.

5.  Summer Trip to Florida and NY

A whirlwind summer adventure took us from Florida's Gulf Coast to the glittering skyline of Manhattan. The Tampa leg began with property tours, followed by an unexpectedly peaceful Disney experience as a hurricane's forecast kept the usual crowds at bay. Nature provided thrilling moments during a kayak expedition where we encountered an alligator lounging among lily pads in its natural habitat. The Florida portion was enriched by reunions with old friends. The journey then shifted northward to New York, where family bonds were strengthened through cherished time with relatives. The trip culminated in spectacular fashion with rooftop gatherings - first at the prestigious Yale Club and later in Brooklyn, both offering breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline painted in sunset hues. These elevated vantage points provided the perfect settings to reflect on a journey that seamlessly blended business, adventure, family connections, and urban sophistication.

4.  Thanksgiving Trip to Texas

Our Texas adventure was a perfect blend of history, nature, and family connections. The journey began at the iconic Alamo in San Antonio, where we explored the historic mission and fortress that stands as a symbol of Texas liberty. The Natural Bridge Caverns provided a spectacular underground experience with their illuminated limestone formations glowing in ethereal blue hues. Moving north, we visited the active paleontological dig site at the Waco Mammoth National Monument, where we witnessed ongoing excavations of Ice Age fossils and impressive mammoth displays. The Fort Worth Stockyards offered an authentic taste of Texas cowboy culture. Our time was enriched by staying with family - enjoying Ashok's hospitality in San Antonio and Pratik's welcome in Dallas. The long drives between Austin, Waco, and Dallas gave us a true sense of Texas's vast landscape, punctuated by seemingly endless construction zones and a memorable stop at the massive Buc-ee's travel center, a true Texas institution. The trip concluded with quality family time, including a creative fall-themed painting session that perfectly captured the spirit of our Texas journey.

3.  Art with Amy

Spending three afternoons exploring San Francisco's incredible museums was a perfect mix of art, culture, and fun. At SFMOMA, we admired Amy Sherald’s stunning portrait with its bold geometric dress and serene blue backdrop, a piece that truly stood out. The de Young Museum offered a different vibe, where we marveled at Tamara de Lempicka’s elegant Art Deco painting, capturing her signature style of glamour and modernity. The colorful, larger-than-life sculpture at the Legion of Honor sparked some playful moments, with Amy striking a pose that perfectly matched the figure’s energy. Each museum had its own unique charm, making every visit feel like a fresh dive into the world of art.

2.  Lego League

The dedication and competitive spirit of Team Spark shone through as they clinched 6th place with an impressive 230 points in the FIRST LEGO League SUBMERGED Challenge. The team's innovative solution utilizing centrifugal force for oil cleanup around coral reefs demonstrated their commitment to real-world problem-solving. Meeting weekly around the LEGO table that became a permanent fixture in our living room, their hard work culminated in not just their strong competition performance but also earned them the prestigious Rising All-Star Award, recognizing their exceptional future potential. Adding to the team's memorable experience, Kailee stepped up as an MC during the final competition, her deadpan humor bringing welcome levity to the intense atmosphere of the robotics challenge. While the LEGO table may have dominated our living space, watching these young innovators develop their skills in robotics, critical thinking, and teamwork made every square foot of space well worth the sacrifice.

1.  Thanks everyone for a great 2024 especially during Yufen's absence.   I appreciated your visits to our new place, especially out of town guests Ed, Brian, Gaju Uncle alnd Chandrika auntie and Dave - encourage more! And yes I had AI write this - I had it review up to 4 photos (limit) and then gave it a prompt with my key messages.  Don't blame me for any of this, I'm pretty sure there are some hallucinations and personally I like my writing better than AI (I intermixed ChatGPT, Grok, Claude and Llama from my Perplexity Pro sub)!   It is my product of the year and hope to see a better future with it.  New this year,  Lenny for the lunches, and Scott for the Monday night invites to the Yacht Club.  And my long loved Book Club and Guys Night out!  As always its your friendship that makes life worth living.  

In memorium: Third Sister, Cheryl and Hansa Auntie.