Happy Holiday

Hello all, I know I have been remiss in posting an updated picture of Wiley. This is a picture (sorry for the poor resolution) of Wiley at doggie day care. He's the one in the foreground just observing whatever things those other dogs seem to be doing.

If you ever need a doggie fix, here's the link to the doggie daycare website (with links to the webcams on that site).

http://www.downtowndogsminneapolis.com/

He usually prefers to spend his time in the West Wing 2 room and the North Room 2.

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Unfortunately, mine was extremely sad this year with the passing of a really close friend of mine. Besides George, I do not know if any of you had a chance to meet her (I think that Gareth did). I pasted her obituary below (I had trouble linking). She was an amazing person and died way too young. Tricia and Tonya, I hope that you are checking yourselves regularly.

Claudia Saavedra Hoyos

Hoyos, Claudia Saavedra wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, died Thursday. She was 38. Born on September 14, 1969 in Santiago, Chile, Claudia came to this country at the age of six. She always excelled in her educational endeavors. She graduated from Bismarck Century High School in 1986 before moving on to Georgetown University, where she graduated in 1991. She went on to pursue her legal studies at Hamline University School of Law where she was recognized for her outstanding written and oral advocacy skills and graduated with honors in 1996. She was an accomplished attorney in the areas of securities and international law, first at the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney and later at Moneygram International. In addition to her challenging and fulfilling career Claudia found time to enrich her life with a variety of interests including world travel, sailing, photography, painting, design, and music. She was committed to community service and served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations such as Pangea World Theater. She was a "doer," leading family and friends on a multitude of adventures ranging from tango lessons in Minneapolis to snorkeling in Tahaa, French Polynesia, to helicopter rides in Bora Bora to high tea at the Ritz in London to canopy tours in Costa Rica. Despite these remarkable accomplishments and above all else, Claudia valued spending time with her family. Whether it was summer barbecues in her backyard or eve- nings spent baking holiday cookies and pies, what mattered most to Claudia was the presence of family. Preceded in death by her father, Hector. She is survived by her husband, Juan who stood by her side as she valiantly fought her illness; her mother, Trudy, who nurtured Claudia like her greatest treasure until the end; her brothers, Leo (Marisol), Jorge, Mario and Christian, and loving family members, Maria, Pablo (Nancy), Andrea, Alexia, Fausto and Giovanni and uncles and cousins both here and abroad. It is difficult to express the impact and influence that Claudia had on those who were privileged to be a part of her life. She combined honesty and compassion, intelligence and humor, confidence and humility, and strength and kindness to guide her family and friends throughout their daily lives. Her passing has left us empty and heartbroken, but we are all relieved that her pain is gone. Services to be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Visitation will begin at 11 AM am with a Mass at noon followed by a reception at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers or donations, memorials can be directed to the Claudia Saavedra Hoyos Scholarship Fund at Wells Fargo. Gearty-Delmore 763-537-4511
Published in the Star Tribune on 12/16/2007.