The Mittelstaedt Monitor: Christmas 2022

 

 The Mittelstaedt Monitor

Christmas 2022

December's now here, and Jean at last said,

"Let's get these Christmas cards mailèd..."

Ted, Dorothy, and Jean at Magpie Mouse in Seattle

Workin’ 9 to 5…and more

Portlandia Cloud Services, Ted’s consulting company, continues to keep him busy.  He provides IT consulting services to individuals and small businesses.  He’s pretty mobile, working from his home office or out in the field.  He might install a server in the morning and troubleshoot somebody’s virus-infested laptop in the afternoon. All this while answering a steady stream of phone calls and emails. Since the pandemic began, he has helped many of his clients get their employees set up to work remotely. While he still makes plenty of in-person visits, he thinks that Zoom often makes long drives to customer sites less needed. This also saves gas and wear and tear on the vehicles, which he also likes.  😊

I continue teaching students about writing at the Salem Campus of Chemeketa Community College and at Portland Community College. Fall term, just ended, I taught four writing classes, and during Winter term, I will teach three. In the spring, I will add Linn-Benton Community College to my freeway flying. I will also add Traffic Safety Education (aka driver education) to my skillset and hope to add at least one class in the spring as well. I started a second term on Chemeketa’s Faculty Senate, where I maintain their Web site, among other duties.   

Mittelstaedts: The Next Generation

Ian turned 24 this year and just celebrated his one-year anniversary as a tow truck driver for AAA. It's interesting and he likes it, although he plans to return to the Automotive Service Technology program at the Sylvania Campus in January. In the meantime, he serves the public and even his parent (he's towed Ted home at least twice--we drive "vintage vehicles" in our family). He and his partner Ambrose live in an apartment close by, so he is able to stop in occasionally for a hot dinner or to let the dog out when we are out of town. He’s experiencing rent and budgeting and shopping and other Adulting topics and has become quite a good cook as well.   

Dorothy turned 20 recently, just before beginning her sophomore year at Seattle University. A mechanical engineering major, she took calculus, physics, and metal shop during Fall term, where she designed and machined the metal parts for a clipboard. She loves life in Seattle and enjoys exploring the area around campus when not studying. Her favorite place to visit is Twice Sold Tales, a bookstore with cats, and she regularly checks in on the dog park also. She enjoys riding the light rail and visiting the International District with her friends. She is enjoying time at home over Christmas break and will return to Seattle in January for winter term, when she will take more calculus and physics classes. 

Ruby sniffs along the Necanicum

Ruby is 15 now and has slowed down somewhat, but you wouldn’t know it when we get her out to Seaside down near the river.  She still loves chasing squirrels and anything that will run away from her, and she is not above looking thoroughly starving whenever people food appears.  She loves going for walks and for car rides, especially if they result in a nice treat from an obliging gas station attendant. Most days are spent sleeping, but she does enjoy patrolling the local schoolyard to make sure it's kept free of food bit so that the little children and their parents don't have to worry.  😋

Life, the Universe, and Mittelstaedts

As always, our personal lives are as busy as our professional lives. I still sing with the Chancel Choir at Westminster Presbyterian, although sometimes my teaching schedule necessitates a hiatus.  I ride my bike as much as I can. I rode Bridge Pedal again and spent time when I could this summer exploring the many places that Portland offers for riding a bike. Ted and I also spent an enjoyable afternoon recently tasting wine at Chemeketa Cellars in West Salem. We also enjoy walking through our very walkable neighborhood and checking out new sci-fi programing on streaming like The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Picard, and The Orville. 

Our Seaside house has turned into a welcome and comfortable retreat that we enjoy visiting about once a month. We will be there for most of the Christmas break.  Ruby enjoys rambles along the Necanicum River, which we can see from the house, and chasing birdies along the beach. It’s also proved popular with the vacation renters.   

And to all a good night...

                
Peace and love to all of our family and friends in 2023!