As I drew in my head, and was turning around

 Greetings All,

I hope this holiday letter finds you well. I’d like to thank Chat GPT for replacing my interns this year and composing this instance of the annual holiday letter. In my prompt engineering I stressed I wanted this year's letter to be witty, warm, engaging, and brief. I think they are still working the kinks out. See for yourselves:

2024 was a great year. I am still enjoying living in Philadelphia and the whole city is enjoying The BirdsTM  having a good* season. (*As of the time of this letter’s generation. Of course, as Philly fans we all expect it to come crashing down spectacularly in an agonizing way. See also: Philadelphia 76ers.)

Me and my friend Jalen at the Rocky Steps (PMoA)

I was so fortunate this year to have lots of visits in Philly from dear friends and family like Lynn & Robbie, Hal & Lindy, Avi & Claire, Julie, Xian, and Jenny & Pesto! Avi and Claire and I saw some art and tried some cocktails. Julie ran a race. (I sat out due to a swollen knee.) Jenny and Pesto and I ate some food and took some walks. Xian and I saw the Pixies and Cat Power and Modest Mouse. 

Fangirling at the Pixies with Xian!

It was a big year for concerts from bands from 2006: I also saw the Decemberists, and Neko Case and Les Savy Fav. I also got to see Kate’s fiance Matt play when Big Something came to town. (Stay tuned for wedding pics next year of baby Kate all grown up.)

Courtney, Tim (LSF), Natalie

When my sister Lynn and Robbie visited me in Philly we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art  and a 76ers game with Shelley and Keri. Speaking of the 76ers, I got to meet 76ers podcaster Spike Eskin at a live recording of one of my favorite podcasts (The Rights to Ricky Sanchez):

Spike and two Ricky Fans

I will reiterate that in my place in Philly there is a guest room with your own bathroom and you are welcome to stay for as long as you like. Come Through! 

In May, I took an absolutely amazing trip to San Francisco to visit my friend Ingrid. We biked all over the beautiful city and saw amazing parks and art and laughed for 3 days straight. I also took the ferry to Oakland and Miki showed me around there. It was a lovely time.

Me engaging with the Art

Ingrid and Me

More cool art in Oakland

In July, I went to New York City with my nieces to celebrate that they were both starting new degree programs this fall. Lindy is a 1L at Wake Forest University Law School and I think learned a lot this semester about exactly how fun “Bluebooking” is. (Actually, Chat GPT really should end the tyranny of Bluebooking in law school but that is a whole ‘nother TED talk.) Kate is in her first semester to earn a MFA in Choreography and also a Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University of Greensborough. (Apparently a certificate in for-profit management is too far fetched for modern dance. 😉)

While visiting NYC with my nieces we went to restaurants and bars from when I lived there 20 years ago and saw some shows on and off Broadway. We went to the Whitney Biennial and the Met Cloisters. It was a blast. They are so much fun to hang out with.

Kate, Auntie me, Lindy - Obligatory Subway Selfie

 Lindy and Kate before The Six

I started a new job this year and now work for Altera Digital Health in their data interoperability business unit, dbMotion. dbMotion has large clients in Israel, Melbourne, Australia, Canada, and the US so I look forward to meeting clinicians working to improve health outcomes with data-based decision making in all those locations.

Shark Tooth GangTM all spent a good amount of time at Oak Island as usual:

​​

Robbie, Lindy, Lynn, Me

I went to see Illinoise and loved it!

 Me before the show

Here’s my observation to share that borders on advice: You never know how much paying it forward will pay it forward. I am still in awe at how much joy I still get from the year I spent working with students at ASYV in Rwanda (2013). This year, I received a holiday letter much like this one from one of the students I had the privilege of working with way back then. He’s graduated from several universities in the US and is now back in Rwanda working on renewable energy solutions to improve his home. What an inspiration!

I’m also still working with Julien to fundraise for Rwema Football Academy in Rwanda and am so inspired by how devoted he and his team are to creating a sense of team and belonging for the kids he’s coaching. Look for the good in the world and see how you can join in and be a part of the change.

Peace on Earth,

Courtney

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 | 2023

A bundle of toys was flung on his back

 Greetings, 

Once again, I hope this warm, engaging 19th edition of my holiday form letter finds you well and deftly eludes the clutches of your overzealous spam filter. I realize this year’s edition is a bit behind schedule and I assure you the entire editorial team has been handed a severe dressing-down. With the traditional apologies out of the way, let’s get to the updates.

In April, I relocated from Cambridge, MA to North Carolina. (Thanks for the send off from the best bar in the world, Parlor Sports!) 

Getting on the board is one of this year’s proudest accomplishments.

Cal, me and one of the top 4 bartenders in the world, Nikki, taking a spin on the other side of the bar.

Dimagi sendoff gathering in Central Square.

I put all my stuff in storage and flew down to stay with my sister Lynn and brother-in-law Robbie for a little while, ‘just until I get my own place’. I have landed in their recently empty nest and they are taking great care of me. As such I am in no rush and am still freeloading, erm ‘house sitting’ for them at their place in Oak Island and the home they share with their cats, Cosmo and Venus, in Raleigh.

New Mailing Address:

CMFK

1421 Princess Anne Rd

Raleigh, NC 27607

It’s fun to be closer to family. My niece Kate is teaching dance in all venues from public elementary schools to the America Dance Festival. Baby Niece Lindy is a Junior at NC State, a regular on the dean’s list and the Wolfpack’s biggest fan.

Working remotely is the new normal long term for me. I am still working at Dimagi and we are very excited to have celebrated our 20th anniversary this year. I am still challenged and energized by working on public health programs in low resource settings all over the world.

 

If there wasn’t much work travel to report in 2020 and 2021, this year I made up for it with 3 separate trips to Cape Town (June, August and October), a trip to Senegal, and a trip to Ghana. (Extra special thanks to my dear colleagues Abdoul, Ismaïla, Adjo (and Adjo’s cousin!) who took extra special wonderful care of me when I had COVID in Senegal this October.)

Here’s me, Molly, Mary and Anita in Stellenbosch in June. 

Here’s the West Africa team in October.

Here’s some of the team enjoying a sunset harbor cruise in Cape Town.

I also was fortunate to have time off for an extended break in August and a Safari and beach trip with friends in Zanzibar. Holly, Steve, Jen, Emily & I saw the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro crater and spent a week at the best beach in the world in Paje Zanzibar. I was here last in 2013 and it was still just as beautiful. I think maybe the best tide pools in the world.

On Prisoner Island near Stone Town Zanzibar with Jen, Emily, Steve, & Holly. 

Jen, me, Steve, Emily & Holly on a vista over the Serengheti. We saw lions, elephants, hippos, zebras, warthogs, giraffes and everything else. It was staggeringly beautiful.

We covered a lot of dusty kilometers in this extended land rover with our driver and cook.

Me on the beach in Paje, Zanzibar. This is my happy place.

I visited my mom several times this year in Louisville, KY, and did a few side quests including a fun bourbon tour and some river kayaking:

Adam, Sharon, Kerry, Erin and me at the Willet at the end of a 2nd tour. We’re holding up incredibly well under the circumstances.

On the way to kayak

Same group cleaned up for brunch in downtown Louisville.

Mom & Me in July.

In fact, my most recent trip to Louisville ended earlier today. As a last minute edition as we go to press: I was able to join my mom and huge extended family for their annual Christmas Eve gathering hosted by my cousins Matt & Mary Randolph:

Aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and friends gathered on Christmas Eve

(Sure you received other Christmas letters, but did they include this year’s Christmas? And if not, can they even really call themselves Christmas letters at all???)

(I didn’t run much this year due to a foot injury so no race pics. Sorry, sweat fetishists.)

2023 is already shaping up to be a busy one. I have my travel visas for trips to Mozambique and Ethiopia already filed and that’s just for January. I also may eventually get my own place to live. Until then, you should come visit me at my sister’s beach house in Oak Island, NC. Wishing you health and purpose in 2023.

 Peace on earth,

~Courtney

@CourtneyMFK 

Outside of Cape Town in wine country in October

 

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

I hope my charming, warm, annual bulk email finds you well. 2019 was a blur and was largely comprised by a busy year of work at Dimagi. I spent much of the first half of 2019 in Delhi working on a large project there.

While most of the time in India was heads down in our office in Delhi, I did get away to spend a weekend sightseeing Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, a large state in India near Delhi. The whole city is filled with beautiful, amazing architecture. Here’s the entryway for my hotel:


In April, I was delighted to have Caitlin and Keri up from Philly to visit for a fun weekend. Here’s a photo of us hiking in the Blue Hills Reservation on the boardwalk in Ponkapoag pond. The hike is listed as ‘easy’ level of difficulty but that is not my recollection of the rolling and pitching boards.


In May, I was honored to be invited to attend Claude’s graduation from the University of Rochester. Claude was a student who I had the opportunity to work with while I was a fellow at ASYV. It was fun to go back to visit the city of Rochester, not having been there since 1997 or so when my parents lived near there in Victor, NY. The ceremony was beautiful and Claude has a lot of accomplishments to be proud of. After graduation he moved to NYC for a software development job for now. I’m still looking forward to working for him someday.


I spent a big chunk of the month of July in my sister Lynn’s beach house on Oak Island, NC. Thanks so much to Lynn, Robbie, Lindy and Kate for hosting me and taking such good care of me! My nieces Lindy and Kate are now seniors in High School and College respectively and we are all so proud of them and curious to see what comes next. Kate has already started student teaching and is still very active in dance and choreography. Lindy has been accepted to several schools so tune in to next year’s holiday letter for the big reveal.

In August, I was invited to the beautiful wedding of my cousin David to Hannah. We’re lucky to welcome Hannah to our large, and sometimes boisterous, family and it was fabulous to see all of my Louisville family at the celebration. Here’s me and Lynn enjoying the reception out on the Ohio riverbank:


I’m still running a bit and trying to keep active. I’m playing some pickup ultimate on Sundays with good weather and in a BUDA Grand Masters league a few weeks a year. I also ran a couple of road races this year and recently found a wonderful club that meets on Tuesdays and Sundays to run around Cambridge. When I realized how close the group meets to my home (very) I decided the universe was trying to tell me something so I decided to check it out and I’ve had a blast meeting tons of friendly new people. Here’s me and my friend Julie in September at the Salem 10K after party:

In October, I had a great series of internal meetings in our Cape Town office and had the time to hike up Lion’s Head with a few colleagues. Cape Town is a beautiful city and I’m always energized by spending time with the team.

Wishing you and yours peace and health in 2020. Please let me know if you come through Boston and I’ll unfold the futon in my sneaker room for you.


~Courtney

@CourtneyMFK
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Peace on Earth 2009

(Unedited Xmas letter from Mike Kelly)

     Peace on Earth

                                                                                              December, 2009

Merry Christmas to all from Barbara & Mike.

   Hello and best wishes to all our good friends. We had a wonderful year, and we hope you did too.

   Lucas Wheatley visited us again in the spring and brought his Mom & Dad with him. Kate, Lindy, Lynn & Robbie visited in July. The girls really enjoyed Gettysburg and Land of Little Horses. In July the Corcorans and the McElwaines from Belfast came to Myersville for a fun visit. The children played all day with the dogs and the mini horses, Belleek & Ash. Tim, Mary Helen, Sam & Lucy Blue also visited us; the children really enjoyed the day.  Courtney and her Ultimate team stayed with us in August. We never did get a good head count, but there were more than a few players.

     Barbara and I went to Oak Island twice this year, once with the “big family”. We also traveled to Raleigh for the Annual Oyster Roast. We drove to Louisville for Thanksgiving where we had an awesome visit. Thanks to Cathy, Joe, & Lucas for the hospitality.

This year we lost our beloved Golden, Maggie May, after 14 & 1/2 years; we really miss her. We rescued two new dogs, Goofus and Penny Too. Our current animal count is 4 horses, 3 dogs & 2 cats.

   Our jobs have changed this year. I got tired of being unemployed, so I retired. I’m still not having any problem with the spare time. Courtney left Accenture and is now working 3 days a week for Perfect Sense Digital. She has moved to Brooklyn and is very happy with both changes.

    Lindy’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Project has developed a drug that is being tested in a clinical trial at Chapel Hill. We are all very hopeful that it will produce positive results. Thank to all of you who helped make this possible.

    Thanks also you all for your prayers and good thoughts for Lindy. She is continues to do well & is enduring second grade grade. Our Kate is doing very well in 6^th grade and is enjoying her dance company. She is beginning to act like a teen.

Barbara & I are both doing well. Barbara had some new injections in her knees, and she is much improved.

Come see us in Maryland.. We live near Hagerstown; 11908 Woodland Way Rd, Myersville, MD 21773. Phone 301-293-4375. Email: kellymike8@gmail.com & kellybarbara4@gmail.com .

Peace and love,

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Mike and Barbara