Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas 2010 and Happy New Year 2011. We wish the best to our friends and family both near and far. We've had a great year and I hope to use this unique blog to let you know about it. I know the word "Blog" doesn't sound uplifting - too much like "Blah", which is close to "Bah" as in "Humbug". I hope the added spice of a few pictures and a little humor bring some good cheer from our lives into yours. Feel free to post comments or just let us know how you're doing. (If you click on the images, you can get a bigger version.)The slideshow at right was used at Gabe and Britt's wedding in October.

Merry Christmas to all
Michael

Our Family

2010 was really a great year in my view for the Hein-Frey family of Auburn, AL. Kitty and I feel fortunate to have such wonderful children. They are each special of course in their own unique way. Our two eldest, Andrew and Gabe, are now on their own, but it still seems very much to Kitty and me that this will always be their home. Luke has just graduated and still living at home. Savannah lives in town and attends Auburn with a year to go, and we do see her and Abby frequently. I invite you to read below a little about each of us from this past year.

Andrew

Son #1, Andrew and Gaby (Gabriela Blohm) are graduate students at University of Florida and live in Gainesville. Last year they took an exciting vacation trip to Peru and the Amazon. This Christmas Gaby is spending time with her sister, who is living and working in Sydney, Australia. Andrew is with us at home but will travel with Luke to visit Gabe and Britt in Berkeley for New Year's celebration.

Both Andrew and Gaby are working on their PhD's in Biology and enjoying the intense good life of being graduate students. A couple of more years to go for both before we can call them "Doctor". To learn more about Andrew and Gaby's work see their websites: Andrew Hein , Gabriela Blohm

Gabriel

Son #2, Gabriel graduated a year ago with an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Cal, Berkeley. Gabe and Britt Marrett were married in October in Oak Bowery, AL. It was a great celebration, with over 200 family members and friends arriving from all corners of the U.S. to a country manor in rural east Alabama. We were thrilled to host the many visitors - a first time visit to our little college town for some of our family and many friends. I can honestly say that it's the most fun I've ever had at a wedding.


Gabe is gainfully employed at Pacific BioScience, a startup biotech company in Menlo Park, CA - south of SF Bay. Gabe does computer modeling of some process for their patented rapid DNA sequencing machine. Here's a recent article on an application of their machine to decode the genome of the Hatian Cholera Pathogen.


Gabe commutes from Berkeley, where he and Britt and their two dog-children (Nova and Fripp) are living the good life. Britt is a rgistered nurse, still looking for full time employment in Berkeley area. In the meantime she volunteers at a birthing clinic in a rough section of San Francisco, and loves the work. Gabe and Britt were here for a few days before Christmas. We've all had a chance to visit them at various times and love their little house in Berkeley.

Luke

Son #3, Luke graduated this month with a degree in English Literature from Auburn. He is gathering energy before heading out in some direction (yet unknown) to discover something exotic and exciting in the world. Luke is a prolific reader and writer and a born comedian. He is also fluent in Mandarin. So we think he may become a late night talk show host for Beijing Television.

Here is a picture of Luke on the Great Wall. It's a little dated, taken on the first of three of his extended study tours of China. I think it was the most exciting time in his life - full of adventure, search and discovery. We know there's much more to come.

Savannah

Savannah is a junior at Auburn studying Health Promotion. Her current career goal is Personal Trainer. She stays busy with work - sales person at a small boutique store in Auburn called "Auburn Art.com" She is top salesperson there. Savannah lives in a house in Auburn with roommate and her devoted companion beagle-basset named Abby. We're happy to see both of them often.

Like her Mom, Sas is a fantastic cook. Today she's whipping up breakfast cinnamon roles and squash casserole for breakfast and dinner on Christmas day. Savannah turns 21 in a couple of weeks. She says she wants to go snow sledding in NC for her birthday.

Kitty

Kitty is busy working as a part time Occupational Therapist at East Alabama Medical Center. Job is OK, however her real passion is teaching Tai Chi. She is continuing to work on both Tai Chi and Chi Gong, attending training sessions to improve her skills. She has many devoted and appreciative students in Auburn and Opelika. Here is a nice article in the AU newspaper about a Tai Chi event organized in Auburn by Kitty last spring: World Tai Chi Day, Auburn, AL. If you would like to see more about Kitty's Tai Chi, I've started a website for her: Auburn Tai Chi

Kitty, who has never liked football, converted to a New Orleans Saints fan last year - something about pulling for our home town team. She can now cheer at the television with the best of us as she watches hero Drew Breese do his magic at quarterback. Of course, you must have heard that the Saints won their first superbowl last year. And I'm convinced Kitty's support was the tipping point in their success! It was a real pick-me-up for their many loyal followers, many still recovering from the blow delivered to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina over 5 years ago. GEAUX SAINTS!

Michael

Michael is in his 24th year of teaching at Auburn. This year he was awarded an endowed chaired professorship in the McWhorter School of Building Science. He continues to enjoy study, teaching and research with his students and colleagues.

This past year Michael worked with his students casting two major service-learning projects of pervious concrete. Major research and publication projects completed were 1) measuring effects of pervious concrete on improving the quality of stormwater runoff, and 2) effective methods of restoring clogged pervious concrete. You can read more about Michael's work on his website.

A great source of enjoyment this year has been watching and cheering the Auburn Tigers football team (13-0) all the way to the National Championship game, the first in 53 years at Auburn. For you football fans interested in their amazing season select Auburn Football.

WAR EAGLE!

Happy New Year 2011

Here's hoping that 2011 is a great year for you and your family and friends. As they say in Alabama "We've been Blessed". While I'm not always sure I deserve these blessings, I am truly grateful for our caring family and friends and for our good health and fortune. Although we don't always keep in great touch, you can be sure that your love and friendship is counted among our blessings. Our 2011 New Year's resolution, which seems to carry-over every year, is to keep in better touch. Please help us do this.

"...may your days be Merry and Bright..."
Michael & Kitty