This year has been a great year! There are usually ups and downs in life, but this year seemed to be filled with mostly ups. Here are some of the high lights by month and photo:
January started off big for Jean Ann as the Zonta Club of East King County came to fruition and ‘formed’ on 1/11/11, which is Amelia Earhart’s birthday and she is integral to Zonta International. Jean Ann started putting the club together in August 2010 and currently serves as charter president through May 31, 2012. She expects to attend the Zonta biennial conference in Turin Italy in July 2012.
Pictured are initial board members; Kelly, Deb, Joyalea, Allyn, and Jean Ann with Corrine not pictured. We lost Kelly and Deb and added Sue. We started out with our meetings at the Crab Cracker, but moved to a class room setting at CityU in Bellevue.
February was the beginning of a whirlwind of travel for Jean Ann, as she was teaching two courses in Mexico for CityU, which meant 4 weekends teaching in Mexicali. Sparky received a reward trip/cruise to the Western Caribbean Feb. 18-26 which included the following ports: Miami, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, and Grand Cayman. (The links will take you to albums on FB.) We were on Carnival, which is not how we like to travel, but we had not been to any of the ports. Some of the high lights of the trip were swimming with sting rays, going to a turtle farm, seeing many Mayan ruins, and having our pictures taken with monkeys and parrots.
March was a REALLY BIG month for Sparky, as he did the BIG 7 Ohhhhh! Jean Ann pulled off an incredible surprise party for him, which was amazing with the travel schedules. On Sparky’s birthday, 3/11, he was in Vegas for work and Jean Ann in Mexico teaching. The party was held on Sunday, March 13 at the condo clubhouse. Jean Ann had ordered the cake and had Les and the kids pick it up, while Toni, Tami, and Bob purchased decorations and decorated around 1 pm. Jean Ann had the punch and champagne already purchased and stored in the clubhouse. Tami was a REAL surprise, as she came from ID. Sparky’s life long friends, Tom Gish, Paul Petersen, and Bob Trosvig, were present for the event.
April was busy for Jean Ann with Zonta EKC holding their charter event on the 13th and she attended an Area 2/5 Zonta Workshop in Chehalis on the 15th.
May had its own kind of busy going on . . . Jean Ann’s mom, Dona Jantzen, got married on Sunday the 8th to Jerry Harman. A trip to Oklahoma was imperative!!! Karla went along and Jean Ann sang two songs in the wedding. Jean Ann and Karla were there for a week, while Sparky flew in on Friday and all going out on Monday the 9th. When Jean Ann got home, she was running headlong into Zonta EKC’s first fundraiser – a purse auction.
June was somewhat quiet by comparison, but it was really only the quiet before the storm! During all of the first quarter chaos, Jean Ann authored Chapter 21: “Utilizing Case Study Analysis in Online Learning” in the book Authentic Instruction and Online Delivery: Proven Practices in Higher Education, which was published by CityU.
July was a great month because Mom and Jerry came to the NW for a visit. (Click the link for an album of their visit.) Sparky and Jean Ann were great tour guides and showed Jerry a good time for his first ever visit to Washington and Oregon. There was a day trip to Portland and Boring, OR to see friends on top of the following: Mariner’s game, 4th of July at Les and the kids’ place in Kirkland, Snoqualmie Falls, Ballard Locks, Boeing tour for Jerry, doing Seattle at Pike’s Place Market and via the Duck.
Mom helped Jean Ann pack for Australia and there was a ‘reception’ party for Dona and Jerry complete with cake on Sunday the 10th. Dona and Jerry flew out on the 11th and Jean Ann headed for a semester in AU at the University of Southern Queensland in Springfield, just outside of Brisbane.
August was a time of adjustment, as Jean Ann settled into teaching at USQ and Sparky worked very hard on his business, which was booming. Jean Ann kept a FB page and a blog at www.JeanAnnDownUnder2011.Wordpress.com and Sparky burned up the satellite calling her on Skype 2-3 times a day. Go to the links for stories, photos, and videos of her 4 months Down Under.
September was good for the happy couple, as Sparky arranged to spend 9 days with Jean Ann during her spring break in and around Brisbane. Most notably, the visit included; The Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, and Brisbane. Sparky kept the blog during his stay and this link will take you to day 1 of his week in AU on the blog. This link will take you to the album of his week on the Jean Ann Down Under 2011 FB page.
There’s no way to tell all of the tales of Sparky’s visit in this Holiday Greeting blurb, so go to the blog and go to the album and go to the Facebook page for photos, stories, and videos.
October was a fast month as time was running out to wrap things up in AU. Jean Ann returned on October 29, which was a 41 hour day for her. The best part of the return trip was the 5 hour layover in Fiji, where Jean Ann had dinner with friends Vada and Siti in their home. Time couldn’t go fast enough for Sparky, as he was ready for Jean Ann to be home!
November rivaled July and March for crazy busy! Just two weeks after Jean Ann landed the happy couple (happiest when they’re traveling) were winging their way to Tahiti for a cruise of the Society Islands on the Paul Gauguin ship. The ports included: Raiatea, Ta’aha, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Activities included: snorkeling, pearl farms, shopping, swimming with sting rays/sharks, helicopter ride over Bora Bora, and island tours. Click on links for more pictures. A new Facebook page was created to track the travelers’ trips; Adventures of Sparky and Jean Ann – “Like” the page and keep up with their adventures.
As if Tahiti wasn’t enough, Sparky made a trip to Vegas for business at the end of November and treated Jean Ann to 3 days of bright lights and the Terry Fator show, while staying at the Mirage.
December is what it is . . . busy with holiday stuff. Jean Ann held an Aussie Tea for girlfriends on 12/10. Sparky and Jean Ann missed the lighting of the Christmas tree at the country club, but did attend the holiday open house on 12/18. Christmas Eve will be spent in Bellingham with Sparky’s daughter and son, Toni and Bob, and Christmas afternoon with Jean Ann’s French Family in Kirkland.
2012 has many more adventures for Sparky and Jean Ann and they stand ready to embrace them all. Here’s wishing you and yours the happiest and healthiest year ever in 2012 and enjoy your holidays.
This is our version of the “Christmas card” and you can ‘send’ your ‘card’ by leaving your comment on this blog.
Can;t even begin to rival your travels, but enjoyed the visions of you doing them and laughing through all your trips. Good for you, I feel this is the happiest part of your life.
We are doing fine in Arizona, Rhonda has been working for the same place for 3 years, Kralyn’s kids are growing, and Darren is still fishing in Washington when he can. Pretty boring when you put it up against your life, but it is what it is.
Have happy and prosperous 2012 and thanks for keeping in touch.
CJ
My best to you and the kids, CJ, for a very Merry Christmas and Happy, healthy 2012!
Sparky
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. It feels like I have traveling around the world reading your Christmas letter. Amazing, especially you kissing the stingray! Next year will be another year of travel as the two of you have such wanderlust. Someday, I wish to travel more and go many more places around the world. Love to you and Sparky, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
One of these days you’ll travel and it will be great!
Jean Ann
Jean Ann and Sparky!
You are two of the most amazing people and it is very fun to be included on your list of incredible adventures. I hope that 2012 is even bigger and better for you both. Sparky doesn’t look a day past 49. I would say most of us having pretty ho-hum lives next to your ho-ho good times. Merry Christmas to you and hope we see on this side of the mountains some time soon. Take care!
bob & lori powers
Good to hear from you and thank you for the kind words.
Jean Ann and Sparky
Thanks Bob & Lori! Merry Christmas to you and a happy, healthy new year!
Sparky
What can I say? Sparky you are amazing and I’m proud to call you cousin. Jean Ann, I hope we can meet sometime soon. You two sure live a Blessed life. Remember, the route to Bellingham is I5 and Sedro is only about 6 miles east of I5.
You have had very busy year and some wonderful trips. Thank you for sharing your adventures! It has been an honor being a part of Zonta with you Jean Ann!
Thank you, Joy, for your support and time with our start-up club on the Eastside! Jean Ann
wonderful year and blog, Jean Ann!
wish I could have made it to your luncheon. Still not allowed to drive, but the breast bone is finally showing signs of healing! Very good news.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you both!
Big hugs to you and Sparky!
Love, Sam
Sam, you are always in our prayers!
Love, Jean Ann and Sparky
OMG. I’m exausted just reading how busy you and Jean Ann have been. I’m going to need my Holiday vacation just to rest up.
I am proud that both of you got to spend some time with us here in Vegas. I sincerely appreciate the friendship we’ve built over the years.
The best of Holidays to the both of you and your families. Here’s to a great 2012!
Thank you for your kind words. We do love life! We’ll be down to see you shortly.
Sparky and Jean Ann
Wow, what a year you two have had! Thanks for sharing it with us and great to
see you at the Aussie Tea! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love ya,
Kim ; )
Thanks for coming to the Aussie Tea, as it was good to see you. Holiday Cheer, to you, Dear!
Jean Ann
Sir,
You are an inspiration to all of us here serving our country. I have read your book and it helped to motivate us serving abroad. In fact, we have implemented many of your sales tactics in making us more efficient. We would love to meet you in person and to learn more of your ways. We always give out a big shout out to those who are deserving. Here’s a big “yeah-hey-ho” to you sir!
Thank you for your kind words. May God watch over you and our other military men and women who protect us throughout the world.
Sparky Taft
Mester Sparkles:
I write upon you and your lady from Brusels Europa. I have been urged to notify you that I deperetely must recieve a copy of your book on sales techniques by a friendly Amerircan man. Please correspond to me as how to abtain this manifest that you have authoured. Warmest Regard,
Dieter- Ludwig Honzmueller
Sparky’s books can be found for purchase at http://www.SparkyTaft.com
Thank you for your interest.
Dr. French
Deer Sparky,My name is Billy and i am 8 yrs. old. I live in Denton,Tx and i am in third grade at Borman elementary school amd i am euzing you’re book to tell people how to be good sellars becuase we are learning about it. Miss amanda looked it on the intarnet for us to see it and to sey thank you for it so thank you for righting it. from Billy
If you haven’t already been to my 4 months in AU blog titled: http://www.jeananndownunder2011.wordpress.com you should go there. Also, in 2009 I worked and blogged in AU and it’s address is: http://www.jeanannfrench.wordpress.com . Did you see the flower pictures from Tahiti on our FB page? Thanks for checking in. Jean Ann
Hello Sparky,
My name is Mabel Babcock and I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It seems like you have such a great time travelling with your wife and that you enjoy each other’s company. I wish that I had the means to travel to such exotic places and see some of the neat things that you have. I wanted to ask some advice of you: My nephew is in the advertising business in Ft. Worth, but he’s struggling with getting his career going. He seems discouraged and without direction. Are there any pointers that you might have for him? Any direction would be appreciated. Thank you for your time and many happy travels in the future.
– Mabel
Perhaps he could take some direction from the books that Sparky has written. Go to http://www.SparkyTaft.com
Hello Mr. Taft –
I recently saw you on KING-TV being interviewed for your thought on the Washington Caucuses. I’d love it if you could come speak to my group in Olympia at some point in the near future. I work for a lobbying firm called AWB (Assoc. of Washington Businesses). I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing if we can set up a speaking engagement.
Mr. Taft,
In reading your web site and seeing the amount of books you have cranked out in such a short time, how do you find time to service all your clients all over the west? Where some of your promotions seem so simple, I’m amazed that your clients don’t use these ideas every week! I have had a great campaign I thought I would share with you and your clients. One of my water bed clients in Philly Did a great promotion where they took a smaller Bed and filled the blatter with Helium and hung it out side the store front promoting their sale. Boy did it draw in the traffic! Ideas like this come to me when I read your inspiring books!
Thanks!
Filbert in Philly!