2007-01-07: Prosperous and Happy New Year 2007 (short version)

The Thoeny Family (2006-01-07)

From Peter

I wish you all good health, joy and lots of success for 2007! Last year has been a rather busy year, and we are late for our seasons greetings.

Our family is developing well; we are in a constant learning process. Ladina is now already taller than her mom. Ladina and Alexis have lots of after school activities. They are learning Chinese, Kung Fu, China Dance, Chinese Harp.

Alexis found a new hobby, Model rocketry, and he is drawing me into this new world as well. After some beginner steps we got a mid powered rocket and went to launch it at an isolated ranch east of Stockton, CA. Experts of the local rocket club LUNAR warned us that we might not find the rocket again since the engine is too powerful for this size of rocket. It flew up about 1500 meters, we saw a tiny parachute eject, then after a few seconds we lost it in the sky. We did not know where it came down, after one hour we gave up the search.

The open source TWiki enterprise collaboration project keeps me very busy. All these long hours until late at night are unbillable hours, but it is a lot of fun to interact with many people and to work on a project that is used by more than one million people. Wikis are getting more and more popular. According to Google trends, sometimes in 2007, people will search more for the term "wiki" than "blog".

My wiki consulting business StructuredWikis LLC allows me to pay my bills, I am fortunate to be able to work on things I like to do. Business partner Dan Woods and I had a good start at the beginning of 2006, then some slowdown in summer, and now we are getting very busy. I have a blog on wikis, but I am not taking enough time to nurture it.

Now I am involved in yet another venture: Towards the end of 2006, two business partners and I started to raise money for a new venture. Still too early to tell when we succeed, and still too early to talk about details. I expect it to be an exciting rollercoaster ride.

There is not enough progress on book on wikis at the workplace Dan Woods and I are working on. Now we are working on another wiki book, Wikis for Dummies! We should be able to finish both books in 2007, finally.

Again, all the best to all of you, please keep in touch, and please drop by when you visit California!

From Shona

Hi Everybody, I wish you all good health, happiness and whatever good etc.......
As usual, a late greeting from the Thoeny family. We need to get in touch at least once a year!!!!!
Our family plans to go to Switzerland this summer. Since 2 years my two kids and I didn't go by plane abroad.
I'm now doing a part time job during school year. I pick up the students from school and drop them at the daycare learning center. It doesnt take too much time, and I still can take good care of my family.
You don't have to respond, but it would be great if you let us know that you got our greeting message!

From Ladina (11 years)

I hope that 2007 turns out to be anther great year for everyone. Also, I hope everyone had goals for this year, I know I do. Anyway, Happy New Year! That is all.

From Alexis (almost 10 years)

Happy New Year! I hope 2006 was a good year for you ,and I hope you enjoy 2007.

Please see our 2007-01-07 letter with many photos from 2006 at http://thoeny.org/letter_2007-01-07.html