Hello Norman,
I hope you are enjoying our newsletter and finding it useful. We're excited to introduce a new feature called "President’s Corner," where I get to share my thoughts on various topics. Sometimes you'll get technical advice, and other times, I'll share something funny or interesting from my day. Since it's July, I wanted to kick things off by telling you about my summer vacation.
For the past six years, my wife and I have been visiting the Greek island of Tinos. My brother and his wife own a charming, traditional house there, nestled 150 steps down an ancient stairway, overlooking a serene valley that stretches out to the sea. Tinos is famous for its terraced landscapes, created with dry-stacked stone walls over 3,000 years ago. These walls also form small stables for sheep and goats and are home to numerous dovecotes—distinctive structures built by wealthy Venetians centuries ago to house doves for food, fertilizer, and entertainment.
Marble has always been a significant part of the island's culture, both architecturally and sculpturally. On my first visit, I became fascinated with sculpture and visited the local toolmaker, who crafted a set of chisels and a hammer for me. Since then, I've been carving marble, sometimes even bringing unfinished pieces or raw marble back to the U.S. Since then, I've been carving marble, sometimes even bringing unfinished pieces or raw marble back to the U.S. I will never be a Michaelangelo, but it is very satisfying to knock chips into the air while my figure takes shape.
Our vacations last three to five weeks, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the local culture. We usually dine out once a day, savoring the simple, fresh, and affordable food at small, family-run restaurants with friendly waitstaff we've come to know over the years. Regular visits to the farmer's market yield fabulous vegetables, which we use to create authentic Greek salads with fresh, local ingredients like feta, capers, olives, and olive oil. Enjoying these meals on the pergola, with the stunning landscape as our backdrop, is a highlight of our stay. We complement our meals with treats from the local bakery, butcher, and fish market.
This year, we added a delightful detour to our trip by stopping in Spain on our way home. We spent three days each in Madrid and Barcelona, where we met up with our son. The vibrant and different environment of Spain provided a wonderful contrast to our tranquil time in Tinos, and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts and experiences with you in future editions of "President’s Corner."
Sincerely,
Norman Lane
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