• We have been back in the ‘burgh for five years! Since late 2003, we've lived in northern Allegheny county—just north of North Park. The girls are doing well.

• Chrissy is in high school, and she is getting big. She didn't reach her goal of being taller than Jill by the start of basketball season, but she fouls harder. This winter, singing, piano, basketball, and schoolwork consume her time.

• Lucy is settling into her winter routine. Besides playing the piano, she is in the children’s choir and the chess club. This fall she has started to sew and now makes “jammy pants.”

• As always, Jill and Andy are busy. Between volunteering and their new ventures, including Spero Consulting, their days are full. When we have the time, we will scan and post a few of Jill’s targets. She is a good shot.

• Sadly, we have only three Basenjis now. In February, Dora passed away from kidney disease. She was only six years old! The remaining hounds are now marched through Pine every day for exercise.
  • Bart is the sole survivor of the old St. Louis pack and is over fourteen! He has arthritis and the uncanny ability to not trigger the outdoor motion detector lights when he goes on night patrol.
  • J.R. is now the queen of the couch. She has many adoring fans; so, we must often check that she is still with us when our guests leave.
  • Boots is the surviving “twinkie.” We wrote that we’d never write it, but he is turning into a nice old man.
  • Dora’s kidney disease consumed her very quickly. She died about one month after the diagnosis. Boots is now trying to play others. We'll see how that works out for him.

• E-mail addresses: because of internet trolls, we’ve removed our email addresses from the web. Friends and acquaintances without our email address should use the contact form at Spero Consulting. We look forward to hearing from former neighbors, colleagues, and students.

• Photos: Hopefully, Andy will find some time to update the other photos of the girls and the dogs this fall, but he is lazy and actually busy; so, who knows?

• Teaching and research: interested academic parties should contact Andy for access to his accounting, control, finance, and incentives papers or teaching files.

*The Wexford, PA Speros; formerly the Plymouth, MN Speros; the St. Louis, MO Speros; and the Brentwood Speros.