1999 Calendar

JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG

Spent New Year's Eve in Chicago with Mike and old Chicago buds. Got snowed in a few extra days so got to make snow angels - it was great fun! Formed a Bunko group with my girlfriends (that's a monthly dice game that gives us a good excuse for girls' night out). I got to host first one Jan 8 at my place. New Year's resolutions to call Mom weekly, swim weekly, and take a dating sabbatical... Decided to move into friend Adan's new house (still being built, due to be ready March 1) - will now have a guest room, hint, hint! Heard from long-lost high school friends from Jasper, IN, Doug and Mark K. Took a dancing cruise with friend Ray on "The Spirit of Portland." Trip to Baton Rouge to visit Thuang Chtu and family and then on to New Orleans for work (and lots of it). The twins Paul and Luke taught me to surf the web for the Mighty Morphine Power Rangers.

To Chicago on business. Reunited with old buddy Joe. Also got to practice Swing Dancing moves with Mike (yep, still friends). Organized Rock-n-Bowl outing for Young Adult group--24 super bowlers. My sister Stephanie asked Ali and I to be her bridesmaids for her wedding set for June 10, 2000. (We said yes.) Still keeping those NY Resolutions to swim and call home weekly. Attended the opera "Faust" compliments of buddy & concierge Robin. Spent Valentine's weekend at "The Ultimate Love" high school youth conference, chaperoning our youth. Highlights included a concert by Tony Melendez (musician who happens to have been born with no arms so plays his guitar with his feet, quite well!) and mass with Bishop Steiner. Treated to a Winterhawks Hockey game by friend Peter in the Arthur Andersen suite at the Rose Garden (yes, they let me in). My sister Francie turned a quarter of a century old February 16. Spent Mardis Gras stuck in several airports on my way to do business in Bakersfield, CA (that's where I typed in these updates!) Spending lots of time with Adan picking out all the details for his new home. Talked him into the best bathroom floor (subtle flowers!) Planning for our big move February 27 (early!) Everyone is welcome to join us for our moving party. Pizza is on us. Decided to help out with our High School confirmation class - a great way to think more about what I believe and why. Fulfilled a childhood wish - went to see the Harlem Globetrotters with friend Mark! (Of course they won and a few fans got wet.) Packing, Packing, Packing!!!

Ended my sabbatical--there's a new man in my life. Well, he's been around for two years, but suddenly more sparks and potential. Somethin' tells me I'm into something good. Meet Mark. Adan and I moved in, unpacked, organized, lost sleep, and love the new home. We even have blinds and a garage door opener. Housewarming party scheduled for April 17. Formed The Saints softball team - games start May 2. Had a great gal's weekend getaway at friend Bridgett's family cabin at Mt. Hood. Annette, Rebecca, Bridgett and I nearly got kicked out of the innertubing line for being such rebels. Wild women in the snow! Stay tuned for photos. Celebrated my last birthday, for counting purposes anyway. Hit the big 29! Baby (not so baby anymore) sis Steph hit the big 22!

Mark & I went whale watching at the coast (didn't see any but had fun looking)! Also celebrated Easter Vigil candlelight service at St. Mary's by the Sea Church - delightful. Spent Easter Sunday with Mark's family: hunting eggs hidden in ceiling fans and playing Sequence and getting to know his adorable neice Jessica and nephew/Godson Anthony. Quick work trip to San Diego. Portland weather followed me unfortunately. Highlight was dining by the Bay, smelling the salt water breeze. Adan and I hosted our first house-guest, my girlfriend Margo all the way over from Kentucky. We Bunko'd, hiked, bargained at Saturday Market, picniced, tip-toed through the tulips, and of course visited Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Had our official housewarming potluck party. Lotsa friends over to help break in the dartboard (nothing like a few holes in the wall to break in a new home). Best part was all those leftovers - didn't have to cook for over a week! Celebrated Confirmation with our High School youth. Archbishop Vlasney is such a hoot. Neat to be able to be part of that sacrament. Mark and I walked the 10K with Team Andersen (and two Dalmations in funny hats) for the March of Dimes walk-a-thon. Beautiful day. Lots of gardening in Mark's backyard (still waiting for Adan's backyard to be installed). Planting Mark's $19.99 deal on 500 bulbs. Them's alot of bulbs! Scored my lifetime high bowling score at Cosmic Bowling. Hit 195 which broke my previous high score from 14 years ago. Guess I bowl best at 1:30am! One open frame and that was a 9. Whoo Hoo!

Spent Mother's Day weekend at the Oregon coast with Mark's family. Great weekend getting to know his family, shopping at the outlet malls and watching a gorgeous sunset. Even learned how to throw the aerobee. Softball season in full swing. Ended month with 2-2 record. Not bad considering had to battle the rain and some coaching issues. Adan and I hosted our first poker night. Learned a few new games like 'The Good, the Bad & the Ugly' and The Weenie Rule. Played into the early morn (until Mark cleaned us out). Adan and I have a new backyard. Sod is a beautiful thing. Thanks to Gabe, Mark and Rotatiller Randy & Kim who spent the day helping us install it. Taking tennis lessons with girlfriend Bridgett. So it's the Eastern grip I've been trying to use all these years. Relaxing Memorial Day weekend at Mark's family campsite.

Mark and I went to the Cannon Beach sand castle contest. Some neat sculpting going on there. Went to the Rose Festival Starlight Parade with Peter, Angie, Bobby and Mark. Crashed the "Guy's Poker Night" party - it was in my own kitchen so why not? Francie and Andy visited. First repeat visitors. Out for some hiking and fine dining. And of course showing off the new house and my Mark. Enjoying summer: softball (when not rained out), yardwork, BBQs and get-togethers with Mark's family (see baby Anthony at left).

Began month with Mark's and my first camping trip. Went to Silver Falls, OR. Great 10 mile hike with 7 major falls. After two days of noisy "gooooooood morning sunshine" neighbors and a night of solid rain, decided two days was enough of getting back to nature. (See Mark at left with his axe.) Celebrated the 4th of July with Mark's family at the nursery/farm place. Lotsa swimming and good eats and Costco fireworks. Took Mark home to Indiana for a long weekend to meet the rest of the family (minus Ali) and friends. Convinced Grandma that he is cuter than Larry Bird. Work trip to Nashville, TN. Stayed in the humongous Opryland Hotel. Too big for me. Got to tour the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hiking! Roller Blading! BBQs!!! Work trip to Florida and Chicago. Got to visit Bobby and Angie in Orlando and Joe, Jenn, Laura, Tom, Lisa, Anne and Matthew in Chi-town.

Ended two-week travels with a visit to Colorado to hang out with friend Linda at her Keystone condo, kayaking and biking. Whew! The US tour. Happy to return home to my Mark with sunflowers. Celebrated Mark's Mom's bday with the Wagner fam. Played Bingo and horseshoes at my company picnic. Mark won a Spa Day for me, I won a golf game for him, and we both won cigars in the balloon toss. The Saints won 3rd place in our softball league. Lost our playoff game by one run in the bottom of the ninth to the undefeated team. So close! Mark and I hosted a Murder Mystery Dinner for his family. I was EC, the ditzy, spurned cheerleader and Mark was Cal, the brainy geek who did it - he killed Rock'n Rollie. Our lasagne was great and so was my chocolate mousse pie. Hosted a BBQ for our new priests Frs. Scott and Bihn. Mark, Peter, Reed and I golfed in St. C's scramble. No course records but fun playing. Attended my first Wagner family (and Friday night) wedding - Mark's cousin Rodney. Mark's Dad and I danced the night away. Adan, Mark and I climbed Saddle Mountain. Lots of flying ants on top but also some friendly hikers who ran out of film. Adan, Mark and I volunteered for Hood to Coast 196 mile relay roadrace. We were finish support and boy were they glad to see us. Our team #672 (out of 1000) "Go for the Gold Rush" did great running. Good job Peter and team (you guys are nuts!)

The rest of the year was a blur. September I found out they really are closing the Portland Andersen Consulting office. I also painted my Sally and started bowling again in the Holy Rollers league. October was my big trip to Turkey, Mark's annual hunting trip with the boys, and Halloween with me as the Mad Hatter. November I chaperoned a HS youth trip to Seattle, got quite sick afterwards, spent rest of month recovering and doing Creative Memories photo album of Turkey trip. Spent Thanksgiving with Mark's family and that was great. December spent time building a business case to keep my job in Portland telecommuting, that got rejected so am hoping for an appeal. Went home to Eville for an early Christmas with family and friends. Spent Christmas holiday with Mark's family. They seem to be getting used to me. Mark did the Chevy Chase Christmas lighting thing and we spent lots of time caroling and practicing for Lit Band at church. Good holiday month. Now just preparing for the big New Year's Eve party at my place. Hosting the GameShow 2000 New Year's Eve party. Should be great.

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