HAPPY HOLIDAYS 1994!
11/24/94

I hope these holidays find you healthy and happy and full of joy (and food)!

This year has been one of transition and the beginning of a new chapter on the job front. My company was purchased by a Virginia company, who decided to close down the Boulder plant and move production back East, near DC. They asked 27 of us to move, but like me, all but 5 said "no thanks". They even flew us out there for a weekend "tour", which was nice but didn't convince us. We love Colorado and the economy here is very good, so we will take our chances. My last day is 1/31/95, and with a 3 month severance, I should be OK. I've been looking half-heartedly, but will gear up come January. It's actually kind of exciting to think of the possibilities. I may even try my hand at consulting. There are so many high-tech start-ups here that may need someone to set up their customer service departments and programs for them.

This was not a year for exciting vacations (like last year's Alaska), but rather one of exploring my own backyard with special people who came to visit. However, If I'm out of work in February, and have a job lined up, I will be tempted to visit my friend in Hawaii...we'll see. A friend and I are going to Salt Lake next weekend to visit another friend, Barbara, her husband and their new baby. They've had "tons" of snow and the skiing should be great! I'm also going home for Christmas this year, after a one year hiatus. I now have 3 parental homes in different locations to visit so it should be a challenge to spend quality time with everyone and still get to visit friends. I'll be traveling from the Northern coast of CT, near RI, down to NY city. This part of the country is beautiful during the holidays and I'm looking forward to the scenery...as well as a night on Broadway to see Phantom.

Other trips and long weekends: I made many business trips to Herndon, VA during the company transition. I enjoyed seeing DC and got to visit two good friends that live in the area. I went to Taos, NM in February again to visit friends and get in some great skiing. I came back with some new ski boots and a Killer Cappuccino Brownie recipe. My step brother, Dave, got married this summer in Estes Park (the town at the foot of Rocky Mt. National Park). Rather than drive back and forth from Boulder, I enjoyed staying at the historic Stanley Hotel (the one that the movie "The Shining" was based upon). It was a nice weekend and a beautiful wedding.

One of the most unique, wonderful and relaxing trips was a private Hot Springs Resort in Southern Colorado with my friend Lisa and her two kids who drove out from PA. There were no clocks, locks, worries and, in some cases, no clothes. The area was gorgeous on the side of a mountain overlooking a valley that went on forever. I saw the most beautiful sunset I've seen in my life over that expansive valley. We also did a horseback ride up the mountain to a large cave and spent a day at Sand Dunes National Monument. We also went horseback riding in Rocky Mountain National Park that weekend. I took two raft trips this summer. One was a day trip down the Arkansas (Browns Canyon) which is an exciting river. For years I've chickened out and walked around the one rapid called Seidel's Suckhole...this time I did it and it was a blast! Only one person on our raft fell out, and it wasn't me. The second trip was very special. Earlier in the summer I received my first College Directory and decided to contact an old friend of mine who I hadn't spoken to since shortly after graduation, Angela. After a few letters and phone calls, she came out for the 4th of July weekend to join me on a gourmet raft/camping trip. We rafted the Colorado and had tons of fun! It was like we were never apart.

My mom came out in the Spring and we played tourists down in Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak by cog railway, Cave of the Winds, Airforce Academy and Garden of the Gods. We had great weather and a really fun weekend. My Dad came out later in the summer with his girlfriend. We also did the tourist thing and went to Rocky Mountain National Park. Again, great weather and the visit was really nice. It's fun to show your parents around your home when you love it so much.

Once again, I organized my summer reservoir campout (this may be the last..it's quite a job). About 23 people showed up throughout the weekend. Unfortunately, it rained a lot and we spent a lot of time in the "party tent". However, we did have all the toys and I got to use all of them (raft, canoe, motorboat, mountain bike) and I even tried to get up on one ski (no go). Of course, I hit the slopes a few more times here in CO, and spent some time at my friend, Mozelle's, condo in Vail.

I bought a few new toys this year. Last winter I bought a home gym because it was on sale and really cheap. I used it diligently for about 2 months...you know how that is. I am starting up again slowly this winter, but I know how I am. Maybe after the holidays? The big purchase was a brand new Subaru (my fourth) in March. This was before I learned I would lose my job. Just last month, I bought a new Computer. The financial timing was very bad, however I had to do it in order to produce the kind of resumes and cover letters I wanted to (I couldn't hook up an ink-jet printer to my old computer without pouring money into it). It's loaded, and I'm having a lot of fun with it.

This was not my year for concerts. Again, I went to the Winter Park Jazz Festival, and this time I stayed in a condo. The second day was great since my friend (who films the festival), let me in about 10 minutes before the gates opened, so I got the best spot on the lawn. I also went to a New Orleans festival in Denver full of good music and good food (the alligator gumbo was great). This was actually the "Year of the Concerts I DIDN'T Go To". Since I suspected I'd be unemployed (and had just bought a new car), I skipped many concerts that I really wanted to see like Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and the Moody Blues. Oh well, maybe next year.

Of course there were parties too. A few kitchen gadget and clothing parties (shop till you drop). Lots of going away parties due to the work situation. Mike's annual Black Tie party. Several birthday parties and a co-worker's wedding. A group from my last company started getting together again and that's been fun. Halloween was a great time as always. I went to a Champagne tasting benefit and had a New England dinner party for "the girls". I danced the "Chicken Dance" at the downtown Octoberfest and celebrated my 13th year in Boulder last weekend in Evergreen at the Little Bear (the "most fun bar in Colorado"). This summer I had fun throwing a neighborhood BBQ for the people in my condo since it's so hard to get to know your neighbors these days.

Once again I am a committee member for the "Taste of the Nation" benefit (to feed the hungry in the US and Boulder County). It's a great cause and a great bunch of people. This year, however, I get to do something I'm really excited about...produce a cookbook that we will sell at the event and in local restaurants. Maybe after this I can actually get motivated to finish my cookbook and get it published? (haven't we heard this before?) I also worked another event to benefit our local children's museum...that was fun and delicious as well.

Other miscellaneous activities included hiking, and roaming around the mountains (acting like I have a real 4-wheel drive truck). I went to a few cooking & wine tasting classes and a few Rockies games before the baseball strike. I renewed a great friendship with my friend, Gye, who's back from Japan. Of course I went to the Kinetic Conveyance Race again (most of you know what this is from past letters). This summer I decided to take Golf lessons as I was enthusiastic about getting into the sport. Unfortunately, at the last class, I hit the ground really hard with the club and injured my shoulder/back. I met my first chiropractor, physical therapist and orthopedic doctor that summer. I'm all better now and plan to try again next year.

I went to one of the Shakespeare Festival shows this summer, Macbeth, and pigged out a local Chile festival. I've been doing the restaurant reviews for my company's newsletter (what a bummer; getting paid to go out to eat!). My animal magnetism hit again this year, finding another stray dog (returned him home) and trying to save some feral cats living in a culvert at my office. They disappeared before we could catch them. When I got really bored, I took a couple trips to Central City (our local Western-style gambling town)...didn't spend or win much but had fun anyway.

Well, enough for now ("thank God!", you say). It has been another good year filled with fun and adventure and I hope yours was too!

Warmest Wishes and the Best of Holidays!