Season's Greetings! I hope 1998 was a good year for you, your family and friends.

It was an average year for me; no great excitement, no real problems ... just enjoying life each day and maintaining an average level of fun throughout the year.

Work: I spent yet another year as the Marketing Manager for the natural products publisher. There was another blip- my job was supposed to change in a way I wasn't happy about. But so far it hasn't happened and things are running smoothly.

Vacations: I spent last Christmas back east with the family again, which is always very special and fun.

As always, I went to the two trade shows my company produces in Anaheim in the spring and Baltimore in the fall.

I went back for more! Another long weekend in New Orleans with Barbara in March. We stayed at a lovely B&B called the Lamothe House and ate our way around town: Jazz brunch at Commander's Palace. Dinners at Emeril's, Nola's, and the Gumbo Shop. Breakfasts and lunches at The Pearl, Cafe Du Monde, Acme Oyster House and The Praline Connection. It's a good thing we walked the 47 or so blocks from Commander's Palace to our hotel along Magazine St,. window shopping. This trip we got in a cemetery tour, a swamp tour (lots of alligators) and the highlight-renting a canoe and doing our own thing in the Barataria Preserve swamps. We saw a few alligators, some turtles, snakes and comerants, as well as a huge great blue heron.

I was invited to my friend, Dulce's wedding in Mexico in April, but unfortunately didn't go. My boss had a vacation scheduled at the same time. Bummer!

I did, however, make it to my friend Lisa's wedding in Maryland. A very special wedding in a beautiful park, where her daughter, Jaclyn, sang the song from Titanic. I stayed with Georgina in Rockville and did a whirlwind tour of the Smithsonian museums and other DC stuff.

As always, Ray's Raft Trip/gourmet camping weekend was a blast, albeit smaller this year. Good weather and great fun. Georgina flew out for it again. On the way home we stopped to check out my friend, Peter's, family ranch in Glenwood Springs. Wow! Too grand to explain, but it was beautiful (more about it later). SPECIAL INVITATION: Ray says this year is going to be a big one, for the millennium. He's talking about renting the whole campground and even having a band. If you are interested in flying out for an adventure, let me know by March and I'll be sure to send you the details.

Well, I continued my obsession with hot springs and spas in 1998, doing so many, I can't remember them all. I went to Idaho Springs several times as it's only an hour away. A few day trips, once for a friend's birthday, and a few overnighters, including my birthday celebration a few weeks ago. What fun! I spent 1-1/2 days with four very good girlfriends in the geo-thermal tunnels, hot pool, mud baths and indulging in massages, wraps and facials. We ate out and stayed up discussing men and other earth-shaking issues at night. I spent another wonderful weekend with my good friend from work, Stephanie, at Hot Sulphur Springs as well as visited a few local spas for more special treatments on my own.

I did a few overnighters with my high-school friend, Sue, in Ft. Collins and learned to play Bunko. One time she took me to a pastel workshop, a medium I always wanted to learn. I actually did pretty well, if I say so myself.

Another great weekend was a camping weekend on the other side of Colorado with Stephanie. We camped at Blue Mesa Reservoir and spent time at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which I think is the coolest thing in Colorado. It's like a mini Grand Canyon. Along the way (of course) we stopped to partake in Ouray Hot Springs and Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

In August I spent a weekend at Peter's Ranch with about 19 other friends. Boy what fun! Horseback riding up their mountain, lunch at the pool, a hay-ride up the mountain (on a 1940's flatbed) for a BBQ dinner at the caretaker's log cabin, and plenty of exploring and lounging too. I loved visiting the Shires (like Clydesdales), the llamas, the buffalo and the arabian horses, not to mention the "garage" which housed an antique fire truck and carriage as well as a very antique horse-drawn hearse. I slept in the "roundhouse", which was a house they renovated from an old water tower. It's so beautiful there; they even film some of Anheuser Busch's commercials on the property (thus all the Budweiser in the fridge).

My upcoming vacation plans only include a trip home next week for Christmas and a possible weekend at the Aspen Film Festival next summer when my friend Robin comes out to celebrate her 40th birthday there.

Last year, you may remember, I wanted to go to Africa for the millennium. I looked into it and it was so expensive, I booked a trip to Belize instead. However, a few months later, I began to learn more about the potential Y2K problems, and I cancelled the trip. I didn't want to be on an airplane or near an airport after the clock strikes 2000.

Visitors: Sue came down from Ft. Collins a few times, once we painted wine glasses and another time we went to the Art Open Studios here (again). It's one of my favorite events, where you visit local artists in their studios and homes and watch them work. We've made this an annual ritual.

My Mom came to visit in June and we did a wonderful overnighter at the Grand Lake Lodge on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. The cabins were a bit rustic, but the big old log lodge was like a huge version of the house I've dreamt about all my life. Log walls, open beams, a big fireplace and a killer porch overlooking a lake.

In early August, Barbara and Ned flew in from Salt Lake to visit Ned's cousin and his wife Boulder. I joined them for brunch and became friendly with his cousins and have seen them a few times since.

Concerts: I didn't go to many concerts this year -again. Guess I've burned out on them a bit. The only concerts I went to were those put on by E-Town, our local radio variety show, recorded live and aired on stations around the country. I saw Richard Thompson, David Linley, Michael Martin Murphy, Mem Shannon and Tuck and Patti. That's it; no big names or anything.

Parties & Holidays: Last New Year's Eve, I had a quiet lobster and champagne dinner with some friends at my house.

Throughout the year, I did some of the typical parties: A friend's 40th, and another friend's 50th. A company holiday party and summer picnic, and a baby shower. There was also a pie birthday party for Lisa, a Crab party at my old boyfriend, Rocky's, and a Seinfeld finale party at Suzie's.

The Spaghetti Bowl was small this year. (a contest for the best spaghetti sauce and an excuse to watch the Super Bowl). But the game was fun (Go Broncos!).

I celebrated Rosh Hashana and Hanukkah at Susan and Loni's, Passover with Leila, Chris and Mozelle, and had Easter dinner at Lisa's. This Thanksgiving was at John's house again. Quite a family affair. Of course his sister, my friend, Lisa was there. His mother moved here a few weeks earlier, his mother in law flew in and there was a surprise visit from his sister from Texas. As always, the food was great! What do you expect from the food editor of the newspaper.

My best dinner party of the year was a sushi making class I did for six friends in April. It was a dynamic mixture of incredible women and turned out to be a very special evening.

My friends, Mike and Bobbie, got married this summer, so there was the blow-out engagement party, a BBQ and the wedding itself. Saw lots of friends I've played with over the years.

I did the big Halloween dance at the Elks Lodge again. They have one of my favorite bands and a big group of friends always go and dance together. This year I was Kate Winslet's character from Titanic. I dressed like her, had a replica of the heart pendant, a life vest and Christmas-tree icicles hanging in my hair.

Other Fun Events: The plays I saw included Side Show in NY; Return to Forbidden Planet, a local comedy; and Chicago in Denver with Mom. I went to two ballets. A trio of classics in Denver, including a Martha Graham piece, an Alvin Aily production and Choo San Goh (sp?) dance. Then, I went to another Alvin Aily production in Boulder. As always, I went to Boulder's Shakespeare Festival and saw Love's Labor Lost, and went to the annual Aids benefit cabaret. A few weeks ago, a group went to a hokey local dinner theater for Scrooge, it was fun though.

Of course, I went to Kinetics again and finally made it to the Cherry Creek Arts Fair over 4th of July. It's huge and filled with very unique, high-quality art, not just everyday arts and crafts.

Did a comedy night at a local bar, a day at the Denver flea market and a Saturday at the Boulder County Fair checking out the farm animals. I'm convinced I want a Llama and know I don't want a chicken.

There were two rather unique events as well. I dragged Lisa to the Sabaki Challenge; a martial arts tournament. I've always had a soft spot for that stuff since my Tae Kwon Do days in College (no, I didn't continue lessons last year like I had planned.) I also ended up at the opening of Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant in Denver and got to meet him. My first famous chef. Today Wofgang, tomorrow Julia!

Sports and stuff: Well, I didn't ski this year-again. I wonder if I'm still a skier? I'd like to think my knee injury didn't get the best of me, but my motivation level is zilch. I suppose if someone invited me to stay overnight up there, I'd enjoy it, but I think the traffic and the hassle of day trips are in the past.

The exciting news is I got certified in Scuba in July. I think I'm really going to like it! It was in preparation for the Belize trip I cancelled. I just gotta figure out somewhere else to do my first dive next year. Got any ideas?

I went snowshoeing a few times last winter and even took a Sunfish out for a sail this summer. But, I gave my sailboard away to a friend, so it's the end of that sport for this land-locked chic.

Volunteering: I'm still working on the Taste of the Nation Benefit to raise money for the hungry, organizing the restaurants that attend. I've walked dogs a few times at the Humane Society and helped organize the Great American Pie Festival again. In May, I sold birdhouses to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Etcetera: The most bizzare thing that happened all year was that I got the mumps a few days into the new year! Imagine that, at my age! It's so rare these days, the doctor didn't even believe I had it. It was very frustrating because I was quarantined at home for 10 days, yet I felt fine and had no other symptoms (except I looked like a chipmunk).

So, it's taken me 40 years, but I finally broke down and did a few "girlish things". I got acrylic nails and highlighted my hair in November. Two more re-occurring costs I don't need.

My cat, Dustin's had a few health problems this year, but he's 13 years old, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

In April I refinanced both condos under one mortgage and saved $200/mo! I'm spending that extra money like it was water.

I was thrilled when I found a mother fox and her 4 kits down the road from me in April. I saw them a several times in their den. Even go close up one day. How cute!

On the friendship front: two friends moved to Germany and an old roommate moved back to Boulder. I became very good friends with a woman I work with, Stephanie and recently ran into an old college buddy, Tracey, after many years.

In August, I went to a free 3 day seminar on Y2K and came out panic stricken. I couldn't eat or sleep for a week. I've come back to earth now, but I learned more than I wanted to know.

As far as men goes, I had a few crushes and had a blind date with a friend of a woman I met in a sushi bar, but nothing stuck. Another friend is trying to get me to join Great Expectation dating service (she met her husband there), but I'm too nervous and it costs a fortune. I'm still toying with the idea as it could be fun, but it's so strange.

That's it for this year. I'd love to hear from you too. Keep in touch.

Warmest Wishes!