04 January 2009
Goodbye 2008!
04/01/09 18:44
Well, we've finally made it to 2009. One thing we've been hearing is how glad everyone is to put 2008 behind them. For us however 2008 was not a bad year at all. We've got to know a lot of people and Marsha made a few friends. We got our big floor and painting projects done in the house. We were able to make a trip back to Minnesota to see everyone. By the end of the year both Marsha and I had left NCO and gone on to bigger and better jobs. We replaced the two laptops with substantially better ones and I was able to sell my old PowerBook for $400. I'm now looking at using that money to get a really good camera for the Japan trip this summer.
We voted and we were able to get Barbara signed up to vote (something she hadn't been able to do in 23 years). In the US, Barack Obama was elected. In Canada, the election was short and sweet. Unfortunately we may have another election in 2009. We will know more about that later this month. My Mom came up for a visit in September and my brother Ed and wife Pat came for a visit in October. We even had a visit from Silas a former U of MN co-worker. So all in all the year went quite well. Yes our retirement investments are down, but we won't be tapping those for 10 to 15 years so they should bounce back by the time we need them. Overall, for us anyway, it wasn't such a bad year at all.
One story that got missed over the last few weeks is the tale of How Ed and Pat Saved Christmas. (We're thinking of writing it up and producing a maudlin holiday movie). Basically Barbara thought we were going to get bread for Christmas dinner. One of us who shall remain nameless (Edit: It was Doug, it was Doug that forgot. MGA) forgot about it. Christmas morning we got a call from Barbara, she had no bread in the house and we had not picked any up. (Edit: Once again, Doug's fault. MGA) Nothing was open so we couldn't even run out and get rolls or anything like that. We were wondering what to do as we opened our presents. Then in a Christmas Miracle (cue the warm lighting and soft focus close-up) we discovered that the present from Ed and Pat contained mixes for Green Chili Stew, Potato Chipotle Soup, and CORNBREAD. OK it was blue cornbread, but in a pinch bread is bread so we made it for the meal and it was quite good.
Around the house we have been rearranging things, the new office is nearly done. We have gotten the Christmas stuff taken down and put away. Ok it is all boxed and with a bit of luck we will be able to put the boxes back in the crawl space in a few days. The snow is melting rapidly. This week we are going to Victoria. I'm starting my new job and Marsha is going along to explore the city.
2009 is starting off on a good note.
Happy 2009 to everyone!
No pictures this week but we should have some from Victoria for next week's letter.
Doug and Marsh
We voted and we were able to get Barbara signed up to vote (something she hadn't been able to do in 23 years). In the US, Barack Obama was elected. In Canada, the election was short and sweet. Unfortunately we may have another election in 2009. We will know more about that later this month. My Mom came up for a visit in September and my brother Ed and wife Pat came for a visit in October. We even had a visit from Silas a former U of MN co-worker. So all in all the year went quite well. Yes our retirement investments are down, but we won't be tapping those for 10 to 15 years so they should bounce back by the time we need them. Overall, for us anyway, it wasn't such a bad year at all.
One story that got missed over the last few weeks is the tale of How Ed and Pat Saved Christmas. (We're thinking of writing it up and producing a maudlin holiday movie). Basically Barbara thought we were going to get bread for Christmas dinner. One of us who shall remain nameless (Edit: It was Doug, it was Doug that forgot. MGA) forgot about it. Christmas morning we got a call from Barbara, she had no bread in the house and we had not picked any up. (Edit: Once again, Doug's fault. MGA) Nothing was open so we couldn't even run out and get rolls or anything like that. We were wondering what to do as we opened our presents. Then in a Christmas Miracle (cue the warm lighting and soft focus close-up) we discovered that the present from Ed and Pat contained mixes for Green Chili Stew, Potato Chipotle Soup, and CORNBREAD. OK it was blue cornbread, but in a pinch bread is bread so we made it for the meal and it was quite good.
Around the house we have been rearranging things, the new office is nearly done. We have gotten the Christmas stuff taken down and put away. Ok it is all boxed and with a bit of luck we will be able to put the boxes back in the crawl space in a few days. The snow is melting rapidly. This week we are going to Victoria. I'm starting my new job and Marsha is going along to explore the city.
2009 is starting off on a good note.
Happy 2009 to everyone!
No pictures this week but we should have some from Victoria for next week's letter.
Doug and Marsh