|
We're off to the in-laws for Christmas eve festivities, which are sure to include cookie decorating, present opening, pizza eating, and - rumor has it - haggis. Hrmm. Anyway, because I won't get back til the wee hours of the morning, here's the letter we sent out in our Christmas cards this year. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent, or something like that. Happy Christmas/Channukah/Kwanzaa/Ramadaan/Solstice/Whatever the heck it is you celebrate This year has been a busy one, as always. Lots of exciting things have happened, as well as some boring things. Nobody cares about the boring things, so let's talk about the exciting things. When we last left our intrepid young DINK's, Richard had been laid off from his job as a web designer. Since everyone and their grandmother also got laid off from the web industry about the same time, Richard looked to other forms of employment, including a short sting as a research assistant in the Hydrology Department at UC Davis analyzing water samples from Lake Tahoe. That was followed by a slightly longer stint back in the temporary employment pool at UC Davis, working as a marketing assistant, helping to locate markets for new inventions devised by the university's crazed professors. Luckily this didn't last very long and he got the chance to jump into something completely new, but first we need to bring you up to date with my career as well. I had left consulting the previous year to take a job as a technical writer. I thought it was kind of fun, even though a bit boring at time, and would have been perfectly happy to keep doing it for years and years. But my company had other plans in store, and in July, I and my 40 or 50 coworkers in the Roseville office walked in to find security guards at the door and letters on our chairs stating that the office was being closed, the company was relocating to Washington DC, and see ya later, good-bye. So now that we both got a chance to join the proud, the many, the Dot-Bombed, an opportunity presented itself for both of us, and instead of doing web design or technical writing or anything to do with anything either of us have done in our adult lives, we're now working as trainers. We and our training cohorts from Benthic Creatures travel around California instructing mollusk handlers on how to use the software they'll need for the new mollusk shell-polishing system recently put in place by the Feds. So far, between the two of us, we've visited Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. There are 58 counties in this state, so right now it looks like we'll actually be gainfully employed for the next few years. See what happens when you leave the world of nerddom? There's more going on than that, of course. I discovered that I have some artistic talent after all, especially when it comes to home renovation, and I spent three happy days while unemployed repainting the dining room. Instead of the plain white that it was before, it is now a gorgeous blue, with elegant sponge work. We complemented the new paint job with a set of lace curtains for the window, and the dining room now looks as if it belonged in an elegant bed-and-breakfast. We swear that the master bedroom is going to be next. Any day now. Richard also proved his talent by becoming a paid writer. His short story, "Ten Foot Tall He Was, with Eyes of Fire" was purchased by the on-line publication Anotherealm, and will be printed on-line some time in 2003. Richard is, needless to say, very anxious to see his name up in bytes. Richard has also been accepted into the Master of Library and Information Sciences program at San Jose State University, and in January he will begin the process of becoming a highly paid and eminently prestigious librarian. I'm just excited because maybe in a few years, I won't have to worry about those pesky overdue fines anymore. If that weren't enough, this year we decided to take up bicycling. It was hard at first, when a four-mile ride left us wheezing. But we kept at it, and now can do over 30 miles at a stretch with only minimal whining on my part, and have managed to log nearly 1000 miles on our trusty cyclometers. We also now own (and wear on a regular basis) spandex bike shorts. Yes, our assimilation commences. All seven of the cats are healthy and happy. Sebastian continues his in-depth scientific exploration into echolocation. Rosemary has a promising career ahead of her in wildlife relocation, especially in the stuffed dragon arena. Azrael continues his quest for world domination through the perfection of his unavoidable cuteness. Tangerine remains in good health and dominates the house in elephant footstep imitations. Rebecca is grumpy, but that’s no surprise. Zuchinni is mellowing out in his old age and has even been spofted getting pets from Richard (such reports are unreliable, however). And Allegra is still working on composing her masterpiece. Peace and prosperity to you and your family this Holiday season and in the new year. Jennifer and Richard (and all the cats)
Tis the season for Holidailies!
|
