Monday Monday 1.21.2008

Hello All,
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Maggie and I had a nice weekend back home in South Carolina. I hadn't been home for 14 days, so I was happy to find the house still in one piece. Our weekend plans were rather simplistic allowing us to get a lot of the overdue housework done, which of course means taking down the Christmas Decorations. Under normal circumstances, I might criticize someone who puts decorations up the second week of November and takes them down toward the end of January, but all in all Maggie and I only enjoyed the decorations for a total of about 10 days the entire time they were up. We're off to Pennsylvania this weekend, so we should enjoy another fairly relaxing weekend - although we'll be meeting with Agents and Contractors all weekend.


The Year that Was
I think that 2007 was an overall great year. Although it shared it's very difficult moments, overall I think that I'll remember it fondly. Maggie and I purchased our first home last April, but who knew that less than 8 months later we would be closing on house number 2 somewhere 500 miles away. In terms of the Baseball Stadium challenge, Maggie and I visited Turner Field in Atlanta and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. We spent two weeks traipsing around Italy where we enjoyed food, history, and life. I worked on projects in Washington DC; Harrisburg, PA; and Annapolis, MD - a feat which will require me to file taxes in four different states as an added bonus. Sadly we were forced to say some final goodbyes, while during the same set of 12 months, we happily welcomed some new faces into the world. When all was said and done, we finished the year with friends and family by enjoying a great celebration of the Christmas holiday.

The Year Ahead
As if 2007 didn't go by fast enough, I have a feeling that 2008 will go by like lightning. I do question where everyone will be at years end and what will the shape of the world be? We do know that we'll have a new president in 2008, but we don't know which of the 15 candidates vying for that position will sit in the oval office. I have two friends expecting new additions to their family in the very near future, so I happily wish them a lot of luck, love, and happiness as they enjoy their first traditions. I'll have a lot of personal goals for the year 2008, so we'll see what I can accomplish by year's end.

Have A Great Week,

Ryan