Monday Monday 1.6.2009

Hi Everyone,

Since I can’t seem to ever get the message out on Monday, I’m beginning to think that I should rename this email something else. With the sending of this email, my M2 messages will be in their third year of circulation (not the third anniversary, but I will have written these things in three different calendar years). For those of you skimming this message, please note the bolded paragraph headers.

Il est Mort
With 2008 coming to a definitive end, I can say that as a whole that I’m pleased. As my Christmas Letter described, I spent the year traveling to all different parts of the country and although Maggie and I didn’t purchase any Real Estate in 2008, we did get engaged (meaning that we both got stuck with something much more pleasant than a mortgage – does anyone find it funny that “mort” (a word that means dead in French) is in the word “mortgage”).

South of the Border
Our 2009 includes all sorts of adventures, and we’ll kick into gear with our first big trip at the end of January! That’s right – don’t be expecting a M2 letter the first Monday in February because Maggie and I are flying south to Mexico for Lara and Cesar’s wedding (Maggie’s cousin and cousin to be). We’re both pumped for the trip and for Lara and Cesar!!

Coldest State – Hottest Governor
This August, our friends Scott and Jessica will join us for a cruise to our most northern and coldest state: Alaska. We booked the cruise a few weeks back and have since had a price reduction and a room upgrade . . . we’re hoping that we’ll keep getting upgrades until we have a room with a balcony!! I can’t wait for Polar Bears, Dog Sleds, Glaciers, and my first glimpse of Russia (ok no more jokes about the good governor from our most Arctic State)!!!

New Years Week
The hits just keep on coming. We estimate that we cooked about three farms worth of animals at 1313 Tanager Lane over the course of the Holiday Season. For the couple of Vegan/Vegetarian/Animal Activists on this email, I’m telling you these dinners collectively would have been your worse nightmare!

On New Year’s Eve, Maggie and I went up to Albany and spent the day and evening with a bunch of people from Maggie’s high school days (I’d say more if I could remember, but I do remember seeing all the big names). Thanks to Mark and Jess for a great breakfast and to Jacqui for the accommodations and company!!! Thanks to all else involved for observing the Ryan Joy show at the bar – but next time I’m selling tickets!

Our friends Ken and Kim came to visit us on the Friday after New Years, and it was so good to see them after such a long time. I can’t believe that their son Zach is 11 months old – we can all join in with Kim on the countdown to his first birthday (as of this document’s publication, we have 29 days).

So 2008 has come and gone! Let’s brace ourselves for the year ahead, keep on keepin’ on, laugh a little harder and longer in 2009!!

Ryan