Well, certainly spending less, worrying less?  I'm doing ok, thank you very much!

Getting angry and swearing less?  Not so much.  I'm finding myself increasingly frustrated and impatient with people I otherwise love, and then second guessing my every move.  Ah, that's worry, natch.

I'm afloat in this strange limbo sea, riding up and down on the same wave that I will not escape for several years.  The scenery doesn't change much, folks.  There are obscure islands of opportunity around me, but many are not yet visible, and some I may never know exist.  Which way to paddle, once my yoke is free?

Happy Holidays!                                                                                                                       December 29, 2008

This letter obviously did not happen in the traditional time frame, but it exists at all because my father asked me at Christmas this year to re-instate it next year.  I went for a run yesterday and thought, “why wait?” and began composing it as I ran.  For lack of other structure, I’ve decided to attack this year chronologically.

This has definitely been a year of adjustment for us.  In February, we lost our sweet diabetic cat Raoul.  It was incredibly difficult for us; those of you who have pets understand, those who don’t may shake your heads in wonder with my blessing.  He was the best kitty, ever.

March was exciting, as I traveled to the Florida Keys with school for a tropical marine biology research trip.  It was unbelievably cold, but that didn’t stop us (much) from snorkeling to do our work.  I personally did a population density study on the common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris.  I was successful (and lucky!), finding a juvenile in a mud flat the first day, then adults later in the week in the coral reef surrounding a lighthouse.  I won’t go into details about the venomous Scorpionfish another student and I pulled out of what looked like an Octopus’ den; suffice to say no-one was hurt.  Not only was it a unique experience, but I met a great group of people along the way.

I practically hopped off that plane and on to another with Ryan for a business trip of his to Maryland, where we spent Easter weekend after with his brother Donnie and family.  It was great hiking with the kids down to Chesapeake Bay (where we had little aquatic biology lessons identifying organisms) and nearly making ourselves sick on the trampoline.  We had a really wonderful visit.

In May, Ryan and I celebrated five years of marriage, and look!  No (visible) wounds.  We still live in our same little, aged brick Tudor, and are going to test the bonds of our union by beginning to gut rehab the home soon.

June found rescue groups overflowing with kittens, and us ready to find another playmate for Rogue.  Going through Petfinder.com (plug!) we were able to search local shelters and rescue societies online.  We found Partners for Pets, which is a no-kill group that rescues animals from traditional shelters on their last day before euthanization.  We initially went to see a long haired grey kitten, but found ourselves instead taken with his scruffy white and grey spotted brother.  He was playing with a toy, growling and purring simultaneously. I pulled him out of the cage, and knew when he began purring and nuzzling me immediately.  Ryan took a little convincing (the other guy was gorgeous), but he also agreed.  Being that it was father’s day, we were expected at Ryan’s folks, and went straight over.  After a bit of shy time, he began tearing over the house and climbing EVERYTHING.  We decided to name him after Everest’s Sir Edmund Hillary, and so I introduce to you Sir Edmund Montague, a.k.a. Monty.

The spring and summer found Ryan putting monster amounts of miles on his road bike, and myself exploring the new territory of triathlons.  Next year will likely be more of the same, though Ryan is beginning to flirt with running some.  Perhaps we’ll do a biathlon together next year.  I, myself, didn’t do any full marathons this year, but did do the Indy, Air Force, Evansville and Memphis half marathons with my family of running friends.

Our biggest adjustment came at the end of October this year.  Suffering under the same economy that has touched all, Ryan’s employer decided to lay off 20% of his staff, with Ryan being among that number.  We’ve adjusted well, and I consider us among the lucky ones as we haven’t really had to change our lives to cope.  We just don’t get to go out to eat or shopping anymore!  I’m confident that things will turn around, and Ryan will find employment better for him than the one he lost.  I myself am still working for the flavor company in the city.  Don’t stop buying those flavored coffees!

November found mom, dad, Karen and me driving straight through and back to and from North Carolina.  There, we helped Matt and Alicia (and Shaylee!) move out of their house.  Alicia and the baby are going to spend the year in Indiana with my folks while Matt serves his second deployment as an Army mechanic in Iraq.  It was so good to spend the time with him before he left, though Karen & I had to leave before his deployment ceremony due to work obligations.  I selfishly implore you to pray for all our troops!

Besides the joy of seeing family this December, I experienced the mixed emotions of my last semester of grad school.  With a bit of time off in the middle, it’s taken me three years, but I will soon have my Masters in Biology. (I’m waiting for the diploma to call it official!)  It’s already worth the work it’s been; as I will be the teaching assistant to the same Professor I went to the Keys with for another trip!  We are going to the lowland rain forests of Costa Rica to study tree frogs and other herps.  I’ve already started compiling a checklist of animals I hope to photograph, amongst them tree sloths, motmots and jaguars, oh my!  To say I’m excited is an understatement.

Thus ends 2008 for us.  We wish for you laughter, happiness and prosperity in the New Year, and may your joys outweigh your sorrows.  Is it too much to wish for peace on earth while we’re at it?  If it is, then I am happy to be amongst the dreamers.

Our love to you and yours,

Melanie, Ryan,

Rogue and Monty