Bye Bye 2009 – Welcome 2010

Well I’m giving this another shot. Now that I’m not so busy, I have more time to travel and write. So I should start this decade off right…or write! Your support will be appreciated and do not hesitate to comment and add your opinion.

You look online or watch TV and see the endless “Year or Decade In Review” and I wonder if most people have the same, on a more personal level. My decade wasn’t too bad. Below are some of the highlights…

2000-2003 was a banner year…Moved back to DC from San Francisco, got married, stopped being a travel photographer for an international magazine and started working for the Washington Post, which meant I finally got to use some of my educational values. After all, a Master’s Degree in computer science is only good if you use it

2003-2006 — Moved to Finland as Hannamari closed in on her degree and got to understand the Finnish society and language. Second hardest language in the world, but met some wonderful people and made a number of great friends. Became a permanent Finnish citizen, used my Culinary education and worked as a chef. Had to have an operation which cost me all of 72 euro ($103) including doctors and medicine and hospital stay. Puts American healthcare to shame. Returned to America like immigrants of old…on a ship. A nice trans-atlantic cruise.

2007-2009 — Relocated to Portland, Oregon. We love the Pacific Northwest and it doesn’t rain here as nearly as much as people think! Hannamari went to Finland for a few months to finish her degree while I stayed home, worked and took care of a rescued black cat we named Musta. Hannamari gets a job as a nurse and I freelance writing security software and doing graphics. Lived in a beautiful area in an apartment where we could see Mt. Hood. Moved into a new townhouse and added another rescued cat named Asia. Started piano lessons and have met wonderful new friends. Was diagnosed with diabetes but with the help of my friend Yee (who was my doctor at the time) I have got it under control. Even managed to stop smoking…cold turkey…no patch, no gum! One day I was smoking and the next I wasn’t. Interesting. Finally getting back to painting and doing my art and still cooking up a storm. Spent a bunch of time traveling, including several cruises and two cross country trips via automobile and one road trip up and down the west coast. We acquired another pet…a German Shepard name Major, who is now 8 months old and 100lbs! He is keeping me healthy. Now I can do 5 miles without breaking a sweat. Hannamari is finishing another educational spurt with a legal nurse course.

And loads of new experience and made lot of new friends. Of course for all of the good things, we lost few people, most notably my Aunt Broncie (100 years old), my Aunt Ethel and my uncle Mac. Also two friends lost in New York during 9/11. They will be missed terribly. All in all, the decade was not too bad and hopefully the new decade will be better. Happy New Year one and all.