Once again, in lieu of a Christmas card, I'm summarizing the more notable parts of 2009 for all interested parties. In short, it was a great year. See below.

January

• Rang in new year at choirmate's home. My 'dead pool' pick^1 was close, but no cigar.
• Hosted annual wintertime mulled wine party at home.
• Began final semester at Humphrey Institute wondering what lies in wait for me post-graduation.

February

• National Lutheran Choir tour through Mitchell, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fun to wander around campus again.
• Presented at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits technology conference--reminded me how much I like presenting/teaching/coaching.
• First of enjoyable, yet fruitless^2, job interviews.
• Wintry "guys weekend" trip to Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Thanks Clarance!

March

• Herniated lumbar disc (S1/L5) hobbles me for foreseeable future. Not recommended.
• Choir performed Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" to a packed house. Had a few short solos as Judas. (typecast?).
• Schoolwork continues at feverish pace.

April

• Birthday. 30 was a good year.
• Fruitless interview #2.
• Home to Cottonwood for Easter. April 12th: a busy day.
• Took my best gal to Humphrey Prom at Landmark Center. New bowtie^3 to boot.

May

• Two week sprint to graduation day.
• Humbled to have been chosen by peers to speak at graduation ceremony.
• Post-ceremony dinner at Rinata with loved ones--a day to remember.
• Now what?
• Fruitless interviews #3, 4.

June

• To Raleigh-Durham for a week with my brother. Borrowed a bike from the tallest guy in town.
• Pert Near Sandstone (cousin-in-law's band) playing Peavey Plaza (say that three times fast).
• Welcomed new (to me) kitty home. "Frida." She likes to jump and bite.
• Cheering on my best gal in Grandma's Half Marathon, Duluth. Afterward, up to Grand Marais for lake-side camping.

July

• Fireworks and flea market in Northfield. One great unexpected find.
• Volunteered for First Tee--fun to see young kids discover golf.
• Camping with Kallmans at Itasca State Park. Daily rain enabled me to show off my tarp and knot skills.
• Apartment-warming party in #304. A new home together.

August

• Cousin Anna gets married with sheep bleating in the background--a perfect day.
• Five months of disc pain--broke down and submitted to an epidural. Next-day relief. Walking/sitting/sleeping normally--a novel concept.
• J. O. B. Success!

September

• First day at UMN Extension. Trying to learn the lay of the land.
• Minnesota State Fair--in and out for the animal barn only.

October

• Inaugural dinner club with schoolmates. Good food fuels great conversation.
• First-ever performance of the Elm Quintet. Finding it very fun to sing in a small group. Hope there will be more Elm gigs in my future.
• Halloween: to Orchestra Hall in costume as the Swedish Chef. Bork bork bork!

November

• Friends Tim and Rachel married--an honor and pleasure to sing and stand with them.
• Friends Brian and Carleen married--some of my longest-tenured Minneapolis friends and bona fide kickball nerds.
• Three-point Thanksgiving journey to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Cottonwood, Minnesota. Hit a few junk-shoppes along the way. Did I mention I like fountain pens?

December

• National Lutheran Choir concerts at Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis, and in Saint Louis, Missouri--great audiences.
• Christmas celebrations all over. Glad to be together with my siblings and parents at the farm--I love being home-home.

(Preview: January 2010)

• Engaged to Brittany. She is a special one.

Hope that 2010 is filled with fruit.