So.

Here we are again. Yet another 12 months of frivolity and fun have gone the way of Vanilla Ice's career. Let's bundle up against the encroaching winter (which, for those of us still on the left coast, means frigid temps of around 72...brrrrrr) and see what Uncle Mike had done did.

It seemed that this was the year of dating for me. I did quite a lot of it, and met quite a few very nice folk. Ultimately, however, I never really met anyone to whom I felt a strong connection (he wrote, grammatically). Or, at least, strong enough to carry me through to December and mention here. So it goes.

In February, I rejoined the Haunted House that I've been involved with since 1991. Now dubbed "The Scream Factory," the event took place inside Paramount's Great America (a mid-sized theme park up here) and went on for 9 nights in October. The event went very well, and we received a lot of compliments from customers. I was a maze designer, as well as the talent coordinator, and my monsters did a fantastic job scaring people. By the end of the run, however, I was tired and cranky. I realized that I'd rather be a monster than a manager. I like scaring much more than supervising. So it goes.

In April of this year, my baby sister was kidnapped and replaced with a fairly mature young woman who got married to a man named Michael. I don't even want to go into the Freudian aspects of all that. The ceremony was beautiful, my sister was beautiful, and I scrubbed up fairly well. I was a little miffed that I was not asked to officiate, but the guy they did choose seemed to know his way around a ceremony, so it all turned out fine.

At around the same time, I visited Disney's California Adventure. It's a gorgeous park with about 3 quick hours of things to do. That's it. After a very short while, I was bored out of my skull and wished I had spent my day in Disneyland instead. So it goes.

In May my 6th grade class went to Science Camp--and I got horribly sick. Again. There seems to be a pattern here, and it won't be repeated. Next year, I am going to assume that, if I stay home, I won't get sick. We'll see.

In June I went to Santa Cruz and saw Happy Rhodes in concert. Oh my. Such a voice. Such a songstress. I was in total awe for a solid 90 minutes, she was that good. I did nothing but listen with my mouth hanging slightly open (I tried hard not to drool--I think I did okay) and applaud wildly at the end of each tune. She rarely travels out to the West Coast, so I feel very lucky to have seen her live. I smiled all the way back home. Contented sigh. You can see how much I enjoyed the concert at http://www.auntiesocialmusic.com/photos/
efw/efw7.htm

School also ended for me in June, and I had very few plans for the summer. No cross-country trips, no summer school, just a good long vacation. Aaaahhh...vacation...

For the July 4th holiday, I went up to my friend Randi's cabin in Tahoe. Many people were there, many pints of Dreamery Ice Cream were emptied, and we all had a fun time. As if it were an option, I also decided never to buy a Mercedes-Benz convertible that weekend.

Also in July, I had my first root canal. Yeah, just as fun as it was described to me. Almost immediately after that first root canal, I went to Knott's Berry Farm for a special press event: the Halloween Haunt kick-off. Got to meet Elvira (for the 2nd time). Got a sneak preview of some Haunt stuff. And got to hang out with my friend Ted, another Haunt inmate.

July was a busy month for me: My Grandpa and his leading lady, Lois, tied the proverbial knot in a very brief ceremony held on the Hawaiian island of Hemet, California. The happy couple seemed even happier (if that's possible) after yours truly finished the nups (and the word "vixen" has been permanently excised from my vocabulary, thank you very much).

Also in July, the most important event of my entire life occured: Del Taco opened up a few miles away. Oh, joy! Oh, rapture! Now if they could just bring back the Bun Taco, my life would be complete.

My dear friend Mia came to visit in August and I put her to work sewing a new Halloween costume for me. Mia got yards of new fabric, a Del Meat burrito, a Borders gift card, and quality time with me out of the deal. I got a new Evil Clown costume and saw "Jose Chung's From Outer Space." I think I got the better end of the deal. (Thanks Mia!) I also had my second root canal that month. The two incidents are not related.

I also learned that my biologically paternal grandmother passed away this year. My biological father's current wife sent an email from Germany after doing a search for me on the internet (note to self: re-think website). I was sad to hear of Grandma Aldridge's death, and I was horribly conflicted about being contacted. My feelings really haven't been settled since then. This is gonna be a work-in-progress if ever there was one. Rest in peace, Mav.

In September, school started and I was ready and waiting for my 6th grade rugrats. Oh those precious little darlings. I have a pretty good group of kids this year--I think we'll get a lot done. Right now the number has dwindled to 24. I hope nobody else moves, in or out.

I am also a BTSA mentor. BTSA is a program where beginning teachers hook-up with mentors to reflect on their teaching and learn how to be more effective. Never thought I'd be one to teach others how to be more effective or organized, but there ya go. Hell hasn't frozen over yet, but I do see some pigs taking flying lessons.

September 11th. A moment of silence, please.

In October I had my 3rd root canal experience (all with the same tooth--oh joy! oh rapture!) and finally got it finished to everyone's satisfaction. Immediately after that, I went to Knott's Scary Farm's 29th Halloween Haunt. By this time, I had met and become friendly with a few of the monsters that work there. Pretty cool to enjoy the mazes, and then hang out with my monstrous friends. This year's event was the absolute best I've ever experienced. The performers were enthusiastic, the mazes were very well-decorated, and I got to hang with cool people. What could be better?

October 21st, I turned 38. A moment of silence, please.

Thanksgiving was spent at Grandpa's-and-Lois's house in Paradise, always a fun time. We got to see a few deer, won and lost money at pool (oh, those Hansen Hustlers), and stuffed ourselves with dead fowl. Yummy. Even without electricity.

Wishing you and yours (and yours, too) a terrific holiday season! Keep yourselves safe and warm, and don't forget to say "Please" and "Thank you. " "I love you" ain't too bad a phrase to bandy about, either. -----------------------------182342264167266779196660730 Content-Disposition: form-data; name="userfile"; filename="xmas2002.html" Content-Type: text/html

Hey kids! The temperature's dropping (and here in California, that could mean a change of up to 5 degrees!!), the flannel sheets are coming out, and that means it's time once again for me to kill a few more trees and send some Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Yule/Ramadan sarcasm your way.

And-oy! Such a year!

I started the year off sick. That seems to be a recurring theme the past few years, and it bothers me. Always seems to attack my throat so that, for weeks at a time, I have no voice. Some incredibly mean-spirited people might rejoice at the thought of a speechless me, but those people are getting coal in their stockings. Karma, baby.

On February 9th, I was chatting online ("online" refers to being connected to the "Internet," which is a system of computers all networked together, creating a community ofwellumokay, it's really mainly used to download porno and send dancing hamsters to friends) and I started chatting with a very nice guy (name of Ivan) living in San Francisco. We went out to dinner that night, and we're living together now. Zoom! More on that situation later.

In March I went to see Rob Zombie in concert with two of my friends, Jim and Midge. Had a great time, and, perhaps not-so-surprisingly, saw a great number of GYRO haunted house folk there. Hmmmm. Also, about this time, I realized that I was totally addicted to Trading Spaces.

Sometime in April (I think) Ivan and I went to see the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performing (appropriately) songs by Freddy Mercury and Queen. It was an incredible show, full of good humor and great music. Frankly, you haven't lived until you've heard "Bohemian Rhapsody" sung by a full chorus. Ivan and I also went to see "Mamma Mia," a very cool musical based on ABBA songs. No, really. Better than it sounds.

My parents came to visit for Memorial day weekend. We had a great time, as always. Visited Fisherman's Wharf, saw Insomnia, and ate way too much delicious Italian food at Buca di Beppo. Too quickly, they were gone back home.

Then, just before school let out for the summer, I got strep throat. Or maybe strep throat got me. Either way, it wasn't pretty.

About the same time (is there a connection? Hmmm) I asked Ivan if he wanted to move in with me. A bit soon? Perhaps. But consider these: 1) We're in love. 2) Ivan had been laid off since November 2001. 3) Ivan had very little savings left and was paying $1000.00/month rent in S.F. and would most likely have to move back to Canada and live with his parents if things didn't change for him soon. 4) I enjoy harboring illegal aliens.

Took us 3 days to move all of his stuff. Let me repeat that: 3 days. My muscles are still aching.

Don't know what the future holds for us (and, really, who does?). Ivan is still having a heck of a time finding work (seems like nobody wants to hire a Canadian with 2 Master's Degrees and no green card) and, since marriage is not an option for us (think about that the next time you vote), he might be leaving the country at some point soon, with no idea of when he might get to come back. Sigh. As one could guess, it's not a topic we enjoy chatting about.

In July, Ivan and I spent a long weekend camping up at the Russian River, and in August we visited the parents and Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland. Also in August I got to spend three days training for BTSA (a beginning teacher support program), school started on the 28th, and (like a phoenix rising from the ashes) I signed on with GYRO's haunted house. Again.

So, September was spent teaching my new 6th grade students, and then auditioning and training scary actors on the weekends. Being the unapologetic nepotism fan that I am, I hired Ivan without an audition. During October, he was Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy and I was Scurvy the Clown. No prom photos were taken, but a few extra bucks were in both of our pockets.

Also in October I visited Knott's for the 30th Annual Halloween Haunt (and, not for the first time, thought seriously about moving back down to O.C. and becoming a Knott's monster), & I turned 39.

Damn, I'm old. Anyway, November found the two of us cooking a 17 pound turkey forwell, the two of us. Lots of turkey sandwiches and soup were enjoyed in the weeks afterward. And in December, we'll be making the familiar 400-mile trip to SoCal and enjoying a snow-less Christmas with my family, probably wearing shorts. Global warming does have the occasional upside, eh?

Hope you have a terrific holiday season! Be good to each other, but save the best chocolate for yourself. No sense being a martyr about it (especially when there's chocolate involved).