Christmas99

Hello,

Well, depending on whom you ask, we are either entering a new millennium/century or we are a year away. Regardless, the Christmas season again inspires me to reflect on my adventures of the past year and to renew acquaintances of family and friends. As is usually the custom this time of year, in addition to wishing you health and unbounded happiness, please have a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Here's what I've been up to in 1999:

I've added substantially to my personal web site. There is a great deal of content, pictures, original thought, etc. Please check it out in detail and give me some feedback: http://www.geocities.com/altruistguy.geo
Vacations: The highlight was a four day ski trip in Canada with my father. It had been three years since I last went skiing "out west". For the 18th year, I went to a favorite summer camp with my father, sister, niece, and nephew. I again joined most of my family at my grandmother's cottage in NW Michigan. For a detailed description of highlights, see here.
Athletics: I bicycled more than I had in many, many years, totaling 1007 miles over 19 rides. The highlight was my first 100 mile ride since 1991, during which I averaged a fast 17.5 mph. I also swam the nine-mile length of Crystal Lake in NW Michigan (it took me six hours, 27 minutes).
Charity: I've stopped my four hours per week volunteering at the crisis hotline this summer to get more weekend time for myself. I surpassed the 17, 18, and 19 gallon thresholds for lifetime blood donations (I gave 22 pints this year -- four more pints than last year and only two short of the annual maximum).
Sports: My Michigan Wolverines football team won ten games and won its bowl game, both for the third consecutive season. My Duke basketball team won the ACC regular season championship for the third year in a row (with a record number of conference victories), equaled the all-time record for most victories in a season and narrowly lost in the NCAA championship game to an inspired UConn team.
Navy: I was selected for promotion to the rank of Commander, which will probably take effect in Summer '2000. My (first) two weeks of active duty took me to sea on a destroyer, an aircraft carrier, and a fleet oiler. I also spent three days in Puerto Rico. I was also fortunate enough to go to Australia for two and a half weeks (for a detailed description of highlights, see here)! I was awarded two "Military Outstanding Volunteer Service" medals.
Romance: The "excellent candidate for spousehood" I reported in last year's Christmas card demoted herself to a good friend this spring. I quickly found someone else whom I classified similarly as an excellent candidate, who has since likewise demoted herself. Amazingly, I've found yet a third excellent candidate whom I'm presently dating. It has been an unusually (but happily) busy year for dating!
Good first run movies seen: The Truman Show, Run Lola Run, Better than Chocolate, Being John Malkovich
Books read: Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage (Sontag and Drew), Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Pirsig), Executive Orders (Clancy), Debt of Honor (Clancy), A Widow for One Year (Irving)
I saw my second wild owl, my first wild turkey vulture, and had the distinct pleasure to actually pet a mountain lion (see the picture on my web site)
Employment: PricewaterhouseCoopers and I parted ways after five and a half years. I'm presently job hunting/taking a break/on sabbatical. I'm considering changing careers -- trying to figure out what I want to be "when I grow up".

Smile & Be Happy!

Eric E. Haas

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This page last updated 08/06/02