Life Outside My Rearview Window: A Decade in Retrospect, 2000

Y2k, baby! My computer didn't explode and the world kept on turning. The guy I was dating worked in IT, so he had to stand guard through midnight in case any computers did blow up. I worked in IT too, but nobody was depending on my expertise. I spent New Years partying like it was 1999 with a load of Axis friends down at Lake Granbury.

Work:

I continued freelance web work with Brainpower and a few others. Brainpower was acquired by Adjoined Consulting at some point during the year I was offered a full-time position as a Consultant with the Web Technologies division. This was my second "real job" since college. With Adjoined came my first business trip, my first (and ultimately useless) stock share, and my first access to a corporate gym. I was big time. Well, not really, but it was a good growth opportunity nonetheless. I also met Jamie and Beckworth.

I officed in the same building as GroceryWorks, an online grocery store with home delivery. I used the service many times and LOVED the little truck showing up at my house with all my favorite food items. The delivery guy always wore blue booties when he entered the house and was uber-polite. I'm sad they went belly-up.

Living:

Mary and I uprooted from SW Fort Worth and relocated to Grapevine in the Fall. Since I was working in Addison and Mary was going to school in Denton, it made sense to move a little closer. I was ADAMANT about remaining within Tarrant County lines, however, so Grapevine was as close as close to the line as we could get. (I have worked in Dallas but I have NEVER lived there. No offense Dallas people. Well, okay, maybe a little.).

One of my favorite memories is when Mary's mom came to visit us in the new pad. She was asking questions about my new job and I told her the main reason I'd taken it was because they offered domestic partner benefits. Mom's jaw was on the floor. Even after I told her I was kidding I think she was still "iffy" about me for awhile.

Travels:

• Traveled to Memphis for the One Day gathering with about 40,000 other Gen X'ers. It was my 4th year to attend a Passion Ministries Conference and was an incredibly moving experience.
• Returned to Belize for a second time and had the opportunity to work in the women's prison unit. There was one moment of brief panic when a friend "misplaced" scissors during a craft activity. They were recovered without incident. We also attended a birthday party for one prisoner where she was given a LARGE KNIFE to cut her cake (mind you, she was serving time for bonking a man in the head with a pan and killing him). Security was a little lacking at times...
  

Other shtuff:

• Did the original website for TCU Greek (this was my first and only association with the Greek System at my alma mater).
  
• Continued to played lots of racquetball with Rick and joined my first rball league at the aforementioned Corporate Gym. I mostly just got my rear kicked.
• Saving my dough to buy the most beautiful Taylor. I made regular trips to Guitar Center where I would stare at it and mumble quietly, "It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine."
  

Listening to:

• David Gray
• Coldplay
• Patty Griffin
• By The Tree