Don't think, just come!

I am so glad you've all started to post photos! It is so fun to see you and your families! But my hope is that I will see you all in person as well! Thanks to those of you who have already sent in your money for the reunion. And as for the rest of you, don't think, just come! No more sitting on the fence. Make the commitment to come. Block the weekend off on your calendar. Make the flight rervations. Reserve the couch at your parent's house, or reserve a hotel room. Find a babysitter. We, the reunion committee promise a good turnout, and we promise a fun night. Don't use the kids as an excuse, either bring 'em along (the picnic will be great!), or ask the family permission to come on your own just this once. It's been twenty years for pete's sake! And as I receive emails from classmates, I am reminded of what an exceptionally nice group of kids we were lucky enough to grow up with. And you know what, those kids have grown up to be even nicer adults! So take this opportunity to reconnect. Because if just one of you is missing at the reunion, it just won't be the same without you!

20 Years On....Doug Nelson

Greetings to all from San Antonio, TX. It's been fun reading what everyone has been up to all this time, so I'll contribute my own story...

After Chaminade, I went to UCSD. I started down the pre-med pathway and stayed there in a very dedicated (or boring, depending on your point of view) fashion. During my second year, I must have watched one too many recruiting commercials, because I decided to join the Army Reserves. They suckered me in with a special program where I could do all of my active duty training during the summers (and thus not miss school), and I convinced Charlie (it's now just Charles) Burke to join at the same time. We both went to Army Basic Training at Fort Sill (Oklahoma) in the summer of 1989. Not exactly fun, but still I look back on it as a great experience, and it set the stage for the future...

The only other life events from that period worth mentioning are that I started to lose my hair and I met my future wife Jen. I graduated from UCSD with a degree in Biology in 1992. I decided I liked the military enough to stay with it, and was accepted to medical school at the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine. For those who've never heard of it (probably most), USU is a med school that is run by the Department of Defense and is located next to the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. In going to med school, I switched services from the Army to the Air Force. Jen moved with me to Maryland, and we were married in 1994. Just before I graduated from medical school, my son Christopher was born.

Me and Chris in 1998

After graduating, I got an automatic promotion from Second Lieutenant to Captain and we moved to San Antonio, where the Air Force has its large teaching hospital, Wilford Hall Medical Center. I spent the next three years completing a residency in Internal Medicine, and then another three years in a Hematology and Oncology fellowship. My daughter Lauren was born in 1998.

Lauren in 1999







Finally finished with my medical training, I was invited (read ordered) to be a staff Hematologist/Oncologist at Keesler Air Force Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. While it's true that many parts of Mississippi are just a bit backward and hick (if only I could see that 30 foot Confederate Flag again), Biloxi is down on the Gulf Coast and was actually a very nice place to spend three years. While there I was deployed for the first time. You might wonder why the Air Force would need to deploy a cancer specialist, but the only important thing to them is that I am a board certified Internist. Anyway, I got to spend a few months supporting our war on terror and drugs assigned to a tiny Colombian Army base near the Venezuelan border.

Deployed to Saravena, Colombia 2004







While we were living in Mississippi, my third (and yes, my last) child Meghan was born.

Chris, Lauren and Meghan at Biloxi beach 12/04







We came back to San Antonio in 2005, and were very lucky to leave Mississippi about 2 months before Hurricane Katrina, as the Biloxi area was hit extremely hard (Cars in the parking lot on base were under 5 feet of water, and the hospital had to be closed for a year due to damage). I had just settled into a comfortable life of work and kids' soccer games (every weekend) when the Air Force once again invited me to explore the world...

Flying into Baghdad May 2006







Serving in Iraq was at times boring, scary, hard work, funny, and sad. I took care of everything from Iraqi women and children with common illnesses, US troops blown up by mortars, prisoners shot by US troops, and civilian contractors with complex medical diseases. I even diagnosed one young Airman with lymphoma. It was certainly an experience I'll always remember (and may be repeating).

Anyways, these days I'm back to mostly treating cancer patients and teaching residents. My wife and I both play league tennis for fun, and I try to remember that I used to fight with my sister all the time when refereeing the battles between my kids. That's it.

Doug Nelson
dougonc@yahoo.com

Help with Slide Scanning!

Hey Eagles,
I'm in need of some help. I am putting together the slide show for our reunion. I have sorted through and narrowed down the slides, but now I need to have them scanned into a computer and burned onto a disc. I was going to do this myself, but when I pulled out my slide scanner, an essential piece was missing--the plastic slide tray that goes in the machine.

So, there are two ways you can help. If anyone has a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual II, model AF-282OU and can lend me their slide tray, I would really appreciate it.

OR, if someone out there is a slide scanning expert (this would be my first time, it was my mom's scanner) and would like to volunteer to scan them in and burn them for me, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Once the slides are scanned, I have someone to help me edit them. But I need to get them onto the computer first!

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

Amy

Where did 20 years go?

Wow, how do I put 20 years into a few paragraphs? Even though I now live near Silicon Valley, this is my first post on a blog. Amazing, huh?! I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts and wish I had my Chaminade year book to remember what everyone looked like 20 years ago.

After graduating from Chaminade, I went to UCLA and majored in Economics. After graduation, I went to work in the banking industry and lived in Manhattan/Hermosa Beach. I loved living at the beach and would have never moved if it wasn't for my now husband John, who I met when we were both living in Hermosa. In 1997, John and a new job brought me to Northern California were we currently live.

After a successful career as a Vice President and Investment Analyst for a mutual fund company, I finally got my dream job as mother to our three children. John and I were married in 1999 and settled in Dublin, a suburb east of San Francisco. Our first child, Andrew was born on September 5, 2002. I had an extremely difficult delivery and nearly died. After that experience, we weren't sure if we would have any more children. Fortunately, I like to say that God intervened and made that decision for us. Our second child, Emily was born on August23, 2003, 11 1/2 months after Drew. Life was crazy with two small children less than a year apart, but fortunately, I have a really good friend whose children are nearly the same age as mine. Someone to sympathize with me when things really get tough.

Just when things were starting to get easy, we decided to leave baby #3 in God's hands. That very same month, Abigail was conceived and baby #3 was born on June 2, 2006. While I always thought that I would have four children, I have to admit that having 3 children under the age of five has been harder than I thought. So three is it and I am enjoying every minute of it. The picture above was taken at our house in Tahoe over last Christmas break.

I hate to admit that I have not kept in touch with any of my Chaminade friends. Having lived in Northern California for the last 10 years makes it difficult to even run into any old friends. It's sad to think that we were so close for six years and now I don't even know where they are. So, if Katie, Paige, Margaret or Undine are out there, send me an e-mail. I'd love to hear how you are doing.

I'm still not sure if we will make it down south for the reunion. My son is starting Kindergarten and I will be busy with preschool and Sunday school for my son and daughter. I put my financial background to use as the Treasurer for the preschool and am busy running the Sunday school program for our Catholic church to insure that my children get into their school. Crazy! That being said, we will try and make it down for the festivities. It's amazing how fast 20 years has gone by......Kristine (Iwafuchi) Walsh

dublin_walsh@yahoo.com

Its been great reading about everyone over the last 20 yrs. I feel so inadequate lol. I don't think i will be able to make the reunion but wanted to post a few pics of my son and even of my sons car after his accident last month.


The picture to the left is of my son Willie as Oberon in Mid Summer Nights Dream. The school has no budget for drama so they couldnt do traditional costumes. Since the story is about partner swap and hallucinagenics lol director decided to hippy-fi it. And Pimp out Oberon. They played Led Zepplins Kashmir everytime he walked in, it was a great show.

The picture below was Willie at the Military Vehicle Museum on our trip back from visiting my brother in Nebraska.


Below the Oberon pic is Willie at the Kool-Aid sign in Hastings Nebraska, the home of Kool-Aid. My brother and sister in law live there.







The last pictures below are of his car that someone was obviously watching out for him and his friend after his littel honda got t-boned by a car doing arond 50 and spun my son out into a jeep cherokee. Its amazing they both walked away with just seat belt burns.

So thats about all thats been going on recently. I will try to come to the game friday night of homecoming. And maybe the family day on Sunday. But still not sure. I hope everyone who is going to the reunion has a great time.

take care
jodi jodikyman@hotmail.com

Amy Keating's Kids

I got my photos back from my recent trip and there are none of me and my kids without other people in them as well. But I wanted to at least share pictures of my kids.









This is Moira. She is 7 years old, sweet, and a big old hambone. That's what happens when you breed two theater majors.









And this is Soren. He'll be 4 in September. He is often rather stoic like this, but we can get him to crack a smile now and again, just not on cue. Often he'll turn on the charm when a lovely lady is around.

Amy

Feeling Inadequate

OK, so who else feels like the last 20 years have been a waste compared to John Apa's life? Holy Cow! John, you have done some amazing things in the past 20 years...much more than I will do in a lifetime! Sound like a fun-filled full life! Thanks for sharing!

Carol Phalen

20 Years In A Nutshell: A Walnuts Story

The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things . . . . . and thus it is time to divulge the events of my life to this point. I shall park my dry wit for the time being - maybe with the engine running, though.

After leaving Chaminade, I went to work for Dr. Keating, Amy's dad. I worked while attending college. I also bought a condo since my parents decided to move to Orange County. After being 2 years, I dropped out of college because I was making plenty of money and I didn't care for studying. I have recently found out I was 2 classes away from getting my AA degree (more on that later). In subsequent years I would work for Dr. Ruth White, Dr. Kathryn Klein, Brad Klein, and finally Dr. Allan Kurtz. I worked in the same building on Topanga for 14 years, with each different Dr. at various times.

I married a friend of Amy's whom I met at one of her parties. A lovely woman, who I regret to say, did not remain my wife. We were married nearly 5 years and many mistakes were made. Take it from me, you don't always get a second chance so treasure your opportunities the first time around. I was pretty devastated and hollow after that. I sold my condo to rid myself of past ghosts.

It was at the point in time I was working for Dr. Kurtz, two years after my divorce, that we got a new medical student in the office. Talking lead to lunches, lunches lead to movies, movies lead to . . . . . well, it all lead to a weekend in Vegas that ended in marriage. I did not opt for the Elvis impersonator.

So, one weekend I am single, the next I am helping my wife move her stuff into my rented home. Not just her stuff - everyone's stuff. My new bride came with the added bonus of 3 children, Sam 4, Sydney 6, and Derrick 10. New husband, new step-dad.

The expense of such a family was overwhelming without child support. So to cut costs, I left my job. I became the office manager at a small geotechnical company in Van Nuys, working 5 hours a day. I actually made more money working fewer hours and taking the kids out of the costly afterschool daycare.

Not long after, a blessing (that did not seem like a blessing at the time) happened. We were barely getting financially on track again when Mr. Birth Control failed us. We got pregnant and on January 14, 2001 we had Nathan. Now, I had vowed to raise the kids as my own - but I will not lie and say that I was not tickled that one of them now actually looked like me!

Fast forward - I am now the lab manager at the same geotechnical company. I oversee the projects as they come in and do all the laboratory testing. I am nearing 7 years of marriage. The kids are now 5, 10, 12, and 16. My parents and sister are alive and well, living in San Diego. This past June I had a cancer scare but mercifully, it was JUST a scare. Still, a reminder that I am not immortal and need to use my time wisely. In the fall I am returning to school to finish that AA degree - after that, who knows.

I was truly saddened to learn of our passing fellow students. Conversely, I am glad to see from these postings how many have gone on to do terrific, life affirming things. A genuine treat to find so many old friends doing well.

Anthony "Snake" Butler

P.S. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Bugging vs. Hectoring

Yes Amy, you did bug me to write. But you did not 'hector' me - and don't lie and say you did. If I had been hectored I would remember.

And where did it say our contributions would be critiqued for content? That is why I only BLOG on My Space - freedom of speech. Plus I can swear and it makes me sound cool and edgy to 20-somethings.

But you have already let the cat out of the bag. I utilized my BLOG entry to dazzle with my dry wit. And that is excactly what I have been doing for the last 20 years. Drying my wit. At this point, my words practically burst into dust upon exiting my mouth. Now that's dry.

I shall pour out my heart in my next BLOG entry.

Anthony

Update from Steve Orr

It has been fun reading all the posts, and I'm looking forward to the reunion. Here's my update…

After graduating from Chaminade, I started at UCSB in the fall of 1987. I worked out a bit with the football and track teams, but my heart wasn't really into it. I also realized that in college, the football players were much faster, bigger, and stronger (and hit harder, too). I had also discovered rock climbing, which was to become one of my passions for the past 20 years.

After two years at UCSB I decided that I wanted another challenge, and transferred to UC Berkeley and the School of Business Administration. My understanding was that Cal's business program had a better "reputation." In my mind, that meant a better job and a better life, I guess. What did I know? I was only 19 years old!

It quickly became apparent to me that I was not suited for the corporate world. I was getting more involved in rock climbing and mountaineering and could not see myself wearing a suit and tie every day. With my long hair and interest in smoking pot, it was pretty unlikely that I would be hired by a corporation anyways.

After graduating from Cal in 1991, I returned to L.A. and continued a job that I had held during summer breaks from college as a salesperson at Adventure 16 in Tarzana. I was obviously in no hurry to get a "real job." After about six months, I left CA and moved to Boulder, CO with my girlfriend.

In Boulder, I worked at an outdoor shop and started teaching courses for Outward Bound, in addition to climbing a lot. I did some extended climbing trips as well, spending two winters in Joshua Tree. This lifestyle got a bit old, and in the fall of 1994 I decided to reestablish some sort of normalcy in my life by returning to L.A. and actually working and paying rent.

I returned to Adventure 16, where I worked off and on for the next several years as an assistant manager and instructor for their Wilderness Outings program. During this time, I ran into several fellow Eagles, including Tom Molnar, who took a beginning climbing course that I taught. It was a great environment and an excellent organization to work for (i.e. they didn't pay very well). Eventually I was feeling ready for a change, and considered management for Adventure 16, but I felt like I needed something different, like actually making some decent money.

After dabbling in substitute teaching, including a couple of days at CCP (which was a bit surreal), I began taking classes to pursue a career as a firefighter. One of my inspirations was Dan Arkin, who went to Chaminade in junior high before going to Chatsworth High. Dan and I were old High Sierra buddies, who learned to rock climb together and had kept in touch. He started a career as a firefighter in 1994 in Littleton, CO and encouraged me to give it a shot. Long story short, but I was hired by West Metro Fire in Lakewood, CO in August, 1999 where I have been ever since. Lakewood is a suburb of Denver on the west side of the Denver metro area.

In 2001, the department sent me to paramedic school, which has become my favorite part of the job. I'm also on our wildland firefighting team and Urban Search and Rescue Team. It's a pretty fun job, the schedule is great and I'm glad I'm not sitting at a desk every day. I still do some rock climbing, but have really enjoyed mountain biking and skiing since I moved to CO.

I have coached Freshman football at Lakewood High the past 3 seasons (wide receivers and DB's). Needless to say, coaching has brought back more than a few memories of Chaminade football that I look forward to reliving at the reunion. Remember the loss to Alemany 63-0 our sophomore year, and practice the next day, when we ran for 2 hours straight? Coach Curtis (former Marine drill sergeant): "Tomorrow. 3 o'clock. Bring your running shoes." Good stuff. I especially remember all the guys puking and crying during that session.

On July 9, my wife Susan and I celebrated our one-year anniversary. She is a school social worker and native of Kansas City. We don't have any kids yet, but are hoping to start a family soon. She also likes to bike and ski, and has even gone rock climbing a few times with me.

I still visit southern Cal at least once a year to visit friends, and look forward to seeing folks at the reunion this fall.

Take care, Steve

i'm a tiger, # 12

Hey Everyone,
I was wondering if someone could help me remember something that has, frankly, plagued me for years. I have this rock from one of our retreats (TEC?) that is painted with a red balloon and the words, "i'm a tiger, #12." I remember we watched a movie during this retreat that had a little boy at a zoo. Each child was given an animal name and, I guess, a number. I'm not sure where the red balloon comes in or what the entire storyline of the film was. Being a religious retreat, it obviously had religious significance, but I can't remember what.

Plus now that I'm going through the slides, I've now come across a picture of Renee Magaña and Tom Bratkovich holding a similar rock with a tiger holding a red balloon. And there's also a picture of Amy Cameron holding a red balloon with a tag that says, "I'm a tiger, #12."

What baffles me is that out of all the things I have gotten rid of all these years, I've kept this rock. Any time I get on a "throwing out junk" jag, I consider tossing this, but never do. What I wonder is why I insist on holding onto it since I'm unclear on what it means.

Any of you have a better memory than me on this subject?

Amy

Hi everyone....from Jennifer(Mitchell) Flanagan

Wow 20 years seems like so long ago, yet in other ways it seems like just yesterday. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and I have enjoyed reading what everyone is up too. I guess it's my turn now.
I ended up down in San Diego at SDSU after a couple of semesters at Pierce College trying to figure out what I wanted to do and I realized I had to get out of the valley! I lived with Faire Stanley at the beach while we both went to school (sort of) and I ended up graduating with a degree in partying, oops I mean Sociology. I then moved back to LA and then on to San Francisco where I worked for Estee Lauder as a Business Manager. I lived with Melanie Woiwode and other friends from San Diego in the City and had 3 really great years up there. In 1997 the cold San Francisco summers got to me and I moved back to San Diego where both my brother and sister were living. Two weeks later I was set up on a blind date by a friend and I met my husband Sean. We were married in Hawaii in 2001. I also decided the cosmetic industry was not for me and I decided to go to Cosmetology School to become a hair stylist. I now work as a hair stylist/make-up artist at salon in La Jolla and I love my job.
Sean and I have a 4 year old daughter Fiona and this past January we welcomed identical twin boys into our family, Liam & Aiden. Yes we were surprised to hear we were having twins, but now I can't imagine it any other way. We feel so blessed.
I really look forward to re-connecting with all my old friends at the reunion. I have stayed close to Carol Phalen & Mel and have seen others off and on over the years but look forward to seeing Faire, Bettina, Anne Elliott, Pia, Heather Nichols, Janet Haase and so many others. If you're ever down our way my e-mail is jenflanagan@san.rr.com, I'd love to hear from you.
Jen

A Plethora of Postings!

Clearly people were anxious to post on Saturday. Thanks for posting your update, Nanette. It was great to see a photo of your family! I'm going to try to follow suit once my pictures from our trip are developed (yes, I still don't have a proper digital camera and remain in the dark age of film). I'm glad my hectoring (a fantastic word!) paid off.

As to my hectoring, I actually DID bug you continuously, Anthony "Snake" Butler. And while I fully appreciate your rather sassy post, I'm sure people would actually like to hear what you've been up to for the past 20 years besides honing your rather dry wit. If you decline to do so yourself, I will (with what I know of your past 20 years--and I know a lot) be forced to divulge the juiciest of tidbits. Your choice, Snake. Do what you will.

And Mike, I agree that Mr. Melcher would be great to have at the reunion. I know he came to last year's. If Lisa and Carol don't have his information, I'm sure they will contact you. I'm not sure about the Reeves. That's a good question.

Joel Rapp and his socks--brilliant! I don't remember it, because, as I noted earlier, I barely passed geometry. I was hardly allowed into A.P. Physics (thank goodness!). However, on a similar note, my sister Coleen '84, is now a pediatrician and in her practice, she is required to wear some sort of "foot covering" (socks, pantyhose). The reason given is that if she drops a patient's infected needle on the ground and it pokes her, she will need protection. I never knew pantyhose had such strength!

Now for the music: I've been enjoying some old Oingo Boingo lately myself. My daughter is now singing along in the car. I've had the foresight not to play her "I Love Little Girls." That would be pretty creepy from a 7 year old.

Amy

Teachers to invite:
We've got to invite Mr. Melcher. I've actually had the pleasure of staying in touch with him all these years since 9th grade, and he's still an amazing guy. He'll almost certainly come if he doesn't have other committments.
Anyone still in touch with the Reeves'? I'd love to see them and hear what they've been up to. I think they were teaching in Africa for a while, but I've lost track.

I've just started the project of trying to rip all my collected CD's to mp3s... A lot of them I really wonder if I should bother ripping... my God, what was I thinking when I bought that "Expose" album...? On the other hand, hopefully Richard will play some of the oldies and goodies-- remember when U2 was a little known, raw, folksy kind of band? And Oingo Boingo was punk and rebellious? We had some great poolside dance parties in the valley on summer nights with Duran Duran on the _record player_! I still remember dancing to "Burning down the House" (Talking Heads) in 8th grade in the little campus cafeteria. First album I ever bought on vinyl was Boston's "Third Stage."

Amy, let me know if you need contact info for Mr. Melcher.

Speaking of rebellion: Anyone remember Joel Rapp's battle with Mr. Reeves about wearing socks in AP Physics? He kept getting in trouble for not wearing them (the dress code!), so one day Mr. Reeves called Joel up yet again for not having socks. This time, however, Joel had the last laugh. He had "modified" a pair of socks by cutting off all of the sock except a the flat part under his feet and a bit around the heel. So techically he *was* wearing socks and Mr. Reeves had to concede!

Mike

Missing People

HOW THE F#*K CAN TRACEY GOLD BE MISSING? SHE'S ON T.V. !! Someone is not trying very hard - I want credit for finding her.

A.B.

Okay, It Works

First of all, yes I know that TRIAL is mispelled on my last entry. That is the point of 'Trial and Error'. If you get it - fine. If you don't get it then please refer to your Websters and look up IRONY.

I have been repeatedly asked by Amy Rogers to BLOG here. Unlike Nanette, I was not 'hectored' into writing. Although the phrase 'hectoring' intrigues me, it sounds like something that would happen to you in a gay bar south of the border. Yes kids, my mind still turns out that flavor of twisted analogy so the easily offended or confused should switch stations. If I think it, I write it.

Now it is has occurred to me that I am not sure what to write. Do I just write one really long BLOG about my whole life in the last 20 years? Or do I make it a cliff-hanger that only gives you a few details in each post and ends with my car hanging in peril over a cliff until the next entry? Should I do the opposite of Nanette who was going to Julie Andrews it by 'Beginning at the Beginning'? Maybe I'll Tarantino it and 'Start in the middle where I have already died' and fill in the rest around it. Samuel L. Jackson can play me at my current age, John Travolta as the older dead me, and Rose McGowan as me when I was a little girl with an extremely powerful sling-shot as a prosthetic leg. To hell with BLOGGING - I'm writing a script!

I'm tired. I think I will go take a snooze. At this point, all you know about me is that I am going to take a nap. Either this is the exact sort of thing Amy expected me to write or I will banned hereafter. As I drive now with my laptop on my lap (good place for it given the name) and my car barreling up a hill toward an impossibly sharp turn, I realize it is impossible for me to maneuver my car in time. Witha burst of smoke and splintered wood, my vehicle bursts through the once usefull guardrail and my car is sent soaring into the air over the cliff when . . . . . . . . . .

Anthony "Snake" Butler

P.S. I am not actually called "Snake" by anyone - it just makes me sound badass.

Trail and Error

This is not my official BLOG post. It is just a test to see what actually happens and if it apears on the page properly. I do not want to pour out my heart, soul, and vast wealth of emotions from the past 20 years only to find it being posted on the "Friends of the Constipated Elderly" page.

Anthony

Notes from Nanette

OK, so hectoring works. Thanks for the nudge(s), Amy, and thanks to you and Corinne for setting up the blog and the website. I've been a regular reader, if not yet a contributor, to this point.

I remember that pregnant sex-ed teacher, too. She was a former nun (!) who also told us that you could tell whether or not boys were circumcised "right off the bat," which immediately struck me as an interesting turn of phrase.

Hard to believe that 20 years have gone by and hard to know where to start, so I'll take the advice of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music and begin at the beginning.

Like several other alumni, I attended UCLA, where I majored in English and Communications. I was working full time at Ralph's almost all through college, so those years are a bit of a blur. Jeff Hunt and I were roommates for a while in Venice beach during this time. I also shared an apartment in the Hollywood Hills with Irene and Corinne at different times.

After graduation, I landed a job as a feature writer with the L.A. Independent Newspapers, a freebie for which I served as the class clown, writing about the weird and wacky throughout L.A. During my time there - and thanks to Irene, who invited me along one fateful night - I met Matt, my British screenwriter husband-to-be at the wonderfully divey Burgundy Room on Cahuenga in Hollywood. We met on either January 1 or 2, 1993, but can never remember which day because I expect we were both nursing post-New Year's Eve sore heads.

Within three weeks, we knew we were going to be a permanent sort of item and by the end of the year, we were living in a quaint (read "ridiculously small") flat in Stoke Newington, north London. I remember seeing Matt's face drop as he spotted my suitcases when he picked me up at Heathrow. Unlike the U.S., Europe is most definitely not known for walk-in closets.

We got married on the first day of Spring, March 21, 2004. I started work shortly thereafter as a feature writer with a photo syndication agency. We lived in London for three years when the Summer that didn't happen (a bit like the current one England's enjoying) convinced us to head back to L.A.

I worked as the U.S. bureau chief for the agency for three years, scouting photographers to syndicate their work internationally.

During that time, our daughter Daisy was born on the 1st of March, 1998, and her sisters Olivia and Rosie followed on the 6th of January, 2000. (Only in L.A. side note: CHiPs' Erik Estrada and his wife, also named Nanette, were having a baby at the same hospital at the same time as I had Olivia and Rosie.)

The agency didn't think that I could continue working with three under two in the house, so I found myself on the hunt for work. A friend put me forward for a PR job with Convergys, a company that provides outsourced customer care, HR services and billing, and I was hired to be their national-level media PR person based at their European regional office in Cambourne, outside Cambridge, England.

After three years, we were relocated again, this time to Cincinnati, where Convergys has its headquarters.

Another three years along, I'm still a member of the media relations team, based in Cincinnati. I am responsible for securing media coverage in national-level business and financial media globally, with a special responsibility for India, which I had to good fortune to visit last year as a host for a media tour I organized.

My mom and stepdad sold up in L.A. to be near us and their granddaughters and it's great having family near by. We've also been lucky enough to make many good friends, so every now and again, the house rocks with massive dinner parties. The kids run riot through the basement as the adults show off their best moves to the many '80s CDs I burned during a wave of nostalgia earlier this year.

We just got back from a trip to England to visit Matt's family. We also visited Pisa, where the picture above was taken (Rosie, 7, Daisy, 9, and Olivia, 7, are standing in front of me and Matt, and we're all standing in front of the Leaning Tower, which is much more tilty than it looks in this snap!).

And that's the past 20 years in a rather large nutshell. I keep in touch with Irene and Corinne most regularly and a few others, including Marita, more sporadically. If anyone else wants to drop me a line, I'd love to year from you. You can find me at the imaginative e-mail address of nanettebentley@hotmail.com.

Take care!
Nanette

C'mon Now, Eagles!

I have been to a Third World country, gotten my son injected with stem cells, and come back again. I was looking forward to some good readin' about my fellow classmates. And what do I get when I return? Nada. Nothing. Bupkis.

Fine. You leave me no choice but to dazzle you with some memories from my years at Chaminade.

1. Nanette Vernengo having a heated debate about abortion during our religion class with our then-pregnant religion teacher.

2. In yet another religion/sex ed class (I always found this an interesting combo for a Catholic school) the teacher (probably the same poor pregnant gal) revealed that teenage boys get erections every, I don't know, 30 seconds or something. Mike Pollard then audibly counted down "3...2...1" and slammed his fist against the bottom of his desk.

3. After failing yet another geometry test, Sister Marion accusing me of being on drugs when I was simply just horrible at math. Maybe I'd have done better if I'd taken some drugs.

4. Never being able to get the phrases, "Not cooking on all four burners," and "Verbal diarrhea," out of my head thanks to Mrs. McDonnell.

Anyone else?

Amy