1989

Does the mistletoe still dangle from your doorway? Did the dreidel spin its way under the fridge and never come out? Holiday stragIdlers, fear no more. Even if you're not quite sure what year it is, you too can still make New Year's Resolutions. Some of this year's more popular models are featured below.

1. TIE THE KNOT. Without a partner this one can be tough, but keep in shape by practicing tried-and-truly-cheesy Dartmouth pick-up lines such as "Gosh, I really need a back rub." For further information, consult Ken Horton and Lee Arm Agnelli '87, who exchanged vows, bands, and more on August 2 5 in Fairfield, Conn. Strat Dick passed along the wedding guest stats: Ron Lepinskas, best man; Josh Hane, tall man; Antonia Nedder (nee Rutigliano), best smile; Lindsey Brace, reader; Tim Derrick, reader, Monica Coen, bouquet catcher; plus Joe Nedder, WalterColsman, Steve Lehman, Phil Singh,Ashley Chadowitz, Bridget Hust, LisaColby, Kris Moller, and Sue Shons, among others. Less is known about the wedding habits of Matt Ridenour, who married his Hoosier high school sweetheart this summer, but a secret source sends word that it was a "hootenanny." Beginners should keep an eye on Bostonians Ellie Mahoney and PhilLaughlin, who recently announced their engagement.

2. BRIDGE THE GAP. Make those terms of 7:45 a.m. drill mean something. Start slowly, perhaps by reading menus in that foreign language, and maybe then you can think about getting a job overseas. The Rassias method really paid off for Michael Haffner, who has moved to Madrid for three years with Arthur Andersen & Company. Using German language skills to explore and assuage economic upheaval, Laura Bordewieck worked on a stage consulting project in Dusseldorf before traveling on to Poland with Margo Miller. Or maybe you'd rather witness global changes from the New England vantage point. LindaKelly keeps up with Asia from her post as assistant to the consul general at the Korean Consulate in Boston.

3. MAKE SOME MUSIC. From singing in the shower to composing tunes on a touchtone phone, let your imagination go wild on this one. When you've found your sound, look up Ray Gillette in Dartmouth's Bregman Electronic Music Studio, where he's pursuing an M.A. in electroacoustic music. Ray intends to couple Nintendo-like joystick moves with a multi-speaker system in order to create "spatial sound."

4. HEAL THE SOUL. Few individuals develop personal conviction into a full-time job. Glenn Lucke "discusses every known religion" with Harvard freshmen as part of his work with Christian Impact, an interdenominational group on the United Ministry Board. While on a mission trip to Mexico City this past summer, he encountered JillMcClain, who was involved with Spearhead, a Christian outreach organization. KevinComeau devotes his time and emotions to a more secularly inspirational program, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Tacoma, Wash. At a day shelter for the homeless, Kevin feeds, clothes, and counsels guests. Confides Kevin, "It's emotionally draining, but very fulfilling work."

5. GE r A LIFE. This resolution is dedicated to classmates such as Becca Reese and Amy Holden who are eternally "putting a portfolio together" in order to pursue a career in publishing, advertising, the arts, construction, or medieval glass blowing. A New York ad agency recently promoted ChrisGroll to media planner. Sandy Brown also joins the ranks of the gainfully unemployed, fresh from a European trek which included Germany, Greece, and a Lithuanian work camp. And Dania Mazpule fills her days with thoughts of die D.C. nightlife, especially her latest discovery, the 9:30 Club. Thrashin' D.C.-ers, take note: "That's the place to go if one feels like slamdancing," Dania advises. Hey, with recreation like that, who needs the daily 9-to-5 grind?

Before I sign off, I feel I owe JackLangworthy an apology for the thoughtless and untrue quip I made in last month's column. I have been informed that Jack is at Columbia studying Italian literature and philosophy and doing extremely well. A thousand pardons, Jack.

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