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DEAN'S QUARTERLY NEWLETTER, Vol. 8, No. 2, 12/01/2004

HIGHLIGHTS OF AUTUMN 2004:

Move to Beltsville, Maryland: The move to my new location, both for my job and my apartment, went off as planned in September. I have settled in, though I am not entirely content here, and I think that when my lease ends next September, I’ll be contemplating relocating again. I am a city boy at heart, and have never much been attracted to the exurbs. There is little surrounding me that would appeal to this urban animal and most annoying of all is the utterly appalling traffic that often makes me feel disinclined to go anywhere. I can be thankful that I am close enough to walk or ride my bike to my office, though I generally drive the one-mile distance, but otherwise I feel quite isolated from the friends and activities to which I had become accustomed in Washington DC and Virginia, where I used to live. I miss my proximity to the city center every time I go back, which is once or twice nearly every weekend. I miss the ease to which I could reach museums, plays, concerts, eclectic movies, nightlife, brew pubs, trendy restaurants, accessible parks, bike paths, politics, demonstrations, volunteer opportunities, subways, airports, train stations, etc. As the crow flies, it’s not all that far to the city from here, but the 45 minute trip can unexpectedly turn into double that amount of time or more (often an 1 ½ to 2 hours) when sitting in stop-and-go traffic – a far cry from the six minute ride I used to enjoy.

On the other hand, for the time being, I am no longer at “ground zero” for threatened targeting by terrorism. Those who have listened to me worry aloud about living and working in Washington DC may consider it surprising that I desire to move back into the center. All things considered, I think I’d prefer to take my chances living there, and commute to my office here in the outer suburbs. If I do move back next year, I will undoubtedly resume my concern over living at the center of a bull’s eye. Out where I live now, my only concern is crazy drivers … and the near doubling of my car insurance rates compared to where I used to live confirms that.

My new address is as follows: New telephone numbers:

Dean Oman Home: 301-931-1144

10405A 46^th Avenue, Apt. A204 Work: 301-504-2317

Beltsville, MD 20705

For those wishing to visit Washington DC, my new location is not nearly as convenient as my old place, which was within easy reach of all the attractions. Still, friends and family are always welcome, and my new apartment is larger and more comfortable than others I have had.

Very special visitors Cathy (Sultan) Ryne and her daughter Beth showed up on my doorstep in Arlington just prior to my move to Maryland. They drove down from New York, where Beth now lives, and stayed at a hotel near my apartment. I had met Cathy’s husband Mark and their daughters Linda and Julie and on previous visits to southern California (including one visit just five weeks earlier), but this is the first time I met her oldest daughter Beth, and it was great to spend time with Cathy and her taking in the sights of Washington DC.

Dean and Cathy in Arlington

Trips to Boston and Orlando – In October, I caught up with friends in Boston, the Milendorf family, whom I’ve known since 1987, when they were living in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in the Soviet Union. They always make me feel very warm and welcome, and I have highly prized their friendship for many years now. I think this was my 14^th visit to see them in Boston since they immigrated in December 1989. While in the Boston area, I also caught up briefly with my old high school friend Matt Nash and his wife Cathy. They have a beautiful home and three handsome children in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Then in November, I headed down to Orlando, Florida to visit my nephew Joel, who has lived and worked there for about a year. It was great to spend time with him, since we really hadn’t had much quality time together in several years. Even this trip was too brief, but he did show me around the town and we took the opportunity to enjoy Disneyworld together – Epcot and MGM Studios. It was great fun, and with some minor arm twisting he managed to coax me onto some of the more dyspeptic rides, something I’m glad to have experienced but even gladder to have behind me. I thought I was going to lose my breakfast on the Tower of Terror.

The Election – What can I say? Where do I apply for an immigrant visa to Holland? Okay, Canada will do. Or perhaps New Zealand or Australia. But these are old threats I’ve been making since at least early 1990s. Even before that, in the early 1980s, Ronald Reagan once said that people of my ilk were so far left that we’ve left the country. Soon after, I left the country for 2½ years of travel. I came back, but I may indeed eventually vote with my feet by moving overseas.

The only consolation is that I won a virtual beer pool in a competition between my friend Tony and his friend David by predicting correctly 10 days ahead of the election the results in 50 of the 51 contests, mistaking only the outcome in Iowa, which went to Bush instead of Kerry. I’ve been telling people since March of 2001 that I don’t expect to see another Democratic President until the next Great Depression or within my lifetime, whichever comes first. In the meantime, frown and bear it. I still have no problem reminding myself that there is still much in life and in this country for which to be grateful.

Autumn 2004 movie reviews

Current movie reviews

COMING UP NEXT QUARTER: Don’t know yet!

Check in and let me know what’s up with you.
You can contact me by clicking on this E-mail address: mail@deanoman.com.

Review previous newsletters:

Summer 04 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 1, 09/01/04 – Toronto, Minnesota, San Diego, Chicago

Spring 04 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 4, 06/01/04 – Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, New York City

Winter 03 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 3, 03/01/04 – Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Arizona

Autumn 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 2, 12/01/03 -- Minnesota

Summer 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 1, 09/01/03 -- California and Toronto

Spring 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 4, 06/01/03 – Minnesota, Boston

Winter 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 3, 03/01/03 – Arizona, California and Colorado

Best wishes to all,

Deano

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