K.I.T.

We’ve had requests from several of you for email addresses of the people who attended the Reunion.  Due to privacy issues, it’ll probably be hard to get the email list, but we’re trying

In the meantime, the best way to stay in touch with everyone is via Facebook.   What started out as Garrett Hunter and myself, now includes about 50 alums — and about half of those didn’t attend the Reunion, in case you didn’t see an old friend. When you’re new, it takes a little getting used to but it’s a lot of fun — and more of your friends are using it than you think.

I’ve also created a group there for our class.

K.I.T. Have a good decade…

Your pal,
-Dan

That was fun…and quick!

Reunion committee: Anna Tunino, Kim Egerstrom, Dan Wool, Juan Alva

Man, is it Friday already? It has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things and finally grab a few moments to recap the reunion. (This is code for “I had to wait for my wife to show me how to get the pictures off the digital camera”. I know…blog guy can’t use technology…ha ha).

Importantly, I’d also like to invite everyone to comment on this post below or contribute their thoughts and photos from the event. I don’t have any illusions that this blog will last forever but it would be nice to hear what everyone thought and see different pics — and especially, to share with those alums who weren’t able to make it to the big event.

First of all, it was a lot of fun! Dare I say, I had the time of my life and I owe it all to you? Of course not. That would be cheesy.

BUT…we did have over 100 Eagle ’88s (and about half of those brought their spouses) at Maggiano’s Woodland Hills on Saturday night and it was a blast! (I was out of town Friday night but hopefully, someone will jump on to recap the football game and Sagebrush get-together — judging from the number of hangovers, it was also a successful event).

Doug Marconet

First of all, it was truly great to see everyone. And everyone looks great! Some of you look downright hot — and it was never who you thought it would be. (Yes you, Doug Marconet, you sexy beast). But somehow, everyone looks the same, too. Does that make sense?

Anyone else get a little anxious heading into the restaurant? That was weird. For me especially. I mean, I’ve heard from many of you through the blog/Facebook. And, I knew my old friends would be there. And, I knew that “back in the day” there was almost always respect for one another. But somehow, when I got out of the car…butterflies. Then, I got a big hug from Laurie (Lewis) Walden . Sean Warner stopped to say hello and it was off on a whirlwind stream of reminiscing, one person and 3-5 minutes at a time.

As Doug mentioned in his toast, many of us went to Chami for six years and given the mix of classes, I can recall having different sets of good friends most of those years. And I think that’s true of everyone. Even when it was a quick laugh, handshake or hug as people shuffled off to the bar or buffet, there was a sense everyone was excited and grateful to be in the room.

Joe Norton, Chris Coyle, Erika Dill

For the record, everyone is doing interesting things. Some highlights:

Suzanne Bernel created an alternative circus show where she eats fire and hangs upside down on ropes.

When he’s not flying jumbo jets, Trevor Slavick is giving soccer balls to kids in poor villages around the globe.

Cathy Woillard is a child services detective.

I think about six different alums have twins.

Several — like Diana Friese, Joe Norton and Leigh (Kennedy) Bague — are teachers

Many traveled far to be there: Lisa Webb came all the way from New Hampshire; Carrie (Proffer) Holt and Laurie from NYC; Andy Pierce from Atlanta; Alex Rigolizzo from Philly, Rob Rosemont and Ann (Lewin) Scanlon from Seattle; Erika Dill from Nashville, Nicol (Giangrasso) Coliccio from Colorado and many others I’m not remembering.

My favorite is that Chris Young, the guy who drove a hearse in high school, is now a medical examiner in Portland!

Tanya Mallean & Andy Pierce

Stephen Marshall and Steve Rivers

Again, if you get a moment, please comment below to fill in more details of the evening or better yet, send in a personal blog post and photos.

Moreover, please send a huge thank you to Anna Tulino and Kim Egerstrom as well as Lindsey Katz at Chaminade who did a ton of work to pull together the events.

From Monica (Klemens) Bowen

I haved LOVED reading about what everyone has been doing since we left Chami in ‘88! I know that this probably won’t be posted or seen until after the reunion, but I figure better late than never. Plus, I won’t be able to be at the reunion so I wanted to share and see if anyone says ‘hello’!

After leaving Chami, I went to CSUN and had a little too much fun my first (and only) year and then took some time off school to figure out what I really wanted to do. Working full time without a degree WAS NOT it!!! I then went to Pierce and transferred to San Diego State where I learned I could balance fun and school work (who knew????) and was on the Deans List the whole time there (no one could believe it after my CSUN performance!). I even graduated!!!!

I was accepted into a PHD program for clinical psychology and after a lot of thought and many reasons, I decided not to pursue that road. I began a job in Del Mar working with a commercial real estate company and found that very exciting and challenging. I miss the field of psychology, but have never regretted my decision. In all this, I met my husband, who became a police officer for San Diego (if you live here or are visiting, don’t worry, he hates giving tickets!!!) We were married in 1999 in San Diego – several Chami’s were there – Evelyn Jerome, Julia McDonald and Jason Huber.

We bought our first house in 2000 in Temecula and did the commuting thing until our first son, Trevor, was born. Alex followed 1 year and 2 weeks later. They are now 5 and 4 and I have been home with them full time and love being involved with them. The boys and I are doing Tae Kwon Do and having such a blast! That is me (bottom row, 2nd from the right) with my son, Trevor, and husband on my right with my other son, Alex. I enjoy doing races (5K’s etc) and as a family this Thanksgiving we are making a ‘Turkey Trot’ one of our traditions. I am also training for a 1/2 marathon this January or April, whichever one my knee will cooperate for!

Some of my favorite memories from Chaminade were the retreats and the friends I made there. I hear so many people now say how they hated high school or didn’t have any good friends there and I feel so fortunate that Chaminade was such an amazing experience. Looking back I can sooooooo appreciate how close we were as a class. I still stay in touch with Evelyn Jerome, Julia McDonald, Julie Nelson and have recently reconnected with Jason Huber. Through the blogs I have also started e-mailing Jenny Fearing. I have such great memories of so many from our class, even though I haven’t spoken to many in a long time.

I would love to hear from anyone – mskb30@hotmail.com. I am bummed I will not be there this weekend, but I look forward to hearing all about it. Thanks everyone for sharing what has gone on in your lives!

From Erika Dill

Yee-Haw, Eagles! Just kidding. Not really, ‘cause I’m living in Nashville, TN now. I’m a singer/songwriter/coffeehouse owner. How about them apples? No, I’m not a Southern Belle. You can take the chick out of Cali, but you can’t take the Cali out of the chick. They don’t say “chick” here either. They’ll look at you funny.

So, I WILL overshare, but I care not. If you didn’t either, you wouldn’t still be reading this. After all, I AM an artist and MUST express myself, and this is what BLOGGERS do. I mean, aren’t you jones’n’ for more “catching up” anyway? I know you check this site several times a day for new juicy updates. I always need more information until my mind is satisfied. Isn’t that why they made a “Sex and the City” movie? Ok so I wasted another paragraph.

Some of you may remember that I’ve always loved singing (and cooking) but felt like (or had it ingrained in me while attending a college prep school) that those were fun things you did on the side of a “real job.” Suffice it to say I spent way too many years doing way too many things and “real jobs” that just weren’t for me, fearful of pursuing my dreams amid living as a starving artist. I wanted to have things, like a home, etc and was intent on earning it – and did! Deep down though, I became increasingly miserable working hard at jobs that I didn’t enjoy, in order to earn things that I wasn’t able to enjoy because I was working too hard at the darn job I hated! If this sounds familiar to you, you might want to make some changes before your cry.

So anyway! You know that starving artist part I was afraid of? Well ta-daaaa! Not only am I a starving artist now, I have also added a husband, two children and a business to the equation! All I can say is my drive to express my artistry has only gotten stronger as the years have passed and the harder I tried to squash it away. (Come to think of it, I think my senior quote alludes to this. Wow, what interesting foreshadowing. Our 10th grade American Lit teacher would be proud. What was her name? Ms….she got the sapphire ring from her fiancé.)

So while the rest of you guys have made amazing strides in your personal and professional lives, I have only just begun on a path that is right for me!. My husband, Rich (“It’s not just a name, it’s a goal”) and I have been living here in Franklin, TN, a suburb just south of Nashville, just over 4 years. Matthew is 4 ½ and Sarah Brooke just turned 2. They are rad little people! Our coffee company is called The Frisky Berry Coffee Co. and we have been open a little over a year. I make all the goodies, including some chocolate truffles that I wish I could bring to share with you!

This economy is totally not okay for an upstart business, much less a coffee business.

I am the lead singer in a cover band and Rich plays bass. We play country, rock and anything else we desire. I never knew I had songwriting in me until I tried it. I guess I have lots of gut-wrenching stuff to write about. We will incorporate our originals when they are recorded and ready.

Oh. Besides Dave Morrison, my favorite things from high school were doing all the plays, cheerleading, J2(squared)TECS and really, my entire high school experience. Some of the best times of my life (so far)….As you can tell I have been too involved in myself and subsequent soul searching to have kept in touch with anyone from high school. Sorry, I totally suck. But recently Traci Sunderland, my li’l chickie, made contact with me. She’s rad. I can’t wait to see you all!

P.S. I’m still totally pissed off that Mr. Fennell didn’t give me a better part in our senior musical for wearing that damn bikini in the Fall Play! And Dan, you were such a gentleman!

http://www.myspace.com/erikadill

Rundown for Reunion Weekend

Here are the details!

Friday Night — Football Game 7:30

We will have space roped off for ‘88 alums at the game. Facing the field go all the way down to the left, past the band.

Best bet for parking is at West Hills Hospital – regular shuttle busses from there to Chaminade. Remember…(1) they have an actual stadium now (I saw it from the plane today!) and (2) they replaced the “dust bowl” with classrooms … I know – what’s up with that!

Sagebrush Cantina afterward for informal…um…whatever usually goes on at Sagebrush. Map here.

Saturday –11 am Campus Tours

At Chaminade – you remember how to get there right?

Saturday Night

Maggianos! Map here.

6:30 – 7pm

7-8 Appetizers

8pm –Sit down dinner

11pm — Head over to The Rack where we have a room and rented 2 pool tables.

See you there!!

Dan, Anna, Kim, Juan