Where do I start?  I guess January 1, 2009, I suppose... ;)

Actually, the year started off pretty well.

<strong>January</strong>
We took a trip down to <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100143" target="_blank">St. Augustine, FL</a>.  It's somewhere that Dana had always wanted to go and I was able to make it happen for her.

<strong>February</strong>
Dana was hot on the trail of a job that would finally bring her to Alpharetta.... by the time February ended, she was here.  Though she had moved here, we only lived together part-time with her spending the rest of her time at her Mom's.

We had an amazing <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=293" target="_blank">Valentine's day</a>.  I finally got to go to Stoney River!   Just about the best steak I have ever had.

<strong>April</strong>
We had a very fun outting with <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100132" target="_blank">Kevin and Family to go bowling</a>... something we need to do again! :)

We went down to the Savannah area where her brother lives for her nephew's 4th birthday.

<strong>May, June and July</strong>
We began a long stretch of being away from home and/or complete weekend plans.  Beginning with going to Huntsville for Decoration Day and then I went back for Mother's Day (where I showed my Mom the ring I bought for Dana).

Then, the<a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100116" target="_blank"> Mentone trip</a> where Dana and I got <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=333" target="_blank">engaged</a> over <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=386" target="_blank">Memorial Day Weekend.</a>

Followed up by a trip to Huntsville to celebrate my birthday a couple of weeks early but I ended up going to Huntsville on my birthday weekend anyway.  (I was worried that there might be bachelor party activities on that particular weekend... but we did it the night before the wedding.  Crazy, eh?)

The next week, Dana's Aunt from Ohio came to visit and we went to Cartersville and to <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100114" target="_blank">Barnsley Gardens</a>.  Oh, and by the way, we nailed down our reception place during her Aunt's visit.

Followed up by a trip to Huntsville to celebrate my birthday since that weekend was my birthday!

The next weekend, there were 2 weddings... on the 26th, my best friend in all of Georgia got married.  I was the best man.  Then, my friend, Jeremy got married on the 27th.

Followed by yet another trip to Huntsville for the <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100093" target="_blank">4th of July</a>...  Dana went with me and we had fun with Robert and Brad.

Then, another trip to Huntsville for me.  That was 4 trips to Huntsville in a 7 week period.

Meanwhile, during June, we began our meetings with Deacon Bill as part of our pre-marital counseling as required by the Catholic Church.

The final three weekends of July were a much needed break from traveling...  I did get to see two of my favorite bands in concert on back-to-back nights: <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=370" target="_blank">Tool</a> and <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=373" target="_blank">Dream Theater.</a>

<strong>August</strong>
On Dana's Birthday, we went to Ohio for her family reunion (father's side).  We stopped at <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=391" target="_blank">Cumberland Falls in Kentucky </a>on the way up.  I had a pretty good time even though I rarely attend<a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=395" target="_blank"> family reunions</a>.

I got us tickets to the <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=405" target="_blank">Paul McCartney show</a> at Piedmont Park for Dana's birthday present.  Well, originally, I got her a ticket for <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=426" target="_blank">Crue Fest 2,</a> but once I found out that McCartney was coming, we were going!

<strong>September</strong>

I finally got my vacation.  I spend the first half of it at home relaxing and time away from Atlanta traffic and the last half of it in Huntsville.

<strong>October</strong>
We saw <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=438" target="_blank">RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles</a> and spend the long Columbus Day weekend in Savannah, where we stayed with her friend, Aimee.  We also participated in the <a href="http://mmolenda.com/blog/?p=441" target="_blank">AIDS Walk Atlanta</a>.

<strong>November</strong>
We went to the <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100297" target="_blank">Star Wars in Concert</a>.  My first live Orchestra event... It was pretty cool.  Familiar music and it was Star Wars!

We also took a trip up to <a href="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73#100305" target="_blank">Amicalola Falls</a>.  It was a very pretty and a very relaxing day.  We really needed that.  The year had been pretty hectic so far, but there was a month and a half to go.

We started our meetings with our sponsor couple from the Church.  We got in two of the five required meetings

We spend Thanksgiving Day at Dana's Mom's, the first time Dana had been home on Thanksgiving Day for several years.  Followed by me going to Huntsville for Thanksgiving with my family and time to put up Mom's Christmas decorations...

<strong>December</strong>
It's Christmas time!  We went to my Mom's for 3 nights to celebrate with my family and then going to her Mom's on Christmas Day.  Again, she had not been home on Christmas Day in many years.

<strong>Summary</strong>
This is by no means everything that we did during the year.  Just the ones that I had pictures and posts for ;)  Anyway, it was a great year with great friends, both here and in Huntsville.  I really wish that I could properly show how much all of you, my friends, mean to me.   So,