Dan Wilson!

A year after I started this blog (and didn’t live up to my promise to keep it going), I decided to check in with Dan Wilson. While at Wheaton, I could always count on Dan for a smile and automatic mood lift. It was no surprise that he did it again when we reconnected for this post. What a good guy.

Name: Daniel Wilson

Location: Somerville, MA

What’s occupying your time right now? Many things, but if I only could mention a few it would be: enjoying the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Fine Arts, and local singer/songwriters while I’m here in Boston. Family (especially my little nephew… too cute!), friends of all kinds (Wheaton, growing up, and new acquaintances), and trying to live life to the fullest.

What are you excited about? Future travel, new adventures, and summer!

How many different addresses have you had since graduation? 4. One in Maine, and three in Massachusetts (Somerville, Cambridge, Somerville).

List 3-5 things that have occurred in your life since graduation: I’m an Uncle, went on a road trip out west, made it to Ireland, employed at the same company, grew a beard for the first time.

What do you miss about Wheaton? So many lovely people in one place, brunch in Chase, goldfish in my tomato soup at Emerson, gazing at the stars in Astronomy, the flowering trees, a few of the old Profs, late nights at the Loft, pumpkin spice coffee at the cafe, down time, and performing.

Goals for the next 5 years? Continue to try new things and help influence positive change. I’d like to try out living in a new state or country, start considering a family (though that might be more like the 10 year plan), and live in the moment.

Wilson OUT.

Give it up for Zak.

Seriously.  Zak turned his answers around so fast. I knew he’d be a good first subject because I’m always getting updates about the good things he’s doing.

Name: Zak Putnam

Location: Cambridge, MA

What’s currently occupying your time? Finishing my MBA, looking for a job and planning nonprofit events.

What are you excited about? Warm weather and getting a paycheck after graduation.

How many different addresses have you had since graduation? 4 (Maine and three in Boston/Cambridge)

List 3-5 things that have occurred in your life since graduation:
1. Traveled to Chile for two weeks
2. Attended my first Wheaton classmates wedding
3. Started a nonprofit organization with Wheaton classmates (www.speroinc.org)
4. I lost my ability to drink

What do you miss about Wheaton?
I always loved Sunday mornings/afternoon when everyone would tell their funny stories about what happened the night before. I also really miss taking naps.

Goals for the next 5 years? Find a great job, maybe start a family.

Want to promote anything? My nonprofit Spero. It’s a great way for Wheaton people to reconnect while at the same time give back to incredible children’s charities in New England. Our large gala event is going to be held in Boston this September (time and place TBA) but it is always a great night which everyone should attend. Check us out and sign up for our mailing list at www.speroinc.org or join our facebook group to stay in touch!

Is that our bridge in the blog header?

Nope, but isn’t it fantastic?

I wanted to get a placeholder theme up so I could get this thing going before I brushed up on my crazy web master CSS skills.  Of course I was pleasantly surprised when I ran into this misty Peacock Pondish bridge number in this misty blog theme, like it was made for us.

let the magic begin

A while back I was ordained Web Master for Wheaton’s great class of 2004.  It was a great honor but, sadly, one I was unable to live up to.  I’ll admit that the title did not really suit me and perhaps I let it get the best of me.  Maybe I felt disconnected, being so far removed geographically from the bulk of our class (I’m in San Francisco). Whatever the reason,  I failed miserably and was about 5 minutes from quitting when I thought of a way I might be able to contribute regularly and with the appropriate enthusiasm.

Some of my Wheaton classmates may remember the “Senior of the Week” section of our little class bulletin board in Balfour, where I would fairly regularly post a photo of a fellow senior and share the results of a short interview.  The questions were of an intense and probing nature – starting with name, hometown, major, and ending, I believe, with “If you you have a super power, what would it be”.

Now, I don’t know how the rest of the class felt, but I effing loved that thing.  I think my happy life would be even better if I had a little more “senior of the week” action in it, or some variation thereof.  Since a blog is the perfect vehicle and our college bore an uncanny resemblance to a summer camp, I have faith that the concept – albeit the newer, more grown-up, five-years-later version – is still viable.

There you have it. I’m going to be reaching out to my ’04 classmates with a few simple questions and a photo request.  That’s it. I have hopes that this will continue for a while and we’ll end up with a nice little portfolio of our fancier selves, along with a growing listing of our company web sites, projects, blogs, favorite nonprofits, etc.  We’ll see what happens.

So, I look forward to connecting with as many of you as I can, even if it’s just to satisfy my own selflish desire to feel a little closer to my so many great friends on the other side of the country.