Confessions

Sometimes I get bored. I'm not into video games or the tv that Sgt Dad likes. I'm over internet games and chat rooms. I haven't made friends yet here in AK. So, sometimes in the evenings I get bored. I check my blog and those of people I know. Then despite the warning I posted on my own blog I click on "Next Blog". It seems Google has gotten control over this function and I haven't stumbled on p-o-r-n in some time. It's fun clicking and ending up at random peoples blogs and reading about their lives. I've found a military family expecting their 2nd & 3rd children, I've read about a baby born 16 weeks premature, found a memorial blog to a mother who passed far too young, blogs of teen angst, blogs journaling depression, weight loss, and divorce. I've seen new art, old art, and you call that art? I've read stuff people really should tell the world and things I think should be shouted to the world.
Well, sometimes I'm not really bored, sometimes I'm just avoiding the laundry.... ;-)

I heard there was a moose but this is all I found

View from my bedroom around 8 pm

Life in AK

Well, I'd like to start this message with a shout out to my Grandma W. I spoke with her on Easter and she told me how she enjoys reading my blog and is disappointed when there is nothing new. Therefore I have decided to be more diligent about new postings.
I guess it's time for a book review. A co-worker lent me The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. The writing is excellent although some subject matter is gruesome; there is discussion about a sect of psychopaths who surgically alter dogs in an attempt to make them speak. The book centers around a grief-stricken man who desperately wants to teach his dog to speak to tell him about his wife's final day. It's a great story. I also recently read Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. It's also very well written, the kind of writing that sweeps you away. I'm currently reading Duma Key by Stephen King. I'm just starting so I can't tell if it's going to be one of his horrors or something along the line of Lisey's Story. Love him or hate him, he pens an engrossing tale. I currently have a stack of TEN books lined up to read after Duma Key. I love knowing I have books ready to go. Since Strummer has weekly guitar lessons I know I have at least 30 minutes a week to dedicate to reading.
Did I mention that Sgt Dad and I went bowling Easter Sunday afternoon? I had my best game ever. I bowled a 189 and had 4 strikes in a row during that game! Since I bought my new curve ball I've really improved. I guess we'll do okay when we start the bowling league this fall. I just realized that I should have snapped a picture of the scoreboard! Oh well! I guess I'll just have to replicate the game or beat it!
And that's all my thoughts for today!

Me at work

Strummer

This Evening

It's 7:25- look how much light we are enjoying! I heard we will

gain 6 hours of light between now and June 21! Awesome!

Catch Up!

I just realized how long it's been since I blogged.
Sgt Dad went to Fairbanks this week for cold weather training. He's quite fortunate to have gone in spring rather than the dead of winter. He managed to get a stress fracture while climbing a mountain wearing snowing shoes and carrying some 80+ pounds of equipment. So, he's home now but limping and popping whatever pain pills they gave him. He spent one of the nights in a snow tunnel and said it was actually pretty cozy. I think my claustrophobia issues would get the better of me! At any rate, you won't catch me sleeping outdoors like that here- I'm way to scared of bears!
The boys are all back to school. Tater has been working a lot and looks so tired. He'll get back into the swing of things soon. Strummer is plodding away and quickly getting good at guitar playing. Ranger is finishing up his courses and he will take his exit exams the first week of April.
I'm back at the gym on a regular basis and starting to enjoy it again. I enjoy my job and the people I that work with me. It's awesome to work with people who loves books even more than I do. Although the books they read are on another level altogether!
Have I blogged about Remington? We had to give him back to the rescue organization. I sure hated to do that but he just wasn't the right dog for us. He was such a sweetie. I think he needed more space and more exercise. I think he would be happiest with another large dog. I hope he's found a great home.
That about does it for now!

I'm Alaskan Now

Well, we've been in Alaska for 9 months now. Had we been nuts we could have had another child in this time. Don't misread this- there are no more Army Brats coming from this author! I'm just saying, nine months is a long time. Anyway, the point is we've been getting to know Anchorage. We got driver's licenses, wasted money in tourist traps, and made it through a winter. (Although I'm still suspicious that Winter is hiding, lurking even, and waiting for me to let my guard down before she strikes her final blow.) We've gotten settled into routines, I'm working, and the boys are in school. However there's one more thing that makes a person feel at home and that's knowing how to get around town.
See, every time we move it's kinda overwhelming at first. You drive into a town and don't know where anything is. You live by your map and phone book. It's all strange. You have to find a house, school, the mall, the grocery store, etc. Last weekend I had several errands to run all over Anchorage and at the end of the day I suddenly realized that I had driven all over town without having to consult a map once or making one wrong turn!
I started here at Ft Rich and drove into Eagle River. Strummer needed a good guitar so we shopped there first. Then it was out to South Anchorage to a bigger, better music store. (Where we did purchase a sweet electric guitar) From there we went to west Anchorage to the beauty supply store (I needed good shampoo) but it was closed. (Can you believe it closed at 5 on a Saturday??). Then I remembered I had a gift certificate for gourmet bread. So I drove to midtown but they had sold out and were closed but next door to them was another beauty supply store. So I strolled in there for my shampoo. The final stop, also in midtown, was Wal-Mart. Heretofore I had always missed it and had to drive back around to get there (there are lots of one way streets in Anchorage). But not this day, oh no- because I'm Alaskan now!

Back Porch

Here is a picture taken from my back porch. Towards the middle of the photo, if you look carefully, you can see a red light. It's the Burger King where Tater is employed. It's great that he was able to find a job within walking distance. It's also terrible to be that close to instant dinner. In the lot next to Burger King is the post theatre which houses a Starbucks. Yet another temptation.

Here's a dirty little secret of mine: I LOVE Starbucks but since I've found drive through locations I am loathe to go to one where I have to park and go inside. Lazy? Perhaps, but what a hassle to park, go stand in line only to go right back out to my van! Plus, they have all those cute coffee cups to tempt me to spend more ridiculous amounts of money if I go in. So, really, I'm doing myself a favor by being picky about the locations at which I'll buy my coffee.

Spring Forward

Here's a picture of the first barbeque of the season. The chicken was a bit crispy but still delicious. I had my windows opened cracked for a good part of the day and early in the afternoon the unmistakable aroma of grilling chicken wafted in to tempt my nostrils. Naturally, I had to copy-cat my neighbor and grill my own! So, I brushed off my grill and to my astonishment is burst into flames on the first attempt!

It was a beautiful, sunny day. The kind of day that promises many more to follow. I'm still waiting for another round of winter because I just can't believe that it's over already but for today I'll enjoy spring.

Close Encounter

This morning I had a close encounter with a very large moose. Just as I got on the highway and attained coasting speed (5-10 miles over the legal speed limit), I spotted a VERY large moose approaching the highway. As I'm driving towards this behemoth animal my mind is racing. Do I a) speed up to get past it before it runs across the highway or b) stop and wait for it to decide what to do or c) slow down, cross my fingers, and pray. (My mind works pretty quick doesn't it- this all happened in about 10 seconds) Well, I went with c) then a) because I saw that he wasn't changing speed and I thought I could get safely past him. As I whizzed by close enough to count the hairs on his whiskery chin (there were 36) I looked into my rear view mirror and saw him step out onto the highway right after I passed. The car behind me had slammed on his brakes and that big old moose did a fancy ballet-type jump/180 and scrambled safely back to the shoulder.
About 500 yards past Mr. Moose there was another moose. She wisely resting in the melting snow, enjoying the human rat race.

This is it? Winter's Over?

Well, we've had temps over freezing for the past two weeks. The snow is melting and looking all yucky! It freezes overnight and I swear you could ice skate on the sidewalks, it looks so smooth! I've nearly fallen more times in the past week than all the rest of winter added up. I keep waiting for winter to slam us one more time and come back. After all, this is Alaska, winters are supposed to be long and harsh. I'm left feeling like Rottenchester was worse. Granted we did have about two weeks of below zero temperatures but without the blustery wind that accompanies those temps in Rachcha, it wasn't that bad.

I'm still looking over my shoulder, wondering where winter is hiding and if it will pounce again.....

Hasn't Every Office Worker Had This Conversation with Equipment?

12PM Dude, Just Pull the Tray Out and Put It in Again

Man, to copier: There is paper in there! Stop being stupid! No, I will not add paper to tray four, I can tell you that right now. I will shoot someone before I add paper to tray four.

Berry College
Rome, Georgia

via Overheard in the Office, Feb 27, 2008

Where does your knowledge lie?

Well, this morning while randomly surfing away I came across this quiz. I scored 17 correct out of 20. What does that say about my diet and health? How many candy bars can you correctly identify? What is your candy bar weakness? Mine is chocolate and caramel. Although I rarely eat candy. As far as foods go, pizza, chips, and fries are my favorite poor food choices. However, Sgt Dad definitely has a penchant for sweets. I can remember coming home from grocery shopping with out having purchased Little Debbie snacks and he informing me that, "I didn't buy anything". I quickly learned to always purchase some kind of sweets, more specifically something with chocolate in it! From previous posts you know that Ranger has a propensity for Reese's peanut butter cups. Tater likes Twizzlers and Strummer (formerly known as Youngest Son) likes Skittles. Enjoy the quiz and let me know how you did!