Pet Parenting

It is no secret that our pets are part of our family. Since my oldest son is (temporarily) living at home with his wife and fur-babies, Sgt Dad and I are enjoying the extra furry family members. I am reminded why we got pets in the first place and the pleasure of a large dog to walk and cuddle.

I suspect that Sgt Dad and I will find that once everyone moves back out, we'll want a large dog of our own to fill the quiet. 

Here's a picture, ok two, of our grandpuppies.

Why I Quit Facebook

About a week ago, I deactivated my Facebook account. It was a decision I had been pondering for a few weeks. I had grown tired of it. Tired of scrolling past LOLCats, political rants, whiny posts, pleas to make purchases, and narcissistic cries for attention. All this just to get to the few actual status updates from the minuscule number of friends who still use Fb as it was in its infancy.
Surprisingly, I've found that I'm happier without the frustration. Am I missing some information I'd like to know? Probably. But I'm sure if something big happens to someone close, I'll get a phone call or text. Realistically, I'll probably end up reactivating the account but won't become a daily user again. Here are a few reasons why:

1.  I have found that I have created several accounts by linking through Fb, without the Fb account, my linked account doesn't exist.
2. Family and friends share photos via Fb- it's easy for them.
3. It's an easy way to coordinate with several people and to get a message out to the masses.

Just be forewarned, I may reopen my account, just don't expect me to sift through the mass of junk to catch your update. If it's important to you and I'm important to you - call me and update me yourself. Better yet- let's meet up for coffee.

Merry Christmas

It's that time of year again- the craziness of trying to find that perfect gift that expresses love for the person who will receive it.

This year, I've tried to let go of trying to find the perfect gift and remember that gifting is simply a show of affection. It is the thought that counts after all. 

I wish I could buy a gift for every person who has touched my life this year. There are so many people who have loved me, taught me, supported me and I could never repay that with a gift.

Gifts mean something to me. I don't re-gift and I usually keep every gift given to me. They are a tangible reminder that someone cares for me. I have mugs, pins, magnets, and key chains, all permanently attached to a special person in my memory. Each time I use these items, I am reminded of someone in my life, past or present, who has been important to me.

This Christmas, I remember all the wonderful people who have blessed me.

Merry Christmas

Finals

Last week was finals week at UAA. Like the rest of my fellow collegians, I was trying to cram studying and paper writing into every spare second of the day. The Cuddy cafeteria, normally buzzing with chatter, was as quiet as a library with young co-eds grouped at various tables, huddled over textbooks and laptops trying to get all the last minute studying done before exams. One particular set of students caught my eye. This group had not only the ubiquitous and seemingly prerequisite cup of coffee but also an entire case of Red Bull as a study aid. Curiosity aroused, I looked more closely around the room and nearly every student was two-fisting liquid energy, most with a cup of coffee chased with some kind of energy drink. Had I been a real journalist, I would have interviewed them all to ask more about their study habits. Do energy drinks really help? Don't they get jittery? Do they crash? Can they remember what they learn "high" on caffeine? Can they sleep when they need to? How many energy drinks are required to get through finals week? How much coffee?
As for me, I get by on coffee, lots of coffee. To be even more specific, I get by on Venti, Breve, Sugar-free Hazelnut, 3-Splenda Lattes.

A Well-Lived Life

Mark Twain said, “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. “ Millie Tapscott has lived a life full of smiles and her beautiful, wrinkled face is evidence of that. When I met Millie at Anchorage Pioneer Home this week, there was hardly a moment when her mouth was not turned up in a smile. Millie was clearly a popular resident. Our conversation was frequently interrupted by other residents stopping by to say, “Hi.”


Millie sat in her chair, dressed casually in denim slacks and sweatshirt. She kept her hands, gnarled with age, in her lap as she absent-mindedly fidgeted with a wrinkle. Millie didn’t tell me much about her own accomplishments; she only wanted to talk about her husband, Jim, who died in 2005 after nearly 60 years of marriage. Millie is quite proud of the art work he created which is displayed in the lobby of Key Bank in downtown Anchorage. She told of their travels around the world. When I asked her if she still travelled, she smiled and said, “Not much, it isn’t fun without Jim.”

Millie told me how she came to be in Alaska; she worked for Betchel Price Callahan Construction Co on the Al-Can highway project. She never moved from Alaska after that. She came to Anchorage from Fairbanks and started the first beauty salon on Fort Richardson. Millie met Jim in 1946 and they were married that same year. It was quite clear that Millie and Jim were a team.

Several Anchorage Daily News articles mention Millie and Jim by name. The couple was crowned King and Queen Regents for the 1995 Fur Rendezvous and the following year were King and Queen of Wasilla’s Iditarod Days Festival. Clearly, the couple was involved and respected in the community.

As my time with Millie was drawing to a close, the dining server stopped at our table to ask Millie if she wanted the tuna or chili for dinner. Millie wrinkled her nose to that and asked for something else. The server said, “That’s all I have.” Undaunted, Millie said, “How about cottage cheese? You have that don’t you?” At this point the server acquiesced. Millie turned to me smiling, “I knew it.”

Millie is a pioneering woman. How brave she must have been to take that job working on the Al-Can project and to live in Anchorage at a time when there were only two paved roads. She survived the 1964 earthquake. She was actually driving at the time! She raised her daughter, Lynn, and had a successful career of her own and teamed up with her husband on many projects. Now, in the twilight of her life, she reflects happily on her many years with Jim, always with a smile on her face.

Hello,World

So, I see I last published in June of 2010. My but that's a long time ago! I've been so busy with school, travel and family that I haven't taken the time to write.

This semester I've been taking a journalism course on writing and reporting news. I have written so much, 10s of thousands of words! I find that writing news isn't so hard but determining what is newsworthy is a challenge. Finding sources, being so very careful with facts, chasing leads, all these things make journalism a tough career choice.

I never intended to become a news journalist but I like studying the field. Learning the writing techniques, then reading them used in the paper is a bit like finding an easter egg. I have such admiration for journalists who hit their beat and find great stories. I don't know how they do it.

As for me, I was thinking about what caused me to begin blogging in the first place. I was a form of multitasking. You see, I was preparing for this huge, cross-country move to Alaska and everyone wanted updates. Instead of writing multiple email to people, I started a blog. This way, everyone who wanted could read about my journey. I discovered that I liked blogging and for a time, I kept it up. Then, well, I got busy and quit using it as a sounding board.

Now, as my semester is ending and I am completing my first degree, I stand on the precipice of change. Perhaps it is time I got back to blogging. All who know me know that I am never short of things to say!

Surprise!

I'm having a good week!

First, Tater decided that he could come to NY with us after all this summer. That's four of us going now. We are trying to get Braveheart to make the trip too but it may not be possible due to restrictions of block leave.

Second, Braveheart called to ask for suggestions for a date for him and his sweetie. It's really great that he'll call and ask me about things like that. It makes me happy :-)

Last, but certainly not least, Sgt. Dad washed and waxed my Jeep, inside and out! Alaskans know just how dirty our vehicles get over winter. It was a big job! It was one of the sweetest things he's done for me in a very long time. I wonder if he knows just how much that meant to me? Probably, because I told him so!

I hope this trend of good news continues.....

I Thought It Was Funny

While waiting to pull up to McDonald's Drive Through Window:

Me: You should ask them for a dog biscuit for Lexi.
Sgt Dad: They have dog biscuits?
Me: Yeah, a lot of businesses around here do that.
Sgt Dad: Do you get them a lot?
Me: No, I don't drive Lexi around that often.
Sgt Dad: I didn't mean for Lexi.
Me: *Extreme dirty look*
Sgt Dad: *huge grin*
Me: *laughing* You're a jerk

And he never did get the dog a biscuit!

Later that day while browsing a yard sale....

Me: *eyeing glassware*
Glassware seller: These right here are nice glasses. They are $1000 glasses from my daughter's wedding. She's on to her next one now and I'm still paying for the first.
Me: Uhhhh. Yes, those are nice glasses. I don't need $1000 glasses. *slowly walking away*
Sgt Dad: Did he say those were $1000 glasses?

Venting

On the way home today I stopped off at the PX to buy replacement iPhone headphones.
(Sgt. Dad borrowed and then lost them. Those of you who have known Sgt. Dad for any length of time are not surprised to hear that, I'm sure.)
So, I looked all around the electronics section and couldn't find them. I then began the hunt for an employee to aid my search. Upon finally finding one (hiding at the end of an aisle and playing with photos he took at work and then loaded on one of those electronic picture frames) I asked for the headphones. He walked me past a display and showed me some compatible headphones. I then reiterated that I wanted Apple iPhone headphones and not another brand. He looked at me as though I were stupid and said, "Well, we don't sell iPhones, so we don't have them." At which point I politely thanked him and informed him I would go somewhere else for the name brand product. What I wanted to say was, " Everybody and their mother has an iPhone, why wouldn't you carry accessories?" and further, " That's like saying we don't sell babies, so we don't carry baby clothes."

Good Grief!

Second vent:

Mr. ECH 557. I did not appreciate your close examination of my rear bumper this afternoon. Your driving is very UN!
UN-safe
UN-necessary
UN-kind and most of all
UN-productive
For all your aggressive driving, illegal lane changes, and tailgating, you didn't get any further ahead. I still ended up right behind you at the traffic light after we both exited the highway. I should have reported you after I saw you make another illegal lane change and just miss hitting another car but I let it go and was happy to be getting out of your way. I hope I never cross your path again!

Ok, I feel better now. Good Night!

Drive by..

I can't believe that the last time I posted was in October! Even now, I don't feel like I have much to say.
Pvt. Son is back from Afghanistan and promoted! He's now Spc. Son. We've been spending quite a bit of time just enjoying having him home. We've been taking him car shopping. Car shopping gets old real quick! I don't know why people try to sell a car and refuse to let potential buyers drive them! After that, and their refusal to allow us to have their car checked out by a mechanic, we've walked away.
Tater has a new girl and spends all his time working or visiting her. He has taken this semester off of school and we're working on a new school plan in which he'll be more happy... or so we hope.
Strummer is just completely wrapped up in his music. I genuinely see him with a music career. Whether that's playing for money or teaching, I'm not sure but music is his life. He's so into his music that he doesn't have time for girls.
We're moving! Yep. We are relocating from the base into one of the lovely towns nearby. I'm happy for the change and will be very happy when it's done. We've decided to do it ourselves and I'm not real excited about that part.
Sgt. Dad will retire this year and he's all but counting down the days. He's looking forward to the next stage of his life. As for me, I'm nervous about the big change and losing the job security that the Army offers.
So, that's the update. One of these days I'll post something of interest other than family updates.

As you all know, I'm full of opinions.. ;-)

One Snowy Night or Surprise Shower

A friend recently travelled abroad to Asia and discovered the complexity of electronic commodes. Imagine, if you will, the most complicated commode you have ever seen and not a single bit of directions in English! When she recounted her experience with this wonder of modern technology, I was reminded of my own misadventure with the Japanese interpretation of personal hygiene Utopia....

Here is a nearly unedited version of the email which I sent her confessing my encounter:

It was winter, 1997. I was living in Japan and working at a tutoring school in Isehara. On a typical day, my commute was an hour each way. On this particular day, there had been some flurries and forecasts for snow but life goes on and so does school. So, I drove to work anyway. Well, by the time I got there the snow was coming down harder and people had begun to talk about going home early. In this part of Japan snow does fall but it's rare and even when it comes there is little accumulation. So, we started classes but the snow became a blizzard. The trains shut down, there were no snow plows, and people drove like a Texan on ice. About 8pm the school decided to close and so I left to begin the trek home.

I had grown up in the snow and had no fear of driving. I knew to just take it slow and mentally reviewed how to come out of a fish tail.

I had two minor fender benders within 500 feet of the school from people rear-ending me. However, I pushed forward. I wanted to get home! At 10pm I had only traveled a mile. By then, I had to use the restroom- bad! So, I maneuvered between abandoned cars on the road (yes, they just ABANDONED their cars ON the road- not the side- and walked home!) and made my way to a gas station.

When I located the restroom, therein was the most complicated commode I had ever seen. With only passing trepidation, I took care of my business and then stared at the symbols trying to determine which was the "flush" button. Finally, I chose one that I thought looked appropriate and pushed. Fortunately, I had the forethought to not be sitting on it and was standing off to the side because it wasn't flush. It was the bidet! Next thing I knew, an enormous stream of water was shooting forward and I scrambled to shut the lid! Oh my gosh! There was water everywhere! I thought it
would never stop and I couldn't figure out how to shut it off! Finally, it stopped. I tried to mop up the water without much success. (Japan is notorious for not having paper in their restrooms. We all learned to carry tissues for public restroom usage.)

After an embarrassing amount of time in there, I scooted out and dashed into the safety of my car! I never again attempted to use one of those fancy commodes!

Together Makes a Difference

I'm Still Here

Well, I see it's been well over two months since my last update. This is due to my stress over Math class this summer. I'm happy to report I got an "A", as did Sergeant Dad. This fall we are tackling the next Math requirement. I imagine that I'll be just as stressed. However, this is the last required Math course. Whew!

Strummer has been flexing his musical muscles this summer. He's really learning his guitar and writing music. He has his first gig scheduled for a children's party. I believe he's volunteering his skills, however, it will still be a good experience for him. He has promised me that he'll go through with the school's talent show this year. So, I'll be able to watch him perform and video tape the event- and share it!

Tater is starting college next week. He will be moving into the dorms this week. My nest is quickly emptying! I'm glad he didn't choose a college far away. Hopefully he won't be "too busy" to come and see his Mama every week. Still, I know where he lives, works and goes to school- I can track him down!

Braveheart is, thankfully, still safe. Things are very, very busy for him. His very good friend was seriously injured and now Braveheart is missing his buddy and worried for his recovery. Please keep Braveheart and his compatriots in your prayers.

Sgt. Dad is preparing to go to Kuwait for a few weeks to aid in the transition of soldiers returning to Alaska. He shouldn't be in danger but, still, it IS a war zone. He will have his work cut out for him attempting to keep up with Math from so far away.

As for me, I'm anticipating a very quiet house with Sgt. Dad, Braveheart, and Tater all away. Poor Strummer will have ALL my attention! It's going to seem a big, empty house.

And that's about it. I intend to get back to blogging more regularly but suspect I've lost all my followers. :-)

11:15 pm Sunset

Tater Graduates

Well, Tater graduated this week. I was so proud of him but a little sad at the same time. I really does seem like I was just sending him off for his first day of school. He's grown up to be a great young man and person who, even if he wasn't my son, I'd still like to know. He has great character and a strong work ethic. He's kind to his brothers and respectful of his parents. I am sad that my time of raising him is passing, and basically over, but I'm very excited to see what he'll do with his life. I look forward to watching him evolve into a great man.

Crazy Weather

So, I hear there is a virtual heat wave going on in the east. Humph! We are experiencing cooler temperatures again. This morning it's only 33. We had planned on running outside last night but when I got home it starting raining/freezing rain. Sgt Dad and I had hoped/planned to ride to Chugiak High School today but we decided not to since the temperature is just above freezing.

We had been enjoying warmer temperatures and actual sunshine the past couple of weeks. One day we got up to 56! Here's hoping we have a great summer! Send us the warm!

My Boyfriends

We All Need Our Back Scratched

Real Life, You Just Can't Make It Up!

Quoted from Overheard in the Office

Male worker #1, talking about the future: We probably will all be huge fat blobs staring into our computer screens, like in Wall-E.
Female worker: I doubt it. I bet they'll have a drug that makes everybody really attractive.
Male worker #2: They already do! It's called "alcohol."

Portland, Oregon

via Overheard in the Office,

I Wish I Were Reading

Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows that I LOVE books! Lately, I've been finding time to read. It is such a great escape from the stress of life. I enjoy reading so much that I would love to write my own book, to give another the person the joy I get from a great read.
When I read, the world could fall down around me and I wouldn't notice. If the author is good enough, I LIVE in the world he or she has created. It doesn't matter much to me the author's point of view; first person, narrative, third person, they all captivate me.
I tend not to get into books that are set in present day. I prefer something that is realistic, yet not real- if that makes any sense. Take Harry Potter for example, those books are sort of set in modern day but in a world that is very different from reality. I love Stephen King too. He also writes in modern day but a very different world from our own. I think he has a reputation for his gory horrors but there is much more to him that that. His Gunslinger series is a great, epic tale and not at all like Cujo or Carrie. My all time favorite has to be Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander series. Her books are HUGE (even longer than HP books) but the story is so good that it doesn't feel like a long book. Her writing is so captivating that I blazed through the first five of the series is under a month. I gave myself headaches from marathon reading!
There's not really a point to this post, no great nugget of my mind, just a simple statement about my love of reading. It's my reward for a job well done. When I'm overwhelmed at work, I just think about the great book waiting to be picked up when I get home!
And now, I'm off to read!