For real?

Any one watching the weather on my sidebar? That's AIR TEMP!! 40 degrees BELOW zero!

Windy and 30 degrees in Minnesota is alright for now. i'm going to turn into a popsicle on Friday when I fly home!

Glad tidings...

To you and yours...

Please take a moment this week to recall the year that has past and also the reason for the week's worth of celebrations and the months of preparation before hand. May you each receive a blessing from your "wish list".

I'm off to spend the next two weeks with family and friends. I will count the blessings I have been given and pause to reflect on those taken away. I'll smile and laugh, maybe cry a few tears.

Take the time to remember the tidings delivered years ago..."To us a King is Born...Rejoice!"

Merry Christmas!

Kitty Christmas fun

First he got a snowflake stuck on his paw. Also, see the extra "decoration" on the moose's antler? That is a Q-tip. He likes to play with them and this one ended up as part of the decorations. Ugh! Silly kid!

I got them new mice yesterday too. Reggie was having a blast playing Romeo was too but as soon as I pulled out the camera he crawled into the tree so I couldn't see him.

Montana wanted to help clean though. That was nice of him, don't ya think?

Solstice weekend

Any guesses at the time of day this picture was taken?

7:50 am

7:52 am

9:50 am

11:00 am

12:00 pm

12:45 pm

1:45 pm

2:45 pm

By 3:30 pm it looked like that top picture again, minus the moon. The top picture was taken at 7:50 am this morning as I was leaving the house to head to Ivory Jack's to watch the Carroll College Fighting Saints play for the NAIA National Championship. They lost but the day was beautiful. Tomorrow is officially the "solstice". Funky, uh?

GO CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS!!!!

Done up right...

Pomp and circumstance is done well by the US Army. Last night was the Bassett Army Community Hospital, US Army, Artic Warriors, MEDDAC Holiday Ball. (Dana can translate that to "English" for all of you non-military people) I initially hesitated to go. The Ball was scheduled near the end of a week already packed with holiday functions. It's Alaska and it's cold to get all dressed up in formal wear. I ultimately decided it was an event to attend because I hadn't been to one before.

The gals with me in the above photo go with two of my ortho clinic medics. Aren't they pretty?

This bunch below makes up a good portion of our ortho clinic. Sgt Miller, myself, Spc Butcher, Dr. Meyer, and Spc Johanesen. Oh yeah, the Nutcracker too. Don't we clean up good?

I was impressed with the military formalities of the evening. The activities began with the presentation of colors, toasts (including salutes to the Army, the US, the Artic Warrors, our Fallen Comrades, and our mission), a table dedication to those serving abroad who could not join us, an invocation, and a guest speaker. Of course, there was also the usual holiday entertainment...ballroom dancers, bag pipes, Sweet Adelines, etc. It was a wonderful evening and I'm glad I went.

HNT...AK Reunion

Here is proof of our laziness this past weekend in Anchorage Kamey and I spent a lot of time vegging. She did have a little surprise for me though...she bought us matching moose socks! How cool are they!

Happy HNT!

Home again..

When you have Rudolph the Red Nosed Moose and Peanut Butter pie covered in chocolate ganauche (Any one know how to spell that?), what could be wrong about the weekend?

A get-away

Alaska is a "small place". It may look huge on the map and there are miles and miles of undeveloped space here over the majority of the state. When you take the time to talk to someone be careful...you may know them from before, lived next to their brother in another state, or be related. The gal cutting my hair grew up 132 miles away from me and her "second mom" (you know, that one that listens when you can't talk to your real mom) was my grandma's "Second" daughter. Found out through my hairdresser that the gal was getting divorced. Called dad to confirm and he said, "oh yeah, I forgot to tell you.".

I did know one person when coming up here through PAOS. He was the one who pulled my car out of the ditch on Tuesday. Turns out a lot of his friends are from Wisconsin and are familiar with various areas I'm familiar with.

One of my undergrad classmates accepted a job up here and started working in Nome, AK as an eye doc in July. She and I were band geeks together under the direction of Os. We are his beer drinkin' buddies. We last saw each other when we were both home in February in Helena. Yes, Os met us and we chugged beers at Miller's Crossing until close :)

This weekend, Kamey is at an eye conference in Anchorage through noon tomorrow. My flight arrives at 3:30 and we will be hanging out all weekend, girls only! There will be lots of beer drinking, a viewing of Twilight (I finished the book on Sunday), and then the big adventure will be an attempt at snowboarding by me. Wish me luck! Kamey has instructions to check to see if I'm broken before she laughs at me.

There will be pictures to share for sure!

Look what I did...

Yeah...had a little "accident" trying to get out of the driveway to work this morning. What you can't tell is that when I stepped out of the driver's door after sitting there for 10 minutes to make sure it was safe is that the snow was knee deep which means my vehicle was at a really nasty angle.








One of my ortho techs came and got me. The car stayed there. After work my friend in town who is also an ortho PA who has lived in AK for 30 years came to help me out. We hooked up a tow rope and I had to brave getting back in there at the steep angle and I "drove" it out as he pulled with his big man truck!






Lesson learned: Put up posts so I can see where the corner of the driveway meets the ditch now that the snow is so deep that you can't see it. The whole think happened at less than 10 mph as I put the car into drive when I saw my back tire nearing the "edge". As soon as I did that the entire car slid sideways and tipped real slow like. Then just stayed there.

Stamp A Stack...

Typically a Stampin' Up Stamp-A-Stack involves making x number of cards of y number of designs. Usually like a stack of 20. So five each of four designs. Well...this stack took a bit more than that.

I am helping a Family Readiness Group with their Christmas party. Anywhere from 100 to 150 children will be stopping by to make a card to send to their family member in Iraq. Since the ages will range so wide it had to be something straight forward. It is also a non-profit event for me so I can use retired papers. I cut out all sorts of reds, greens, and blues for bases and pulled out packs and packs of 12 x 12 designer series paper to come up with enough to make 175 cards. These are the combos I came up with.

The kids will get to pick a blank card already with a "holiday" theme and then use my stamps, crayons, and markers to stamp a card to send to Iraq. A few of the moms will be helping keep the chaos to a minimum and they will all go home with a card. Now I just have to wait for my I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit to get here so I can stamp my own Christmas cards and get them postmarked at North Pole!

A North Pole Christmas

Today was another Alaska "experience". North Pole, Alaska is just down the Richardson Highway from post. I joined my friend Heather (not Montana Heather, Heather the new physical therapist) and her family to go to Santa Land. The place is Christmas 24/7, 365 days a year. They have a gift shop full of North Pole and Alaskan clothing, knick knacks, and thousands of Christmas ornaments. I did a little gift shopping and we took each other's "Christmas" photos. You can check out the rest of my photos on Facebook but these are a few of my favorites.




















































































I couldn't resist taking a picture with Kris Kringle and the Mrs. for my first Alaska Christmas. I was as giddy as the little kids. It was a wonderful day and I'm grateful for Heather's willingness to drag me along as part of the "family"

.

Curious...

I'm curious who left the following comment on my last post...

"What is wrong with SE Minnesota...you did live here for 4 years and like it then. This is a great place and lots of wonderful people live here."

First off, my last post mentioned nothing about MN. Second, I didn't leave b/c I didn't like Minnesota. I left because I was very unhappy with my job and wanted to be near the mountains again. I lived in Roch for almost 6 years, not four and I have great memories and better friends from that portion of my life. I'm just confused on the comment. Let me know who you are and if I upset you, we can talk.

A "Limeable" Meme

If you have never read a Meme completed by Lime you are missing out. She has an imagination and past experience larger than life and uses it to her best abilities with her answers. I really liked these questions so I am filling it out but breaking the rules. I'm leaving her responses and some of mine will be reactions to her's. If you have never read her...go check her out.

What time is it ?
9 Aug '07 3:20 PM

Lime has been blogging for a while, she dug a ways back to find this one. It's 7:17 pm on December 2nd 2008 right now.

What are you most afraid of ?
That big, green, scaled thing with fangs that's peering over your shoulder.

I checked...nothing over my shoulder. But that is what scares me...being alone. I would take the green scaled thing if it cuddled and appreciated me.


What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a Theater ?
Australia. I'd pay money to go watch Hugh Jackman give a dramatic reading of a soup can label.

I want to go see Australia...I would watch Hugh Jackman do about anything as well. I think the last movie I saw in the theater was Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D with Dave and Tim before I moved to AK. Haven't been to a movie since but signed up for Netflix.


Favourite Food?
Have I not sufficiently conveyed how delectable I find Hugh Jackman?

Derek Hough, Johnny Depp, Mark Harmon....they all make good appetizers. Jackman could remain as the main course. Maybe a bit of Sean Connery for dessert!


What's your natural hair color ?
Salt and Pepper

Lime's salt and pepper is beautiful. it reminds me of the women on my mom's side of the family. They all let their hair go "natural". Mom got the salt and pepper but my grandma had the snow white hair. it was beautiful. Mine...I really have no clue what my "natural" color is any more.


Ever been to Alaska ?
Nope, but I hear Moose's guest room is ready.

Yeah...in fact, I MOVED here to LIVE. Hopefully permanently! And yes, the guest bedroom is ready!


Ever been toilet paper rolling?
I have been toilet paper UNrolling.

I think I have to say no to both but I have been the victim of the unrolling. Toilet paper and eggs are NOT good for a paint job on a 1977 Ford Grenada.

Love someone so much it made you cry?

Oh yes

Yes...true love is painful. If it doesn't make you cry with happiness and with hurt it isn't true love.

Been in a car accident?

Multiple times, not something I care to repeat ever again, thank you very much.

I put my car first car in the ditch going to fast on gravel roads. All I needed to do was back up but I freaked out. I have witnessed some scary ones though.

Croutons or bacon bits?

On salad or in soup? Are the croutons made from rye, whole wheat, or white bread? What are they seasoned with? Are the bacon bits real bacon or fake? If they are real have they been fried hard or are they soggy?

I want rye or whole wheat croutons and I want them on soup. I want real bacon bits and they better be hard. But for the record, if I am just going to eat bacon I want it a little "limp".

Favourite day of the week?

For what purpose? Sleeping in or actually accomplishing something? Being alone or connecting with someone I like?

Monday's for getting things done...there is so much potential to the week. Saturday sleep ins are what I live for.

Favourite Flower?

For Mommy bouquets the little kids bring in from the yard? For fresh cut on the table? For in my hair? For weddings? For funerals?

One given with thought and sincerity. Just give me one, I don't care what the occasion is.


Favourite sport to watch?
Well, once I had great fun watching pig races from atop a septic tank.

I have never watched a sport from atop a septic tank but I'm a football addict! Saturday, Sunday, Monday night, Thursday night. High school, college, pro!

Favourite drink?

To imbibe for the sake of slaking thirst or for a toast? To chug or to sip? To throw in the face of some pig (not the racing variety)?

I actually really like water. Good water. Not ice cold, not chlorinated, not caffinated, not flavored with juices or hidden vitamins. Good, clear country water.


Disney or Warner Brothers?
I've never met Walt or the brothers so I don't feel it would be fair to comment on their respective personalities.

Defintely more of a Disney fan. I don't always "get" Warner Brothers humor. Just the way I'm wired. I like the good vs bad, moral of the story kind of tales.

Ever been on a ship?

Do I look like a dingy?

No Lime, you do not look like a dingy. I have been on yachts out of port but never on a ship out of port. I have toured lots of cool ships though docked for show...one of the largest still existing wooden ships with sails, the USS Midway, USS Wisconsin, and a few others.

What colour is your bedroom carpet?

No carpet, just hard wood, which is a most lovely thing to have in the bedroom, or any room for that matter....;)

I use to have hard wood floors and I miss them. They were a lot easier to clean. Now i have off white carpet. Lots of vacuuming, I hate to vacuum.

How many times did you fail your driver's test?

I paid the examiner well the first time

SD: Once because the gal flunked me on the driving portion for touching the curb with my front tire after she told me to pull closer.

MT and AZ: Didn't need to take one to get a license. Pass the eye test and smile pretty.

MN: Passed it on the first shot without even knowing ahead of time I had to take a test so I didn't freak out and study for it.

AK: Failed it twice after spending a whole weekend doing practice questions online. Finally brought the book home and took it a third time and passed :)

What do you do when you are bored ?

Well no one has ever used a large diameter drill bit on me but I assume I'd bleed profusely, scream quite a bit, and try very hard to make it stop.

I don't mind boring on people...I actually enjoy it. if they are properly medicated, they don't care a bit :)

Favourite TV show?

You are assuming I ever have control of the remote.

The one bonus of being home alone is always having the remote. If there is a dead body or a crime to solve in the show, I like it.

How many pets do you have?

I haven't been pet in a long while

I too could use a good petting. The three cats groom each other but aren't so good at grooming me.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

The rooster did and the hen was sorely disappointed!

No response...I'm laughing too hard!

Time this survey ended?
December 2, 2008 8:31 am

December 2, 2008 7:34 pm