Alaskan bound...

It's official. I start work at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska on September 29th. I feel as though I am horribly neglecting my blog but with work, stuff to figure out for the move, paperwork for the new job, etc I've just not had time. I'll sit down a write a real post soon.

It's back in the house...

I don't talk sports too much here but when the Celtics bring a season back like they did this year from the depths of last year AND do it against the Lakers it is worth mentioning. I grew up watching the Boston "greats"...Bird, McHale, Parrish. I lost interest as they all left one by one but a Celtics fan is always a Celtics fan and tonight it's a beautiful night in Beantown!

Father Knows Best

To all those dads, grandpas, and dads-to-be out there today...
Happy Father's Day!

HNT...tis the season!

There's not a lot which I like about summer. Particularly in Minnesota. The picture below is hazy but image it as what the air outside looks and feels like. It's only June and the humidity is through the roof. Areas are flooding liking crazy from swollen rivers and creeks. We have had tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings nightly for quite a few days. I hate it all. For the record, Fairbanks gets very little change in humidity and what they do have is low!

This is the one thing that makes my summer worth it. SAND! Lots and lots of volleyball in the sand. I literally have sand in my shorts right now. I need to take a shower but the lightening is really bad again so not sure if I want to jump in or not. So for now, I'll sit with my sandy feet up on the coffee table with the fans going!


Happy HNT!

More of Alaska

I don't think I could possibly post enough pictures to prove how amazingly beautiful and breathtaking the Land of the Midnight Sun is. Since I will be moving there this fall I thought I would at least try to post a few more photos of my adventures up there. The above photo is the Horseshoe Lake hike in Denali National Park. See the far end of the lake? That's where I was headed. There was a big ole beaver damn at that far end but I didn't see a single beaver along the trail.

Sled dog racing is a religion in Alaska. You might recognize the names of Susan Butcher, Doug Swingley, and Jeff King if you follow the Iditarod every March. Susan has passed away from leukemia. Doug Swingley, a Montana (not so popular in Alaska) has retired. But Jeff King is still at it. In spite of his very large sponsorship from Cabella's, sled dog racing is not cheap. SO...for all of us unsuspecting "tourists" we can "contribute" by spending $49 to come spend 3 hours at his home.

You can't help but fall in love when they greet you at the bus with adorable little puppies. Jeff has won four Iditarods and lots of other smaller races. He runs 70 dogs on his place and these dogs LIVE to run. While we were there they hooked up six to go on a training run and the entire yard goes crazy begging to be picked. What a life!


The Alaska Pipeline runs through Fairbanks and along the highway north of town. I missed a moose spotting by 24 hours here. The day before one was using the pipeline as a scratching post.

So there is a bit more of my Alaska adventure. I emailed the hospital yesterday and accepted the position! Come this fall I'll be an Alaskan moose :)

Moose on the loose?

I was the only moose on the loose in Fairbanks, AK this weekend. Supposedly, the Fairbanks area as the highest population of moose in North America. I don't believe it. I was there Thursday through this morning and I drove all over, even to Denali National Park and didn't see a single moose.

There were lots of "oh they were just here's". Saturday night friends of friends took me to dinner. 10 minutes after I drove by the little church down the road, one of the couples drove by and saw a moose. I never saw a moose. Yesterday at Jeff King's home (4 time Iditarod champion) one of the gals took a group of 6 dogs out on a training run, they came across a moose. I never saw a moose.

I did, however, see wild life. Very open and not a bit modest piece of wildlife. This big guy wandered out of the tundra, walked up the highway, stopped within the 10-15 feet you see here next to my driver's window and took care of things.

When he was done, he went on his way back behind my vehicle and back into the tundra. No wander I didn't see a moose. No good momma moose would want this big guy eating her babies!

What an adventure!

Fresh

last night...grilled salmon, Alaskan Blonde and Alaska Summer Ale

lunch today...grilled halibut

dinner tonight...seafood chowder and alaskan crab cakes, Alaskan Amber (they had Os' Longboard Lager on tap too but I just couldn't)

What other reasons do I need?

Never mind that I'm staring at snowcovered mountain peaks at 10:03 pm in broad daylight.

Went to the base today and saw the new hospital. Met the docs and the ortho techs. I like.

...

I don't have the words! It's beautiful here.

And Alaskans make good beer!

Tomorrow is the big day. If I had to chose on looks alone I would be moving. Can't do that though. Let's hope the hospital and the base reflect it's surroundings.

I'm alive

I'm not dead. I'm dead tired but I'm still breathing.

Montana was followed by a trip to Milwaukee for a brutal review course. Milwaukee was followed by a Stampin' Up workshop, followed by a crazy week at work. This week I managed to entertain or be entertained Friday through yesterday. I'm still working on dishes from yesterday! AND I fly to Alaska on Thursday morning.

The update on the jobs scene is this...Montana called today. Seems like a PA they worked with before they moved to Montana is now available to come work with them in their new location. That means I didn't get the job.

Alaska has offered me the job officially but I said I had to see the place so that's where I'm headed.

A PA in our own group is retiring so I'm talking to him about what taking his position might me like.

There...a down and dirty update but man, I'm running on fumes so that's what you get.

HNT-3

It's still Thursday somewhere! I get a bit of lee-way since I'm one of the first and b/c I'm being tortured at a board review course. I just finished a 120 hour primary care medicine test. So I'm a bit late.

I didn't have time to take a picture of three of anything but here are three of my favorite FEET pictures. I like my feet. Skinny, high arched (yes, Os, a bit hairy but that's fixable!). So here you have THREE of my favorite HNT'S.

Bubbly feet post-sand volleyball

Montana Sun-soaked feet

And who could forget the...Os-shirt Feet. Nearly caused the old man a heart attack!

You'da guessed?

Did you know if you take Amiodarone, a Class III Anti-Arrythmic medication and stand in the sun too long you will turn irreversibly blue? If I had known all the years ago I would have dosed up and dyed my hair blonde!

Home again...briefly

The snow is melting in Glacier Park! See the pine tree at the base of the dock? Just to the right of that in the water is where Rachel and I had lunch after snowshowing in February. It was all ice and snow then. To the left of the dock the stream is a roaring river and my usual "thinking" spot is covered in water.

I had my interview on Thursday and it went well. I feel like I have a lot to think about and consider. Since I couldn't sit in my thinking spot I sat from above and "listened" to see what the mountains could offer me as an answer. I think I was too tired to listen well.

I am off again tomorrow but I'm not sure what time. I am driving to Milwaukee, WI for a CME Resources Review Course for my PA recertification boards. I have to study again. It's been a while since I've had to do that. How did six years go so fast?

Sittin' on the dock of the bay...

That's where I will be by tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully a bit of the snow has melted so I don't need my snowpants this time.

Tomorrow I fly to Kalispell, MT to interview with an orthopedic clinic there. Kalispell is about a half hour to 45 minute drive from the west park entrance. Hello? What about that is not appealing? I'll be crashing at Rachel's house. I'll take a drive to the park and sit on the dock for a bit (maybe even do my yoga poses on the dock if no one is around to watch). Then a day of meeting and greeting, then a flight home.

Wish me luck!

He came, we ate, he left...

Scott made it safely to Minneapolis in spite of the torrential rains we had; granted, he was 2.5 hours late but that was b/c of delays in Denver. I know he'll be posting too so we'll have to see how much overlap we have but this is what I have for pictures. It's Sunday night, I'm home doing laundry, my feet are up, and all I can think of is that we ATE our way through this weekend!
Of late, a trip with Scott seems to HAVE to include a meeting with some blogger. He was disappointed b/c he didn't think it would happen on this trip. Remember, I've known him since before his blogger fame...LONG BEFORE! But, I had a little surprise up my sleeve. Sandi had an art show opening on Friday night so before we had dinner we stopped off to say hi. Taking photos in an art gallery with all the funky lighting is a bit tricky but this one mostly turned out.

For Friday night dinner we headed to Axel's Bonfire on Grand, timed so our food would arrive about the time the weekly dueling pianos started. Pear Martini's, Drunk and Dirty Steak, a Three Sausage wood-fired pizza, a chocolate, white, raspberry layered cake with enormous amounts of caramel dumped on top all with a serenade of pianos...ahhh, perfection!

We stayed up late, we both snore (loudly) but the old guy was asleep before me! Slept in on Saturday (the old guy was up before me though). We headed to the Theater District around 11 and bellied up to the bar at The Rockbottom Brewery until show time. A LOT of beer was consumed as well as BBQ Bourbon Salmon and Shrimp, some really big BBQ burger creation, as well as a Chocolate Stout Creme Brulee and A Stout Sundae.

Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neely and Corey Glover brought tears to the eyes of the old man, and me too (really, it was just the smoke effects! Really!). It was a pure and simple as they get on Broadway but the music and the story are always impressive. The fact that Neely has exceeded the life span of Jesus while playing Jesus is amazing and the fact that he can STILL hit the high notes is even more impressive. What a show!

Well, we both needed a nap before an thoughts of going out so back to the hotel for a snooze. Pathetic! But we managed to leave the hotel again for one last great meal. The Edina Grill is a local place I discovered with some friends a few years back. They have moved around the corner but the food is still amazing. Let's see...a 10 oz Hennepin, a bottle of something called Longbottle or something like that, Gorgonzola Cheese and Corn Fritters, the Blue River Burger with Sweet Potato Fries, Peter's Burger with regular fries, homemade butterscotch pudding with a sugar cookie, a "Whiskey Drink", a Stella, and homemade bread pudding with praline sauce.

We also had a wonderful waitress willing to take a final picture of the two of us out on the town!

We stayed up late watching women's poker and bullshitting. I got my back rub. He went to bed before I did again. We were up after sleeping in again this morning and right on time to drop him off at the airport by 11. He's home safe, I'm home safe, laundry's washing and in three days I fly to Montana for a job interview and will stay with Rachel while I'm there.

A friend from home...

Scott arrives tomorrow. You all know him as the infamous, all great and knowing, powerful Os but to me he's "my Scott". I knew him before his fame.

If you read his post today you know he did a damn good job of getting my heart all aflutter today. He was right...as I was reading the end of the second paragraph I had my phone open and ready to speed dial. Dork!

I'm super excited he's coming. We have known each other in person since August 1996. Long time to put up with each other. But then again, we know everything about each other so fairly safe all around.

We are going to hang out at an art show tomorrow night, hit Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neely on Saturday afternoon, and just veg. We veg very well together. We'll check out some cool digs to eat at. He doesn't know it yet but I'll probably drag him to the MOA (Mall of America for all you non-Minnesotans) b/c it's National Scrapbook Weekend and Archiver's is having a huge sale! Should be a good time. With all that has been going on in my life recently I could use some down time with a safe friend. A Scott fix is just what I need.

Until Sunday!

fab five

Lime tagged me inadvertantly by playing into my sleepliness. Here's what I came up with...

5 things found in your bag:
I have a ton of purses, never carry them. Typically just have my wallet and my cell phone. But I do have a sweet Franklin Covey Leather Red work bag...

1. Wallet
2. Planner (Currently AWOL...may be on the third floor)
3. Stampin' Up Business Cards
4. Old inpatient lists
5. If I remember...my cell phone

5 favorite things in your room:

Since I'm in the living room that's the list you get...

1. My blanket
2. My Bosu ball
3. My moxi box
4. My Montana pictures
5. My snowflake pillow

5 things you have always wanted to do:

1. Backpack in New Zealand
2. Hear glaciers calving
3. Be loved
4. Fly a jet off an aircraft carrier
5. Learn to play the cello

5 things you are currently into:

1. Yoga
2. Sleep
3. Finding happiness
4. My cats
5. Expanding my music collection
   

5 people you’d like to tag:

Are there five people who even read this?

Getting older...

Scott is bragging about his supposed graceful aging...but I'm one of the few that can say I've watched him age. uh-uhm.... :) You all know I love him though.

On the flip side, he's watched me age too. I started bemoaning 30 six months before it actually happened. The actual day was not a pleasant birthday...I was curled up at the foot of my mom's death bed and when the nurses brought in a cake to sing me happy birthday I lost it. It's been 6 months now and I'm coping.

This week I had to take action though. I've been putting it off. I knew it was approaching. I'm not looking forward to the progression.

I had to buy a proton-pump inhibitor. That's fancy "medical speak" for a super strong antacid. Yup, purchased the "family" pack size to get 20 extra tabs out of it. I just can't eat the foods I like to eat anymore symptom free. I will NOT change what I eat because I love good food. I will medicate so I can eat. It's been my motto for years in terms of working out ("I work out therefore I can eat") so it shouldn't be too hard now.

I'm sure Scott will be laughing at me all weekend. But I can still get up the stairs faster than he can :)

feast or famine?

When ever one goes to make change in their life there is a period of waiting. A tone of anxiety. Lots of questions to answer.

After not hearing from anyone for a couple weeks, now I'm hearing from everyone!

I fly to Montana as I mentioned to interview with an orthopedic clinic there and today got a call from the army base's civilian human resources commander to let me know I will be receiving a phone call in 7-10 days to make the offer in Alaska official!

Oh my!

Sunny Sundays

Everyone seems quite concerned about my state of mind. I haven't had time to update anything since Tuesday so now that my house is mostly clean and I have my feet up I figured I could fill everyone in. First, THANK YOU to all the concerned!

The week definitely took a turn for the better. The weather turned seriously cold and icky but the happenings of the week improved. Today the sun is finally out and the temperature is above 40 degrees. I have had a busy but very fun weekend.

Let's start with the easy stuff. The weekend was great. Friday night a couple of friends and I met up for drinks and dinner. I had to stay up late to pick up another friend at the local airport. I got home to find out his flight was going to be very late so I roadtripped to Minneapolis to pick him up. We beat his original flight home by 45 minutes in spite of the 180 mile round trip drive time. Saturday I was able to seriously lounge at home. I also managed a Sam's Club trip before the same group of friends and I went to the Newsboys concert (yup, THOSE Newsboys...from my high school years). Still fabulous!

Today, I am tackling this building I call home. I have been on various house sitting jobs and trips over the last six weeks but some how in my absence the house become disgusting. Laundry, floors, dishes...you name it. I almost have them all in control now. A little break now to ensure my blogger friends that all is well...

Big news here on my front...As you know, I'm been feeling a bit unsettled lately. The sun is starting to shine in more ways than one. Everyone thinks I need to head up and help Rachel unpack...what you don't know is that I'm flying to see Rachel in a few weeks for my OWN job interview in Kalispell. I also have completed a very good portion of a very long civilian application for a military PA job in Alaska. Things are moving very fast and yet not fast enough all at the same time. For the first time in a long time I have choices which I can influence. I'm looking forward to it and am ready to see what's there for me, but I'm doing so with caution.

So, rest assured, Moosekahl is fine. She's a bit edgy with lots on her mind but things are going in a positive direction overall. A bit of the gray cloud's silver lining is showing.

Seriously, people!

I would vent but it would just get me all worked up again. Yoga sculpt helped relieve my frustrations but just a few words.

1. People, God gave you a brain. Use it!!! Common sense gets you a long ways every day!
2. People, pay attention to where you are in space...the elevator, the hallway, the cafeteria, a frickin' four way stop!
3. People, don't lie about something I know I can check on! You are only get to get caught and have to trip all over yourself!

Ahhhhh...in through the nose, out through the mouth, belly button to spine and release!