puttin' around

it's unusual when you get to do a "classic" childhood experience in Juneau...we don't have a lot of the amenities that kids "down south" get/ grow up with (hence, when families get outta town the always go to the zoo, museums, shows, etc). But on New Years Day, we got to have one of those times--we were able to putt-putt (or, I guess the correct term is minigolf!) of course, my friend's kid had never seen a golf course, let alone held a club, so it was a fun, exciting challenge! The holes weremade by local people and depicted Alaskan themes, such as "The Airport", where you had to get it straight into the hole or else risk getting sidetracked into another "city" (such as Ketchican, Sitka--anyone who's flown in the southeast knows and loves this experience). L's favorite was the "Interior Alaska", complete with cabin, pipeline and northern lights. Someone even made the Gastineau Channel, where you had to bank your shot off a cruise ship. My favorite was having to putt under a dinosaur, mastodon and then into an oil well, called (appropriately) "Where You PFD Comes From" (PFD= permanent fund dividend, the $$ we alaskans get from oil sale revenues every year). I didn't win, of course, but had a great time. Will keep scouring for additional childhood experiences wherever I can find 'em/ get 'em...

goodbye to the old/ yeah for the new

so-wow!! the year has gone by zip-zam-zoom!! and now it's new years eve--the last day of 2008...it has been an interesting year, I'd say. and now lots of new, exciting things lie ahead of us and I am sooo excited! I credit the changes to me and my life a lot to my renewed faith in God (and my wonderful supportive Crossroads church!), my family, friends, doggie companion--and the new prospect in my horizon! I hope everyone finds what they seek (such as answers/ spaces/ peace, etc) this year and I look forward to such a positive journey with each of you!! attached are my fav pics from christmas holiday (both in Reno, NV and Estes Park, CO) for entertainment value...
if ya wanna chat too, I am now on Facebook (an amazing creation!!)
Blessings to all!!

Dress up--it's not just for kids!!

so--as many of u know, I love Halloween...I love dressing up in different outfits and just the thought of being able to do that for a whole day--well, its exciting!! I helped outfit the symphony with previous years outfits...and this year, I had another patient dress up in the same outfit as me!! I love the pics with "miniMary Poppins"--she was so adorable (and she told me her favorite song in the movie is "Step in time"!!!) And yes--I did have a spoon-fill of sugar with me....I enjoyed my day immensely! My "other" family member did too--she wore her outfit the whole day and had no qualms about it--she loved to entertain the kids we saw as well. She truly is a wonderful dog. I even took the night off (first one in..oh, I don't know--years?) and went out with friends...unfortunately my camera died at that point...so don't have pics of them. I hope everyone got sugared out and recovered without incident.

Beauty (snow, that is) and Beasts

so--my kinda weather this weekend. lots of pure, beautiful white snow. LOVED IT!! unfortunately, it won't last long here...the rain washes it away..lovely while it happened tho'. And then we had our concert (Juneau Symphony Orchestra) which was a BLAST--there's a ton of fun people, all in costumes, playing music together (and we sound good!!) which made the weekend even of a blast...ah. loving life right now...only way it'd get better is to have family here to enjoy it too...??possibly soon??

My new "shadow"

As a few of you know, I am (semi-temporarily) dogsitting for a couple of years....a friend of mine sister is in college (has to be in dorms first 2 years) and cannot have her dog...so I am doing the extended sitting thing. Altho' i told her if I get too attached, I may not be able to let her go back (aka Mr. Rex). And the truth is--I love her already!! She is such a good dog--smart, sweet--kisses you to death and has a heart attack when she sees you every morning and evening--LOVES to have her belly rubbed (man--such a display probably would be illegal in a few states!) and is an awesome jumper (leaps over couches, loves to catch balls, Frisbees, etc--takes off running "like a bullet" at the park when excited!) and will sit in the front seat watching traffic/ cars/ people life a person (aka Bailiff).So--since we had a sunny day (what is that? number 12??) I took pics of her, so--enjoy!!

Alaska in the news??

boy--it is WIERD to turn on the news--the NATIONAL news and see our great state mentioned on a regular basis--ney, not only the state but my awesome hometown!! All because our most famous resident, aka the Governor, is now in line to be second top-dog, vice pres, of all things!! People who have never had cause to say our name, let alone THINK about Alaska are now speaking of us on a regular basis!! We have, it seems, always convinced the REST of the states (aka the lower 48) treat us/ thought of us as the "red headed step-sister"....the one to acknowledge, but only in times of need. I mean, think about it...free shipping to ANYWHERE (then in small print) except Alaska. Occasionally our "sister" state (aka noncontiguous state Hawaii) occasionally gets thrown into the category too...they alone feel our pain. But then, they get the break/ help through the fact that they are a "destination location", a vacation spot. So planes, MORE THAN ONE AIRLINE, goes there on a regular basis. So supplies aren't in such deadlock, like us. And that we are captive to our one and only airline--sigh.
The other thing is that, on a whole, Alaskans tend to be a..uhm, what's the best way to put this? A reserved, we-stick-to-ourselves kinda lot. Some places more than others (like Fairbanks, the place with the most per-capita group of paranoid lifeforms around...) So to have us in the limelite, well, it's a bit unnerving.
And now people I've not been in contact with in...well, forever, have started to contact me and ask about things--I suppose that's the upbeat benefit of all this...on the other hand, it was nice having out state run by someone who WAS elected for the job and doing alright....but now what's gonna happen? The "runner-up" is in his own battle for senate, so....some unknown dude it there? Just when I thought things were already heading to hot place in a basket...sigh.
But hey--any publicity is good publicity? Especially if it is free, no?

The lull before the....

So with our (hahaha) wonderful summer closing quickly behind us, I'm beginning to wonder "what's around the corner"? (For those of you not in the know, our summer, or lack thereof, SUCKED!! we had a total of 7 days of sun, temps in low 60's--off for us SE Alaskans as usually June/July is the only time of the year where we get sun...this lack of pure vit D makes people "off", increases consumption of caffeine, makes it hard for kids to get outside/ exercise/ enjoy their time off...crankier parents too. Not to mention the viruses that still linger around instead of dying in warmer weather--no usual lull for us pediatricians. sigh....) since the fireweed is almost all the way bloomed (the Alaska version of a groundhog...when the fireweed--vibrant pink flower--reaches the end of the stalk that means end of summer/ start of (short) autumn followed closely by winter....not to say that's all that bad (again you who are in the know know I like winter most of all...) but it is a bit of a bummer, esp when you are already sun-deprived to begin with...it makes those "sun-days" such a treat that we try to get out of work early/ be outside as much as possible to "soak it in" and resentful when we don't get to.

Another lull is the end of tourist season slump--painful to my other life (part store owner). That's a bummer, trying to maximize $$ and lower/ consolidate merchandise as much as possible...and soon on its heals, the dreaded inventory. double yuck.

The other lulls are for the pre- "storms"--upcoming changes beginning to come to light that are... exciting...and new!! My mom is preparing for her move up my way (yeah!!)--this also means her consolidation of goods/ our having to shovel thru childhood things (to keep or not to keep? that is the question...) and the loss of her wonderful house in the mountains that has served over the years as an awesome meeting ground/ common place for all sibs/ friends, etc. But I am psyched about having her here, as that means I can start of phase III of my life....motherhood. A big storm--no? keep your eyes and hearts open for this change...