Dezi's Dog Day

The Ladybug has the whole story over there. But I will post this little teaser photo for you:

You'll find all of the pictures here. At least, the ones that Nana took on the digital. Mama Ladybug will have more when they have been developed.

And, you can track where the mushers are by following the action on the Tusty 200 webpage.

Today was another cold one - that's sourdough speak for darned cold, maam. Yup, yup, yup. So, what do you do when you are planning to attend an outdoor event like the ceremonial start of the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race? Hmm?

Layers - it's not just for hair anymore.

Layering is the only way to dress for an Alaskan winter day such as this. The cold of the day was enhanced (ha!) by a biting wind and a threat of snow.

So - layer it is.

I wore cotton stretch pants to act as a thermal barrier, topped by nylon workout pants to act as an air barrier, topped by jeans. I added a long sleeved tee, topped by a hooded sweatshirt (size L ::smirk::), topped by a cotton knit sweater.

I wore two pairs of socks - with the top pair being hand knit woolen socks I made last year. Over these I added felt-pak snow machine boots, and topped it all by a jacket, scarf and wool "Kenai" knit ski-cap and gloves. (I had loaned my suede and fur mittens to the Ladybug)

Nani was, while not the picture of high fashion, at least assured of staying warm. At the race start I was just one of many attired in what I like to call small town Alaska chic.

The best part about having lost weight, btw, is that I can now layer like this. Before - well, I would have to be content with being pretty chilly because everything was so tight - no room to layer.

And, while my body was warm, my heart was warmer. To see the attention and care this group of mushers paid to the youngsters they were treating to a ride - well, even Scrooge would have had a hard time not tearing up. It was very nice.

It is nice to live in a small town - where the community is so-minded. There is always lots of support for things for the kids.

For instance - this afternoon I attended Mairi's basketball game. Third and fourth graders make up this division of play. So, we are seeing kids who are growing into feet, legs and arms growing and not necessarily working the way the owners want them to. We are seeing kids who don't know a whole lot about the game getting out there and playing their little hearts out.

And, what do we see in the bleachers? Moms, Dads, siblings, Grandmas and Grandpas, family members - as well as teachers and town politicians from time to time.

And, what happens when a kid on "your" team scores? Well, you applaud, of course - but generally so does everyone in the bleachers. Just as you applaud for the other team members when they score. Words of encouragement are shouted out for both teams - "way to go, Green. Good job, Blue"

Yup, it's very nice.

It was a great way to spend my Saturday. I hope yours was nice, also.
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[plug]
• Round II of Blogmadness Voting Nears End •
Have you voted yet?
You will find my match-up here . ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. [/ plug]
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This Just In

Friends - even MORE important than the blogmadness madness - is this:

Jenn needs your pledges. Go there, help her reach her goal - you'll feel better and so will she. She is a bit over half way to her goal . . . this is your opportunity to help her meet and exceed that goal.

Go on now . . . we'll wait . . . make it a good pledge . . .

thank you.

[plug]
• Round II of Blogmadness Voting continues •
Have you voted yet?
You will find my match-up here . ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. It's not a popularity contest (really, it isn't) and there are some very good entries there. Enjoy.
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Got up early this morning and put on my walking togs and climbed onto the treadmill. I figured that I might be lacking steps today because of the dentist appointment. So, better to get the walking in first. Just over two miles in the hour.

Drove to Soldotna and discovered that my dentist's parking lot was full. So, I drove across the street to our governmental building (hey, my taxes pay for the building) and parked there. Figured I'd get in some steps that way, too. Got to the end of their driveway and saw someone come out of Dr. Hu's office, so walked back to my car and drove over to take his spot. ;-)) They told me inside that I could always park in the handicapped zone. No Way!! I said. **I** can't do that. It's just not in me to do it.

Had a nice visit with the dentist. I really enjoy everyone in the office. They all came out and oohed and aahed over my new look - and we chatted about the 10K Step Program a bit. They all want to get onto it when the next group comes open in the spring.

Then it was down to business - with Dr. Hu in my mouth and his assistant in my mouth I almost got the giggles and wanted at least one more person to come in and see if they could get in there too. I mean, after all - if I can get both of my feet in there . . . .

An hour later, still a tad numb, I left to go over to Fred Meyer's to do some laps - and some birthday shopping for the hubby. Walked 8 laps around the store. I was really surprised when I got to the Ladybug's house after that because I had racked up over 6,000 steps at that point. So, I don't plan to get back onto the treadmill tonight. I had thought I might need to do so in order to get my 10K. I ended up with nearly 13K for the day.

Tomorrow morning the Ladybug, the buglets and I will be going to see the ceremonial start of the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race. We hope to have photos and a story to tell afterwards. The Ladybug may just have a story to tell tonight. I will let her tell it.

Hubby and I had a nice dinner out tonight - Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant. It was quite busy - Friday night and all, I guess. But we were seated and served in no time. They have a green salsa that hubby loves. Very hot. Makes him sweat. Makes me giggle at him. He gets to feel what a hot flash is like. No, I don't touch it. I mix a bit of the regualr hot salsa with the mild salsa and eat that.

I will tell you this - the absolute BEST Mexican food we have ever eaten was at the El Charro Cafe in Tucson. We asked our server (this was several years ago) for his suggestion because we didn't know a whole lot about what was on the menu. He brought out a sampler plate that was to die for. I think it is the one that they call El Platon, The Tasting Plate on this menu page.

If you are ever in Tucson, you must try this restaurant. I told hubby tonight that we need to make plans to return to AZ for a visit sometime. He has not seen the Grand Canyon yet and I think he really needs to experience that. I loved it.

Well, I had best meander out of here. Have a wonderful Saturday.

bits and pieces

[plug]
• Round II of Blogmadness Voting has begun •
You will find my match-up here . ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. It's not a popularity contest (really, it isn't) and there are some very good entries there. Enjoy.
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Thank you to Dan for sending me this link to a moose photo that is too cute for words. You animal lovers . . . run, don't walk, there quickly now and see it. While I have never seen quite this same thing, that is a truly Alaskan setting - complete with boat up on blocks in the background. ;-)

End of the month weigh-in today. (Official weigh-in next week with the 10K Step people). I am - drum roll, please - now twenty-five pounds less of me than I was on Sept. 18th. I am well pleased.

Someone asked me today what my goal was and I was a bit hard pressed for an answer. You see, there is still a whole person hanging around in my skin that needs to get lost. I went into this step program simply to become more active. I seriously had not given a great deal of thought to losing weight - I know, how silly. I **KNOW** that increasing activity will decrease weight. I know that, but I just wasn't thinking of it at that time. So each pound lost is a little victory surprise.

Yes, Lisa, I am doing the happy, happy, joy, joy Moose dance again. ;-)
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Today I was asked to supervise a construction team (husband and wife) who were replacing ceiling tile in the shelter kitchen. I was a bit worried that I would not get many steps in - because I would be more or less stationary, instead of my usual running up and down the hallway to the water cooler, copier, fax machine, microwave (for tea), etc. But, I am happy to report that today I walked the MOST steps so far on the 10K Step program. A personal best at 12,563 steps! I walked just over 3 miles on the treadmill, making up for almost 7000 steps, so that helps.
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Tomorrow it is off to the dentist for a filling repair. And, then to the store to pick out hubby's birthday gift. He is a whole week younger than I am - making me a whole year older for that one week. At least by his math. It's worse for my sister who is 14 months younger than I am - from now until March 30 she will delight in telling me that I am two years her senior.

Well, just as long as I get the respect that is due the senior partner and the senior sister, I guess it is okay. Not much I can do to change it at this late date, huh?

So - I am going to get off here. Hope your Friday is a wonderful one.

twelve years

Twelve years in a parochial school can do things to you - twelve years under the tutelage of nuns with rulers and pointer sticks and erasers to be clapped after school - starched white wimples, long black rosaries cinched around the waists of long black robes topping black hosed legs atop feet in sturdy old lady black shoes.

I had those twelve years. The first eight were spent in a small 8 room brick building attached to the older, brick and stone high school building that has probably been in that location for a hundred years now. (Yes, it is still there - although no longer used as a school.) The school was within a one-mile walking distance of whatever apartment or half-double we might be living in at the time.

Grades 1-4 were on the first floor. Just inside the front doors on the right was the 1st grade class - to the left the 2nd grade class - further down the hall on the left was the third grade class and on the right the fourth grade class. Upstairs on the left were grades 5 and 6, and on the right grades 7 and 8.

I don't recall the names of any of my grade school teachers, save one. Sister Anastasia, more properly, Sister Mary Anastasia, was short and the plumpest of all of the nuns in our school. She was the one to whom my sister and I ran with our report cards even after advancing upstairs to the upper rooms. She could instill the fear of God into us with a look - that may have had something to do with her propensity to whap us on top of the head with whatever book she was holding if we got out of line, or back talked, or didn't answer a question quickly enough or to her satisfaction.

Sister Anastasia could also cause the tears to fall if we felt she was unhappy or dissatisfied with our performance. She would look at my report card and sigh and ask the air "What will your Mother think when she sees this report card?" I would have promised her the moon and the stars if only she would not be disappointed in me. And, the sudden realization that my mother would be disappointed in me as well . . . well that definitely could cause tears to fall.

Twelve years in a parochial school can do many things to a person - I was taught to respect authority - my teachers, my parents, anyone who was my elder. I learned that with that respect of authority comes responsibility - the responsibility to obey rules, to be aware of my place in the world, and to make the best of that place.

My high school years were spent at a new school 6 miles from home. I was in the fourth graduating class, although there was a graduation prior to my freshman year - but each of the students represented their own high schools. That older high school building I mentioned to you? Its last students graduated from my new school, but as alumni of the older school.

One period each year was our religion class. That class always seemed to be taught by the freshest out of seminary priests that the diocese could find to send to us. It was easy to make fun of them - and it was easy to be sorry for them. Our religion classroom had tiers - and my cousin and I generally sat in desks near the top tier.

The years I had spent with Sister Anastasia told on me during those religion classes. I would get so upset at my cousin for frittering her time there - she would either be writing notes to her upper class boyfriend, or putting on her makeup for the next class when she would see him. I would hiss at her and tell her to pay attention to the lesson. She would laugh at me and tell me that I was taking life much too seriously.

I tried hard to lighten up - even though I considered myself then, as today, to be a pretty light-hearted person. I tried hard not to let it bother me that people took classwork so for granted - or were what I considered to be rude to the teachers by being innatentive.

Now, I must interject here that I was not a top grade student. I worked hard for my grades and felt blessed if I got A's but was often made to be satisfied with B's and C's. But it was hard for me to accept that others did not take life and school as seriously as I did.

They all had a great time - or seemed to have a great time - throughout the four years we spent in high school.

I tried to have a great time - tried out for and acted in several plays - never as the lead, although I coveted that role each time. I felt called during a special presentation to go to a summer mission field, but had to let go of that dream because I would have had to pay my own way and I needed to have a summer job in order to afford my share of my tuition, uniforms and books for the following year. I wrote on the school paper, and sang in the sophomore chorus, but chickened out on the junior/senior choir because I couldn't read music - I sing by ear (much like some pianists play by ear).

Through it all I maintained a certain seriousness about me. I kept my respect for my elders, my "superiors", authority. I didn't get into much trouble because I was always afraid of being caught, of disappointing my mother. Not a saint, by any means, but always careful to stay within certain bounds so as not to cross that invisible line.

Tonight I was accused of taking life - or certain incidents in life - too seriously. Tonight I was told that I care too much about certain things.

that may be so.

after birthday glow

[plug]
LAST CALL
• Blogmadness Voting in Round 1 Will Soon End•
You will find my entry in the Sports Region for some reason. ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. It's not a popularity contest (really, it isn't) and there are some very good entries there. Enjoy.
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Thank you all for sending your birthday greetings. Thanks, Ali, for the lovely photo of Mauna Kea in her white mantle. And, Dan, thanks for the moose prints. ;-) You guys are a trip.

I kind of ruined a surprise by coming home a tad early last night. Our CPR class got out just before 5 so I came on home. As I was checking the mail, Ladybug drove up behind me. I waved and she pulled into Lessa's driveway.

Pretty soon, I heard boot thumps in the garage and in trooped all of the grands -- and their mamas - singing and shouting Happy Birthday, Nana/Nani/Gramma! Surprise! We brought you dinner - now go away so we can cook it.

lol.

I was well-loved and well-wallered (is too a word!) by my grandbabies. But of course, there are pictures!

Miss Kinzie got into her mama's good makeup and became Groucho Marx. She was fascinated by her new look and kept taking Paw-Paw's mirror to check it out. She finally became a bit upset with the look and allowed Nani to wash it off. ::smirk::

And a lovely time was had by all. Paw-Paw provided the pizzas - daughters cooked them - kiddos ate them - Jessi demanded mama buy a cake (and got her way) - I took the leftovers to work - it was lovely.

And, all of your wishes helped as well. Thank you again.

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The CPR class, btw, went just fine. I was able to take care of the dummies and do it for the most part without crying by cracking jokes and being a wisea**. Hey, whatever works, right? Right.

take care friends - have a wonderful Thursday.
>..<

10% duckie - Quack, Quack

[plug]
• Blogmadness Voting has begun •
You will find my entry in the Sports Region for some reason. ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. It's not a popularity contest (really, it isn't) and there are some very good entries there. Enjoy.
[/ plug]
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Pssssssssst - lookie over there on the left . . . . Yay, me!! My first 10% has arrived for my step count. I am still 33.45 miles from a duckie for my mileage, though. Sooon, my pretty, soooon.
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Let's see. Not much news to report tonight. It was a busily uneventful day. New hires had to take a full day training - 1/2 day of first aid and 1/2 day of CPR. Tomorrow I will take a CPR recertification in the afternoon with some of the older employees.

I wasn't able to do it very well last year - it was very hard to work on the infant and the toddler dummies. I am too close to my grandchildren, I guess. That, and the toddler dummy just made me think of our little guy, Jacey. I hope to be able to do better this year. I was mercifully passed last year. The instructor saw how distressed I was and let me stop.

It is my prayer that I never be called on to do CPR, although I think I would be able to do it if need be. Just don't fall down in front of me to test my skills, okay? I am VERY good at dialing 9-1-1, though, so you should be okay for the couple of minutes it would take our fire department guys to get on scene.

Well, I am going to call it a night. Everyone have a lovely Tuesday.

A new week

• Blogmadness Voting has begun •
You will find my entry in the Sports Region for some reason. ;-)) The rules are posted there and the amount of time left in this round of voting is posted as well. It's not a popularity contest (really, it isn't) and there are some very good entries there. Enjoy.

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Yup - it's a new week. And, look at that calendar, will ya? We are in the last week of the first month of the new year!!! Good grief, where in the world has time gone. LOL. I remind myself of my grandmother. She would say to my sister and me (you know - whenever we would roll our eyes over something she had warned/told/threatened us about) Never mind - you'll get old some day and then you'll see. Oh, Grandma Abbott, how right you were. And, how much you would enjoy hearing me admit that you were right. LOL.

Oh, man - look at those step numbers over there under the calendar. Can you believe that I am 89 steps off my first 10%?? I knew I should have taken that extra lap around the grocery store today. Oh well, my first duckie comes tomorrow, Lord willing. Still a bit less than 1/2 way to my first duckie for mileage. It'll come all in good time.

Quite chilly out again today. Below zero this morning, up to about 12 above by sunset. Anchorage is getting clouds and wind and snow tonight - warmer temps along with that. We will probably see that warming trend this week also.

This is one good reason to say goodbye to January. The temps begin to moderate - usually - in February.

Oh, our snow will still be with us for a few months yet. This has been a good winter for snow. I don't think they will have to worry too much about snow for the Iditarod. The starting points have had to change over the past couple of years because there wasn't enough snow in Anchorage to be safe. They couldn't even find enough to truck in to cover the streets last year. Like I said, I don't think that is going to be a problem this year. The "snow dumps" around Anchortown are HUGE!

I will let the Ladybug tell the news about Dezi and dog mushing. Yes, there will be pictures if all goes according to hopes and plans. ;-))

Guess that is about it for tonight folks. No great words of wisdom from the moose. I've about cooled down from my treadmill workout so I can safely call it a night.

And that I will.

Have a great Monday, everyone. OH!! and thanks to my cheerleaders in the comments from this entry.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia reigns supreme in my house today.

I have been looking through photographs. Pictures that have been in a box near my computer desk. I am working on a (secret) project and that necessitates going through hundreds and hundreds of pictures . . . literally.

And, so many of them bring tears to my eyes - the pictures of my first grand-boy - and each successive grandchild. Pictures of the girls in swimming - prom dates - group dates in our front room - Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's day dates . . .

photos taken when hubby and I went to Denali on the train from Anchorage . . .

photos of people who no longer walk this plane - photos of people who no longer share our circle of acquaintances - photos of us the way we will never be again.

There were photos of all of us at one time or another thin . . . or not so thin. I even found a photo of my hubby without his trademark beard! That one was from our first winter here. He has had a beard ever since.

Oh - and pictures that show us with NO gray hair - short hair - long hair - straight hair and curly hair.

There are pictures of people I simply cannot place names to faces - there is even on package of photos that says boldly across the front (in my handwriting I might add) that they are not our pictures. I vaguely remember getting them from the store as a mixup with some of ours. I don't recall if we got all of ours and these were a bonus or what.

There are photos and photos and even more photos of us with our various motorcycles. Hubby with his Yamaha 650s, and me with my Virago 535 - none of which we still have.

Oh, and moose - lots and lots of moose. And snow - lots and lots of snow. Houses in our neighborhood in newer, cleaner shape than they are now. Next door neighbors who were much younger than they are now.

Nostalgia. Lots and lots of nostalgia.

and I haven't even gotten to the old ones yet!

It is a lesson in memory - this going through old photos. I would sugguest it for everyone at one time or another. It is also a good time for you to weed out those "questionable" photos. Photos that you might want to destroy before your children or your grandchildren find them. heh

What states have you lived in or visited? Me-me in the MORE section.

note: I have bolded the states I have visited and bold/CAPS are the (only two) states in which I have lived.

1) Alabama, 2) ALASKA, 3) Arizona, 4) Arkansas, 5) California, 6) Colorado, 7) Connecticut, 8) Delaware, 9) Florida, 10) Georgia, 11) Hawaii (soon!), 12) Idaho, 13) Illinois, 14) Indiana, 15) Iowa, 16) Kansas, 17) Kentucky, 18) Louisiana, 19) Maine, 20) Maryland, 21) Massachusetts, 22) Michigan, 23) Minnesota, 24) Mississippi, 25) Missouri, 26) Montana, 27) Nebraska, 28) Nevada, 29) New Hampshire, 30) New Jersey, 31) New Mexico, 32) New York, 33) North Carolina, 34) North Dakota, 35) OHIO, 36) Oklahoma, (I've never been, but I own the video) 27) Oregon, 38) Pennsylvania, 39) Rhode Island, 40) South Carolina, 41) South Dakota, 42) Tennessee, 43) Texas, 44) Utah, 45) Vermont, 46) Virginia, 47) Washington, 48) West Virginia, 49) Wyoming, and 51) Washington, DC
I have only lived in TWO states in my whole life.

The only time I have ever crossed the border was in 1975 when we crossed the bridge to visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

Sadly untraveled I am, I am.

Programs and Reflections

Timothy invited me to visit his school for his program today. He attends the Kenaitze Cuya Qyut'anen Head Start here in Kenai. His older brother attended and Timothy is in his second year. Next year when he goes on to kindergarten (which right now is a scary prospect to him) little sister Kinzie gets to go to Head Start. She is ready.

There are pictures in the gallery. Go on over and take a peek.

I think some of the photos show the paintings of the elders on the walls. The Kenaitze tribe is reclaiming their nearly lost language and it is thanks in part to the folks whose paintings grace the walls of the Family house. The children are taught English ABC's and such, right alongside the d'enaina words and songs and culture.

Under the photos I have typed in the words to the songs the children sang. The Little Moose, Timothy's class, sang Twinkle, twinkle little star in d'enaina. (note: I hope that I am saying/spelling that correctly - I know that d'enaina means the people, but I think that is what I heard the teacher tell the children to sing their songs in for us. The Ladybug will correct me if I am wrong, I'm sure.

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Reflection #1:

This dnigi (moose) is dragging a bit today. It was a loooooooong night last night. Hubby and I were awakened by a phone call at 1:30 a.m. and had to leave the house for a bit - returning around 2:30 a.m. After our sleep is broken like that we both find it very hard to return to slumber. Such was the way it was last night. We each tossed and turned and rolled around the rest of the night and awoke pretty bleary eyed. I have kept myself on the go all day long so as not to give in to sleep. I figure I will be in bed before 10 and out by a few minutes later.

The whys of it? Well, not my story to tell. Suffice it to say that someone did something dumb. And, I am pretty sure that Lessa (not the someone) will not say again anytime soon "what could happen next?"

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Reflection #2:

To keep myself upright and going, I drove to Soldotna and walked around the Fred Meyer store for awhile. As I did my laps I did some shopping as well - you know, toothpaste, vinegar, cereal. (yummy combination, huh?)

Then I stopped at the clothing department and a top caught my eye. So I took it and a pair of slacks that complimented it into the dressing room. Usually I just try things on and leave, either buying or putting back onto the rack. Today I got a bit brave and walked out of the dressing room to ask the advice of the ladies "working" there.

Each of them complimented me on the color choice and said that I looked good in it.

It is SO HARD to see myself as looking good in anything - because it has been SO LONG since I have looked good in anything - or simply looked good. There is a chance, of course, that they were appeasing me in order to get me to buy the outfit. That is what one part of me says. It is also possible that they meant what they said and I look (at least) okay in it.

Yes, I bought it - a reward of sorts for the hard work I've been putting into this walking program. An incentive to go down even further in sizes and to "need" to purchase even more outfits. (yay)

So, I'm reflecting on a victory of sorts. I accepted their compliments and their advice.

Guess that's about it. Enjoy the photos. I am off to update my mileage and steps over at the the Going Nowhere site and then I am closing up shop for the night.

Have a great weekend.

Nice things

That was very sweet, Dan, to set up a chat room for Lolo and friends. Thank you. It was fun to visit with people who I had not met before. And, btw, I like the new glasses, Dan.

Another nice thing . . . when I left work today at 5 p.m. it was 39 degrees (above zero). Whew - it is hot in here or is it just me? Since I have been walking and my metabolism is up, I notice that I get hot flashes again - and quite frequently. Lovely. But, at least that will pass. Eventually.

Lolo, I'm glad everything went well with your new boss and with the doctor's appointments. May it continue to be so.

And, with that, friends, I am nodding off at the computer so I need to get out of here. You all have a great Thursday.

warm day #2

Today it was warm again - all things are relative you know when 25 degrees above zero feels warm. It also lets you know that your blood must be pretty thick - or something. Maybe it just means that after 25 years I **am** an Alaskan. ;-)

But, today I was an Alaskan with a sinus problem. It hit me yesterday but I worked through the day anyway. Today, however, it put me down and out at 2:30. I signed out for the day, came home and changed clothes and crawled into bed. It was a restless rest, but it was a rest. I felt a bit logy still when I got up just before 5, but as the evening wore on I felt more like myself.

The sinuses are still tight, but don't hurt quite as much. And, I can focus my eyes again, so that is a good thing.

I almost wimped out on the treadmill tonight. My knee was still a bit tender from yesterday, and then with the sinus thing . . . I almost talked myself out of it. And, then I thought - nope - I need to get on it and walk. So I did. Achieved just over 2 miles so that is a good thing.

That button over there on the left - the one that says Going Nowhere and Proud of it . . . that's what is keeping me going. That and the 10,000 Step Program.

They each have different goals, but it is good to have both of them. The 10K Step program will end in May. The Going Nowhere challenge is for a full year. I felt like I wanted something to keep me on track after the first one ended.

You will, hopefully soon, see a little duckie or two over there under the Going Nowhere button. Participants earn a duckie (or a star - or a cookie) icon for each 10% of the goal accomplished. I am working towards two goals - one of mileage on the treadmill (700+ miles is that goal) and steps (off the treadmill) according to the pedometer (1,000,000 steps is that goal).

I will post a duckie when I hit 70 miles - and one when I hit 100,000 steps. I imagine that I will get the one for the steps first - I've missed a few treadmill days, but have had pedometer steps every day.

So, there you have it - the exciting happenings in PurpleMoose world. Hugs to Lolo. She met her new boss today and has doctor happenings tomorrow. But, I hear that there is a PARTAY afterwards. So, be sure to head over there around 6 her time tomorrow evening. And, keep her in your thoughts between now and then.

Well, I am going to get off here for the night. Time to take my sore head and nose to bed. Hugs to you all. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Heat Wave

We're having a heat wave . . . a tropical heat wave . . . temperature's rising . . .

yup, yup, yup. It is almost balmy out there tonight - 20 degrees ABOVE zero. Woo-hoo! That is a 50 degree difference from just yesterday, mind you. So, we are shucking clothes and peeling off layers. Nah, not really. But, it sure does feel good.

Of course, along with warmer temps comes snow - yes, Lisa, more snow. It is blowing around as it is that light stuff - so no accumulation on my car yet. But, we may get 3-6 inches overnight. Okay, I can handle the snow better than I can handle that darned cold.

Every year it seems we get at least a week of subzero temperatures. Knowing that doesn't make it much easier to bear. But, we are assured that, this too shall pass. The week will be over and we can look to warming trends. Sometimes it lasts longer than a week - like it just did. And, sometimes it comes back to bite us again. I hope it has gotten it out of its system for this year.

Got my 10,000 (plus) steps in both yesterday and today. Tweaked my left knee a bit tonight on the treadmill, though. So, will may to baby it a bit. I'll take it easy on the treadmill tomorrow night if it is still pinging.

Speaking of pinging - SIL cut his foot today and had to have some (4) stitches and a tetanus shot. Poor baby. Lucky for him he is on his weeks off work. He doesn't have to go back to the North Slope until the 26th. He should be fine by then - I imagine that the stitches will be able to come out before he goes, even.

So, the Average Joes in Hawaii got their surprise tonight. Looks like it is going to be fight city next week. Interesting.

Not much else going on here tonight. I am mulling over a critique on a story I wrote for a small group. Only one person has critiqued so far - and he was pretty much on target. Doesn't take the sting out too much, though. He critiqued three other pieces as well - somewhat fairly, but still with a bit of bite. You know, it's one thing when there is a critique that shows or tells you what is wrong and then goes on its merry way. But, it would be nice to have suggestions to better a piece - even if I chose not to take the advice.

This same fellow critiqued a piece I shared with the writers group a year ago. He and another person pretty much tore it up. I was quite stung, but also embarrassed because I had sent that piece off to a magazine BEFORE I read it to the group. The thoughts were zinging across my brain oh, my, if the magazine thinks it is as bad as these two guys do, well . . . And, then, much to my surprise, and somewhat to their chagrin, the magazine printed the piece - AND they paid me $50 and two extra copies of the magazine!

Okay, I feel better now. A critique is only as good as the paper/email it is written on - I can either take the suggestions and run with them - or I can trust my instincts. Yeah, that's the ticket.

So - I am off for the night. Have a good Tuesday everyone.

trading faces

Okay, I don't know whether to say ewww or, right on! Interesting concept. Not sure if I could either a.) be the donor, or b.) be a recipient. How weird for family members of donors to see their loved one's face perched on someone else's skull. Perhaps doctors should make certain that distance separate the families??

like I said - interesting in a "ewww" sort of way.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Trading spaces:

When we return from our trip to Hawaii, we will have a little over 7 hour layover in Honolulu. So, we are considering taking a tour of the USS Arizona. I think we should have plenty of time - it just comes down to whether or not we can get a ticket. The tickets are free, but the website says that they often run out on any given day by noon. As we don't arrive from Hilo until after 1 p.m., we just may miss out.

But, I think that we will try at any rate. It would be a shame to miss part of our heritage if we can possibly visit.

A friend of mine from church is going to Honolulu next week. They were not planning to visit the site, but are thinking about it now.

Interesting - according to the website they do not allow you to even carry a purse on the tour. So, they provide storage for $2 for that type of thing. Not a bad charge - and makes sense not to have to lug around our carry-ons and such. I think they will allow my digital camera. It says no large camera bags. Mine is pretty small. We'll see.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Isin't it funny how much fun it is to plan ahead? I attended a meeting last Thursday as a representative for our agency. I mentioned our upcoming women's run in August and said something like "we are looking forward to August . . ." and you wouldn't believe the comments I received. lol Of course we are smack dab in an ongoing deep freeze, but dogonnit, that is what makes me look forward to summer activities anyway. But, we are gathering our sponsors and they all have to be in place by the end of March. So, we are not too early at all to be looking forward to Augus.

The same with our trip to Hawaii. While not every minute will be planned out in advance, it is nice to plan for activities and such. It's a dreaming time for me.

Well, friends. I need to get off here and get on some workout clothes. It is time to get onto the treadmill and pound out a couple of miles. Our fitness check is scheduled for February 5th. That will be time for the "official" weigh-in and bp check and all that.

I shared with the Ladybug that I have this recurring thought that I wll climb up onto their "official" scales and find out that not only did I NOT lose weight, but somehow put some on. Now, I know that doesn't make any sense, but it is the way my feeble little mind works sometimes.

So - I am getting off of here now. Night all - you have a wonderful week.
>..<

baby face . . .

you've got the cutest little . . .

awwwwwwwwww - aren't those the cutest little pudgy cheeks? Soon, baby, soon Nana will hold you and kiss those pudgy little cheeks. And, pat your bare little bottom and probably give you your first binky, too. 'Cause that's what Nanas do.

The Ladybug has been busy over these past few months perfecting and making her No-fail Swaddling Blankets for her friends and for herself. Now she has them listed on ebay. As there is only one photo there - and it is a bit hard to see how this cute little dealie works, I thought I would post some other photos for you.

lay the blankie out flat . . .

place baby into the pocket . . .

fold over first side and tuck . . .

fold over second side, tuck and velcro. Voila! Baby is all swaddled and comfy for sleep. It is just like being in Mama's womb - warm and safe. Just what the baby needs for those first few weeks at home.

All too soon they outgrow this - it is nice to keep them comfy while they are so tiny and new.

Anyway, I am sure proud of the Ladybug's initiative in developing this little thing. She really comes up with some great ideas.

So, to leave you tonight, I will say what the buglet says:

Home again, home again

Here's a photo to whet your appetite

You can find more of tonight's sunset progression here. The first shot, shown here was taken just as we came down onto the highway from Anchorage proper. We pulled over to the side of the road just a wee bit later along Turnagain Arm to take the rest of the photos.

The skies were darkening - and the tips of the clouds and fog were tipped with pink. It was truly glorious - the real thing was much more glorious than these shots, but I wanted to share them with you nonetheless.

Thanks, everyone, for your good thoughts today as the Ladybug and I traveled to and from Anchorage for her target ultrasound. Yes, we know the gender of the new little one. No, I cannot tell you. ;-( I have been sworn to secrecy so that the Mr. Bug will not somehow find out. He swears he does not want to know until the little squirt . . . well, squirts out.

I can tell you this much - all is well. Baby is 4# 13 oz. give or take 12 oz. (that's what it said on the ultrasound monitor). We got a "thumbs up" in one of the shots - I am hoping that the Ladybug will scan some of these in and post them so you can see, too. Baby has cute pudgy cheeks - and a sweet little nose.

Bottom was down, though, at least at the time of the appointment. Ladybug thinks everything shifted back into head down position as we walked around Wally-world afterwards. However, if baby stays heads up/bottom down we might see a C-section. That will all be determined as we trudge along.

It is truly amazing what can be seen in these sessions, I must say. 29 and 34 years ago when I was having my girls, I was not offered such a thing. We discovered what baby looked like when baby was laid in our arms. My first delivery was a "spinal block" delivery with nurse pushing down on my uterus as I could no longer feel the contractions. (everyone say with me, OUCH) Hubby had to stay in a waiting room with other expectant daddies.

Second delivery was au naturel - the only meds I received were the Pitocin drip to induce the labor and the novacaine for the episiotomy. Other than that, it was all lamaze breathing techniques. And, hubby was allowed to stay with me and got to see his daughter born.

Now, the entire family could, if the mama wanted, crowd into the same room to see the entire delivery. It is more of a family affair from beginning to end. Very moving, very touching, very . . . .

Sure wish she could have gotten the type of ultrasound that they showed on ER a week ago - and that our local tv station highlighted last week. A 4 D ultrasound that shows baby in real time and in a 3 dimensional form. WOW! That is something, I must say.

Well, the Ladybug challenged me to tell you all - and so I will - that she chatted my ears off for 8 hours. My goodness . . . it must feel good to have an adult listening after being around babies 24x7. What am I saying? Even I can remember from my baby days and KNOW that it feels good to have another adult at least listening . . . even if that other adult cannot get a word in edgewise.

Aww, Ladybug, I'm just funning you. I loved our time together. Thanks for letting me ride along.

Night, all.

on the road again

Look out, we're on the road again . . . all together now, sing! ;-) Well, okay, don't.

Tomorrow the Ladybug and I are driving to Anchorage for her target ultrasound. After that, i should be able to share with all of you what this little darling's gender might be. In the meantime, I hope Ladybug is getting some rest - I plan to hit the rack very soon myself.

Awww - ER's Carrie and Sandie have a son . . . and Abbie is something, isn't she? Yes, I know. TV junkie. But, not really. I only care about a couple of shows. If they aren't on, well then I am back here on the computer or on the treadmill. But I do like to see ER. I get a wee bit testy if I cannot. Heh.

Gosh - I had stuff I was gonna chat with you about, but it has left the building - and I am left with hat in hand so to speak.

So, I will take this tired body to bed. Have a wonderful Friday, everyone

Wednesday driving

You may remember this post of a few days ago - my snow blind drive to Anchorage. Well, today I took another drive, this time it was on "company time." That is, I was being paid to visit smaller communities near us and to deliver the agency's new posters and brochures.

But, of course I took my camera along. And, was I ever glad that I did. You can find the results of my day here. I think some of you may especially enjoy the photo of the temperature sign in front of the Sterling Senior Center building. Brrrrr. and, btw, thanks to Lessa for setting me up with this nifty little photo display case. You do good work, kiddo!

Why in the world was I out and about at 8:30 a.m. on a pitch black Alaskan winter morning?

Last year I wrote, with the director's help, a small grant to fund a public awareness campaign. We have been running domestic violence awareness ads in the local newspaper twice monthly. Part of the grant money funded those ads (as did generous grants from the Kenai Lions Club, the Twin Cities Soroptimists, and a matching grant from the newspaper itself.)

Some of the funding paid for in-school presentation materials. Our advocates and a volunteer go into the schools to talk with students about bullying, peer pressure, dating violence, etc. New videos and materials were purchased, and brochures developed and printed.

The rest of the grant paid for printing costs for three projects I was in charge of: stickers with our Crisis line number for restroom stalls, a new agency brochure, and the poster you will see at the above website.

It is these last three items that I have been delivering to various locations for the past three weeks. I did the local areas first, delivering to agencies and middle and high schools in the Kenai, Nikiski and Soldotna areas.

Today was the road trip - I didn't even go into work this morning. Rather, I started out at 8:30 and drove to Kasilof, then back the other direction to Sterling, Cooper Landing, Hope, and Moose Pass, and areas in between each of these. 257.1 miles on the odometer when I was finished.

The materials were left at schools, libraries, museums, small businesses, etc. Everywhere I went I received good words about the work our agency does. Everyone seemed glad to have the brochures and, especially to have the phone numbers. I even came back with a trunk load of donations for our Clothes Closet.

I also have some questions to answer when I get to my office tomorrow - a couple of people asked for resources that I could not give off the top of my head, but which I have in my office. So, I will be emailing them tomorrow.

One thing I noted, that I want to ask all of you about. In the course of the past three days I have visited five high school campuses. In each place, the parking lots were full! Is it your experience that every teenager has a vehicle and drives him/herself to school these days? I know I must sound old and fuddy-duddy, but in MY day . . . blah, blah, blah. Yup, that does sound fuddy-duddy and old, doesn't it?

But, seriously, we rode the city bus - others rode the school buses (sis and I went to parochial school - no school bus - thank goodness for city buses), some walked, and some had parents who drove them to school. Some of the kids knew how to drive and had licenses and all, but there was little money for cars and such.

Thanks to having city buses at my service, and utilizing the legs God gave me for everything else, I did not get my license until I was 21. I learned to drive from my hubby (then my boyfriend - awwwwwwww) when I was 16 or so. Just never needed to go and get the license itself.

Anyway, that is all just an aside. It just amazed me to get to the schools and see masses of vehicles in the student parking areas.

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday.

orange aprons

Hubby Moose and I made our first ever visit to a Home Depot tonight. Yes, I know, it is sad. After all, the store opened (in an old K-Mart building) on December 17th. We just never had the oomph to go see.

Tonight, while we really had no oomph in our step, we did at least have the desire to get out for a walkabout and the Orange Box Store was our chosen destination.

They have a LOT of stuff in there - a lot of stuff I wouldn't mind having - but a lot of stuff that I have absolutely NO IDEA of how to accomplish. But, they also have BOOKS!!! How-to books on just about anything your little heart could desire. Yup, they have those . . . and . . .

they have FRIENDLY people who are just waiting to help you find what you need, and find the ways to accomplish the things that you need/want/lust after. And, some of the stuff they will even INSTALL for you. Wow!

So, what did we buy? A couple of sponges for the hubby at work - and a mat for him to stand on by the printing presses at work - and, for me . . . drain cleaner.

The last of the big spenders we are. How romantic, huh? Hey, we do what we can do.

Walking among the aisles chock full of bright and shiny new sinks and toilets and shower/tub combos and flooring and . . . and . . . and . . . well, it got us to talking about what needs to be done on our house. Sigh! A little bit of everything. Which means it will be awhile before any of it gets done. And, that is okay, too.

After all, we have a roof over our heads and the house is warm and cozy. Who cares if it is 25 years old and the center is sagging a bit and the floors need to be tightened and the carpeting replaced and the bathroom totally stripped and redone? I ask you, who cares?

Well, I do for one - but all of that takes money.

And, frankly, Hawaii is more important to me this year. ;-)) And, we have now been confirmed on the interisland portion of the trip. Yay! We had to use every mile we had accumulated . . . 100,000 miles. So, I guess you could say that this trip is costing us $100,000 for airfare.

Oh, well. It's just miles. And, I thank the Lord that we have them. Hubby Moose buys paper for the print shop on the airlines card - that's how they accumulate so nicely. It has taken about 3 years, though, to accumulate that many. So, the next major trip will come in another 3 years or so. ;-))

Anyway - I guess that's enough rambling for tonight. May your dreams be orange . . . someone who reads this page knows exactly what I mean. (hi there CNL!)

>..<

oh, the excitement

Hubby and I (and hopefully sis) are making plans for a trip of a lifetime - a dream of mine for many years - we are going to Hawaii! And, yes, we are going to see Ali! Yay.

I have been purusing the internet and dropping plastic pennies. Hubby and I have our reservations set for the first leg of the trip - Anc. to Honolulu - and the last leg of the trip - Honolulu to Anchorage. Now we are waiting for the confirmation of the interisland hop between Honolulu and Hilo.

I get to meet my blog buddy, ALI!! Naw, not excited at all, at all. This is an anniversary trip, for hubby and me, btw. Our 35th anniversary. I know, that makes me sound ancient, huh? But we were just kids, really, when we met - and when we got married. Babies at 19. We had known each other for 4 years - our whole high school life - even though we went to different schools. His buddy dated my best friend and they introduced us - and the rest is history.

35 years - whew!

During our stay in HI we will be driving up to Kona for our anniversary - actually the day AFTER our anniversary. I got a great deal on priceline.com for a hotel - we'll be staying at the Royal Kona Resort, which was recommended by a friend at work as a good option. If their published prices are to be believed, our proffered price is saving us 2/3! (the room is probably right off the kitchen or something, though - lol)

While in Kona, there are a couple of things we are looking at taking part in . . . like a trip on Atlantis. Wicked, huh? Very cool. And, then of course, there is the luau. Oh, yeah. That is a winner.

But, this is all a few months away. All the more time to dream, huh?

First we have to see this new little grandbaby arrive safely. And, do all of the many work related things and all that. Sigh.

But, soon . . . aloha.

Sunday wrap-up

Thanks, everyone, for your comments yesterday. Lisa, even if it is 65 hours from my house to yours, you are welcome anytime. ;-))

Dan, Jilly, Lori, thanks for thinking of me, too. We live in some gorgeous country up here. But, it is country that demands respect. I sometimes forget and do silly things. It would probably have been smart to have turned around and driven back home. Except that I kept thinking that it HAD to get better at some point, you know? So, I just kept driving. And, pretty soon, there was no good place - no safe way - to turn around. And, then, I was past the "point of no return" and it made as much sense to continue as it did to turn back.

Sometimes the Lord just watches over silly gits, you know?

I would covet your thoughts and prayers for next week. The Ladybug has an appointment in Anchorage and I am driving her up Friday morning. We will be there until about 4 p.m. when we plan to hit the highway for home so as to be through the mountain pass before it gets TOO dark.

This, of course, is all dependent on whether or not she drops my new grandbaby before Friday. heh ;-) It could happen.

Dezi had his shopping day today. And, he did quite well. He is a smart little dickens. Reads very well for a seven year old. (reads at a 4th grade level, actually) He obeyed well for the most part and we enjoyed having him along. Next week it is Miss Mairi's turn.

It won't be long and we will be adding the new little one to the rotation of grandkiddo shopping days. I think we are up for it. ;-))

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

snow blind

Day 1 - January 9, 2004

headed towards Anchorage

from Sterling, AK to just outside of Anchorage, AK (Rabbit Creek Road)

150+ miles of white-out roads!

Day 2 - January 10, 2004

Coming home again

aye-yup - 'nuff said. Home safe and sound - thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Mail Moose

Our Peeking Tom(oose) has now taken on the job of being our MailMoose. See below:

And, that, my friends, would be the reason I couldn't get my mail at 5 p.m. tonight. Instead I had to wait until 6 p.m. Aww, poor moosie.

And, this one is actually not a very big moose. Yet, you can tell that s/he stands about 5 feet at the shoulder. I would say that the box is about 4 - 4.5 feet at the top of the tallest one. Soooooooo

Nope, don't wanna tangle with all that meat.

I'm off to watch ER - back later to finish this

Just Moosing Around

You know, MT can be a bit big and scary to a novice. My designing daughter set me all up in this home. She did all of the style sheets and designed the layouts for this blog, and that of my sister, niece, and the Ladybug. It was thoughtful and kind of her to do all of this.

It was also necessary, as I am a bit clueless as to a lot of this. I can do basic html - I taught myself that with the help of the beginner stuff at geopities several years ago. (note to self- go over there sometime and DELETE that stuff!) So - basic html is okay - especially when I call on Lissa to explain it all. That is a great site with tutorials and reminders for old moose like me.

But when it comes to CSS and such - nope, clueless.

Everytime I would open MT I would just go ACK because of all of the gobbledygook I would see in the templates. So - I pretty much never changed anything around out of the basic set ups.

I got a bit brave during that first month and began to add links - as soon as I could figure out where in the template to place them. Then I got braver still and began adding photos from time to time - then button links on the left for special things.

Tonight I began to dig around and look for the places I could make this whole thing a bit more of my own. I had been seeing (and wondering HOW) different wording on other blogs - on the comments, for instance.

Well, I found them tonight and went a bit berserkers. So, you might notice a few weird changes. But, that's okay - I've just been

Moosing Around. heh!

Peeping Tom(oose)

In last night's entry I mentioned the noises I heard outside my window. I was a bit unnerved due to a peeping tom incident in our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. But, I was also reasonably certain that I was hearing a moose scraping up against the house.

Daughter, Lessa, wrote that she had practically bumped noses with my tom(oose) shortly after my entry.

Today, tom(ooose) came back for a visit and peeked into her windows.

Those are Lessa's fingers you see at the side of the window, btw. Looks like she had the window open in order to get a good shot. I'm sure she was holding on so that she could jump back in case that huge nose decided to come into the room with her.



You might be able to tell that these critters are pretty big. This one looks to be a bit smallish, but check it out next to the grandkiddos' jungle gym/swing set.



That is SIL's antenna in the background. We have a pretty good snow base right now - it is compacting down with age, but we've had about 2 feet or so since just before Christmas.

There is a high wind alert for tonight. Wind gusts are generating up to 60 mph and higher in some places. That puts the wind chill factor right down there to about 45 below zero. Brrrr. I'll stay in here, I think.

Small plane owners have been advised to check on their aircraft and to utilize double tie-downs. The weather people are predicting that this won't be quite as bad as the storm we had in March 02 when there were sustained winds of up to 90 mph in Anchorage - and pretty darned close to that here on the peninsula. Lots of planes and sheds and homes (roof shingles mostly) were damaged by that wind storm.

Glad I don't live along the "hillside" in Anchorage. They suffer from a lot of wind. But, hey, if you want the view, and can afford the pricey homes, well . . . I guess, it must be worth it.

Have a great Wednesday, everyone.

I told myself

I told myself I wasn't going to do it. I was NOT going to succumb to another one like the last one. I was not going to watch Average Joe Hawaii. Not after the last time - not after Melana chose brawn over brains. Nope, wasn't going to do it.

Wasn't going to watch and see some poor average schmo lose his heart to a pretty girl and later watch him sweep up the shattered pieces.

of course you know the punchline.

of course I watched it.

And, of course I am right in there rooting for these average joes who have next to no chance of landing this girl. All the while I am hoping that she will see the beauty inside and reach out a little of her own inner beauty.

we will see.

Hubby said "all the fat guys are gonna get voted off tonight." He was wrong. They will probably go next week, though.

I wondered out loud what would happen if there were an Average Jill series. Eighteen of your average, kind-hearted, but less than lovely or less than shapely young ladies . . . sent to a paradise to meet Joe Cool.

Am I jaded if I think that Joe Cool would take one look at the Jills getting off the bus and say Ain't no way, producers. Not for love or money. ??? Sadly, I don't think so. And, sadly I doubt that we will see that show anytime soon.

on another note:

I am sitting here pretending not to be freaked out by noises outside my window. It is 11:20 p.m. and dark as molasses outside my window. I can't see out, but the light over my head would allow anyone/anything to see in.

I stood up casually and closed the blinds. A peeping tom was in our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, but got away before the police could get there.

No, I am reasonably sure that it is not a peeping tom - there is a lot of snow outside my window, with very little access. There is a flower bed under the window, though, that is not as snow covered, due to being uder the eaves. But, a peeper would have to come through some knee high snow to get to the window.

So . . . I am pretty reasonably sure - and assured - that what we have here is a wayward moose. I am less likely to open my door this late on a dark winter night to check for a moose as I am for a prowler. The moose would outweigh me by a lot more than a prowler might. AND, they have sharp hooves.

Nope, I will just sit here and type to you and pretend that the scraping and clunking on the outside of my wall, is actually the furnace bubbling its hot water through my baseboard piping.

I'll pretend that - but in my heart I know it's really something out there.

But, it is out there and I am safe and sound in here - where it is warm and not windy and you are there on the other side of my monitor reading this.

I like that thought a whole lot better. Night, friends.

Parliamentary Procedure

We had a business meeting at Church tonight. Such is the way of organizations - meetings need to be held every so often in order to make sure the business is accomplished. Tonight we adopted the budget for the new year and also affirmed three elders. In addition we adopted our Missions Goals for 2004.

One of the things that comes up most often at our meetings is procedure. I am looked to sometimes for the answers only because I have spent a lot of time attending meetings - city council meetings - school board meetings - borough assembly meetings - and various commission and committee meetings. Not all of them are run using Robert's Rules of Order, but all have some form or semblance of order.

And, so, when there is a question, the secretary will sometimes ask me and, if I know the answer, I will let her know. The moderator and I also talk about the various rules.

The most often misused is the Call for the Question. Tonight it was used several times - all incorrectly - but, without any problem or incident. I decided not to argue the point - in the spirit of community and fellowship. Rather, I talked with the secretary and the moderator after the meeting to explain what I thought was the correct procedure for such a motion.

You see, the call was not done in a malicious manner, and nobody was arguing or anything, so why belabor the point publicly?

The proper procedure for such a call is to call for a vote to stop the discussion, which requires a 2/3 vote to be adopted in order for the discussion to be stopped. It takes up unneccessary time, and sometimes causes more tempers to flare than is necessary.

Especially in a church business meeting.

All the moderator needed to do when discussion slowed or stopped (as it did in these cases) was to call for the vote. Saying something like If there is no further discussion, we'll now take the vote. And, that would be that.

He is young - he is not totally comfortable doing this - he is teachable. It's all good.

As was our meeting tonight. I have been in a few over the years, in various church bodies, that were not cohesive and good meetings. That is never fun - it is never good - it most always leads to hurt feelings and, sometimes, to split bodies of believers. I don't think the Lord is happy with that at all. He seldom blesses in those situations.

Anyway - that was my evening - how was yours? It's back to regular schedules tomorrow. The kids go back to school and I go back to work. Yay. Have a great Monday.

Saturday mish-mash

I decided to get out today and do some walking. Woke up feeling a bit better, so it wasn't too hard to go for it. Besides, I needed to get my bp meds from Soldotna, so off I went. I am looking forward to the time when I can either reduce my bp meds or discontinue them all together. It'll happen - losing weight and increasing exercise will help towards that goal.

Saturdays are always fun days at Fred Meyer. There are lots of people - not as many as right before Christmas, but still a lot. And, it is fun to run into people that I know, but don't get to see too often.

I grab a cart to push - it helps me with balance and, I can lean on it if my hips act up. (they haven't too much since I have been walking, but it does happen occasionally) The cart also comes in handy to hold purse, coat, sweater, etc. And, I sometimes grab a bottle of water and it's nice to have a place to store it.

The store personnel are used to me just walking through the aisles and they smile and nod. Well, the security person doesn't. I'm not supposed to know who she is, you see. She's supposed to be sort of invisible, blending in with the rest of us shoppers. Yeah, right. If you are in the store very often you can pick out the security staff. ;-)) I think she was on the lookout for someone today, because she paused at the end of each grocery aisle, and peeked down the aisle - not really stopping, just pausing mid-stride. So, I just pretened not to see her and continued on my way.

Back around by the electronics department a man was leaving and he stopped to say hello to me. Asked how we had been - said he hadn't seen us for awhile, wondered what we'd been up to. And, then, the sweetest words "you're losing weight!" "Thank you - and thanks for noticing" say I. One of those little unexpected rewards.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Maybe it's because I'm a gramma - maybe it's because I have another grandbaby on the way - but . . .

This is just majorly big on the awwwwwwwwww factor . . . Kate Elizabeth Maier - found through BlogMadness 2003.

all together now . . . awwwwwwwwwwwww

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Also on the awwww factor . . . the Ladybug family is parenting new puppies. I haven't seen them, yet. But I understand that they are beautiful, wee puppies. They will be giving them all away. Really. They should be weaned just about the time Mama Ladybug has her little one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Well, I am going to go out and sit with the honey. He is watching Star Trek, NG. He never tires of them. I sometimes have to take refuge away from them, but he loves them.

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone.

Laziness (?)

I have been pretty much laying low over the past few days. I feel like I should be calling myself lazy, but I know that it isn't that. Last Saturday night I was not able to sleep well due to a gurgle in my chest. That usually is the precursor to a nasty lung infection with me, so I began to take good old echinacea and goldenseal in hopes that it could be stalled, if not quelled.

Spent Sunday - Tuesday nights sleeping upright in my chair so that I could get some sleep - coughed too badly to lie down. Was able to go through the motions of working each day - and felt well enough to attend John's funeral.

After all, everyone around town has some sort of the same crud. So, deal with it and get on with life, moosie.

But, after the funeral I just felt drawn and quartered - butt dragging despite myself. I dozed most of yesterday, in and out of college bowl games - not sure who won any of them. I did get in my hour on the treadmill, though, to start the year off right. But not today - today I have been dragging big time - eyes watering, nose itching, sneezing, but not as much coughing as before, and the chest is no longer gurgling as badly. So, tomorrow should be a better day.

In the meantime . . . I have news to share with you. Daughter, Lessa, took part in NANOWRIMO during the month of November. I have been itching to let you in on a secret, but she swore me to silence. Until now.

Now that her best friend has received his copy of Devil with a Halo on, I can send you over to check it out for yourselves. Many of us who spend time writing in these journals/blogs also dabble in the written word with hopes of, or successes in, publishing our work. It is a great accomplishment when we see our first book in print. Lessa is rightfully proud. I hope you will at least take a look at her work.

Second - Faith led me to Blog Madness 2003. I didn't have as many entries to go through as she did, as I have only been using MT a few months, and my previous blog is no longer available. I did find one that I thought might be worthy to share with the judging world, the story of Timothy.

Looks like there still may be time if you all would like to enter the contest. I look forward to reading the various entries, myself. What a neat way to find new blogs.

Well, I guess that is about all that I was going to share tonight. I hope that you are all well and enjoying this long weekend. The kiddos are back to school on Monday - I am back to work on Monday - the Saturn is back into the shop on Monday (trouble with the auto start/security system or somesuch). Hmmm - Monday is going to be a busy day.

Oh, one other thing - we watched the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen tonight. We had been warned off it - people thought it was worse than bad, etc. So, I knew that hubby would enjoy it immensely, and he did. I thought it was a fun watch, also. But, then I don't get too upset about inconsistencies and mistakes like some people do. If a movie is truly bad to my senses, I will simply fall asleep. ;-))

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.

p.s. I mentioned the bowl games yesterday and that I didn't know who had won or lost . . . well, I know who won today . . . Ohio State University!! Bravo for the hometown team. Yay.

Happy 2004!

It’s a new day and a new year. I am not one to make resolutions, really. They are just so easy to make and even more easy to break. So, I usually save myself the trouble.

This year, however, I discovered Marn’s 500 Miles to Nowhere challenge. Now, if you have ever read Marn (eh) you will understand that a challenge from her is like . . . well, you just can’t resist. Or maybe I am the only one who cannot resist.

This is year number two for the 500 Miles to Nowhere challenge – the goal is to just get up and move in some way. Marn decided last year that she had to do something to get out of the rut most of us 50 somethings find ourselves stuck in. So, thinking ANY amount of movement was a good thing, her challenge was born.

The Posse was formed and raring to go. Most of them made their goals last year – and even those who did not make goal, well, they accomplished much by at least moving around.

As I am already taking part in the hospital’s 10,000 Step Program I have set a mixture of goals for myself. The first is to walk those 700+ miles and the second is to add another 1,000,000 steps by pedometer. Am I a glutton for punishment or what??? There’s a button over there to the left – I will add my stats as I head toward the goal. Hey, we’ve got a whole year, right? Right.

And, while losing weight was NOT my main objective (really) to starting the 10,000 Step Program in September, I am pleased to note that losing weight has been a nice side effect. Yesterday was weigh-in day for December . . . and . . . . the total loss since beginning is now . . . 20 pounds!! Yup, woo-hoo! Happy, happy, joy, joy, moose dancing around the room. It’s a wonderful feeling. As is having daughter’s midwife (partner to her OB) tell me that she didn’t recognize me because of the weight loss. Heh. (of course, it has been a bit over 50 pounds ago that she has seen me)

So, the challenge is to keep it off – and to keep on losing it.

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"Remember: the more people who play, the more fun we'll have!" Thanks, Faith, for the link.
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And, that's all the news that's fit to be the news from Kenai, Alaska's PurpleMoose today. I trust your new year has started off in grand fashion and that there are not too many self-inflicted hangovers injuries out there tonight.