This is Friday, right?

This morning I appeared on an hour-long radio talk program along with two other bikers to promote May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. I represented Women On Wheels®, and the others represented Gold Wing Road Riders Association and ABATE (Alaska Bikers Advocating Training & Education). Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, we did. Even got a couple of phone calls with questions.

We were there to promote safety for cars AND for bikes. It would be very nice to go through a whole motorcycling season with no fatalaties. It would be nice, but I am not holding my breath. I just hope that our talk today raised awareness a bit more.

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Attended the opening of an art show tonight. A member of our writers group invited us because he has a piece in the show. I don't usually go to the openings of these things, choosing rather to go later when there is less crowd to maneuver through. I lasted about half an hour before I headed for home. Sadly, my friend wasn't there for me to congratulate.

The show is for pieces based on the theme "Bounty from the Sea". One piece cracked me up . . . a kid's sized wooden boat named S E A with a mermaid Barbie perched atop several rolls of Bounty Paper towels. Aptly titled "Bounty on the SEA." snork!

I hope to go back again while the show is still up to view it without so much jostling.
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Do you remember your first attempt at building a web page? If you are like I was, you used a free host and you used free graphics - maybe you used those whirlygigs and fancy mouse tracers and lightening bolts and such.

We were the cat's meow, weren't we?

Most of the folks I read today have grown past that - they use graphics from someone like our own Miz Kitty or their own stuff - or they utilize MT or Blogger or some such. But it is cleaner and more appealing to the eye.

Thank goodness for that!

I spotted a HUGE bumper sticker on the back of an otherwise gorgeous little VW convertible bug this evening - it advertised an Alaskan artist website. So I jotted down the address in my memory and visited there tonight thinking I could share it with you all. Not gonna happen my friends, not gonna happen. Daughter Lessa and I both screeched in pain at the viewing of the site, so I am not going to compel you to blind yourselves. Sigh!! I was so hoping.

I will keep looking. I may have to purchase special dark glasses, but I will keep looking.

heh

It's Official

Today was weigh-in day . . . . (drum roll if you please)

268 pounds. <----- highlight to see

Now, don't gasp and turn blue on me, that is a GOOD thing. You see, nearly two years ago I weighed 68 pounds more than that. And, in September when I began the 10,000 Step Program I weighed 36 pounds more than that.

Little changes - BIG results. Yes, I am stoked. My clothes either are bagging on me . . . or beginning to look goooooooood. (depends on the size I grab) There are several pairs of slacks that are going to have to be given away soon. I have already given away all of my dresses but one.

That is the one downside to all of this losing weight stuff - I have to shop for new clothes. It has never been a favorite thing of mine to do. Do you know that they just don't make cute clothes for the (ahem) larger woman? I have detested looking like the quintessential little old fat lady in my black (always black) knit pants and XXXL tee-shirts. My dresses looked like muu-muus and had enough material in them to outfit several children.

So it is a victory when I shop now and can find that one pair of jeans or non-stretchy pair of slacks that actually looks good on me. And, to be able to button my blouses all the way down to the last button, without fearing gaps or it popping off against my ever lovely tummy.

Yes, folks, these are all victories - hard fought and hard won - and muchly appreciated.

Now, anyone want to go for a walk with me?

Yay!

kids - don't try this at home

41 degrees - pouring down rain - bucking a headwind all the way . . . what was I thinking?

Well, apparently, not much. It actually wasn't raining when I left the office, but by the time I had gotten to the middle of the first hill it began to POUR. Ice cold rain in an already chilly temperature . . . not conducive to a comfortable power walk. So, I cut it short at the first light - will have to check, but I think that is a little over a mile round trip. Shucks!

Guess it's me and the treadmill tonight. We're pretty good buddies anyway, so it's all good in the end.

Speaking of "ends" . . . mine is shrinking. Yeah, I know, it's got a LOOOOONNNGGG way to go, but it is steadily shrinking. Yay! Official weigh-in on Thursday, but I took a sneak peek today because of some co-workers' comments. I am thrilled with the peek. No, I think I'll make you all wait. It may be less by Thursday. Heh.

Went to the Relay for Life Team Captains' meeting last night. Learned that 37% of the funds raised stay in our local community for such things as the Wig Loan Closet, Reaching for Health (I think that is what it is called) and several other projects. After that a percentage stays in state and the rest goes to the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research. So, that is very cool. Thank you to any who might feel able to support me in my walk - and for those of you who will support others in your area or will walk yourselves.

And, now . . . I must change back into dry(er) clothes and pretend like I am working. ;-) More later, perhaps.

how many

how many stores must one shop to find a wall clock nowadays? Well, today it turned out to be FOUR - in TWO towns. Good grief!

It all started when I got to my office this morning to discover that my clock had somehow taken a dive off my wall onto the floor, spitting out its battery and manhandling its hands. Sigh! One wall clock down and several to go. The biggest joke at work is whose clock matches whose . . . none of them keep time exactly the same and none of them are ever right.

No explanation for the sudden and premature death of my clock. Nothing else to do but to wander around trying to find a replacement. I left for about half an hour and toured three grocery stores. Could NOT convince myself to spend $25 or $35 for a clock - we are a non-profit agency. I don't even have clocks that expensive on my own walls!

So, back to work for a bit and then leave early for the afternoon - head on over to slow-dotna and the Fred Meyer store and finally found a good replacement - less than $7, $10 with a package of batteries. Yay! They might even repay me at that rate.

Had dinner with hubby at a favorite sub shop - nope, not a chain - an honest to goodness sub shop. Yum.

Hubby and I parted company at this point - he off to wherever and I to a Relay for Life Team Captains' meeting. Yes, friends, I am going to do the Relay for Life this year - and not only that, but am the team captain for our 10K Steppers. So far only 8 folks have signed onto the team, but that is okay, we will do fine and have fun while doing fine.

If you have never participated in a Relay for Life, why don't you check into it in your area - the money goes into research to find the cure for cancer. As my aunt succumbed to the disease a little over 30 years ago, I take a personal interest in such money raisers.

And, I may as well ask all of you . . . if you are not doing something of the sort . . . and if you would like to help someone out who IS doing something of the sort . . . well, you could always sponsor me - email me (see above right undre YOUR NUGGETS for the address - don't forget to take out the "no spam" wordage) and I will be happy to share an address with you. I don't have any high goals but would like to take some money to the table - so, sponsor away if you can.

And, if you can't well, I certainly understand and would covet your kind thoughts over the next little while as I raise money for this. Our Relay is the first weekend in June. All monies need to be turned in by that first night.

Thanks, friends.

Well, I am going to get off here now. You all have a wonderful Tuesday.

oh - one last thing - with today's lunchtime walk I finally got my third mileage duckie! Yay!

Sure signs of spring

1.) The sea gulls/terns are circling noisily overhead. It's "hooligan" (eulachon) season and the "dippers" have been busy so the gulls are looking for their lunches. Always wondered where the silly things went in the winter. My neighbor likes to toss leftover bread, cereal, french fries, etc. out into our road so the gulls will come. I hate that because they make a mess of the cars and such. I figure it'll stop when her girls are all grown and gone . . . maybe.

2.) I've changed over my studded tires to my all-weather/summer tires. Holy cow! The price for that goes up every time, too. Or at least it seems so to me. $14.50/tire this time. I need to get rims for the extra tires and then the price will be a bit less - of course, I have to factor in the price of the rims, too, huh?

3.) I'm taking outside walks again. It started last week with three days during my lunch hour - walked a bit further each day until I was walking a tad over 2 miles in about 40 minutes. There are a couple of long hills in the route I use, so it is a pretty good workout. A co-worker joined me this week. Her comment after the first time was "you move pretty fast for a woman your size." She's right. I took it as a compliment. And, because of the extra mileage and such I dropped a bit over 5 pounds this week alone. My end of the month weigh-in is gonna be good, I'm thinking.

This morning while the tires were being changed I got my walk in early. Measured it afterwards and found that I had walked 2.8 miles in under 40 minutes - no hills. Heh.

4.) The street sweepers are out in force - they are preceeded by a water truck which wets down the sandy sidewalks, then they go along and pick up a lot of the sand from the winter road folks.

When we first moved to Alaska the road maintenance people allowed the ice to build up on the roads - the only time that was nasty was during spring breakup and your tires would start to sink down through holes and slushy to the pavement about 12 inches below. Nowadays they scrape to the road and then sand because of the black ice that happens. All of that sand is then thrown up onto the sidewalks and into the grass the next time the snow plow comes through. So, they are clearing off the sidewalks.

5.) The bikes are now out of storage and safely tucked into the garage. Yay! I am thinking about taking the 750 over to the office today to show to our receptionist who has expressed an interest in purchasing it. We want to give her first dibs, but hubby also has someone interested in buying it.

I hope to get the 1100 out for a spin today as well. It looks like we may get some rain, but I don't mind that so much. It has been a looooooonnnnngggg time since I've been out and I'm itching to do it.

Hope your weekend is a great one.

Early Mother's Day

Good morning, group. My daughters and grandchildren are a blessing to me.

Tuesday night, they all trooped in excited and chattering and full of fun. Seems they had gotten together and had a hey-day with scrapbooking materials and photos. They and their scrapbooking consultant made a beautiful album for me - with pictures of ALL of the grands, and a few of me with the grands even.

The Moose is a sloppy mess at times - gotta love mid-life hormones. The tears rolled down my cheeks as my heart swelled with appreciation and love and thankfulness.

Thank you all for my special book.

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I may be absent a bit from time to time in this space. Please don't mind - just carry on without me, okay? Things are a bit rocky in the Moose's mind and need to be cleared of cobwebs and such.

I have read many online journals over the years and one thing that I have noted more often than should be is that many bloggers/journalers quit writing because someone took offense, was hurt by, or other "not so nice things", the writing style or content of those bloggers/journalers.

It seems to have happened to me now - my outlet is in my writing - I write short stories, memoirs, and a lot of poetry. Some of what I write is good - some not so good. All of it is from my heart and my mind at the time and point of a particular day/hour/minute. Once it is written, I can often let go of it and move on with my life.

But sometimes people who aren't meant to see or hear things do - and they get "hurt" or saddened. Long after my emotions are spent on something - I hear about it and that makes me sad, hurt, and sometimes angry.

If you have old links to poems you might as well delete those links - because the poetry is gone. I still have it, but I won't be sharing it any longer. I cannot risk others getting hurt, sad or angy. I can't risk my heart being broken any further.

And, that is probably much too much to have said. I will be fine - things change - life goes on in one form or another. I'm not sure how much offline writing I will be doing any more - I'm not really sure how much online writing I will be doing from now on. But I will be here - I will be around - I will be stopping by to check on you all.

>..<

a welcome phone call

A friend called me today - she wanted to make sure I had heard the latest on the young man's death. She asked me if I had noticed the tall gray-haired man standing next to the widow during Sunday services. I told her that I had.

It seems he is was an email buddy of J - they had been talking back and forth about their spiritual beliefs and such things. When the gentleman heard that J had died, he flew to Alaska from the midwest. Once here he received permission to spend time going over the body and the crime scene - doing his own investigation.

His conclusion? While J died at his own hand - it was an accident. I won't go into all of the details, but what a blessing for the widow to hear. It has been on the tv news and in the papers that this was a suicide - so sad for the family. How they must feel tonight knowing that a well-respected M.E. had determined otherwise.

I pray that the books on this can now be closed so the healing for the family can begin. It sets my own heart to rest as well. The one thing all of us said through this was that suicide just didn't make sense, didn't ring true. Nothing in what we knew about him made it even plausible. Even my coworker who saw him Friday in court could not accept it.

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An email tonight from cooties saying that the original Pepys Project has gone defunct. In its place, however, is the new and improved Pepys Project. If you are not linked up through this site, go on over and take a look-see. I have the dubious distinction of being the first Alaskan blog to sign up - well, at least there were no others listed when I submitted my url. ;-)
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Just before my friend's phone call today - I received a visit from two very excited little chatterboxes. Jessi and Timothy had their kindergarten visit today. They stopped by my office to tell me ALL about it. If you have never had two overly excited five year olds chattering in a small space . . . well, you just haven't lived. You can borrow mine sometime if you like. But you have to give them back.

Lessa has photos posted if you'd like to share via your armchair.

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A coworker walked with me at lunchtime today. She hasn't walked in awhile so we weren't too sure how far we would go. Turns out we both felt so good that we walked for a mile before turning back - yes, TWO miles total. In only 40 minutes! Yes, we were both stoked. High five at the turn and when we got back.

Tonight when I changed back into my tennies to do an hour on the treadmill I noticed that I had worn a blister on my left heel. I think I need new shoes. ;-( Sure hate to put out the money, but it is worth it in the long run to have good fitting shoes with no blisters.

Today marks the 30% of the way there mark for the Going Nowhere challenge. We are 30% of the way through the new year. (ouch!) Ideally we should each be 30% of the way toward our goal. Ideally.

I am over my goal to date on steps - but a wee bit under on the mileage. I should be at 210 miles and 300,000 steps. I'm really close on the mileage. Just over 11 miles to go.

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Well, guess that about wraps it up for a Monday. Hope you all had a great day and I wish you a wonderful Tuesday as well.

'night, friends

Busy Saturday

After breakfast with my hubby, he went off to work and I went off to play. Met the Ladybug at the Boys and Girls Club where Timothy's soccer team was having photo day. Visited with them for a bit and then took Mickinzie to her Music and Movement class.

Let's dance with scarves

and now, ribbons

at the end of the class we make a train

and "choo-choo" out the door

Kinzie really has a great time. Her mama hopes to keep her in some sort of dance class after this is over. It gives her something to do that is all hers - and helps with socialization skills as well as her balance and other such things.

The teacher today had her hands full. Several of the little girls were acting out - and once you get one going, then others join in. Pretty soon they were all sort of doing their own thing. I admire her patience, I will say that.

Meanwhile Timothy was playing soccer. They had just finished their game when I arrived back with Kinzie. So I got to kiss them all goodbye and they went off homeward.

I went to the Home Show to wander around for a bit - have to get the complimentary yardstick, you know. ;-)) Signed up for door prizes and visited all of the special booths to have a piece of paper stamped - deposited that paper for a chance at $500. That would be cool for a couple of hours "work". Visited with some folks I know as I wandered around.

Back home to work on checking accounts - balanced the home account and then went to the shop to balance hubby's work account. He didn't do too badly this time. Heh

Home to fix dinner - take a short snooze in my chair - walk on the treadmill for 90 minutes - then back here to download today's pics and write here.

ta-dah! Saturday is nearly over. It is time to head for slumberland, my friends. I hope you have a pleasant Sunday. Take care

Friday Musings

humpf!! We had a healthy dose of winter with our spring breakfast this morning. Oh, by this afternoon it had all melted . . but STILL! I had been thinking about bringing the bikes home from storage this weekend. Sigh!
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Snuck into the Ladybug's domain and posted a couple of pictures I took today - much better than looking at the snow in the above picture. ;-) Enjoy.

And, for your viewing pleasure here . . . a couple more Nana pictures. Hey, with cuties like my grands . . . who could resist?

Isaiah shows off some of his fat little charms - check out those jowls!

Gosh! I wonder where he got them?

yup one more - hey! that's why I'm the Nana.

Hmmm - looks like he is ready to rumble

Isaiah was 2 months old on Wednesday - He is 9 weeks old Saturday. Mama took him to the doctor and the doctor said (roll over, roll over . . . oh, wait - nope that's not what she said) let's weigh that boy. 10 pounds 13 ounces and 22 inches long. What a little porker! You go, Isaiah!

and, yes, I wear purple from time to time (see yesterday's post if you have no clue why I just said that). I was missing the red hat, though. Drat. ;-))

Thursday Thoughts

The memorial service was today. I worked this morning - atteneded one meeting - then took Mental Health time for the afternoon. The church was packed. We had the fellowship hall curtain opened up for overflow and it was about 1/2 full. In the short time he was in our area, J seems to have been a well respected young man.

Lots of prayers held up his wife and their families. She was a rock - ministering to those who went through the receiving line almost more than we were ministering to her. God gives great strength in times of need. That was a blessing to all of us.

Went to Writers Group tonight - even though I was feeling a bit down and weepy. Chose not to read a poem I had written today called the Unanswerable Question, although one member asked to read it afterwards and we had a nice conversation about things in her family that were similar to J. Very nice of her to reach out to me like that.

Telling quite well how much I needed to go tonight, we all got a fit of the giggles over the least little thing. There seemed to be hidden meanings behind the writings of a couple of people and several of us took them entirely TOO literally (and, may I add - with a hint of dirty minds) - we laughed so hard and loudly that someone came up and closed the doors of the room we were in. After all, it WAS a library. Shhhhhhhh

snork!

Lessa called me this afternoon and asked if I had ever heard of the Red Hat Society. Well, yes I have. She thinks I should check into it. And, it does sound like fun. But I am not quite ready, I don't think, to join such a group. Oh, I wear my red and purple with pride - I just have other things that take me away from the home right now and I don't want to add to them. Maybe when I get old I will think about it again - you know - when I am (shudder) sixty or so. heh

So, I am out of here shortly - gotta hit the rack. My day off tomorrow, but a friend is undergoing surgery and I am going to go and sit with her before she goes in.

Big Blue Eyes

Taken at Timothy's soccer game - she was lying on Paw-Paw's lap facing away from me and I snuck up and over her head to get the shot. It is pretty blurry because of it. But, doesn't she remind you of those BIG eyed kitties and dogs that are popular on the greeting cards and toys? We thought so, too.


Kinzie, where'd you get those BIG blue eyes, gorlie?

hmmmmmmm - check out . . .

the big brother
TAT has the same big blue eyes . . . must be genetics - ya think? I tell everyone that my legacy to my kids and my grandkiddos consists of big blue eyes and rosy apple cheeks - dontcha just wanna reach out and pinch those cheeks? Well, me too.

Makes me wish I could paint like Lolo. Sigh

Well, I am going to cut out of here. Hope you all have a lovely Thursday.
'night

Trekkin' and Thinkin'

Walked a bit further today - it was not as warm as yesterday, though. Clouds were hiding the sun for most of the walk, but it was a bit dryer than yesterday. Wasn't splashed hardly at all. Walked 1.8 miles round trip today - down an extra block.

I'm trying to encourage some of my coworkers to join me. A couple are thinking about it - so we'll see.

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Got to see Timothy's soccer game tonight. Precious kids at this age. The game for them is all about running up and down the gym floor - kicking the ball hard (no matter which way their own goal might lie) and falling onto the floor. Getting face kissed by the ball is not pleasant, nor is getting hit in the back by one. Having to tape up her earrings caused many tears by one little girl. Snacks being forgotten by the designated snack mom caused frustrated tears on our team. It's all a learning process.

After the game Timothy and his family got to visit his next year's school - an Open House was held for new kindergarten families. I haven't heard yet, but I'm sure that he had a great time. JessiAnna and her mama and siblings were also supposed to go. That school has NO clue what is coming through their doors next year with these little cousins. Would that I were a spider on a wall to see and hear those first few days. ;-))

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I have mentioned that here before. Today it sort of hit home.

I was checking some links at work and went to the State of Alaska page and then to the Sexual Offenders Registry page - checked my zip code and found that someone on my street is a registered sex offender. He has lived there for a little over a year now - we've never seen him around kids, but will be watching even more closely now - especially over our own littles.

The daughters now know, as does the next door neighbor, a mother of two teen and one pre-teen girls.

Just makes you sit back a bit. There are 61 registered sex offenders in my zip code alone. I even know some of them - or know their families. It is that small of a town.

Sobering.

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sights - sounds - SMELLS - of Spring

Ahhhhhhh, glorius spring. Today Kenai hit the magical number - FIFTY degrees! Woo-hoo! And the PurpleMoose was right out there in it. I decided today was the day - the parking lot at work was (mostly) free of ice and the sidewalks out on the highway were (reasonably) clear.

I took a walk on my lunch hour. Yup, I did. Down the driveway, right turn, down the road, right turn, down the highway to the first traffic light near the Kenai Visitors' Center. Then, of course, back again. It was a distance of 1.4 miles round trip. Just about half an hour to do it. I may venture a bit further tomorrow.

Sights - I saw a bald eagle circling overhead - saw and heard a dog barking at me from across a four lane highway . . . but I was encroaching on his territory apparently - saw LOTS of mud and melting snow and ice.

Sounds - the aforementioned dog - the chitter/scree of the eagle - the splashing of the trucks driving down the road - the sound of the splash as it hit my left leg. Discovery: it is EASY to hit a moving target when her back is toward you - not nearly as easy when she can look you in the eye on the return trip. I was pleasantly surprised when two 18-wheelers downshifted and slowed so as not to splash me on my return walk. I waved and smiled to both.

Smells - Oh, my good Lord, what IS that smell? We have been told since we moved here that it is NOT dog doo that we smell each spring. Rather, it is a mold that grows on the grass under the snow and when the snow melts and the mold sees the sun, yuk! Chemical reaction time. Dog poo smelly time.

Myself? I am pretty sure it IS dog poo. A whole winter's worth that has suddenly found daylight with the melting of its snowy cover. It heats up, expands its poopy little chest and emits a stench . . . pee-yew! Not to worry - that smell will soon be overtaken by the smell of Kenai's cash crop - salmon. Give me a good, hot, Kenai day (temp around 75) and a slight breeze off the Inlet and we inhale and exhale the smell of reds, pinks, silvers, kings, chums. Salmon!

But not today. Today it was me and the elements and a delightful walk into town and back.

Ahhhhhhh Spring in Alaska

He is Risen

He is risen indeed!

This is the greeting we use at Easter. I pray you are having a blessed and quiet Easter, remembering He who died to set us free.

Mairi and Jessi in their Easter finery

Mickinzie plays shy girl

Whew! Barely was able to get them to hold still long enough to get the photos. Cute kids, eh?

Sobering news yesterday morning - a young man from our church was found shot dead, in their home, on their bed. We have little information. His wife found him when she returned from a trip with their infant son.

She and her family and his family all attended services this moring. That was amazing to me - there were tears, but I think it must have been healing to be among the larger "church" family. Everyone took time to minister to them all before they left. I would covet your prayers for them.

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Yesterday was Timothy's first indoor soccer game. There is just something about 4s and 5s playing such a sport - way too cute for words. You can find pictures here.

After we got Timothy home and settled I took Kinzie to her dance class. There are pictures there of that also.

I have a smoked turkey breast in the oven for our dinner. That was a bit of a surprise when I opened the box this morning, as I had asked the meat man for a small ham. LOL. Well, I am sure it will be delicious, if a bit out of the ordinary. I made potato salad last night to go with the "ham". Will do up a side veggie to top off the menu.

This is the first time EVER that I did not buy Easter candy - in the past I have had to buy it at least three times each year. Yes, I confess, I ate it all the first two times. Well, I cannot afford to do that this year - I want to keep losing, not regaining. So, I let the girls be the bunnies this year. I did snag a couple of chocolates at breakfast ths morning, though. ;-))

Enjoy the rest of the day with your families. See you all later.

End of the week wrap-up

Hi there everyone - this has been a week. Busy, busy, busy. Have been doing the "mystery meat tour" of the chambers of commerce - taking information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Several other meetings also, including one today on my regularly scheduled day off.

Add to all of that, I have been making a conscious effort to stay off of the computer a bit more and spending some time with hubby. He deserves a bit of me, too. ;-)

Today I was invited to a scene that wasn't eggsactly quiet . . .
4 mamas
11 babies of varying ages
36 hard boiled eggs . . . .

it was an egg coloring Play Date at the Ladybug's home.

Isaiah wasn't all that impressed (held by cousin Sean)

the others seemed to have a great time.

Auntie Lessa has posted several more pictures - complete with colors and stickers. Check them out.

And, with that, friends, I am going to check out of here. Hope you have a great Saturday.

Tsk

Adam, Adam, Adam . . . oh, well. It was pretty evident. That's "life" (aka reality tv). Told hubby that whoever got out of the limo first was the one getting on the plane - it has been that way every time. It still sucked.

Poor Adam - has he NO clue what it is like to live with a Jewish mother whose wishes have been scorned? Oh, the guilt - oh, the angst - oy, Adam.

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Got the Ladybug out and abut for a bit tonight. Timothy had a meet and greet with representatives from the school he will attend next year (as a kindergartener - oh, my). The Family House was full of chattering adults and noisy kiddos and teachers and principals from 3 of the 4 schools invited. The Bugs all got to listen to a short presentation about what to expect next year - and how to make it an easy transition for all.

The school is so sweet - they have a special room set up on the first day of school - it's a crying room. No, not for the kiddles - it's for the mamas. Lessa made use of it for the first one - not sure if she did for the girl. I think Ladybug may have to use it for the T-man. We'll see.

Tomorrow I have another intersting day - somewhat divided up. I will go in 45 minutes late, attend a supervisors' meeting - work for a bit then go to the Soldotna Chamber meeting to distribute Sexual Assault Awareness Month material - go back to work for about an hour - then head home. I am adjusting my day so that I can then attend the Borough Assembly meeting to take pictures of the director and our board president accepting a proclamation from the mayor.

Wednesday I will attend the Kenai Chamber meeting to do more of the same. Then I have to do some adjusting on Thursday because I may need to work a bit on Friday. Can't get those overtime hours, you see. So, I am a well-adjusted/ing person. Yup, I am.

Printed out copies of the young Isaiah "Fudd" and had a great time showing them off today - while in line at the post office, at the teller's window at the bank, at tonight's Family Night at the preschool. It's a grandmother's prerogative, you see.

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Hubby and I attended a wedding Sunday afternoon - a biker couple were tying the knot. This is the third biker wedding we've attended, but it is the first to be really "frou-frou".

I had wondered a bit about them being married on a Sunday - weddings are usually held on Fridays or Saturdays, or at least it seems so to me. It hit me this morning as I wrote out a check with today's date - Yesterday was 04-04-04. How much simpler could an anniversary date be for a guy? If he at least remembers the month he has the rest of it whipped. Likewise, the year. Very smart on her part.

I was hoping to find a photo someplace online (and no, I didn't take my camera, mores the pity) to show you the different centerpieces. On each table was a goldfish bowl with a live betta inside - fitted down into the water was a glass holding a votive candle. The fish seemed happy to swim around in their confined space - one woman kept going from table to table, lifting the candle glass so that "the fish could breathe."

The bride's colors were silver and maroon (magenta perhaps) and each fish was that color. There were maroon and white candles around the room - red and white rose petals strewn across the front of the room and inside sachets each guest was given. There was white tulle on the tables surrounding the fish bowls, with red glass hearts underneath and entwined in the tulle.

It was lovely - but . . . the "preacher" (Alaska allows anyone to get a one day license to marry a particular couple) kept mucking up his lines - the groom's ring didn't fit the first hand the bride tried, so then she handed the groom the ring and he put it onto the left hand - the bride was given in marriage by Ladybug's OB nurse Jan - you know, all of those little things that will just tickle them somewhere down along the line sometime.

Definitely frou-frou, though. (ala Seinfeld . . . not that there's anything wrong with that) heh

Isaiah is 7 weeks old

And growing like a little weed. Now, the Ladybug has posted this pic on her site, but you know . . . it is just my favorite of all of the ones taken today. So, I am gonna show it off, too.

Isaiah Fudd - heh - Which way did he go?

We have an attorney friend who would love to see this picture. HIS hat, however, has a red fuzzy ball on top. LOL. Maybe I can add a pom pom to this one.

Yesterday, Kinzie and Timothy were playing on the chairs under the table - here is a close-up of Timothy - but you can see Kinzie behind him. Watch out! Don't sit there, okay?

we used a dollar bill to show you his feet at birth. Check out how much he has grown by comparing the telephone next to him. Erm, who're you gonna call, Isaiah?

Nana? Nana, I love you. ;-) That's my boy!

Never understimate the power of a grandbaby. See the duck? At the Job Fair yesterday the representatives from that particular company were giving these as door prizes. I watched them throughout the day and finally went over and asked if they might have a spare duck. Fellow said not really - they only had a few left as they had been given out all day as door prizes.

Well, I pulled the grandma card - I have a brand new grandson who would just love to have that. Just in case you have any left over at the end of the day. And, don't you know that the big old softy went behind his display and gave me one just for the little guy.

It says it three times, too, btw, with the third time being the trademarked yell. Timothy and Kinzie are having a great time squeezing it to make it quack.

So - there you go - an evening of pictures. Be sure to go by the Ladybug's site to see some of the other pictures taken today.

I hope your Sunday is restful and blessed. Good night, everyone.

Good Grief!

For the second time in as many weeks my antivirus protector has picked up on a tainted email from an Alaskan city office. It picks up infected emails all of the time, mind you, but it just cracks me up that I am getting them from local town governmental bodies.

Don't they teach their people anything?

The first time was from my own town - turned out to be from someone in the fire department. As it was local, I knew the city clerk by name and contacted her to let her know that their IT people should do a scan on the city's computer system - de-louse the house, so to speak.

Today's was from the city manager of Unalaska! Now, while I am on first name basis with many of the city employees in my own town, I know NOBODY in Unalaska. So, I sent them a similar email suggesting that they check their systems.

It is possible that because I received the one from Kenai - that Unalaska may have gotten theirs from Kenai - and bounced it back to me, as I, for some reason, am on the city's list.

Sigh!

It's all about education, folks. Be wary about what emails you open. If you get something from someone you don't know - something you are not expecting - be very careful about opening attachments.

But, I'm preaching to the choir, here, now, right? Right.

In other news . . .
It has been a long week - and it told on me last night. I represented the agency yesterday at a Job Fair and was there from just before 11 until almost 7. That is a long day - by anyone's standards. About 500 people came through the doors - they didn't all stop by my table, but the exposure was there, which is good for our agency.

I spoke with many people about our programs, the one job opening we currently have (Jilly . . . are you SURE you don't want to move to Alaska??? It's in management) and collecting information from other programs to submit to my director. It is always a good networking time at these fairs. (even though it can be extremely tiring)

When I got home I pretty much collapsed into my chair. Hubby asked if I wanted to go into town to help pick out a movie - get dinner fixin's - and all I could do is say I don't think those shoes are going back onto my feet.

He was very understanding - went in to get a movie and pick up a pizza even - came home and set it all up, woke me up (grin) and we shared dinner and a movie. Awww

The Ladybug sounded much better last night when I talked to her on the phone. We did yesterday as a team - I got the boys off to school - D came by to relieve me when I needed to go to work - AND - fixed a killer lasagne for the Bugs' dinner - Lessa came afterward to help with baby and kidlets getting home from school - T was there for the evening.

Today I will get Dezi off to his mother's and then take Kinzie to dance class and Timothy to soccer practice. Jenn will be home with just baby - she has her phone to call for help if needed. Lessa lives close enough and Dad works close enough to get there in reasonable time if needed. (and, of course, 911 aid is only a couple of minutes away)

Tim has Sunday and Monday off work and will be able to get her through the next couple of days. I think that she will be getting to a good point by that time and will probably want a bit more privacy, also. But, I can still call in sick or leave early if need be and she knows that, too. I may take some time off Thursday to get her to the doctor.

WEATHER REPORT:
A bit warmer this morning - no wind - snow flurries.

And there you have it - an unofficial no-numbers weather report. I have no clue what the temperature might be, but it is a lot warmer than it has been. I think I heard that we are supposed to get rain and snow mixed and temps going up into the 40's this weekend.

Looks like the Easter egg hunt will have to be in the snow this year. That's not a first, either. I have attended many Easter Sunrise Services wearing snow boots and winter gear. LOL.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Don't forget to Spring Ahead tonight before you go to sleep - your computer should do it on its own.

A Recipe

No time to play - no time to read
A good recipe is what you all need
I cannot stay to visit tonight
Here's the T-man's favorite bite:

The Kenaitze Cuya Qyut'anen Head Start five year old Timothy attends put together a cookbook. Among all of the recipes from family and teachers, the children were asked to describe their favorite meal.

The teachers wrote it down word for word and these precious recipes were added into this special collection.

With his Mama's permission, I now give you the recipe for Timothy's Favorite Food: Hamburgers.

First she takes meat and mashed potatoes. Then she flips them over she cooks them 5 minutes. I eat it with salt and Tobasco spices. Tobasco is spicy and will burn off your lip so be careful. Then I put ketchup and mustard on it.

And, there you have it, friends. A perfect (in the mind of a five year old) meal. Bon appetit!