avoiding turtles

Leavenworth Honeymoon

2010-11-11T13:44:00.002-09:00

Fall Decorations

2010-11-11T13:42:00.001-09:00

Pictures from Summer Camp

2010-11-11T13:30:00.002-09:00

Moving Ahead

2010-09-09T09:59:00.003-08:00

It has been a while since I posted. So to catch things up, I worked a lot this summer, but for the last month, I've worked very little. Next week I'll be back in the Lutherhaven kitchen working a little more than part time. In this quieter time for me, I've been looking for a place for us to live. On October 1st, we'll be moving into a small house very near where we already live. It's on the lake and we are renting from a cute old couple that live in the house next door. After we move, it will be only a few weeks before we are getting married and moving ahead with our life together. Also, today starts five weeks (2 nights a week) of training for me to become a CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocate). It is a great volunteer program where I get to advocate for children who were neglected or abused and make recommendations in court.

We're Getting Married

2010-07-25T07:15:00.004-08:00

I'm a little behind in announcing the news in the form of a post. I'm not allowed to do anything with pictures on the internet where I live. We got engaged in the middle of June and we've got all the important stuff planned out. He proposed on a rock in a park in Post Falls shortly after we went to look at wedding rings... so it was a surprise. It was still romantic and we went back to camp where we were met with an amazing thunder and lightening show. We're getting married October 23, 2010 at Shoshone Base Camp where I am currently working. It will be fall and beautiful. We don't have a good couple picture yet, but here are pictures we took of each other on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes just before the summer.

It's my birthday... so I'm not working

2010-04-14T13:56:00.002-08:00

I woke up this morning and made myself a carrot cake birthday cake. This is not to negate the work of art (Barbie cake) my mother made me last week. Then I came into town and ran some errands. I got on my bike for the first time in way too long and I sped around town while I waited for my film to get developed. I forgot how fast my bike can move. The stem extension I had put on in November feels good and everything seemed to be in working order. Also, Spring Outdoor Education starts up next week so I will be a little bit busier. Then I'll be working up at Shoshone as the Head Cook for the summer. Enjoy a few of the pictures that turned out.

B & W

2010-03-23T11:42:00.002-08:00

Click on the photo to see the rest of the black and white photos that we took on the roll that was in the camera for who knows how long.

First Photos

2010-03-22T11:48:00.002-08:00

So my digital camera came down with a lens error a while ago. I was a little devastated. But then my sister gave me her old K1000 SLR film camera. I've had a lot of fun taking very few pictures. I took the film into the Camera Corral to have them developed and scanned onto CD. Here are a few of the results.

Productive January

2010-02-15T14:18:00.003-09:00

Hey, I have a new Etsy shop. It is an online shop where many many people sell their handmade goods. I thought I would give it a whirl and see if I can get rid of all this stuff I made. I mean art I created. I had a ton of fun at the Clay Connection in Spokane this January, but I will not miss the hour and a half commute three days a week. You should definitely check out the shop and tell me what you think of my work. There are even a few things from when I was in Sitka up on the site.

If you are someone I know and you want to purchase something and I can hand deliver it, you don't have to pay the shipping and I'll give you three dollars off the price. But you will need to contact me directly and not purchase it through Etsy.

ICE CANOEING LAKE VISIT ICE

2009-12-13T13:20:00.002-09:00

Camp!

2009-11-15T18:24:00.003-09:00

September and October fun with campers, sailing, canoeing, fall colors, and more that I can't think of right now. I've just spent the last couple weeks in Olalla pretending to work on my house. Tomorrow I go back to Idaho to live on the lake and do dishes and housekeeping in exchange for room and board. It has already started to get cold there and snow has even made an appearance.

Heading east.

2009-09-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from a little visit to the Polouse where there was much joyous visiting with the niece and nephew. I had some good quality time with my sister and bro in law. I also visited the Matt Dolkas at grad school and found him well, but in need of a spatula and butter. I don't know if he has managed to acquire either.

A few days after I returned home I was contacted by the program director at Camp Lutherhaven and long story short, I'll be there in a week working in their Outdoor Education program. It is located in northern Idaho and I will be able to visit friends and family on the weekends. It is somewhat of a seasonal gig so I will have to see where I will be in a few months.

More camping in the clouds

2009-08-23T10:24:00.002-08:00

A couple weeks back I took a little trip up into the mountains. I had a couple of glimpses of the surrounding mountains, but mostly I saw fog. Deer Park is a nice little campground free of motor homes and RVs.

2009-07-23T10:34:00.001-08:00

Beaver Lake

2009-07-03T23:08:00.003-08:00

A couple days before I came back to Washington we went up to Beaver Lake for a little day hike... nothing serious and no one got lost. It was gorgeous up there and I had such a good time in Sitka altogether with all those lovely folks. I look forward to going up again next summer or some other time. I'm not making promises right now. I'm headed off to Leavenworth tomorrow to take the WFR again. Wish me luck and I'll come back to work on my house in a couple weeks.

Woman Given a Hand in Hiking Down Gavan Hill

2009-06-17T23:51:00.000-08:00

By Sentinel Staff

The Sitka Mountain Rescue Team escorted a 24-year-old woman to safety Monday evening after she became disoriented on a hike from Harbor Mountain to Gavan Hill.

SMR Director Don Kluting said Rebecca Wells, hiking alone from the top of Harbor Mountain across the ridge to Gavan, called for help by sending a cell phone text message to a friend when she realized she had gone off her intended route.

Kluting added that Wells make a wise choice since going farther down the ravine she was in could have resulted in serious injury, or worse.

"We're happy she used her head and not her feet," he said. It was the second rescue by SMR in two months resulting from a cell phone text message.

While Wells said today she knew she could probably make it out on her own, she wanted to play it safe.

"I figured if I couldn't get out in four or five hours I would be in trouble," she said.

Wells, an avid recreational hiker, lived in Sitka for four years, and graduated from Sheldon Jackson College. Now living in Olalla, Wash., she has returned the last two summers to visit Friends.

Wells said she had planned a day hike from the top of Harbor Mountain, across the ridge, and down Gavan Hill. Her friend, Keturah Sadler, gave her a lift up Harbor Mountain, and the two hiked around with Sadler's dog before Sadler returned to town, and Wells continued on her way.

Wells reached the Gavan shelter, but at some point left the trail and continued along the Gavan ridge by mistake as she started hiking down.

"Not a recommended route," she quipped.

She sent Sadler her first text message sometime after 2 p.m., saying she had taken a wrong turn. But once she realized she could get text messages out, she said she didn't worry.

"Not after I started texting Keturah," Wells said. "I knew we have really good search and rescue people, I knew I would be in good hands." She said her friend is a Sitka Fire Department volunteer, and would know how to reach the right people for help.

Kluting was notified around 2:15 p.m. by Sadler that Wells needed help. "We deployed a team right away," he said. By 2:30 p.m. a team was assembled and headed up the mountain.

Kluting said the first helpful information sent out by Wells via text was that she had reached the Gavan shelter, and had taken a route down a ravine on a compass bearing of 140 degrees.

Wells said she just happened to have a compass with her, and noticed the bearing. But she was not equipped with a map, which would have helped.

In just over an hour the team arrived at the shelter, found the woman's tracks and followed them, Kluting said.

"She took quite a route into risky territory, down ravines that were washed out," Kluting said. The found a water bottle, and confirmed through text messages that it belonged to Wells.

"We knew we were on the right track," Kluting said. By 6:47 p.m. Monday Wells was found at the 953-foot level on the side of Gavan Hill. "She was doing great. A little cold and wet from the environment, but she was in good spirits, and she knew that help was on the way."

"I had my phone, and I could text until about five minutes before they arrived," Wells said, adding, "So I was entertained."

But the phone became waterlogged at that point, and quit working.

She was escorted out by team members to the Indian River trailhead, about a three-mile hike.

Kluting said he wasn't surprised the hiker became disoriented in the whiteout conditions with flat light.

"She did the right thing, to get a text message through," Kluting said. "We told her to stay put. We feared for her own safety, and the best thing was for her to wait for help to arrive."

"They were fantastic, and fast," Wells said of the SMR team, adding, "and we had good conversation on the hike back."

Green Lake

2009-06-17T22:17:00.002-08:00

Keturah, Kristine, Leeann, and I rode our bikes from the gate at the end of the road out to Green Lake where our electricity is made. It was about a 12 mile round trip and the two dogs, Gunny and Meg, were sincerely tired afterwards. Even though it was overcast on Sunday it never really rained on us.

Mosquito Cove and Starrigavin Estuary

2009-06-17T21:49:00.004-08:00

I rode out to the end of the road one day and did the little loop hike out to Mosquito Cove. When I got back to Starrigavin, there was a sow with her two cubs in the estuary. No worries, my zoom is pretty good and the bears were many many yards away.

Trailer started and local wildlife

2009-06-11T13:03:00.002-08:00

I'm in Sitka now and for another couple weeks. But before I flew up, we actually started building the tiny house on wheels. Look here for more details. In other news... JoJo has become quite the mouser and you can see that here is one pleading for its life.

Windex with her piercing green eyes.

Lucy just relaxing in the freshly mown grass.

The long awaited trailer.

2009-04-15T21:04:00.002-08:00

It may seem as though I haven't posted in a while. I haven't. Mostly I take advantage of any great weather and go for bike rides. I don't know how people around here can wait until the summer to hit the roads. I took the trek down to Olympia yesterday and bought this year old used 16' flat bed trailer. I'm pretty happy with it and I think I got a good enough/ fair deal on it. Now I just need to re-decide on my floor plan and get windows sorted out.

Seattle on a Sunday

2009-03-23T21:22:00.002-08:00

From the 35th floor of the Smith Tower.

Oh, the places we'll go...

2009-03-15T09:40:00.001-08:00

... and at a flat rate!

Coffee: A sub-culture

2009-03-09T22:19:00.003-08:00

I would like to take a moment to recognize all the magnificent sub-cultures that make up our communities. Comic book and Star Trek conventions always come to mind. Those would also be interesting to tag along to. This weekend the United States Barista Championship was held in Portland. I initially only went because I had friends volunteering to bus the competitors' tables. In the end, the intensity involved in completing the required 12 shots cooly and uniquely while sweat poured down their bearded faces me over. O.K. so not everyone had facial hair and there were some women, but there were a disproportionate number of beautiful beards. I am sure that few there would agree with me on this, but to me the judge of good coffee is whether it requires sweetening to to be absolutely delicious. The one of the lattes that passed this test this weekend was from a new shop called Barista. The other was from a machine set up for current and past contestants to serve everyone that attended. Additionally, I also enjoyed each barista's 15 minute soundtrack to their presentation.

Crocuses are up

2009-02-17T20:48:00.002-09:00

I trucked Mom off to the airport and I returned to these little buggars in bloom.

JoJo takes on the world

2009-01-22T21:46:00.003-09:00

Due to popular request, here are some pictures of JoJo thoroughly enjoying his new environs. He's discovered ladders, decks, fog, grass, birds, and candles. He cinged some of his whiskers because he got too close. My father has quite taken to him. It's precious.

Tip of the Week: Hamsters and Squirrels

2009-01-10T18:29:00.005-09:00

Two calls about damage done by rodents.

At one house a hamster got loose and found its way through the back of a dryer, over the heating coils, and up against a vertical tube that he couldn't climb. Luckily the dad took pity on his child and didn't just throw the machine away and get a new one so they wouldn't need to deal with dead hamster smell. After removing just about everything, we were able to get the hamster out alive.

The second rodent was a squirrel. A couple fed their local furry friends unshelled peanuts and one was dropped into the outside vent and down into the blower wheel. They will be replacing their vent to include a pest screen.

So don't let your hamsters get loose in your laundry room and be careful what you feed your woodland creatures.

Holiday Report

2009-01-05T19:03:00.002-09:00

I suppose the most important thing is that I met my niece Clara. We went across the state through all the weather to visit the two grandkids. I also got to see my sister and brother and go sledding. I haven't had that much fun sledding in a long time. My sister lives on a hill and they got several feet of snow.
Before new years we went home and did inventory for the business. Then I took off for New Years Eve in Tacoma. I went to ZooLights with Katherine Bosch and then headed to Annie Fiske's. It was a fun little Sitka reunion. Cerissa Payment, Leeann Taki, and Patricia Campbell also made it. We were joined by some of our friends from around here for homemade pizza and good fun. Everyone was well, though a good portion unemployed or underemployed. Patricia and I rose early the next morning to get her to work by noon at Macy's in downtown Portland. We made great time and I piddled around and relaxed with Patricia and her sister, Becky, for a couple days. On my way back I stopped between Elma and Shelton to Kyle, Marissa, and Gary Deerkop. They neglected to tell me until I was on my way that they had moved from Chehalis, but these things can escape you occasionally and I was able to find them. Gary seemed like he was a very good baby that doesn't give them too much trouble. We ate elk burgers-yum- and I got to hold the cute one a bit. Since then it has been back to appliance repair.

Hope you are enjoying your weather! I hear it has been extra cold in Alaska.

I brought the snow.

2008-12-21T14:48:00.002-09:00

It started snowing right about the same time I flew in a week ago and it hasn't let up. Measurements show 10 or 12 inches of wet and dry fluff. A nice frozen rain layer in there makes for a nice crunchy walk. My pa and I went out to work all week, but the van was swapped out for the 4x4 on Thursday and Friday. The suburban or as I keep calling it, the expedition, is my father's new toy and he appreciates the snow if only so that he can test it out. The power is out as I type, but we plugged the generator in and I can finish this up. It hasn't been out but an hour and it will probably come back soon. The snow isn't any worse than Alaska, but people are whinier here because they aren't used to it and there must be only 3 plows in the whole county. Well with any luck we will make it across the narrows bridge tomorrow and over to the other side of the state. You should all be proud of me because all my stuff is moved in or up to the attic. Ta-da!

See you later Alaska!

2008-12-14T10:37:00.002-09:00

Well in less than 12 hours I will be in Washington. I've visited just about everyone I can think of sometime in the last month. If I missed you, I'm sorry. It is not as though this will be my last time in Alaska, so I'm not very concerned. At the very least I will be up in Sitka in August for a wedding. I'd like to make it up in February for a quick visit, but I'll see. Currently it is -3 in Palmer and 29 in Olalla. I guess in can put my poofy coat in the checked bag. JoJo has no idea what he is getting into.

Homer

2008-11-23T00:56:00.003-09:00

Blanche and I took a drive down to Homer after I quit my job. It was a great trip as we stopped at her friend's house in Soldotna for the night on the way down and the way up. Much time was spent dinking around art galleries and drinking coffee. We also stopped in Seward and checked out the sealife center. One of my favorite points of interest is Nomad Yurts. I could tell Blanche was disappointed in the large cloudiness factor. She kept thinking I wouldn't believe there was actually mountains and ocean to see. But the overcast skies did provide for some good lighting opportunities. Click here to see the expanded slideshow of the trip.

Something to keep track of my crazy ideas

2008-11-20T23:35:00.001-09:00

I started a blog to monitor my progress of ideas... and then the building of my little house on wheels. You might find it interesting, but it is a better way for me to keep track of my scheming.

2008-11-18T20:09:00.003-09:00

I'm off.

2008-11-07T13:11:00.004-09:00

I have been off work since Tuesday. I quit. The nice way to put it is that they weren't very nice to me.

Now I am off to coffee, the post office, and ice cream.

Tomorrow I'm off with Blanche to visit the Kenai Peninsula for five days.

Shortly after I'll be off to see Fairbanks.

I will be off to Washington mid December to live in my parent's trailer, fix appliances (or be my dad's back and knees while pretending that I know what I'm doing), and build a tiny house on wheels.

ANDVSA Biennial Conference

2008-09-29T02:32:00.001-08:00

Last week two lucky coworkers and I enjoyed the perks of being domestic violence advocates. We swam in the salt water pool, soaked in the hot tub, picked berries, and took a tram ride to the best chocolate cake I've ever had. It was nice hanging around other people that are also no longer allowed to ever say "Hey, you look familiar..." again. It wasn't all just catered food, bathrobes, and slippies. I could talk about the other stuff... but I'm a little talked out about it and there's a lot of sorting that my head needs to do. Also of note: I had a good chance to visit with some good Sitka friends and meet Emi Koyama.

It was a beautiful evergreen fall there, but I didn't take very many pictures. But here the few are.

Trumpeting Fall

2008-09-29T02:21:00.002-08:00

I'm not blinking. I wouldn't want to miss my favorite season. I must have hung out with these trumpeter swans out in the Butte for half an hour. I nearly missed the Presidential Debate on Friday because I was so caught up in the splendor of fall sunseting on the farm land.
Other preparations for winter are underway. However, because I don't have a car these are minimal. I have a new down jacket that I love, but I'm adding a couple pockets along a seam. The others were just too low. I'm brushing up on my knitting skills. I actually started a sock today.
I've been periodically been dropping off my compost at the Spring Creek Farm, but the task is uphill and an hour and a half long. I can't quite stomach borrowing a car to go drop off my compost. I've thought of getting a worm bin, but that feels like too much. Now I'm also afraid that if I tried to get worms they would freeze on their way up here. I don't know.
Here's a full slideshow of the pictures from the month.

Can you Kennicott?

2008-09-15T11:19:00.002-08:00

Most people fly from Anchorage out to the tiny abandoned copper mining town of Kennicott. They stay in a nice hotel that locals built before the National Park Service took over the area. We took the road. I now understand why most people fly. However, people run there since there was a race the day we visited. I was able to go on a tour of the old mill that separates the limestone from the copper. With exposed views 12 stories up on the edge of a steep hill down to a glacier and narrow steep stairs, this was not for the faint of heart. Trusting that the National Park Service wouldn't want us to die, I enjoyed wandering down the old weathered building.
But in the end, I was glad to be home in my basement with my cat curled up on my legs.

Click here for the full slideshow of the trip's pictures.

Seeing some folks I know...

2008-08-15T00:16:00.002-08:00

I didn't realize how many people would remember my name after my year long absence. To try to mention them all would be a bit difficult, overwhelming, and a task I'm not interested in. However, I did enjoy every minute of it.
The pictures here are of Kristine, her sister Kendra, Keturah, Jeff, and Karissa.

Marcel, Connie, and Millie

2008-08-15T00:06:00.002-08:00

Marcel was kind enough to offer me the apartment under their garage while I was in Sitka. They just finished their beautiful cedar home. They would argue that it isn't done... but compared to the house I grew up in it is. Their hospitality, kindness, conversation, and ice cream really made my visit more enjoyable.

Frolicking in the woods.

2008-08-14T12:24:00.004-08:00

I probably hiked more in the week I was there than I did in a couple months while I lived there. I checked out the new Thimbleberry Heart Lake Loop, Green Lake Road, Totem Park, the Cross Trail, Indian River, and Mosquito Cove.

Down to the water.

2008-08-14T12:20:00.006-08:00

Ocean, water, waves, eagles, splash, splash, cruise ships?
All were fun... even trying to avoid hitting the tourists downtown.
The little fishys are at the old SJ hatchery which is still plugging along.

Black and White

2008-08-14T12:16:00.003-08:00

Ed sighting.

2008-08-14T12:13:00.003-08:00

I was up on Castle Hill with Karissa and I spotted Ed. I sold him a few years ago to the owner of the pharmacy and this is the first time I'd seen him. There were reports that someone had painted spots on him, but it just wasn't true. There is still my senior year high school parking sticker on the rear window.

While I have since become quite the little anti-car activist, my heart did gravitate to him. Course selling him allowed me to buy my beautiful bike and the computer I am still typing on today. It was a good trade and I've saved a ton of money on car insurance.

I finished a book.

2008-08-14T12:09:00.002-08:00

While in Sitka, I was able to finish the latest David Sedaris book. Sometimes I was in the library, sometimes at the Backdoor, and sometimes sitting on a bench next to the lake. I also had plenty of times to pick massive amounts of salmon berries and blue berries. They were literally everywhere and of the many times I ate berries, only twice were they planned outings.

Happy 10th of July!

2008-07-10T00:18:00.002-08:00

I know I'm a little late, but I was busy over the weekend so you will have to settle for belated pictures. So last weekend Patricia came to visit. It was going to just be her, but then her sister came down to to deliver a child to his mother. Then a cousin-in-law tagged along and ended up needing a place to stay. Course he ended up sleeping out in the car the first night upset that his friend wasn't picking up his phone. He says he likes sleeping in the car. Anyway we all had fun and went to a BBQ out at Josh's parents house in the Butte. Afterwards we went on a hike up the Butte. We were all terribly dirty afterwards and returned home to shower, eat, and have good conversation.

For those of you in Sitka... I'm coming... the 25th... in just 15 days.

Hike up the butte

2008-06-23T00:41:00.002-08:00

Corey, her two nieces, and I took a night hike up to the top of the butte for the solstice. It's only a three mile round trip and it's pretty easy except for the top third of the trail.

Merry Solstice!

2008-06-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

Backpacking in the Talkeetnas

2008-06-16T01:40:00.004-08:00

Well I wasn't gone for a month like Matt will be, but I was still able to get some good pictures on this overnight. I hiked Pinochle Creek Trail up to about 3000 where I camped in a saddle next to a creek. I was lucky enough to get my tent set up while it was still dry, but my dinner was not quite so fortunate. I guess that is one way to get me to bed early. JoJo the dear that his is was a little miffed that I left him overnight. So he left me a couple presents on my desk and bed. Apparently those are my favorite spots.

Whose charger is it?

2008-06-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

Well packing for the overnight I found a Nikon charger underneath my couch. It's not mine. I showed it to Matt and he didn't think it was his. So on my way to the trail head I found the two cyclists at mile post 102. They were plugging along and accepted the charger thankfully. Now the word is that it is not theirs. So it may find its way back here from Glennallen... but I don't know whose it is.

Spring! Lilacs! Birches! Dandelions!

2008-06-13T00:16:00.000-08:00

The French slept in my kitchen.

2008-06-13T00:05:00.003-08:00

I met Sebastian outside of REI on Monday and offered he and his wife, Sara, a place to stay on the bike travels to Argentina. They were a delightful couple and it was fun to be the host Tuesday night. They maintain a website (though currently in french) and I took some pictures of them on their way out of town. I took them to the old railbed trail that heads out to Sutton.
Today was my Friday and tomorrow I'll be going backpacking to Hick Lake in the Talkeetnas. So stay tuned for more pictures.

2008-06-06T02:37:00.001-08:00

Spiders.

2008-06-06T02:34:00.001-08:00

JoJo loves and I mean loves to chase spiders. Normally I just squish them immediately, but this one was tortured for a while first.

Kristine and Jeff

2008-06-06T02:33:00.000-08:00

The Holes were in Anchorage for a wedding so they spared a morning and came to see me, JoJo, the bluff, pizza, and coffee. The idiot (me) forgot her camera. You should have seen the river today.

Double visit

2008-05-29T14:44:00.003-08:00

Well Matt came back yesterday from playing in the Chugach with NOLS. I came home and he'd made spaghetti already. That was nice. Then this morning the Hamiltons, Janet (Cardenas) and Dave, drove Dan and Melissa's box cutter key start car out to Palmer. We all visited, walked to the coffee shop, did the thrift store, and went down to the river. Then the newlyweds drove Matt back to Anchorage so that he can catch his plane to Sitka.

2008-05-20T14:29:00.001-08:00

Well it looks like after a brief interlude of Winter we are back to Spring. I'm still harding off my annuals before I plant them outside my kitchen window. The lilac bushes in the front of the house appear to be showing signs of life. There's quite the quantity of potatoes getting mashed up in my kitchenaid in hopes of becoming lefse. It may not be today or tomorrow... but with any luck I can locate the proper tools over the weekend. I also made the 6 layer nacho dip today. It makes for an easy lunch. The paper work for my grant is almost done and I hope to have it off my plate by the weekend.

Yesterday was quite a day. First I woke up far to early to drop JoJo off for his little snip snip appointment. The round trip from home to the vets to the farm to drop off my compost and back to home was 15 miles. So I was a little tired when my landlord called to say they would be over to do my floors that day. Well the floor did get done, but I didn't get to work on my grant. JoJo came back yesterday and is recovering nicely even though his little balls look quite pissed off.

and then there was light

2008-05-18T12:28:00.001-08:00

Well, to be honest we are getting more light than darkness now. To aid in my receipt of the light I moved the books out of my window sill and into the bathroom. It actually works and it is now JoJo's favorite spot. From his vantage point he can see the clouds drifting overhead, my daffodils starting to bud, and an onion I decided to grow in my kitchen over winter.
I called Chelsea for her sour cream coffee cake recipe and I made it with mangos-a very good idea. My day off allowed me to go to the grocery store and clean my kitchen.

Bagels and Bluegrass

2008-04-15T13:41:00.002-08:00

On Saturday after Karissa and I finished our last AMSEA pool session, we rode out to APU's Spring Creek/Kellogg Campus farm. I had my trusty Terry and she borrowed Blanche's sweet cruiser Trek with a basket on the front. Austin was about to tap a Birch tree for syrup even though he had no idea what he was doing and he showed us around. My favorite part was the yurt. I've been a bit obsessed with them lately as anyone that has seen me can attest to. Then we met up with Russ, Karissa's other, and rode out to Bagels Alaska where a red headed family was playing blue grass. Corey joined us and the thirteen something year old in the family was easily a tenor. There were cute small children present and on the way home we finally put something in Karissa's basket. She was going to be disappointed if it stayed empty the whole night.

Spring is working its way here. On the way it was low forties and on the way back it dropped to freezing, but it was all pleasant bike riding and the path was clear.

Incidentally Bagels Alaska is across the street from the Mattress Ranch and next to the bus barn.

On a side note I had a good birthday. Corey, Laurel, and Austin surprised me with carrot cake. I got calls from parents, sister, brother, and Katherine.

Dolkas is back. Check out his Pictures.

2008-04-08T00:25:00.003-08:00

It is always good to hear from a friend that semi-disappears for a few months. He ran away with NOLS to Mexico and will be headed up to Palmer to work with NOLS again in about a month. But he posted pictures and they are wonderful. Click on the picture to see the rest. I'm actually quite fond of the cow slaughter set.

I don't really feel this way.

2008-04-07T13:50:00.002-08:00

However, it is time for me to take a shower so that I can pick up books at the library and go to work. I'm still getting settled in my Children's Group Advocate job, but kinks should get worked out soon. This is my last week of AMSEA classes. It's sad, exciting, and busy. It really pulls on my time that little bit extra. Plus last Friday I began working at Alaska Job Corps as an on-call RA. There are still 4 job shadowing shifts to complete before I'm really on-call. I shadow next on Wednesday. So if I make it through this week I'll be semi proud of myself. Technically for a week I will have four jobs. But there are some people I know that have 8 hour shifts everyday with no days off. So there's no need to schedule an intervention for me any time soon. Other good news is that I'm going to start going to yoga. It will be good for me. I know it. I just need to start going.

Anyway, I've got a little leak again. Same places as before. But not the ceiling falling in kind.

It snowed again... like a quarter inch.

F Cancer. Love magnets.

2008-03-23T03:41:00.002-08:00

Today was my friend Laurel's F Cancer fundraiser. She's my age, a college graduate, recently moved to the valley, previously employed in social services, and getting it in the ass by our poor health care system. It could've been me. So I helped put out sheets for the 200 some odd silent auction items. I only ended up bidding on blown glass magnets that her brother-in-law makes. I might have gotten a little out of control and didn't realized how many I'd bid on. So I got 23 for $78. They are beautiful little useful art and I didn't have any other magnets for my fridge.

So the news... I realized tonight that I haven't really told any of you that I got a promotion to Children's Group Advocate. I applied Thursday before last or the day after it was posted. I interviewed on Tuesday. I was hired Wednesday. I technically start Monday. My schedule doesn't change until April. But I will work 30 hours a week five days a week ( in a row ) from 3pm-9pm. Now I will accrue personal and medical leave and get reimbursed $75 a month for health club membership. So I'm hoping that I can do it at Blue Mountain Wellness Studio. It would pay for yoga and not sweaty elliptical machines. No medical and no pay raise, but now I get to plan for the kid's groups I facilitate.

Speaking of which, I have groups and AMSEA classes to finish planning for by Tuesday.

Best White Elephant gift.

2008-03-06T14:55:00.000-09:00

I won icecream from Kristi and her fiance Gaelon who're getting hitched in April. It was bizarre because he'd read my blog while I was on bike tour. So he already knew me... in a wierd way. But there was much fun discussion and it looks like they'll be living in Poulsbo. We'll have to go for a ride the next time I come down.

Barren house, not so barren womb.

2008-03-05T14:51:00.002-09:00

Kyle and Marissa who are married, pregnant, and home owners, are living in Chelalis. They're right off I-5 so it was terrible convenient and fun for me to stop in for dinner. The house is pretty empty by anyone's standards, but they feel it is fully decorated. The important thing is they like it. Kyle commutes to a shellfish farm in Shelton where he gets to be on the tide. So they were cute and growing up.

Going coastal.

2008-03-04T14:49:00.001-09:00

Patricia and I drove out to a state park near Newport and stayed in a yurt. And so began my love affair with yurts. I could have spent more time.

Road trip to Eugene.

2008-03-03T14:41:00.001-09:00

The day before we went to Eugene Patricia asked me if she could see her grandmother. Of course was the only reply. So that's where she stayed while I visited Ms. Katherine who's going to law school. It's a lot of work, but her heart seems to be in it.

Patricia and I listed to this GPS unit named Nuvi most of the trip and it took us right by a wildlife refuge. Of course it also told us to get onto a ferry that was closed for the day. She was so excited to see a flock of sheep that every time we passed them I would continuously point them out. I'm not sure if she really appreciated this.

Reunion: Cote, Markus, Patricia, Peter, and Cerissa

2008-03-03T14:33:00.000-09:00

Dr. Cote lives in the Portland area with her Peter who had a show at a cafe that was too expensive to eat at. I didn't get a chance to go, but he was snapping a lot of pictures of us.

Patricia flew into Portland from Sitka for her vacation. She still works at Raven's Way and we both had a blast hanging out with Cerissa and Peter.

Cerissa is now working at Southern Oregon University, but she happened to be in Portland for some VISTA training.

Markus happened to be driving an RV over from Indiana (where he currently lives) for work. Dr. Cote- who now wants to be called Mary - surprised him with Patricia and I.

Portland

2008-03-02T14:31:00.000-09:00

I was blessed to be in the land off good coffee and bicycles for a few days.

Seattle: The Kendall-Kaplans

2008-03-01T14:17:00.000-09:00

On the long drive down to Portland from Bellingham I stopped in Seattle. The whole crew was as good as it was for me to see them. Mike is finishing up his PHD and doing the grad assistant thing. Vic is working. Zoe and Anna both love theirs schools and I was lucky enough to get to play with blocks and their dollhouse with them.
I stopped on the side of I-5 because I couldn't not take pictures of the sky.

Bellingham Beach

2008-03-01T14:00:00.000-09:00

Being the good hosts that they are, Katie and Rachel took me to the beach before I headed off on my long drive. Rachel and I took pictures and Katie showed me where the tree house is.

Up to Bellingham.

2008-02-29T14:10:00.001-09:00

Beautiful drive up on the ferry and Whidbey Island and then over Deception Pass. Bellingham holds the Rachel and Katie who now go to Western Washington University. They were well and functional. We had some tasty homemade spaghetti and then we went out to soak up some live music and atmosphere.

The boy and the monkey tree.

2008-02-27T19:49:00.004-09:00

Skirts, soup, and sleep.

2008-02-27T07:37:00.004-09:00

I'm now on day three or four of vacation. It depends on weather you count a day that I was so loopy from lack of sleep that I wasn't much use. The sister and the nephew are here and we've been doing stuff. I made a skirt (see picture of fabric) and we went and laid out the t-shirts for my graduation quilt. I know you are thinking... didn't she graduate over a year ago... but the idea needed some formulation. Today is soup supper day. Tomorrow is lunch with George and Norma and dinner with Katie. Then Friday at some point in time I drive up to Bellingham to see Katie and Rachel. They mentioned something about yams.

So vacation is good, but every time the phone rings my gut is telling me to say "Alaska Family Services, Rebecca speaking, how may I help you?" Maybe that is why my own phone is pretty much always on vibrate.

3

2008-02-21T16:36:00.003-09:00

Well I've been up since six in the morning subbing and teaching my AMSEA class. I'm off to sleep for a few hours and then work from midnight to eight. But, before I take my reprieve I thought I'd longingly look ahead at my weather.

6

2008-02-18T19:53:00.002-09:00

So it decided to warm up right before I leave. It better get cold again while I'm gone.

8

2008-02-16T08:57:00.003-09:00

The good news is that my landlord agreed to fix it while I'm gone. I was smart and removed my light fixture and turned off the breaker to the bathroom so that it wouldn't accidentally start a fire. It looks like I'll be peeing in the dark and taking sink baths for a week.

10

2008-02-14T07:22:00.003-09:00

Well the landlord didn't come out to view the sodden drywall. But I'm not going to let that or the lack of sunlight get me down. I'm headed south in guess how many days?

12

2008-02-12T15:41:00.000-09:00

My bathroom is leaking in several places. There's a chorus in there muted by the shut door. Drip drip drop little February showers doesn't quite have the same ring to it. I think I like it more when the drops come from the sky and not the ceiling. The landlord should be by today to give it a look-see... but I don't think he's going to be happy with the soggy drywall.

It's coming...

2008-02-11T00:24:00.000-09:00

View Larger Map

Today is the 11th. If my calculations are correct that means that I'm
13 days from arriving in Olalla,
18 from Bellingham,
19 from Seattle, Chehalis, and Portland,
21 to Eugene, and
22 from the Oregon Coast.

In the shadow of a bike trip.

2008-02-01T18:15:00.001-09:00

July in Juneau

2008-01-07T12:14:00.000-09:00

These are a couple pictures that Susan, Steve, and Jennika took of me after we'd ridden the ferry from Sitka to Juneau in July. They are from Vancouver and they were headed to ride off in Skagway. From the sounds of their Christmas letter they sound like happy busy biking people.

The results.

2008-01-03T13:48:00.000-09:00

I made sugar cookies a few days ago, but I made them too thin and they were more cracker-like than I wanted them to be. Icing helps everything. Then this morning I woke up and made bread. I'm pretty happy with the results. Another slice will be cut.

2008-01-03T13:44:00.000-09:00

We might not have much daylight right now. I might not usually be awake for the daylight we have. But the sunrises and the sunsets nearly take up the whole time that there is light out. Last night I walked home on the railroad tracks watching the northern lights on the horizon.

night off

2007-12-31T08:19:00.000-09:00

So I have a night off before I get to work another night. I'm in the process of making sugar cookies. The dough is chill'in in the fridge. The kitchen is actually pretty stocked with treats. The game plan might be to freeze all but a couple and get to work on the Earthquake brownies Patricia sent from the Backdoor in Sitka and the peanut butter fudge and chex mix sent from my mother. Yay for the holidays.

got milk?

2007-12-21T00:14:00.000-09:00

Good morning, Tree.

2007-12-13T04:43:00.000-09:00

This was a moment that I couldn't help but hunt down this morning. Nothing like standing on the edge of a cliff staring off into a vast glowing valley to start your day.

Pedal to the Midnight Sun

2007-12-11T22:10:00.000-09:00

"A good film."

I went to see this on Saturday as part of the Anchorage International Film Festival. They first played the short version which had great timing, and then after all three films they played the long version. As I told one of the film makers, it was really great to see a documentary about cycle touring. You can learn more about them or support their next trip on their Dudes On Media website. It is amazing how much all cycle-tourists have in common.

Stuck in Louisiana

2007-12-06T23:26:00.001-09:00

"Stuck in Louisiana" is what I would have titled this photo, if I'd know I was supposed to title it. It recently won third place in the Things category in the Anchorage Press's Black and White Photo Contest. It actually managed to get printed in the newspaper too. I'm feeling semi-special right now. I can remember taking the picture feeling much like the cockroach.

This one of Freedom at the summer camp's BBQ at HPR rec made Judge's picks in the People category.

These last two, Bree Hack (ODL graduate) and Lona Geffe (summer camper from Kotzebue), didn't place. But managed to get put up on the wall at decent heights so that people could actually see them.

2007-12-03T20:44:00.000-09:00

I had fun playing with iMovie on the Iliff's computer with the pictures I happened to have on my stick.

Jo Jo

2007-11-23T18:07:00.000-09:00

Avoiding turtles, but not cats

2007-11-16T19:11:00.000-09:00

The Iliffs brought a fourth cat back from Sitka. It's the one in the sink. Not so much afraid of water that one.

In another turn of events, I'll be getting a kitten in a week. Though he has no folds he comes from a litter of Scottish Folds in Sutton. He is not pictured... yet.

I just finished three days of subbing for a Spanish teacher. We drew monstruos and made esqueletos. For the record, I don't speak Spanish. To rationalize to the kids why I was their sub, I told them I could color. It worked.

alumni of nowhere

2007-11-06T11:10:00.000-09:00

As I sit in my little basement reading the SJC Watch blog keeping me up to date on who has most recently sent who to collections, I am reminded of something.

I don't have an alma mater.

It isn't as bad as you think. I won't get the annoying letters from my college asking me to donate to the endowment. I can't really think of too many other positives actually. If anyone could help me out there, I'd appreciate it. I can always get my transcripts from somewhere in case I decide to go to grad school to be an alumni of somewhere again.

My only hoodie, which is comfortable and warm, is a Sheldon Jackson College collector's item. I think that Chuck is going to sell his on eBay someday. You should see the Enron stuff you can buy. But when I wear the blue and gold in public, it is as if I'm wearing a ghost.

People talk.

I'm usually the one that has to break it to them that the school they went to, wanted to go to, knew someone who went to is, for all real purposes, closed. The news just didn't really make it this far north. While most of the time I kick myself for not wearing alternative clothing so that I could order coffee without being reminded of the people that are still out of work, it occasionally comes in handy.

As I was taught at SJ to apply my life experiences, I used the scenario in a job interview to demonstrate how I deal with stressful situations in the work place.

I got the job.

Buttercup

2007-11-05T22:19:00.000-09:00

He is one of the two cats I should head over and feed pretty soon.

Fall Back

2007-11-03T22:43:00.001-08:00

I'd been anxiously awaiting some daylight so that I could go take some pictures. After work this morning I took advantage of the Iliff-mobile and drove up the Glenn a bit. The pictures didn't turn out like I wanted, but I did some interesting stuff in iPhoto to mask the fact that I didn't have enough light even an hour after sunrise. I'm sure it is operator error... we're always learning. Well I'm off to work soon. Everyone else is getting an extra hour of sleep... I'm getting an extra hour of work.

Again the picture on this post is a link to a slideshow of all the pictures I took.

I did the rounds.

2007-10-31T23:26:00.000-08:00

It being Halloween, I took the Iliffs to the airport in Anchorage. With the two on their way to Sitka, I started making calls.

I met Karissa at Kaladi Brothers on Frontage Rd. She had described it as "go to New Seward and take the exit, but don't get on and stay right." I ended up doing a big loop and called her back for some more specific instructions. We managed to chat for a while before she really needed to start studying for her mid-term. She thinks she'll be done in August.

So I moved on to visit the Swearingens. Toni was investigating a chicken pomegranate recipe and I quite enjoyed the finished product. However, the silence coming from Ed's direction indicated that he did not. He ate a bowl of cereal with a big spoon. As the trick-or-treaters started to arrive, it was time for me to move on.

I stopped by APU to visit Bill and his new friend, Lily. I pointed out to her as she worked in a resource lab that she had a nice stapler and variety of colored paper that she was not instructed to guard with her life. Every time I go there I realize more and more how few resources we had at SJ. Last time I visited, Bill pointed out to me that the school hired someone to come and really clean off the sidewalks. They also have a fountain and I haven't found any buildings that have been under construction for the last ten years... but we don't need to compare. A Halloween party was in full swing complete with a cereal killer and a pregnant RA.

Deciding that I wasn't in college any more and that I wanted more than the 4 hours of sleep I'd had the night before, I hit the Glenn Highway home.

Roots, folk, jazz, pop, soul... and a little something else.

2007-10-25T23:01:00.000-08:00

I don't really have much to say about what's going on. Not much is up. In about a week the Iliffs are going to Sitka to Whalefest and I'll be watching their cats for a bit. On Saturday night I'm going to a Po' Girl concert in Anchorage at ACPA. Incidentally, I also have two extra tickets if anyone knows anyone that wants to go. Just let me know. The group (pictured) is difficult to describe, but it shares a member with the Be Good Tanyas.

Early Developments

2007-10-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

Since I woke this morning at about two, I managed to go for a walk for sunrise. I meandered out by the golf course and then a little further down a dirt road. I may have trespassed, but no one seemed to mind. While I was off scouting the early light on the frosty ground, Vagabond Blues called me. They want to bring me on as a baker's assistant at their coffee shop. Now that I'm mostly trained up at the shelter, my work there will be slightly less than full time. So it's good to supplement. In theory it might cut back on my coffee bill. I'd probably be frightened if I got it once a month like my cellphone and internet.

P.S. If you click on the photo, it will send you to a slide show of all the pictures I took this morning.

Kendra

2007-10-12T23:34:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went down to Anchorage to take pictures that would actually be suitable for the yearbook. Kendra presented a buffet of facial expressions. This one is my favorite. Undoubtedly, they chose a different shot to submit.

a little more than termination dust

2007-10-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

Riding with the Iliffs up through Hatchers Pass was quite the scheme. Luckily the snow never got the better of the explorer that did not yet have its studs on. Blanche has many skills. Afterwards, we picked up John Thomas the Iliff's new 21 lb cat that had just been shaved. Curious looking creature. Then I went home and slept for four hours before going back to work for a graveyard that I just returned from. Sleep will come soon.

First day at work

2007-09-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow will be my first day of work and fourty hours of training at Alaska Family Services. I'll be working as a DVSA relief advocate at the women's shelter in Palmer. I interviewed last Tuesday and I found out on Friday. After two weeks of relatively little to do, it will be nice to be gainfully employed.

2007-09-26T20:15:00.001-08:00

Butte Loop

2007-09-26T18:55:00.001-08:00

On this grand occasion of fall, of which I haven't had much occasion to enjoy before, I went for a bike ride. I rode out the Old Glenn Highway toward the Butte and then took the Bodenburg Loop that meanders past reindeer and u-pick farms. During the afternoon there was little to no traffic on the quiet two lane road. Upon my return to Palmer, I stopped by to see the Martin family. They are all pleasant and well and Josh was astounded by my ride, convinced I'd ridden at least thirty miles. I'd thought less and bikely.com confirmed that the whole outing was only twenty miles.