Monthly Archives:July 2008

My first “persona” online was as Eclectic Gramma. I had a website at geocities and spent hours writing and “designing” my site. That was slightly before – or just as – “blogging” came into vogue.

I’ve had a couple of other sites since then, and have grown into different personalities – morphed maybe. They are all just parts of me, that eclectic persona hidden deep inside and scratching to get out.

Eclectic is such a great word – typifies ME to the uttermost. I am one person made up of many different parts and psyches. (no, not in the 3 Faces of Eve type). I enjoy lots of different kinds of books – movies – music – people.

So, imagine my enjoyment to find a radio station that just somehow FITS me. I generally listen to Christian radio – but I like it for the music. And, the one station I can get in my office has gone to more and more chatter. While a little of that is fine, I crave MUSIC.

So, I started turning the dial on the radio last week and came across a little station in Kasilof, just down the road from us. KABN radio by call letters, 89.7 on the FM dial.

ECLECTIC is the only word that can describe this station. In the course of a day I will hear country fiddling (love it!), cajun, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, big band, opera (not so keen, but okay), Russian, French, Spanish, flamenco, the BIG composers (Bach, etc.) on pipe organ, Frank Sinatra, old (scratchy old) spirituals, and so on.

I LOVE it! It makes me smile – and sometimes it makes me laugh out loud – enough so that people come into my office to see what is tickling me.

Hope you find YOUR electic personality, too.

Two of my friends drove to Anchorage with me Saturday – we were hoping to ride the tram to the top of Mt. Alyeska and share a birthday lunch with Ms. B . . . however, the weather was not cooperating. Visibility was low due to clouds and rain. That did not stop us from getting a really cool picture of the three of us (thanks, unknown tourist!) next to Summit Lake. It had a gorgeous mirror effect – I took several shots of the lake as it is something I’ve been trying to catch for months now. (I live in a gloriously beautiful place!)

So, after a quick break there in Girdwood, we drove on to Anchorage and had lunch at Bear Tooth, which very conveniently sits right across the street from a local yarn store that we all wanted to visit!

A lot of the Alaska knitters over on the Ravelry boards have talked about the Far North Yarn Company, but I’ve never visited it – wasn’t really sure where it was. I’d been told it was across from Bear Tooth, so once we found our lunch spot, we were all set! (method to our madness)

The three of us fondled and oohed and ahhhed over the different yarns and kits and BUTTONS! lol. I met the store owner, Kay – that is her in the picture there – and her daughter and peeked in on the knitting class. Maybe some time I will bring along a project and join you all! (have to leave something for another trip, you know)

If you’re ever in Anchorage, be sure to stop by to visit with Kay and everyone at Far North Yarn Company. You’ll be glad you did.

So, you saw the post from yesterday, right? I have to show you what greeted me this morning . . .

Title of post? That’s a fisherWOman driving the rig through.
😉

Great Alaskan weather – you may have noticed in the pics from both days that the pavement was good and wet (as opposed to being bad and dry, I guess). Well, it won’t bother the fish none – they don’t mind a bit of water. lol

You might also take note of the lovely ding and gorgeous lines in my windshield, compliments of drivers who don’t have mud flaps – but should – and just typical road hazard-type materials.

This, my friends, is a TYPICAL Alaskan windshield. One of these days I’ll get it fixed – for now, none of the lines are through my line of vision so it’s all good.

Enjoy the rest of your day. 😉

needs his coffee in the morning, you had BEST not be in his way!

This is the sight that greeted me when I pulled in for a cuppa this morning. There is an SUV in the line in front of the big rig – seriously there is.
😉

I stopped, took the picture, then pulled in and showed it to the barista. We laughed and said – when a man wants his coffee, GIVE IT TO HIM! He pulled up across from me and I’m sure he wondered what we were cackling about. Just give him the coffee, ladies!

They refueled the fuel truck(er). Heh – I told you, I live in Alaska, I make my own pun, er FUN!

click for a bit larger shot of the front and back trailers
Not only was it a fuel truck, but it was a DOUBLE!

Too much fun. And, just so you know . . . Java Junction does a mighty fine mocha – and I’m not just saying that because one of the baristas is the next door neighbor youngun.

Yes, I know THAT happened . . . we watched it on tv. And, I’m not even going to discuss the conspiracy theories around all that.
😉

However, YOU may certainly all discuss that if you so choose.

Nope – what happened 39 years ago today . . . is that my nephew was born! Happy Birthday, Gary!

In other news, I talked last time about getting stuck in my car between a mama moose and her twins. When the one to my left went back towards mama I was able to go into the building and grab my camera for some across the lot shots. Thought you might enjoy seeing some of them.

This is the little guy who kept coming back to my car and resting his/her head on the hood. Sorry about the quality – I was taking the shot through my office window and didn’t get the flash turned off in time. We think maybe the hood was warm, baby was cold (it was drippy, rainy) and it just felt good. Who knows?

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Here are a couple of shots of the mama with her twins together. Moose will often drop twins, some of them do it every year. Sometimes, but rarely, a moose will drop triplets. Sadly, they don’t all make it through the first weeks – and often don’t make it through the first winter. Predators, cars, etc.

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And, finally, here’s a picture of a gorgeous flower – unfortunately, this flower is the cause of a LOT of depression in Kenai . . . it’s the first harbinger of the winter to come. Nevertheless it is pretty – that fuschia color!!!