Category Archive:Alaska

It’s that time again – the Mommies are breathing a collective sigh of relief while all the kiddies in town are excitedly and proudly showing off new duds and supplies.

Yup – today was the first day of school. All of Ladybug’s kiddos – all except the mini-dude – boarded the same bus this morning as their two schools were consolidated into one building. Master D is in the 5th grade and his final year in little guy school. Master T is in the 3rd grade and excited to have Mr. K (who also taught his big brother two years ago). And, our wee princess is in the 1st grade – our teeny, tiny, little ladybug who is smaller than her backpack. Sigh!

So hard to see them grow up.

The little dude goes to Head Start in two weeks – and he is EXCITED!!! Especially since Nana and Paw-Paw Moosie got him an ELMO backpack (and it’s gots wheels, Nana!).

Lessa’s group is split up in three schools this year. The Boy is a sophomore (wise fool) at the high school. The Girl is an 8th grader at the middle school – next year they will both be at the high school. And, the Pup is at the same school as Ladybug’s crew. She was thrilled to find that she is in Ms. W’s class – and to know that she is only a few inches shorter than her teacher! (We all have a feeling that by the end of the year those few inches will be nada)

So – they are all learning the rules of their schools. That was top on their list of things to tell me about when I called each of them tonight to check on their day – What did you learn today? We read the rules, Nana. 😉 That’s a good thing – it’s good to know the rules, says I.

I had an early morning dental appointment the next town over this morning. As I pulled up to the highway I saw a school bus go by and groaned a wee bit – it is not fun to be behind the bus as it stops, goes, stops, goes on its way picking up students. However, this one pulled off onto a side road and was seen no more.

Wish I could say that about the 692,000 motorhomes pulling cars/boats/etc. that (just) happened to be in front of me all the way into the next town! Oy! It must be closing down on tourist season, too.

But I made it to the dentist’s office in plenty of time for my appointment and my choppers are now all shiny, squeaky clean. Yay!

Hubby sees his eye doctor tomorrow – checking up on the cataract surgery. I think they will talk about when/whether to do the next one. I need to give hubby the dates I cannot be out of town (work conflicts, unfortunately) so they can schedule around them the next time.

So – that was our day in small town alaska – how was it where you are?

We are headed back to the big city tomorrow – today? – Sunday. This trip is all fun.

39 years ago I graduated high school and I still have contact with some of the “kids” who graduated with me. One of them got married the 18th for the very first time – to his high school sweetheart who also has never married.

Is that sweet or what?

This all happened in Columbus, Ohio.

Sunday they are flying to big city Alaska to take a honeymoon cruise. We are going to meet them and take them to dinner for our wedding gift to them.

We are looking forward to spending some time with them before they head off on their cruise. Look out big city . . . it’s a reunion!

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We are home from the big city – hubby’s right eye cataract surgery has been completed! We are thankful that it went well. In fact, this morning Ladybug and we watched the video of the surgery – yum! Okay, depends on your ack capacity whether or not it was yum. But, my tummy didn’t cringe nearly as badly watching it today as it did when I was sitting in the viewing area WATCHING the whole thing.

Yes, the center is great – they have wonderful staff, both on the pre-op side and the surgical side. We were well treated. The room was FULL of people getting the same surgery – and the staff – well AWESOME is the word I would use. Very caring folks – we were very comfortable with everyone.

Hubby says the worst part was the injection to put his eye asleep – that and hearing the mini-vacuum cleaner taking out the cloudy lens. He didn’t like that part a bit.

You can read a bit more over at the diabetes blog I write.

On the way home yesterday we stopped in Cooper Landing to get some water (and to leave some behind – haha) when I spotted a fellow breaking down cardboard boxes. I asked him if he minded if I took the following picture.

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lol – apparently it’s a brand of wine. I don’t drink, so don’t know. But I LOVE the box! I should have asked for it, huh? Naw – I got the picture.

Okay, Hubby Moose is asking me to drive his somewhere, so I will get out of here and go take care of him.

I’ve arranged to take off work through Monday – I am LOVING sleeping in! Gonna have to be totally retrained come Tuesday morning.

Okay – generally when we see a boat being towed down the highway – the boat is the biggest thing we see. I have had to pull over to the side of the road sometimes in order for a BIG boat to make its way past me on the two-lane.

That was not the case tonight as I headed to the neighboring town for a class.

This is what turned out in front of me (and slowed me down – but slow was good as I was able to get the camera out of the case and focused in on the motor pushing the boat and car ahead of me.

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Even more fun? the oncoming van looks exactly like the one Mr. Moose drives! Only, he was at home snoozing in his chair at that time. 😉 There are at least two other vans that look just like his – and I often get surprised return waves – from people I do NOT know and who have NO clue why I might be waving at them.

Hubby says that the size of the motor is something we are going to be seeing more of as the fins and feathers folks have decided to limit the size of motors on the Kenai River next year.  We’ll no longer be able to run our 2 stroke (I dunno – I think that’s what he said) on the river next year – and the newer one costs WAY more than we have available to spend.

Sigh!

Still, it was a funny sight – that sure looks like a whole lot more motor than that boat needs.

nibblers 

Mama and baby moose

This is a shot from my office door – taken last week during a sunny break. Mama moose browsing – baby walked under her chin, then into the woods behind her – munching away, looking back from time to time.

I had to shoo away some kids on bicycles who were much too close to her for my comfort. They are pretty big critters as you can tell – she is near a minivan – probably if right next to it and she raised her head she would be able to see over it easily. That big.

So – it’s not a good idea for kids – or anyone – to get too close and to make mama too nervous. You especially do NOT want to come between her and baby moose. That is a definite no-no.  She looks pretty relaxed in this shot – you have to worry if her ears come forward and her neck ruff stands straight up – if she blows hard – if she comes toward you – you get the picture. Not fun to deal with.

But fun to see from across the parking lot in the safety of an open door.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhlaska!