Life in the 49th

World's Ugliest Birthday Cake.

2012-01-26T00:14:00.014-09:00

Brodie, the baby of the family is turning six. My gorgeous boy that started off life with a full head of fluffy white angel hair and a personality to match.
He has turned into a Star Wars loving, snowmachine riding, snowboarding daredevil. He prefers to sleep at night with his "fuzzy". A fleece blanket that has been around for the last 6.5 years. A gift from my Mom, prior to his birth. Even the most hardened of children can cling to their simple pleasures.

So, the child wants a Yoda cake for his birthday. Honey I say, Mommy isn't sure she can make a Yoda cake, but I will try. How could I deny my gorgeous boy this simple request? Hells bells, what was I thinking?

Online research will help and lots of cake. Screw up, start over. Screw up more, make more cake. I know this routine.

Five boxes of cake are made and chilling in the freezer. Homemade strawberry whipping cream is holding the rounds together. The glue of cake. All should be well.
Until the cakes come out of the freezer and I now have to carve Yoda's face out of a 10 inch tall stack of unstable cakes. What the hell. I am not a carver. My artistic ability goes as far as trying to neatly sign my name to a check.
I am officially hosed and the party is 10 hours away. My husband is the support group. Staying away if cursing is heard, but at the ready if something is needed from the pantry downstairs. Good thing we took marriage vows or I am sure he'd be long gone, years ago.

Bizarre looking cake carved. Rice Krispy treat ears covered in yoda green fondant and stuck with wooden chinese take out chopsticks. Kind of like Area 51 parts laying on the table, that no one should really see.

It's now midnight. The kitchen is trashed with pink cake(Brodie wanted it to look like blood), every bowl and both Kitchenaids are out and covered in splattered frosting. I am going to bed.

Tomorrow is my baby's birthday and by golly it's going to be fun. Ugliest cake on the planet be damned.

A big thank you to Emily for making the spun sugar for Yoda's fuzzy head. Only my Yoda is so disturbing, he now looks like Swamp Thing George Washington risen from the Potomac.

Happy Birthday Brodie

Love, Mom

Deadliest Catch. Fair or Farce?

2012-01-08T02:13:00.005-09:00

Breezing past the Pain in the Ass fiascoes, or the I am too dumb to make money in the real world praise the lord Gold Rush people.

My problem lies in the crabbers. There is a boat on Deadliest Catch, a VERY popular boat. This boat for many years and many years ago(same 0wner) was known through out the entire Bering Sea crabber fleet as a SCAB. A picket line crosser.

People outside of the Bering Sea fisheries world probably don't realize that just a few years ago this fishery was controlled by a catch based on predicted bio mass. A free for all until the mass was caught.

But, canneries(the buyers of the crab) would often times low ball the price of crab, before the opening. The majority of boats would sit in the harbors, as designated negotiators would meet with cannery CEO's and hammer out an equitable price for the crabbers. This would make the biomass catch fair and equitable to everyone, catching, buying and selling wholesale.

Unfortunately, a few crabbers. One of which is VERY popular on Deadliest Catch, did not abide by the crabber strikes. They did not care that all crabbers should receive a fair price for their king crab. THEY broke the picket line. THEY did not care about their fellow fisherman and fairness to all.

When they crossed the imaginary picket line and began dropping crab pots on the grounds, they took away from every other crab captain, crew member, deck boss and engineer. There was no code of crabber respect. They got the higher price. They took away from the quota. They got more, while their fellow crabbers worked harder and received less.

Why? Not all crabbers or crab boats owners have respect for their fellow crabbers. Especially, in Homer.

Pizza Parlor Storm

2012-01-05T20:22:00.003-09:00

With the in-laws ready to head back to sunny Arizona we decided to go out for a casual pizza dinner the other night. I warned them, but not myself, that with two weeks in Maui under their belt and one day back to school, their sweet grandchildren may not fare so well. Boy howdy!

With our seven year old having been diagnosed about two years ago with Aspberger's, we are more understanding of his quirks and sometime outbursts. With a year of occupational therapy and two years of counseling, he is doing kind of better. I still am not equipped mentally for some of the things he does. His meltdown on this particular occasion was hotter than the mozzarella on the pie.

Simple questions from the very nice server "what can I get you to drink"? Was the start of a thirty minute tirade. He was overcome with the decision of choosing one drink. This resorted in hitting the table, tossing silverware, throwing himself under the table, throwing himself onto the bench seat, occasional yelling and basically being miserable. We all remained calm during the pizza parlor tirade,thankful we were in the back room, in a corner booth.
We couldn't order for him. That lesson was learned last summer over lemonade in a burger joint. It will never, ever be what he wants.

I took his littler brother to the restroom. When I returned, I was picking up more of Jack's silverware and his snowboots. These were all about five feet from our table. I didn't even ask how they got there, I already knew.

Unfortunately the family across the room knew nothing of Jacks's brainwaves. They glared the entire time. Scowling, wanting to shoot daggers at the distraught little boy or his Mother. Thinking he was a brat. I calmly went up to them, leaned down and whispered "he has Aspberger's". They all smiled and nodded! What the hell is smiling and nodding? Assholes, I said under my breath as I walked away.

The food came. Spaghetti for him, his favorite and a hawaiian to share with his brother. He refused to eat, said take it away. He couldn't possibly eat it without a drink.

So, we all started eating and he continued to whine, but the yelling and tossing of tableware was over.

Then, his epiphany hit. "A root beer, where is the lady, I want a root beer". Oh good heavens don't let them be out of root beer and please nice lady server person, don't ask him if he's sure. Please just get the kid his root beer. We can't take it anymore. She came, nodded and one minute later the perfect soda had arrived.
He sipped. That was it. Then he sat and ate an entire plate of spaghetti, garlic bread and pizza. The perfect pizza parlor storm was over, as fast as it had begun.

My head is now crammed into another book on Aspberger's. Not what it is, but how in the hell do we help a young child get through life's most simple of tasks.

I am also thinking kids have too many options. When I was a kid, Coke, Sprite or water? No,f'n lemonade, chocolate milk, Vita water, coke, sprite, root beer, orange, apple juice, cranberry. Hell. It makes my head spin and my son's seemingly detaches from his neck and flies around a room.

Eyewear Hell

2011-12-11T10:51:00.003-09:00

I really dislike buying new glasses. I shouldn't. This cycle of eye doctor to glasses store has been going on since my first pair of ultra large frames at the tender age of 12. Having a complete stranger tell me how cute I looked and aren't those just darling, stunted any joy of eye glass shopping out of me for all eternity.

So it was with a slightly bad attitude that I trudged to the mall and schlepped into LenCrafters. There are a few small boutique eyewear shops in town, but I can't justify $800 smackeroos just for frames that I may break or drop into Prince William Sound, step on getting out of bed, etc. I have a very poor track record with glasses and in my 20s became really good with clear tape, super glue and silly putty. The two latter, I do not recommend, but will work in a pinch. No photos please.

I don't wear contacts, so trying on frames is a ridiculous dance of finding a frame, standing in front the store mirror, taking of old glasses, putting on new found frame and putting my head no more than five inches from the mirror. Thus looking like a complete middle aged Mr.Magoo moron.

So, today, I start the dance. I am greeted at the entrance of eyewear hell by a way to perky Adele wannabe. "How's it going for ya today, can I help you find anything amazing"? Crap. I already don't like this person. No I say, just looking. I feel I am safe from perky banter for a few minutes and can continue my dance in quiet.

She comes back often. "Aren't these Dolce Gabbana just amazing"? No, I am not paying to be their walking advertisement. Oh, she says, I totallllyyyy understand. These Tiffany frames are just toooo cute, don't you think? If I don't want D&G plastered on my temple, why would I want Tiffany? No, not for me I say. She walks away.

The dance is nearing it's end. After numerous frames and nose bashing against the mirror, I think that a decent frame has been found. A simple gold and cream Ralph Lauren. Nothing flashy, no rhinestones or giant logo. I like these.

Adele Wannabe swoops in for the sale. After gushing how amazingly fab they are, she looks at them and says "I am not sure these will take a multi-lens". I look at her quizzically, with absolutely no idea what she is talking about.
"Oh"! She says. You don't wear bifocals do you?

I now hate her and buying glasses has taken me to a new level of purgatory.

A vent to my beloved.

2011-11-20T10:49:00.003-09:00

Dear Husband,
My car won't start. Even though at 10pm last night, when it was -17 out, the neighbor put the battery charger on and I plugged in the block heater, twelve hours later, it is still a no go.

I made my way to your truck. There it sat, cold, covered in 12 inches of hardening snow. I opened the door. I am now covered in 4 cubic feet of snow. Apparently, it followed the door from the roof. I climb in, dumping snow all over your cold leather seats. Ha ha.
With fingers crossed, I put the key in the ignition. Good news, it's dinging. I wait for the engine light to turn off. Diesels and their start procedures, must not disregard the start procedure. It's a go. I turn the key. NOTHING! I have nothing. This is akin to sitting on the shuttle pad waiting to launch only to hear that it's to cold. No go. The launch has been scrapped.

Disappointment and the not so good feeling of knowing you don't have any wheels has set in.

I trudge past the boat. The boat that sits in front of the fence that is sheltering the four wheeler with it's plow. The plow I could have used during the last few weeks of heavy snow fall. The plow I can't get to. The now unused plow covered in snow. So close, yet completely unattainable for me to get out.

I then walk past the Excursion, my beastly car for the last 7.5 years. The giant paperweight. Lifeless, heartless, hunk of cold steel.

There is sits. In front of the garage. Why in front and not in? It's a garage. A heated, large garage. Large enough to fit my car. To house it from the cold Alaskan winters and keep it snow free. Why then does my car sit dead outside? Unable to move your wife and children. No movie theater today. No grocery shopping.

The day is a complete No Go.

Patience no more, part deaux.

2011-10-18T15:29:00.004-08:00

Ten days ago I called Dr.K's office and requested my knee x-rays and cd. I spoke with a fairly confident woman in the records department. She put me on hold to double check that they had them. Oh yes, they are here. They will be ready Friday. I tell her no hurry, I can't get there to pick them up until Monday at the earliest.
Wrong thing to say.

Today, with John driving and Jack hacking in the back of the car(sick day for him) we headed to Anchorage and Dr.K's mega office. I tell John not to bother parking, the packet has been there for days. "Are you sure" he asks, Oh yes I say, no problems now.

Hahahah, jokes on me!

I step off the elevator and a nice young lady asks if she can help me. This is promising. No 25 minute wait, to be told it will be another 50.
I tell her why I am there. Oh just one minute, I'll get them. Several minutes later I am handed a tiny manilla envelope. Uh, this isn't my cd and x-rays, I say. She is dumbfounded. Let me explain, my x-rays are in an x-ray type gigantic envelope. It is marked X-RAY.
What is in the mystery envelope? Nothing but paper saying what kind of goo was shot into my knee. This does me no good. I know what kind of goo it was and which knee it went into. I need my cd and x-rays.

She asks several kind of useless questions. Who did I speak with? When did I speak with them? Were they in records? Don't know, ten days ago, yes.
She leaves me again.

She returns. We don't know where they are, it could take awhile to find them. No, I say. I need them now. I can talk rude because I left my regular glasses in the car and I am inside an office building wearing dark Jackie O glasses. I am incognito.

She leaves again, another woman returns and asks the same dumb questions. I tell her nicely, but firmly. "I need my x-rays now. My appointment with my NEW doctor is tomorrow".
She leaves.

Six minutes later a very nice woman hands me a very large envelope marked X-RAY with my name on it. She says the cd is there too and walks away.

Note to self. Self, dark glasses inside can be a good thing.

Patience no more.

2011-09-29T13:52:00.004-08:00

I am done, fed up, cooked to seething.

Six times in the last twelve months I have had doctors or dentists keep me waiting. Not the usual, ten or fifteen minutes. Even though keeping anyone waiting should never, ever be the norm. With health care providers it is. It never used to be like this.
I am talking twenty, thirty or the occasional seventy-five minutes!

The boys dentist kept us waiting 30 minutes the last two visits, I only gently complained. Before it got out of hand at the third appointment, 10 minutes I chimed in. Only to be apologized to, led into the back rooms and left to wait another fifteen.

My dentist, left me waiting 20 minutes. On my way out I received a coupon for a loaf of free bread from the nice bakery in town. Note. If your health care provider has free bread cards on hand, you are probably in for a wait at least once. It's hard not to tell some one where they can put their loaves. But my teeth were shiny and I was out the door, so I say "oh thank you" and bend over.

Two months ago I was left to wait in the small exam room of a doctor I had seen previously.
At thirty minutes I stepped out and asked when the doctor would be in. Oh, just a few more minutes, I was told.
At 45 minutes, I grabbed my coat and purse and headed down the hall. Oh, it will be just a few more minutes, please have a seat, can I get you anything, "Yes, I said my lost time". Ha ha.
Sixty minutes, I am again, walking out the door. This time a new person stops me, apologizing, he hands me a five dollar coffee card. Wow, awesome! Thanks, now I have something to drink with my bread.
Seventy five minutes, my coat is on, purse in hand. Doctor walks in. Apologizes and let's me know I am his last patient since it's now his lunch time and I can have him for however long I need. REALLY! How about you keep your crappy coffee card and give me back the last 75 minutes of my life!

What I need is a doctor that cares about their patients and not just their MB car payments and spousal support for trophy wife number three.

Today, I walked out.
A doctor whom I had seen three previous times before let me down.
At twenty five minutes past my appointment time I asked the nice girls at the counter when I might get in. Just one minute, we'll check. One is now scanning the computer, they give each other the look. One goes down the hall I won't get to see today. She comes over to me. I am really sorry she says, Dr. K is in with a patient and there is another patient in front of you. What the hell! So, I calmly ask "so about how long do you think"? Probably, maybe, another fifty minutes, she says. Are you F'n kidding me I yell into my own brain. Well I say, I can't wait that long, I have to go.
Then I am let in on a little tid bit. This yahoo, has the receptionists overbook him on purpose. I am quietly told that out of all the doctors, he demands to see the most patients.

Well, Sir, as I am out of patience and you are now one less patient.

All we wanted was dinner!

2011-09-23T16:31:00.003-08:00

After a wonderfully chaotic evening of watching the boys run in the Cross Country Jamboree last night, we continued a tradition with Grandpa and Grandma and went out to dinner.

6:45pm We arrive at the new place in town,the E.R.Ale House, it was busy, but not full. Jamboree night in Eagle River is usually a pretty busy time. People that normally would be giving their kids baths at this time, have all grouped together in the interest of watching their little ones run through the trees and into a gauntlet of cheering family members. All of whom are hungry and do not want to go home and make dinner. Someone should let the owner of the new joint in on this little tid-bit of information. It's a good night to be full staffed.

Within five minutes our party of six is seated and we are ready to order our pre-dinner drinks, and I get carded ordering my wine. Awesome! I was carded, very cool. But our waitress Heidi burst my youthful bubble by saying "sorry, I have to card everyone". Now going up and down the two flights of stairs,running behind the building, digging in the car for my wallet, while parked next to the dumpster was not going to be nearly as much fun as when i thought I looked card-able.

My seventy-year old father in law refused to order a beer because the thought of being carded offended him and he thought it was dumb carding an old codger such as himself. My mother in law whipped out her ID, a beer is a beer and the woman was thirsty. Besides, Heidi, was just doing her job. Big mouth and all.

Breadsticks ordered for the boys, meals ordered, now we wait, shouting to be heard, but okay, the food shouldn't be long. It's simple stuff, nothing fancy. Drinks arrive, wrong wine for me, but still okay. I drink it. I a too am thirsty.

Waiting, waiting. "Miss, can you please bring another wine and we could use our waters filled. Will the breadsticks be long? These boys need food", I say. Heidi, dear Heidi. The glazed over look, the I don't know, look, the oh crap, I think we are screwed look. I have seen this look on servers before. It's never good.

Other tables, have been served. The table of four that came in after us, is happily consuming dinner. Even their baby is happy. My boys are hungry and are fueled only on the root beer given in cups too tall. My mother in law is holding on to Jack's glass. Smart woman, root beer in the lap is never fun and he is a tad squirmy. Other tables with children have the short cups with lids and straws. Not ours. We have Heidi for a server, Dear Heidi.

Wine arrives, wrong again. Oh well. I am now on a tour of Italy and Australia.

7:45pm, a full hour after we have arrived, the breadsticks show up. Yeah! Sustenance is a good thing. Dear Heidi, she had an hour to bring out napkins and appetizer plates. Glazed over look again. "Could we please have some napkins and a few plates"? I say. So back she comes, with dinner plates and napkins. Okay, no biggie, dinner plates will hold breadsticks just fine.

8:20pm Yippee! Food arrives. But wait, the large dinner plates are still on the table! What should Dear Heidi do? Remove them? NO! She moves my dirty appetizer plate back in front of me and plops down my thai pasta plate! "Oh there, that works" she says. I now have two dinner plates in front of me, stacked on top of each other. What the hell? She then did the same to everyone else. This was hilarious and shocking and holy crap did that just happen, funny. We now have something else to shout about at the table.

8:50pm We are done. It is time to go home and get these exhausted boys to bed. Both boys have their heads on the table. But where is our Dear Heidi? Waiting, waiting. "Excuse me sir" I say to a nice young employee, "We need our check and haven't see our waitress in half an hour". Is she tall and blonde he asks? Yes, she is. He rolls his eyes, "Heidi" he says "I'll see what I can do". Waiting, oh look, here comes Dear Heidi with the check. Plop goes the vinyl book on the table and off she goes. "Wait, can we please have two to-go boxes"? Glazed over look, "okay".

The boys are now up and trying to climb up on a windowsill. Jack has thrown a paper airplane that Daddy made to occupy him. Lucky, that nice lady dining ten feet away from us caught it with her face. Apologies given, down the stairs boys, we have to go, NOW.

10:00am Next morning. I am back at the E.R.Ale House inquiring about a missing jar of highly coveted homemade strawberry jam. This was given to John by his Mom. It is possibly the best jam in the world. In our haste to apologize for the plane in the face incident and get the hell out last night, John forgot his jam. I speak with the manager.
Oh the jam! he says. Yes, we didn't know where it came from, Heidi thought it was part of her tip.

She took it home.

It was a Fair Day.

2011-09-04T16:47:00.025-08:00

At the suggestion of my husband we arrived at the fair 20 minutes early prior to opening. This is a very good thing and will be done in the future. Upon entering the gates of hell, NO, I mean fun fun fun for all land, Jack immediately gave me his best I want cotton candy face. Cotton candy comes after all the ride tickets are gone. All eighty tickets, costing $80 dollars. They called these the "super saver" package. I have a few choice names for it also. But they are more carney worker words and not fair going Mom words.

On to the rides.

Jack wanted to ride in the carousel carriage.

Brodie was enchanted with the black stallion. Pure joy.
Now on to the kids roller coaster. Not sure why it costs 4 tickets each, but oh well, the boys had fun. I don't know the people in the car behind Jack and Brodie, but the look on the little girl's face is priceless. Poor thing is not happy.

Brodie was all thumbs up on the copter, it had a horn. Horns are cool.

This will probably be the last copter year for Jack. He kept yelling at the operator "go faster, go faster". Apparently his didn't have a horn to occupy his 60 seconds of fun.

With the Gravitron, Tilt a Wheel, fun slides and numerous other rides under their belts, we headed to buy cotton candy and then off to the Kid Zone. A big thank you to friends that loaned me some money. I didn't know you could only pay cash for ride tickets. I was down to ten bucks and didn't know the pass code for the Visa card. Ooops, rookie mistake for me!

Since we got their early this place wasn't jammed packed. So the boys got to use the robotic cars and topple hockey pucks and then on to the Leggo table. They each built a robotic Leggo machine(no help from me) and stood in the middle of the walk way to show off their mad Leggo skills. Daddy, they did good!

So after seeing the kookaburras, kangaroos, and emu. In the, oh crap this building smells like crap area. I had to con Jack to walk through the doors it was so bad. Not sure how those Aussies down under can live like that.
We headed to the Pirates for Hire show. This gave the boys a stable place to finish off their cotton candy and continue rotting out their pearly whites.
In the presence of skeletons, cotton candy is now pirate booty.
And mustaches.
I swear this child was not coerced to stand with the pirates. He went up on his on free will and then stood there as if he were invisible or scared stiff.
Until he go to hold a real metal sword and fight of Capt. Hook.

Jack being, well our Jack. I was afraid he would try and give ole Hook a run through. But he listened very intently and had a lot of fun.
Kudos to the men and women of Pirates for Hire. They put on a good show and were great with the kids afterwards. I wish they were local and I could hire them for a party.

So, it's off to the stinky fat pigs, bunny, cow, reindeer, giant scary turkey barn.

And GIANT pumpkins!
Then off for fair food and snacks and working our way out to the gates to release me from this, fun fun day. This is a good thing. The wind is now gusting and blowing dust and after five hours my knee and feet are starting to hurt. But, it didn't rain. Thank the heavens above, not a drop!

I was wrong. We are not done yet. With the gates in sight Brodie spots puppies! Not just any puppies. Puppies owned by Iditarod champion Martin Buser.

Martin Buser saving Brodie from the frisky pup.
Thirty minutes later and I have now realized the highlight of fair day was sitting in a 10x10 foot pen playing with Martin Buser's sled dog puppies. I am thinking next time I should just pay Martin a few hundred bucks to come over to the house with his pups and entertain my boys. It would be cheaper than going to the fair and my feet wouldn't hurt. I may even throw in some corn dogs and popcorn for effect.

Geocaching-Alaska style

2011-08-19T14:57:00.010-08:00

With the boat in the shop last month John and I decided to catch up on some geocaching out at Eklutna Lake. So we packed up the boys and headed North.

Fashion forward Brodie Looking for ways to cross the stream. It must have seemed like a raging river to the boys.

If you can't go over it, go through it.

Time for a break. Otherwise known as waiting for Mom and Dad to catch up. We are old and slow. They are young and spry.
After about 30 minutes of searching, we found the cache. This was a good thing because it was starting to sprinkle and none of the men folk had jackets. I was smart enough to wear a big cotton sweatshirt.
Note to the Farthings, the geocache is not under the tree!

And then the clouds opened up and it didn't just rain it poured buckets. Every lake sized mud puddle had to be run through. Brodie said he was a puddle monster, Jack was a 4-wheeler.

We made it back to the car in about half the time it took to find the geocache location. It was a good thing I wore my tie dyed sweatshirt. I looked like a waterlogged hippie just leaving Woodstock. Note to self, fleece may be a better rainy day choice.

A Sad Day is on the Horizon

2011-08-13T21:59:00.002-08:00

August in Alaska.
Everyone is trying to cram all the amazing things they were going to do this summer into 31 days. Good luck people. If you didn't go kayaking down the Yukon or climbed Denali, you are too late. But don't worry. You will have the next eight, cold, dark months to dream up more fabulous plans for next summer.

The days are shorter, the bugs are big and the spiders are fat with nasty baby spiders.
Autumn is near when the spiders make the big gushy splat when swatted with your husband's shoe.

Most kids will be in school this Monday. Jack and Brodie are younger so their school starts in one week. There are new sneakers in the closet and creased clothes hanging, with strict orders attached "Mister,don't even think of wearing that new surfer shirt until school starts". Not sure why I bother. It's only going to take one ketchup laden hot dog and it's a wipe out. Why break tradition now? My Mom said the same thing to me. I never really cared for school. But the anticipation of wearing all the new clothes, the forbidden fruits of a summer gone. How could I not love the first day of school!

The worst part of summer's passing, is the boat. Our first summer on Stor Fisk is winding down.
One more three dayer on the boat with the kids and that's it for overnights until next April. Maybe a few weekend days in September? I already told the guy that married me I am not interested in seeing Prince William Sound in November. Freezing my arse off in gales is not my idea of fun. Been there, done that, got paid. Won't do it again.

Never have I enjoyed a summer more than this one. The storing of the Stor Fisk, will be a very sad day. But the anticipation of April 2012, will be like the first day of school so many years ago.

Let it f'n rain!

2011-08-06T23:38:00.002-08:00

Screw you old Sorels buried in the closet for years. Kiss arse ugly Xtra Tuffs, you now live on the boat and only the boat. So long Columbias, I have had you so long your once cute pale blue hue has turned to an odd washed out grey.

Move over old and ugly. There is a new pair of boots in Stephanie's closet world.

I would like to thank Mr. Weitzman for making fabulous rain boots. I love his shoes, but his boots are like fine driving gloves for the feet. Even the rain boots, no leather, just rubber and sparkles.

Opening a heavy, dark blue, Stuart Weitzman box is like opening a Tiffany's box for the feet. You know before lifting the weighty lid and pulling away the layers of tissue that something wonderful lies just below. A surprise, like biting into a Godiva truffle.
Slowing lifting the treasures out of their tissued tomb, will they fit? First the right, then the left. Perfect, they fit perfect!
Bring on the rain and a Burberry umbrella.

Me in a tutu? Yeah right!

2011-07-16T19:17:00.011-08:00

I have admitted to most that my one and only television vice is Dancing with the Stars. I try and watch religiously and if I miss an episode I am on youtube searching for the flubs, dumps, falls and fails.
While watching many of my Facebook friends are doing the same. During commercial breaks FB is often a flurry with our critiques. Such as "oh no she didn't just fall on her ass" or "I can't believe hes still in it". After an evening glass of vino it can get really catty.
And that was my downfall.

Kirstie Alley, a champion to all aging, women of size. I really wanted her to win. She had moxie and sass! Every Tuesday, with her Spanx moaning, she went out there and shook her voluptuous tatas and swung those birthing hips. It was awesome. She rocked it.

And then she wore a tutu.
She danced away in a gorgeous, made for TV, sparkly, purple, black and fuchsia ensemble. I am sure it would make the skinny bitch in Swan Lake envious, but it's hard to watch TV when your barfing in the toilet.
It was agreed on Facebook that the tutu was fabulous! "Wouldn't it be fun to wear a tutu"? I asked. Oh yes, we all agreed.
Then with vino in hand, I set my tutu fate. "I'll enter the old car in the Bear Paw Parade and we can all walk along wearing tutus"!

Fast forward eight weeks.
15 yards of tulle
1 Bedazzler and 300 cheap rhinestones
1959 Lincoln
7 children
4 moms
480 pinwheels

If I am going to walk a mile in a parade with a good 3,000 people watching it might as well be for a good cause. So I bought the pinwheels for the national Child Abuse Awareness Center.

Day of.
What the hell! I should never be held too what is written on Facebook while drinking wine. That is wrong, just wrong. I am an overweight, five foot nothing girl, now swathed in tulle and sparkles. Nothing good can come of this. Nothing at all.

But what a rockin fun day!

Livin the good life.

2011-07-05T20:02:00.010-08:00

It occurred to John and I this last weekend that we are living the life that most Americans want for their dream vacation. That somewhere in New Jersey a fat guy in an ill fitting dress shirt is pining away for the day he retires. Until then, he boldly peruses the internet when the boss is out, looking at Alaskan fishing lodges, bears eating salmon, whales fluking and in general, all the amazing things that we, right now are experiencing.
Our hope is that our children realize how amazing their life is.

shrimp, PWS style

lunch break
Cepholapods rock! And eat our shrimpDaddy break.

Living the American dream.

A horse of course.

2011-06-16T15:04:00.009-08:00

So, those in the know are aware that Jack hasn't done so spectacular at group sports. Indoor soccer this winter was a disaster of epic proportions and left me dreading Saturday mornings. There were melt downs, tantrums and refusal to play, even though he played really well. The noise, general chaos and bright lights were a catalyst that could not be stopped.
Now that Jack has been diagnosed with Aspbergers, it all makes sense now.
But,it didn't make things easier.
He wants to be involved with other kids and participate in sports to "get out there". So, when he said he wanted to ride a horse, well, I jumped on it. Why hadn't I thought of that! I was about 60% sure he would hate it. The kid doesn't really like our family dog. Why would he take to a 1,000 pound beast with big teeth. But, it was worth a shot.
His first lesson was today.

Upon meeting Deshka, Ms.Laurie let Jack brush her and clean out her hooves. I think this builds trust with the horse and the little rider.
Then Ms.Laurie showed him how to walk Deshka and Jack got to walk her around by himself. He was not supposed to turn and look at her while walking and he looked straight ahead the entire time. Rules are rules.
The main event. Up he went on a special soft saddle. This allows the kids to feel more of the horse and the way it moves. Jack had so much fun and really seemed to take the giant beast and all that riding entails. This includes.

Cleaning up the stable for Deshka. A small thank you for being such a gentle and kind horse.
Thank you Deshka and Ms. Laurie. What a great morning!

Wake up Wisconsin!

2011-02-20T14:17:00.003-09:00

Calling all union members of Wisconsin. Wake up! What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you really think this is the time to strike?
I am sorry to hurt your feelings, but I don't give a shit if you lose your "collective bargaining".

Your state, the great State of Wisconsin is hurting and you are contributing to it's pain. Did you not hear that Wisconsin has a 3.6 Billion dollar shortfall? Do you not care, that the union can help? You can stand together as Union Members and say "We care about our State, We care about our neighbors and our communities".
Are you so selfish that you do not care about your State, how about your Country. All eyes are on the Wisconsin Union members. And let me tell you, what we see is shameless and self centered.

My husband works hard for his employer and has done so for 15 years. He does not have collective bargaining. He gives the maximum to his 401K and he pays thousands of dollars every year so that his family can have health coverage. It is not the best. But we do not complain. We are thankful for what we have. We don't whine or snivel and demand more. We take the benefits as they come and make do. We pay our way and do not depend on the backs of our neighbors to make our fiscal lives better.

Wake up Wisconsin Union members. There are 13.9 MILLION Americans that do not have jobs. They will glady take your place, sans collective bargaining. They will willingly pay half into their pensions and 12.6 into their healthcare. They want to feed their families, pay their rent and put gas in their cars.

May I suggest you get your sniveling asses back to work on Tuesday and count your blessings you still have jobs. Because that, is the American way.

Cancer Sucks!

2011-02-09T12:30:00.003-09:00

Not sure if I can remove the blog Dishaliscious from my reads.

The writer, Stephanie Green, a spicy Jewish girl with a bad case of cancer who wasn't afraid to tell how she felt or show off her scars. I found this blog through the highway, byway and a side street of the internet. Six degrees of separation as we use to know it, is no more.

When I started reading, I had no idea she had breast cancer. Then I read more, looked further back. I was a voyeur into a woman's past and was interested in her future. An upper class broad living in Miami, a published writer and author. A woman who knew her way around Sak's and Barney's, but could still fling the F'word around like a sailor writing his memoirs.

She became sick with cancer treatments. Her boobies as she called them had already been taken by a double mastectomy at the age of 32. She had new boobies installed and they looked fab. This I had found out by reading more.

When she became to weak to continue her daily blog she recommended that readers hook up with her on Facebook. So I did. Only this was more personnel. After time went on, more treatments, puking, family friends helping, the death of her beloved Wally Dog. Pictures of her crying while holding him, before he was put down.
I felt more like an intruder. Should I really be reading this, am I still welcome? A complete stranger from Alaska, looking through the window at a person in pain. Suffering, but still writing some really funny stuff.

Wally taking a poop in the middle of The Drake Hotel lobby had me laughing so hard I had tears. Buying Chanel rainboots in New York, who new they even made them? Or talking to her doctors while high on Xanax and Marinol. She left nothing out and often times nothing to the imagination.

On occasion she would comment on my Facebook. Usually towards one of my posts relating to something absurd I had seen or how someone could possibly wear that shade of yellow with that bright a lilac and what the hell happened to Isaac Mizrahi? Target,really?

So, I kept reading. I was a follower of someone I would probably never meet. But still I read. And, I cried when her dog died and laughed when she wrote about the Tranny at the Quick Mart and Jersey Shore taking over her building last summer for filming.
She became a part of my life. A daily cyber interaction, that was mostly one sided. But still viable.

I didn't know her. I had never met her. I will miss her.

Stephanie Green's cancer came back at age 35. Again. This time she died. 01/09/2011

Ooops!

2011-01-21T12:47:00.005-09:00

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Thanks to Tony Lara for taking such great pics.

How can she walk among us?

2011-01-12T20:04:00.003-09:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhcDh0-_5m4

While the president prayed for peace, Sarah Palin decided to spread more hatred and blamed the media for her problems.
How twisted can a person be? One whopping minute of "this great nation" "mourn for the victims families", "loss of an innocent" "deranged gunman".
BUT wait, there are six minutes of.....
Ronald Regan quotes. Bashing talk radio. Speaking of "manufacturing a blood libel".
All I am hearing is ME,ME,ME! In a whining, condescending, lip smacking way, only a teleprompter reading Sarah Palin can do.
Somebody give this pathetic woman a Scooby snack and tell her to shut the hell up!
The facts are very clear and all the glossy "this great nation" fluff she adds to every sentence uttered from her oddly shellacked lips doesn't change that.

When you put a woman's name under a bulls eye and say "don't retreat,reload". It is an insinuation of violence, an aggressive act for all to see. An action that says, I don't care who you are, I don't care what you think.
Sarah Palin didn't pull the trigger, but she planted a seed of hate throughout our country that is palpable.

Rott in a Brat

2010-10-02T19:11:00.004-08:00

A few weeks ago while driving from Palinville to Bubbaville(Palmer) we stopped off at the local grocery store and found this guy. Yup, he was all decked out in his Sunday's best Doggles. It was sunny out and I applaud the owner for protecting his Rotti from the rays and flying rocks. His chariot being an ancient Subaru Brat. The owner wants to take good care of the dog that protects his sweet ride and in thanks, the dog barked like crazy when John took the picture.
This caused Jack and Brodie to go into hysterical laughing at the barking dog with glasses.
I love this State.

Words from a Marine

2010-09-11T19:55:00.002-08:00

Well America, you haven't forgotten, though some of your children may have lost sight for the moment, but that's ok. Those who make sacrifices don't do it for the praise, they do it for you America, without thought or hesitation. The greatest praise these men and women can receive is the nod of a fellow warrior who had 'been there and done that and paid that price' when they get back home. America, never forget, but above all never lose sight of those who fight for you and yours. Semper Fi America, stay strong.
Dylan Lundquist

Honor

2010-07-29T11:43:00.005-08:00

As we drive around tomorrow and see the flags at half staff, we will know why. We Alaskans, know what happened to the C-17 crew. We know that four people, Americans, those that served their country, died.
We may not know them personally. We do not know their story. We only know, that they are gone.

Tomorrow, I will not casually drive past the lowered flag and wonder "what now". I will know what happened and count my blessings for all that I have and honor those that have given so much.

Go Ahead, Hit Me.......

2010-06-16T17:54:00.002-08:00

To the driver of the car that tailed me down the hi-way today. I am not going to speed up in a construction zone. I am not going to get a double fine traffic ticket because of you. I will continue to drive 55mph. No more, no less.
Please feel free to rear end my car with your wimpy, pathetic, Ford Explorer. The last person to rear end me wiped out a fourth of her car. I didn't even FEEL it!
I hope you spilled your cheap cup of gas station coffee in your lap, when you swerved to get in the fast lane. Maybe next time you should quit yapping on your crappy cell phone and put out your stinking Marlboro.
Trust me, chick. You are not, you will never be, even in your wildest dreams a Nascar driver. So go ahead and take off that cheezy number 3 sticker from your back window. I know you did your best Dale Earnhardt imitation today. But remember, he is DEAD.

But he was hungry?

2010-05-19T11:49:00.002-08:00

"Brodie, why did you put a Swedish fish and Craisins in the fish bowl"? Brodie, "Cuz I thought he maybe wanted a liddle nibble".
Gross, Swedish fish get really slimy after a few minutes in warm fish water. The goldfish, Fishy is his name, seemed pretty happy. After a life of dull dehydrated fish flakes, he finally got some real fish food. And I get to clean the bowl today.

Good Morning....Huh?

2010-04-26T13:36:00.004-08:00

Wake up, trudge my way into the kitchen. Latte, must make, my Monday morning latte.
What the hell is that? Upon further and closer inspection, I discover that a miniature Playmobile sword has been jammed into the espresso elixir dispenser unit of the fancy, schmancy, espresso maker.
Apparently, the little one in the house that goes by the name "Not Me" tried to conquer Sir Saeco with a sword. No one wins these kind of games.
Fortunately, for Not Me, I am well versed in sword extraction and all is well with or Monday world.

Beware of the Zoomies========

2010-04-02T22:27:00.002-08:00

Driving South on the Glenn yesterday, toodling along around 70mph. Out of NOWHERE came a black Corvette and a black 335i, damn near airborne. Blew my doors off probably going 120 minimum. Completely out of site within seconds. I am exhilarated, jealous and not looking forward to the collision that may be around the bend. Like my Father in Law says, "bad things happen fast at a hundred miles an hour".
But no, these drivers were sooo lucky. I see one trooper drive North, then a second one, then an APD officer. And I am thinking do these cars have a cloaking device.
Nope, there they are, side by side at a very under the speed limit 55.
I don't know what kind of detectors they had, but I want what they have.
It is Zoomie Season in Anchorage, soon the two wheeled weavers will be hitting the pavement.
Best to buckle up, wear a hard hat and check your mirrors, cause they are out there.

What an Oxymoron.

2010-03-08T09:15:00.005-09:00

What is wrong with this picture? Could it be Sarah Palin hocking Christian Dior glasses in a Las Vegas shop? Yes that is right folks, step to the FAR right and check it out.
Sorry Sarah my dear. Normal Josephines, don't sell designer glasses. They don't work for Dior. And honestly, most people from Waaaasillllla, don't know Dior from Buster Brown.
No wonder it's a head shot. Dior reps couldn't get her out of those classy, naugahyde, Naughty Monkey peep toes.
I am really close to banning all Christian Dior products in my home. Close, not quite yet, but close.

A big thank you to Gloria Dementoff for Facebooking this great shot.

Rolling Bears, Dancing Halibut? Only in Homer.

2010-02-16T20:38:00.005-09:00

Homer VFW Color Guard

For those not in the Homer know. Homer is a small, quaint fishing, artys town at the end of a very long road. You have to work at keeping yourself busy in the winter and Homerites, know how to do it up!
We took the boys down this last weekend for the Homer Winter Carnival. We did not know the carnival was going on before we left. But we fully embraced the activities upon our arrival to The Spit.
The parade was an absolute hi-light of our weekend. Starting off with the traditional color guard(my favorite) and moving on too some less traditional, but very amusing attractions.

No fishing town would be complete without it's very own rolling creepy bear, even creepier Mardi Gras person in silver lame down pants and the strange, yet original, Homer News papergirl. I think she is half yeti, half lhaso apso.
Rounding out the quirky fun, is the truck with goats.

A great big thank you to all the wonderful volunteers in Homer that helped put together this awesome display of small town Americana.

Palin the Warmonger

2010-02-07T10:29:00.003-09:00

She said it on Fox News this morning. If Obama wanted to get re-elected in three years he would "have to go to war with Iran and support Israel". Are you KIDDING me? She wants the United States to be at war with three countries in the Middle East? And really piss off all the other countries, by supporting Israel militarily. Israel has a fine military, they don't need our help.

Has she lost her damn mind or did she never have one? Is she blind or stupid? How can she not see what the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have done to this country. Recession, Debt, Depression, Death. A war in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan are wars this country could never win. EVER. Of course she never had an idea as to how we could support or win such wars, going on at the same time. Three wars, three countries, triple the debt, triple the deaths.

This person has no touch with reality. Her supporters are blind followers of so called "simple talk" and "folksy words". There is nothing simple or folksy about saying our country needs to start another war. A war with Iraq is a war with China and Russia. Sarah Palin can you say NUCLEAR POWERS?

Bye bye Mr.Henckle

2010-02-01T12:47:00.003-09:00

So, I order a smell good giant wax bar and a warmer for my son's pre-school fundraiser. I usually don't partake in smelly good stuff, it makes me sneeze. But, this seemed fairly non-offensive and I admit, now that it is the middle of winter, my house could use some make it smell good freshening.
So the company Scentsy sends the stuff in two small boxes via UPS. I could have waited for snail mail and they could have passed the savings onto the pre-school, but it is what it is. Besides, the boys love the big brown truck pulling up in the driveway.
The giant lavender scented wax bar does not come with directions. The only way I can see to get the square out for melting is to cut it out or dump the whole bar and start cutting that way. I go with option number one.
Grabbing my oh so handy Henckle serrated knife, I go at it. When I have cut the bar, I give a little pull upwards to release the waxy square and SNAP!
I have had this Henckle knife for the better part of 15 years. It has cut everything from bread to tin cans with nary a problem. Mr. Henckle is now in three pieces.
I now feel like the delicately scented bars of wax from hell have beaten me down. I no longer want to sniff it's delicate aroma as it wafts through the house. I want to watch it burn in a fiery bonfire, outside, away from all things delicate and smell goody.
So long Mr.Henckle, you will be missed.

Something new to try....

2010-01-26T22:00:00.002-09:00

So I have been using Picassa (Google's free photo handling software) for a long time. Today I discovered you can make a video of selected photos with it. I thought I should give this a try and share some photos from Jan 2010 with all the readers.

So with out further reading of my commentary, here is the video.

Jacks Big Jump

2010-01-22T21:28:00.000-09:00

Jack and Brodie have been taking swimming lessons for quite a while. It has been a long struggle to find the right mix of pool and instructor for the boys. Bartlett pool was too cold and had big classes and Swim Like a Fish was a long drive and the pool was too small (among other problems). Then we stumbled onto the Alaska Club lessons. The first month or so looked like more of the usual problems but then we got bumped to two day a week classes that where empty. This left just our two boys in a class with a very good instructor. She worked for one month with the two monkeys and this is the result...

While its not a miracle, it sure is nice to see Jack doing something that he has never done before.

Here are a few more

And finally a custom message to two particular readers

Not to leave Brodie out, he did put his head underwater this lesson and that is a big step. For the last three months all we have heard is "its scary under water".

Good Job Boys.

Man Stickers?

2010-01-16T14:07:00.000-09:00

I am not a fan of bumper stickers. I really don't care if a driver is pro-choice or their kid is on some middle school's honor roll. Fine you like the Grateful Dead, so do I. But I don't need a skull sticker slapped on the rear of my car to verify the fact.
Do I care to see Calvin peeing on your ex-wife, ex-boyfriend or whatever the name of the person that upset you so much you actually paid to buy a sticker and foul your back window? NO, I do not care.
So, it is with great surprise that I have bumper stickers. I did not put them there. My husband did. First it was a pretty cool G.Loomis red, white and blue, skeleton fish on my back window. That was good, I liked it. Until the wiper erased all traces of color and I was left with a bony white fish, looking like it sat at the high tide line over the summer. It was ghoulish.
Then I came back from a short vacation down South and my husband had "hot rodded" the Fuelinator. Apparently, when a man adds something to a vehicle the box the part came in has stickers. I don't need these stickers. I don't need people to know what's under my hood. Not that the Fuelinator is a sleeper. But hey, a girl's gotta have a few secrets.

Then my husband came home after picking our son up from bootcamp.
Wham bam, thank you Maam. He removed, spooky bony fish and added this doozie. But I am going to keep it. I am very proud of our son, so it will stay.

But how can I be surprised. These are man stickers and he is a man. Who likes big diesel vehicles, laden down with stickers.
Below, John's truck.

Bad Rockford Files Moment....

2010-01-09T19:01:00.000-09:00

Flashback, January 2005 8:00AM
So I am driving into downtown Anchorage off the Glenn Highway taking the then 14 year old Dylan to school. I am eight months pregnant and Jack is sleeping soundly in his little car seat in the back of the Fuelinator.
I have to get over. My turn signal is on. Can they not see me? Three lanes of commuters and not one of them is nice.I need to get over in the other lane. I gently, ever so gently step on the throttle. I call it the throttle because it is a diesel and to say step on the gas is wrong, oh so wrong in my house. Never ever confuse diesel with gas.
Ice fog, no one said anything about ice fog. Okay, so I haven't driven in two weeks and John just left for the slope. The Rockford Files driving moment is about to begin.
One 360, all three lanes of traffic has now stopped behind me. 360 number two, this in not good. Wow, this 7500 pound car can really twirl.
A red truck made the mistake of being parked on the street. If it hadn't been there my 180 parallel on the curb facing the three lanes of stopped, freaked out commuters would have been grand, just grand.
But no, the red truck met face to face with the Fuelinator. Nobody won.
It gets better. Dylan are you okay, "yeah, I am fine". Get out check the baby, hes still sleeping peacefully. Get back in. Lock the doors, even at 8AM, this isn't the best place to be. Now slammed up against the curb, attached to a red truck and facing East when I should be West.
Call 911, no way I am going to find the owner of this truck. Tap, Tap on the window. Roll it down a few inches. Yes I say. Maam can I help you? 911 Dispatcher on the phone, is the man an APD officer "? Are you APD" I ask. He shows me his little tiny badge. Your not APD I say. Hes not APD I tell the dispatcher. No maam he says, FBI.
Well, shoot, an FBI officer isn't going to do me any good right now. But he was very nice and walked into the Polar Bar with me. By golly, that place was open and the bartender owned the mashed red truck.
Giant pregnant chick and an FBI officer walk into a bar at 8am on a Monday morning......
Life is Stranger than Fiction

And off he goes Again.

2010-01-04T21:54:00.000-09:00

No picture in this post. Just a blank space, which is how I feel.
Dylan just left for the airport, returning to Camp Pendleton for combat training. Then he will be off to Pensacola, Florida for aviation training. After all that, we don't know.
It occurred to me last night that I don't know when I will see him again. After bootcamp we knew he was coming home and how much leave he would have. The leave after bootcamp takes up all the new recruits earned leave and left him with a negative three days. This does not bode well for a Mother wanting her son to come, if only for a few days.
I know I should be thankful that he was home for the holidays, and I am. It's just so hard to see him go away again. Even the dog knew he was leaving and got between him and the front door.
I should probably be a good Marine Mom, buck up and all that stuff. But tonight I think I'll have a glass of wine and a good cry.

Dali?

2010-01-01T14:02:00.000-09:00

No, not a Dali. It's a Brodie! The three foot tall owl drawn in permanent silver pen is a Brodie original. He was given a stern talking too and sent to his room. But, I am now contemplating putting a frame around it and leaving it there for all to enjoy. Would that be odd?

Introducing Private Dylan

2009-12-25T20:50:00.000-09:00

Last week I went down to San Diego to watch Dylan graduate from USMC boot camp.

While waiting for Dylan to grab some stuff from his barracks I got a chance to watch the drill instructors shape some of the newer recruits. Let me tell you one thing I know for sure, a recruit should never walk out side with out a cover (hat) on or he will get yelled at.

The family is quite proud of Dylan for making it through.

Dylan’s next stop is a month of infantry training then he is off to a 13 week aviation maintenance school. Congratulations to Dylan for all his hard work.

The Crucible

2009-12-09T07:25:00.000-09:00

Dylan's Platoon started the Crucible at 2am yesterday morning.

The Crucible is a test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. It tests every recruit physically, mentally and morally and is the defining moment in recruit training.

The Crucible takes place over 54-hours and includes food and sleep deprivation and over 45 miles of marching. The entire Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together to solve problems, overcome obstacles and help each other along the way.

The obstacles they face range from long marches, combat assault courses, the leadership reaction course, and the team-building warrior stations.

Daddy's Helpers

2009-12-04T14:51:00.001-09:00

We gutted a bathroom in the house last week. The boys just had to help.

After two days of work this is what we where left with.

After our new heating system is installed and we get past the holidays the bathroom will be put back together.

Its a tree.... No its a cell phone tower.

2009-12-04T14:11:00.000-09:00

Driving back from Disney Land to Palms Springs last month we came upon a funny looking tree on the side of the road. I did a double take and then noticed that it was a cell phone tower. Very creative. I sure wish some of the towers in Anchorage looked like this, instead of the giant eyesores they are.

Doggie Beware!

2009-11-28T13:42:00.000-09:00

To the dog that keeps running into our yard and barking at my children. To the same dog that runs down the street turns at my driveway and drives my dog insane. To the same dog that this morning walked up to my garage and urinated all over the deck and the driveway.
BEWARE
There is an air gun with your name on it. It says BAD DOG.

If it were legal I would pepper the arse of your owners, since they have no control over you and don't seem to care what you do or to whom.
Standing in my yard and barking at my young children is intolerable. Peeing on the deck is disgusting.
Peppering your rear end will be priceless.

A Day at the Musuem

2009-10-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Do I want to take the boys to the museum, my friend Emily asks.
Sure, that sounds like fun. So, I pack up the boys on a rainy yesterday and head to Anchorage. Since the museum is in expansion mode, I didn't know where the new entrance was, so I parked on the street a block away, my spot, as usual. The boys tumble out of the Fuelinator(no exaggeration,they really did tumble). Jack slowly, ever so slowly puts the coins, some quarters, but mostly dimes and nickles into the meter. Mental note, need more parking quarters in the car.
As we go walking to the entrance, I say "stay out of the puddles". But Jack says "we have our boots on". Point taken, but snow boots are not meant for puddle jumping. But I was too tired to make the distinction "fine, go ahead and walk in the puddles". Walking must mean conquer in pre-school language. They took on the lake sized puddles with mucho machismo. Puddles conquered, now let's walk away from the parking meter.
Come to find out the new entrance is about another block past the old entrance. Rain, rain go away. So we stroll past the Calder like sculpture outside the previous entrance. What's that mommy, it's a Calder like sculpture. What's that Mommy, it's a sculpture of a seal and a whale, isn't that nice. What's that Mommy, it's an outhouse honey. Apparently there is a new outdoor exhibit at the museum, "A Day in the Life of a Construction Worker".
Where is that damn entrance?

Sarah Oh Sarah

2009-09-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

Sarah oh Sarah, where art thou?
In Hong Kong or New York?
We know your trip will be short
For your children are here and they miss you my dear

For this is your State and some people think you are great
On this I disagree, for you ran away fast
You sealed your fate thinking you might be late
your 15 minutes was shrinking and you went away shirking
counting all that cash set your fate

Our Recruit Calls Home!

2009-09-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Dylan called home for the first time after arriving at Camp Pendelton two days ago. He already sounds exhausted and there is chaos in the background. It was good to hear his voice and I am sorry I didn't hear the phone sooner. It was at 12:30am and I just didn't get to it in time. But, I am glad the machine was able to record it and we look forward to playing it when he is home for Christmas.

Ooops!

2009-09-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

This is what the fence at pre-school looks like when it is backed into by the Fuelinator. Of course there were people around that all looked my way when it went THUNK.
And it didn't help my pride any when Jack ran around the playground saying "We shouldn't have hit that fence" and "I am soooo sorry we hit your fence".
John is now on deck to fix the post and fence when he gets back from the slope. Lucky guy.
I am now sipping my morning latte and trying to figure out how I can angle this situation and get a new car. Fat chance.

Go Homerites!

2009-09-06T23:56:00.000-08:00

The fisherman of Homer united to create a message against ocean acidification. I am not completely literate on the subject. But some scientists are blaming massive coral reef die offs on it, among other things. But the Goreologists seem to blame everything on fossil fuels and global warming so who knows?
What I do know, is that it took great patience and some smart planning to get this many boats in a circle and spelling out words all while adrift in KachemakBay. Kudos to all the men and women at the helm.
Now how about a peace sign!

Anchorage Intl...must be summer

2009-07-31T18:52:00.000-08:00

So there I was sitting at the airport waiting to pick up John. I am a regular at the airport. In fact I am there every three weeks, rain or shine, sleet or snow. I am there. Lot's of things go on at the airport. Most of them mundane drop offs. Kiss kiss gotta go, bye I love yous. Or the, I can't wait to get the $%#@ out of this place good byes. Aging cruise line people with there tacky name badges and matching jackets. Why do they like to be so matchy matchy?
Anyway, these guys win the goofball prize of the summer. Mr. Joe Cool in his white rabbit fur coat with black leather sleeves and pink cap. His fashion backward pal in the tight purple pants, flip flops and flak jacket and sadly the most normal one is bubba with the down vest.
If you are not a member of the Black Crowes, by law you should not dress like this.
Not only are they fashion challenged they can't read! Surprising I know. But the NO SMOKING sign was five feet away and bozo 1,2 and 3 couldn't read it.
Summertime gotta love it.

Something to do on a rainy day....

2009-07-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

When Jack was just a little over one year old he got what we call the "the peanut car" from his Grandma Orsini. When it was new it looked like the one below

Jack is now 5 years old and the peanut car has made trips all over. Its been to Ninilckik, Anchor River and Homer to name a few places. It also sat outside in the weather for all those years and was looking a little tired. So the other day when it was raining the boys and I decided that it needed a rebuild. Into the garage we went. We took the wheels off, removed the steering wheel and got to work. After doing lots of sanding, masking, painting and waiting (plus some late night special work by Daddy) we where done.

Ladies and Gentlemen I present the new and improved "Hot Rod Peanut Car".

I think Brodie likes it...

The Governors Picnic

2009-07-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we decided we needed to get the boys out of the house, just so happens the Governors picnic was going on, so off we went. We took our old Lincoln (Gerty) as the boys love to ride in it and I had not had it out yet this year. When we arrived we found lots of people in line for food and lots to look at.

Jack and Brodie with Boomer the Alaska Aces mascot.
Jack very reluctantly got inside the Air National Guard Black hawk to get his picture taken aiming the mini-gun. Dylan was very jealous.
After that we decided to go look at the food line and holy cow there where about 500 people in line. We decided that a walk downtown to our favorite hot dog vendor was going to be better than an hour in line for a bad hamburger. Off we went down town, stopping to pet all the funny stuffed animals in front of all the tourist traps. We got our dogs, then started back to the car. We stopped off at Grandma Grandma's (my Grandmothers) to say hi then headed home.

This is so wrong..

2009-07-23T19:23:00.000-08:00

The boys and I where out playing in the yard today. Since there had been bears in the neighborhood overnight and early AM we where staying close to house. The boys decided to play with the dog carrier in the driveway and I got my picture. I have dreamed of doing this on those days when they are tearing the house apart or shooting off fire extinguishers but never thought I would get a chance to actually get the picture. Does this make me a bad dad?

The Flag is Flying

2009-07-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

As some of you may remember back in May someone stole the flag off the front of our home in Eagle River. That flag had been flying since Damian left for Iraq. I wrote a letter to the editor in ADN (about halfway down the linked page) and went about replacing the flag pole and mount. A week or so later we got a call from an ADN reader who wanted us to have a flag, a very special flag, to fly at our home. Jeff Brewer gave us his flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol building in honor of his Father, Robert E. Brewer, on November 28th 1991. Well today I finally finished building our new flag pole, got the new mount on the house and started flying his flag.
A special thanks to Jeff and his family for sharing this flag with our family and allowing me to honor his Father by flying it.

At the salon......

2009-06-29T21:45:00.000-08:00

So I am sitting in the chair getting my hair done, chit chatting with my awesome stylist Denise and I tell her about the rant my husband made about Michael Jackson and the media storm. Here is what he said on Facebook

I must be the only person on earth that was not all upset that MJ died. Its not all that shocking to me. What is shocking is that our media is focused on that while Iran is crushing protesters, Korea wants to nuke us and our president (and his friends in Congress) are trying to pass the biggest tax increase in history.

I totally agree with him.
So as I get done saying and Korea wants to nuke us. A woman sitting in a chair 7 feet away butts in and and says "That's not true, the nukes are aimed at Hawaii" so I say "I think my husband meant Us as in, aimed at the United States" so big mouth no brains buttinsky says "yeah but they are aimed at Hawaii".
Did the fumes from my hair color seep into her brain and kill all the cells? I just kind of nodded and smiled, tried not to roll my eyes or give the "you are such a dumbass" look to her.

Perhaps we could ask Mr.Kim Most Esteemed Dictator if he could aim a little nukie at this woman's residence. Great damage has already fallen upon her brain, so why not let him free up some of our air space.

The New Brodie Look

2009-06-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Any one who has ever met Brodie or even seen a picture of him knows that he has had the long blond hair since birth. Stephanie and I have been talking for a while about getting it cut and giving him a new look. So with out further blabbering by me I present the before and after photos from the big Brodie makeover of 2009

Here is the before shot, nice long hair. We got worried that he could not see where he was going and speculated that possibly that is why he seems trip over everything.

Here is the "after" shot. All cleaned up and looking much older with the short hair.

Notice how he always looks up at the camera. I think that is a relic of always having hair in his eyes, or maybe its just because he is a cheeser.

John the Redeemer!

2009-06-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is true. After much to do about Mother's Day and my
husband's non compliance to the traditions of flowers, gifts, etc...
He finally redeemed himself with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers,

WITH

gladiolas and even a very nice present to boot. Now I have absolutely no idea what to get him for Father's Day, since I was going to follow my friend Emily's advice and give the slacker/non compliant gladiolas for his special day. Now I am totally unprepared. I'll let Jack and
Brodie pick it out. That way if it's completely hokey, it will be sweet because it came from them! Dilemma solved.

Thanks for the flowers honey!

First Summer trip to Homer.

2009-05-25T00:26:00.000-08:00

We spent last weekend down in Homer. On Sunday Grandpa brought his new boat down from Ninilchik for its maiden Alaskan voyage.
We motored around Kachemak Bay for an hour, then went to Halibut Cove and ate lunch while we looked at all the cool houses. The weather was great and Grandpa was really happy with his new boat.
After lunch we headed back to the Homer Harbor. While pulling up to the boat launch dock we noticed a slight problem with another boater.
After we tied up I talked to the harbor master who was there waiting for the owner to show up. As we where talking the owner showed up. She was quite upset and admitted that she must have left the plug out. She was shocked to learn that the harbor master wanted to get a diver to attach air bladders to re float the boat before she could untie it. She thought she could just untie it and drag it to the ramp and let the tide take care of the problem. As I walked away to help Grandpa pull his boat out of the water I heard her ask the harbor master if "this would be covered by her home owners insurance?", I don't think she heard me laugh out loud.

Grandpa and I got his boat on the trailer with a little to-do and off we went to drive back to Eagle River.

Happy Memorial Day to all the Veterans and current Armed Forces protecting us all over the world.

Gladiolas or Bust

2009-05-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

This is the closest thing to a gladiola that I am getting for Mother's Day. It's all I wanted, a simple country flower for a simple girl. My husband on Valentine's Day promised that without a doubt I would have gladiolas on my Oh so Special Day.
And now, the day before my Oh so Special Day, he has informed me that no gladiolas will be delivered. He failed in his one husbandry task. I never asked him to promise my favorite flower on my Oh so Special Day. He said it willingly and of his own free will.

Stolen flag, Bowling Day, Fish Hatchery, tire changeover, 12 days of illness, 4 nights in a row of a poopy toddler, two campers in the driveway, leaves are raked, dog is fed, kids are clean.

Not One Gladiola

Don't Tread on Me.

2009-05-02T21:52:00.000-08:00

Normally I would post a picture here.
But it was stolen.

The American flag that has flown strong, silent and proud from our home for the last five years was stolen last night. It was an American made flag, on a pole hand made by my husband. We put it up when Damian at 18, joined the U.S. Army and went to Iraq. He came back a year later, wounded, shaken and will never be the same again. Our flag still hung strong to our home.

Last month Dylan, now 19, enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He will go to Camp Pendleton in September. It never crossed my mind that the flag that has held on to our house over the last five years, wouldn't be there for Dylan as he serves our country.

I am sure the person or persons that crossed our lawn, ripped our flag off it's mount, leaving the copper pole on the ground and nothing but a broken bracket dangling from our house, they didn't know it was a special flag. They must not be from our country. If they were, they would know that every American flag is special and every American flag has a purpose.
Ours was to show pride in our son, our military and our country.

John ordered a new flag and pole today.
Made in America, just like us.

Bowling with Pre-schoolers?

2009-05-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

What was I thinking? I swore last year that I would never, ever take both my children to the pre-school bowl a thon. Did I listen to myself, no, not at all. In fact I even arrived early so we could get one of two lanes that is against a wall. Yeah, I am so smart. A containment wall, a wall so strong that my three year old wouldn't dare try and get away. HA, foiled by Mr. Blue Eyes again! A wall to a three year old is nothing more than an obstacle in which to conquer, and he did, multiple times.
The 90's plastic orange chairs were mere starting blocks. He seemed to quietly gather energy and with the agility of a gymnast and the speed of an Olympic sprinter he was GONE.
The worst part of the scenario, which played out several times, wasn't the towhead in the Hawaiian bowling shirt running past miniature bowlers and their doting parents. He was kind of cute. No, it was me, The Mom, lumbering after the towhead across the bowling alley. I tried to look calm and in control as I dodged the mini bowlers weighed down with over sized shiny orbs and skirted past their parent's "oh, it's her again" stares.
Four parents at different times, one of whom I had never met, actually came to me and said, "how do you do it"? Do what? Look so graceful when I fall on my ass down the lane while chasing my son?
Never, ever again.

K-Bay Seafest

2009-04-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

This will be the first year that I can actually make it down to Homer for the festivities. I am really looking forward to sea chanteys at the Salty Dawg and the wooden boat show. Not sure if I can make it to the sea chanteys as my children are much to young for the Dawg.
Which is a bummer because Jack the Four Year Old can belt out "What would you do with a Drunken Sailor" with the best of em and he loves and sings word for word "Off to Dutch Harbor"
by Hobo Jim.
Oh well, they will be fascinated in the wooden boats. And we could all use some spit time as Eagle River is dusty and a little blah this time of year.

Easter Morning Success

2009-04-13T02:49:00.000-08:00

Judging by the looks on the boys faces, our Easter morning was a success. Jack found the RED watering can to be irresistible and the pirate ship Lego's to be lots of fun. Brodie, on the other hand, enjoyed the marshmallow peep and the gold coin chocolates. Stephanie and I enjoyed a really good cup of boat coffee and the looks on the faces of our happy little boys.

I guess I wore him out.

2009-04-10T18:08:00.001-08:00

This is what happens when you take your three year old for a walk to the mailbox and follow it up with some serious yard play. He falls asleep while eating dinner.

Then he wakes up very unhappy and wants a hard boiled egg, a mushroom and strawberries for dinner

Shhhh, don't tell my husband, but I made a huge mess!

2009-03-29T13:54:00.001-08:00

The previous owners of our house had an infinity for adhesive backed carpet titles, I am not so fond of them. After I realized the entry had ceramic title under the indoor/outdoor maroon squares, I decided to get rid of them. That adhesive is strong stuff and now I have single handily created a big mess. Yes, the adhesive will come off, kind of. The areas that I used Goo Off did okay, but are still sticky and it took a lot of work with a wire brush. The areas that I used MEK(methyl ethyl ketone) bad stuff, took a little less work, but are still sticky and the entry reeks. I am now researching for something less hazardous to the air we breathe.
I am not a very good do it yourselfer. I prefer to hire someone or add the project to my husband's ever lengthening honey do list. This does not bode well with fishing season just around the corner. Oh, but how I dislike that maroon carpet.

It could be worse.

2009-03-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

I took this in Pompeii, it is one of the many castings of people that perished in AD 79. I had tears in my eyes when I shot this. It was a very somber sight. Some delayed flights and a little ash on the ground, we don't have it so bad.

One Ipod Touch + Little Boys = YouTube surfing

2009-03-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Jack and Brodie love my wife's Ipod Touch. When she got it for Christmas she put a few audio books on it and they love to hear the stories over and over. Then three or four weeks ago she put a bumble bee learning game on the Ipod... the boys went crazy for that. Now 6 times a day they want to use the Ipod to look at the bees and listen to Mike Mulliagn and his Steam Shovel. Jump foreword to last week. Jack took the Ipod off the charger and begged to use it. Mom said "yes" and into the living room they went. My wife and I where cooking dinner when I heard some laughing and someone speaking Spanish in the living room. I head in to check it out and I find this:

Two little boys laying on the couch watching videos on YouTube, in Spanish no less. I was amazed that a 4.5 year old could find and use the YouTube app on a Ipod and even more amazed that he managed to find one of maybe a dozen videos that might be acceptable for a 4.5 year old boy and his little brother.

Murkowskis need to Buck UP!

2009-03-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

In the 2009 Muni of Anchorage Notice of Foreclosure pamplet there is a company, Garcia Investments Group LLC/Nancy Murkowski 25% that owes back taxes in the amount of $22,826.00 Muni property records show that our pal Frank the Bank also owns 25% of this company and is listed as a property owner on this parcel.
This property 313 E. Street, a property that was once held by New Frontiers Ventures, LLC, which was co-owned by Lisa Murkowski, her husband and her parents, Gov. Frank and Nancy Murkowski. The property was sold to Garcia Investment Group, LLC in 2003 ie Frank and Nancy.
This property is valued at over 1.4 million dollars.
Why can't these shiesty millionaires pay up on their taxes? We pay our taxes on time and with little, but some complaint. Where is the civic mindedness of the Murkowski clan? Why are we paying our share and they aren't?
Come on Murkowskis, buck up and pony up the money.

New Addition to the Family

2009-03-03T22:30:00.000-09:00

Ladies and Gentlemen I proudly introduce the newest member of the Rathert Family....

Our new puppy.... One half German Sheppard, one half Alaskan Malamute Husky and looking at the pictures, one large 14 week old puppy. Look at those feet. We are still working on a name, but the front runner right now is Sasha. More pictures will follow I am sure.

Is it time to go fishing yet?

2009-03-01T23:22:00.000-09:00

While sitting on the slope watching the wind blow my mind drifted toward my favorite summer activity of fishing in the rivers of the Kenai Peninsula. I was wondering just how many more days of winter I had to suffer thought before I get to go fishing again. That is when I remembered that my wife had put a handy "count down" clock here on the blog (look down the on the right hand side). Low and behold I only have 83 days and some extra hours until Deep Creek opens for kings... woo woo we are under 100 days.

Then I decided to dig up one of my favorite old photo of my Grandpa Orvil with his big King. I can't say exactly what year it was taken but I look to be about 12 years old in the picture and I am 40 now (yikes I am 40). Fond memories like this are why I still love to go fishing and still forsake my summer duties of lawn mowing and home improvement to go.
(sorry the photo is a little tilted and quite spotty, its an old photo. I actually just had another copy made by a professional that is much better, but not with me on the computer)

Weird?But Why?

2009-02-23T20:53:00.000-09:00

Okay, it is not weird that our television is coated in more dust than our car is dirty. But, why and this is the weird part? Why isn't the left corner of the tv collecting any dust? Believe me, no one here cleaned out the corner. My theory is that the corner for some weird reason is not conducting any static and therefore the dust doesn't settle there. If my theory is true can it work on the whole house? Any thoughts? And the creepy hands at the bottom of the screen, those are my husbands.

Under 100 days

2009-02-15T16:47:00.000-09:00

We are now under 100 days and counting down!
A pic with two of my favorite people, doing one of my favorite things, taken on the Lil Su several years ago. What an awesome day and we didn't even catch a fish. It was pretty hard to catch anything with jet boats flying by, a lesson learned and we have never gone back. We also learned that Jack was very patient and loved being backpacked around.
Bring on the sunny warm days!

Happy Hallmark Day!

2009-02-14T20:21:00.000-09:00

Or, as the ever so romantic men in my family they like to call it.
Happy Candy Flowers Roses Day
A big thank you to my husband who spent a lot of time searching for someone to deliver Gladiolas. I threw a cog in the roses wheel last week and said I would prefer my favorite flower over the overrated, over priced, generic roses that seem to spew out of everywhere on this particular day. He tried, but couldn't complete the task over the last few days. Apparently someone has to keel over in order to get gladiolas. The flowers that did arrive are very pretty and have snapdragons, another favorite of mine. So the man done did good. But, with Mother's Day not too far off, I think a bit more planning on his part and gladiolas should be in order for the day. Hopefully, I will receive them when I am alive and kicking. They will look much better on the kitchen table then draped over the pine box!

Sad Truck

2009-02-10T16:12:00.000-09:00

Yes, the name of this truck from the manufacturer really is Sad Truck. Poor thing has been in the middle of our yard for weeks. I hadn't really noticed it until I drove up yesterday evening after swim lessons and one of the boys had left the red flashing light on. It's odd, they play on it and around it, but leave it sitting in the same spot. Last year it was inside, but the walls couldn't take another six months of the big metal fire truck. So, it parked in the middle of the yard.
Sad Truck

Godspeed

2009-02-08T16:31:00.000-09:00

With all the talk about volcanoes, cold weather and sunny days, it's easy to let go by, the fact that 3,500 Americans, our people, are deploying to Afghanistan. Their last deployment in Iraq they lost 53 soldiers. Let's give some collective thoughts that all 3,500 come home safe.
4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

Beach Lake Muksu Adventure

2009-02-06T22:40:00.000-09:00

So Steph and I thought it would be fun to take the boys to Beach lake for there first real Muksu adventure. We learned quite a bit about young boys, kick sleds and motivation. The best advice I can give is if you decide to take your young boys on a kick sled adventure, be sure the route that you choose is down hill in both directions.

Here are a few pics, click on them for full size shots.

Happy Birthday to Brodie and Zoey

2009-02-06T21:27:00.000-09:00

A few pictures of the Brodie - Zoey Imaginarium Birthday Blow out...

Brodie

Zoey

Brodie shares Jack's Pizza with Zoey

Time to Blow out the candles

Mmmmm Brodie likes cake, yep the whole piece at once.

Everyone likes cake!

Brodie likes cupcakes too.....

Then came the bubble girl and her amazing bubbles

Time to open presents.

Ava and Zoey on the slide

Brodie 5 minutes after we got in the truck to go home.

And as a special addition to the whole Birthday blog post, a video. This is what happens when the pizza is 15 minutes late.

More photos will appear on the family pictures website when time allows.

Too cool not to post.

2009-02-04T20:49:00.000-09:00

We just found this slide in a box that was sent to me by my Mom. This picture was taken by my father, 33 years ago from the viewing platform of the Empire State Building. It is of my sister, myself and our Mother. We aren't so fabulous, but the Twin Towers in the background are pretty awesome. That same day we went and had lunch at the World Trade Center. My Dad called the morning of 9/11 and we talked about that day, so very long ago.

Somebodys in Trouble

2009-01-23T21:53:00.001-09:00

So I went to open the coffee/Baileys cupboard yesterday and this very new, very sharp fillet knife fell freely from the second shelf. I jumped back and it quite impressively stuck itself into the cabinet. It appears in the pic to be sitting on the floor, but it is actually about 1.5 inches above. One can only ponder why a fillet knife was laying to rest upon the coffee cups?

Sad day for the Muksu.

2009-01-18T22:26:00.000-09:00

Let's all cross are fingers and hope for a good snow!

Good day for the boat.

2009-01-18T22:23:00.000-09:00

What happend to winter?

2009-01-17T02:25:00.000-09:00

Ugh, what is up with this weather?, what happened to my winter? I was so hoping for more frigid weather to try to dispel the myth of global warming..

Quote from the ADN today
"Anchorage recorded its warmest Jan. 16 ever this morning as warm Chinook winds raised the temperature at the National Weather Service office on Sand Lake Road to 50 degrees. The previous record high for Jan. 16 was 44 degrees set in 1926 and 1992, the service reported. The morning temperature also tied the second-warmest day in Anchorage for the month of January. The record high January temperature is 56 degrees, set on Jan. 7, 1934.

Weather records have been kept in Anchorage since 1917."

I just want it to be cold again and maybe a little snow to cover up all the windblown debris in the yard.

With respect to Jackson Pollock.

2009-01-15T21:12:00.000-09:00

We have spent all day, dipping our brushes, rolling our rollers and in general making a large mess with several cans of no VOC paint. The only good thing I can say about the day is that it's over and the house doesn't smell like paint. My hands look like the above painting. Problem is, my blue and white hands are only valuable as long as I am alive to use them. While the painting above is worth millions. That just doesn't seem fair.

It ain't easy being green.

2009-01-06T22:25:00.001-09:00

I am now on the hunt for No VOC paint for the boys room. This is becoming an eye opener. Both for the twisted way companies word things on their websites and the not so competent employee I encountered at Lowes the other day. According to him, ALL of their paints were zero VOCs. Well, this is absolutely not true. I doubt by the quizzical look he gave me, he didn't know what the three letters meant. As in, no volatile organic compounds. You know, the stuff that can make our kids sick and our house stink for days. I will continue my quest for a greener healthier home. But I think all this late night research will make me sick.

Speaks for Itself

2009-01-05T15:41:00.001-09:00

Thank God for (gasp) McDonald's Play Land

2009-01-04T09:21:00.000-09:00

Well after a week of -10F or colder weather we finally broke down and took the boys to McDonald's so they could run amok in the play land. After eating a 10 piece chicken nugget box the boys ran, climbed, slid, wrestled and yelled there way to exhaustion. When we loaded them into the car, Brodie was sleeping before we got out of the parking lot. That is the first nap he has taken in a week.. When we got home Jack laid on my chair and watched Wall-e with out moving. Mom and Dad finally got one hour to relax.

The weather is supposed to be cold for another week...I guess play land will be on the agenda for next week...

Heat must have heat.

2008-12-29T20:41:00.000-09:00

Palm trees in Mexico, it's a good thing.

Palin "declines pay raise"

2008-12-26T23:38:00.000-09:00

Come on people, do the math. Our not so esteemed governor declined a pay raise of $25,000 per year, that's good right? Hmmm, she has charged $60 per day per diem to live in HER OWN HOME, plus travel expenses for her family in the amount of $43,490. Let's see, decline $25,000 and take $61,490. No one said she was stupid, but did we think she was this flagrant?

The big SWISH

2008-12-21T22:36:00.000-09:00

While most of you know today as the winter solstice , my Dad and I always consider this the day all the salmon turn around and start their trip back to us. So Happy Big Swish day to all of you.

Jack and Brodie visit Santa

2008-12-20T20:15:00.000-09:00

Well tis the season to have the kids picture taken with good old Mr. C. Stephanie emailed me some of the results and I just had to share.

Brodie does not seem to feel the joy of the season. Jack seems to see something on the floor and Mr. C looks like he is made of stone.

2008-12-20T18:52:00.000-09:00

So as a first post to our fabolous new blog I thought it might be a good idea to give the readers a cast of characters. This post will cover the children.

Dylan:
18 years old and that says enough.

Jack and Brodie:
The two monkeys in the zoo. Jack is on the left, Brodie on the right. With a combined age of 7.5 years, Jack is 4.5 and Brodie is 3, these two pack a punch.

So welcome to our Blog and come back often.

Fish Head