Fire and Ice Festival

Every year Lava has a Fire and Ice Festival  This year I finally attended one day's worth of activities.  Cheryl, Regina, Katrina and Shanna came along for the fun.  We started with a rendez-vous at my house, loading up in the jeep and driving down.  We were so chatty that we missed our exit.  I was able to follow another vehicle (who also missed the exit) across the median and back to our off ramp.  The world was cloaked in a misty haze that made missing the exit very easy.  But, I'm sure it was the fact that we were just talking and having a good time that was the real culprit.

I dropped everyone off at the Chuck Wagon cafe and then parked up at the hot spring pools.  I figured we'd want the vehicle close to where we'd be leaving.  The food at the Chuck Wagon is outstanding western diner fare with yummy scones.   We were able to buy penguins for the afternoon Penguin Race in the cafe and we even scored a plastic penguin for Katrina.

Next a bit of shopping to kill some time before the Penguin Race.  Purple Moon, Positive Space, and Dempsey Creek Trading.

While at the Purple Moon the Running of the Bulls race started.  We all went out to watch.  These crazy people run in their swimming suits from the big pool to the hot pools. Anyone running gets into the hot pools free.  It was fun to watch, perhaps because the Superbowl was on the same day the crowd running and watching was much smaller than I would have expected.  Many of those running were kids.  So in some ways it was more a running of the calves than the bulls.

Much shopping was done and many treasures were found.  I was so proud of my ability to not buy anything till near the end when a pink agate Peruvian ring stopped me.  Alas.  But it IS gorgeous.  Big pink glass 'diamonds' were chosen for Katrina and Mira (Cheryl's granddaughter in absentia) and other items.

Stopping at the Aura Soma Lava store Shanna tried on many a kooky hat.

We then walked on down to the bridge area where the Penguin Race would begin.  The world was quite frost covered though the weather was good enough by now not to feel too cold.

Apparently only ~150  penguin/ducks (the penguins really were kinda duck shaped) were sold.  So a cardboard box was all that was needed to carry them down to the bridge and dump them in the water.

It was awesome to watch how quickly the current carried many of them away, while another batch got caught in the eddies.  Poor sad penguin last and truly stuck.  I'm sure it was one of ours.  We then walked on down to the other end of the race course.

I was very slow. Something about slick surfaces still makes me nervous.  In any case, I still beat a few penguins.  People with nets and waders were waiting for the penguins and catching them so they wouldn't truly float away.

Another hike and we were back at the jeep getting our swim gear and then going to the hot pools to soak and laugh and rest.  That was lovely.  I really like the new pool with it's lower temperature.  Although I still always start with the big one that has the rocks on the bottom.  Always good for one's feet.

Finally, rested, soaked, and tired we loaded up and drove to the Sweet Shop for ice cream.  They make their own, as in homemade, waffle cones.  AND they serve huckleberry ice cream.  It was a match made in heaven.  Finally we headed back home.

I had an empty road when I slammed on the breaks and turned the jeep around so that everyone got a look at a  ring-necked pheasant also called a Chinese pheasant or Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).

From http://www.allaboutbirds.org

Where I don't know about anyone else, but I took a much needed and very peaceful nap when I got home.
Next year, I think I'll go again, but maybe start with Saturday's activities...
P.S. Thanks Regina for taking all of these photos!

On the road I need...

I love to travel and have acquired both a Shuffle and a Nano to support my drives.  Nothing like tunes or books to listen to while on the road.  Only problem was keeping track of them in the tote bag that I keep in my front seat.  Then I added a Kindle to my life and it's cord was also running loose. AND then there's another camera card and...   This is my solution:

Now they're safe in my bag and I can always feel around (keeping my eyes on the road like a good girl) and find the one I need.

As for the tote bag.  I keep the following in it when I'm off on a road trip:

• iPods, spare camera card, & Kindle cord
• Lyrics for songs I'm trying to memorize
• Spare beverage (though I usually travel with a gallon of water in the trunk)
• Snacks such as raisins, cashews, granola bar...
• The batfolders for the places I'm going (I'll be writing a batfolder entry one of these days)
• Sunscreen
• Extra book in paper in case the Kindle runs out of power.  I like to stop and get out of the car for food breaks and other breaks and sit and read.

In the pockets in my car I keep:

• Tums
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars (2 pairs, the spotting scope rides in the trunk with a couple of spare blankets and a neck pillow)
• Bird identification book
• Kleenex
• Transmitter cord to broadcast the signal of my iPods
• Recharge cord for phone that plugs into the lighter
• Transducer to allow recharging or use of other devices
• Dental floss
• Book light
• Flash light

If I'm on a big road trip (more than 3 days) I'll add a first aid kit, a plastic tarp, duct tape and spare toilet paper to the box in my trunk.

Of course it goes without saying that there are usually suitcases, computer case, occasionally coolers, file boxes and more, cause of course I can't go anywhere without being over prepared.  I did finally stop having just one suitcase for accessories and shoes though.

Notice

After the divorce, I closed this blog.  I started another one and wrote a few items (~25), but that fizzled.  I've decided to merge the two and keep this one, since it has the largest archive.  I'm going to move those posts over here and date the entries to the correct date.

New Life, New Blog

And here we are settling in to our new blog space.  Wondering what to say and how to start.  Do I dig through the past or just focus on the future?  Do I put up organization ideas or travel notes or just random thoughts and questions?   Like almost everything else in my life I am starting at square one, rebuilding a life, reworking long term goals and short term realities.  All the cards got shuffled then tossed into the air.  What will my life look like now?  And the bigger question, what do I want it to look like.  Stay tuned for the ongoing adventures of me.

Once upon a time a friend gave me the personal motto "Audeo" meaning "I Dare" somehow while I have been married I lost some of that verve some of that fearlessness.  My own motto had been "If you don't risk you don't win."   I want more of that old me back, the fearless, the passionate, the vibrant and alive.  It took a bad fall, a damaged leg and two surgeries to crack the cocoon of fear. And then there was the thing that had scared me the most, a divorce.  It happened, and I have survived and perhaps even thrived as I have intentionally and with great care mourned and tried to be present in my recovery.   Hooray for therapy, yoga, meditation, prayer, good friends, sisters and most of all my daughter.

More to come soon.

Endings and Beginnings

Nick asked me for a divorce first part of August.  I was sitting in a restaurant in Boise on my way home from somewhere.  I still can't believe that instead of owning up and facing it and our troubles he just walked away from us.  My food arrived as I hung up the phone and I just had them box it up.  Applebees gave me my dinner for free. And I went back to my hotel to cry and wonder WTF.

Fast forward to now. Many people came forward once they heard I was getting a divorce with all kinds of stories about his past misdeeds and how I was "better off without him".   The saddest part is that I think those deeds contributed to his walking away.  He couldn't own up to what he had done.  I thought this marriage, our marriage could weather anything and was worth the efforts necessary to do so.  But apparently that was only my point of view and I still believe that in Aug if he had stood up for us we'd still be together. That's not to say it would be all sunshine and flowers, we had problems that needed serious work. But wouldn't it have been worth it?  16 years and it's over.

Another thing that has ended is this blog.  I just have no heart for anything called the Semenza Chronicle.  That's no longer who I am.  

I have a new life, new goals, new vistas to explore and people to meet.  If you know me and want to continue to follow my adventures drop me an email.  I am starting a new blog, elsewhere...

Homer and back to Anchorage

The highlights version because I have got to get ready to get on the plane.

Moose with twin babies
Beaches and walking
Birding (of course)
Great food
Shopping!
Alpine version of little bunny foo foo...

Lots of birds and a few mammals were spotted:

1. SNOWSHOE HARE
2. Northern crows
3. Bald eagles
4. Common ravens
5. Black legged kittiwakes
6. Glaucous gulls
7. Loons (probably pacific)
8. Mallards
9. Euarasian wigeon
10. American wigeon
11. Northern pintails
12. Savannah sparrows
13. Sandhill crane
14. Green winged teals
15. Belted kingfisher
16. Glaucous winged gulls
17. Bonaparts gulls
18. Common merganser
19. Northern Shoveler
20. MOOSE! (1 mama with twin babies +3 more along the road = 6)
21. Magpies
22. Arctic terns
23. Barrow's goldeneyes
24. American Robin
25. SQUIRREL (to go with moose)
26. Red necked grebes
27. Tree sparrows
28. Scaup

To Homer

On the road again, looking for birds and other cool things... We left a little later in the morning than we usually do, a side effect of arriving home after 11 p.m.

The drive to Homer is gorgeous. At the requisite Beluga Point stop we saw Dall Sheep a bit further on we saw our first Moose.  The birds were out but elusive. We could hear them in the trees when we stopped, but they are tiny tricksy things that do not want to be seen.  At one of our stops I spotted a snowshoe hare, complete with big white feet ducking under the wooden plank trail.  

As we got closer to Homer we spotted a few more moose. A stop at Deep Creek State Recreation Area found us the inlet and a few more birds. It is also where we found the field of Bald Eagles. They were everywhere, in the trees, on the ground, on stumps, rises, hollows, and even a juvenile delinquent in the river playing.   We decided there must be a conference/convention.  Why else would there be so many in one spot?  

More moose sightings and we were at Homer.  We checked into the hotel. I tried to get us a cruise for the next day, but that just didn't end up panning out. We drove around town and out on the spit. We saw birds and more birds, more than 20 of the cutest sea otters ever floating around, and a few more moose, bringing my total to 9 sightings for the day.   

Dinner at Fat Olives was interesting. Arlene recently read an article which talked about how people who eat organic food are more judgemental. I don't know how true that is but you should have seen the servers ire at us not taking the other halves of our dinners.  Seriously though, why not offer half portions to begin with?  

Tomorrow we are going to do a bit of walking and birding and drive back to Anchorage.  Alas, Melinda and I have planes to catch on Thursday.

1. Arctic tern
2. Mew gull
3. Canada geese
4. Scaup
5. Cliff swallows
6. Northern crows
7. Common ravens
8. Sandhill cranes
9. Bald eagles
10. Varied thrush (Melinda & Arlene)
11. DALL SHEEP
12. SNOWSHOE HARE (Jenny)
13. Magpies
14. Green winged teals
15. Greater yellowlegs
16. Lesser yellowlegs
17. Semipalmated sandpipers
18. MOOSE! (9)
19. Greater white fronted goose
20. OTTERS (20+)
21. Boneparte's gulls
22. Black legged kittiwakes
23. Herring gulls
24. Surf scoters
25. Glaucous winted gull
26. Black scoters
27. American wigeon
28. Mallards
29. Northern shoveler

Top of the World - Barrow

An outline of a day:

Breakfast at Sam & Lee's which Arlene kept calling Sam and Ella's which if you say aloud isn't a good thing.

Birding/driving around looking at things

Barrow Public Library

Birding/driving around looking at things

Inupiat Heritage Center

Birding/driving around looking at things

Return of vehicle

Arctic Pizza for lunch/dinner

Barrow Grocery Store

Hanging out in Hotel Lobby

Flying back to Anchorage

1. Dark eyed junco
2. Snow buntings
3. Glaucous gulls
4. Greater white fronted geese
5. Red necked phalerope
6. Lapland longspurs
7. Snowy owl
8. American robin
9. Northern pintails
10. Snow geese
11. Common raven
12. American golden plover
13. Semipalmated sandpiper
14. Tundra swans

On to Barrow

The morning came early and sadly I did not sleep well, I guess I was too excited about going to Barrow.  The cab picked us up at 4:30 and we were on the plane by 6:00 a.m.   The flight wasn't packed so we were able to spread out a little which was nice.  We landed in Fairbanks, Prudhoe Bay and finally in Barrow.  I am hoping that my pics from the plane window work out.  

It is a whole different world up here. No mountains, no trees, just land, sky, snow, ice, and sea.  The sea ice is still hugging the shore but the open water is in the distance. Then add in the 24 hours of daylight and this is fascinating. Lunch at Pepe's a mexican place (chimichanga) and dinner at Arctic Pizza an everything place (chicken parmesan), both served decent if underflavored food, though the hot sauce at Pepe's was definitely hot.  But the best part of the day happened with Mike the garroulous guy we had show us around.

He was chatty and knew all kinds of things about the town and its people.  I think we taught him a bit more about birds.  And we did see birds, though not eiders. The eiders are out on the farther tundra and the polar bears are chasing the sea ice that is out to sea.  Be that as it may we did see some awesome birds including:

Snow buntings (the house sparrows in number of Barrow)

Greater white fronted geese

Glaucous gulls

Snowy owl (in all white plumage)

Lapland longspurs (in beautiful breeding plumage)

American wigeons

Northern pintails

Hoary redpoll (unfortunately I am the only one who spotted this one)

Ivory gulls

Tundra swans

American Golden plovers (in breeding plumage)

American robin (who isn't supposed to be here)

Common raven (who was hanging out on a huge satellite dish)

The list may be shorter than other days, but there are 6 bird species I've never seen and they birds are gorgeous. 

There is so much more that needs to be added to this entry including the stuff about airports and what they do for you when you can't climb stairs to small planes.  Igloos and airplanes what they really are. Bowhead whale hunting, debris in Barrow, honey buckets (though you might be fine not knowing), taking one's shoes off to be in a hotel, semi naked 60 year old stories, baleen palm trees, skin boats, ice houses, how to make money in Barrow, when seas collide...

Out and About in Anchorage

We (Daria, Melinda, Arlene and I) stuck around Anchorage going to various ponds and parks to look for birds.  It was lovely at the mudflats, windy at Potter Marsh and gorgeous up high in the park overlooking the city.  I did a lot more walking than I ever thought I would without getting winded or needing to stop and rest. Even walked up the big hill to view the city.  Go me!

Met Kayla, Hazel and Michael (Nick's cousin and her adorable family) at Snow City Cafe for Brunch.  Hazel is absolutely adorable and Kayla is a hoot.  I am going to definitely spend more time with them next time I am here. Eventually we had dinner at City Diner.

We did see a great number of birds which is awesome, and got a lot of talking in and even a bit of planning. Looks like the bird girls may go to Maine in 2014.

1. Robins
2. Rock doves
3. Greater scaups
4. Canada geese
5. Magpies
6. Dark eyed juncos
7. White crowned sparrows
8. Black capped chickadee
9. Lesser yellowlegs
10. Short billed dowitchers
11. Black bellied plover
12. Whimbrels
13. Downy woodpecker
14. Mallards
15. American wigeons
16. Herring gulls
17. Mew gulls
18. Red necked grebes
19. Arctic terns
20. Bonapart's gulls
21. Yellow rumped warblers
22. Ring necked ducks
23. Trumpeter swan
24. Sandhill crane
25. MOOSE (5 in the course of the day)
26. Tree swallow
27. Northern (red shafted) flicker (Daria only)
28. Green winged teals
29. Swainsons thrush (Daria, Melinda, Arlene)
30. Pacific loon

Valdez back to Anchorage

Morning began with a trip to the Magpie Bakery a fabulous place for breakfast in Valdez.  Nothing like a hot cinnamon roll for breakfast.  :)  They even had gluten free pumpkin muffins for Melinda.  Arlene got one of there amazing looking bear claws.  MMMMmmmmm.   Laid back atmosphere and amazing pastries.

First bird of the day was a Raven on the way to the bakery. YAY that's always a good thing.  First mammal of the day was a feral bunny on our way out of the bakery.  Hmmmmm

We did a little birding there in Valdez. This is when we finally spotted the elusive and much sought after (by us) American Dipper.  We were about to give up when one flew in (spotted by Arlene) and then watched by all of us.  Then there were two dippers fishing, swimming (I had no idea they knew how to swim) and catching itsy bitsy silver fish (I had no idea they ate fish either).  I sure hope my pictures turn out well.   Then we climbed back in the car and headed out.

1. Ravens
2. FERAL BUNNY
3. Northwestern crows
4. Gadwalls
5. Mallards
6. Pintails
7. American wigeon
8. White crowned sparrow (Jenny only)
9. Robins
10. American dippers
11. Herring gulls
12. Sandpipers (probably the pectoral ones again)
1. Tussock ducks

We then drove and drove and drove, over the mountains of Thompson Pass, and through the valleys on the Richardson Highway http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/scenic/byways-richardsonsouth.shtml We stopped frequently, which was good for me. As long as I can get out of the car and take pictures or identify birds on a regular basis then I can stay awake, otherwise forget about it.  I became a human flycatcher, flitting away from my resting place (the car) out for something and then back.   We stopped for lunch at the Copper River Roadhouse at a restaurant called Nummy's, which I still think is a cute name.   We saw sections of the pipeline and many many mountains.   

1. Common redpolls
2. Dark eyed juncos
3. Magpies
4. Trumpeter swan
5. Bald eagles
6. Barrows goldeneyes
1. Snow swans
7. Greater scaups
8. Green winged teals
9. Tree swallows
10. Gray jays
11. CARIBOU
12. Yellow warblers
13. Yellow rumped warblers
14. Belted kingfisher

I spotted the Gray jay while we were driving, I'm sitting in the back seat watching for stuff and there's this darn bird at the top of a tree flipping its tail at me.  It was definitely a gray jay so I holler out and Arlene slows and stops and turns around and we go back.  YAY!

I think both Melinda and I were dozing when suddenly Arlene starts yelling Caribou Caribou CARIBOU while slamming on her brakes.   It is a very good way to wake up.  She turns the car around and sure enough there are two huge caribou just off the road.  We took lots of pictures while they posed for us.

We arrived back in Anchorage around 5:00 hung out for awhile with Daria and then went to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant called La Mex, it was exactly what I needed.  Back home to Daria's and back upstairs to bed. Though I did take some time to balance my accounts...  All the goings and doings may mean fewer souvenirs for friends and family. Think I'll wait to buy anything till the last day.  :\    Sad sad, but I am definitely recovering from the overwork of the past year.  This is a much needed break.  

Clarity

I've lost this post once, I don't know what happened on blogspot, but if it happens again I will just chalk it up to the universe not wanting me to share this information with anyone but myself.   I've achieved a bit a clarity on this vacation.  One bit of clarity is on fear and how my life has been shaped by it.  Fear of doing, fear of speaking, fear of hurt and/or harm.  In January of 2011 I walked out my front door and slid down the concrete steps destroying my ankle in the process.  The cocoon of fear and paralysis that had limited my world shattered that day.  The most physically painful thing to have happened to me in my life thus far was walking out my door.  This truth, that pain happens anytime, anywhere and we really can't protect ourselves from it began my recovery.  Sure it is important to wear our seatbelts, eat right, work out and all the other good things we can do to prevent 'bad things', but in the end, bad things will happen and the better prepared we are mentally and emotionally to deal with them the happier we'll be overall.

It took me more than a year to recover from the injury, I still have twinges, but I am very grateful for it.  It has taken me more than a year to clear the shards of the cocoon that still trap me.  Everyone asks how I am losing weight (almost 40lbs as of this writing). Well, I've always worked out, and now I eat less.  But the biggest thing for me is the acknowledgement of my emotions and processing of them.  This isn't easy. It really isn't easy in light of continuing painful interactions or miscommunications. I am having to process a backlog of sadness, resentment, anger and a host of other emotions that I was suppressing by eating as well as the emotions I feel now.  I am doing it though.  I'd rather be angry or sad than numb any longer.  I'd rather misunderstand and feel something than to ignore and eat my pains away.

Once upon a time a long time ago, a friend of mine gave me the personal motto Audeo, meaning I dare.  At that time in my life I also used the phrase 'if you don't risk, you don't win' a lot.   I had very little money, no stable relationship and very few close friends.  In some ways that made the risks easier because it seemed I had nothing to lose.  Now I have a career, stability and a wide network of close caring friends.  I have wondered if my fear has used this against me.  I have stuff/relationships to lose and fear knows it.   Fear is an awesome tenacious beast that only has to be faced to be conquered.   I am going to face it.  I want to live a whole, real, meaningful, connected, interconnected, loving, intentional, happy life.  I am not going to let fear make my choices any longer.

One fear I am consciously working on is my fear of walking down stairs.  The fall has made my psyche and body react with fear to stairs.  It is taking work to make myself go down them. But down them I go. I now use the mantra 'I am a graceful mountain goat' in my head as I go down the stairs.  Thinking about the fear or focusing on the fall only makes me clumsy and more likely to fall.  There's a truth to the saying that 'what you focus on is what you will bring to pass.'   I am definitely more graceful going down stairs.  A real triumph occurred recently when I went down stairs that felt perilous and I didn't use the handrail.  :)   Go me.

Audeo. My personal motto refound here in Alaska.

Ferry to Valdez

An early morning (of course, what other time would birders get up?) and we're back on the road.  Gerhardt thinks that I need more sleep. Doesn't seem to matter what time of day I get in the back seat and bam I'm asleep.  We stopped at Beluga Point and saw more Dall's Sheep.

1. Ravens
2. Arctic terns
3. Canada geese
4. Mew gulls
5. Red necked grebes
6. DALL SHEEP
1. snow masquerading as dall sheep
7. Sandhill cranes
8. Magpies
9. Robins

Then drove (or rather Arlene drove) on down to Whittier via the long one way tunnel.  The tunnel is narrow and is used by cars and a train. Traffic goes one direction for a time then the other. Kinda cool, of course I don't use it every day.  Whittier is a funny little town with lots of boats, a ferry landing and a few shops.  http://www.whittieralaska.gov/   We had arrived early so we did a bit of birding in town. I finally broke out the spotting scope to start practicing using it. The parking lot had sparrows but the building by the bay where we were trying to see water birds had a boxer.  This doggie wanted to play fetch.  She was very patient and didn't want to be petted only played with.  Arlene finally gave in and tossed the rock. Yes, the boxer dog wanted to play fetch with a rock. Not just any rock but this one specific rock. She'd retrieve it and bring it to one or the other of us dropping it at our feet and then looking at us and/or the rock quite expectantly.  Silly mutt.

1. Stellar's jay (Melinda only)
2. Northwestern crows
3. Savannah sparrows
4. Song sparrows
5. Marbled murrlets
6. Greater scaups

In Whittier we drove onto an enormous ferry, parked the car and went upstairs. Apparently you don't have access to your car during the trip.  Instead you hang out in the spacious restaurant/hotel lounge area with lots of leg room, seating, and windows.  We saw lots and lots of sea life and birds from this ferry.  The water was very calm and the sun very bright and it was a gorgeous day.  To add to our fun, three other women, all who have been trained as guides for the ferry and/or work for the forest service were there to help us spot and identify birds.  I finally have learned how to tell a Kittlitz from a Marbled murrlet in flight and on the water.  WHEEEEE!  

1. OTTERS
2. DALL PORPOISES
3. Black legged kittiwakes
4. Surf scoters
5. Glaucous winged gulls
6. Herring gulls
7. STELLAR SEA LIONS
8. HUMPBACK WHALES
1. icebergs, dirty icebergs, ice chunks ...
9. Horned puffins
10. Pacific loons
11. White winged scoters
12. Bald eagles (lots and lots of these in Valdez)
13. Kittlitz murrlets

We drove off the boat and meandered around town checking things out and looking for birds.  I did see a couple of new ones, a flock of pectoral sandpipers and the merlin chasing them.  Dinner was at this posh place I ordered the halibut, and they brought me out this HUGE slab of fish, it was lovely but there was no way I could eat it all. Heck I could only eat about 1/4 of it.  I think Arlene is going to make chowder of the rest.

1. Yellow rumped warblers
2. Mallards
3. Northern pintails
4. Green winged teal
5. American pippet
6. Glaucous gulls
7. Pectoral sandpipers
8. Merlin
9. Northern shovelers
10. Gadwalls

Early to bed early to rise I guess that's partly cause I'm still on Idaho time...  Oh, and it was a busy sunny day.

Miscellany

I am going to be going back to all of these posts when I get back to Idaho.  Someone, with all of their lists and wisdom, forgot to pack the cord that takes the photos from the camera and puts them on the computer.  YAY go me.  I did use this as an excuse to buy another memory card for the camera. That way I'm not worried about running out of space on the camera.   I am  also going to  add more detail to some entries. But that may be a continuous edit.  Sorry if that messes you up. :)  I write as documentation for me for my life and to share my adventures with my friends and family.  I like making sure I get as much added as possible.

Puffins!

A very early morning began our day. Oh not that you can tell, it doesn't really get dark here anymore.  It's light when I go to bed and it is light when I wake up regardless of the hour. Because I am used to Idaho time I tend to wake up here sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m.    We packed up Gerhardt (Arlene's Jetta) and headed out for Seward.  On the road we saw:

1. Magpies
2. Ravens
3. Mew gulls
4. Arctic terns
5. Sandhill cranes
6. DALL SHEEP!!
7. Bald eagles
8. Suicidal dark eyed juncos

And then came the surrealist sign "Do Not Park By Guardrail"   Why surrealistic?  Because there is no guardrail...

We went to the Seward Sea Life center first and checked out the birds (including eiders), fish, stellars sea lions and harbor seals.  Nothing like an aquarium to teach you what to look for on the ocean.  Then came the big boat ride.  It is awesome to be out on the ocean again.  We saw so many things it was astounding.  

1. American wigeons
2. Red necked grebes
3. Suicidal robins (seriously birds kept jumping in front of Gerhardt)
4. Heard a varied thrush but nobody saw him.
5. Trumpter swan
6. Barrow's goldeneye
7. MOOSE!
8. Harlequin ducks (lots of them, they became the common duck of the day)
9. Northwestern crows
10. Savannah sparrow
11. SEA OTTERS!
12. DALL PORPOISES
13. Pelagic cormorants
14. MOUNTAIN GOATS
15. Double crested cormorants
16. HUMPBACK WHALE
17. ORCAS
18. White winged scoters
19. Pigeon guillemots
20. HARBOR SEALS
21. Surf scoters
22. Marbled murrelet (my first new bird of the trip!)
23. BLACK BEARS
24. STELLAR SEA LIONS
25. Glaucous winged gulls
26. Glaucous gulls
27. Rhinocerous auklets (sooo adorable)
28. Tufted puffins
29. Horned puffins
30. FIN WHALE
31. Herring gulls
32. FERAL BUNNY

Dinner at the Apollo restaurant in Seward. Didn't try anything new, had their Halibut fish and chips because it is irresistible. Thought about trying the king crab pasta, but the halibut lure was to much to pass up.  I've been riding in the back seat of Gerhardt this trip. It's awesome, I can spread out all my stuff (books, electronics, binoculars...) and myself.  Eyup, I napped all the way home.  Some of it was deep sleep and some was lighter, but all of it was great.  I missed out on seeing 4 more moose apparently, but really, don't care sleep is something I've been needing for a long time.   

Tomorrow we head out for Whittier where we're going to catch a ferry over to Valdez.  We can then bird around the coastline of Valdez. We're staying overnight and then driving back the next day. The drive should be amazing. Though there could be quite a bit of snow. The snow dumps here in Anchorage are not expected to melt until sometime in August. There were piles of snow in Seward and the avalanche remains are huge. Of course this was a record breaking snowfall year for most of Alaska.   Sure glad I have wool socks. 

Out and About Anchorage

Upon landing I found Melinda and Arlene waiting, we loaded all my baggage (me included) into the car and began our adventure. Okay, really we just went over to Snow City Cafe for breakfast and started plotting our adventure.  I tried their bob breakfast (one egg benedict and one egg benedict florentine).  Still not a real fan of cooked spinach apparently, but at least I'm trying some new things.  After the strategy meeting we headed out to various parks, Fred Meyers and finally Moose's Tooth for dinner. Here I tried white pizza (really for the first time) complete with artichokes and a gluten free pizza, mainly I just had their spinach, nut, cranberry, grapefruit salad which was amazing.   Daria (our hostess) came to dinner with us.  We did see lots of birds in our gallivanting including:

1. Magpies
2. White crowned sparrow
3. Arctic terns
4. Bonaparte's gulls
5. Mew gulls
6. Greater scaups
7. Barrow's goldeneyes
8. Canada geese
9. Mallards
10. Rock dove
11. Dark eyed juncos
12. Yellow rumped warblers
13. American robins
14. MOOSE - not a bird, but...
15. Northern harrier
16. juvenile bald eagle
17. American wigeons
18. Red necked grebes
19. Horned grebe
20. Lesser scaup
21. Violet green swallows
22. Ravens

Went to bed early. I was exhausted.

The Blue Jay Has Landed

It is interesting how sometimes life gives you what you need instead of what you want.  I had no idea that I needed THAT much thinking time, but apparently forces beyond my control decided I did.

I went to work for a couple hours on Monday, mainly so that I could catch my Dean up on what had happened during the two weeks she was on vacation.  I talked to several other people to make sure our projects were on track and then headed out.  I ran a couple of errands, gassed the car and hit the road.

Trip leg 1 driving to Boise.  I did some thinking and some singing (finally feeling that my voice may actually come back to me.)  I did a bunch of talking with my Mom and my friend Raven.  I got to the Boise airport early enough that I could park my car (no sky cap service) and take my two monster bags in and get them checked in.  Thank heavens.  There is no way I can manage the two monsters plus my carry on and purse at the same time.  This left me time to go visit a bit with Corinne who was kind enough to let me leave my car at her place.  She is so sweet and lovely.  She dropped me back at the airport in plenty of time to get through the tsa and onto my plane.

Trip leg 2 flying to Seattle. Duo's brother works for the tsa in Boise so I kept my eye out and wouldn't you know it, fate intervened and he ended up searching my computer bag.  It seems that the gold glittery jewelry bag that Arlene gave me is impenetrable by whatever method they use so they had to identify what the black spot was.  We talked a bit and joked and when we realized it was the jewelry bag he said women have too much jewelry to which I replied that it wasn't possible.  He clarified that his sister has too much.  I laughed.  Boy is he going to be in trouble for that comment.  I settled in with my Kindle for the waiting.  I've been reading "The 5 Love Languages" it's quite interesting/fascinating and had quite a few insights for me personally.  Anyway, time to board the plane rolls around and no, there's something the mechanics want to assess.  Uh Oh.

No problem still going to arrive in plenty of time to meet up with Min and the next flight.

But no, delayed even longer.  Flight was supposed to board at 7.  At 8:15 I got rebooked on a later flight.  At 8:30 I got rebooked and comped a hotel.  At 9:00 we finally left Boise.  Arriving in Seattle was entertaining.  I now had to find my way to the Red Lion.  But first was finding some parking island to get the shuttle.  I was about to choose sleeping in the airport when a guy who looked like he worked there strolled by.  He got me where I needed to go.  YAY.

Red Lion in Seattle has the best beds ever.  Sleep was awesome.  Waking up and putting my traveling clothes on from the last day, not so awesome.  Thinking and going slower, awesome.  Getting 4 hours of sleep, not so much.  Anyway, finally caught the plane out of Seattle at 6:00 a.m. So yes, you guessed it I was up and back at the airport at 4:00.  I arrived in Anchorage at 8:30 a.m., two time zones away from my normal one.

To add confusion to this expedition, Melinda had left her cell phone in her car.  More on that later.

MMMMmmm Crockpot Garlic Chicken

Experimented in cooking today....
4 lbs chicken breasts
1 large onion sliced
Bunch (10 very pungent) garlic cloves roughly chopped

Salt, pepper, olive oil

Put sliced onion on bottom of large crock pot
Rinse chicken, toss in olive oil, salt and pepper and garlic
Put chicken on onion, do not add any more liquid

Put crock pot on low heat for 7 or so hours

Garlic chicken just falls apart in yummy chunks.

Lucky - part 1

January 27, 2011

Lucky, that’s what I am.

The morning started per usual. I finished my sun salutations (yoga sequence) and then decided to do every pose/stretch that I am capable of doing to work my legs.  I then finished prepping for my day. Feeling good I stepped out my doorway in my sturdy Doc Marten shoes and headed out for the day.  Well, that was the plan. I stepped one stair down on my front staircase and ZOOOOOOM.  I tried to scream because of the pain, but only squawks emerged. I finally called Nick’s name. I knew he was, moments earlier closing the door behind me.  I then gently grasped my right leg and moved it so that it was parallel to my outstretched left leg.

Nick brought the little chair that I keep on the front porch to me and I propped my injured leg on it.  I had twisted it and could feel the bones clicking. Surprisingly the endorphins managed to keep me calm. Nick called 911 and we waited for the ambulance.  They arrived and awkwardly splinted my leg onto the challenge of getting me on the gurney. Luckily I have been doing yoga for awhile. I picked up my damaged right leg and set it over to the right on the gurney then the big guys helped me to stand on my left leg and voila, I was ambulance ready.

Two blocks later, I was at the hospital. They immediately brought me into the emergency room where the nurse/assistant looked at me and said, how are we going to do this…  They needed to move me to the other bed.  One of the paramedics beamed at the assistant and said, “watch this” and I redid the move the leg then the body maneuver.  Flexibility, it is my friend. I was promptly offered pain meds via IV. But I HATE needles so declined. The endorphins were still flowing and I get weirdly calm in a crisis.  I did accept a couple of pain pills though. 

Nick arrived just after I had transferred to the other bed. Luckily he was home with nowhere else to go. He stayed with me through the xray and diagnostic processes.  Several times I had to decline the liquid pain meds they wanted to IV me with.  I was then informed that the break in my fibula was up near my knee and a minor issue. The problem was with my ankle. Frankly, they seemed desperate to IV me but NO WAY. I was then told by the emergency room orthopedic doctor that I had ruined all the soft tissue and it had twisted over to the wrong side of my ankle. He was going to have to manually push it back into place.  I said okay and started my yoga breathing.

Several nurses and assistants stood around my bed.  I think they thought they would have to hold me down. In any case, I was lucky enough to know how to cope. He said ready, I breathed and he moved the ankle, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and tissues… Weirdly it felt kinda great like things were back where they belonged. I continued to breath and he continued to manipulate my ankle and voila it was over.  The doctor then said to the staff “I need to have her come in and work with my patients.” This was sweet of him to say. It was also the last time I allowed anyone to touch my ankle for weeks.

They then put a hard cast up the back of my leg and wrapped it in layers of ace bandage and sent me home. I had an appointment for several days hence with a new orthopedist who would manage my continued care.  Before leaving I was informed that I’d probably need surgery and wouldn’t be well for 10-14 weeks, lucky me (yes that one is sarcasm).

Addendum. I was very lucky to have worked out that morning. The fall should have mangled more of my legs and groin but the stretching worked and I didn't suffer from other damage.   The Doc Martens were not my friend. They are good at sticking so instead of sliding with the rest of my body, that right foot stayed put and got mangled.

Andrew Weil, M.D. - Fat Facts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvcK6A-yEoQ This is a video about how fat is not in fact making us fat. Take a look.

Fortunately Vulnerable aka How to Be Happy

This video is very powerful, funny, and eye opening. Take a look!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o It's 20 minutes and well worth your time.

Plans for the New Year?

I try not to make any real resolutions though I do have some plans worked out. 

1. Try to read more books, more spread out instead of clumped together.  I missed my target of 2 books per week last year by 8 books.  In the end I decided I wanted to spend the holidays with friends and family (and writing) instead of just buried in a book, no matter how delightful.  Oh, 2 books at 52 weeks = 104 books, this year I'm going to make it.  I just need to find a balance between novel speed binges and nonfiction slowness. - READ/LEARN

2. Trite, I know, but relose the weight I've gained over the past 2 years. It crept up on me and the six weeks of broken foot didn't help.  Any weight lost beyond that is just gravy (*snicker*). I've been doing yoga in the morning for a few weeks and expect that to continue, and I'm back on my treadmill. - TAKE CARE OF BODY

3. Write more.  Maybe the writing raven fairy can inspire me.  - CREATE

4. Remember to breathe, remember that I like people and doing things, remember to let go of control ... - RELAX

Really, all 4 of these in one form or another are constant activities/goals and not just once a year things. 

As for other kinds of plans... 

I'll be going

• Boise in January to attend the ILA board meeting
• Boise in October for ILA conference
• Spokane in August, I'm hoping to present with Karen at the PNLA conference there
• Yellowstone a couple more times in order to make that parks pass worth it's while
• Rock hunting/camping in the Tahoe region for Summer Solstice
• ??? depending on where Nick is

I'm sure there are going to be other adventures. I can't help myself.

Christmas/Holiday Activities: Part 2

Image: Emailed Greeting card from my Alma Mater.  Though it was the College of Arts and Sciences when I graduated with my history degree.

23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah

Bringing
• Cheeseballs & crackers
• Devilled eggs
• Mostacholi
• Presents for kids, Salt scrubs for women

I ended up not getting presents for the kids. I didn't know how old Glen's kids were so I just bagged the idea altogether. We left around noon and arrived right at 2:00. We'd have been early if the fog hadn't slowed us down. Dinner was great and it was good to talk to the fam. Sam may be leery of dogs, but Tom sure wasn't he followed Barkley around and around and around. Nick had bathed him the night before and had fluffed the poodle into one big puffball. He is irresistible. When Tom wasn't following the dog, the dog was following the kid. He knew Barkley sat for us on command, but his high pitched voice didn't register as a command with the dog, who ignored him. I read many chapters of the Harry Dresden book 'Small Favor' on the way down and back. The feasting was good, the conversation awesome. I'm hoping we can do this one again.
Attendees: Aunt Susan and Harry; Glen, Nicole, and their kids Zach and Abigail; David, Jen and their kids Amy, Aubrey, Sam, Tom and Jen's mom.

24th – Friday - Christmas at home with family
In the end Rebecca and Hannah went to Texas so it hardly seems like it counts for a social activity since it was just the three of us. We kept it low key but had a great time.

25th – Saturday- Christmas at home with family

Menus
BREAKFAST
• Homemade bread (machine)
NOT • Sourdough bread
NOT • Boiled eggs
NOT • Tomatoes
NOT • Cucumbers
NOT • Cheeses: Havarti, Swiss ...

Simplify, simplify, simplify became our motto so a simple breakfast of eggs and homemade bread worked great for brunch. We decided to SLEEP in.

LUNCH
NOT • Veggie tray

DINNER
• Persian chicken and rice stuffing
NOT • Dolmathes
NOT • Greek olives
• Pita bread
• Swiss chard ala Nick
• Greek Salad
NOT • Tiropitakia
NOT • Baklava

The simplify motto came into play for dinner too. We're going to bring the baklava and tiropitakia to New Year party instead. Christmas was awesome, we sat on the sofa's and opened presents and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. I got the cutest fairies EVER, and a movie I had been dying to see (The Expendables). Shanna snagged a cloak and Nick got a new GPS along with a stocking full of mini-bar items. We also received many other wonderful gifts such as the bird book from Melinda, hand crocheted scaves & hats, clothes, kitchen stuff...

26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
Shanna and I met up with Annie at Elmer's where we had a great breakfast and talked and talked and talked. Nick had pain in his back so he stayed home and worked on thesis.

29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance Bitter
Weird. It was weird seeing Lance again after 30 some years. Seeing him in the context of him marrying my sister was even weirder. I'm sure it'll get more normal as we see each other more often, and I am very happy for her. He is a nice guy and she deserves nice, funny, kind. They're great together, it's just weird.

27th – 30th Mon-Thu (South Family xmas Party)
(NOT) The South family party never got off the ground. We're all just too busy at this time of year. I think that next year I may suggest moving it to November, cause after Xmas just didn't work.

31st – Friday New Years Eve party
Nick is making roast lamb and chicken with olives. Shanna and I are making baklava and tiropitakia. Dinner should be awesome...

And it was, other people brought greek salad, hummus and pita chips, stuffed saffron rice, rum soaked fruited couscous. We were joined by Nancy & Dan, Janet, Heather & Duo, and of course Maura & Jim - it was their house after all. We sat and ate and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and Jim shared some of his alcohol from foreign countries and we laughed and talked some more. We started toasting the new year at 10:00, it was the new year in New York, and then at 11 for Chicago ... I just wish we'd started the silly idea earlier in the evening. We never got to the movies though we did manage to stay up till midnight.

Solstice and Surrounding Parties

Image: Fire from Solstice Party 2008

16th – Thursday
(I’m on vacation from the 17th – the 2nd, going back to work on Monday the 3rd)
Prep house, do laundry, wrap presents ...

17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive
Decide to make and send biscotti to friends for Christmas
• Gingerbread biscotti (not very good, tossed it)
• Double chocolate
• Chocolate mint
• Vanilla Almond
• Cranberry Almond
Decided there was too little and what I had was too ugly to send.

Dinner at Mama Inez with Heather, Duo, Bill, John, and Chrissy (plus her boyfriend and another couple of her friends). Later that evening exchanged presents at our house with H&D, J&B. (see: http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/mama-inez-mexican-quisine_1820761515.html)

Read "Hyperbole & a Half" blog posts out loud to the clan...

• This is Why I'll Never be an Adult http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
• The God of Cake http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/10/god-of-cake.html
• The Party http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/09/party.html

Seriously, we could not stop laughing. Some were of us were crying. Not me of course ... I had to try and maintain composure while reading aloud and showing the pictures. This woman is a genius.

18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Dinner

Went through holiday music, created a 190 song playlist including Ru Paul, Transiberian Orchestra, Enya, Twisted Sister, Loreena McKennit, piano, Nightmare before Christmas, Barbra Streisand, Axemas, Muppets ...

Dinner of Lasagna and salad with H&D, J&B at our house.

Made fudge & toffee with Heather

Read "Hyperbole & a Half" dog based blog posts:

• Dog http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html
• Dog's Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

I recommend that you do not read these at a service point, or while drinking any sort of beverage.  I read the last one at the reference desk one evening and HAD to stiffle the laughter. I'm sure I looked like I was having a seizure or something.  Good thing it was at the end of the semester when everyone is out studying, not in researching.

19th – Sunday - Solstice

Made peanut brittle that morning for Bill

Nick loaded up the Jeep, and then reloaded it, adding stuff to Bill & John's vehicle.

We also brought the spare tree plus decorations, music, movies, bonfire stuff, wood, candles, butter, zip lock bags, tablecloths...

I forgot to arrange for a dog sitter so Barkley came with us. He was quite the hit. We rented the conference center at Aura Soma. http://www.aurasomalava.com/ It is a lovely facility with beds, hot pool, fire pit, views of the river and usually snow, and a big kitchen.

Attendees: Jenny, Nick, Shanna, John, Bill, Heather, Duo, Darci, Adam and Barkley

Had a GREAT TIME!

We decorated tree, then everyone went to Purple Moon to do some last minute shopping.  I hung out with Barkley reading Solstice myths, it was very peaceful. Next came the awesome feast...
 MENU

• Turkey - Duo
• Greek Broccoli Pie - Heather
• Creamed Carrots - Heather
• Rolls - John & Bill
• Dressing – Jenny
• Potatoes – Shanna
• Gravy – Nick
• Pumpkin Bread - Darci
Plus: all the biscotti, the cookies, mint divinity, fudge, peanut brittle & three butterscotch banana breads.

Then outside we trooped to the fire. Barkley scampered around in the snow eyeing the river. A couple of years ago I was taking a walk with a friend and Barkley decided to check out a different cold river and promptly fell in. He could not get out of the river on his own but was clinging to the bank with his cute little fuzzy paws.  I got wet and muddy pulling him out. Nick, Shanna and I kept a close eye on him. None of us wanted a repeat of that incident. Though Nick did say he'd take care of it if it did happen.  Alas he was not with me the previous time. 

The bonfire was warm and was a great way to welcome back the light.  Heather decorated a Yule with greenery and put it in the middle of the fire. Later we did the white elephant gift giving game and I managed to score three frogs doing yoga. Some went and soaked in the hotpools, others of us hung out and watched The 300. Lots of talking and laughing at all times.

20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday

Got up early, packed and stopped for Breakfast at the Wagon Wheel diner in Lava. Made everyone listen to

The Viking Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armor, my shield and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, "Why can't those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!"
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, "We'll soon have them beat!"
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray...
I'll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
"Those are no mortal warriors -- that's Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said, "Battle's done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun."
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I'd seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.

And I heard them exclaim, 'ere they flew out of sight,
"TO HELA WITH CHRISTMAS, WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"

http://www.odins-gift.com/poth/U-Z/vikingchristmascarol.htm

Image from Aura Soma Lava Solstice Party 2008

Headed for home, unloaded the Jeep and then I went directly to bed for a long winters nap (okay it was about 3 hours). Bill & John, visited other people for awhile. When I awoke we talked a bunch more. That evening the clan gathered again and we had a small party for Shanna. More Italian food in the form of a pasta bar Nick made alfredo and I took care of the marinara. Meatballs from the freezer, grilled chicken and steamed broccoli rounded out the pasta bar menu.  Heather brought a great salad with grapefruit and cilantro. Shanna had requested brownies for dessert, though really we'd already had so much sugar it was overkill.   Hung out a bunch more that evening. John and Bill took off early the next morning.  We had a great four day party with them.  :)

Christmas/Holiday Activities: Part 1

Decorating for the Holidays... We put up or Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend. I take it slow and watch movies. Usually it's the extended Lord of the Rings series. This year, my family voted for the Harry Potter movies instead.

1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls (Maura, Robin & Loretta) at Ruby Tuesday
This was very fun, talked to Maura about her hosting a New Years Eve party. :)

4th – 5th Satunday & Sunday
Cookie baking weekend
• 12 dozen chocolate chip cookies
• 8 dozen peppermint bark cookies
• 8 dozen peanut butter toffee bit cookies

7th – Tuesday
Not feeling well, stayed home from work. It ended up lasting the week.

8th – Wednesday - Xmas potluck at Work - skipped too sick
MADE: Applesauce Spice Cake in the morning, too sick to bring it to work, it was lovely to just eat instead.

10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at work - skipped too sick
Bagged chocolate chip cookies and sent them in to work with Shanna for Cookie Exchange

11th – Saturday
I was supposed to go to Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel. I was feeling better, but didn't go down to visit. I was afraid of giving my illness to my pregnant sister and her young child. Instead Mom came up that evening for a visit, which was awesome.

12th – Sunday
Visit with mom till she left for Logan around 2:00

13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with reference crew: Cheryl, Kristi, Spencer, Regina and Emily
Another fun time, but we always have a good time hanging out or even in meetings. I am very lucky to work with such great people.
Work and work and work

14th – Tuesday
Work and work and work
MADE: Baklava for tomorrow's party

The fire alarm snafu...
Shanna and I made a baklava, we put it in a big jelly roll pan instead of the normal cake pan. It ended up using twice as much of everything but the Filo. Because of this it overflowed in the oven during the baking. As I pulled it out of the oven I saw big clumps of debris on the floor of the oven. I left the oven door open, as is my wont when I am finished baking. After all, why waste the warm air when it is so cold outside. What I didn't know was that there would be smoke from the remains of the clumps in the oven. It set off the fire alarm. We had recently purchased a new "for kitchens" fire alarm. It works. It emits a really loud set of three beeps then pauses and repeats, indefinitely. At first I just shut the door to the oven and the big door between the kitchen and me hoping it would turn itself off once the air/smoke ratio normalized. That didn't happen. Barkley started crying about the sound and Shanna, taking matters into her own hands pulled it off the ceiling. After turning it off she left it on the washing machine because it was way too high for her to put it back. We then went to bed.

Meanwhile, Nick had been out and about shopping for Christmas Presents. He didn't know what happened. Upon his return he saw the cooling baklava and this triggered in him a need to clean the oven. It is one of the self-cleaning type so he turned it on, never opening it, and went down to his office. Later the alarm went off, it penetrated my sleeping brain, but I assumed it was just a leftover alarm from the baking. It kept going, finally I smelled a new icky burning smell and thought, maybe the house really was on fire this time. I got up and went out and was greeted by the ferociously thick smoke emanating from the oven. I met up with a very confused Nick who explained that he had tried to clean the oven. I nodded and went back to bed.

The next morning confusion unraveled, Nick had banged on the sleeping Shanna's door accusing her of taking the alarm down but not turning it off. She became equally confused having decided to just ignore the second blaring of the alarm. We unconfused him by explaining the first alarm, and he explained how he hadn't looked in the oven before turning it on to be cleaned. I had gone to bed with the intention of scraping out the clumps in the morning, but that was no longer necessary. The only thing left to do was to vacuum out the ashy remains. Thank heavens the baklava didn't acquire any flavor from the smoke in the kitchen that night.  It was fine and yummy...

15th – Wednesday - Holiday party at Sandi's (Social Activity 8)
Work and work and work
Holiday party at Sandi's was great fun, lots of interesting people and the view from their house is stunning.

Holiday Plans: 2010 Thanksgiving - New Years

I didn't intend for this year to be the whirlwind of social activities it turned into. Fate intervened to eliminate a couple of them.

This was the plan that evolved over time:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work
5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work
6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

19, somehow I committed myself to be involved in 19 social activities. I sometimes think I'm a hermit. Times like this remind me that I'm not. I LOVED all of the stuff I went to. With cancelations the schedule ended up like this:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
NOT 2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party too tired, skipped it (1)
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
NOT 4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work came down with flu, skipped it (2)
SORTA 5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work still sick, sent a proxy (Shanna)
SORTA 6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel - Didn't want to expose Rachel to my illness, mom came to visit instead.
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
NOT 14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting (3)
NOT 15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting(4)
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
NOT 18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party (5)
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

Meaning I skipped out or had canceled five and sent a proxy to one leaving me with 13 marvelous, entertaining, fun get-togethers this past holiday season.

Thanksgiving



(Image from: http://www.cupcakestocarrotsticks.com/2010/11/i-survived-one-thanksgiving.html)

Menu
APPETIZERS
• Devilled Eggs
• Crudités
• Cheese Balls with Crackers - H & D

MAIN DINNER
• Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes
• Gravy
• Candied Yams
• Dressing
• Corn with Butter - oops forgot to buy
• Cranberry sauce - H & D
• Rolls - Geraldines - oops forgot to pick up or bake the substitute
• Butter
• Salt & Pepper

BEVERAGES
• Spiced Apple Cider
• White & Red Wines
• Water
• Coffee

DESSERT
• Cheesecake - purchased
• Banana Cream Pie - purchased
• Pumpkin Mousse - H & D

Gingerbread Houses

Nick's traditional/realistic house

It was entertaining to have all three of us begin with the same kit box house. We ended up with three very different houses. On Thanksgiving day we were lucky to get the walls up, it took us a couple more days to finish them.

Heather & Duo came for the gingerbread house raising and appetizers. They found a train kit that had premade frosting that was ready in its own piping bag. Now that was awesome cheating.  We watched cooking and house shows and then 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'The Incredibles'.  Terry and Robin came for dinner and afterwards we watched 'Up!', the two short movies on Up! and 'Boneknapper Dragon'. It was an animation extravaganza.

Shanna's Viking/How to Train Your Dragon inspired Swedish Fish house

I had dinner prep interruptus. I was going to baste the turkey for the first time and got a severe steam burn when peeling back the foil. I ended up with second degree burns. And while we're on it, that dang turkey was quite the trial. First I wanted to brine it. I've never tried it before but it's all the rage right now, so why not. I made the brine on Monday and left it to cool on the stove. I remembered it the Tuesday morning and had to chuck it out. You do not cook with chicken broth that's been left out overnight. Then I needed to figure out how long to cook it the way I normally do. So I took the weight on the package and did the math. Good thing Nick figured out the weight was in kilograms not pounds and redid my conversion. Now I felt I was in a hurry, eep. Instead of using my tried and true Betty Crocker for the timing, I used the Joy of Cooking. It suggested to preheat the oven to 450 degrees then turn it down when you put the turkey in. I put the turkey in and forgot the turning down part for 30 minutes. I'm really glad I remembered at all. So the Turkey was finished about two hours before dinner was on. Nick is the hero of the day. We turned down the heat and he basted it every 15 minutes till dinner was ready to be served.

My Cinnamon Bear Fantasy Cottage

The burn on my hand gave me the opportunity to do two new things. One, let go of the control of the dinner. I continued to help as best I could with a cold pack on my hand, but everyone else had to do the cooking. Nick, Shanna and Heather pretty much finished the dinner, set the table, and served the food. The second one was to cry in front of people without freaking out. I was in real pain for about 8 hours even using the prescription burn ointment, cold packs and pain killers. I was also no longer in control of my dinner and it just kinda messed with me. I do not cry in front of people. It seems like a sign of weakness. I also feel that I'll be mocked or perceived as weak and or that it will be used against me. It's one more symptom of my inability to trust people. I seem to have a huge need to keep who and what I am and what I feel a secret in order to prevent mocking/shaming/dismissing. Well Thanksgiving 2010 seems like it was a breakthrough.

Friday was a day of rest for me if not for Nick who was the hero again cleaning up the kitchen, doing the dishes etc...

Journal Entry - Preparing For The Holidays

Weekend before Thanksgiving:

With some 13-19 social engagements for the holiday season, and being the control freak I am, we started our preparations early. It took all three of us but we managed to make and freeze a bunch of stuff ...

Nov 20 - Saturday
• Huckleberry Muffins (36)
• Butterscotch Banana Bread (26 mini loaves)
• Meatballs(40 some)

Nov 21 – Sunday
• 1 (foil) big lasagna
• 2 (foil) cake pan lasagnes
• 6 (foil) bread pan lasagnes (1 noodle wide)
• 1 (glass) big lasagna (had to add prego)
• 1 (glass) sml alfredo lasagna with broccoli, cauliflower & tortellini. Serve with grilled chicken.

Unfortunately I still want to get a bunch of cookies, biscotti, truffles and other candy premade.

Cheating...Sometimes it's good to know when you don't want to or perhaps don't
have the energy to do everything yourself. I broke my toe three weeks earlier so I wasn't feeling all that capable. Our sweet real estate agent sent us a letter gifting us with free rolls from a local bakery. Our persistent auto dealer sent us a letter gifting us with a free turkey if we test drove a vehicle. Instead of making our gingerbread houses from scratch we bought kits. And for dessert I purchased frozen cheesecake and banana cream pie.


The turkey operation was fun. We went on a very snowy day to the dealer and test drove a Toyota Highlander. It was awesome! I'd really love to have one, but can't afford it at this time.

The rolls became a comedy of errors. Hubby got them reserved then we forgot to pick them up. So late Weds night he was running errands and picked up Pillsbury crescent rolls, which I forgot to bake. First Thanksgiving in a long time without rolls of any kind.

The cheesecake was lovely with huckleberry jam (from the Idaho store) as a topping.

Heavy duty paper plates and glasses were the final, lifesaving, cheat.

Cheating. Definitely going to try it again next year.

(Images, I have no idea where I got any of these on this blogpost... Sorry)

 

Journal Entry - ILA Business Mtg in Boise

ILA BOARD MEETING - NOVEMBER 14 -16

As the Academic Chair for the Idaho Library Association, I went to Boise for a meeting in mid November. I left on Sunday the 14th, driving my little red car. I listened to Janet Evanovich's book 'Hot Six' (Stephanie Plum). I didn't stop till Mountain Home when necessity overwhelmed me. I ate a late lunch there at the truck stop, chicken and potatoes. Later I got to the hotel (Safari Inn http://www.safariinndowntown.com/). My foot was a problem and I was happy they had an elevator, I was not happy with the five stairs up to the elevator. Ack. After settling in I drove off looking for a grocery store where I could pick up cheese and grapes for a late snack/dinner. I then returned to the hotel and continued reading: 'One Hex of a Wedding' (Chintz 'n China, Book 5) by Yasmine Galenorn.



The meeting began at 8:00 a.m. in the hotel. A box lunch was provided so we worked on through the afternoon, finishing around 4:00. It was quite interesting, lots of conversation about the next conference, budgets, strategic plans, and subcommittees.



Phil and I arranged to meet up at 5:00 to do a little shopping - Cost Plus (Where I bought a bottle of wine for Nick) and Barnes and Noble (Where I got the Transiberian Orchestra Xmas album). Then to Bar Gernica http://bargernika.com/ for Basque food dinner. MMMMMMmmmmmm Potato/egg tortilla, which was more like a quiche for appetizers, then croquettes and other stuff for dinner. I can't remember all of what I ate, just that it was scrumptious.

On the drive home, I had planned to listen to another novel, but instead found myself thinking and listening to music. I LOVE driving. My brain always feels more relaxed after it has had that kind of time to ponder.

I did not take any of these photos but found them on various sites.