... whatever else may pop into my mind as I write this.
This is the last day of April. Tomorrow we enter the month that seemed so far away when I first found out I was pregnant. Tomorrow I will be 39 weeks along, one week away from Wyatt's estimated due date. I will be nine days from my 39th birthday, which is also Mother's Day this year.
This is the most significant May of my entire life. When I think about it, I'm sure my face must take on an expression akin to being stoned out of my gourd.
This has been a surprisingly smooth pregnancy. I maintained my medical status of "boring" throughout, nothing strange, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to cause excessive worry. (I say excessive because mothers will always worry about everything all the time no matter what.)
There was the two weeks of nausea, food aversions, acute smells, and fatigue around week 8. Then the constant pressure on my bladder and the pubic symphysis issues started, the only things to occur consistently. (I did not get the second trimester respite from the bladder issues that many get.) A few weeks ago, I got the pregnant itchies, occasional rashes that would sprout, last an hour, then go away.
I had a two-day bout of edema in my feet and ankles, which went away, but has returned with a vengeance the last couple of days, thanks to Wyatt's low head-down position in my pelvis. I have been referring to them as "Hobbit feet," and it is definitely the oddest thing I have witnessed in my body. However, I have not needed to resort to getting larger shoes or schlepping around in flip-flops, which I hate. My feet have always been long and skinny (think Disney's Ichabod Crane cartoon), so I've always had room in my shoes for width. I just keep my sneakers double tied with enough room to slip my feet into them.
I have exercised all nine months. Not anywhere near what I was doing as a fitness instructor beforehand, of course. Maybe three or four days a week at the most, sometimes going several days without because of physical issues or time issues. My routines have modified and shrunk. When I go walking with hubby and the dogs, our jaunts are shorter and I walk much slower now. I feel like I'm swinging my legs around Wyatt's head with every step.
I have forgotten what it is like not to feel like I need a bathroom all the time.
I expected to get wider as I gained weight. However, my belly has been growing steadily forward and not out to the sides. Even one of the midwives exclaimed how I was all belly and nothing else when I laid down for positioning.
Wyatt has been in ROA position for at least a couple of months. The midwives tell me that having his spine on the left would be better, so I have spent part of every day on my hands and knees, sometimes more like Child's Pose, to encourage him to spin. No luck yet, but he might chose to swing at the very last second.
He is still pretty active, but I thinking it's harder for him to move now, so he gets tired easier. I love watching my husband's face as he feels Wyatt's movement.
I have not gotten any of the insane pregnancy cravings that everyone talks about. Any cravings I have had are normal cravings that I've had ever since going Paleo, for the stuff that I once loved to eat but hated the way they made me feel afterward: fast food, doughnuts, candy bars, etc. I have occasionally had a box of cereal, Annie's White Cheddar Bunnies (which will accompany me to the birthing), potato chips, ice cream.
I did allow myself whatever I wanted at my baby shower. No way was I missing out on that cake.
But everything that I indulged in was the best that I could find, with the healthiest ingredients available. Everything was organic when possible, natural with simple known ingredients when not. For example, I made my own hot chocolate from organic whole milk, organic maple syrup, organic vanilla, and 100% cacao powder. I have never had a moment of crazy, uncontrollable desire or the need for strange foods that I would never have otherwise eaten.
I mention this because food is such a huge issue for many people. I get the impression that some people felt bad about themselves when they would see how healthy I was eating all the time. But I really do think that by feeding myself and my baby the way I did, my body did not want for anything. I have gained thirty pounds almost exactly. It looks like it's all in my belly (and my ankles these days.) I feel good most of the time and usually have a good amount of energy every day.
I hope maybe telling about my experiences will help other moms in their choices.
I have not had the intense nesting or cleaning urge yet, but I do think I have procrastinated enough in getting the house set up. This week will be spent putting together the Pack n' Play, washing all the new cloth diapers and soakers and baby clothes, maybe canning up some stews for dinners, and cleaning the house for when the grandparents come to visit.
Okay, I think I have exhausted the whole baby topic.
And now for something completely different ...
I recently found out that one of my publishers has decided to go out on a high note and close up shop. They have a couple of my stories, one stand alone and one in an anthology. I had just finished writing and editing a story for one of their anthologies for this year, but I didn't get to send it in.
It makes me sad when publishers go out of business. I feel like I'm being pushed toward self-publishing more and more nowadays. It makes me wonder what will happen in the publishing industry in the next five years.
This year I've decided to push a little harder and submit my stories to pro and semi-pro paying markets. I'm also sending queries to magazines, like travel and special interest magazines rather than fiction mags. It will be interesting to juggle these new ventures while I figure out being a first time mom at the same time.
Well, I thought there might be other things to blog about, but I think this particular entry has gotten long enough. And I'm getting hungry, thanks to all that blather about food.
And I need to make my tenth trip to the bathroom today.
Showing posts with label More frightening than a post office full of zombies.... Show all posts
Showing posts with label More frightening than a post office full of zombies.... Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Monday, November 1, 2010
And we're off like a prom dress!
I know, I've probably used that line before, but I can't help it: It cracks me up!
Nanowrimo has officially begun in Alaska. I met with a couple of other die-hards at a restaurant in Palmer (the only one we know of open 24/7). We had salads and sodas, busted out our laptops, and had our first word war together as other late-night patrons chatted around us in the cozy cafe environment.
We left shortly after that first word war, but it was so cool to share staying up late and getting going right off the bat with others, that I didn't mind. It was too cool that we were able to do it to begin with! Always nice to know there are other people out there as crazy as I am!
I'm still 600 words short of my daily allotment of 1667 words, but it's just about two in the morning. I need some shut-eye in order to keep cranking out my glorious story!
Nanowrimo has officially begun in Alaska. I met with a couple of other die-hards at a restaurant in Palmer (the only one we know of open 24/7). We had salads and sodas, busted out our laptops, and had our first word war together as other late-night patrons chatted around us in the cozy cafe environment.
We left shortly after that first word war, but it was so cool to share staying up late and getting going right off the bat with others, that I didn't mind. It was too cool that we were able to do it to begin with! Always nice to know there are other people out there as crazy as I am!
I'm still 600 words short of my daily allotment of 1667 words, but it's just about two in the morning. I need some shut-eye in order to keep cranking out my glorious story!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Nanowrimo 2009 begins!
Look, Ma, I'm Nano-ing!
We are off and running. There are nine of us at the Kick-off party right now and so far today I have written two days worth of words. I have to make sure I stay ahead of my word count because I have a weekend where it will be very hard to get any writing done. And it isn't Thanksgiving, either.
Anyway, I'm going to be very busy writing this month. Finally tackling my zombie novel "Zombies Don't Eat Blondes." In a little more than 3,000 words, I've already had zombie mice and one zombie human get chopped to bits and buried. Things are going well, I think. And I'm going to try adding a Nanowrimo widget so everyone can see my word count grow. Feel free to badger me with encouragement and general heckling of "Why aren't you working on your novel!?"
PS: I guess the Nanowrimo widgets aren't working yet. I hope they are soon. I want to see the coolness because I've never had one of these on my blog before!
We are off and running. There are nine of us at the Kick-off party right now and so far today I have written two days worth of words. I have to make sure I stay ahead of my word count because I have a weekend where it will be very hard to get any writing done. And it isn't Thanksgiving, either.
Anyway, I'm going to be very busy writing this month. Finally tackling my zombie novel "Zombies Don't Eat Blondes." In a little more than 3,000 words, I've already had zombie mice and one zombie human get chopped to bits and buried. Things are going well, I think. And I'm going to try adding a Nanowrimo widget so everyone can see my word count grow. Feel free to badger me with encouragement and general heckling of "Why aren't you working on your novel!?"
PS: I guess the Nanowrimo widgets aren't working yet. I hope they are soon. I want to see the coolness because I've never had one of these on my blog before!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Mt. Redoubt erupts!
Let the party begin!
Okay, no real reason for partying here. Nor is there reason to panic. However, we did just get word a little bit ago that Mt. Redoubt has indeed erupted, so poor Logan has trundled off to prepare the store for the ash fallout. (It's after midnight. We are not happy campers.) We will have to cover all the sensitive equipment, such as computers, with plastic bags before we leave at night because ash has an annoying habit of getting inside buildings where it is most unwelcome and a bitch to deal with.
But from what I've been told from people who experienced this last time (I believe it was late 1989), that's the worst that we will see. From what I've been reading, the most common suggestion is make sure you have food and water at home just in case and carry a washcloth to cover your face when you go outside.
Of course, I could read all the articles on the internet about volcanoes erupting and what to do about it, but I still have to wait and see the results for myself!
For those interested, here is the link to the volcano watch page:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php
Mt. Redoubt is not the only active volcano in Alaska. There are quite a few, from what I understand. One that went off in 1912 killed animals more than 1,000 miles away. (But then, I'm half asleep at the moment, so don't take any of my "facts" to heart. I can scarcely remember what day it is right now. Er, what night, I mean. Whatever.)
I'll keep you posted on what we end up seeing here in the valley. It's definitely Alaska-related information that others would be interested in, if I do say so myself.
In other unrelated news, I helped out a friend today who is doing a short movie that he plans to enter in several film festivals. I was an extra for a scene in a cafe. I spent the entire time sitting at a wobbly table playing games on my Mac, like Flipword and Pacman. The hot cocoa was good, the sandwich not so good. (To give them credit, it was the end of their day and it was the last sandwich, so not the freshest to be expected.) But it was great fun because a lot of my Spitfire Grill buddies were there, too. So it made for a nice evening.
The process on our house is going very slowly. The seller is getting a set of stairs to the loft put in. Shortly after that, the appraisal will be done. Our last day in our apartment will be April 15th. We should be completely moved in by then, though the seller may still have some stuff on the property and in the garage. (The vehicles in the yard may have to wait until the complete spring breakup as they are buried in ice and snow!)
Speaking of spring breakup, it definitely seems to be on the move. The last couple of weeks have been mostly sunny, sometimes reaching temps above freezing. The eves begin dripping, patches of ice on the parking lots get soft and mushy, snow gets blown away until you can practically see dirt in some areas.
But then it still freezes at night, so all those wet patches turn slick. Gotta watch your step and drive carefully in some spots!
And then last night it got cold again and started snowing. It didn't snow in Wasilla, but it did in Anchorage and even just down the highway in Palmer. Just enough to depress everybody. I passed a billboard out in front of a local shop that proclaimed, "It is spring, it is spring, it is!" I guess someone is very adamant about that being true. It IS spring, but the weather has yet to completely cooperate.
Well, it snowed in April last year. I can see that happening again this year quite easily.
Well, it's getting on to about 1 am now. I'll have to turn on the news tomorrow morning and see what reports there are on the Mt. Redoubt eruption. 'Night, all!
Okay, no real reason for partying here. Nor is there reason to panic. However, we did just get word a little bit ago that Mt. Redoubt has indeed erupted, so poor Logan has trundled off to prepare the store for the ash fallout. (It's after midnight. We are not happy campers.) We will have to cover all the sensitive equipment, such as computers, with plastic bags before we leave at night because ash has an annoying habit of getting inside buildings where it is most unwelcome and a bitch to deal with.
But from what I've been told from people who experienced this last time (I believe it was late 1989), that's the worst that we will see. From what I've been reading, the most common suggestion is make sure you have food and water at home just in case and carry a washcloth to cover your face when you go outside.
Of course, I could read all the articles on the internet about volcanoes erupting and what to do about it, but I still have to wait and see the results for myself!
For those interested, here is the link to the volcano watch page:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php
Mt. Redoubt is not the only active volcano in Alaska. There are quite a few, from what I understand. One that went off in 1912 killed animals more than 1,000 miles away. (But then, I'm half asleep at the moment, so don't take any of my "facts" to heart. I can scarcely remember what day it is right now. Er, what night, I mean. Whatever.)
I'll keep you posted on what we end up seeing here in the valley. It's definitely Alaska-related information that others would be interested in, if I do say so myself.
In other unrelated news, I helped out a friend today who is doing a short movie that he plans to enter in several film festivals. I was an extra for a scene in a cafe. I spent the entire time sitting at a wobbly table playing games on my Mac, like Flipword and Pacman. The hot cocoa was good, the sandwich not so good. (To give them credit, it was the end of their day and it was the last sandwich, so not the freshest to be expected.) But it was great fun because a lot of my Spitfire Grill buddies were there, too. So it made for a nice evening.
The process on our house is going very slowly. The seller is getting a set of stairs to the loft put in. Shortly after that, the appraisal will be done. Our last day in our apartment will be April 15th. We should be completely moved in by then, though the seller may still have some stuff on the property and in the garage. (The vehicles in the yard may have to wait until the complete spring breakup as they are buried in ice and snow!)
Speaking of spring breakup, it definitely seems to be on the move. The last couple of weeks have been mostly sunny, sometimes reaching temps above freezing. The eves begin dripping, patches of ice on the parking lots get soft and mushy, snow gets blown away until you can practically see dirt in some areas.
But then it still freezes at night, so all those wet patches turn slick. Gotta watch your step and drive carefully in some spots!
And then last night it got cold again and started snowing. It didn't snow in Wasilla, but it did in Anchorage and even just down the highway in Palmer. Just enough to depress everybody. I passed a billboard out in front of a local shop that proclaimed, "It is spring, it is spring, it is!" I guess someone is very adamant about that being true. It IS spring, but the weather has yet to completely cooperate.
Well, it snowed in April last year. I can see that happening again this year quite easily.
Well, it's getting on to about 1 am now. I'll have to turn on the news tomorrow morning and see what reports there are on the Mt. Redoubt eruption. 'Night, all!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy yew near!
What's a yew?
Anyway, this is the first post of 2009!!!!
And I have nothing interesting to say.
Just kidding.
Lookie what I did with some of my friends here in Wasilla, Alaska! Summer, who is props mistress for the Spitfire Grill, invited me to join her in this video project. Apparently there's a contest for promoting a book called "Beyond Heaving Bosoms". Summer wrote a script, gathered a bunch of us together, and we shot almost all of it in one day.
And I gotta tell you, that was one blustery day! Single digits with a wind chill in the negatives. We'd run outside, do a shot, then run back in and warm up until the next take. I'm glad I was wearing my red Southern Bell dress; I had my long johns and my hiking boots with thick wool socks underneath!
Win or lose, we had a total blast. I can't wait to see the bloopers! Here's the finished project:
I'm "amnesia girl"!
Happy New Year to one and all. This year, my resolution is to finally finish and lay to rest the novel I have been working on for seven years. It's the first novel I ever completed, but I've been rewriting and polishing it forever. I want to get it done and start submitting it for publication, then move on to my other projects waiting in the wings.
Anyway, hubby has commanded my attention elsewhere. Adios, adieu, and all that jazz until later!
Anyway, this is the first post of 2009!!!!
And I have nothing interesting to say.
Just kidding.
Lookie what I did with some of my friends here in Wasilla, Alaska! Summer, who is props mistress for the Spitfire Grill, invited me to join her in this video project. Apparently there's a contest for promoting a book called "Beyond Heaving Bosoms". Summer wrote a script, gathered a bunch of us together, and we shot almost all of it in one day.
And I gotta tell you, that was one blustery day! Single digits with a wind chill in the negatives. We'd run outside, do a shot, then run back in and warm up until the next take. I'm glad I was wearing my red Southern Bell dress; I had my long johns and my hiking boots with thick wool socks underneath!
Win or lose, we had a total blast. I can't wait to see the bloopers! Here's the finished project:
I'm "amnesia girl"!
Happy New Year to one and all. This year, my resolution is to finally finish and lay to rest the novel I have been working on for seven years. It's the first novel I ever completed, but I've been rewriting and polishing it forever. I want to get it done and start submitting it for publication, then move on to my other projects waiting in the wings.
Anyway, hubby has commanded my attention elsewhere. Adios, adieu, and all that jazz until later!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
And then I lost ...
One of those things you think will never happen to you.
Absolutely no warning of any kind.
And the worst part is it feels almost karmic because of the timing.
I was meeting with a bunch of people at a local coffee house to work on a novel I wrote a number of years ago and have been rewriting for even more years on top of that (about 7 years altogether). Now that Nanowrimo is over, I decided it was high time I get down to brass tacks and get the thing finished once and for all. Then move on to three others I have started in previous Nanowrimos that need to be finished, then edited and rewritten.
While I was typing, I had a vague thought: I should start backing up these files. I had a new memory card thingy that I won at a Nanowrimo drawing and figured I should put it to good use. One of those thoughts that you know is a good one, but you're distracted at the moment, so you don't really give it the full value it deserves.
So what happens when I get home and, later that evening, turn the computer on?
Nothing. A complete and utter blank. Nothing but a black screen. The mouse arrow waded in the center of the blackness with nothing to click on.
There was nothing we could do. Logan had to reset the computer to the original factory settings. We're still not entirely sure if our files are squirreled away in some recovery area, but I'm not holding my breath.
I mean, the timing of it was uncanny!
I'm taking this as a sign that I have proven to myself I am capable of writing an entire novel. Therefore, I should put the old stuff to bed and begin anew.
I still have the original copy of that very first finished novel on disc. But we no longer have the program it was written in. And I've lost all the new parts I added the last year or so. And I've lost the heart to redo it yet again. I think seven years was long enough.
Now all I need are some new ideas. That's the area I'm lacking right now. I usually get my story ideas from my dreams, but I haven't been remembering any for the last few months.
Perhaps it's time to face my fears and jump into the zombie culture. I have a zombie novel in mind, but zombies scare the crap out of me. The only thing I fear more is drowning.
Well, that and losing my voice. Especially since I'm the lead in a musical that's opening in a month.
Eeek!
Speaking of writing, the melodrama that I wrote with my best friend is being performed at the Olde Coloma Theatre (http://oldecolomatheatre.blogspot.com/) and will be closing soon. It's called "A Coloma Christmas". Go see it and bring a video camera! I want to see it, too!
Absolutely no warning of any kind.
And the worst part is it feels almost karmic because of the timing.
I was meeting with a bunch of people at a local coffee house to work on a novel I wrote a number of years ago and have been rewriting for even more years on top of that (about 7 years altogether). Now that Nanowrimo is over, I decided it was high time I get down to brass tacks and get the thing finished once and for all. Then move on to three others I have started in previous Nanowrimos that need to be finished, then edited and rewritten.
While I was typing, I had a vague thought: I should start backing up these files. I had a new memory card thingy that I won at a Nanowrimo drawing and figured I should put it to good use. One of those thoughts that you know is a good one, but you're distracted at the moment, so you don't really give it the full value it deserves.
So what happens when I get home and, later that evening, turn the computer on?
Nothing. A complete and utter blank. Nothing but a black screen. The mouse arrow waded in the center of the blackness with nothing to click on.
There was nothing we could do. Logan had to reset the computer to the original factory settings. We're still not entirely sure if our files are squirreled away in some recovery area, but I'm not holding my breath.
I mean, the timing of it was uncanny!
I'm taking this as a sign that I have proven to myself I am capable of writing an entire novel. Therefore, I should put the old stuff to bed and begin anew.
I still have the original copy of that very first finished novel on disc. But we no longer have the program it was written in. And I've lost all the new parts I added the last year or so. And I've lost the heart to redo it yet again. I think seven years was long enough.
Now all I need are some new ideas. That's the area I'm lacking right now. I usually get my story ideas from my dreams, but I haven't been remembering any for the last few months.
Perhaps it's time to face my fears and jump into the zombie culture. I have a zombie novel in mind, but zombies scare the crap out of me. The only thing I fear more is drowning.
Well, that and losing my voice. Especially since I'm the lead in a musical that's opening in a month.
Eeek!
Speaking of writing, the melodrama that I wrote with my best friend is being performed at the Olde Coloma Theatre (http://oldecolomatheatre.blogspot.com/) and will be closing soon. It's called "A Coloma Christmas". Go see it and bring a video camera! I want to see it, too!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
One taco short of a grande...
That would describe a lot of the people around here.
Logan walked over to the office of our apartment building because when I went to take a shower, the water trickled, then disappeared.
We've been here nearly a year and this is the first time we've not had water. Reminded me of all those times at my parents' house when we'd run out of water because Grandma liked watering the side of the barn. (Sorry, Grammy, you know I love you!)
Anyway, Logan went over to find out what happened to the water and drop off our rent check. He found out that one of the tenants pulled a gun on the landlady and was now moving out. Don't know why he did it, but she indicated: "He wasn't right... in the head..." (Name that movie!)
We've noticed that the mental capacities of many individuals in this area are, well, not all there. I think the children are the most normal people around here. When I heard about how uncommonly friendly the people are in this state, I hadn't realized they were talking about the kids. Little kids strike up conversations with me all the time. I was at Fred Meyer a few days ago and a boy around 6 started showing me all the costumes he'd like to wear for Halloween (his mom was in the next aisle).
The adults, however, are somewhat f@%ked up!
Logan walked over to the office of our apartment building because when I went to take a shower, the water trickled, then disappeared.
We've been here nearly a year and this is the first time we've not had water. Reminded me of all those times at my parents' house when we'd run out of water because Grandma liked watering the side of the barn. (Sorry, Grammy, you know I love you!)
Anyway, Logan went over to find out what happened to the water and drop off our rent check. He found out that one of the tenants pulled a gun on the landlady and was now moving out. Don't know why he did it, but she indicated: "He wasn't right... in the head..." (Name that movie!)
We've noticed that the mental capacities of many individuals in this area are, well, not all there. I think the children are the most normal people around here. When I heard about how uncommonly friendly the people are in this state, I hadn't realized they were talking about the kids. Little kids strike up conversations with me all the time. I was at Fred Meyer a few days ago and a boy around 6 started showing me all the costumes he'd like to wear for Halloween (his mom was in the next aisle).
The adults, however, are somewhat f@%ked up!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hippo birdie 2 ewe!
Happy birthday to my bestest buddy in the whole wide world, the Queen of Hearts aka Mellybean aka Mac to my Tosh, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! I hope you had a wonderful day! I also hope your first year in your 30s was kind! >wicked grin<
Monday, August 11, 2008
Happy Anniversary, Honeybear!
Ok, yes, that's what I call my husband. Anyone who knows him chokes when they hear that.
They gag even more when they hear what he calls me. >evil wink<
We've been married seven years today. I think it's seven. Wait, lemme count...
It IS 2008, right?
You'll have to excuse me, I left my brains in my other jeans.
Yes, seven years. And we've been together for a total of almost 13 years.
Whew.
So what are we doing for our anniversary?
In all honesty, most likely nothing. One or the other or both of us are always working on the day of our anniversary ever since we got married! So it was a good day to get married, but not a good day to have an anniversary, apparently. Logan is closing tonight, so there won't be any restaurants open by the time he's done with work, except for the all night McDonald's down the street.
However, Logan is very burnt out from working, so he's going to take some vacation time this month and we're planning to take a driving trip around Alaska. Maybe head to Fairbanks, then come home by way of Glenallen. We're not sure yet.
But then, there are changes looming on the horizon as well.
I just completed a training weekend for a program of exercise that I'm very stoked about. They have other programs that I'm also interested in getting certified in, but we'll have to see what comes of that. I start teaching this one in September.
But Logan just planted something in my head. Since he's pretty much supporting me with his job and he misses teaching and practicing martial arts, he's got me convinced to consider opening a dojo here in Wasilla. With me running and teaching most of the classes, he could teach on his free evenings, which would give him an excuse to get off work at a decent time once in a while and a place to squeeze in a good workout for himself. And it would be worthwhile and meaningful work for us both.
There are six schools in Wasilla already and each seems to be teaching different styles, but we're not sure of that. Since Wasilla is growing so fast right now, I imagine there's more than enough room for one more.
But I admit that the idea frightens me. That's a big responsibility and having been raised in California, it always seemed like a legal nightmare to open a small business.
But here in Alaska, small businesses are still the thing. The "big box" chains are only just starting to creep in. They've had the Walmart for a while and now they have Sportsman's Warehouse, and Target and Walgreens will be opening soon. There are even rumors of Costco going in.
But that's it, really. Everything else is mostly "mom n' pop". I don't think it'll be as nightmarish here.
I'll have a lot of research to do. I don't know anything about running a business, though I'll tell you, with all I've been accomplishing just in these last few weeks, I'm getting braver! The weekend training thing really opened my eyes to what I can do.
And then Logan's job may be moving him along farther up the ladder sooner than we thought. But that remains to be seen.
We know that we can't expect the dojo to make any money the first year, especially since we're starting with no equipment. But that's just it; With Logan's job, we don't really need it to.
So for now, I'm going to teach at the club here and learn about what it takes to start and run a business in Alaska. Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.
They gag even more when they hear what he calls me. >evil wink<
We've been married seven years today. I think it's seven. Wait, lemme count...
It IS 2008, right?
You'll have to excuse me, I left my brains in my other jeans.
Yes, seven years. And we've been together for a total of almost 13 years.
Whew.
So what are we doing for our anniversary?
In all honesty, most likely nothing. One or the other or both of us are always working on the day of our anniversary ever since we got married! So it was a good day to get married, but not a good day to have an anniversary, apparently. Logan is closing tonight, so there won't be any restaurants open by the time he's done with work, except for the all night McDonald's down the street.
However, Logan is very burnt out from working, so he's going to take some vacation time this month and we're planning to take a driving trip around Alaska. Maybe head to Fairbanks, then come home by way of Glenallen. We're not sure yet.
But then, there are changes looming on the horizon as well.
I just completed a training weekend for a program of exercise that I'm very stoked about. They have other programs that I'm also interested in getting certified in, but we'll have to see what comes of that. I start teaching this one in September.
But Logan just planted something in my head. Since he's pretty much supporting me with his job and he misses teaching and practicing martial arts, he's got me convinced to consider opening a dojo here in Wasilla. With me running and teaching most of the classes, he could teach on his free evenings, which would give him an excuse to get off work at a decent time once in a while and a place to squeeze in a good workout for himself. And it would be worthwhile and meaningful work for us both.
There are six schools in Wasilla already and each seems to be teaching different styles, but we're not sure of that. Since Wasilla is growing so fast right now, I imagine there's more than enough room for one more.
But I admit that the idea frightens me. That's a big responsibility and having been raised in California, it always seemed like a legal nightmare to open a small business.
But here in Alaska, small businesses are still the thing. The "big box" chains are only just starting to creep in. They've had the Walmart for a while and now they have Sportsman's Warehouse, and Target and Walgreens will be opening soon. There are even rumors of Costco going in.
But that's it, really. Everything else is mostly "mom n' pop". I don't think it'll be as nightmarish here.
I'll have a lot of research to do. I don't know anything about running a business, though I'll tell you, with all I've been accomplishing just in these last few weeks, I'm getting braver! The weekend training thing really opened my eyes to what I can do.
And then Logan's job may be moving him along farther up the ladder sooner than we thought. But that remains to be seen.
We know that we can't expect the dojo to make any money the first year, especially since we're starting with no equipment. But that's just it; With Logan's job, we don't really need it to.
So for now, I'm going to teach at the club here and learn about what it takes to start and run a business in Alaska. Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Close encounters of the moose kind!
It might have been the same moose we were taking pictures of the other day, I'm not sure. Maybe she's a closet spotlight hog. (I'm so lame I don't even know if it was a girl or a boy moose. Of course, during this episode, I hardly cared to look that closely!)
Oh, wait. Maybe you'd actually like to know what happened.
Very simple,really. I was taking Bruno through the parking lot of the apartment complex to his usual potty spot. It's to the edge of the property where there's grass, bushes, and short trees along the fence belonging to one adjoining property. One is fenced, the other is not.
So as Bruno is doing his thing, I notice a big brown blob out of the corner of my eye. My first thought is, what's that horse doing over there?
When I finally pulled focus, I realized a moose was standing not more than 25 feet away from me in the unfenced yard!
It was ignoring me at that moment, busy chewing on nearby bushes. But then Bruno, that slow wit, stood at attention and wuffed.
The moose looked up. Oh, crap, I thought.
"Come on, Bruno," I whispered. "We're backing up, we're backing up." Luckily, Bruno followed along with me slowly and without protest.
Except that the moose started following me, too! He (she, it) was crossing the parking lot in the same direction I was heading!
As soon as I passed the stairwell, I picked up the speed. I didn't head up because Bruno had not finished his nightly business yet, so I dashed to the other side of the complex. Checking behind me, I saw the coast was clear.
The moment Bruno had finished, I headed back the way we came and saw one of our neighbors with her dog in the same area we had come from. I looked up and down and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
One thing I've heard over and over since we've arrived is how unpredictable moose are. How they can charge your car if you honk your horn. How if you and a moose play chicken on the road, you both loose.
I guess this one was just playing with me. Probably cutting me up to his friends afterward. "Boy, you should have seen her go, dragging that dog behind her like she's was trying to fly a kite! Ha, ha, ha!"
Oh, wait. Maybe you'd actually like to know what happened.
Very simple,really. I was taking Bruno through the parking lot of the apartment complex to his usual potty spot. It's to the edge of the property where there's grass, bushes, and short trees along the fence belonging to one adjoining property. One is fenced, the other is not.
So as Bruno is doing his thing, I notice a big brown blob out of the corner of my eye. My first thought is, what's that horse doing over there?
When I finally pulled focus, I realized a moose was standing not more than 25 feet away from me in the unfenced yard!
It was ignoring me at that moment, busy chewing on nearby bushes. But then Bruno, that slow wit, stood at attention and wuffed.
The moose looked up. Oh, crap, I thought.
"Come on, Bruno," I whispered. "We're backing up, we're backing up." Luckily, Bruno followed along with me slowly and without protest.
Except that the moose started following me, too! He (she, it) was crossing the parking lot in the same direction I was heading!
As soon as I passed the stairwell, I picked up the speed. I didn't head up because Bruno had not finished his nightly business yet, so I dashed to the other side of the complex. Checking behind me, I saw the coast was clear.
The moment Bruno had finished, I headed back the way we came and saw one of our neighbors with her dog in the same area we had come from. I looked up and down and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
One thing I've heard over and over since we've arrived is how unpredictable moose are. How they can charge your car if you honk your horn. How if you and a moose play chicken on the road, you both loose.
I guess this one was just playing with me. Probably cutting me up to his friends afterward. "Boy, you should have seen her go, dragging that dog behind her like she's was trying to fly a kite! Ha, ha, ha!"
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Missed the biggest...
Biggest snowstorm of the season, I mean. While I was in California getting soaked by rain after rain, the temperature dropped in Wasilla and got buried in snow. And I missed it!!
Oh, well.
It was fantastic seeing my family and my friends again. Got to play guitar with my dad, go shopping for my best friend's wedding, buy lunch for my friends. Love my new credit card, by the way. Ha ha.
Now I'm back in Alaska. Sorry, California, but I really like snow better than rain. Especially the dry, powdery snow like we get here. It just brushes off, so you don't go around dripping. I noticed it feels colder in California because you get wet.
Well, it seems that it doesn't matter anyway. Logan's been offered a higher position on the ladder which will take us back to California. Southern California, that is. Not sure if we care for the location. We've been reading about it and haven't heard anything real good yet.
But what's important is what this job will do for Logan and me.
It will pump up his resume to the extreme, so he'll be able to do more of what he would want to do later.
And it will allow us to pack away the money and perhaps buy a piece of property somewhere that we want to settle in, buy a new dome (yes, we want to go back to our earth muffin ways) and maybe a fancy trailer (I never did want a big house), and live the way we've always wanted to. Simple and as self-sufficiently as possible.
Will we ever return to Alaska? I don't know. We won't even get the chance to see the season that everyone raves about. We've seen the winter and it's not as bad as we'd heard before we came. If we liked winter, I can only imagine how we'd like the summer.
But life is what happens while you're making other plans.
I'll continue the blog as long as we're living in Alaska. After all, I'll probably still have some interesting Alaska stories to tell while we're here. That is the point of this blog, right?
But I think I will retire the blog when we return to California.
(Pauses to hear the great sobs of adoring fans.)
(Crickets...)
The whole reason I started this blog was because I finally had something interesting to talk about, something that other people would find interesting and informative.
If we move out of Alaska, there goes the point.
Then it would be just a blog about myself, and we all know how interesting that is.
So if you have any questions or subjects you want me to write about, let me know. I don't know when we'll be moving, but it could be as soon as next month. Just in time for my best friend's wedding!
Oh, well.
It was fantastic seeing my family and my friends again. Got to play guitar with my dad, go shopping for my best friend's wedding, buy lunch for my friends. Love my new credit card, by the way. Ha ha.
Now I'm back in Alaska. Sorry, California, but I really like snow better than rain. Especially the dry, powdery snow like we get here. It just brushes off, so you don't go around dripping. I noticed it feels colder in California because you get wet.
Well, it seems that it doesn't matter anyway. Logan's been offered a higher position on the ladder which will take us back to California. Southern California, that is. Not sure if we care for the location. We've been reading about it and haven't heard anything real good yet.
But what's important is what this job will do for Logan and me.
It will pump up his resume to the extreme, so he'll be able to do more of what he would want to do later.
And it will allow us to pack away the money and perhaps buy a piece of property somewhere that we want to settle in, buy a new dome (yes, we want to go back to our earth muffin ways) and maybe a fancy trailer (I never did want a big house), and live the way we've always wanted to. Simple and as self-sufficiently as possible.
Will we ever return to Alaska? I don't know. We won't even get the chance to see the season that everyone raves about. We've seen the winter and it's not as bad as we'd heard before we came. If we liked winter, I can only imagine how we'd like the summer.
But life is what happens while you're making other plans.
I'll continue the blog as long as we're living in Alaska. After all, I'll probably still have some interesting Alaska stories to tell while we're here. That is the point of this blog, right?
But I think I will retire the blog when we return to California.
(Pauses to hear the great sobs of adoring fans.)
(Crickets...)
The whole reason I started this blog was because I finally had something interesting to talk about, something that other people would find interesting and informative.
If we move out of Alaska, there goes the point.
Then it would be just a blog about myself, and we all know how interesting that is.
So if you have any questions or subjects you want me to write about, let me know. I don't know when we'll be moving, but it could be as soon as next month. Just in time for my best friend's wedding!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Mewwy Kissmoose!
Lucy was right. Snow comes up!
I'm serious! It looks like the snow is coming up instead of falling down, just like she said. "The wind blows it around so it looks like it's coming down, but actually it comes up out of the ground like grass. It comes up, Charlie Brown. Snow comes up!"
We got some snow the night before, so it is a white Christmas after all. And now the wind is blowing hard and while it isn't actually snowing, it looks like it is because the snow is the dry, powdery kind.
And nothing says Christmas like a nice zombie video game!
That's what Logan is doing right now. Playing a zombie video game on his new Xbox 360 Elite. I hope I get to try out my new Dance Dance Revolutions pad and game soon.
Logan gave me an iPod for Christmas and I've been filling it with as much karaoke as I can find that I already know. I've got about 40 songs on there already, and two of them are not karaoke. I finally got Wicked karaoke! Woohoo!
Today was hell at work. What happened to the days when people stayed home with their families Christmas Eve? All the employees were itching to get out the door, but all the customers where still packing in like we were going to be open til midnight. We finally started kicking people out at 4:30. And people were still calling an hour later to see if we were still open! Geeze Louise!
Logan's been sick the last couple of days, the poor dear. My boss finally had to tell him to GO HOME yesterday. He doesn't listen to me, so I'm glad Bossman laid down the law. Then he sent me home a few hours early to take care of my ailing husband. I went, but when he told me to go home early today, I said I'll think about it and promptly forgot. I'm sure he's glad I did that because we were slammed until we shut the doors.
One of my old coworkers at the kennel sent me a picture of the kennel kitty, Henry. I forgot how positively adorable he is, especially in his necktie!
I love all my family and friends and I miss you terribly. I hope you're all having a merry Christmas and that you all got your packages in the mail safe and sound. If you didn't get a package from us, don't worry. I'll probably be sending a lot of Amish Friendship bread soon!
Love you all and God/dess bless.
I'm serious! It looks like the snow is coming up instead of falling down, just like she said. "The wind blows it around so it looks like it's coming down, but actually it comes up out of the ground like grass. It comes up, Charlie Brown. Snow comes up!"
We got some snow the night before, so it is a white Christmas after all. And now the wind is blowing hard and while it isn't actually snowing, it looks like it is because the snow is the dry, powdery kind.
And nothing says Christmas like a nice zombie video game!
That's what Logan is doing right now. Playing a zombie video game on his new Xbox 360 Elite. I hope I get to try out my new Dance Dance Revolutions pad and game soon.
Logan gave me an iPod for Christmas and I've been filling it with as much karaoke as I can find that I already know. I've got about 40 songs on there already, and two of them are not karaoke. I finally got Wicked karaoke! Woohoo!
Today was hell at work. What happened to the days when people stayed home with their families Christmas Eve? All the employees were itching to get out the door, but all the customers where still packing in like we were going to be open til midnight. We finally started kicking people out at 4:30. And people were still calling an hour later to see if we were still open! Geeze Louise!
Logan's been sick the last couple of days, the poor dear. My boss finally had to tell him to GO HOME yesterday. He doesn't listen to me, so I'm glad Bossman laid down the law. Then he sent me home a few hours early to take care of my ailing husband. I went, but when he told me to go home early today, I said I'll think about it and promptly forgot. I'm sure he's glad I did that because we were slammed until we shut the doors.
One of my old coworkers at the kennel sent me a picture of the kennel kitty, Henry. I forgot how positively adorable he is, especially in his necktie!
I love all my family and friends and I miss you terribly. I hope you're all having a merry Christmas and that you all got your packages in the mail safe and sound. If you didn't get a package from us, don't worry. I'll probably be sending a lot of Amish Friendship bread soon!
Love you all and God/dess bless.
Friday, August 3, 2007
In case you need a laugh...
Now, it could be I only found this high-larious because I've done transcription for a lot of parole hearings for life inmates who have usually committed murder or kidnapping or whatever, but this really triggered the giggles for me. And these guys are doing the Thriller dance a lot better than the group in "13 Going on 30"!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=879021&fr=&amp;cache=1
I couldn't sit still while watching it, since I know the dance, too!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=879021&fr=&amp;cache=1
I couldn't sit still while watching it, since I know the dance, too!
Friday, July 13, 2007
I may be a Taurus, but this is ridiculous...
Okay, totally unrelated to moving to Alaska, but as there's nothing new to report on that front, I simply couldn't leave this one alone.
Did you see those pics of the guys getting gored during the running of the bulls?! It's enough to turn the stomach of the strongest among us. I got this pic from the Drudge Report where they're calling it "The Day the Bulls Won."
"I just got back from running with the bulls. I tell you, those bulls aren't running away, they're running around looking for people. Growl, snort, snort. I had a close call, I almost got gored in my frijoles. Oh, the pain in Spain!"
"I could help, big Al!"
Couldn't resist the Laugh-In reference. It's too, too perfect.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled chaos.
Did you see those pics of the guys getting gored during the running of the bulls?! It's enough to turn the stomach of the strongest among us. I got this pic from the Drudge Report where they're calling it "The Day the Bulls Won."
"I just got back from running with the bulls. I tell you, those bulls aren't running away, they're running around looking for people. Growl, snort, snort. I had a close call, I almost got gored in my frijoles. Oh, the pain in Spain!"
"I could help, big Al!"
Couldn't resist the Laugh-In reference. It's too, too perfect.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled chaos.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Told my boss... and lived
Today I told my boss that I was going to be quitting soon. I'd been dreading it for about a week. She has such a fiery temper, you never know what parts of you will be singed in her presence. I didn't know whether to pray that she was in a good mood (my news would ruin the good mood) or a bad one (she'd bite my head off, chew it up, and spit it into a herd of stampeding cattle.)
Not only was she cool about it, she told me that even in Alaska I would still have a job with her if I needed one. She said I could send and pick up work over the email. Wow, she really is a nice lady, though she tries to prove that wrong most of the time.
Just kidding. You know I love you, W.
Other than that, no new developments. I looked at cat carriers today with airline regulations in mind, took some pictures of Dusty curled up with his head on one of the sneakers, and generally wasted the afternoon.
I know, I know, W. I should be working. Sigh.
But first, some adorable Dusty photos, just for the halibut.
Okay, we'll settle for one photo. It's past my bedtime. Yawn.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
It's Official..
We are moving!
(Theater brats, name that line!)
Here's the hilarious part. This whole thing came up with Logan having been working his butt off and now people are finally noticing what a great employee he is. So we were waiting on the final word on his management position before selling our stuff and throwing what's left into Rubbermaid Totes.
Well, we're still waiting for word on whether he has the Gun Room Manager slot or not.
I'm officially Office Manager.
I'm shaking so much, it's hard to type@$(j392dw)(&%#
See?!
I've never been a manager before. I have no idea what to expect. I'm scared witless.
But moving to Alaska doesn't phase me one bit. Isn't that a laugh.
(Crickets chirping)
Well, maybe not.
So now it begins. Lots of furniture to move, cleaning and packing and dusting and polishing...
(Okay, even die hard theater brats won't know that one unless they've visited Olde Coloma Theatre recently. http://groups.myspace.com/oldcolomatheatre
That should give you a better idea. Good lord, this is the last show I'll be doing in California for ... uh ... a long time!)
I'll be going in for a formal interview tomorrow. Holy Mary Mother of Moonbeams, I have to tell my current boss I'm quitting! I hope there's something left of me after the blaze dies down.
So maybe we won't be leaving as early as the end of August after all. Logan said something about possibly staying here until the end of September, flying up there to do interviews for three days, coming back for a week, then going up for good in October.
But as annoying as it is, everything is still up in the air.
Oops, may mac and cheese is done. Now if only I still felt like eating.
(Theater brats, name that line!)
Here's the hilarious part. This whole thing came up with Logan having been working his butt off and now people are finally noticing what a great employee he is. So we were waiting on the final word on his management position before selling our stuff and throwing what's left into Rubbermaid Totes.
Well, we're still waiting for word on whether he has the Gun Room Manager slot or not.
I'm officially Office Manager.
I'm shaking so much, it's hard to type@$(j392dw)(&%#
See?!
I've never been a manager before. I have no idea what to expect. I'm scared witless.
But moving to Alaska doesn't phase me one bit. Isn't that a laugh.
(Crickets chirping)
Well, maybe not.
So now it begins. Lots of furniture to move, cleaning and packing and dusting and polishing...
(Okay, even die hard theater brats won't know that one unless they've visited Olde Coloma Theatre recently. http://groups.myspace.com/oldcolomatheatre
That should give you a better idea. Good lord, this is the last show I'll be doing in California for ... uh ... a long time!)
I'll be going in for a formal interview tomorrow. Holy Mary Mother of Moonbeams, I have to tell my current boss I'm quitting! I hope there's something left of me after the blaze dies down.
So maybe we won't be leaving as early as the end of August after all. Logan said something about possibly staying here until the end of September, flying up there to do interviews for three days, coming back for a week, then going up for good in October.
But as annoying as it is, everything is still up in the air.
Oops, may mac and cheese is done. Now if only I still felt like eating.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
