Tuesday, September 15, 2009

1:30 AM and I am watching "Hoarders" on TV. What has become of me?

Here's Ajax hanging out in the yard.

Lots going on lately. I am always amazed at people who say there is nothing to do in Unalaska. They are definitely not paying attention! Saturday I had three different events to attend. First, the annual community Health Fair put on by my former employer, the Oonalaska Wellness Center. Judi decided to take the humorous approach to counseling services this year, with a nod to the "Peanuts" comic strip. Kathy is joining her at her booth.

Donna and Marie working at the Health Fair. It's always a good opportunity for folks to obtain information and health screenings, not to mention hanging out with friends and seeing everyone you know.

Next, I joined my coworkers Anne and Pipa to participate in the CROP Walk to raise funds to combat hunger locally and around the world.

We walked 10K, which is a lot for me. My muscles are still a little bit sore. The sun was shining most of the day, though we did have some clouds, rain and wind toward the end of the walk. Keils joined us and we had a great time chatting and playing silly word games along the way.

Lynn worked one of the pit stops. She's E.D. of Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (USAFV) which maintains a food pantry and prepares holiday food baskets for families. USAFV will receive a portion of the funds raised by the CROP Walk. It's a very worthy organization that provides a multitude of services to our community.

We're almost finished! The building in the background is called the Burma Road Chapel, which houses the TV and radio station where we all work. For more photos, see the KUCB blog at www.kucb.wordpress.com.

Third, Bunco! Several months back, I was asked to sub at Bunco; a few months later, one of the members moved and I was asked to join the group. Although I'd never been a Bunco player before, I decided it would be fun to do something different and expand my circle of friends. I ended up having to "host" right off the bat, which was a little intimidating since I was still learning the whole Bunco thing. :) You know I have been complaining about our house being too small and that's certainly the case when I needed room for 12 women and three card tables. So it was the Grand Aleutian Hotel to the rescue. That's Lori and Hilary above.
Michelle, DJ, Pipa and Juliette. We needed three subs so Pipa, Anne and Donna joined us. Pipa ended up winning first place!

Sonia. Yes, we had two beds in the room and considered having a slumber party.

Melanie and Anne
These women are really a lot of fun and I am glad I decided to join in. Rich made us lots of fabulous food and worked way too hard on what was supposed to be his day off. I told him he can relax because I won't have to host again for a year. haha

We've also had our book-choosing meeting for book club and I just ordered a few of the books so I can get started. Meanwhile, I've been working feverishly on our next fundraiser for work--the Alaska Ocean Film Festival, which will be held at the hotel on Thursday night, the 17th. This is a crazy-busy week with a big conference being held in town for museum and historical society folks. Again, who says there's nothing to do?!

Along with all the fun stuff, I've been increasingly frustrated and agitated with all of the carrying-on about whether President Obama should speak to school children, whether he is A) a socialist B) a Nazi C) a Muslim and/or D) determined to ruin the country. Seriously, the man is not even all that liberal. No one cared when Reagan and BushI spoke to school children, not too many people spoke up when GW Bush and his cronies took away many of our civil liberties and let the economic system run amok. Suddenly, now, they are concerned about the state of the nation and the economy? I can't believe anyone is opposed to providing health care to all Americans. Yes, you are lucky if you have insurance and you are happy with it. Not everyone is so fortunate. At one time, I was self employed and tried to find a policy I could buy on my own. Only one policy was remotely affordable, with very high co-pays and deductibles. Imagine my surprise when I was turned down for a pre-existing "heart condition" which was nothing at all. And this was minor compared to the difficulties faced by many families who cannot afford or are not eligible for coverage. What is wrong with us that we don't want to make sure that all of our citizens have medical care? I don't get it. The level of hatred and anger, rudeness and incivility is something that concerns me greatly. And can't we please get Glen Beck taken off the air?

4 comments:

Betty said...

Yes, you are certainly busy. I know, I know, I could get involved too. There was a time when I would meet myself coming and going and wondering where the day went. Seriously, my get up and go "went" somewhere else so I just meander along. Will let you all know when I will get motivated again but don't hold your breath. I like your pictures of all your friends.

Anonymous said...

Amen sister

Suzassippi said...

Wasn't it Sheryl Crow who sang a song that went something like what if God were one of us? It reminds me of when I was doing the breakthrough training and the leader said, "You are like me--you just want to go for the jugular; you have to learn compassion.

I am not having much compassion these days for my fellow women and men who do not seem to care that people are suffering from no fault of their own. We invented Social Security Insurance, disability, aid for dependent children--all those things when the Depression taught us that there are some things that are beyond individual control.

What is God was one of us? Wonder which one he would be?

Kathi said...

I'm usually up at 1:30 AM, too, Jane. I would say "call me," but your 1:30 and my 1:30 don't coincide. Of course I'll probably still be up when they do... :) I'm with you on health care- as you already know. I've gotten into it with more people than I'd care to mention, and it's fruitless I know, but I can't seem to stop myself from becoming engaged with the right wingers. argh.