Happy First Birthday, Luke! And June in Unalaska

We've been home since June 7 and I have been trying to catch up on vacation posts, which meant I missed this sweet boy's first birthday on the 13th!  The photo is a little outdated since it's from my February visit but isn't he the cutest?  Don't mind the fact that I am sitting on the toilet--we were watching Emery take a bath at the time. haha  Anyway, happy belated birthday to my little birthday buddy.  I remember a year ago waiting and waiting to hear from Bonnie or David that he'd arrived.  The last time I'd talked with Bonnie that night, she was in hard labor so I didn't want to bug her.  Finally, hours later, I could take it no more and rang her up.  Oh, funny, Luke had been there for quite awhile and they'd texted us his photo and stats.  Which, thanks to our crappy remote Alaska system, we'd never received.  He's a sweetheart and we are so happy to have him in our family.  Wish we could have celebrated birthday #1 together. I figure one day he will not think it's all that cool to share a bday with his old granny but I am pretty happy about it. 

I turned 59 on the 13th.  I still find it very hard to believe that I could be 59. On the other hand, Rich and I have mistakenly referred to ourselves as 60 more than once. It's like we've totally glossed over the whole 59th year.  :)

We don't do a whole lot for birthdays because we have typically just returned from a trip and we really don't seem to need a thing.  Still, I definitely like to have my birthday acknowledged and to feel a little spoiled that day (call me shallow, it's okay).  My friends took me out to lunch the day before and my coworkers on the day of.  I got up in the morning to find a sweet card and some lovely earrings on the table from my husband, had lots of calls and emails and Facebook greetings and then Rich and I went out to dinner.  So I would say my need for attention was met and I was a happy gal.

 This past Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny, even warmish day so we went out for about a two hour walk.  It was great to be out in the air and sunshine. 

The first wave of unique Aleutian flowers are making their appearance.  I love the way the flowers appear in cycles and change the look of the landscape with each new burst of color and texture.

 Eagles overhead are a constant sight.

This is a view of the small boat harbor and part of the UniSea complex.  Our house is on the hill in the center of the photo, for those of you who have asked where we live.  It's a duplex and we live in the bottom half.

We passed this little eagle party on the walk home.  I was a little leery because they have been known to attack people that they feel are threatening them or their nests. I didn't see a nest anywhere but one of the birds was kind of swooping around.  I've learned to keep my distance!

The hills are greening up, the snow is melting off the mountains, the temp is getting a little bit warmer and we are looking forward to all the beauty that continues to unfold.  Happy summer, everyone!

March Marches In

We've been having lots more snow, wind, a little rain, and cold temps. I am about ready for a tropical vacation. Texas in June will count. :) The other morning, I looked out the living room window and two huge eagles sat on the rail, staring in at the cats and me. Of course, the cats were very interested but it's a good thing they were inside, I think. Before I could get the camera, one of the birds flew away, but this one stayed for the longest time, sitting very still as the snow fell around him.

Happy 5th birthday to our sweet, funny, lively granddaughter, Ally! It is hard to believe she's turned 5 and will be a Kindergarten girl in the fall. When I'm in Abilene, she always wants to swim, shop, sing and play and we have so much fun doing it all. I didn't get to talk with her today because she was at day care while I was home and then I was at work when she got home, but hopefully tomorrow we will get to chat. Her mom said she was sick today so that could not be much fun for her birthday! Hopefully she will be much better by tomorrow. Happy birthday, Ally! We love you and miss you lots!

Sunshine and Another Goodbye

Ajax and Kali were very excited about sunny Tuesday. They spied a ground squirrel and were beside themselves. He managed to evade them but they were convinced he was still somewhere nearby.

I had to keep an eye on them because this eagle was sitting right in our yard. Sometimes Ajax acts like he thinks he can take on an eagle but I have a feeling he would come out on the losing end. Kali steers clear for the most part. The cats were too busy sniffing out ground squirrels (or attempting) and chattering their teeth toward the little birds flying by. They ignored the eagle and it ignored them.

Another one of our friends, Paul, is moving away, leaving on the ferry on Saturday. Our little group of book-reading-movie-watching-potlucking-discussing-laughing-hanging out-ers is really dwindling. Although we were not quite in his "inner circle," we've greatly enjoyed getting to know him and sharing lots of things in common. It's gonna be sad not to see his smiling face around here any more, but there's always Anchorage and wherever else the future takes us all.

We had a final potluck with a few friends at Judi's last night. Paul is highly allergic to cats so has never even been to our house! Since Anne and Jeanette also had cats, Paul ended up hosting more than his share of events at his apartment. I would always say, "I'd be glad to have everyone over but we have the DREADED CATS!" When Rich and I were in Sonoma, I bought a few cards from the little old guy at the frame shop (see post here) and added them to my stack at home. I couldn't find a decent goodbye card at the local store so started digging through my stash. I asked Rich, "Is it mean to give Paul a card with a cat on it?!" He said, "Make it funny--say 'we're wheezing and sneezing just thinking about your leaving.'" So that's what we did.

Pipa in front, Pam, Judi, Rich, Jane, Paul

We may show up at the ferry dock with bon voyage signs on Saturday. We can be a little crazy like that. :)

Weekend Update

Rich took this photo during some of the big snowstorms we had a few weeks ago. The eagles are perched on some crab pots.

Today we got up early and went to hear local birding expert Suzi Golodoff speak about birds of the Aleutians at the science conference. A few years ago, I took part in the annual bird count but we've been off island the last couple of times it's taken place. I would love to know more about the many different birds we have out here--I can recognize some but definitely do not have as much knowledge as I would like.

It was a beautiful day so we went for a drive and took some photos.

While I was still in Texas, Rich caught this whale swimming in the bay in front of our house. It wouldn't come up out of the water for him to get a great shot but it was exciting just to see one so close.

Back to today--some pictures of the Holy Ascension Cathedral, our historic Russian Orthodox Church.

Here's the Grand Aleutian Hotel, where Rich works.

And a bunch of eagles in our little dead tree forest

We had lots of good intentions today but I ended up reading awhile and then taking a nap on the couch. Rich was also reading and later took his own nap. Meanwhile, the day passed on by. He made us a nice pot of soup and we then got him signed up for Facebook. Yes, I finally talked him into it. :)

My cute little grandson Aidan had his first baseball game in Texas today. I wish I could have been there to cheer him on. I tried to call and talk with him after reading on Susan's FB that he hit the ball and got to first base! Hurrah, Aidan! But no answer on the phone so I hope I can reach him tomorrow. He will be having his 7th birthday in a few days--hard to imagine!

Friday and all's well

It's that time of year when the eagles are hanging out looking for fish.  I came home today and they were in the yard, just sitting there.  Not scared of me at all, and in fact, posed for some photos.

This one is perched on the Cat Clubhouse, while Ajax chills in a deck chair.  I guess they worked out an arrangement.  Ajax was not stalking the bird and the bird was not clicking its beak at Ajax.  Meanwhile, Kali was under the deck, keeping both eyes on the scene from a distance.

We did try to get the cats to come in the house but they are brave little souls and think they can weather any sort of bird attack.  I hope we don't have to find out if that is true or not.

We've had some big rains and a little bit of sunshine this week.  I am about to go to the deck barbeque at the hotel and I think I will need my jacket, or at least we have to make sure the big outside deck heaters are on! Funny, huh?   
Thanks to a big group effort with my mom, my sister and me, we managed to get my sister's plane ticket rearranged and two mileage tickets for my niece Alana and nephew Eli to come with her to Unalaska. Yes! They will arrive on August 12 and stay for a week.    Get ready for your Alaskan adventure!

I finished reading an excellent book called King Leopold's Ghost, about the Belgian king's horrific treatment of people in the Congo and the individuals who stood up against him. I had no idea about this history.  And I will never understand how some people can treat others so terribly.  I would love to get inside their heads and figure out their thinking.  It's one of the best books I've read in a long time--go get it!  :)   I am not doing too well on the 100 book challenge but trying to catch up lately.

We're having a little party on Sunday evening but I can't reveal the details just yet.   Happy weekend, everyone!

The little details of life

Anne getting hugs after her performance in "Grace and Glorie" on Friday night.  Great job, Anne and Linda!

Saturday we had a party to recognize 25 years of Unalaska Community Broadcasting.

Melanie's friend Cheryl came to visit from "down south" and they were busy bees running all over town.  Here they take some time to help us out at the membership meeting and birthday bash.  Thanks, gals!

Food, games, a silent auction, and a little bit of a business meeting rounded out the afternoon.
Happy Anniversary, Bonnie and David!   Aren't they cute as can be on their wedding day?

We're still getting lots of eagles hanging out on our porch and our fence.
I'm so happy to have my internet back!   After days and days of calling TelAlaska and trying one thing after another, they sent the techs out to our house while I was at work yesterday.  Rich said they installed some new wiring and told him that the original wiring hadn't been done properly in the first place.   Maybe that explains our on again/off again internet issues!  Thanks, guys!    They said the TV should be clearer and the internet faster.   We can't be sure, but both DO seem better.  Maybe true, maybe wishful thinking!

I have to admit that the internet seems to grab a lot of my time and I managed to get SO much more reading done when I couldn't get online.   :)  Check out the latest additions to the 100 Book Challenge list on the right.

In A Private History of Awe, author Scott Russell Sanders ponders "the astounding 'is-ness' of things."   "Why this apple, say, gleaming in sunlight on a pine table carved with lovers' initials, why this sound of a cello and fragrance of lavender filling the air, why this flow of breath, this mind absorbing it all, this planet hurtling through space, this universe unfolding?  The moment we begin taking this skein of miracles for granted, we cease to live, no matter if our hearts still beat."    Others call it "being present,"  living in the moment,  experiencing the now without dwelling on the past or anticipating the future.  How difficult that is!  

Words and Birds and Work and Music

Scrabble Tournament!   My first job in Unalaska (besides subbing at school) was working at the Community Center.   Along with other duties, I was usually there to help run the after school programs for kids and teens.  The younger kids and older kids alternated between the gym and the "teen room," a rec room containing a big TV, Xbox games, pool, foosball, etc.   Since I am so non-athletic, my gym days were not my favorites and I would often try to trade with another staff member for the teen room.   When the kids complained that they were bored, I would try to get them to play board games rather than Xbox.   At first, they thought I was crazy but somehow we eventually built up a good sized group of kids who really got into playing Scrabble.   We had some very competitive games going, prizes for playing harder-to-use letters or creating longer words or getting a large number of points on one word.   After a while, we were holding regular tournaments and the kids were even going to the Senior Center at night to play Scrabble with the elders.   
After I left the Community Center, it kinda fell by the wayside so I was really excited when I went to the school a few weeks ago and saw some flyers advertising a tournament for this week. One of the 6th grade teachers found out about a school based Scrabble tournament program and set one up for our 5th to 8th graders.

I didn't make it to the first night of the tournament when 44 kids on 22 teams faced off! Wow! Now that's a successful event!

  
Last night I spent three hours in the school library watching the quarter-finals.   I was proud to note that many of the contestants were the same kids from my old Scrabble playing group.   :)

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the semi finals and finals tonight but I am sure there were some interesting words being played!   Last night we had to laugh several times at the words that did not get challenged.  :)

This morning, I was getting ready for work while a  juvenile eagle was sitting on our porch railing,  looking in the window.    Ajax and Chuckie (the neighborhood stray cat) were hanging out on the porch and that eagle was twice as big as they were.  I could not get Ajax to come in the house no matter how hard I tried.  He was very interested in the bird and I think he was contemplating his chances of taking it down.  

The eagle did not budge even when I went outside and tried to shoo him off.  I left the cats sitting there and hoped for the best.  Rich went by later and said the eagle had moved to our neighbor's.
It's been a busy week.   Tuesday, I was seriously thinking about calling in to say I was not going to make it to our 8 AM staff meeting, but I got myself together and showed up about 10 minutes late to find that my coworkers had brought a ton of food and planned a little going away party for me.   It was completely unexpected since I still have a week to go and it hadn't even occurred to me that they might do something early.    Thanks, everyone!  I will miss y'all but it's not like I am going very far!

I've been staying up late to watch Letterman since one of my all time favorite bands, U2, is on his show EVERY night this week.  And their new CD came out on the 3rd so I had to get it downloaded.   Great tunes!  Now I am waiting to see if they will be on tour anywhere near where we might be next time we are down south.  :)

Meanwhile, I am loving my new job--I've learned how to download radio shows to insert into our schedule and I'm working on the upcoming membership meeting, trying to track people down to come in and pick up their auction winnings, and even got to pick a few songs to play on the radio yesterday.   I'm sure my family and friends can easily guess at least which artists I chose, if not which songs.  

We had a little snow today so I suppose winter is not quite done with us.  

Spring Fever

I came home the other day to find an eagle party going on outside our house.  Most of them flew off when I walked onto the porch but this is a picture from last spring when they ignored us long enough to catch some photos.   

These eagles were far enough away that they didn't care if I was on the porch or not.  They were having a little rumble with the ravens at the time.

We've had sunny days lately, which makes me long for the shining green hills, splashing waterfalls, and brilliantly colored wildflowers of spring and summer.   I can't wait to get out on the hiking trails again!  

What a gorgeous place!  

Rich and I were both off yesterday and felt very productive after a full day of "chores" and taking care of several items that had been languishing for weeks.   We cranked up the music (is "shuffle songs" on the ipod the greatest thing ever?!)  and kept working till supper time (Rich made a delicious lasagna, which was enough of a reward for my trials!)  Dusting...man, don't you hate it?   What a thankless job that just has to be done over and over again!   

I'd rather be hiking!  Hopefully our Unalaska Biggest Winner crew will plan some group hikes--now wouldn't that be a blast, and healthy, too?

I am doing great on the "no refined sugar" thing.  Friday, my coworkers and I had our weekly breakfast planning meeting and I just had oatmeal with blueberries in it.  Perfect!  As long as there are no sugary products in the house, I am fine at home.  I did decide not to go to Sunday Brunch today in case the temptation was too huge.  :)

Tomorrow I begin my new job in earnest, as well as still working 18 hours a week at my old job till March 12.   It will be a little hectic juggling both, but I am completely excited about getting started at UCB!