MS Bike Ride

The National MS Bike Ride (and here and here)was a success and we had a lot of fun. We volunteered for Saturday biker sign up in Granite Creek (mile 63 Seward Highway) and then helped sign bikes back in once they reached the Seward Sea Life Center. John and I counted 129 bikes (227 were signed up) making the trip on Saturday. The first rider pulled into Seward soaking wet, in about 4 hours, that is 63 miles in 4 hours, averaging almost 16 miles an hour, in the pouring rain. I would like to thank you all for not showing up because John and I had a wonderful quiet anniversary weekend. I have many pictures, I want to share, but the schedule does not permit blogging right now. So...for now you only get to hear about the bikers who raised over $100,000 for the National MS Society.

12 more days!!

Twelve more days and school starts, the girls are all registered. Spent the week doing that ...one girl... one school...one a day. Big changes this year Rose has to ride the bus for the first time, Byrd is the only one at her school now, and Tay is a big bad 8th grader. The only hassle we had this year with her registration is they stuck Tay in PE again and two class were out in relocatable, No Wheelchair access. Which mean she is inside for Health and is disappointed that it will be taught by the male teacher that tends to look at her breasts and comment how nice her PLAIN WHITE t-shirt is. Everyone was teasing that I map out two hours to do Tay's registration. There's reason behind my madness! Now its time for supplies, and what I save by not buying glue sticks and crayons will be spent on Rosey's activity fees...is it wrong for me to pressure her into wrestling? I do miss watching sports!! Tay got her Journalism class, but had to give up keyboarding for art (my girls hate art). Rosey got French, home economics, Art and Keyboarding. homework should be a fun battle with two in JR high.

Rosey has been working hard on some video's


She had a friend over and they taped this, then put it all together. There are two more video's she is working on. I need to get her into the Audio video Club.

Here is Lou's Birthday, it was from back in May, but I just finished for Sister dear so she would feel left out.

On another note, Have you ever heard of this web site? I got a message on my FLICKR account that they wanted a photo of mine. It wasn't a great photo so I let them have it....but now I am published!!!! My photo is in the slide show, on the right lower part of the article.

Fragments of Life

Last Saturday, some friends of mine and I crashed Bartlett High School 20 year reunion. I am sure if I would have gone to my brother's reunion (in Homer) they wouldn't have been so old, but these people were OLD. It was fun playing "What were you in High School!", especially since they grew up in the 80's ...there were the old Cindy Laupers/Madonna's, the cheer leaders that didn't fair to well, the lady that moved to Homer (I spotted her instantly), the stoner chick still wearing the leather, the Jocks all had beer guts, and, as it should be, the nerds sat with us! The parents of one of my Girl Scouts were there, I swore they were MUCH older. Now they know I am a lush that hangs at Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge , and that two lemon sours and a glass of wine is way to much for me.

I took the girls and the neighbor boys to Goose Lake, we finally got some July sun. Everyone else was either busy or had sick kids, so it was just me and my crew and the hundreds of other families that took the opportunity to enjoy the sun. I was a little bored, as the kids ran off to play, I wanted to, but couldn't get the guts up to be a stalker and take photos of the people enjoying the beach (my Flikr account needs some new photo's). Someday I will get the guts up to take photo's of strangers....but I did get these of my own kids.

• As soon as I took that one of Byrd, I thought of Bay Watch.

Today is my birthday, I think I am going to use that to my advantage and ask that the chores get done! I am wondering what I want to do, but I think the plans are being made for me, or maybe is my plans are will be around the important events...like payday, and play dates. Tonight it will be just us and cake. Tomorrow, it is boat races at noon and the Harry Potter Book release party all night. Saturday maybe a BBQ before the x-brother in-law leaves, maybe the weather will be nice and we can do it out of town. I would love to take Keith out and get him drunk for his plane ride home (lets see if we can get him wasted enough he will be so loud and obstinate to the flight crew they will land early to 86 him), maybe a babysitter for Saturday is on order!

Shriners called to day to tell me Taylors bike is coming, when I stated I wasn't expecting a bike, I found that Herb meant to call Taylor Mac... not Taylor Mc... Darn it!! Last night Taylor took STEPS up the stairs using mostly her right leg, so today I took her wheelchair so I could "Wash It" ...lets see how see does with only using her walker today. Is that child abuse? cause I feel really mean. Lucky the monster with-in is sleeping, I got away with it, so far.

Oh did I tell you I am the Brewopoly Champion!! After kicking Shana's family butts last Friday, I proceeded to whoop my kids butt (and my husbands) last night!! Now my kids really know to much about beer.

Whoa... after reading this through (and yes probably missing still more grammar/spelling error), if someone didn't know me, it would appear like I have a drinking problem. Hmmm... really its only socially, July is just really social and I am just really bad at typing and spelling.

Pike

Pike from Cheeny Lake.


Edit -Uncle Bill say " ...Turn the bowl upside down-looks like a face." What do you think?

My Weekend

My plans changed for the weekend, I was supposed to be doing chores and parting with John and Taylor. Celebrating the success of the surgery and Johns birthday...but thing were burning and I wasn't going to miss out. Thanks Jen and Rodney for all the fun (no blog to link)!!

This is the view of the Ninilchik Fire/ Caribou Hills Fire. This is from my Brothers Cabin on Moose Horn Ridge, (Caribou Lake is to the right)... Check out my Fliker Account for more photos.

It's Up....No its Down...

One minute the internet is UP the next it is down. I had so many stories that are now lost, due to the Internet Company issues. Here's the catch up...John and Tay are gone...Tay is Doing Good...Just a few frustrations... I missed out on....and I Missed....so I could...but all is okay after John and Tay flew out and Byrd went and stayed in AP, Rose and I had fun.
On Monday, after the chores were done of course, we called a friend and grabbed sandwiches and hiked to flat top.

Thats a snow ball.

Where we stopped to eat, not even past blueberry hill, but a Great View.

At the top, this was the tallest living plant.

At the top, the sun started to show..

The dirt on the face...its for the effect of it all...They struggled
to the top.They earned that dirt... Drama Queens.

Here they are striking a pose at the top of flat top over looking Anchorage.


Tuesday, we did more chores (don't tell Byrd but her room has been cleaned) we set out to do a few last minute chores...okay we shopped...got a router and some CHEAP CHEAP shorts and a new bra.

Wednesday's, we set out early to get a few more errands done, we were running late for an appointment when we got caught in traffic, Rosey caught this photo at N. lights and the Highway.

After seeing this and being late I had a feeling something would set me off track. We got to our appointment and hour EARLY so we left to buy food for the fish and frog. Animal House 10:30 am CLOSED...So all the way across town only to spend way more money. Then back just in time for my appointment to get my hair trimmed, and eyebrows and mustache waxed (first time for the stash and...it's still numb).
We dash home so Rose can feed the frog, and off we go North. First stop Thunderbird Falls...

Graffiti...took Rose a little to get it.

At the falls

Self portrait

Here we are at the top viewing deck, it's only a mile hike, but it was fun. We then went to the base of the falls and ate by the river. The mosquitoes were eating also so we left quickly. Headed north again...to

Camp Togo Woods.

Roses home for the next week.

On my way home I tried to sight see saw nothing interesting, even after driving ever back road, so I headed home.Just north of the North of Birchwood Exit, I hear a terrible noise, no cars round, so it must be me, I got safely to the off ramp and was just about to stopped when a very LOUD motorcycle zoomed past me out of nowhere. Felling relieved, the noise was him I started to go again..but nope, it was me, I had a flat. I was doing 70- 75 down the highway, I heard the noise but felt nothing, not a change in steering, nothing. I called the, no hassle warranty company that was supposed to covere roadside assistance, but DOESN'T, then called Donny and Heath. They are on the south side of Anchorage, they will come out, but I am not waiting, I get started. Jack .. Check... Tire... check... lug wrench ...check... I get the lug nuts loose and go to drop the spare. I am under the car when someone (other then a cop) finally stops to help. Thanks two dudes in the little blue truck. My feeling of impeding doom has passed and I have been home enjoying a clean quiet house. So nice...my time. Tomorrow mow the lawn and pick up Tay and John.

Ladybug Brigade

Every year my youngest two daughters go out and collect Ladybugs, they have their special hunting grounds, like the bathroom pull off on the Sterling Highway past Cooper Landing and before the Kenai Burns. This time they plucked the little ladies closer to home, but the mother load was still reached. Hundreds of little bugs, that I have been trying to free so they will eat my aphids, its a good thing they haven't seen their freedom or else we could have never experienced a birth like this.

End Campment

Encampment has come to an end, Byrd came home last night with her troop and Rose showed up at 9:30 this morning (I guess the leaders we anxious to get home). All of the girls had a blast and want to go back, even the cranky ones that refuse to have fun the whole time. Another succesful GS event and many fun memories.

Encampment

The girls are having fun at camp, they made, bird houses that look like racing cars, beaded necklaces, tie dying, and rockets.
The girls at camp have a new tent, THANKS POPE! I brought it out last night and set it up, we forgot to lay a ground cloth before we staked in the bottom, poor Caity, had to crawl under the tent (that the leaders were to lazy to un-stake), to stretch out the ground cloth (tarp).... after we ate dinner and went to the talent show, swapped our SWAPS, and had a dance with a great DJ. I danced so much and laughed so hard. What a great night!!! I left around 11pm and the girls were still having fun.

Brave New Girls

I sent the young two girls and my Girl Scout Troops off to Encampment yesterday morning, by noon I was getting phone call for more line (rope) for storm lashing. Two years ago we dealt with heat stroke this year wind.
Around 4:30, yesterday, I headed out to bring the younger troop some dinner. I found WIND, so much wind that brand new tents were being ripped to shreds, the zippers were being pulled apart even with the tent windows open, cook stoves would not stay lit, and tent stakes would not stay in the ground. I found hungry cold adults and children loving it. Tonight, I will bring out new tents, blankets, gloves, hats, and cocoa.

Byrds troop

Roses Troop

Sarah's Troop

My two are venturing just fine due to the fact we just spent 10 days outside in similar weather. Hope the adult volunteers don't hate me when this is over.

Since we last talked....

...we went to Anchor Point for the annual camping trip, check out the photo's.

Since we last talked...

...May 23, 2007 - School is out and everyone has passed to the next grade, some, just barely. Rose pulled the best grades this year, she has worked really hard to get there. Our school is sending their sixth graders up to the new middle school , so Rose has officially graduated to middle school, hasn't she grown?

Byrd and her friends, at the end of the year picnic.

Gregory

This is Gregory (you must roll your tongue when you say it). Gregory went to Junior High yesterday. Gregory is tired and grumpy today. Today Gregory stayed home . Gregory wore himself out at Junior High.

Track Meet

Rose's track meet went well, our school has some awesome runners. Rose ran in the 1st event (400m) and the last (800m). She ended up placing last in the 800 due to a cramp and not re-warming up before the 800, but the team pulled though and placed. Devyn took 5th in the 400m, but we missed that race, due to having to buy gas on National Don't buy Gas Day. Rose and her friend are in the back here, but both girls pull ahead. Her friend is a hard one to beat, she is one of THOSE girls, and it all comes natural....pretty, good manners, smart, artistic, sings like a bird, sporty, poetic, dancer, has a six pack (so it is going around school, I think it is a rib cage) all around GACKKK kind of girl! She's a great girl, but hard to compete with. Rose was worried about running against her but she did a great job.

Kymbyrd on the other hand, told us today she's not fat, so why should she join track. It was very hard to convince her that some people run because they enjoy it...Imagine that!

"The Hill"

99 "Vacation" photo's....you can suffer through them.

We are home our flight was an interesting one our arrival in Anchorage was a little unorganized, but the whole process was quit fun. The dudes in the funny hats(funny hat not shown) know what they are doing.

One driver came in and put Tay in the sled which was strapped to a gurney. When his buddy showed up we rolled to down to a full size van and they slid the sled into that van and we strapped her to the floor. She slept the whole way to the airport (30 min) thanks to the drugs, she gets car sick so I am thankful for those pills.
As we pull up to the departure area of the airport, a police officer was there to meet us. He was great, he made other people leave so we could pull up right to the curb. We were early so he stayed made sure no one parked behind us so when the fire department showed we had enough room to unload. As I struggled to haul my luggage in ( I totally over pack on everything but cloths) he got me a luggage cart for free and even taught me the correct way to load it. When I got to the ticket counter (deciding the self serve boarding passes could cause problems) I found that they had booked her seats so her half of her was siting in isle 15 ABC and the rest in 27 DEF
They fixed the problem and sat all of her in a joining seats. By the time that was worked out, they had unloaded Taylor and came to help me check my luggage. So know I am standing getting our boarding pass with 4 firemen, a police man and a child on a gurney and rescue sled... we are getting some serious eyeballing.
Security was great, we walked in through the exit and was meet by TSA's head dude, he called in women to pat us down and pass us through, only that was not good enough for my agent. As she lead me back through the exit and around to the metal detectors she lectured my about how I shouldn't have gone that way and acted like it was my fault. Then she proceeded to check my bags carefully while she complained to the other agents about how the procedure had been broken and how we they needed to check me carefully. For me I just giggled, wondered what was going bad in her lief to take it out on me, and I felt bad that I was holding up the firemen, I am sure they had better things to do.
We were so early, so our chaperonages of got us to our gate and said they would be back. Tay and I went for a little cruise in her gurney having a little fun with the stares, Tay drooling and moaning and me trying to steer the thing alone, not an easy task. I tried to get her to place the sheet over her head like she was a body... but she wouldn't. I think because she would miss out on the reactions of our gwackers.
Our plane arrived and the firemen soon after. They rolled the gurney to the plane and carried the sled to her seats. The ground crew came on and tied her down and I started to put my bags aways when a fireman appeared again "We have to take her off again". I giggled "yeah right,"."No I am serious" he said with a smile "FAA rules no one is allowed on the plain before the flight crew." I hadn't notice there was no stewardess's to greet us. The ground crew manager tell us to hang on that that a debate was in order and hopefully the flight crew will get there before he looses. He lost but the ground crew did show up.
I have to say Alaska Airline treats their clients like queens. Moments after I was seated 15 minutes before the scheduled boarding time, we met the pilot, we were given our own safety class, offered drinks and snacks, and privacy curtains. I guess anyone can get this service you just have to buy 9 seats for a medical transport.

AS the other passengers boarded I was approached by a gentleman who had the nerve to tell us "You are in my seat." as he points to the window seat Taylor's midsection is in. After that, as the other passengers approached I would just state "I am sorry, are we in your seat?" . As it turns out we were in thier seats, the ground crew put us on teh wrong side of the plane, no big deal for us the passengers, some oved to the front of the plane, mothers with babies were moved to the back with us, pretty much musical chairs. For us it worked out, but for the ticket agent had to fix it in the computer, just in case we crashed and they have to identify bodies.

Our arrival was a little more unorganized, me a little touchy, I did get some sleep on the plane and did not wake well. The ground crew ended up carrying Tay all the way to the car and even strapped her down. I was a little nervous them carrying her so far, and Tay says she could tell who was stronger, but it all worked out.

Today was full of sleep, a nice sound sleep with no one waking me to take vital signs or asking stupid questions that should have been talked about at their shift change briefing. I love not staring at dirty sage green walls. I loved it, the sleep, I love my bed I love the breeze through the window, the sounds of todays rain and hailstorm. I think we beat the storm to Alaska, here is the after math of the one we had in Oregon.

(From "The Hill" Portland Oregon
looking east over the Willamette River at the Cascade Mountains)

Tay is doing wonderful, she is taking her medication less and is getting out of bed with more confidence and little pain. I don't have to roll her every two hours to prevent bed sores, she can now to it on her own.
Byrd and Rose are sporting the tans, Taylor and I were supposed to be bringing home. I think I will walk them to and from school tomorrow, and I think I will make Tay go too. Its good to be home.

Shit is raining down on us...

Is the sky falling or is god making a statement?

(Complements of ADN)

Got Slime?

I think he was trying to tell us he is feeling better...but I don't think he was feeling the effects of something bad served at Easter dinner. He's GOT no slime, but is looking like he is feeling ill. This photo was found on my camera, shortly after Easter. Glad they have more class then some.

Happy Easter

From all of us, Eggheads!

With different things going on in life we decided it was time to put style and class aside and trade it in for something more practical. Yes, last Tuesday night JD traded my pretty white Chevy for a Granny Vanny, we are not talking mini-van but a top of the line Granny Vanny. Something a Grandma would haul all her lady friends around in.
We got a lower then optimal trade in on the truck, "they are dime a dozen" "hard to sell", it broke my heart to see it go. The Vanny needed some work, so we kept the truck all week. Friday, when we were supposed to pick up the Vanny, the sales dude called and said it wasn't ready. But he needed a favor, he had a guy wanting my truck but the Vanny wasn't ready. So they brought us over a lunch box (my suggestion, do not purchase, I was not impressed). Anyway the Vanny was brought home today, but I have to wait for the check I am owed for the rental of my truck, it made up for the bad trade in deal.

While we had our lunch box, he went and played in Eagle River. Taylor had a Science Olympiad meet at the high school out there. She did great and aced her competition, in ecology, but did not get a medal. Her team though brought home bronze and 15 of them will be headed to nationals. The younger girls and I tried to find a place to eat, but gave up after we ended up at Central's Shop (Valette there are some great rust shot out there), so we ended up eating at Denny's in the big city. My meal was especially interesting, it must be a new menu item, Runny French Toast, it will be while before I go there again.

I needed to feel spring, so after Breakfast the two younger girls and I went to the Russian Jack Green House. There where so many interesting things to see. Like this, I think I finally figured out where Crunch Berries come from...... I will go back when I am alone and get a cutting.

The bears feel the urge to see spring, also, we met this one... ...I wish he would come home with me.