The GrizzlyBarb Hotel

I think I'm ready to check out. I like camping out just as much as the next guy, but after sleeping on an inflatable mattress for a week now, I've had just about all the camping I require at the moment. Thank you very much.

The rest of the house isn't really an issue. I can do without the couch and big TV. The family has pointed out to me that I was being overly generous in calling our "new" TV a 13 inch one. Seems like it's more like 9 inches. You don't mind so much until it's time to read the show guide on the screen. I will be getting my contact prescription adjusted right after I visit the chiropractor. No biggie. I'll just add that to my to-do list and carry on. Yes, we are definitely living large here in Alaska for the next week. We are probably starting a new trend. Minimalism as it's best. We have given up worldly possessions for a life that is simpler. Just our family, the laptop, and a George Foreman grill. It doesn't get any more basic than that. Of course the fact that we are grilling salmon for dinner never hurts. I'm not THAT minimalistic.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day from beautiful, sunny Alaska. You couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! We decided to drive down along the Seward Highway and check out the little town of Hope, Alaska, today. Russ had been there before, but the kids and I never have. Only in Alaska can you see such a wide variety of activities in one area. A pair of parasailers were enjoying the surf provided by the bore tide on Turnagain Arm just south of Anchorage. Wet suits are a must, because the water is extremely cold, but they were having a great time. Just past the Portage area, we came upon a group of snow machiners. They were enjoying the last of the winters snow before it all melted away. There were quite a few people grilling out, skiing, snowboarding, and riding snow machines. We stayed for a little while to watch them playing on the hillside. Just past the turnoff to Hope, we came upon this little beauty snacking on the new spring greenery on the side of the road. The tide was out when we reached Hope, and the mud flats were exposed. An eagle flew by us, looking for an afternoon snack.

It was a very productive drive. In the end, we saw three moose, five eagles, the bore tide going out and coming back in again, mud flats, downtown Hope, and countless other Alaskans enjoying this fantastic day. Not only that, but we went out to eat for dinner when we returned to Anchorage. A great ending to a great day. I hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day as much as I enjoyed mine.

Black Bear Saturday

It's a beautiful spring day in Alaska, one of many we've had lately. I had mentioned yesterday that bear have been spotted on the back side of base, but nothing around here yet. Russ went out on his morning jog. When he came back to the house, he decided to check on Brandon. Brandon and his friends were playing at the park out behind our house. Russ snuck up on them to see if they would notice him, and of course, they didn't. He told the boys that they needed to be aware of their surroundings, because the park is right beside the woods, and bear are moving around lot this time of the year. He was on his way back into our house when he looked over in the woods and saw this fine gentleman. The bear saw Russ and took off up a tree. Now we have a standoff. He just wanted to get out of there, but he wasn't sure what Russ would do about it. Russ was standing between him and the kids, so he wouldn't run the wrong way.

Russ called out to me and Jess and we got to check him out, too. He was quite a good looking young man. He did not enjoy the attention, though, and just wanted to get back to the woods.

Pretty soon, he had his fill of admiration, climbed down from the tree and took off down the hill. I'm just glad that I got to see at least one more black bear before we leave Alaska. Now if I can just figure out where Bob has gone off to...

Finally Friday!

This picture is courtesy of the Alaska Volcano Observatory Web cam. Redoubt is still doing her thing. "Vigorous steam and gas omissions", according to their website. I'm so used to this that if and when she finally blows her top, it will be a big surprise. Things have been so crazy around here that I haven't even thought to check on updates lately. (Hope that didn't hurt her feelings.) It's another beautiful day in glorious Alaska. Spring has arrived, and everything is starting to turn green. Next weekend marks the opening of the Anchorage weekend market. We'll have to enjoy a final stroll through the stalls and pick up a few last minute souvenirs. How we are going to wedge them into our overstuffed suitcases is a problem that we will deal with later. We might be boarding the plane wearing two pair of pants and four shirts each, just to make the weight limits on the baggage. I haven't seen a moose in a few weeks now. I suspect they were cautious about the fact that I was trying to stow one in my household goods. Surely they will come out soon to bid me a fond goodbye. (More likely, they will peek out from behind trees and cheer that the crazy lady with the camera is finally going to leave them alone.) Bear have been spotted out on the back side of base already, too, but none have been in our area. Maybe we can do a little running around this weekend and see if we can flush one out. I'm going to miss Alaska.

Moving Magic-Now You See It, Now It's Gone!

We had four days scheduled for the move, and these guys did it in two. A miracle? magic? Who's to say. They did it. This part is always very exciting, and a little nerve racking. Every time we move, I look around and think "Holy cow! Who's crap is filling up my house! We definitely need to get rid of some of this!" But then I decide that I can't live without any of it and into boxes it goes. I'm sure this thrills the movers almost as much as it does the hubby. This time, though, I noticed that a LOT of stuff going into the boxes wasn't mine. The hubby has accumulated a lot of crap on his own. Sorry, I meant... "valuable cold weather gear and accessories. I can't get rid of this stuff. I'll definitely need it again later!" Someone else is singing my tune, it would seem.

The hubby also can't sit around while someone else is working. Apparently this is part of the tough guy code. I'm afraid that I didn't read this manual. I, for one, was happy that we weren't moving ourselves this time.

Now our lives are packed into MANY wooden crates, loaded into a trailer, and heading out to the docks. There they will be put on a slow moving boat that is heading "over the pond" to our new home. Hopefully they will avoid the pirates. Argh, Matey, you touch my furniture and die cuts and walking the plank will look like pre-school! We are camping out on blow up mattresses for the time being. Soon they will be back to pick up our last 500 pound shipment and the rest of the goodies that will be heading into storage. (Note to self: thin out rest of goodies going into storage!) By the way, in case you were wondering, I got into LOTS of trouble for posting that pic of Jess "The Russian" teenager a couple of days ago. Be sure and go back and check it out again. No sense in getting into trouble and not getting my monies worth out of it. :0) Hee hee, Jess. That will teach you.

Moving Monday and Tuesday

The kids are having way too much fun with this move. They left for school yesterday morning with a house full of furniture, and returned home to find their lives packed away in lots of lovely boxes. But, being the Air Force kids that they are, they adjust quickly. Jess hooked up the laptop on the kitchen bar and entertained herself (and us) with an impersonation of a Russian fellow. Not really sure where that came from. She made herself a mustache and goatee and the accent just seemed to follow naturally. Anything you asked her was answered with accent and attitude. You can't see it in this picture, but she also had a home made sticker on her shirt with the words "having too much fun with tape" on it.

Brandon hooked up the HUGE 13" TV to the cable box, and was good to go. When you sit this close, it's wide screen. At one point, he turned to us and said "I kind of like not having any furniture." Kids. They like the idea of camping out in the house as long as we have the basics like Internet and TV. Not much else is required.

The Harley took off today in a small truck all by itself. It will be boxed at the warehouse and added to our shipment. Hopefully. We are keeping our fingers crossed. The movers are finishing up the packing today and will load everything into the big truck. Then it's happy camping until we head off to TLF. I'm sure after a couple of weeks of sleeping on blow up mattresses, it will seem like a high dollar vacation on the Riviera!

Simply Saturday

Days are slipping by quickly, and once again, I have let the blog slide to the side. I will try to be a good little blogger and keep it more up to date once the movers have done their thing. That said, next week is not looking good for blogging. All of our worldly possessions are being boxed up and sent "over the pond" to our new home. I'll be lap topping it until we see them again in a few months.

Update on the kitties: They are doing very well and are enjoying the perks of living with Grandma and Grandpa. I suspect they have each gained a pound or two already with the extra treats that they are getting, but this is not confirmed at this time. Ashley is still her mellow self. Tink is pulling her normal routine of getting into everything and slowly driving the Grandparents insane. You have to love the Tink. When these three years are up, the Grandparents will either meet us at the door with kennels in hand, or yell through the peek hole that we can't have the babies back. I am prepared for battle. Dad gets credit for the latest Tinky pictures. I am still waiting for him to start his own kitty blog. They provide a lot of material.

I am off to prepare for the movers on Monday. Things to sort, things to toss, things to pack into suitcases. Our lives have to be divided into need it now, need it in 3 years, and can live without it for 2 or 3 months. I have found that I am more of a hoarder than I thought. I blame my parents. (I am quite sure that it can't be MY fault!)