5 Days, 5 days, 5 days....But Who's Counting??

Here's me, doing an interview, talking about running for school board. We'll be in Cabo when the candidates forum takes place.
I ran into Gigi at KUCB!I had cleaned up my mess before I remembered I had my camera. I worked on "Alaska" pictures, salmonberries, salmon, halibut, field trips to a UCSG Cutter and the Stimson, vacation shots from around the state.We're getting back into scrapbooking...Only Ana and I are coming so far. I need to get all the others inspired again! We all have so much "stuff" we need to get back into the habit, plus it's nice to visit!A couple trips to "Lauri's Beach" Sorry for finding the huge and gorgeous red piece!

I am counting down! 5 Days until we leave for Cabo....I'm not researching and planning like my very organized pal CB did, but I'm excited! It's just the 2 of us, over 20th anniversary!! We never even had a honeymoon --it was red crab season when we got married??? I can't remember WHY I chose fall. We've been to Cabo before and there will be plenty of time to choose things to do --or just to lay around the pool, who knows, it's our 20th anniversary, it'll be nice and we'll do a few activities I'm sure. Certainly Wave Runners --Alena! and AG!! I CAN handle it.

So much for being lazy -- I've been frantically trying to do all the projects I've wanted to do. most importantly putting all the stuff I pulled out away, neatly or get rid of it. That and organize/clean my kitchen and all the rooms. All this has to be done by Sunday! I've been working out (I think I like the scale at the rec center, I'm down 3 pounds --I'll just keep using that one!) Miss you R! Going there during the day reminds me of when you and I and Manderzz used to go all the time!!!

Manderzz should be able to make it the whole day in school today, I tried to send her Monday, it didn't work, bad mommy....darn cough.
Tonight is the 1st meeting for the "2010 Parents' Committee" We have to raise enough money to throw a kick-ass party for the graduates. PT's parents are helping so much, thank goodness for them. I'm into it, but more worried about getting the house organized enough to leave for 2 weeks and not have my mother-in-law and kids stumbling over piles that I never got to!

I Don't Feel Like a Lady of Leisure --YET!!

My camp-Q art work that Manderzz made a couple years ago.. that's her on the left and me on the right. They're taped to the cupboard so I left them there for someone else to throw away....I couldn't do it!

This gift is so random and very sweet, I think? The janitor gave me a bottle of cinnamon vodka he used wrapping paper even! It's going to take me a decade to work through it--unless I invite Alena! over to share :) We're thinking it's a holiday spirit...to mix with apple cider and the like.My various duties over the 5 years with OWC. --the one that is faint is travel --that was my favorite duty! I'm a travel agent at heart :)
Annette made me the cutest little scrapbook with pictures from work and notes from my co-workers!
Kathy gave me a jar of mossberry jelly, I've never tried it before. I've never even picked mossberries. Note to self: pick berries next week --if I can find them!!
Annette makes these herself! I have a boy one too...I love them! I'm acquiring quite the collection of sweet homemade animals between these 2 and the sock creatures the kids make.

From the going-away breakfast on Tuesday.

I had a busy last day on Friday, we had my 2 favorite pizzas (veggie and the jalp-Canadian bacon-pineapple) I have a follower in Canada now...sooo do you know why it's called Canadian Bacon??
There was hardly anyone in the office, KD was sad and made me sad too! We were silly and misty-eyed. Alena! snuck out on Thursday and Irene on Friday right at 4:30! LOL... I totally understand, I'd have done the same --we HATE drama!!
I went over to the office this morning and filled AS in on some of my in-progress files. THAT was sad...she's very sweet and kind. Like Alena! said-- there's always early morning blood draws!

The 2 sick kids are getting better, Dyls is fine now, Manderzz is still coughing, but will be fine for school on Monday.

It's just Saturday, it felt, well like Saturday not different from any other weekend. For not having any "events" I kept very busy -- I did sleep hard for 2 hours from 3-5.

I got my hair done today --finally!!! In the middle of my appt CB called from Edinburgh, not impressed with his hotel for tonight. He sounded as clear someone here in Unalaska...very cool. He's visited the college Jr. REALLY is hoping to go to, but didn't get to try the McFlurry :(

I saw David Millman from the CM? A season or 2 back Working on pots alongside the road as I ran errands back & forth from the airport. I had to get HEAVY boxes of moose meat from the cargo place and haul them home and put it away, very annoyed!!!! soooo not part of my duties! I also had to get the heating guy to work on the boiler in our house in Kodiak -- NOT part of my duties. Good thing I'm not working or else I'd complain! My husband has been gone a lot lately between patrols and moose hunting.
I think that Sig passed me today too. I'm sure others know where he is, I don't pay attention. I thought of all the DC fans and how CB is missing out!!

After Tomorrow....I'll be "JUST A MOM"

Our last event...it was the best picnic ever --45 people came!I will miss Gussie and Marie from Head Start, I didn't get a picture of Marie somehow....I had fun with the kids there and Marie's salad...OK I can still eat Marie's salad at 2-3 events per year around town. I love it too much to eat it more often than that!

This is Annette the boss than makes me monkeys and brings me lime green things :( she's got a great heart this is her fixing me up after I "Victornoxed" my finger a month ago.

Pattycakes --she works part-time, but I'll miss her, as she's way too busy to hang out with little 'ol me.
Gigi hasn't worked with us for a few months now, but I loved her happy, "Hey y'all" when she'd come by our office.
Irene...she's awesome. I've loved sharing an office with her!
This is a party from a couple months ago...but tomorrow --same menu! YUM!!

Sonia oops, AG who was there for awhile this summer and a few other co-workers too.

It's finally here, my last day at work is tomorrow. I'm feeling nostalgic tonight. I've been getting going-away gifts all week -- I took pictures, of course my memory card disappeared, again! It'll turn up...hopefully by tomorrow. We had a breakfast on TUE, Alena! took me to lunch on WED. I did my "exit interview" today with an HR person in ANC, that made it real. Tomorrow is a last lunch, our favorite pizza: Canadian Bacon, pineapple and jalapeño --we'll miss you Alena! (she's out of town)

I've got a ton of things planned to do, we're going to Cabo in 2 weeks, the puppy, I will be busy, but I'm not going to talk to Alena and Irene all day (I share an office with Irene) and Cathy, Patty and Annette too, weird! I'm going to worry about everyone's travel and appointments! (I'll get over that I guess) It's been 5 years. OK 9 days short of 5 years if one is technical --Bossy.

My two youngest kids are still sick, ....they will be home for 5 more days with a second prescription. Jr. and I are still hanging in there, not really sick, but right on the edge :( Not good! My husband is in Adak, lucky for him, a good place to be right now!

I really am having mixed feelings about quitting. I have a lot to do, I'm tired, I am frustrated...but I'm used to being there and I actually enjoy my job. OK, I'm stopping, enough being a wimp. Monday is PCR (AKA the rec center), cleaning, getting ready for Cabo and getting my lots for eBay ready!!!

Weird Week

Big day..Rock Band Beatles arrived from ANC --ET brought it home with him as he was over there for a Cross-Country trip.
Dick Peck & Granddaughter...Dick has been a HUGE help in encouraging Jr. to complete the work and massive amounts of paperwork required to become an Eagle Scout...all the badges and requirements were done when he was 12 and 13. Just the project was left. I think the paperwork is in order and on the way to being approved!! YAY!! Nobody can remember an Eagle Scout EVER in the Aleutians....the council has no official records, all I've got is talking to people that have lived here 40, 50, 60, even 80 years.
I took CB to the beach for a last quick walk and to feed the birds with bread that he won't be needing. There was a ton of sea glass...I mean, it was horrible there was NONE and nobody need waste their time going to any beach in town --or out the road looking for sea glass :)
This is what I see from my back window of the spawned-out salmon...not very pretty, but it's the circle of life.
Manderzz has a ridiculous amount of new clothes this year...she's having a lot of fun with them!
She's 11 and can buy on ebay and knows how to shop, even find discount codes, signs in and applies them...she's a shopping prodigy, am I proud?? Not sure.


There was a little going away party for me this AM at the staff meeting...makes me sad, but not sad enough to stay! I have stuff to do! :) My boss made me a monkey to match the other one she gave me several months ago and an adorable little scrapbook of pics from the past 3-4 years --as long as she's been here. Not bossy, not "the big boss", not my direct supervisor boss --the regular boss...getting the idea...lots of bosses!
I appreciate the gifts and the party a lot, they were homemade and adorable!

I'm trying to tie up loose ends here in the office and looking forward to all my projects and even more projects AFTER our 16day vacation. We're going to pick up a puppy from Palmer on the return, what a better time to get a dog, I'll be home with him.

CB is leaving in a couple hours...the weather is looking decent enough...whewww.

2 kids are sick now...It's going to be a longggggg winter with many colds I fear.

I'm busy for the next several nights too, cna't get my hair done until Saturday. I'm sporting a messy Sarah-Palin bun sort of crazy hair-do.....I NEED to be repaired :)

Sweet Irene brought my hungry kids a large portion of pirok last night (fish pie) Very excellent timing as I napped instead of making dinner and hung out with CB for awhile before he took off for vacation...no more hanging out until mid-October when we get back from our vacation...

Gigi's Bunko!

All 3 kids stayed home to spend time with their dad...ohh wait never mind, Dyls went over to Abob's house after the game...
Dyls got a Sorry! card at the perfect time!

I just need to throw my little camera away....I only had a few pictures turn out--ughh! DJ's blanket was the coolest. Gigi got the best prizes --cocoa, Life is Good socks and fleece blankets!
Lori...who wins all the time!
AG looking good!
Donna.....she was a great sub!
Gigi, it was a great party, thanks!!

My husband's flight was 3 hours late (at least he made it in) I got to see him for a whole 90 minutes...it was bunko night. He comes and goes, sometimes the schedules don't work out. I came home to an intense gave of Sorry! (there are 20 other games on the shelf... but they're stuck on that one!)
We had a relaxing day yesterday, I even went to the PCR (gym) with my husband, he played racquetball while I did cardio --AG came over too. Dyls came home from Abob's sick. His fever went up to 103.4 scary, but it's just strep...

Lots of Glass After the Storms

Dills and PT cracking up!
5 teens and entirely too much technology!
Is that our very own cheerleader in a letterman's jacket??
My haul! Lots of very old pieces!! SWEEET!
AG found a crumbling boulder that just fascinated her.
A perfect light blue piece of sea glass...blue is rarely "done" We've concluded that cobalt blue never gets rounded and pitted, it always looks sharp --has anyone found a cobalt piece that is really sea glass?
opps the camera was set on black & white..

I'm wiped out...work has been busy and weird knowing that I only have one week left. I've got all the piles of "stuff" that I pulled out which I've been putting away when I can. My husband will be home today! For a whole day and a half...boat trip, the glamorous life of being married to a boat guy --they're gone, a lot. So glad I've just got a week left...so tired.
So...on Thursday night it was warm-ish and calm-ish. AG and I went to Glass Beach to see if the storms had stirred up and sea glass, we ran into CB, and all searched together.

We had 5 extra boys over last night for gaming....my job was to try to keep them all fed --3 of them are well over 6 feet and were starving -- I was sound asleep when they all arrived, Jr ran to the store and I fed them convenience food and homemade cookies -- I had dough in the freezer.

Calm and Mature BBQ @ AG's House --NOT!!!

Racing or was it tennis?? They did everything, bowling looked fun!
The intense game of Scene It! I think the females won? Who knows, the 10 year old BOYS were rolling the dice and we seemed to get 1s all the time while they got 6s hmmmmmmm..
AG singing some Miranda Lambert.
Mandy and the 5th Melly in Unalaska....I love it!

Jeff after he discovered his door!
Here's how to TP an apartment door, I love it!
I think it was Guitar Hero Country??
Mr AG relaxing


Playing Scene It with AG and her husband is hilarious! And then there was the TP-ing of the neighbor who didn't come to the party...they do live in an apartment building so it's a bit difficult to TP a door --they used duct tape!
We had BBQ'd silver salmon --yummmy a bunch of stuff to nibble on, a salad that I threw together, a lemon cloud pie that was LE's contribution and an ice cream cake. Lots of Rock Band...or was it Guitar Hero ?? Who knows. Scene It! for Kids and Adults and lots of laughing....a fun night, it's been awhile since we've done that...thanks for having us all over guys!

Can There BE Any More to Do in One Day??

PT kept getting Yahtzees with 5s! He won both games.
Dills winning a heat :) hooray!
The UCSD Swim Team Jr High and High Schoolers
I love these guys!
At Don's party.
Famous Unalaskans that we sat with! Anyone recognize ZS from the disco party??? He's running for City Counsel this year
1st party of the night...trying not to eat toooo much as we had another to attend. We didn't have dessert...that's something hehe...
Manderzz working hard! AB holding the ladder for her.
Painting is fun, we'd never done it. My husband always paints and shampoos the carpets....I'm grateful, but I may start painting, I'll never shampoo carpets though!
AB loves painting....he painted all of us in addition to the buildings.
AB's parents having fun!

After "relaxing" for the summer...meaning traveling and doing lots --or not (Wrangell) and having people over and enjoying outside activities. Things are "back-to-business-as-usual"

Saturday was Zumba (aerobics with a Caribbean/South American flair. VERY fun) at 9am, a community swim meet at 10am -- I admit we were STARVING and made a deal with Dyl --we'll bring him lots of Chinese food if we can sneak over to the one restaurant on the Unalaska side before the end of the meet. (Dutch Harbor Fast Food...it is NOT fast food, not in DH....makes little sense, but it's a decent place to eat). We should not have left, we missed him win a race?.. Heat? I do not know the lingo --help!
I did see him win one before leaving. Not bad at all for a 8th grader swimming against high schoolers and adults.
How bad are AG & I? We took his sister, his best friend and girlfriend with us to eat....geez I feel guilty now that I write it. Next time I'll eat before the meet.
At 2pm we painted school bus shelters until it was time to scrub off the purple paint off our hands and faces and rush to a going-away potluck for Margaret the school Secretary for 22 or 23 years. AG is "the new Margaret" Note to self: don't say that anymore, everyone does and I bet she's sick of it!!

The last event was a City Counsel Candidate's forum at the hotel --almost got AG to eat a pice of calamari heheh..... When I got home Jr and PT were playing Mancala. PT wanted to play Yahtzee...how can I turn down a 17 year old that asks me to play Yahtzee? We played two rounds, we are NOT good! Nobody ever made the bonuses on top... we need a grandma to teach us some strategies!
I was asleep by 10pm....