Right Now-August 2018

I'm listening:   or rather watching the new Amazon Prime series Jack Ryan.   I always enjoy it when Hubby and I can find a show that we both enjoy and this one shows some promise.

 This past month, in addition to listening to a couple TV shows and an audio book, I was able to listen to some great music at 2 separate concerts.   Historically, I'm not a fan of concerts (cost, crowds and well they usually go way past my bedtime), but who could pass up a chance to hear an ABBA tribute band at a new outdoor pavilion here in the metro Denver area. 

Bonus points for being seated next to some ABBA fans who came in costume...

and these crazy ladies coupled with the company of some wonderful women...resulted in one memorable summer evening...

The other concert was held at the mall near our house.   Weekly concerts in the plaza, gives us all a chance to listen to some good music and gather with friends.   Bonus points for it being FREE...

I'm loving:   that a three day weekend arrived just when I needed it most.   August was a busy one, with a family reunion, a girl's weekend, and other assorted activities that left me feeling happy but weary.   It didn't help that I managed to find myself with a "late summer" cold.   

The family reunion was with my dad's side of the family. 

What started with Oliver and Nellie...

has now resulted in this...and many more who were not able to attend...

 I was happy to spend a few hours in the company of my aunt..

 and my cousins...as we remembered past trips to "the farm" 

that once belonged to my grandparents but now is the place my dad calls home in the summer. 

and now proved to be the perfect place to pitch a tent...err..park an RV

 Thanks Dad for hosting a great family gathering...

With not even a week in between...I found myself back at the airport, this time headed to Scottsdale to spend time with another cousin...

 and a few of my besties...

where we swam with unicorns...

feasted on good eats...

and shared a laugh or two...

all under the excuse of a women's health seminar hosted by the good Dr. Hot Flash (aka, my cousin)

I'm feeling ready for change.   The evenings are starting to turn cool and the trees are starting to turn towards their fall shade of yellow.   Summer was wonderful, but it's time to set those memories aside and embrace the new that waits with a new season.

For these two, new chapters await as one heads off to college and the other shipped off to Basic Training for the Coast Guard.

I'll miss seeing these young men hanging out together but am confident that their friendship will continue even as the miles expands between them.

I'm needing to:  wrap this up and get on to some other tasks.   The to-do list remains longer than the done list...

Until next time...

Summer of Fun Week 10

Saw-Heard-Did...the final edition

SAW

This week marks the last full week of time off from work.   But, I saw an opportunity for one last round of fun.  

First step was to invite my cousin to town...

Next step was to treat Thing 1 to his first official restaurant cocktail...

And from there...off to a girl's get away at the Historic Brown Palace Hotel...

Complete with cocktails...

and a massage...

HEARD

The laughter of friends...as we stomped through the bubbles...

Sang along with Mama Mia-Take 2...

And learned that this too shall pass..as Dr. Hot Flash gave us all a short tutorial on 

the hormonal challenges of menopause...

during a festive birthday dinner at Maggianos

DID

In addition to a weekend of fun, we found ourselves hosting a couple gatherings.  

First was the ladies coffee club.   Our usual coffee hang out has undergone some changes in management that make us question whether it's appropriate for us to give them our business.   So instead of looking for somewhere new, I suggested the ladies all swing by my house.   I used to have the ladies over rather frequently but somehow got out of the habit of being hostess.   I realized I miss this and hope to continue to host various gatherings here at the house...it's cheaper, just as clean, and well, way easier to hear the conversations of others.

Hubby and I also found ourselves hosting a couple of motorcycle friends as they passed through town en route to  Alaska.   Seeing the garage filled with rigs...well, that too makes me happy.   I hope we can continue to provide room and board to friendly travelers such as CCJon and his nephew.

In other random home life events, we discovered a critter had chosen our backyard as his final resting spot.   Thank heavens for helpful Things that assisted in providing "Rocket" with a proper burial...

Thing 1 decided he needed a new haircut to go with his work promotion.   After a couple years as the courtesy clerk, he is now working inside restocking the general grocery items.   To say he's happy to be inside is an understatement.   Cheers to you, Thing 1

Finally, yes, I did make my way back to work.   Perhaps I'm one of those odd ducks, but I'm ready to get back to the routine that comes with work.   It was good to reconnect with colleagues, exchange family updates and get things ready to greet the students early next week.

And with the return to school, I suspect the blogging will go back into a hiatus status.   I hope not, but let's be honest, I set out with the best of intentions each school year and then BOOM...life starts to get in the way of such comforting habits like reflecting and blogging..I'm always hopeful that this year I will be able to abide by these guiding principles

So until next time...may you find yourself seeing-hearing-doing things that bring you happiness

Summer of Fun: Weeks 8&9

Hi Honey, I'm home!  Quick let's update the blog before the memories totally fade into a state of blur.

SAW

Oh my, after being on the road for 35 days, I can totally identify with the realities of this cartoon.  We saw so many things on this trip...

From North America's tallest peak...Denali

to the town that inspired the show Northern Exposure...

We saw wildlife that took our breath away...

and saw friends that fill us up with joy...

and we saw that bringing old friends together 

with new friends helps make a trip complete...

HEARD

We heard the voices and stories of Alaska from such a great variety of sources...

From  an old gold-rushing miner "in character"

 to entertaining train narrators...

of both boy and girl variety...

We learned so much about Alaska history that our brains were on overload...

PERMAFROST...shall be my final Jeopardy response...

(inside joke but we were told over and over about how much of the landscape and development of Alaskan interior is impacted by this condition)

Any posed question I'd reply with Permafrost.

State Bird:  Permafrost (no, really it's the Willow Ptarmigan)

State Gem:  Permafrost (no, it's Jade you silly girl)

State Flower:  Permafrost (had to verify that but it's the Alpine Forget Me knot)

By far, my favorite was hearing about Alaska through 

 the stories shared by those we call friends...

 all who have chosen to make Alaska their home.

Bob and his wife Sharon (not shown) arrived after work in the mining industry brought them to Alaska in the mid 1980s.  We enjoyed hearing some of Bob's first hand stories about the lodge we were staying at as he was one of the primary electrical engineers assigned to the project back in the late 1990s.  The Peeks were kind hosts to Hubby back in 2013 on his first Alaskan adventure and it was a highlight of the trip for me  to meet them and extend my gratitude for taking such good care of Dom during his motorcycle adventure.   

Richard..work at the University of Alaska Fairbanks brought him to Alaska in the mid 1980s..he liked it, and stayed.   Richard and Hubby share a common interest in motorcycles and RVs..and Richard has proven over and over to be a trusted expert on all sorts of problems that plague Hubby when it comes to these two interests...

Bridget...the lovely wife of Richard.   After spending a short time on a church mission in Fairbanks, Bridget knew that no place else would ever be home except Alaska.  She met and married Richard some 18 years ago, and together they have raised 5 young men and continue to parent 3 adorable furry family members...only 2 would cooperate with my picture taking efforts...

Thank you all for helping us get a full Alaskan experience!

 Be it panning for gold like it was 1902...

 kayaking in the murky waters of Ballaine Lake..

Or experiencing a close encounter of the Moose Kind...

your hospitality helped make our trip complete!

DID

We did so much on this Land tour adventure..that it's hard to process it all.   

There were train rides...

 From Anchorage to Talkeetna...

and... 

Talkeetna to Denali...

Bus rides to Hell...

OK, not really...but when one spends 8 hours on a bus and Denali decides to hide from our eager eyes,it sure felt like Hell.  Score bonus points for  misery with a bus driver who left much to be desired in her story telling style... 

I kid you not:   She argued with season hunters who had spotted  a bear  that she, the expert did not  initially see.  She scolded us as we tried to place our trash in the trash can at one of the rest stops.   You see, we were supposed to hold onto our trash until the end when she would have us sort  and recycle all bits of trash.  This was followed by a 15 minute narrative on how much trash is generated in the park each year and other shaming comments.   And seriously folks, we paid EXTRA for this experience?!  

My one and only picture from Denali..

Oh wait..I take that back...

This was taken within an hour of us getting off the Bus of Disappointment...

Talk about the weather turning on a dime...

We road on  boats that thrilled us...

and boat rides that 

 frustrated us...

(the tour was informative and thoughtfully scripted, it was the crowded conditions and self centered attitude of other passengers that posed the  problem at least for me).

From museums that confused us...

modern art...not my thing..

Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center...

to museums that left us eager to learn more...

 Fairbanks Vintage Auto museum

A free park that hosts a collection of old Alaskan properties.

Without a doubt, we did a lot.   

But would we do it again?   

Both of us can confidently say Nope.

Oh we'd visit Alaska again for sure.

We'd take another cruise...

be it  here-there-or somewhere in between....

As for taking another land tour? With so many variables out of our personal control it's highly unlikely we'd have the desire.   You see, we enjoy the freedom to experience what interests us, linger longer when we want, move on to the  next destination when we find ourselves not that interested.    I thought that Hubby would enjoy the break from being the chief driver and navigator but turns out that is a small price to pay for the freedom that comes with being your own explorer.   

But, hey, often times  you learn such lessons as you go, and we also experienced an abundance of laughs, good eats and the companionship of great friends  as we learned these lessons of Travel-Chang Style.  

Until next time..I hope you  have gotten to lose track of what day it is this summer...it's a feeling like no other!