As you are reading this, C and I are on our way to our first real vacation as a married couple. It is our honeymoon of sorts, as our honeymoon only took us to Soldotna and Anchorage during the school year. I am beyond ecstatic. C is not, but will have fun anyway!
We are off to Hawaii and then to California to see some of my family. We'll be back on May 11 or so, and I might be able to update in between, but I am not sure. If not, I'll see you all in a week and a half with tons and tons of photos to share!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Off to Hawaii!
As you are reading this, C and I are on our way to our first real vacation as a married couple. It is our honeymoon of sorts, as our honeymoon only took us to Soldotna and Anchorage during the school year. I am beyond ecstatic. C is not, but will have fun anyway!
We are off to Hawaii and then to California to see some of my family. We'll be back on May 11 or so, and I might be able to update in between, but I am not sure. If not, I'll see you all in a week and a half with tons and tons of photos to share!
We are off to Hawaii and then to California to see some of my family. We'll be back on May 11 or so, and I might be able to update in between, but I am not sure. If not, I'll see you all in a week and a half with tons and tons of photos to share!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Quake 2 of April
C and I were packing our things and he had been jumping around a bit, but had stopped, when I noticed our bookcase was moving. I kept staring at it, and was about to comment on it when the wall started shaking violently. We were near our bedroom doorway anyway, so I hugged the wall for a few seconds. It was a good shaker, 4.8 and pretty close to us (of course)
Makes me glad I'm leaving the state for a bit! Except I'm heading to California after that...not exactly any better!
Makes me glad I'm leaving the state for a bit! Except I'm heading to California after that...not exactly any better!
Spring is here!!
The temperature has been continually rising in the past couple of weeks...and today I noticed these goodies:
Just had to share!
Buds on the tree
More buds
And new GRASS!!
Just had to share!
For females only
Any guys reading might want to stop right here unless you care to hear about menstruation.
I seem to have a knack for hitting that time of the month right when I go on trips. Let me count the times off the top of my head.
- 2005, right after Mexico, as soon as I got home, and then turned around to go on a family trip.
- 2006, conference in Wasilla
- Got it a few days into my honeymoon (not nice)
- Had it while we were at the Palmer Fair last year
- Guess what?
I had planned this trip watching the calendar, and it appeared that it would hit before we went by over a week. I was ok with that. And then, last month, I was late, going 40 days instead of 30. Guess what has been pushed back to this Saturday? Yea, I am not happy. I am praying that my system gets messed up enough by the plane ride that it at least waits a couple days.
That's what I'm most not looking forward to. But, it seems to make for good stories!
I seem to have a knack for hitting that time of the month right when I go on trips. Let me count the times off the top of my head.
- 2005, right after Mexico, as soon as I got home, and then turned around to go on a family trip.
- 2006, conference in Wasilla
- Got it a few days into my honeymoon (not nice)
- Had it while we were at the Palmer Fair last year
- Guess what?
I had planned this trip watching the calendar, and it appeared that it would hit before we went by over a week. I was ok with that. And then, last month, I was late, going 40 days instead of 30. Guess what has been pushed back to this Saturday? Yea, I am not happy. I am praying that my system gets messed up enough by the plane ride that it at least waits a couple days.
That's what I'm most not looking forward to. But, it seems to make for good stories!
You Capture: Joy
This week's You Capture theme is all about "Joy!" This week, I really did not get out to capture this well. But, I will still show some photos I took that were fun, even if they don't capture the theme!
This is 1 year old Emma playing peek a boo with her Dad (he's hiding on the couch) Her squeals of laughter were a lot of fun to listen to.
This photo probably categorized "fun" more, but I threw it in here anyway. There was a large group of people on the beach yesterday, and these kids were playing "Red Rover."
My friends writing in the sand, laughing as they did.
Next week, I will be gone and will not get to participate, which is disappointing!
And lastly, SPRING has finally come to Alaska! Buds on the trees! This brings me an amazing amount of joy!!
Next week, I will be gone and will not get to participate, which is disappointing!
My First Fail
As I have written before, I have had a rough school semester. I am so relieved to be finished. But it was a bit of a letdown for me. First, I dropped one accounting class. And Friday, I ended up failing one of my headache inducing ones. I was pretty sure by that point that I would end up with a D, but had not really anticipated an F.
I had to take a final exam, and I failed it miserably, and it dropped my grade to a 57%. I knew I would have to take the class over anyway, before this point, but it was still a big letdown. I've never failed a class before. I'm still a bit disappointed in myself, but I also have already put it behind me. I have another semester to worry about before I have the option of repeating the class, and I'm going to make the most of it and reevaluate my goals before I proceed with it again.
But for now, I'm just basking in the fact that school is finished for 4 more months and I can relax and breathe stress free again!
I had to take a final exam, and I failed it miserably, and it dropped my grade to a 57%. I knew I would have to take the class over anyway, before this point, but it was still a big letdown. I've never failed a class before. I'm still a bit disappointed in myself, but I also have already put it behind me. I have another semester to worry about before I have the option of repeating the class, and I'm going to make the most of it and reevaluate my goals before I proceed with it again.
But for now, I'm just basking in the fact that school is finished for 4 more months and I can relax and breathe stress free again!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
End of April Beach
Yesterday, the weather was glorious at the beach again. It just keeps getting warmer and warmer (50 degrees today!)
They never posed for me, just being silly. It was fun!
Redhead and Jo pranced around the beach, being silly while I took photos. They made words in the sand with the sea shells.
We found this huge tire.
Past weekend
C gave in last night and got a Facebook account :P I doubt that he will do much with it, but we'll have to see.
Thursday, I went back to the best place for burger with the Redhead and our friend Jo. It was good to see Jo, who is getting married in 2 months. It was fun, especially getting 2 milkshakes in one week!
Friday, C and I went to Lin's place and watched Origin, an anime film. Lin got us into watching anime films, and they are pretty awesome when they are well done (if a bit...ok, a lot..strange). This one was alright. We all liked it, and ended up watching the beginning again to try and understand the story. If you're into anime, it's worth a look.
Yesterday, Redhead, Jo and I went up the road to go shopping. It was a lot of fun. I wasn't really planning on purchasing much, but I managed to get quite a bit. Another card reader (that works great), a 4GB SDHC card (I have no idea how much space I will need for my photos!), a cheap sleeping bag, and some work pants. But my favorite purchases were BOGO 1/2 off at Payless:
The shoes actually have a nice heel, which I neglected to show. And the bag will be my beach bag on our trip! We went to the beach once we came back to town. The weather has been getting nicer and nicer!
School is finished!! Such a big relief! Now we are madly packing and getting ready to leave in 2 days! But, it's 50 degrees right now, so I want to be outside :(
Thursday, I went back to the best place for burger with the Redhead and our friend Jo. It was good to see Jo, who is getting married in 2 months. It was fun, especially getting 2 milkshakes in one week!
Friday, C and I went to Lin's place and watched Origin, an anime film. Lin got us into watching anime films, and they are pretty awesome when they are well done (if a bit...ok, a lot..strange). This one was alright. We all liked it, and ended up watching the beginning again to try and understand the story. If you're into anime, it's worth a look.
Yesterday, Redhead, Jo and I went up the road to go shopping. It was a lot of fun. I wasn't really planning on purchasing much, but I managed to get quite a bit. Another card reader (that works great), a 4GB SDHC card (I have no idea how much space I will need for my photos!), a cheap sleeping bag, and some work pants. But my favorite purchases were BOGO 1/2 off at Payless:
School is finished!! Such a big relief! Now we are madly packing and getting ready to leave in 2 days! But, it's 50 degrees right now, so I want to be outside :(
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Missing Twilight Books Found
This might get a bit confusing, so bear with me. My boss's daughter got married, and her in laws now live in the same town as I and my boss. Said daughter does not live in the state. Every so often, I see those in laws (mainly at work) and kind of cringe. They are the type of people that think everything should go their way, and yet are pretty flaky about other people's needs. The In Laws' daughter is a local chiropractor that Boss and her son go to regularly. Still with me?
Back in January, right after I finished Twilight, I was sitting at work, off the clock, conversing with Boss and Coworker M, when the Mrs. In Law showed up. Twilight came up, (of all things...) and she wanted to know who had the books. I piped up, much to my chagrin, and told her she could borrow the first two. Mrs. In Law was going on vacation and wanted plane reading.
I was a bit uneasy, knowing what Boss had to say about them, but I did not think it would be that big of a deal. After all, she is an adult, surely she can be responsible with my books, right? The other piece of this was that I really did not want to lose those books. I paid full price for one of those 2, and more than I usually do for the first one. (Usually, I buy books used on Amazon)
So, time went on. I thought about the books every couple of weeks, wondering when I should say something. Along came March, when C randomly met Mrs. In Law at his work, and she made a comment about needing to get the books to me. I was relieved. Surely they would show up soon. And I honestly do not know this family, they are barely acquaintances.
Fast forward to today. Coworker G and I were hanging out when in walks Mrs. In Law. Long story I don't want to get into, she asks if Boss had left her book 3 of Twilight. And in my head, among many thoughts right then, "it's taken you almost 4 months to get to #3?!"
I'm not sure whether or not Mrs. In Law recognized me. I don't think she did. So I said, "So, you're finished with the first two, then?" "Oh yes, I'm finished and I passed them on to someone :)"
You did what! Who, as an adult that I don't even know, passed along my books to someone else, when she doesn't even know me or contact me? I was so flabbergasted that I didn't say anything as she walked out the door. (this is the timid part coming out) I knew I should have said something to at least find out what happened with my books, but I just was shocked.
When Boss showed up, I told her the story so that she could tell me what to do. I didn't know whether to have Boss contact Mrs. In Law about it, or to have Boss's daughter do it or what.
And lo and behold, Boss looks at me, and then says "You know...there are two Twilight books sitting on my table that Son brought home. Maybe he brought them from the Chiropractor...do you think they are yours?!"
Turns out, my Boss had my books for a little bit of time (I don't think very long) and didn't realize it. I am so glad that I did not cause a scene by freaking out and demanding my books. I still should have said something to her about her irresponsibility, but it has all worked out in the end. How is that for random?!
Creamy Halibut Broccoli Bake
Note: we made this 2 weeks ago and it was really good. I'm sorry if you don't have halibut at your disposal! It would probably turn out decent with chicken too! And excuse the picture...I took it right before it was all gone!
Creamy Halibut Broccoli Bake
3 - 10 oz. packages frozen cut broccoli, precooked
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups milk
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 lb. halibut chunks
5 hard cooked eggs, wedged
Melt butter in saucepan, blend in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly, remove from heat. Stir in mayonnaise. Carefully stir in broccoli, halibut and egg wedges. Place in 2 quart casserole, sprinkle with paprika and place in over at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or fish flakes easily with a fork.
We sprinkled some cheese on top as well. The thing to remember with halibut is that it is very easy to overcook. I think we ended up cooking it 25 minutes, it was just right. But we started checking on it at 20 minutes.
Hopefully some of you can make use of this!
Creamy Halibut Broccoli Bake
3 - 10 oz. packages frozen cut broccoli, precooked
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups milk
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 lb. halibut chunks
5 hard cooked eggs, wedged
Melt butter in saucepan, blend in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly, remove from heat. Stir in mayonnaise. Carefully stir in broccoli, halibut and egg wedges. Place in 2 quart casserole, sprinkle with paprika and place in over at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or fish flakes easily with a fork.
We sprinkled some cheese on top as well. The thing to remember with halibut is that it is very easy to overcook. I think we ended up cooking it 25 minutes, it was just right. But we started checking on it at 20 minutes.
Hopefully some of you can make use of this!
Friday, April 24, 2009
New Photo Gallery
I started a new project on Tuesday night. It originally started as wanting some webspace to back up my photos on. Then I wanted to play with web design again and wanted webspace to make a site AND have space for storage. C wouldn't go for it, though.
I started searching for free sites, instead of inexpensive ones. I found several that had significant amounts of space. I settled on one that is decent, with 20GB of free space. After I signed up, I started playing with HTML again and designed a simple gallery for myself. I originally wanted to put each of my blogs and a gallery up, but I decided that would be too much work. I found a really nice gallery program to use - SimpleViewer, and I started using it in Picasa to make simple albums. So, here I am, with another big thing in a week!
Feel free to check out my new gallery. I'll be updating it every time I take some worthy photos! Thanks for looking in advance!
I started searching for free sites, instead of inexpensive ones. I found several that had significant amounts of space. I settled on one that is decent, with 20GB of free space. After I signed up, I started playing with HTML again and designed a simple gallery for myself. I originally wanted to put each of my blogs and a gallery up, but I decided that would be too much work. I found a really nice gallery program to use - SimpleViewer, and I started using it in Picasa to make simple albums. So, here I am, with another big thing in a week!
Feel free to check out my new gallery. I'll be updating it every time I take some worthy photos! Thanks for looking in advance!
My New Photo Gallery
I started a new project on Tuesday night. It originally started as wanting some webspace to back up my photos on. Then I wanted to play with web design again and wanted webspace to make a site AND have space for storage. C wouldn't go for it, though.
I started searching for free sites, instead of inexpensive ones. I found several that had significant amounts of space. I settled on one that is decent, with 20GB of free space. After I signed up, I started playing with HTML again and designed a simple gallery for myself. I originally wanted to put each of my blogs and a gallery up, but I decided that would be too much work. I found a really nice gallery program to use - SimpleViewer, and I started using it in Picasa to make simple albums. So, here I am, with another big thing in a week!
Feel free to check out my new gallery. I'll be updating it every time I take some worthy photos! Thanks for looking in advance!
I started searching for free sites, instead of inexpensive ones. I found several that had significant amounts of space. I settled on one that is decent, with 20GB of free space. After I signed up, I started playing with HTML again and designed a simple gallery for myself. I originally wanted to put each of my blogs and a gallery up, but I decided that would be too much work. I found a really nice gallery program to use - SimpleViewer, and I started using it in Picasa to make simple albums. So, here I am, with another big thing in a week!
Feel free to check out my new gallery. I'll be updating it every time I take some worthy photos! Thanks for looking in advance!
Tuesday Time at the Park
Tuesday, C and I went to the local park. I was gung ho about making this a photo shoot of us, much like I did at the beach with Lin last week. It was not meant to be, however. The park is a little less free feeling!
Little kids love to crawl through this thing.
It's a bit hard to do with a bulky camera, though, so I passed.
But C gladly obliged me!
This is a mural, made by a local class of kids, I think. It features sea creatures. I'm not really sure what happened to this, but it's all vandalism. It's pretty sad.
And lastly, I used to love these things!
Little kids love to crawl through this thing.
It's a bit hard to do with a bulky camera, though, so I passed.
But C gladly obliged me!
This is a mural, made by a local class of kids, I think. It features sea creatures. I'm not really sure what happened to this, but it's all vandalism. It's pretty sad.
And lastly, I used to love these things!
1 week left!
We are going on our trip in a week. And I have been getting more and more excited as the time got closer. But yesterday, it really hit me that we are leaving. And the more I think about how little time there is left, the butterflies in my stomach are starting to churn. I hadn't really ever realized how much work goes into making sure everything is taken care of when you leave. This is our first real trip together since our honeymoon, and we didn't have the house together then. But I have to pay several bills, clean, get a friend to check our mail, give contact information to my parents, etc. Not to mention planning our itinerary when we are on our trip. Once again, I have a new appreciation for all my parents took care of. Once these nit picky details are taken care of, I can't wait to go!
I finished up one of my college classes last night. It was supposed to end this coming Tuesday, but my teacher finished us up a half hour early last night! This leaves 2 more. 1 I will finish today, and the other....I'm not sure. Sunday afternoon at the latest. The end is in sight and I'm in go-go-go mode to be finished so I can focus on the stuff in the paragraph above!
Obviously I haven't been posting much this past week. I'd love to say it's because of school, but it's actually been because it's nice enough to do things outside!
I'm off to finish class number two. I'll update again soon!
I finished up one of my college classes last night. It was supposed to end this coming Tuesday, but my teacher finished us up a half hour early last night! This leaves 2 more. 1 I will finish today, and the other....I'm not sure. Sunday afternoon at the latest. The end is in sight and I'm in go-go-go mode to be finished so I can focus on the stuff in the paragraph above!
Obviously I haven't been posting much this past week. I'd love to say it's because of school, but it's actually been because it's nice enough to do things outside!
I'm off to finish class number two. I'll update again soon!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
You Capture: Letters
This week's You Capture post is all about "Letters". I have to admit, this one was harder than last week's. I'm afraid it's not too original.
My SIL drew in the sand for me without me asking her to!
I went to my hometown on Monday, and both of my parents work at the fire department there. So I drew inspiration from the vehicles. This one states, "Only you can prevent forest fires"
And "Ambulance" backwards.
Go check out I Should be Folding Laundry for more!
My SIL drew in the sand for me without me asking her to!
I went to my hometown on Monday, and both of my parents work at the fire department there. So I drew inspiration from the vehicles. This one states, "Only you can prevent forest fires"
And "Ambulance" backwards.
Go check out I Should be Folding Laundry for more!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Losing a Truck to the Ocean
Adventures in the weekend
Note: Links in this post go to specific entries on my photography blog.
On the 16th, the sun came out, and it felt like summer! I went to the beach, and ended finding SIL and her friend. We frolicked on the beach for a bit, until they needed to go home. I came home soon after, and then headed back out with my friend Lin and the dog she is babysitting.
Saturday, C and I worked, and I got to meet Coworker JW's new baby! After work, we hung out with Lin, watched a movie and baked a cake.
Sunday, my mom came over and we had a good chat over a halibut dish we made (which I will post later).
Monday, I drove to my hometown to take photos (and get my tires changed). I photographed the journey out there, the beach (and the volcanoes), my old yard and my 3 cats. It was a fun trip.
Today, my parents are in town, so we are going to lunch at our favorite summertime burger joint. It opened on Friday, and they have the most amazing milk shakes. After that, C and I may go somewhere to take some photos. Happy Tuesday!
On the 16th, the sun came out, and it felt like summer! I went to the beach, and ended finding SIL and her friend. We frolicked on the beach for a bit, until they needed to go home. I came home soon after, and then headed back out with my friend Lin and the dog she is babysitting.
Saturday, C and I worked, and I got to meet Coworker JW's new baby! After work, we hung out with Lin, watched a movie and baked a cake.
Sunday, my mom came over and we had a good chat over a halibut dish we made (which I will post later).
Monday, I drove to my hometown to take photos (and get my tires changed). I photographed the journey out there, the beach (and the volcanoes), my old yard and my 3 cats. It was a fun trip.
Today, my parents are in town, so we are going to lunch at our favorite summertime burger joint. It opened on Friday, and they have the most amazing milk shakes. After that, C and I may go somewhere to take some photos. Happy Tuesday!
Hometown Trip Part 5: OB
Meet OB! (short for Orange Boy) He is the attention lover of the family. He will get in your face if you start loving on Luv, which annoys Luv and amuses us. He is really my dad's cat.
However, when he saw me coming with my big camera, he kept running from me.
Here he is, after running to Luv, who totally turned away and ignored him.
And that's the end of my hometown recaps!
Hometown Trip Part 4: Tunia
Meet Tunia (short for Petunia) She is my favorite of the three cats. She and her brother (who you will meet in the next post) are almost 5 years old. Here she is sitting on a block of wood we have in the yard.
Sitting on the block over the puddle. She kept looking down at it.
Up next is Tunia's brother!
Stan H
I just came across the blog of one my hometown's premier citizens. He just posted this fantastic post of photos of the volcanoes and an eagle. Go check it out! The sunset photo is awesome!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hometown Trip Part 3: Luv
I love my cats. I don't know how apparent that is, because I can't have them at our apartment, but I miss my 3 babies very much. Hopefully, you will forgive me for going crazy with images of my kitties, but I enjoyed it.
This is Luv. He is almost 9 years old (whoa!)
He's a scruffy fighter, but loveable at the same time.
I love his markings!
Tomorrow I will post on the other 2!
Hometown Trip Part 2
Round two of the hometown photos.
Before I went to the beach, I went down a side street. There, I found berries! There are from last Summer/Fall, and a little withered, but still red!
Next, it was off to my parents' house. Each year, we get a sort of pond from melting snow. Along with weird clumps of grass.
I love this one. It's the hook on my dad's tow truck, and its shadow. I'm contemplating framing this one.
The river in another spot. I was on my way home at this point.
When I stopped at the river, much to my surprise, there was a duck floating around. The photos I snapped while he floated were alright, but not amazing. And then he took off. I wasn't really prepared for it, so I think this one turned out really well for a spur of the moment one.
Next up, kitty recaps!
Before I went to the beach, I went down a side street. There, I found berries! There are from last Summer/Fall, and a little withered, but still red!
Next, it was off to my parents' house. Each year, we get a sort of pond from melting snow. Along with weird clumps of grass.
I love this one. It's the hook on my dad's tow truck, and its shadow. I'm contemplating framing this one.
The river in another spot. I was on my way home at this point.
When I stopped at the river, much to my surprise, there was a duck floating around. The photos I snapped while he floated were alright, but not amazing. And then he took off. I wasn't really prepared for it, so I think this one turned out really well for a spur of the moment one.
Next up, kitty recaps!
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