HAPPY NEW YEAR.....well, ok, it's a little early-at least in AK where it is 8:37. It's 11:37 in Texas as I write this and the evening of January 1 in New Zealand. I am not even real sure what time it is in California-maybe 9:37. We are a spread out bunch!
I kind of went wild earlier this evening-I celebrated the evening with a DIET PEPSI. Oh, my gosh...did it ever taste good! I know I gave those up for a really good reason and I am not going to start the habit again...but, I'll tell you it was bliss. And I had way too much white chocolate cherry bread.
Then I gave myself a good shake and settled back down into being a responsible adult! I called Mike and had a nice long talk with him.
Then I curled up on the couch and watched the most inspiring "movie" I've seen in a very long time....it was The Secret. As they were rolling the credits I heard a noise and ran to the window to see the start of the most beautiful fire works display! It was wonderful! Like you see on TV. The fireworks were continuous and they filled the sky with ever color you can imagine! The timing seemed perfect-at the end of a movie that needed to end with fireworks! (Run, don't walk to your nearest DVD store and get this movie-it can change your life!).
The fireworks here were timed to start at midnight in New York so by 8:30 they were over. A good thing for those of us who won't make it until midnight.
I just finished a nice long chat with Brandon in New Zealand via the wonders of Skype. That is always a pleasure-he has the wisdom of an old soul. I am truly blessed to have such a son!
And that blessing is multiplied by his cute and funny wife and now a new little soul on the way!
Yesterday during my reading the psychic said I had lots of guides around me and they were laughing and joyful....that is how my life feels to me. Full of joy and gratitude for friends, family, the beauty of Mother Earth and the blessings of my path!!!
I am looking forward with such joy and excitment to this New Year of 2007-a new grandbaby, a summer in Alaska, a trip to New Zealand to see the kids and the new baby, and the birthing of my new business!
So, as I sit here looking out the windows of this wonderful old home, watching the people walk by, listening to the cat snore, I am filled with gratitude and am wishing you and yours
A VERY HAPPY, JOYFILLED, NEW YEAR OF 2007-MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS BE REALIZED AND YOUR LIFE FILLED WITH GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, AND GOOD TIMES!!!!
(check back tomorrow for pictures of ice skaters at the lagoon)

Guess What the Weather is Doing??? I
f you guessed snowing you would be right! I am learning the weather people always seem about 48 hours behind on the forecast...they forecasted a blizzard with 8 inch snow fall a couple of days ago but it we've only had scattered flurries. That is until I got out this evening to go to a reading I had scheduled-the blizzard hit while I was on New Seward Highway....very scary, for a time I couldn't see anything! However, with the help and protection of my angels and guides I made it to my destination!!! By the time I finished with my reading it had settled to a slow and steady snow fall!
I am now sitting in this wonderful and cozy house eating reindeer sausage, drinking a little dark ale and chatting with you while I watch the snow. I have a treat waiting for after the sausage-white chocolate cherry bread from the bread bakery!!! Thank goodness they only make it at Christmas!!
I'm brewing a little tea (a Christmas present from Betty!) to go with it.
For those of you who aren't into my woo-woo side you can sign off now-for the rest of you I have to share something from my reading. The psychic said I had lots of guides around me and they were laughing and joyfully sharing in the fun I am having. The snow and the beauty of Alaska has brought me much joy!
The second thing I will share briefly is that I was very much encouraged to move forward with recommittment to my dream to open my own business when I return home. Spirit even named the business in the drive home in the snow-Hygiea Healing Center or The Hygiea Center (not sure which). I had to laugh at the name when it was given to me because that was the name of our student health center at TWU when I was in undergrad school. There is something about my bringing the ancient healing ways together with modern medicine to help people in their journey toward wellness of body, mind and spirit. That is all I got but I was happy with it as a start!
The card portion of the reading indicated this was in the incubation stage and it was suggested that I pick up a book on small business for dummies or something. I did and I am looking forward to studying it! I might even take a course.
Changing subjects-it is just beautiful outside! The snow is so light! You can almost blow it off the car with your breath...and it is so white, it glitters as it lays on the ground under the streetlight.
So, I lift my ale in a toast to all of you...wishing you were here to experience the beauty and grandeur of the last frontier!!! As always I am missing you and sending lots of loving energy your way.

Gettin' in shape......I woke up again this morning at 5 to go to the YMCA for the water aerobics class. I actually enjoyed today. It's all in the equipment! Yesterday I had to haul everything around in my arms and I was grossed out by the floor...after work yesterday I set out to find a gym bag and some shoes. So, this morning I was all outfitted with my bag I packed last night and my new red crocs. Made everything much easier-I only made one trip to the car and I was ready to go!
Also it might have helped that I started the car ahead so it was warm...and I got in the sauna and warmed up after coming out of the pool...and it was 23 instead of 0 degrees outside. Being warm helps!
Broke my tooth this morning so I had to ask around for the name of a dentist. So, now I have to go to a new, unknown dentist and you know how terrified I am of dentists!!! This is veryyyy, veryyy traumatic....I wish I could fly home and let Dr. Hoffer take care of me!

CHRISTMAS IS OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR! Back to work tomorrow (thank goodness-we don't get paid for all these holidays the clinic gets-advantage of being a full time employee instead of a traveler!)...but, the time off has been nice and the Christmas celebrations were fun. Today was a quiet day. I got up and cleaned the kitchen and did the laundry. Then I got out among the snow flakes (it snowed on and off all day-not much in terms of accumulation) and did some errands. I picked up a humidifier and then went to a bookstore I have been wanting to get to-I found 3 old favorite books by people who have been teachers of mine at one time or another. I love used book stores-beside finding good deals you can find old books that are just treasures!
I just got back from 2 hours at the YMCA-I guess I'll join. I really like the Captain Cook Hotel health club better but I am too intimidated by the snooty skinny broads to go there. I went yesterday in my sloppy clothes with my hair in a nest and discovered this is one of those places where the women apparently buy designer workout clothes and have their hair and make-up done to exercise. That lets me out-they don't make designer workout clothes for size Plus and Plus and Plus and more Pluses!
So, tonight I went to the YMCA-talk about the other end of the spectrum! But, I did not feel intimidated-these were regular folks! I tried not to think about my bare feet on the gross, wet floor and I am having to work up to using the shower but I feel comfortable there so I'll go! Also one of the other travelers, Kathleen, goes there and working out with someone to hold you accountable for showing up always works better for me! After all I have spent almost 3 months putting it off!!!
So, 6:15 in the morning at the YMCA for water aerobics! Be there or be square!
I'm heading downstairs to my warm, cozy room for the night-it's cold up here in the main house. I'm gonna curl up with a good book and veg for the rest of the evening!
Have a good one!

It's 9:30 and dawn is breaking in Anchorage.....the sky is gray and the snow is white and the light outside is a soft grayish color...no movement except for a billion birds flying around the house. There is a beautiful surreal look to Alaska this morning....even nature has the post holiday blahs but on Her it is beautiful!

Christmas Day is over....it's 11:00pm. It was a long but fun day! I got up and baked a couple of pies and everyone started arriving.....there were 8 of us....plenty of food! We ate and talked and ate and talked for about 5 or so hours. It was fun to get to know the other travelers a little better-we've planned to go on a dog sled ride and a winter cruise together in the near future. They are a fun bunch! Kathleen stayed to help me clean up and we talked and visited the night away! After a few hours I remembered that Joanne had the Walton Christmas show-The Homecoming. So we dug some food back out, filled our plates and sat down at the TV to watch it-how nice to end Christmas with a good old fashion Christmas show about family and being together! Made me resolve to be with my family next Christmas! Although I will say this was a fun Christmas surrounded by friends and I really enjoyed it! And it was a beautiful white Christmas!!! The only thing I wished was different was that I didn't get a chance to call Mike back or to return Debbie's Skype after she called during the party.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE FROM ALASKA...where we are having a white Christmas. It's just beautiful here! We had about 8-10 inches of snow the first of the week and about a foot from 4pm until after 4am this morning. I am attaching some pictures-the first 4 or 5 are from last night while it was snowing. If you look at picture number 4, I think, of the light shining through the trees you can see how hard the snow was falling! You may wonder about some of the pictures I took-look closely and you can see that those are pictures of my snow shoveling efforts! I am hoping you notice how deep the snow is and how much I shoveled-I am angeling for some ohhhing and awing and general comments of admiration here! This was, after all, my first big snow and I think I did pretty well....I did the drive and was working on the sidewalk-I had about 12 inches (no kidding) left when the neighbor with the great snow blowing maching (looks like a lawn mower sort of or a tiller) saw me and told me he was going to do the sidewalk...."I always try to do the walk for them." So, he went back and redid the walk which made it a little neater-those snow blowers make straight wall out of the snow on the sides of the walk instead of the messy mounds that my shoveling makes! However, this Alaska man saw the drive and said, "you really did a big job back there." So, there you are-it WAS as big a job as I thought it was....I thought maybe I was just a whimp! I took some pictures of the big evergreens with snow on them-who needs a flocked Christmas tree??? Some places have lights on theirs and it really looks like the prettiest flocked tree you've ever seen!
There is lots of snow removal going on this afternoon-people out with various types of equipment shoveling side walks and drives and alleys (haven't see the snow plow today)...there are people with shovels (like me) and with snow blowers (like neighbor Barry) and I even saw one guy on a camo 4 wheel all terrain vehicle with a blade on the front doing his sidewalk....and, of course, it seems like ever truck in Anchorage is outfitted with a blade which they drive around with all winter.
And then, of course, all of this snow has to be removed. I hadn't thought too much about that until about 20 minutes ago when I watched a parade of various kinds of trucks drive by each filled with snow. The were marked "Doug's excavation," "Valley excavation," etc. They were a motley crew! About the same time I saw a similiar parade going on the next street over (I caught sight of them down the alley)....only these all appeared to be empty. Since they all seemed to be heading downtown I wonder if they dump all of the snow onto Cook's Inlet until the breakup.
Well, I have a newly released dance movie I actually bought and that is the afternoon's entertainment!! I am craving Mike's chocolate chip cookies and a Diet Pepsi (which is no longer a part of my life!) to go with the movie....I guess I'll settle for some Chamomile and Lavender herbal tea and a square of dark chocolate!
I hope you enjoy the snow pictures and know this white Christmas would be more fun with you here!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS MOST BELOVED ONES!!!!!

Hello...I have been baby sitting and cut off from my major form of communication-the computer. Of course, I haven't heard from many people....if it weren't for ads my e-mail would be empty and if it weren't for Donna and Suzanne my blogs would be too! But, still I check everything several times a day and it is a thrill to find something on my blog or the Logan's or an e-mail message-I got several fun cards from Julie-she sends the greatest cards!!!
I have gotten some Christmas presents and I am chomping at the bit to open them -thanks Betty and the Logans and my sweetie! My mama got me a aromatherapy humidifier...as soon as I get to the store to get it....it started snowing hard and I decided to come home!!! I have something to look forward to on Tuesday! I'll go to my favorite New Age store and get my new humidifier.
I took some pictures of the new place and thought I would post them. Go to www.picasaweb.google.com/dancingwithherbs/MyNewAbode to see the pictures.
Hope you have plans for a very Merry Christmas!

WE'RE HAVING A BLIZZARD!!!!!
It's snowing really hard and has been all day (it's noon now). Snow is piling up...I don't know how much snow we've had-I'll have to update that report along with a picture as soon as I can! It's hard to get a picture during the week since I am at work during the few precious hours of daylight. WHAT FUN!

More snow for Anchorage.....we got 3-5 inches in the Anchorage bowl today and the predictions are for a larger storm on Wednesday....if the storm stays on track we can get anywhere between 5 and 10 inches of snow....YEE-HAW!!!! Talk about a white Christmas!

A White Christmas in Alaska....it has been snowing hard all day. I think we've had 4-6 inches. I am so glad to see new snow. The rain a week or so ago had melted a lot of it and the rest was looking dirty and yucky. Today is beautiful!!

I am mostly moved into my new home....I have a really nice landlady/roomie and a very friendly cat. The cat has great energy and is a real lovey feline! I celebrated by going out to dinner with Jane to The Glacier Brewhouse and having the most wonderful meal!! It was venison served medium over a bed of Spinach and red peppers (that is what the menu said it was actually new potatoes) and a great sauce with some type of berries (whole) scattered in the sauce. Accompanied by a merlot and followed by creme brulee-WONDERFUL!!!!
I'll get pictures soon-have to finish unpacking and then crash tonight!

It's moving day....how on earth did I get everything into two suitcases??!!?? So, new rules...anyone who comes to Alaska to visit me has to bring and extra empty suitcase! That is if anyone comes?

It's snowing glitter!!! I don't really understand the science but it has something to do with fog and crystalizing, etc. But, the magic is that it is snowing glitter!!! I am not lying about this...or even kidding....it looks just like glitter is falling from the sky. BEAUTIFUL!

The magic of the aurora borialis......WOW! What a night! I met up with my guide and aurora expert, Peter, to set off on a wonderful adventure....everyone else having called to say they couldn't make it!
We headed North on the Glenn Highway to just past Eagle River and turned off on to a road to a lake. The first thing I noticed as Peter turned off into a parking lot to see if he could see any activity," was a sign that said "Dog Sled Trail." There I encountered by first unexpected treat....a man with a sled with his dogs still hitched to it. He had obviously finished the trail and was preparing to unhitch them and load them in the trailer he had on his truck. It was dark but I could see them waiting and the sled behind them-what a treat!
Peter felt that there was enough activity to warrant traveling on down the road to the lake (there was doubt because of the growing cloud cover). How beautiful. As we drove down the road the trees and bushes on the side of the road twinkled when the headlights hit them like they were covered with thousands of tiny diamonds! The snow sparkled like glitter had been sprinkled on the ground! It was breath-takingly beautiful.
Then we arrived at the lake and I got my second treat-I got to walk on water. Well, not really water but a frozen lake. I was warned that the ice would make a creaking or cracking sound but not to be concerned-the lake was frozen solid and that is just the noise of the ice moving. I was disappointed because it did not sing at all while I was there.
And the final treat-the lights. Peter was disappointed and told me that it wasn't that good because of the cloud cover but I, having never seen them at all, thought it was great. There was a luminous pink color which was streaked across the sky and could be see pulsing. That actually was in the south....the northern sky was cloudy but later the clouds seem to raise off of the horizon and you could see a strip of really, really bright white light on the horizon. It was just beautiful!
And, of course, all of this was viewed while standing in the middle of a lake surrounded by trees with the mountains to the east-their snow covered tops looked like a big white wave across the eastern sky. And the huge falling stars!!!
And accompanied by conversation pondering the BIG questions of life-what is the big question? Standing in the middle of a frozen lake watching pink pulsing lights in the sky seem to beg consideration of life's questions....who am I....how do I fit in all of this?
I can answer one of life's questions: don't put your chocolate in the same pocket as your hand warmers!

Northern Lights.....the level tonight is high plus....very, very best chance of seeing the lights. Except clouds started coming in about an hour ago!!! Anyway, a carload of us are headed about 30 minutes out of town to a dark place in hopes of seeing lights! I have stuffed my body into every warm thing I own-I can hardly move but my eyes work and that's all that counts! I'll report when I get back....keep your fingers crossed!!!!

INTRODUCING: (drum roll please)

Baby Logan....age 10 weeks.

Here is the first picture of my new grandbaby, currently referred to as pickle (maybe because (s)he is about the size of one!).

You can see his/her little head better in the second picture but no problem see the arm and knee in either!

Yep! Sometime in mid-July I will be the grandmother of a new little Kiwi. (S)he will be about a month old the first time I visit in New Zealand. Can't wait!

A VISIT TO WILDBERRY ALASKA PRODUCTS Merry Christmas from Alaska! Home of a white Christmas and chocolate waterfalls!

I told you Alaska was great!! The streets aren't lined with gold but the waterfalls run chocolate!


Happy Holidays from me and my friend, Moose! We hope your holidays are filled with lots and lots of chocolate!!!!! And fun with friends and family!

WEATHER IN ALASKA.....what a beautiful morning I woke up to. It was snowing with huge, soft, wet flakes (it's hard to call some of them flakes they were more like small snow balls falling from the ground and splatting on my face and in my eyes because I couldn't stop looking up at the snow).
I went to the lake by the hospital to walk and it was like walking in a winter wonder land! Of course, it was still dark at 8am (not light now until closer to 9:30) but with the snow on the ground it was really light.....the path through the snow covered trees was so beautiful with the heavy snow falling. It was so quiet and the lake was a big white snowy field in the middle of the forest and it glowed in a white light !!! Unbelievable!!!!! This is the most beautiful place imaginable!
Then I had to leave my winter wonderland and go Christmas shopping....it was just great! I first went to Fred Myers only to find there were few people there, I made my purchase and left without even standing in line. Next to the Native Heritage Center, picked up what I wanted, paid and left-just me and one other woman in the shop. On to the Ulu factory to get Mike a ulu (don't worry he doesn't read my blogs so I'm not giving away any secrets)....I was the only one in there until I was ready to leave and then a couple and a family came in.
Would have been great had I stopped there....but, no I decided I had to have some beads for a project I am working on. Off to my favorite bead shop that I hardly ever buy anything at because of the prices.....but, the shop keeper is a fascinating woman who is leaving after Christmas to go to West Africa until March! The shop is actually "owned" by a beautiful Irish Setter that meets you at the door-I just love that dog! I looked, couldn't decide what I wanted so I finally left-only to get into some major traffic jam because of street repairs. Jane called and wanted to meet for lunch (at 2pm, so I was ready to forget my resolve not to eat out and eat anything, anywhere). The place we decide to meet at was closed so more driving around Anchorage to find another place. More traffic. Finally...lunch at Appleby's and a surprise when Jane said she was treating-the second time in two days someone bought me lunch. (Hey, Brandon, I am receiving abundance now!!!) By the time we finished eating it was 3 and the sun was setting! And I still had one more bead shop to visit!!!! Finally, I headed home at 4;30 or 5ish.....owwww, my feet hurt!
The weather is warm this weekend. It has warmed up to the mid to upper 20s in the night and mid 30s (above freezing) during the day! Result.....yucky, wet, mushy!
Have a good weekend!

According to the weather service the temperature in Alaska and Abilene are the same at this moment. The weather bug on my computer gives the Abilene temp as 32 and when I checked the web for the Alaska temp it says 32 also. However, I will say that my car said 46 when I left work at 8-I went to eat with one of the travelers and when I left the resturant it said 41 at 10 pm. It is wet, mushy, and yucky here! I want more snow!!! And temperatures cold enough to keep the snow from melting....of course, now when it freezes it will be a real mess because everything, roads included are wet from melting ice and snow.

This is a great three story house overlooking Cook Inlet.....thought I'd share it with you even though I have no idea who it belongs to :-)
Below is Cook Inlet. I'm afraid I couldn't get the pictures to really show the ice. It was cloudy-I'm not sure it would have been a lot better if the sun was shining. The inlet is real icey and then out in the middle you can see the water moving. The foreground is ice chunks...the little row boats and the tug boat are frozen into the water. Really neat!!!
After I left there something was falling from the sky-in Texas we would have called it hail...it was about pea size but slightly more mushy. However, it held it's shape for a while.
I'm going up to Palmer to meet with an herbalist on Saturday...I hope to get a winter picture of Mirror Lake. It is really pretty.

HOME, SWEET HOME, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA..............
This is a picture of my new home in Anchorage.....I am renting a room from a lovely young woman, Joanne. I think that is the window to my room peeking over the fence in the first picture...below the front set of windows. A really great homey place! Brandon, doesn't it remind you of Michelle Hailey's house. It does me-even more so inside where it is warm, welcoming, slightly funky and with a personality all it's own. I am looking forward to moving around the 15th of December.

Having a good weekend???? I have found a home to move into-and it really is a home. Oddly enough I can see the house from my apartment window!
I've given up two things that I was sure I never would-my bath tub and heated garage....but I've gained much in return. First the price is just wonderful; the house is funky, warm, homey, and has so much personality I expect it to talk to me; and finally, the landlady is a soul sister! I am sure I will be very happy there and I will get you pictures when possible. I will not be moving for 2 weeks.
Jane moved across town this weekend so I went over in the late afternoon to see her new place and take a walk with her and the girls. As was standing in the entry and looked up to see a moose walking down the street and then into someone's backyard. So, off we went for the walk and on the way back there was a really big bull moose standing on the side of the path. He didn't seem to notice us-for that I am glad!
I've been to the Native Heritage Museum Craft show, out to eat and to the grocery store so I am tired out!!!! I am planning to take my camera for an outing tomorrow up to Cook's Outlet...so maybe some good pictures for you.

Winter....We had about 5 inches of snow yesterday. I haven't left the apartment yet-so, I am admiring the winter from my window.

It's snowing but not as much as I had hoped. This was a cold, dry November....I am hoping for more snow in December.

What is there to do in Alaska in the winter.....do you just find yourself burning with curiosity over this question as I frequently do? Yep, I thought so...so I thought I'd offer some insight into this important question!
Riding in a dog sled-this is my current fav. I am planning a trip in December so I have been researching my options. Note that I wrote RIDING....there is driving a dog sled options out there but I am much more attracted to the idea of riding in the basket buried in among the furs. One that includes overnights stays is www.farthernorth.com. There are several along this line, including one that takes you into the back country of Denali park for 3-7 day trips with you driving a team (too expensive and too much work for me!). I am looking for one in the Mat Su valley so I don't have to drive too far and where I can ride! I am thinking about a Talkeetna kennel and an 8 mile 2 hour ride.
Snow Machines-Note I said snow machine...snow mobile is a lower 48 term, do not use it. Beside snow machines are a little different. They are easier on the environment since when the snow melts, the tracks go away. The cost is $165-$200 per day. You can click on the link and check this out if it is your thing!
Camping-NOT my thing in the winter. But, I am told you can put on extra layers, build a quinzee and enjoy camping all year around. I will not be reporting on this winter activity. In spite of all that igloo building we did in grade school this is the closest thing I have seen or heard of to an igloo.
Alaska Zoo-Yes, the zoo is open in the winter. There are some special activities at Christmas. I will eventually venture up there-when I get more clothes!
Skiing and snowboarding-for the most part, I am not convinced this is one of the things I plan to do. I might do some cross country skiing if I can get my knee pain under a little better control! But, I might go up to Alyeska resort for the New Years Eve torchlight parade and fireworks...of course, I will observe from the side lines. The last time I tried downhill skiing I was asked to sit on the side lines and think that is probably where I belong.
Snowshoeing-This is my list of things I think I want to try-knees permitting, of course!
Well, this is just a short list of outdoor activities! What do you want to do...come on up and I'll arrange it. Stay tuned and I'll fill you in on the indoor activities I am interested in-like a stay in Homer at a spa!!!

I just talked to Mom and Mike in Trent.....they have had their first cold weather. It dropped 19 degrees in 2 minutes!!! So much for the 70s in November. Today is snowing and sleeting-the usual Texas thing....ice, ice, ice. The thing I love about Texas bad weather is that you just stay home until it goes away-Donna is home because school is closed, Mike is off work today because the trucks aren't moving and Mom is snuggled in with a fire and a pot of stew. It's like playing hookey-legally. I love those days because you didn't have anything planned since you thought you were gonna work and you can't do anything 'cause the weathers bad-so you are just stuck inside doing whatever YOU WANT TO DO....reading, napping, knitting, beading, scrapebooking, playing scrabble....ahhhh, the choices are to numerous to count. What a gift!!!!

I am alive and well-I've been so involved with the whole housing issue I haven't blogged. I did go to the inlet this weekend to take a picture of it all frozen up but the camera batteries were dead! I plan on making a decision about housing this weekend-I have some nice choices and I'll fill you in on my final move on Sunday. There is a Crafts sale at the Heritage Center this weekend-on Saturday and I plan on doing some Christmas shopping done!

SNOW IN THE FORECAST!!!! Temps for tomorrow 8 in the morning and 10 by noon-an inch of snow predicted! I'm ready for some snow! The sky is cloudy and the forecast has us getting up into the mid twenties this week and 30 by next Saturday-yeah for clouds and snow!!

THANKSGIVING IN ALASKA.....
I was thinking today that this is the first Thanksgiving in years and years and years-I can't remember when, if ever-that I have not shared Thanksgiving with family. But thanks to Melanie and Chris Kimmery, I had a really great Thanksgiving 2007!
I woke up at 3 am so I could call and wish Mike a Happy Thanksgiving before he went to work...then I talked to him about 8:30 pm Texas time....he spent his Thanksgiving all by himself (after he got off work)! But, he decided it was really good to have time to get some things done around the farm so he didn't really regret it. I sure missed his fabulous pumpkin pie!!!!
I talked to Mom early in the day and then Skyped around noon Texas time. I got to see the newest family member, Kaydon, but the fam apparently thought he was the only one I was interested in seeing because the call ended pretty much after I saw him!!! I think they were hungry!
Rusty and Kaeli were apparently deer hunting and I never even try to catch up with the Quinones-their lives are way to hectic to try to figure out where they are in time to call!
I spoke with Mindy and Brandon at the end of the day and heard all about Brandon's preparation of Thanksgiving dinner in New Zealand-sounds like they had a great one and the pregnant mommy enjoyed it!
I went to the Kimmery's along with Shelley Rodgers, another traveler. They have a beautiful home in Wesilla, about an hour commute from Anchorage! Melanie and Chris put together a great Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional favs. We spent the afternoon surrounded by the wonderful smells of dinner cooking while the three of us- Melanie, Shelley, and me- made necklaces from Shelley's extensive collection of beautiful beads! Chris did some manly thing outside in the cold that involved power tools and such and required that the caulk be thawed out before he could finish (you should see the home entertainment peice he built-awesome!).
It was a wonderful day and, even though I was not with the family, I discovered at the end of it that I had been too busy and having too much fun to be homesick or sad-although I do miss you guys!!!

Reports are that Thanksgiving in New Zealand were a rousing sucess!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AND TO ALL A FAT TURKEY!!!!!!

Or to Brandon and Mindy in New Zealand where a 6 pound turkey is $52 dollars...a fat chicken. Hope you are all snuggled into the embrace of friends and family enjoying good food and lots of love!

%%#$^^&*&^&^%%$**&&^%@@#$$.......And other words that can't be printed on the blog!!!
I just spent an hour writting a blog about what it's like to be a traveling locum tenens and while I was typing along apparently hit the wrong combination of keys and the whole thing deleted!!!
So, let me just say it was minus 5 when I left the clinic at 9:30 tonight...and I stopped at the store on the way home and bought bread-$3.98 for a loaf of whole wheat! I'm off to bed-have to go in early to finish charting! Maybe I'll try again on that blog over the weekend!

HELLO FROM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

This is me dressed to go on my walk with Jane and her dogs!! My mittens and hat are fleece lined and I have three layers of clothes on under the coat, silk sock liners and wool socks with my boots! Today is warmer with the temps at about 18-but, the wind is blowing so the wind chill is much, much lower!
Last night I went to a birthday party 10 minutes from the house. When I left there it was zero by my car themometer, when I arrived at the condo it was 18 by the same themometer. It was a 10 minute drive but I went from up near the mountains to down near the inlet-that's how much the temperature can vary in the Anchorage bowl.
I didn't do a thing I planned to do when I blogged on Thursday! Instead I went to a Arts and Crafts Sale downtown. I looked at a to-die-for apartment downtown that I missed getting due to a communication problem between me and the landlady (I thought I was filling out paperwork and calling her in the afternoon; she thought I was going to make up my mind and call her later in the afternoon). And I went to a birthday party in the evening. After a really full day I was just too tired to go looking for Northern Lights!
I planned a quiet day at home for today! I was tired and wanted to enjoy being at home. I did laundry and a little cleaning (note the word little!)....and I cooked a wonderful Seafood Jambalaya in my rice cooker! And, of course, I went with Jane to walk the girls! I am ending the day with this blog and knitting on my grandbaby caps! Hope you had a good weekend!!!

A little addendum:
Current Alaska weather: The forecast this week is for sun, sun, sun with temps in the mid teens during the day and 3-4 degrees at night. Sunrise today was at 9:15 am and sun set was at 4:13 pm. If you want to come up America West round trip ticket is $388.

I know you will think I'm crazy but I would love to live in rural Alaksa,....make my herbs and blends and do Maya Abdominal Massage....pick berries and fish! I have already picked out my house but I can't make the link work so you have to go to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/apa/236073229.html
the old fashion way....highlight the link, copy it and paste it in your browser. Then you can see my little house....just $500 per month.

WHAT'S UP FOR THE WEEKEND??
First let's get the weather out of the way-cold and sunny for the weekend! From what I heard in the news we aren't expected to have the winds again-but, don't hold your breath because I caught the end of the forecast. No snow, no clouds (boooo). Today the wind was calm in Anchorage, thank you! But, the Mat Su valley and other parts of Alaska had wind-52 in Wesiella (one part of the city, Fire Station, reported 96 mph!), Palmer was 68, etc.
We are having about 7.5 hours of sunlight. The sun rises around 8:30 or 9 and sets around 4:30. For some reason, it doesn't seem strange to me-now, that's strange.
For the weekend I plan on starting with my fun Friday-Border's to listen to the guitar, eat a herb stuffed pretzel, and sip some chamomile and rose hip tea! I'll have to get to the grocery store-I have to make that a priority this weekend since I haven't been able to fit it in lately.
There is an intertibal pow-wow at the Native Heritage Museum this weekend. I am excited about going to that event. However, I also want to go to Homer since the weather has been so nice and the roads are good. I heard one person say that's where the "tie dye" people in Alaska live-I am reading a book about flower essences of Alaska written by a man from Homer so maybe that supports that claim. Sounds like my kind of place.
I just learned about a busline that runs in Alaska-that means I might be more mobile in the winter than I thought!!! I would like to go to Fairbanks for their Christmas festival time.
I would love to take a flight over part of Alaska but that is out of my price range!
Fortunately, I now have more time and better weather to fit in more fun in Alaska!

Hi, Above is a map of the area of town I am moving to-it is actually less than 2 miles from where I am now. First find the spot where Cook's Inlet and the Lagoon almost touch-there is just a narrow area of land and it says Alaska Railroad. Once you find that look to the right and you will see a square pattern of roads with an angle in the right, upper corner of the square....at the top of that angled area you will find a street named Laurence. That is where my new digs will be. It is a mother-in-law apartment on the bottom floor of a big, nice house (very upscale neighborhood). The first floor is the apartment and the double garage and the two floors above are the main house. It's small and will need some cozy-ing up but it has the two things I want-washer and dryer and a heated garage (the landlady is cleaning out the garage so I can use it). Right now she does not have high speed internet but I explained that was a must so she is installing it. There is no phone but I don't think that will be a problem since I use my cell-if the apartment phone rings it startles me half out of my mind. One plus I didn't really look for but got anyway is a fireplace!
Right now a fireplace sounds really good-it is in the single digits and with the wind blowing like it has this week the windchill is in the minus 10 range. I am ready for some snow! And some cloudy skies!
OOOPs....I had a boo-boo. I went to get something to drink and came back and PLOPPED....as in not sitting down gently...down on the couch. Guess what? The sewing scissors were between the cushions of the couch and I didn't notice. Stuck those suckers right into the side of my right buttocks!!! OWIE!!! Blood everywhere....had to hurry and get the bleeding stopped and the blood cleaned up before Dancing With The Stars!!! Having to watch Dancing With The Stars while sitting on a towel to apply pressure...wasn't that an assine (pun intended) thing to do.
I'm sitting here on pins and needles...and scissors....chanting "EMMIT, EMMIT, EMMIT, EMMIT." Ready for them to announce the WINNER!!!!!
YEAH..........He won!!!!!!
Whew, now, I can go find a bandaid for my butt.

ANNOUNCEMENT.....ANNOUNCEMENT.....ANNOUNCEMENT............................
Since I am going to be a grandmother I had to reconsider my plans. This is the new plan: I am staying in Alaska until August 3, 2007!! I am going to go home on the 22nd of March and then return on the 16th of April. I will stay until August 3, then plan on going to New Zealand to visit my kiddos plus the new baby (sometime in August, depending on what works best for the kids). After August I will take an assignment, hopefully in the Southwest, for Septmeber, October and November of 2007. That would allow me to take December off in 2007 since I worked it this year.
This plan allows me to come home for THE wedding and to see my hubby...but, gives me time to save some money for the New Zealand trip (which I haven't done a very good job of thus far).
I still have to finalize the change in tickets-hopefully, that will work out. I am supposed to find out tomorrow if that can be worked out....Travis (CompHealth) seems to think he can work it out but couldn't be sure today.
This also means I will be here in the summer for those of you who would like to visit....salmon fish, etc.
Well, what do you think????

The good, the bad and the ugly.......ok, I have finally found something I don't like about working for this company. They have something called access to care which means pts get seen on the same day they call if they so desire. Not such a strange concept...but, it's the way they do it. The 4:30 appointment slot for days and the 7:30 appointment slot for evenings are the overbooks-all of them for the day! They don't work them in throughout the day...they dump them all in those two slots! Tonight I was evenings and I had five overbooks at 7:30-that is on top of seeing patients every 15 minutes since noon. But, I couldn't feel sorry for my self because the east team evening person had FOURTEEN overbooks at 7:30....that's 14 people in that one appointment slot. I think the way it works is that they all have to be there at 7:30 and wait but you have to call them three times before you consider them not there. That means my last patient which I got to at almost 9 pm had to be called until she presented or until she was called 3 times-she wasn't there the first time so we had to wait and try again! This is very customer service oriented but it is hard on providers-one person calls it abusive. For sure you can never plan something for the evening because you never know when you will get out of there! I left at 10 pm tonight and still have 20 charts to dictate (at least I get overtime-I would really hate it if I was a full time provider and didn't get overtime!).
That's the bad on to the ugly-the wind blew like nuts today! It blew the snow around and it looked like glitter blowing in the sunshine (well, that's not exactly ugly!). But, it blew the snow off the trees and now they just look like winter trees. The snow is fine and dry so it is like dust in Texas and behaves much like dust in a West Texas sandstorm.
Of course the good is that it was really beautiful-I mentioned the glitter appearance before. The other thing was that as I drove to work it looked like smoke was raising off all the mountains! I was in awe...I finally realized it was the wind blowing the snow up into the air! I wish I had my camera!!!
Speaking of cameras-today I received the picture above of me at Mt Denali from the young middle eastern man I mentioned before. He also sent a great picture of the mountain I will post later.
Well, it is after 11 pm and I have about 2 plus hours of dictation so I better hit it!!!

Weather news......Supposed to be "subzero" tonight and in the morning with wind which will "make it feel colder"....question: what is colder than zero, at what point is it just COLD! Right now it is 14 where I live and 1 a few miles away at the Airforce Base. There is always a big difference within the city depending on where you live and how close you live to the mountains verses the ocean. I'll let you know what subzero feels like tomorrow-I plan on walking before work at about 10am so I'll get a taste of it!!!!

AKUTAQ


Akutaq: Eskimo Ice Cream....

This is considered a real treat by the Eskimos-I haven't had any yet but I hear that sometimes the urban palate is not as discerning when it comes to this delicacy! Throughout the presentations at the Native Heritage Center today I heard references to akutaq-one woman said her mouth was watering just talking about it...that's about the reaction whenever anyone mentions Eskimo Ice Cream.

Thought I'd share the recipe I received today with you in case any adventurous soul wanted to stir it up (and, no, the ice cream we used to make when it snowed is NOT Eskimo Ice Cream any more than those igloos we made with sugar cubes represent Eskimo houses).


Recipe from Grace Harrod

2-3 tbls Mazola Oil or any kind of oil (see above link for traditional oils used)
1/2-1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 quarts to a gallon of berries (your choice although I heard that the berries in the store taste like colored balloons filled with water compared to the berries picked during berry season)
1/4 cup lemon juiice
1 cup orange juice or less

Blend shortening and oil with electric mixer. Add sugar (one cup at a time) and juice until fluffy-about 5 minutes or more. Add berries last using spatula to mix in with oil mixture.
(think this sounds gross, look at the link to the traditional ways of making akutaq).

Salmonberries are a popular berry for akutaq.

More fun in Alaska:

It was a three day weekend (these folks have lots of holidays!), Veterans Day. Friday I went to look at an apartment that I would LOVE to move into. It is in a very nice neighborhood- a mother-in-law apartment. However there is big time competition for this apartment! I am waiting to see if I might have been chosen to live in this nice place.

I have been knitting Mike a cap for our anniversary (don't worry-I haven't given away any secrets since he doesn't get a chance to read the blog)....my goal was to finish the cap on Saturday. Which I did.....took it off the loom and saw a little problem. I think this would be a fine cap for a child but it was too small for Mike. So, I stayed up until 4am so I could knit another one!! It's a little too big, I think. So, I'll send both and maybe one will fit him and keep his little ears warm!

I knitted a baby cap-same problem! Jules, sweetie, could you use a little cap for one of you baby dolls? I'll have to try again to get it right for my grandbaby.

Today I walked with Jane and her dogs-an hour. But, it was a little warmer. We waited until 10:30 so it had warmed up to 15. She wears a parka, cap and mittens. I wear my insulated underwear, a fleece top and vest with my cap and mitten-usually have to take the last two off because I get too hot. But, my face does get cold! Usually both of us and the dogs have frost on our face where our breath condensates and then freezes. I just love Alaska!

This afternoon I went to the Alaska Native Hertige Center for their presentation "Nanum: of the land". I got there in time for the presentation on traditional medicinal plants-very interesting! After that I went to hear three young men talk about their moose hunts. I loved it-listening to them talk about how the elders, uncles, fathers taught them the hunt reminded me so much of listening to RB, Brandon and Grandad talk. They really believe it is important to listen to their elders and learn from them. They also talked about being "modern" hunters with their snowcats, sleighs, GPS, etc. But they also say that they observe the traditional teachings of the elders (these kids were in their early twenties) such as:
-they don't say they are going hunting for moose because the animals are always listening and you don't want to broadcast your intentions so you say you're going to "look around" or "going for a walk."
-they believe that the animals offer themselves up for food and clothing and should be treated with respect and appreciation if you want them to continue to offer themsleves.
-a young man's first moose is cut up and offered up to the community. They cut the moose up and offer the best part to their grandmother then to the elderly and so on.... One guy said he got a peice about the size of his fist-that was all that was left for him.
The story telling was fun-they told on each other. One guy had never been on a hunt and showed up in the wrong clothes, didn't know how to be quiet, etc. They really gave him a hard time. Story telling is important in the culture as it is in most indigenous cultures. Grandad was a great story teller....he would have enjoyed listening to these young men!

I saw a presentation on harvesting plants on the North Slope-the artic. I was amazed at what actually grows above the tree line! WOW-it was interesting to watch a film of some elders that returned to the tundra, the north slope, to demonstrate gathering techniques in the artic. There among the mosses and lichens were blueberries, salmonberries and cranberries....not to mention greens and other goodies.

During the dancing I got a reindeer and buffalo hot dog with chili. I wanted to sit and watch the dancers but there were no empty chairs so I asked this lone elder man if I could share his table. I am really glad I did! He is a drummer and singer for the dancers in his village in the Northern Yukon. According to him his village is getting too big, around 700 people, it was nice when he was younger-half that number!

He wanted to know about where I was from and how long I had been there and how long I would stay. When I told him, he wanted to know about my coat (I had left it in the car because I hate to keep up with it!). He was worried I was going to be too cold. He told me I needed to get a coat that would come to "here" (drawing his finger across his mid thigh). Also, according to him, I need a hood with a ruff. According to my new friend it's going to get very cold in Alaska and I need to have a warm coat-"very important."

I also met a woman who was FROM TEXAS! What a small world! She was here for a week and going back tonight-although she was really clear that she did not ever want to leave! Now, the world gets smaller: she is from San Antonio and knows Virgie Ravenhawk and Bear Heart! I gave her the information about Gathering of the Circles and she plans on attending in August!

Well, gotta go knit baby caps....have a good weekend!

GONNA BE A GRANDMA!!!!!!

Brandon and Mindy called today to tell me that a little Kiwi was on the way and I would be a grandmother by the fourth of July!
I am totally thrilled and exicted-just wish there was someone up here to celebrate with! This is one of those rare times that being in Alaska by myself is less than fun...most of the time I love what I am doing. Besides all that, the kids are sure a long way off up in Kiwi land! There are major advantages to having a child in New Zealand-first of all they pay you! Secondly, you get something like 12 weeks paid time off-not bad! But, for this grandmother it is way, way off!
The other side of the coin is that it seems like a great place to raise a kiddo. Brandon and Mindy have adopted a very healthy lifestyle since they've been up there and I think it will be a great advantage to a bitty one to be raised with that lifestyle.
I am considering rearranging my plans-I was going to New Zealand in April and I still may. However, if I delay to September I could see the new baby. But, I had planned on taking December 2007 off and if they are still planning to come to the US then I might just wait.
It costs a lot to go to New Zealand and I'd rather wait until the baby is a little older. Brandon and Mindy are two of the most capable people you'll ever meet and they don't need me to be there so I'd really rather wait until the little Logan is more human then they are for the first 2-3 months! Goodness, such are the delimmas of grandmotherhood!
Congratulations, Brandon and Mindy!!! You will be wonderful parents!

Sullivan's and Creme Brule:

Tonight I experienced one of those unique pharmaceutical waste of money experiences-don't get me wrong, I went and enjoyed but it is a outrageous waste of money and pisses me off when I think of how much medication could be provided to patients for what was spent tonight.

A meal was provided at a very fancy resturant called Sullivan's for about 45 providers. I am talking about bottomless wine glasses, appetizers, salad, a main course of steak, salmon or tuna, and desert of creme brule. One presenter was local the other was brought in from Seattle. It was 2 1/2 hours and the noise was awful from the resturant, everyone was tired, it was dark to maintain the ambience and people just plained talked through the second presenter.

Interestingly, I saw the same presentation (same sponsers and same slides different presenters) in Texas. I drove to Lubbock, paid $25 and sat in a classroom for 4 hours. Guess which time I actually learned something????

Supposed to snow tonight. I have a 12:30 appointment to look at an apartment on the lower hillside that is wonderful and half the price of this one-I am competing with several other renters so a little positive energy would be good.

More tomorrow. We are off for the next 3 days!

New Boots and Politics:

Thanks to a guardian angel I have new boots. They are so warm and comfy-they are furry inside but keep the water out and my tootsies toasty! The others will work for really deep snow but these are much better for everyday. In fact, my shoe wardrobe (all two of them) is at work and I wear these back and forth so I am all warm. And I took Brandon's suggestions and got wool socks-he is right (as always) they are much warmer and don't itch. I think they may even be warmer than alpaca. So thanks to my guardian angel and the advice of my kiddo I have toasty tootsies!

Tomorrow is election day here (well, I guess it's election day everywhere). There have been people on the street corners with signs for at least a week promoting their candidate....tonight at the corner of New Seward and Northern Lights, a main intersection, there must have been at least 50 people standing out there in the 15 degree weather yelling and waving Sarah Pullen signs. Last week it was Women Unite for Sarah standing out there. The other big political issue here is prop 2 regarding the gas line (it makes no sense to me so I can't even explain it-apparently the effort of "signature collectors from California" to penalize the industry for not putting a gas pipeline in faster...or something I just don't get)...the interesting thing about this prop is that I see all sorts of ads to vote "no" to prop 2 and even all three of the governor candidates are against it as are all the other political candidates so I can't figure out who is for it or why they are spending so much money trying to get people to vote "no" when there appears to be NO ONE who even wants to vote "yes." I tried to put a link on that would explain prop 2 but found that there was no clear explanation of what it was even when I did a google search.....whatever it is most people are "agin' it." I have noticed that people seem to be less apathetic re politics and voting then in the lower 48, can you imagine crowds of people gathering all over Abilene in freezing weather to wave signs?

It is gettig cold here-I think I understand that it is colder earlier than usual here. In any case it is cold-late nights are falling into the low single digits to the minus degrees. When I drove to work this morning it was 2 degrees, on the way home it was 14. Cold, clear, crisp with the big moon peaking between the trees. The apartment is cold this evening-I am going to have to move my computer away from the window!

Well, I am rambling and you probably have other things to do-I am having a great dinner of Havarti cheese, pear and hot artisian bread with lavender and chamomile tea---yummmm. Hope you are warm and cozy with a nice dinner to enjoy!

MOOSE ON THE HOOF, MOOSE ON THE PLATE!


I had a very interesting Saturday!





I called Grandmother Kay Peet to see if she wanted to go to the World Music Festival and was lucky enough to have her agree to go with me. So, I got in my new favorite Pontiac G6 with the sun and moon roof and the lovely seat warmers to go pick her up. But, WOW, when I pulled out of the garage there was a big bull moose happily munching on the fallen leaves! I actually had to look twice to realize what I was seeing....our mind tends to comprehend that which is familiar to us. So, initially I had this fleeting thought that another cow had gotten in the yard (a common problem on the farm) but about as fast as that thought ran through my head I realized it was NOT a cow. I was amazed at how tall the moose was and how long his legs were!! And the fact he was right in town in the yard of the apartment. (By the way this picture was taken from inside the car!)

I finally got a chance to meet Grandmother Kay Peet -I had met Jack at the hospital when Kay was having heart surgery. They both invited me into their home in the true Eskimo way of hospitality. And it is a beautiful home in the forest on the edge of the river.Stepping in the front door one is surrounded with warmth-and not just from the stove. Kay and Jack have truly made a welcoming home and when they invite you in they invite you into the heart and spirit of the home. The kitchen is to the right and Jack has all sorts of goodies in there-from Moose stew kind of thing to pie! To the left is the sofa and behind that is the most heavenly place-Kay's craft table!! It is huge and covered with the hide of a Hereford. On top of that are some of the most beautiful crafts, including a white, beaded ceremonial dress and Jack's beaded moccasins-most beautifuls things I've ever seen! The walls are peppered with pictures of Jack in his rodeo days-roping and riding bucking horses. Jack made is life as a professional cowboy in the rodeo. (I will always remember with great fondess drinking hot tea, eating pie and listening to Jack talk about one of his bucking horses).

Off to the World Music Festival. There is nothing like going to a gathering with Kay Peet-she is a well known Traditional Doctor and she knows everyone and everyone knows her....and you get to meet some of the most interesting people. One of the ways of meeting and greeting here is to talk about where you come from and who your family is. We were at a craft booth and in the greeting of each other it became known that Kay's father came from the village of the crafter. But, as Kay explained, her father passed over a long time ago. Yes, the crafter agreed that he probably wouldn't know him but what was his name. Kay explained that he was known as Frenchie. The crafter had a most surprised look on his face as he admitted that he knew him, he had passed about 15 years ago and was an old harpooner. Correct!

When we first arrived we walked into the museum and were told where to go for the music. But, you could hear the music right off. Kay gently grabbed my sleeve as soon as she heard the music and said, "You must come, it's Pamyua!!." At that moment I did not understand the excitment in her voice or her eyes-but, she was right. That was the most "must" moment of the music festival! Their music moved my very soul!!! It is hard to describe but after hearing them every other performance was pale and watery! And there were some award winning performers! This group of four young people were a joy to listen to and to watch on stage! I especially loved when they did the Eskimo throat singing and would do some of the traditional Eskimo dance movements to the music.

After a while Kay wore me out and had to take me home...or rather I took her home. On the way to Chickaloom (her village) the moon rose in a beautiful big ball over the mountains turning the snow a rosy pink. I had my camera and I pulled over to snap a few pictures (along with carloads and carloads of other people)! It was breathtaking. Again, I only wish you could have been there because I just don't have the skill to capture the scene. The picture only shows a small segment, imagine white mountains stretching out on each side of the picture that you can see! And I just can't capture the colors and the sheen off the snow!









When we got home Jack took us to his workshop to see this little Borialis owl. It had gotten into the building and couldn't find it's way out. It had spent the day with Jack working in the workshop and had become calm, letting Jack within a few feet of him.
I was able to get this picture, standing very close to him. He is about 10 inches tall and appears to be an adult.



After another nice visit, with tea and moose and pie, I headed back to the apartment. It was a most beautiful drive. The river to the left of the road was partially frozen and the light from the full moon reflected off the ice like off a mirror. The moon light was reflecting off the snow on the mountains and the trees making it almost as light as day...and as beautiful as only Alaska!!!

A perfect day, new animal encounters, new friends, new music and new food-other than missing Mike, family and friends- I was as content as is possible to be in this life! For more pictures of my new friends and this wonderful moon go to www.picasa.google.com/dancingwithherbs/2006_11_4

This is my first knitting project!!!!! It' s a scarf-it looks black but it is really denim.
It is loom or frame knitting-easier than the regular knitting and fun too. I am trying to make a hat now but it isn't as easy since you have to work with two strand of yarn and they get all tangled. Who wants this one?

ANOTHER WEEKEND IN ANCHORAGE:

Another weekend in Alaska....I started the weekend at Border's tonight enjoying a cup of chamomile tea, a book and the sound of a local guitarist. This is how I end every week-the only thing that changes is the bookstore, but Border's is my favorite (just not as close as Tidal Wave or Barnes and Nobles).
Driving home I was enjoying the beautiful full moon over the mountains-it makes the snow look pink and lights up the sky from the reflection of the light off of the white snow!
I knew I had made it to my neighborhood when I saw the police cars and Community Project vans-they were rounding up the homeless from the streets for the night. There are three or four shelters in this area but some people just don't get to the shelters-I don't think it is a lack of space. I just think some people are unable to manage to make it to the shelters because they just can't organize that kind of activity. The Community Project vans and the police pick them up and take them to jail for the night-it's too cold at 9 degrees for people to be on the street.
There are several things going on this weekend. My favorite is the World Music Festival at the Native Heritage Museum. Below is the Saturday schedule:

WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENS WINTER SEASON NOV. 4

The Alaska Native Heritage Center opens the 2006/2007 winter season with the 3rd annual World Music Festival on November 4, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Internationally recognized musicians perform an array of musical sounds from Native contemporary and traditional music to Reggae. Admission is free.

Performers include:

• Pure Fe - Native American contemporary music - soulful vocals accompanied by acoustic lap steel slide guitar. Performing at 1:00 p.m.

• Natural Vibrations - A Natiave Hawaiian group playing Reggae with an island twist. Winner of the 1999 Reggae Album of the Year. Performing at 4:00 p.m.

• JoMaLa Jazz - Internationally renowned quintet light up the stage with contemporary jazz, Latin and funk. Performing at 2:30 p.m.

• Jujuba - a six member marimba band from Homer, AK playing exhilarating, postive-energy music from Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Performing at 11:00 a.m.

• Pamyua - A new world sound - mixing gospel, R&B and funk with northern indigenous music. Performing at noon.

• ANHC Dancers - Traditional Native song and dance from the Heritage Center’s talented team. Performances all day long.

Saturday night is the fund raiser for the Anchorage Folk Festival-Novemberfest. A big, free, festival at the new train depot at the airport(which I saw when I got lost there-it is beautiful with full size statues of brown bears and moose). Music, food and some kind of dancing they call-contra, I think.

I am for sure going to the World Music Festival but not sure about the evening event! I want to go to the beginners knitting class but it is from 1-3, can't miss the World Music Festival. Some of us wanted to go to the wine tasting but at $50 that was quickly ruled out! There is one more interesting thing-but again it conflicts with the World Music Festival....it's called the "Psychology Behind Dog Leadership from 9-3 presented by someone from the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles. Strange!

Of course, there's my favorite end to the weekend-tea, the Sunday paper and a fresh pastry at the New Sagya Market on Sunday morning!

Have a good weekend!!!!

PRIMARY CARE CENTER:
I took my camera to work today so I could get some pictures of the place I work. The first building above is the hospital and the second one is the Primary Care Center, where I work. The PCC is two stories with two wings off the main lobby. That is the main lobby above. The Family Medicine Clinic takes the entire third floor of the wing to your right as you look at the building. Administration and Women's Health are across a sky bridge on the left. Below us is Complementary Health (accupuncture, chiropractic and massage) and Patient Education. Below Admin and Women's Health is Pediatrics, Lab, X-ray and the Pharmacy (although there is also a pharmacy located in our waiting area). Opening into the lobby is a coffee shop and an "education cafe" with computers and all sorts of available education as well as a couple of staff to help access information. The Traditional Healing clinic with the Tribal Doctors also open into the lobby. Usually there are Native Alaskans selling their crafts in the lobby area. This is a very, very big facility-family medicine alone has around 30-40 providers!









These pictures were taken from across the street at the hospital, the Alaska Native Medical Center. These are but two buildings on a very large campus! One of the new providers (yes, newer than me-there have been two sets of CompHealth midlevels come in since me) told me she feels like she is working in a resort-I think it feels like working in a museum.
For pictures of the view from my office and the meditation prayer room at ANMC :
http://picasaweb.google.com/dancingwithherbs/AlaskaNativeMedicalCenter

BURRRRRRR.........
I just watched the weather- five day forecast shows night temps in the mid teens and day temps in the mid twenties. Yes, sir, winter has suddenly arrived in Alaska-at least it seems sort of sudden to me! Baby, it's cold outside!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Hope you had a good Hallyweeny!! It was a big deal at the clinic...lots of dressing up. My office was "Rydell High School" as in Grease. We were the pink ladies and Peter (our one guy) was a Thunderbird. Some of us looked a little better than others as you can tell below:

Extra, Extra! (By Mindy)

Those of you who know my wonderful son know that he is multi-talented, sensitive and intelligent. Please note the following message by his wonderfully supportive wife:

Extra, Extra! (By Mindy)

My movie star husband has spent the day filming Power Rangers. He will be in the first episode of the new season as part of a film crew--assistant director and also as a professor (wasn't that some type casting!). At one point the pink power range saves him (and some other people) from a laser. He had to duck behind a table and while he was down there he saw the pink power rangers panties. He thinks he might also be in the third episode a little bit. He thinks the new season is called Power Rangers Dark of night, but he's not sure. So set your vcr's! :)

Now I don't know when this show comes on but I can't wait to actually see his handsome face (it's been a long time!). Tune in!!

For those who have asked about Southcentral Foundation, I posted a blog but it put itself back around October 22...if you are interested you can scroll back.

FYI: I drove to work in the snow and arrived in one piece-me, the car, and the people around me! The road is a plane of white snow and ice and you have to imagine where the lanes might me but.....I arrived safely. It is still snowing heavily!

WHERE DID ALL THE SNOW GO!

So, here is where they put all the snow they have been plowing up off the parking lot all day long! Jane is 5'3 and this pile of snow dwarfs her!

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER

Observations on driving in Alaska winter wonderland!
I ventured out to the grocery store having put it off until today and the heavy snow-oh, well...life goes on in the winter in Alaska and that means snow. I figured I'd go to New Sogoya (I've been mis-spelling it in prior blogs) for groceries and then to Fred Myers for nongrocery items. The trip there wasn't too bad-got my groceries although I discovered the Natural Pantry had a better selection at less cost. By the time I got back to my car it was fairly buried in snow-get the scraper/brush out and brush it off, oh yeah, don't turn on the windshield wipers with the door on unless you are ready to have all the snow dumped into the car! Sit, sit, sit waiting for the defroster to do it's thing so I can see (at least momentarily) where I am going. Now, it's getting a little dicey and this southern girl wishes she'd stayed home-yep, Fred Myers is out for today! The problem being that apparently Alaksa does not have snow plows....or maybe they just don't work on Sunday???? I survived a winter in Iowa but they had snow plows always busy, very busy, plowing the roads. Do Alaskans consider themselves too hardy for snow plows? With millions of dollars in campaign money for the state representative coming from Pine Bluff, Arkansas is all the money for snow plows going to Arkansas??? What's the deal here??? No wonder I see so many trucks and SUVs with snow plows attached to the front-they have to do it themselves? In fact, the picture above is in the parking lot of the apt-the super or someone who works for the apt is plowing the parking lot. It lasts than 15 minutes before the parking lot is covered again! I wonder how often he does this in a day or is it a one time chore-might as well not do it in that case!
About the driving part-visibility is an issue in many ways! With no snow plows I can't tell where the lanes are, where the medians are, where the curbs are.... Stopping seems to go pretty well but I have trouble starting up again at a light or stop sign without a little spinning and shimming-and, yes, mother...I am going slow! Most people are very careful-I had one person pull-very slowly and very carefully-right out in front of me! The exceptions seem to be people driving trucks and SUVs-some of them drive like idiots! They drive considerably faster than the rest of us and somewhat recklessly-one was in the left turn lane and when the light turned green pulled out and crossed over in front of me to go straight!! Note: this is not all trucks and SUVs-but the stupid ones seem to be driving those vehicles...maybe they feel invincible...maybe that's why most of the wrecks I've seen reported on TV have been trucks and SUVs!
Jane says she's calling me to see if I change my mind about going to walk and soak in the hot tub at 1pm-she'll drive! I'm thinking doing laundry and cleaning house is looking pretty good right now-if only I hadn't run out of knitting thread for my scarf I could be really happy right here!
PS....While I was writing this the parking lot was buried again and now there is a little bobcat with a front end loader out there scraping the snow up. Look at this lady across the way-she's in a pickle-real glad my car is parked in a heated garage!

It's snowing....it's snowing...it's snowing.........

I don't know if you can really tell from this picture (shot from my apartment window) but it is snowing cats and dogs-or maybe I should say nickels and dimes because that is how big the flakes are. If you double click on the picture and bring it up to the original size I think you can see how hard it is snowing.
I am trying to decide if I am going to stick to my original plan to walk downtown to the Starbuck's or get in the car and drive to Starbuck's at Barnes and Nobles bookstore or get in the car and drive to the internet cafe next to Tidal Wave bookstore. Hummmm, I wonder why all those choices involve a bookstore. I could go to the Starbuck's at Fred Myer's grocery store or at Carr's grocery store but that just doesn't sound like as much fun! New Sogovia sounds pretty good but I had breakfast there yesterday.... So many choices here in "the outside world" as Mike calls anyplace outside of Abilene. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday...and enjoy the extra hour afforded by the time change!

Cozy evening in Alaska....It may be 23 degrees outside but I am enjoying a cozy evening. A wonderful dinner of toast, dark chocolate, and Earl Grey double bergamont tea served up with a good book, The Reader's Companion to Alaska. hmmmmmm.... Life is good! Wish you all were here enjoying this with me....since you aren't I hope you are having an equally cozy and enjoyable evening!

MY NEW ALASKAN KNIFE
I met Jane for breakfast at the New Segovia Market-wow, what a place! All sorts of fresh fish-some even have their heads and eyes still on!! Fruit and veggies of all kind-even jalapenos and other things that are common in Texas but rare here....bakery with all manner of fresh baked breads and other goodies...deli with to die for cheeses...on and on and on!!! I could spend a day there and across the street at The Natural Pantry-the wholefood, organic market!
From there Jane headed off for some very boring errands (laundry, etc) that I opted to avoid (I'm lucky to have a washer and dryer in my apartment). Instead I struck out for a BIG adventure-the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention arts and crafts sale!!!
What an experience!!! Native Alaskans-Eskimos and Aluets-from all the villages brought their arts and crafts to sale. I will try to give you a taste of the adventure!
First, walking to the convention center there are people, people everywhere. In front of the building there is a man singing with his guitar case open for money-he is singing protest type songs and his is a political mission. I didn't stop long enough to understand what his cause (it's 23 outside). Along the side of the building were women selling "Alaska donuts" and, my favorite, fry bread (it seems fry bread is as popular here as in the Taos Pueblo where I first ate it).
There were young people and young adults dressed in typical western clothing...and the occsional woman in her traditional parka. The parkas are long and straight until right above the knee where they are gathered sort of like a skirt. The gathered material portion extends to right below the knee. The material varies but it is apparentlly fur lined because there is fur of some type showing below the bottom of the parka, around the hands and around the hood. I did see one parka that was all fur with strip of fur (perhaps tails of animals ?) hanging off.
Mostly you hear English spoken all around you but there is the occasional Yupik or other native language (I apologize, I don't know the languages). The sound is rather guttral to me and seems like it would be very hard to learn!
In the Arts and Crafts area there were many elders sitting behind tables with their names displayed on the front of the table and their crafts in front....there were younger people too but mostly elders. Beautiful people with brown, round faces and broad cheek bones. The quality of the arts and crafts was unbelievable! Carvings, beadwork, furs! Bone, belen, wood...seal...it was almost more than I could take in!
In the lower 48 I am sure there would have been protests going on outside the convention center because I have never seen so much fur and so many pelts. Some was made into gloves, hats, or mukluks...but there were also furs and pelts hanging in displays to be purchased.
It was all wildly outside of my price range! The booties and mukluks for babies and children, for example, were $50-$80. I saw a charming stuffed doll...about 10 inches long...$100. Of course, it was hand sewn, stuffed, the face was emboidery and she was dressed in a seal skin parka. But, you get the ideal.
I was hoping to get one thing -an Alaska knife! I used one at a friend's house and it was a dream for chopping veggies, and she removed the skin on the salmon like it was nothing! I hadn't been able to find one of the knives at a store so I thought maybe..... Sure enough, I found several booths with the Alaska knife! One booth had tons of them of every size you can imagine...the handles were carved bone or antler. They were works of art! There were several women standing around trying them out...they would pick one up and slash this was and then turn their wrists and slash that way back and forth several times....put that knife down, pick up another, slash some more. I stood back, way back, and observed. When the crowd of slashing women thinned out some I moved in and picked up a small one....slash, slash, slash (I am sure it was my imagination that the crowd seemed to thin out considerably more). But, sigh, they were way out of my price range, starting at $100 for the bitty ones and going up, way up, from there! Luck was with me as later I found a booth with an assortment of things including three knives. Two had bone handles with the opening for your fingers-and relatively inexpensive at $95 and $70....and then there was my knife! It was roughly done in comparison to the others-and the handle was wood which was directly attached to the blade without the opening for your fingers....but it was $35. In my imagination this is some young Eskimo craftsman's beginning attempts at learning to craft the knife and I helped him or her out by buying it :-) So, admire the picture of my Alaska knife!!!
From there I walked down the street looking for something to eat-preferably something HOT! Instead I found food for my soul! The Cook Inlet Book Company! How had I missed this place??? A bookstore specializing in books books on Alaska (also out of print books and used books). What a find! And it is only about 10 blocks from the apartment-an easy walk! I spent a good hour in the store-long enough to win over the gruff old bookstore owner!
My final stop before heading home was a bakery for a cup of chili, hot tea and a Halloween cookie-a most unusual tea shop in downtown Alaska. It is rather Victorian with cute little this- and-thats in the shop-very Fredricksburgy, very unAlaskan!!!
Here I am at home in the midafternoon on a Saturday-no more adventures planned for the weekend! I am going to knit and curl up with some hot tea and a good book (The Reader's Companion to Alaska edited by Alan Ryan-"a pretty good place to start learning about Alaska" per my bookstore friend).
Oh.....I was interupted by "Mike, the postman" who rang up to tell me he had a package for me...and a Halloween card from Mike, my sweetie! What a treat on this cold Alaskan winter day! Have a cup of tea and think of me!

It's a snowy winter day in Alaska!
I took this pictures at the pond where we walk at lunch. It is right across from the hospital and clinic in a wooded area. It is a leash free area for dogs so this evening I met many dogs and their people. The beautiful white Sheperd mix are sisters, Summit and Inga. They own Cathy and she was kind enough to let me spend lots of time trying to photo graph this beautiful pair. They are like hyperactive children-never still a moment. As we stood on the bridge many dogs and a few people came by-giving this intrepid pair something else to get excited about! There were a flock of ducks at another section of the pond and, curiously, near the bridge and totally out of site of the flock was a lone duck! Click for more pictures.