My daughter asked me where I wanted to go to eat before I left for Alaska since they only have two restaraunts. I was told one was a smokey, greasy spoon and the other was a greasy spoon only less smokey. I could not give her an answer right away because I hadn't thought about it but yesterday I kept thinking about it no matter what I was doing so today I have my list and here it is:
Dairy Queen for a carmel toffee blizzard
Old Chicago for their nachos and hawaiian pizza
Chili's for babyback ribs
Culver's for their best cheeseburger
Pizza Ranch for the chicken and gravy and cactus bread
My Mom's for her roast beef dinner
A piece of my sister's great strawberry pie but she hasn't made that in a long time
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Butterflies have moved in!
Hi, this morning I awoke with a bad case of butterflies. I have 10 days before we leave here and 15 days before we leave for Alaska. I spent three plus hours filling out paperwork yesterday for the new position and last night in the mail were more forms to fill out and I also had more forms emailed to me from the regional office. So I just spent another 1 1/2 hours this morning filling out forms. Now everything seems very real to me and getting closer faster than I think I can get things done.
I did get a box of items from the kitchen packed last night. It was very hard to decide what to bring when it has to fit in one box and one of your favorite things to do is cook. But I managed to pack enough stuff to get started and even included a couple of cans of soup for Craig and I and some cat and dog food for the animals. So we won't starve the first night. The big accomplishment was that after closing the box it only weighed 45 pounds.
As I work on my list and while filling out the paperwork I just kept thinking the distance between here and Alaska is getting closer by the minute. OH MY GOSH!!!!!!
I did get a box of items from the kitchen packed last night. It was very hard to decide what to bring when it has to fit in one box and one of your favorite things to do is cook. But I managed to pack enough stuff to get started and even included a couple of cans of soup for Craig and I and some cat and dog food for the animals. So we won't starve the first night. The big accomplishment was that after closing the box it only weighed 45 pounds.
As I work on my list and while filling out the paperwork I just kept thinking the distance between here and Alaska is getting closer by the minute. OH MY GOSH!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Seriously?
I seem to be getting a lot more things to do as the time is getting closer. Mostly from other people. Some I don't mind and others I just look at and say Seriously! I got my drug test done yesterday, another step closer to starting my job. This morning the background check paper work arrived. So instead of trying to get some packing in I'll work on it. Time used that I don't mind, I can't start work until that is done so I will gladly work on it. I stopped at the vets yesterday to get the health certificates for the pets. I just assumed it was a few minutes of them filling out the paperwork using last Fridays physical. I was told a health certificate was a whole other matter and I will have to be the animals back in for another check up. Seriously! Seriously! Scheduled the appointment for Thursday morning.
I had my eyes checked and though I am not going into the fact that the eye check-up and one pair of glasses cost $601, (Seriously!) , I was told that the lab was working a little slowly and I may not get my glasses for 14 days,(usually back in 7). I leave ND in 12 days. I looked at the woman and said Seriously? So my glasses may not arrive before I leave which means Ken must pick them up and mail them to me. When they arrive they have to fit perfectly as there is no optometrist to fit them for me. Seriously!
I had my eyes checked and though I am not going into the fact that the eye check-up and one pair of glasses cost $601, (Seriously!) , I was told that the lab was working a little slowly and I may not get my glasses for 14 days,(usually back in 7). I leave ND in 12 days. I looked at the woman and said Seriously? So my glasses may not arrive before I leave which means Ken must pick them up and mail them to me. When they arrive they have to fit perfectly as there is no optometrist to fit them for me. Seriously!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Busy, Busy, Busy
Today is full of things to get done. Starting with the eye doctor, then run a few errands, then its off to the clinic for the drug test. I have to stop at the vets and pick up the animals health certificate. Of course it is a 30 minute drive to town for all of this. Then drive 55 miles to go to work for the rest of the day. Then I've got to try and get a hike in. Fix supper. Try to get a little more packing done. Along with things like clean the house, do the bills, etc..... I have to tell you a little panic is starting to settle as I realized I leave here in 12 days.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Training for Alaska
Good Morning! I am in training for my job in Alaska. I get up every morning and work out on my Wii for an hour. Twenty minutes of yoga then 40 minutes of aerobics or 40 minutes of strength training which I alternate daily. Then it is off for a walk with my dog. This mornings hike was almost 2 miles. Each day I have been increasing the length of the walks. After a day of work it is off for another hike. This morning I feel confident.
Of course, I am walking on asphalt and in King Salmon there is only one paved road. This morning I walked along the hillside in the tall grass for part of the walk. I flushed up a pheasant unexpectedly which startled the heck out me. Of course I jumped. That will be great if I unexpectedly find a grizzly in my path and I jump. So much for staying calm.
I also was not carrying anything. I am sure there will be equipment that needs to be carried. I don't have to worry about obsticles on the road but mother nature likes her paths lined with logs, bushes and little unknown surprises. So I have 18 days left before I leave. I think I need to change some training habits. Like wearing my backpack with some weight thrown in for good measure. I need to find some paths through natural habitat and maybe an incline or two since I will have a few mountains to handle out there. Shouldn't be a problem between work, packing, planning, and appointments I have to get in before I leave.
Of course, I am walking on asphalt and in King Salmon there is only one paved road. This morning I walked along the hillside in the tall grass for part of the walk. I flushed up a pheasant unexpectedly which startled the heck out me. Of course I jumped. That will be great if I unexpectedly find a grizzly in my path and I jump. So much for staying calm.
I also was not carrying anything. I am sure there will be equipment that needs to be carried. I don't have to worry about obsticles on the road but mother nature likes her paths lined with logs, bushes and little unknown surprises. So I have 18 days left before I leave. I think I need to change some training habits. Like wearing my backpack with some weight thrown in for good measure. I need to find some paths through natural habitat and maybe an incline or two since I will have a few mountains to handle out there. Shouldn't be a problem between work, packing, planning, and appointments I have to get in before I leave.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Pet Day
Last night prayers were answered as the congress found a way to compromise and keep the government open. Good News!!! So I am still on track to go to Alaska!
Yesterday was a day to get my animals ready for Alaska. We took them to the vets where they were given thier updated shots. Needless to say they were not happy campers. Camille even refused to eat her treat after the shot and she can hardly pass up food. Little fact, in Alaska dogs are only required to have a Rabies shot. We also learned that Alaska does not have Lyme disease, heartworm, or fleas. What a great place for dogs and what a nice surprise for us. No expense in things like heartworm pills and frontline. We also learned to take the pets on the plane they needed a health certificate. The vet said that most airlines require it performed 2 days prior to flying. Luckily our airline, Alaska Air, require that the health check be done 30 days before flying. So on Monday I will call the vet to get the certificate as both animals were in perfect health. I will also get them drugs to make them nice and groggy for the flight or I might have to listen to howling all the way there.
Alaska Air needed reservations for the pets even though they will be flying in baggage. So my loveable creatures are now booked for thier own space. It is going to cost $100 each to fly to Anchorage, where we have to pick them up because we get into Anchorage at midnight and our flight to King Salmon does not leave until 7:45am. We will then have to recheck them in the morning and pay another $75 for the short flight to our new home. Craig and I were planning on sleeping in the airport as I am cheap and didn't want to pay for a hotel for just a few hours. So what an adventure that should be, two humans, a dog and a cat camped out in the airport. I hope Anchorage Airport is ready for us.
After the vet, we went to buy kennels for our lovable travel companions. Passing on air information, kennels need to be hard surfaced, bolted together, and have a grated door. They must also contain a food and water dish. We found great kennels made by Remington. They are made to pass airline regulations. Only problem is they had the size for Sully but not for Camille. It is on order and should be here next week. I have Sully's kennel sitting in the hallway with the door open. Neither animal is used to kennels. I am hoping that he will just want to explore and stay inside as cats love that sort of thing. Sully can spend hours crawling under the covers in cat made tunnels. So far though, he has only sniffed at it. Not looking forward to telling them they are going to spend 12 hours in the thing.
Yesterday was a day to get my animals ready for Alaska. We took them to the vets where they were given thier updated shots. Needless to say they were not happy campers. Camille even refused to eat her treat after the shot and she can hardly pass up food. Little fact, in Alaska dogs are only required to have a Rabies shot. We also learned that Alaska does not have Lyme disease, heartworm, or fleas. What a great place for dogs and what a nice surprise for us. No expense in things like heartworm pills and frontline. We also learned to take the pets on the plane they needed a health certificate. The vet said that most airlines require it performed 2 days prior to flying. Luckily our airline, Alaska Air, require that the health check be done 30 days before flying. So on Monday I will call the vet to get the certificate as both animals were in perfect health. I will also get them drugs to make them nice and groggy for the flight or I might have to listen to howling all the way there.
Alaska Air needed reservations for the pets even though they will be flying in baggage. So my loveable creatures are now booked for thier own space. It is going to cost $100 each to fly to Anchorage, where we have to pick them up because we get into Anchorage at midnight and our flight to King Salmon does not leave until 7:45am. We will then have to recheck them in the morning and pay another $75 for the short flight to our new home. Craig and I were planning on sleeping in the airport as I am cheap and didn't want to pay for a hotel for just a few hours. So what an adventure that should be, two humans, a dog and a cat camped out in the airport. I hope Anchorage Airport is ready for us.
After the vet, we went to buy kennels for our lovable travel companions. Passing on air information, kennels need to be hard surfaced, bolted together, and have a grated door. They must also contain a food and water dish. We found great kennels made by Remington. They are made to pass airline regulations. Only problem is they had the size for Sully but not for Camille. It is on order and should be here next week. I have Sully's kennel sitting in the hallway with the door open. Neither animal is used to kennels. I am hoping that he will just want to explore and stay inside as cats love that sort of thing. Sully can spend hours crawling under the covers in cat made tunnels. So far though, he has only sniffed at it. Not looking forward to telling them they are going to spend 12 hours in the thing.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Day of Anxious Feelings
Yesterday I got a call to go take my drug test for the job. Know anybody who gets excited over a drug test? I did! It means that I am one step closer to my dream job. The problem is that my life is in control by congress. If the government shuts down today I don't know where that leaves me. Let's pray that congress will put the joe smoe's of the country first and find a compromise.
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