Just a quick note to share that Adam told me about Millie's finger and toes test. They squeeze her tightly to see if there is a reaction and there was. Both sides of her hands and feet responded and then they also called out "Millie, Millie?" and she slightly turned her head, both right and left. She turned to the right strongest.
Those are all reactions that we can be very happy about.
My sister Becca told me of how Pedro Bay resident's have New Year's Eve parties where they bring their Christmas trees to add to the fire. I talked about that to my daughter Karla then she said that she was going to bring her tree to our party. Oh? Our party? Yes, she says, you are making fat balls, remember?
Fat balls, a tradition we try to do every New Year's Eve. The fat balls are so good. Too so good! I think I wrote all about them last New Years.
New Year poetry:
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
A Millie Update:
Doris called. She said Mom has a fever because her brain cannot regulate her temperature. They are using cold pack blankets, Tylenol and lots of fluids through the IV to keep her cooler.
I just spoke with Doris and Debbie and earlier Doug spoke with Adam. The girls said that their Mom is warmer today. Warmer hands, feet and body. They are encouraged by that, and so am I. Doris and Debbie shared that they have been praying healing prayers for their Mom and reading scriptures with her, especially Psalms 91, which I just read too.
The same day that Mil had her "bleed" my sister Kotya's husband along with my niece Charmaine (13 years old) were traveling back home from Dillingham's airport in a blizzard. As they crossed Alegnagik Lake towards home Chris could not see where he was but he knew there is a thin spot on the lake. He thought he was not near it but turned out that he was. They broke through the ice but Chris was able to climb out! He pulled Charmaine out three times. She kept going through because she would crawl quickly toward Chris and their combined weight on one area would break the ice, she is the one that broke though each time. (Picture is of Alegnagik Lake, sent to me by Kotya.)
We all thank God that they are both safe. When I called Kotya to tell her about Mil, she said that Chris and Charmaine just got out of the lake, but my mind was so numbed by Millie's emergency that it totally went over my head.
I am so thankful.... thank you God for your mercy in Chris and Charmaine's lives! Kotya and her family and all of us were blessed that day when their lives were spared from a freezing death.
Millie has been blessed too. Her son Kenneth had just completed a CPR course and the day she went unconscious and stopped breathing, Kenneth had not gone to work! He was there to administer this life saving talent he just learned for the first time ---- on his own dear Mom. God has shown Himself to be so good in her situation already.
This morning the report on Millie:
Doris said that her Mom is coughing on her own. The physicians said that is a good sign. Adam reported that Millie moved her hand. These reports this morning are so encouraging to me and I know they will be to you.
"Cerebral angiographies show the brain's blood vessels. Doctors use cerebral angiography to detect abnormalities in the brain's blood vessels, such as narrowing or blockage. It is usually done after another test (such as a CT scan) has already detected an abnormality. Angiography is useful in detecting and diagnosing acute stroke and is especially beneficial since the images taken through cerebral angiography cannot be taken through other techniques."
....."The basic principle behind cerebral angiography is the same as that of regular x-ray imaging. As the x-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed at different levels. The absorption of the x-rays by the injected dye allows the blood vessels in the brain to be imaged. The differences in absorption become one of many images detected by a camera, which finally become a “movie” of the blood flow (and the flow of the intravenous dye) through the vessels." (Internet Stroke Center)
Millie and Adam's daughter Courtney will be joining Millie, Adam, Doris, Debbie and Josh in Seattle tomorrow. I know that it will be good for Millie to sense that her family is around her.
I asked how long Mil will be out in Seattle and Adam said he should have an idea about that in a few days. I am going to say that I think that she will be ready to come back to Alaska only after the doctors in Seattle are sure she has been treated for all and any problems that may need neurological surgical treatments, which they would do there.
Tonight's story: Millie's angiogram ended up on a positive note and she continues to sleep.
I will update again when I know more.
Keep praying and thanks very much.
(This picture is a favorite of mine, my sisters Millie-closest, Kotya and Shirley.)
I spoke with Adam this morning and Millie was being readied for an angiogram. According to Adam the doctor feels that she has another blood vessel on the right side of her head that does not look good so he will be going in to fix it from the inside of the blood vessel.
Adam says that Millie is still asleep.
Yesterday, Adam also shared that a six-inch blood clot was removed from the area of the rupture and the vessel was pinched off so that there is not anymore bleeding. Her breathing is still being assisted; she is stabilized and is resting. Her blood pressure is good, it had been too low for a while.
Millie and Adam have six children, mostly all grown; and 16 grandchildren. Right now their oldest daughter Doris is there in Seattle along with her younger brother Josh. Debbie will be getting there this evening, Seattle time. Being away from home can be expensive so there are plans being made to help out the Aposik's financially while they cope at this stressful time.
Thanks so much for praying, I will let you know of any improvements with Millie, when I know of it.
She has had a vein burst in the left side of her brain. She continued to have blood leaking since the initial vein breakage and today Doctor David Newell in Seattle, Washington. (I believe that she is at the Swedish Medical Center successfully shut that leak up then cleaned up the blood clot in the area. This doctor has done this surgery many times and that is a comfort to know. We all continue to pray for God's mercy on her and are praying her family.
I also saw her in Anchorage. My brother Toby's wife, Shirley called to tell us that Millie would be flown down to Seattle where she would recieve faster treatment than if she were to remain up here and wait for a doctor/hospital room to become available. When I heard that I decided to go see her before she left. We are so very thankful that she was flown out to Seattle along with her husband Adam for a faster treatment. I believe that our cousin Katherine Gottliebhad much to do with getting all the connections so quickly for Millie.
I spoke to Adam and he said that she did good through the ordeal and now she needs to rest. So, we can only rest in the Lord too, and plead that she will be able to recover from this sudden trauma to her body quickly.
Millie's son and two daughters will be by her side along with her husband while she is in Seattle.
The chili I made on Christmas Eve actually went over really well with the family. (Pictures in the slideshow are of the night we had chili.) I kept track of the ingredients that I used so I could share it here. I read many recipes online then decided to concoct my own.
Something I have learned: I didn't realize that chili is meat only, but chili con carne is chili with beans. I made chili with beans. This is the first time I've made chili without opening a can of chili! It was fun ---but did take some time to make.
I found a great ham bone to use plus I added two pounds of moose burger. The 6 cups of pinto beans were soaked overnight, (you can use less beans for smaller crowds). As you know, Christmas Eve was on Sunday, so I had to get the meat going before I left for church. I put it all into a large crockpot then cooked it all morning into early afternoon. My daughter ventured into the liquor store to pick up wine which I had decided I would use, after reading recipes. She brought home Cabernet Sauvignon, a strong flavored and red wine.
Mom told me this before, "If you boil and spill the water out, and boil it again and then spill the water out, your beans won't be so potent..." So, that is what I do with beans ----for less local tooting. My son Klint's wife, Calli said, "The wives thank you!"
So all that said, I will show you the recipe I ended up with and have named "Twin Lake Chili with Beans."
Twin Lake Chili and Beans (Mild)
In a large crockpot:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large, fresh ham bone (not cured) (approx. 2.5 lbs)
2 pounds moose burger (or hamburger)
2 chopped onions (large)
4 large cloves fresh garlic
4 chopped and crisply fried bacon slices
5 beef bouillion cubes
3 tablespoons chili powder (Add more if hotter chili is desired)
Cook all the above in a crockpot for 5 1/2 to 6 hours
Cover rinsed, cleaned and soaked pinto beans with water and bring to a boil in a large soup pot. Drain beans and refill with fresh water, bring to a boil again and drain. Once again add enough water to cover the beans, salt to taste. Gently boil and cook the beans until tender but not mushy.
Drain half of the boiling water from the beans, add the tender crockpot meat to your soup pot.
To the soup pot add:
2 cups red wine
2 large cans Italian recipe tomatoes, (diced with garlic, oregano & basil)
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 teaspoons pepper, if desired.
Simmer for an hour then serve with your favorite crackers, bread or top with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream and chips.
This recipe makes a big pot of chili! It is a very good amount to make for large crowds. Just having my family over is a large crowd! I would suggest that you use a smaller amount of beans if you desire a smaller pot of chili.
Did you try this recipe? Let me know how it turned out. Thanks!
Merry Christmas from Big Lake!
Chili is cooking and soon the family will all be here. We hope that you all have a very good Christmas Eve and Day.
Post office shipments were there yesterday and then FedEx showed up at my door as I frosted cupcakes for the kids bonfire and racing on The Lake.
I am all done with shopping and just have a few more items to wrap.
I am making Chili for Christmas Eve. A tradition that was started with Doug's folks in Florida. We went down there one year and she decided she was going to do chili on Christmas Eve. So when we came home, the next Christmas we did the same and have been since. I usually did a canned version of Chili soup, but this year, I am going to try homemade.
I found several recipes online that I thought sounded good and will probably do a combine, add a little of this and that and walla!
One homemade chili site suggested "Pepperbellies" which I have never had. A handful of Fritos-brand corn chips and top that with chili, cheese, onions, salsa, sour cream and pickled jalapenos. My family won't eat jalapenos, so that will not be an option for us, but the rest of it sounds quite good!
This is the The White House Executive Chef Henry Haller's Chili recipe. It was President Reagan's favorite Chili:
1/2 cup bacon drippings
2 cups chopped onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
2 pounds coarsely ground beef
1 Tablespoons Chili powder
2 cups red wine (optional)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon beef base
4 cups canned whole tomatoes, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
4 to 6 cups cooked pinto beans
Melt bacon drippings in heavy 1 1/2 gallon heavy pot, saute onions and garlic cloves in it. Add ground beef and chili powder. Stir until meat is well browned. Add red wine (optional). Add salt, beef base, tomatoes, bay leaf and sugar. Simmer chili meat, covered, for twenty minutes, stirring often. Add pinto beans to the meat. Simmer chili con carne for 1 hour, covered over low heat, stirring gently from time to time. Test for flavor. Yields 16 servings.
Here is another recipe that looks interesting.
Southern Recipe: Homemade Chili and Beans by Kent Fletcher.
"Be safe" to all those traveling to see family during the holiday season.
Waiting for more snow here, I was baking yesterday and heard the Alarm come on the radio. So I stopped and listened. Big snow storm on it's way, bringing up to ten inches of snow....
Yoo-hoo S*N*O*W? We are still waiting?
I can't believe Alexis Dustene is nine. It was her birthday yesterday and we will celebrate with her and her family today. I took this picture of her yesteday during the fun time on The Lake. Happy birthday Little Lady! I love you so much.
It's December 21st! The shortest daylight day of the year. Now we can be encouraged knowing that daylight will begin to increase instead of decrease. I was reminded of that this evening. I was quite busy with Christmas stuff today, so this ended up being a happy day for me---I should sing ---just like Chewy in the pictures! (He sings whenever he hears a musical toy.)
We will have a new baby girl in our family the last weekend in January by C-section. So, today I made something for her and put it under the tree. I will show a picture after Christmas Day. :-) I'm looking forward to seeing your pretty, little face Raegan Mae! Beautiful name Karla and Chris have chosen for her.
The Internet has been very squirrel-ly today! On and off, on and off.
We are still getting snowfall and tonight my husband and youngest son, Kris went on a snow machine ride. I hope my husband does not hurt himself! He hurt his tailbone the other day, during the races on the frozen lake.
I think... I am ready for Christmas! I am waiting for several packages to arrive through the post office and FedEx. This shipping with FedEx has been crazy! It is very frustrating.
The item I ordered was something I began to work on getting the last week of November and I actually paid for it on December 3. Today I waited all day for it to arrive as I was told that it would---it was expedited.
Nothing.
Today it is too late now for packages at the door so I figure it will be here tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day and I will wake up with new anticipation. (It is Doug's gift!)
This has been the way of Christmas in Alaska, if we order anything, which is the way of life if you live in the village. I don't, but this year I decided to do my shopping online. I enjoyed it, when things arrived when they should!
I have shopped at Land's End and Amazon.com and WOW! They are so good with shipping and shipping quickly. I was and still am impressed. Shopping from Alaska is not a problem with them!
Another place I have shopped at is Paragon.com and they were very fast too. So, it can be done! It may be a mindset of some businesses that shipping to Alaska must be difficult, they expect it to be. But... hey guys, it isn't true anymore.
I hope more businesses begin to be as streamlined as Lands End and Amazon when dealing with us Alaskans. The Smithsonian is terribly slow! They have such cool stuff though that I continue to shop with them, but they just keep being slow. Maybe someday, they will stop being so museum-ish.
Anyway, tomorrow is another day! I can continue to hope that my order will arrive on time for Christmas... for a few more days yet!!!!
Check out Marie's slide show if you haven't seen it yet. She took great pictures at the recent fun time we all had on The Lake.
"How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated! I should hardly admire more if real stars fell and lodged on my coat." --Henry David Thoreau, 1856
I found that quote at snowcrystals.com. Check out the three Galleries of Snowflakes taken by Kenneth G. Libbrecht using a special photo lens. There is a lot of information and videos of snowflakes at this site. Beautiful tiny creations! What an incredibly creative God! I've thought that thought so many times when I look at Creation. He could have stopped at one of everything, but He didn't!
It's snowing a little bit right now but I don't really expect a lot. Recent winters with hardly any snowfall have taught me not to hold my breath when it comes to lots of snow.
Growing up on Kodiak Island we didn't get much snow either. When it did come, it was a happy day. I remember playing on top of snow drifts higher than my head. Being the careful child that I was, I only peeked into the tunnels the young boys would dig. I learned to keep a respectful distance between myself and some of those guys. I've had my share of stinging, wet, snowballs on my bare legs walking home from school!
We had a freezing cold first ever racing day on the lake, put on by Klint, Calli, and Kris complete with a finish line. Klint plowed a race track after a good first snowfall. Kris even made ice lanterns. The guys studded up their 4 wheeler tires and raced around the track all afternoon into the evening. I even raced once! I came in dead last but still had fun!
I need to wrap gifts.
My husband really enjoys having fruitcake during the holiday season. I began making homemade fruitcake for him when we were so young. Back then we were very needy too, so making fruitcake seemed like such an extravagance, today it's even more of an extravagance! Candied fruit is so expensive! I have not been making it for the last few years for that reason. But... this year I made myself buy containers of candied fruit and it is now "mellowing".
I prefer to keep citron out of my cake but this year because I could not get candied pineapple, I am using it. I can taste the difference too. I don't care for that flavor. Doug would have only candied cherries if he had his way.
My parents either purchased or had fruitcake given to them by relatives. I remember it coming in the golden tins from Sears Roebuck & Co. Sometimes they had colorful pictures on them. It definitely satisfied the sweet tooth and more!
I searched online for a yellow fruitcake recipe that I use from my very old and worn-out Betty Crocker Cookbook, it's not exactly the same but pretty close! I add together the amount of fruit the recipe calls for then just put it all in a big bowl, rather that measure each amount. The recipe says preparation time: 30 minutes. ??? It takes me much longer, that fruit is sticky and I have to keep washing my hands when I cut it up, or else I feel like a "fruitcake"!
Yellow Fruitcake
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening (Crisco)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup orange juice
2 1/4 cups eggs (about 9)
2 1/2 cups candied cherries, cut in half (about 1 pound)
3 cups golden raisins (1 15-ounce package)
2 cups candied pineapple, cut into chunks (3/4 pound)
2/3 cup candied citron peel, chopped
2/3 cup candied orange peel, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup chopped dried apricots
1 (4 ounce) can flaked coconut
1 1/2 cups blanched whole almonds
2 cups pecan halves
Heat oven to 275°F. Line 2 9x5x3 inch loaf pans with foil, and grease.
Put all ingredients (except fruits and nuts) in a large mixer bowl.
Mix for 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping bowl constantly.
Beat for 3 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl occaisionally.
Stir in fruits and nuts.
Spread mixture evenly in pans.
Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. If cakes start to get too brown, cover the top with aluminum foil for the last hour of baking. Remove from pans and cool on racks.
When cool, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store in a cool place for 3-4 weeks (to mellow) before serving.
Does your family enjoy fruitcake or has it died (if fruitcake can die) along the way somewhere? Here in our house, it's still baked for hours and fills the whole house with lingering smells I've grown to expect during this time of the year.
The cake has already been cut open so I don't think we will have old mellow fruitcake... just fresh mellow fruitcake.
Dear Mrs. Murry,
Our store is considering banning your family from ever shopping with us, unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras.
MEMO
Re: Complaints
15 Things Mr. Wayne Murry has done while his spouse is shopping:
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in House wares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to tampons section.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, "Code 3" in house wares..... and watched what happened.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay-by.
6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department.
8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and asks, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.
10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department asked the clerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.
11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
12. December 6: In the auto department, practised his "Madonna look" using different size funnels.
13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker he assumes the foetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!
15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"
I think Mrs. Murry in this story has to be fictional!
Only ten more shopping days until Christmas Day..... are you having fun yet?
Pack Rat Syndrome, it must be contagious because I think I caught it from my husband. In our early years together he would stop me and ask, "Are you going to throw THAT away?"; sometimes he would even retrieve things I threw away! So, I may have moved too close to his heart --- and I caught it and I began saving stuff too.
I am treating this like one would do a chronic disease. I must learn to control it - one day at a time. My daily affirmation is: "We can't keep everything....you know."
I could create give-away mystery boxes! Mystery boxes? Such as a box full of old... preggo clothes? [Hmmm? Looking at boxes from Karla]
I stuffed a purse I had been embarrassed to be seen with in public but still kept, two, maybe three year old Halloween candies, several pairs of mismatched socks with holes in the toes, then pausing, I realized that some things are harder to throw out. Soon, I smiled then dropped a small piece of artwork my grandchild had drawn and said "This is you, Grammaloo" into the now overflowing bathroom trash.
I can't keep everything, you know.
Now, if only my husband...
...because Christmas is coming and with it we usually ---- get more "stuff"!
It feels like it right now but I won't be fooled by Mother Nature! I still have my warm boots in the entry way and my warm coat is newly washed.
The wind is blowing and the snow is melting so I am keeping an eye on the trash I just hauled to the end of the driveway. The last big wind our Pastor told his neighbor down the hill from him to just keep his garbage can and he would keep his neighbor up the street's garbage can.
The trees will be newly decked out with plastic bags and whatever else gets tangled up in them along the highway. I thought that would be a funny coffee table book for someone to create. Suggested title: Windy Days and Where Did Your Trash Go?
Today we will be going to Doug's workplace and enjoying watching the Grandkids seeing Santa Claus and whatever else has been planned for them there. I am excited about it. I will bring my camera.
Got all your Christmas shopping done yet? I have a good start on it but I am not done. Hopefully all my online purchases will show up before the day, but if not... that's okay too.
Picture of Lexie was taken when she was four, almost five.
Do you get quiet, dead phone calls? Does your phone ring and when you pick it up there is a quiet other end and then when you wait a while it goes to a busy signal?
I have been getting that and I thought it was from all the political phone ads but now that should have quit. I still get a few now and then and lately I have been getting some weird call on my cell phone where I hear something like someone is trying to send me a fax. It is very irritating.
Today, I was peeling potatoes and starting a pot of salmon soup for dinner when the phone rang. I wiped off my hands and hurried over to the phone, picked it up and there was that familiar dead, quiet. I said, "Hello?" and then very impatiently when I didn't hear a reply I raised my voice and said,"HELLO? HELLO? HELLO?" I pushed the phone hard to my ear and heard a very, sweet and mild-voiced lady say, "Connie? This is **** and I am returning your call."
I am normally, sweet, patient, kind and soft-spoken on the telephone and I have been over and over and over and over and over in the past with those irritating quiet, dead phone calls.
Isn't that just the way it goes when it's gonna go?
Quote from Regis and Kelly's show today:
"Are you in a good place today?"
I am in a slightly embarrassed place today.
I'm singing a verse of the little kids song... "Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See" ...
Oh be careful little (?) mouth what you say,
Oh be careful little mouth what you say,
For our Father up above
Is looking down with love
So be careful little mouth what you say.
[phone rings]
Would someone else get that please?
The wreath making party at my daughter Karla's home was another fun evening. I used a grapevine wreath this year. It was not as involved as tying on spruce boughs to a wire frame as years before. We tried to figure out which year this was. I think was # 6.
The guys all went out and found two trees yesterday, one for our house and one for Klint and Calli's cabin. So, we were busy decorating our trees all evening. It was a fun evening. I got tired! The tree must be, ten feet tall, possibly more. That is a lot to decorate. Doug rode his 4 wheeler pulling his little trailer behind our sons on snow machines.
The fake tree that we usually use each year is full and uniform compared to a real tree from Alaska's backwoods. I said I wanted a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree this year... skinny with a little bit of a crooked top. Well, I didn't get exactly that, but we have a tree that is sort of skinny at the top, with gangly limbs reaching out for decorations. I love it!
I love the picture of Santa and Mrs. Santa, they always make me giggle when I pull them out because they look so happy to be out of their boxes for another Christmastime!
We all look tired, don't we? Me in my shorts and tank top in the middle of winter--- that's what a wood stove will do to me! Marie has reason to be tired, she is still recovering from her strep throat and cough.
American Tract Society says Merry Christmas with tracts. I got this link from Doug. One of the tracts encourage us all to keep Christ in Christmas; it has a NO sign over Happy Holidays, the other side of the business-style card says Merry Christmas with a link to this gospel message website.
I was going to share a bunch of pictures but thought it would be less invasive to put them all into a slideshow for my readers. I really do like how easy Slide.com is to use.
We were so happy and surprised to find all the snow this morning. I would guess we had about seven inches. I peeked out my bedroom window and thought it was not more than 2 inches until I took Chewy out to go potty. He had such fun running and jumping in it and chasing balls of snow as they rolled along on top of the snow.
We are considering purchasing a condo or townhouse in Anchorage. Doug's employer will contribute to the cost if we do decide to do that. They help their employee's move when he or she has accepted a new position or job in the company. So, we might, but we might not also, take advantage of the program and get a small place in Anchorage to avoid the long commute to Big Lake.
Today we did some looking with a real estate lady named Sarah. It was actually fun to go around and look, but I did not really see anything I am interested in yet.
I also had to see a doctor for a rash I have had too long and it won't go away! I tried so many things to get rid of it but there it sits, and it actually was spreading. (lower neck). The doctor looked and then he asked if it was okay if another doctor looked, and then they scratched it and looked under a microscope and then sent the results plus pictures to a dermatologist. After all that, they told me to go to the grocery store and get Lamisil, "it looks like fungus".... !!!!! Am I am turning into a mushroom?
We also had Klint along today. Doug dropped him off at a place he is working, sort of like an internship, (I think) with ICRC. I need to listen better when he talks about the details of his school and work instead of doing things like listening to new Christmas music on the iPod! ICRC's office is in the Alaska Railroad Depot.
Klint is nearing graduating with his Electrical Engineering Degree from UAA. I believe he may be UAA's first EE graduate too. UAA never had all the classes required to get a degree there until recently. He was very involved with another program at the University of Alaska called ANSEP, or Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program. Many businesses support this program. ANSEP works to increase recruitment, retention, and graduation rates. I am glad Klint is part of this program. Doug's employer, BP Exploration, is one of the many supporters for this program. Anyway, today I was in the ANSEP Building for the first time, Klint showed me around. It is a beautiful building!
While riding home we saw the second vehicle fire in a week! Someone's plowtruck was on fire along side the Park's highway near Pittman Road. We sure felt sorry for the guy, one of our big snowfalls this winter and his truck burns up!
I included a picture of a choir. This is the choir Alexis sings in and we attended the new school's dedication last evening. It was great to be at a school function again, it's been a long time!
Enjoy the pictures.
