As most of you already know, we went to Disneyland a few days before Christmas. We had a GREAT TIME and it was so much fun to watch Emily at The Happiest Place on Earth. She was dressed as Snow White and everyone thought she was adorable!
We visited both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. The day was "all about Emily" so we only went on a handful of rides. But, we didn't care. We watched the Pixar Parade in DCA and we watched the Believe Fireworks in DL. We let her run around in front of the castle for about 15 minutes, and she was having a ball!
Yes, we did go on Snow White's Scary Adventure...but she slept through the entire ride. I can't wait to go back there again with her. It definitely was a fun day!!
I know I haven't blogged in a while...and, trust me, I've got LOTS to come!
But, I wanted to post something real quick...
SWIMMER SANTA!
My mom found this at a boutique in Brea and sent it to us in Alaska. It arrived in the beginning of December; I just found the picture and I had to share it with you.
It was a PERFECT Holiday Decoration for our favorite rescue swimmer!
Well, we were out over the weekend and noticed something moving along the side of the road. As we got out to look we noticed that it was a bald eagle who had just caught a fish in the creek. There are quite a few eagles out during this time of year and you can see them everywhere! As we were taking these pictures there were about 4 other eagles in the immediate area, also watching this eagle with a fish...but, I'm sure they were waiting for him to drop the fish so they could swoop in on it!
The dogs were so excited to get their very own package in the mail the other day. It seems that we get a package in the mail, about once a week. And, every time, the dogs are so disappointed that there is nothing in the package for them. I mean, they seriously get depressed! So, grandma & grandpa sent the doggies their very own package and they were overjoyed to get it and open it up!
Yep! Emily had her very first Bubble Bath...and LOVED it! It was fun to watch her get into the tub and wonder what's this?? At first she didn't know what to make of it and was a little confused as to what all those bubble were. But, she soon caught on and was having a lot of fun!
(ok...this is kind long, but stick with it, it's a good story)
Today we cut down our own Christmas Tree! Who actually gets to do that?!?! It was like Christmas Vacation...you know the one...with Chevy Chase. Yep, we were there, in the forest, freezing our butts off...cutting down a little piece of Mother Nature.
Our journey started off - 26 degrees outside.
So, we were off. First, we had to stop at the Coast Guard Military Police Office to tell them that we were going out into the forest to hunt for a tree. They were keeping tabs on people Tree Hunting, just in case nighttime fell and we weren't back yet...so they could send in search-and-rescue to come find us. So, before the Big Hunt, we drove by the office to check in.
So, off we were... We drove back near the house and took a road that lead off into the forest. We weren't allowed to cut down a tree that was less then 100 ft off the road. So, we were looking for the "perfect Christmas Tree" in a bunch of trees while slowly driving down the road. We'd see, what appeared to be a good batch of trees, and we'd stop the car. One of us would get out and scope the scene to see if there was a tree worthwhile. If not, we'd keep on driving.
This wasn't an easy task. I mean, we're in the forest...there are HUNDREDS of trees EVERYWHERE! But, they're all BIG...too big! And, those that are growing within a grouping...those are ugly and aren't growing fully because some of the branches are shaded by the nearby trees and therefore that tree won't grow branches. I could get into the logistics of everything, but it will just drag out the story...
So, we hiked about 100 yards into the forest from the main road and came across a small group of trees. By this time we had already been searching for a tree for about an hour or so. And...as luck would have it...TREES! "Small" Trees! So, we saw one we liked and started cutting.
...and the winner is...
So, after that we moved on to our second tree...
Nope...still not good enough. So, we left that spot, got back in the car, and drove up the road near the Buskin River. Stopping, of course, along the way at tree groupings to see if there was one there we liked. And as we drove alongside of the river...there it was the REAL WINNER!!
Now...there was a "catch" - I HAD TO CUT IT DOWN! You see, the tree was on the other side of a small creek and I was the only one wearing waterproof shoes. Yes, a small creek...BUT...if one of us were to slip and get wet by the FREEZING WATER...it could, within minutes, turn into frostbite! So, I just across the creek with the help of some small rocks in the water...and then I balanced on a tree branch that hung over the creek...and then walked along the branch until I reached the shore. My shoes got a little wet, but if I would have slipped in I would have been past my ankles in FREEZING WATER!
Well...I cut it down...all by myself...with Chris taking pictures of me in action. BUT...we ran into a little problem...um...how in the hell am I going to jump the FREEZING CLOD river with a 75lb tree?!?!
So, Chris decides that he needs to come help me. Not only am I not strong enough...but when the tree fell it got stuck on some nearby branches and I couldn't pry in loose. So, I walked back to my "bridge" over the river...following bear tracks, by the way...to help Chris get across without getting wet.
With some good balance, Chris got across and started toward the tree. He too had trouble prying it loose, but eventually was successful. He followed the river bank back to the "bridge" - the whole way contemplating...um...how in the hell am I going to jump the FREEZING CLOD river with a 75lb tree?!?!
Well, to make a long story short...he just walked through the creek getting his shoes and ankles soaked. Then climbed up a slight hill to get to the road where the warm car awaited.
So...freezing and exhausted our search ended.
...Ya, but it wasn't over yet. We rushed home and Chris immediately changed into warmer clothes. We then went back out to the car and pulled the prize tree from the bed of the truck. As we stood up our new trophy we couldn't help but notice that it was AS TALL AS THE ROOF! The thing had to be 20 feet tall!! There was NO WAY this was getting in the house! The branches had a 6 foot diameter around the trunk! CRAP!! 45 minutes later...of hacking away at our beautiful tree, we were left with this 'bush' that no longer looked like a Christmas Tree. But, more like a tree on drugs! We had gone to such lengths to bring home this perfect tree and it...well...wasn't perfect. We had contemplated trashing the whole thing and going to buy a tree...but...what a heck of a story! And, if anyone said anything about our ugly Christmas tree we had a great story to tell them about how we came to get such an ugly tree.
LESSON LEARNED HERE: I don't think we'll be cutting our own tree next year. I'm pretty sure we'll be buying one instead...even if it has to be a fake one!
Here are some pictures taken from that 5 hour Adventure:
It's OFFICIAL OFFICIAL - He's a United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer! In a small ceremony, Chris got his wings today! There were about 8 people getting promoted and/or receiving awards...Chris being one of them. I got to go up there and pin on his shiny, gold swimmer wings.
This is an accomplishment that we've both worked very hard for over the last two years (ok, him a little more then me. lol) But, life hasn't been easy through this transition and I'm so glad that the trek here is finally over!
Now we're just waiting for that first SAR Case! --- sigh...soon enough.
(Sorry my pictures aren't the best...bad angle and poor lighting...but, at least there's proof!)
Well, this year we weren't able to spend Thanksgiving with our family, but we got the next best thing...our "Swimmer Family" here in Kodiak. The majority of the swimmers got together and enjoyed Thanksgiving as one big family. There were about 20-30 people there, including about 6 kids ranging from 3 months to 3 years...it was cute to see them all interacting and running around the house having a good time together. Emily was having a good time with all the other kids, but she started to get fussy around 8pm (as usual) and that was that. So, our evening ended a little earlier then we would have liked, but it was great while it lasted!
On Saturday we made our own Thanksgiving Day Feast with all the fixings! After 3 years, Chris and I finally opened one of the two turkey roasters we received as a wedding present. The 20lb turkey cooked in the roaster for about 5 hours and turned out moist and delicious! The meat was tender and was perfect!! Especially for our very first turkey ever!! We also made mashed potatoes, Tracy's family's stuffing (with apples), broccoli puff casserole, sweet potatoes with brown sugar, cranberry, gravy...and, of course, apple pie! It all was wonderful!!! I was a actually surprised how well everything turned out considering it was our first Thanksgiving we did all by ourselves! (Thanks mom for sending up all your recipes!)
We were lucky enough to have Chris' friend, Kevin, join us...he was able to help us stuff this all down. We even sent him home with leftovers!! However, I think we'll be having Thanksgiving leftovers for weeks!!
We just took these last week and we had to search for a spot that wasn't covered in snow. Luckily this forest was so thick that the snow hadn't reached the floor just yet.
Well, I'm sad to say that my run as a Morning DJ has come to an end. It turns out that I wasn't very good at it afterall. (which is no surprise to me...we were all shocked when we found out I got the job in the first place!!)
It was fun while it lasted, but Friday was my last show and I am now on to Bigger and Better things...even if that means "just being able to sleep in." :0)
For everyone that got to hear me, thanks for tuning in!!
This is a video of Chris doing the infamous "jump" from the helo to the water! There is a "dummy" they refer to as "SpongeBob" that is thrown to the water so the swimmer has someone to recover during training.
Not much going on here, Chris was lowered out of the helo to the water and picked up in a basket. Take a look at the views! That's Kodiak in the background!!!
Chris is being recovered to the helo via a rope and pulley (in case the hoist fails) for training. This one is kind of long, its a slow process. Still very cool!
Well...it was a sunny day over the weekend and so we took the dogs out for a little "chuck-it." Although it was a sunny day, it was still in the low 30's...so, we didn't stay long.
Anyway, as we were leaving we saw this...
...ya...it's a bear paw print...probably about 18" long!
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OH...THIS WAS TAKEN A DOWN THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE!!!
Usually it's so she can make a mess out of everything...she takes all the magnets off the fridge...she removes all the places mats, plastic cutting boards, and kitchen towels out of the drawers...she takes out the Tupperware...she even takes out all of my plastic baking ware --- and...everything ends up all over the floor!
So, one night we put her in an apron, gave her a spoon, and let her help. (ok, she wasn't much help...but it was cute to watch)
Well...this time last year there was a heavy blanket of snow on the ground, here in Kodiak. Halloween Night 2007, Kodiak had the first blizzard of the year and snow stayed on the ground from then until late April.
No, we haven't experienced that just yet. But, there is snow on the ground and it isn't going anywhere. So far we're in mid-November and we have snowy days off-and-on. It will snow at night and then the rain will come and wash it away. Today was actually a sunny day all day...it's still about 35 degrees outside, so it's COLD...but, it's sunny!!
So, I thought I'd share some of our snowy pictures...before the snow gets out of hand (stay tuned for those pics...I'm sure we'll all get a kick out of those!)
Chloe is such a neat dog to take pictures of...so, I couldn't resist. As you can see...Bryndall isn't in these photos below...she was inside trying to stay warm. But, hey, she's doing really good with this 'snow thing' and doesn't mind going outside to play! I'm really proud of her!!
So, if you haven't heard yet...we experienced our first earthquake Saturday morning. The earth started shaking at 5:55am and woke everyone up. I think, immediately, we knew exactly what was happening. It just started shaking...like most of you Californians have experienced many times. It's this rumble and roar coming from the depths of the earth.
Well, we both sprang out of bed...me, a little more urgently then Chris. I shouted (for lack of a better word) at Chris to "go get the baby!" because I knew that he was quicker then I was and that she'd be safe with him if the rumbling got worse. We could hear her fussing through the monitor...it had woken her up too. I was seconds behind Chris into the baby's room, but by the time we had gotten to her crib-side, the shaking had stopped.
We contemplated whether or not to go back to bed...now that I'm a "mommy" I find myself a bit more nervous and precautious then I used to be. Now, being on an island...my new concern was "The TSUNAMI"!!!
We gave the baby a small bottle of warm milk and put her back to bed...she fell asleep instantly. But, I had trouble going back to sleep. I was laying there wondering when the sirens were going to go off with the warning. We don't know where the 'higher ground' is located? Or how to get there? What will we take with us? We'll need more than just 'photos' and 'keepsakes' like they tell you to do in California...we need to be prepared for the weather - the frigid weather!! And the bears!!! And any other wild animals that might be learking in the dark...after all, we only get 8 hours of daylight right now! -- As all these thoughts went rushing through my head, I had trouble sleeping.
When we finally got up we looked online and found out that our "shaker" was only a 2.7...but, was centered 6 miles from our house; which would make sense as to why it felt so strong. It's different having children and experiencing, what could technically be, a natural disaster. I think our next shaker we'll try to be more prepared...we'll know the route, we'll have the supplies we need, we'll be ready...next time.
So...32 degrees outside, and in a warm coat, I went off to vote for the first time in Alaska. Luckily it wasn't raining or snowing...just cold and everything is brown outside. But, I drove from our home to the polling location, which was about a 5-10 mile drive along the 2-lane highway. I had to take another 1-lane road off the highway to get to the polling location. Luckily there was another car that seemed to be going in the same direction, so I followed them through the woods for another 2 miles until we came to a small clearing and a fire station.
With all the "talk" of long lines at the polls, I was worried about waiting too long to vote...as you know, I can be a little impatient at times. But, when I pulled up there were only 6 cars out front along with the two fire engines. I wasn't quite sure where to enter, so I followed the small signs (one in English and one in Tagalog) into the station's garage where they were set up with voting booths and tables. There were about 5 people working the polls and only two other people inside voting - needless to say, but there were no lines.
I walked up to the table and gave them my name. I half expected it not to be there; I mean, after all, I just moved here from California. But, there it was. I signed their paper and they handed me my ballot in an envelope. It was an 8.5" x 11" envelope.
Once in the booth I opened up the envelope and looked a little perplexed. It was just a scantron that you bubble in with a black pen!! All this talk about "voting machines" and "stamps" and "ink spots" and such...here, it's as simple as a scantron. There is no "voter pamphlet" with a brief summary of the candidates and ballot measures as you'd expect to see in California. You need to know who you're voting for when you get to the polls. I mean, because we're in such a small state, there is a good likelihood that you've met the candidates or know them on a personal basis...so, how can you go to the polls undecided?
Well, I bubbled in my simple scantron and put it back in the folder, so no one could see my answers and cheat off me (as if we were in grade school) and then walked it over to the "box," which sucked up my ballot...and that was that.
And, although the winner will be announced before the Alaskan polls close, and my vote has had a chance to be counted, I feel so privileged to be given the opportunity to vote in the gracious state of Alaska. Back in California I felt like it was my right, my duty and something I took for granted...here I feel very fortunate and excited to participate in such a momentous event.
And, as I drive the 5-10 miles back home...it started to snow.
Well, most of you would be excited to learn that Emily is now throwing Temper Tantrums. Yep...she gets mad at something and she stands there, stiff as a board, and screams at the top of her lungs...red in the face...arms straight down at her side...and stares straight through you.
At first we didn't know what to think. Chris and I looked at each other in amazement and said simultaneously "I think that's a tantrum..." -- She must have picked this up at Day Care because my "perfect daughter" would never do such a thing!!
I know some of you are excited to learn this because I was such a bad kid...so, I guess...I will get what's coming to me!!
Today we got Emily's hair cut. It's her first REAL haircut! She started off doing really well...and then I think the stylist caught a snarl in her hair...and then Emily started to cry...and never stopped. I eventually had to sit with her in the chair to keep her from trying to grab me while standing off to the side. After we were both sitting in the chair...she continued to cry. But, she didn't get crazy...just cried. It only took about 10 minutes, so we weren't in there very long. When it was all over she was super happy! Her new cut is clean and looks really sharp!
Tracy went to work dressed as Sarah Palin; in a suit, hair up, glasses, and a gun...it looked good. (Sorry...no one was up at 5am to take a picture of me. )
Chris went to work dressed as Teen Wolf.
(no pictures of that one either...sorry)
Emily went to Daycare today dressed as the Little Monster...and we have a ton of pictures of that!! She wore the costume while we went trick-or-treating in Downtown Kodiak...with about a thousand other kids!! She had a great time and got to walk all over the place!! She even collected candy! Not much, but she got the gist of what was going on.
She got fussy and tired about 2 hours earlier then normal, probably due to all that walking. She eventually went to bed about an hour early...and the doorbell is still ringing with trick-or-treaters, and she's still sound asleep!!!!
That's right! Bob Woodruff was in Kodiak, Alaska today to do a story on the Rescue Swimmers!
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We don't know much about who/what/when/where/why...but, Chris did a SAR (search and rescue) Demo for the ABC Cameras! If you happen to catch the news story, Chris is the "swimmer" in the demo!!
Like I said...we don't know the who/what/when/where/why...so, don't ask just yet. If they have the article available online...don't worry...we'll find it and post it on the Blog!!!
Well, Halloween is at the end of the week and we are all ready to go in our new Halloween Costume! Our Lil Monster will be doing a little Trick-or-Treating around the block, just to show off the costume.
You'll have to admit that she is the cutest Little Monster Ever!!
Well, the weather here in Alaska is rather dry. I use lotion everyday, so I hardly ever have dry skin. However, my eyelids are another story. This past week my eyelids have been SUPER dry...red...and burning. I don't know what to put on them. I mean...it's my eye! You can't just put anything on there! A perfumed lotion will burn the sensitive skin. Some of these other products say not get get them close to your eyes. I also need to wear eyeshadow everyday, which means that the redness is covered, but it also means that a remedy will need to be removed for most of the day. (without the eyeshadow I just look old & tired...it's needed)
Anyway, I thought I'd "throw this one out there" to see if anyone has any feedback. Thanks!
So, these photos were taken a few days ago...before the First Alaskan Snow.
The day before it snowed we drove down the road to a...I don't know exactly what they call it...but, it's a big mountain of sand. Our neighbor suggested that we fill the bed of the truck with sandbags in order to weigh it down, therefore it being less-likely to fishtail on the icy roads. What a Genius Idea! Our neighbor, also known as Senior Chief, gave me a few empty sandbags...and it was up to us to go fill them up.
Well, the weeks went by and we just never got a chance to go collect sand. Finally, I was reading the weekly weather for the radio station and noticed that last Tuesday was going to be our LAST POSSIBLE DAY of good weather before the storm front came in.
storm front
So, in the 30 degree weather, Chris and I drove to the sand pile and filled our 6 sandbags. As we were there at the base of the mountain you could see the storm front coming in off of the horizon...it started to rain just a few hours later.
...Now, driving with the sandbags in the bed of the truck, you can feel that with the weight, the whole vehicle feels more grounded. The roads are icy and with the weight of the sandbags there is less of a chance of slipping while driving! Great Idea! Thanks Senior Chief!!
We had some great fun with Chloe today and the first snowfall. She just doesn't quite "get it" but she loves being outside and playing that that soft, white stuff.
Here's also a few pictures of our First Alaskan Snow!
As I'm writing this post, I haven't yet had a chance to take Emily outside to check it out. So, I'm not quite sure yet what she'll think of it all. I'd like to wait for Chris to get home so we can experience it together, for the first time, as a family. (...aaahhh)
So, we "heard" that there was a dry cleaner on base...but after searching, I couldn't find it. Well, I was in dyer need of getting my stuff dry cleaned, so I just decided to take it into town and get it done there.
WELL ........ $70 later........ I got my 9 sweaters and a pair of slacks back from the cleaners.
Seventy freak'n dollars! Is that how much dry cleaning costs these days??!? I mean, I know I haven't done any dry cleaning in a few months, and I'd usually try to hit up the "cheap dry cleaners" in Brea for like $2.00 per item. But, SERIOUSLY...that's $7.00 per item! Is that right?!?!
I am totally going to ask around and see if I can find that dry cleaner on base!!!!
So, this is IT! THE BIG WEEK!! Chris had a brief "meeting" on Friday with his Chief. What he thought was going to take another 2 months to get qualified is being sped-up and he'll be fully qualified by the end of the week.
Needless to say, Chris is a little overwhelmed by this Rapid Qualification. The Shop is a little "tired" right now and a new qualified swimmer will bring a lot of relief to the scheduling of the Shop. So, they're speeding things up!
Chris will be on a flight everyday next week...for about 6-8 hours each day. We, originally, thought that he would be a qualified swimmer by mid-December. Now, he'll be a qualified swimmer by next week!! I'm planning on him coming home late everyday this week and going straight to bed. He'll be so dead with exhaustion!!
The good news is that this two-year process is almost done!!
So, something is bothering me today. I've been on the air at the radio station for about 6 weeks now and I have developed somewhat of a "fab-base" -- now, I'm not tooting my own horn here...it's just kind of true. People recognize my voice and "think they know me from somewhere" or tell me that they listen to the show every morning.
Anyway...I don't get too many phone calls in the morning from the listeners. Actually, I don't really get any phone calls from listeners and often wonder if there is anyone out there actually listening. There are about 3 people that call every now-and-again, but I do have 1 listener that calls, religiously, every morning when he gets up between 8:30am and 9:00am.
I don't know anything about him, just his name. He calls to request a song every morning and sometimes we chat for a few minutes about whatever is on his mind. (I'm just actually glad to see the phone ring!) Well, I hadn't heard from him at all this week and was kind of getting worried. Since I know nothing about him, I just figured that maybe he was a fisherman and he was out on a boat fishing.
Well, after 4 days of no calls, he finally called me today. We talked for about 15 minutes where he told me that he has been in a fight with a good friend this week and is so upset about it that he's, for the most part, been drunk all week. He continued to tell me that he is so upset about it that he was planning to jump off a cliff and end his life. - What do you say to that!? - I mean, if it were a close friend I could know whether or not they were serious, but this guy...I don't know him! I know nothing about him! From my impression of him and my "stereotypical analysis" -- I wouldn't put it past him! I hope he calls again on Monday.
It just made me realize that I have a new responsibility. I have a responsibility to the listeners. These people wake up to my voice every morning. They hear my stories, enjoy the music I play for them; they laugh at my jokes and pay attention to the activities I tell them are happening around town. There are a lot of people on this island who know me, but I do not know them. They think we're buddies because I'm in their life.
As this young man called me, his "friend," to share his troubles, I realized what an eye-opener it is to think that I have an affect on people whom I've never met, nor even know are out there. Yet, being in my situation...what do you do? I know I should care because that's human instant, but where do you separate yourself? And, how do you separate yourself?
Emily's bedroom is set up with a small desk just behind the door and next to the closet. It's probably only about 3 feet long and is the width of the closet. Because she has no need for a desk, it just has a few boxes and the diaper-reserves on top of the desk. However, under the desk...
...well, I thought it looked like a neat "cubby" to play in. Yes, she may be a little young for this, but it's cute. So, I bought a small couch and put an old tv under there where she can watch DVDs. (personally, the tv is a smige too close to the couch and she doesn't actually sit there for too long...she's not a tv watcher...but it's another neat option for her to stay entertained!)
So, a box arrived today. No one rang the doorbell, nor knocked...I opened the front door to take the dogs outside and there it was, tucked away inside the screen door. A box.
Now, I had been expecting this box for about a week and had agonized over it's arrival. And...although smaller then I had expected, there it was. A box. I think I was mostly passive about it's arrival, whereas any normal woman would have been excited. You see, this box wasn't just a "box" it was something that symbolized a new life, and laid down new boundaries for my future over the next few years. And...it was just a silly box.
This was a much nicer box then your "normal" cardboard box, simply stated on the outside were three letters...G.A.P.
I've never ordered anything online that was more then the occasional book from Amazon; and definitely never clothes. I didn't see a point to shopping online because there aren't any good deals online, compared to those in the stores...especially after you pay for shipping. And, as many of you know, I'm not a big shopper - so, spending money on myself is kind of a foreign concept. Sad, I know...but, that's just the way it is right now.
Well, with the recent job and having to go into the office 5 days a week...I can't "recycle" my limited closet supply as often as I use to; and wear, basically, the same thing from one week to the next. (Yes, if you're a man reading this, it may sound crazy...but my women readers understand.) In the months prior to Kodiak my wardrobe mainly consisted of comfortable clothes that were easy to wear around the house while taking care of the baby; so, having to get dressed everyday was a little "different" for me. Needless to say, what's left of my Summer California clothes can only take me so far and I needed to get a few more items to change things up a bit.
Our options here in Kodiak are extremely limited. We have a Wal-Mart, and a small sports shop that sells Columbia clothes, and the Base which is extremely limited. The only way to survive Kodiak Shopping is to find it online! I had never done this before and I was worried about....well...many things. What if it doesn't fit? What if I don't like it? What if the color looks different when I get it in person? Will I have to pay to ship it back? What if I need another size? Is that the style I like? What if I want to try something new? ...the list goes on and on.
But, I NEEDED new clothes.you..it went beyond a "want" and turned into a "need" - so, I bit the bullet and ordered a few things online. I ordered a new pair of jeans and 5 shirts. (yes, the dress code at work is casual) So...Aunt Carol does quite a bit of online shopping and she's been sending me emails from some of the places she's ordered from in the past. I've "shopped" at all of those sites, but haven't ordered anything because I was 'scared' to try a new place for my first online order...I mean, if it was a bad experience I might never want to shop online again and then I'm totally screwed! So, I went with Good 'Ol Trusty G.A.P. The sizes should have been consistent and I stayed with "safe" choices.
So...my point....
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I ordered clothes online, and a box came.
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Inside the box was a dangerous "invitation"
to the new and uncharted world of online shopping.
Today the Front turned into ICE!! I got up this morning, as usual, and went to leave for work around 5am. I got about 30 feet down the road when I realized that my windshield wipers won't clean off the dew on the windshield...that's because this "dew" is ICE!! So, luckily, I had bought an ice scraper in preparation for the coming winter. I backed up the car...back to the house, and went inside to get the scraper. And, in the 33 degree night air, I scrapped the ice-layer off the windshield.
So, there is a brush on the flip-side of the scraper. I wasn't sure what it was for...? But, once you've scraped the snow off the windshield...it leaves the ice powder...which is why there is a brush!! So, after it was scrapped, you brush it off!! BRILLIANT!!
In the end...I was about 5 minutes "behind" on my way to work this morning, but I survived my FIRST windshield-scrapping! It wasn't that bad, and I'll probably have to do it again tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...and the next day...
I think one of Emily's Favorite Toys is her new ball pit! She loves sliding in & out of the pit and taking all the balls out...and putting them all back in. Mommy & Daddy gave her the ball pit for her birthday, and I knew she would just love it...why?...because I loved ball pits and still do!!!!!!
Here are some more pictures of when mom, dad, and Lisa came to visit. Lisa ended up having to stay for a few extra days due to weather. So, we spent one of those days (ok, a few hours) at Kodiak's Aquarium and Touch Tank. (literally, there's one of each...and nothing more)
It is basically a place to raise awareness and a research center for scientists. Currently they're doing a study on the reduction on King Crab and wondering if it was related to the Exxon gas spill back in the 90's. But, they have a touch tank and a big fish tank. So, since Emily loves the fishies...we thought we'd check it out. Here are the pictures from that day.
Last night for dinner I made ratatouille. I came across the recipe while planning our meals for the week and thought "what the heck, let's find out what this dish tastes like." It came out of a Healthy Slow Cooker recipe book.
Well, both Chris and I were pleasantly surprised as to HOW GOOD it was!! It is basically a vegetable stew. I made it when I got home from work, around 10am and cooked it in the crock-pot until dinner time. There is nothing fattening about it! It's all veggies! Ok, the Parmesan Toast is probably not that good for you...but that was such a minor thing. Anyway, I know that most of you are either on a diet or trying to eat healthy...so, here's a new recipe for you.
it kind of looked like this, but ended up a just a little bit more "soupy"
Makes 2 Servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup peeled eggplant, cubed 1/2 cup coarsely chopped zucchini 1/2 cup coarsely chopped tomato 1 8oz can no-salt-added tomato sauce 1/3 cup green bell peppers, coarsely chopped 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1 clove garlic, minced 4 1/2-inch slices baguette-style French Bread 1 tsp olive oil 3 TBSP shredded Parmesan Cheese 1 TBSP fresh basil
Preparation:
In a 1 1/2 quart slow cooker combine eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, tomato sauce, bell pepper, onion, salt, black pepper, and garlic.
Cover and cook on low-heat for about 5 hours.
For Parmesan Toast: brush one side of bread with olive oil. Place bread, oil side up, on baking sheet and broil until toasted, about 15 seconds. Sprinkle bread slices with Parmesan Cheese and broil again for another 15 seconds until cheese is melted.
Before Serving: Stir basil into cooker. Serve vegetable mixture in shallow bowls with Parmesan Toast and sprinkle remaining cheese onto the top of the serving.
248 Calories/serving
6g fat/serving
33% of your daily Vitamin A
112% of your daily Vitamin C
17% of your daily Calcium
14% of your daily Iron
You should totally try this recipe! It's healthy and it's good! Oh, and it has a pretty cool name that inspired a Disney Movie about a Rat!
Hi Everyone!! I know these are somewhat late...but here is the BIG DAY! Emily turned ONE on Sept 14th and we had a small party for some local friends and my family who were in town for the occasion. Enjoy!
Tracy Moore in the Morning! (ya, that's not the best picture of me, but hey...I took it myself!)
So, yes...as you all know, I got a job as Morning Radio Show Host. I've been at the new job for over 3 weeks now and it has been one hell of an adjustment!!
My day, Monday thru Friday, starts at 4am and goes till about 10pm every night. Getting up in the morning isn't as hard as I expected it to be...but, it is DEFINITELY the toughest part of the job!! It's just like any other job; whether you get up at 8am or 4am...you're still getting up in the morning to go to work. Yes, I hit the snooze a few times in the morning, but I'm the only one in the office in the morning; and if I sleep in, the whole island will know about it!!!!
Since this is a COMPLETELY NEW FIELD for me, I've been focusing on just doing the basics of the job and haven't branched out too much into making the Show my own just yet...but I have some pretty fun ideas for the future. I get in and start off with recording all of our daily shows and the updated weather forecasts for both the country station and the local Jack FM. Then I play country music all morning, provide local information to the listeners, read the news, do a few commercials, provide some commentary about news...life...music...kind of whatever comes to mind.
It's been a lot of fun!!!! Oh, and the best part is that my day ends at 10am...and I already had a day of work in. Well, I guess my day doesn't end there. Emily is in daycare full time now, and after the Show I go home and work on website design for the other company I work for. It's been a big adjustment for me and I have been just exhausted!!!
Now, I know what you're wondering.........
Yes, there is a way for YOU to tune into the Show every morning.
And, hey, if you can figure it out yourself More Power To You!
So, I know all of you are dying to hear about the new job, how Emily is doing, Emily's day care, the recent visit we had with my family...well, sorry to disappoint you - but I'm making this one quick. Needless to say, the life adjustment has consumed a lot of our time and I haven't even had a second to think about blogging...but, I think we're getting back into the swing of things so you can expect an update in the near future!
Today we're talking about the Frost. Ya...the tonneau cover on the truck bed was covered in FROST!! It was chilly this morning when I left for work and there it was...covering the back of the truck. It was like a sign of things to come. I am so afraid of the coming winter, only because I HAVE NO IDEA what I'm in store for...and that's scary. So, seeing the frost this morning was like a "sign"...Welcome to Winter in Alaska. I'm scared!!
We hiked up the Old Woman Mountain...I guess they call it that because it looks like an old woman laying in her back. It was ONE HELL of a hike!!! NO JOKE!! It was worth it when we got to the top and I'm sure we'll be doing it again soon!
At the top of the hike is the old foundation of an Army Fort that was prepared for an invasion from Russia in World War II, which of course, didn't happen. So, the foundation and an old flag pole are the only things left up there.
Oh, and bears...ya, those are up there too. We didn't see any, but the key is to make your presence known - so you talk to the "bears" as you are hiking up just so they can hear your voice - the last thing you want to do is surprise them!!
Over the long Holiday Weekend the Kodiak State Fair came to town. All of the townsfolk were there to see all of the happenings of the Fair. Yes, we were expecting it to be drastically different then the LA County Fair, and expected your "typical" small-town fair that you'd see in the movies.
Well, we were sadly disappointed. No rides, no games, about 20 TOTAL entries that were judged...everything from knitting, to baking, to photography. No, we did not see any livestock to be judged. There were 2 "stores" represented at the fair whose space consisted of a 10x10 EZ-Up...and about 5 roach coaches for food. We got nachos from the famous Martha's Taco Truck, and waited about 30 minutes in line just to order...and then another 30 minutes before our name was called to get the food. We were only at the fair for about an hour & a half total.
There was a petting zoo where Emily got to pet some farm animals...but they closed about an hour after the fair opened, so we just made it in time before they packed it up. There was a rodeo, but the sound was bad and as we watched with a bored baby for about 10 minutes, we couldn't decipher if they were actually performing or just messing around with the horses. Anyway, here are some pics so you can share in our small town adventure.
Martha's Taco Truck - 1 of the 2 Mexican Restaurants in Town.
Her exact address is...um...well, let's just say she moves often. =) The ENTIRE fair pictured above!
We went on a hike yesterday along the Buskin River, near our home. It was an easy stroll through the beautiful forest where we picked raspberries along our route for a pie we'll make tonight for dessert.
We didn't see any wildlife, but came across a HUGE bear turd!! After that we were kind of paying much closer attention to our surroundings and trying to keep the dogs close and from wondering out into the woods.
As Emily gets older, she'll hate that I am asking this to the "world" - But,
...does anyone have any remedies for diaper leaks?
Emily is finally (almost) sleeping through the night. When she wakes up in the morning she is just so excited to see us; but I am troubled because her diaper leaked again, and not only do I have to change the sheets, but she has been sleeping in her wet clothes all night...and smells like urine!!
This happens almost every night and during naps. I've tried buying night time diapers, but she soaks through those. I've tried double-diapering it, but she soaks through those as well. I use Huggies...maybe Pampers would be better? Any suggestions?
I guess I shouldn't say "leak" but rather "soaks through them" - Anyway, I'm looking for any suggestions! Post a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!
So, the Move-In Day went well. They kept bringing stuff out of the truck and it's a whole bunch of old furniture that we've been carting around for the last few years. And now that our second bedroom is Emily's room and no longer an office/game room - we have a lot of stuff left over that we're not going to be using. So, we kept telling them to put that stuff in the garage and that we'll be having a BIG yard sale in a few weeks. Needless to say, the garage is FULL!! So is the storage room behind the garage!
Here's some pics of the boxes in the house. We've unpacked about 70% of the stuff inside the house so far - but we haven't gotten to the stuff in the garage just yet. We've got a BIG TASK ahead of us!! YIKES!!
Most of you already know, but I was offered a new job as the Morning Talk Show Host for Kodiak's local radio Station, KVOK!! Crazy? I know!
When we first found out that we were moving to Kodiak I started looking for a job online, as something I could do to get out of the house everyday. (People go crazy here if you're locked up inside for too long) So, I wanted something that would be fun and stressless. At the Alaskan Online Job Board there were only about 20 positions open, all of which had something to do with the fishing industry...except for one...The Morning Talk Show Host. So, I applied. (I never thought they'd actually call)
Now, this was a few months ago and they told me they were looking for "the right person...not just someone to do the job" and not in a big hurry to fill the position, but if they found that person then they would just hire them. Anyway, being 2 months out, I totally thoguht that the position would be taken by the time I got to the island. The lady in change of the station just said to send her an email when we get into town, and we'll see how it goes.
So, a few days after we got into Kodiak (still living in a hotel) I sent her an email to let her know we arrived. She said that the position had still not been filled and that she'd like me to come in. So, I got a babysitter for Emily. I went to my interview in a sweater, jeans, and some cheap black loafers I bought at WalMart...all of my clothes were in storage! I totally apologized for my casual appearance and explained how my clothes weren't coming until the following week. My casual outfit kind of made a nice ice-breaker to the interview.
Anyway, the interview went really well. While I was there I recoreded a test track of the weather and a commercial just so they could hear my voice, and they asked me to come back the following morning to just get a walk-thru of the production room. So, bright-and-early the next morning I went in again for about an hour, and everything went well, and they informally offered me the position. They are working on the formal offer and will get that to me...um, probably this week.
So, the bad news is that the pay isn't the greatest. But, I'm really looking at this as more of a reason to get out of the house (without baby), so the pay isn't too important - I can also continue my website stuff from home. We were able to get Emily in a home daycare with another Mil-Wife here. I'll probably be going into the station a few times over the next couple weeks, but I won't actually start until Sept 2nd.
We started out as #7 when we got here and now we're at #3...so, it seems to be going fast. Sadly, no one works on the weekend, so we'll still be #3 on Monday. I am hopeful that we'll be placed by mid-week next week.
Tomorrow we'll be "kicked out" of our hotel we're at now because they're already all booked up for next week and we won't be able to stay. So, we're moving hotels to the base hotel on Monday. However, they don't allow dogs. So, Chloe & Bryndall will be staying at the non-local kennel on the Island. We'll have to drive about an hour to the rural part of the island to drop them off. Luckily they seem more like a doggie day care and the kids will be sure to "go out" at least 4 times a day. Whereas if they were in a kennel at the vet (which would be our only other option) then they won't get to go out at all.
Anyway, I am so nervous for the dogs to be so far away...and for a few days. I mean, we have bears here! What if they get eaten?!?! Yes, they'll be inside...but what if they go for a walk, and a bear comes, and it eats Bryn, and then Chloe defends her, and then the bear eats Chloe. Ya, I've got the whole "scene" running through my head. It just makes me so nervous because I don't know the area yet.
It's just not fair because they said we'd have a house! Now, we're going on a month of living out of a suitcase in a hotel. Our stuff is already here waiting for us! We just need a home!! RIDICULOUS!!
So, we're still homeless. We are a little more optimistic then we were yesterday when we first found out that there were no homes available for us here in Kodiak.
Since yesterday we have "moved up" on The List and we are now #5 in line to get a home!! We got the local paper with the listing of available rentals...only 1 of which we could possibly rent because all the others won't take dogs. We stopped by that possible rental yesterday afternoon. It is a brand new 2 bedroom house...the guy is still making the house! We stopped by and the house "should" be done by Aug 20th. It doesn't have a kitchen yet and all the drywall is still exposed...it still needs a lot of work, but the guy thinks he'll probably have it done in a few weeks. He pretty much offered it to us if we were interested...so, we need to get back to him by Tuesday.
We're still waiting on a "Base House" - We fell in love with a vacant unit on Lake Louise...so, we need to hope/pray/chat/anything that they will be working on the house around the time our name is at the top of the list. They haven't started working on it yet and it seems that the Housing Office gives away a house per day...so...maybe! That's what we're crossing our fingers for right now.
There are about 10 vacant units right now. We're all just waiting on the contractors to get done with the units before we can move in. They are only allowed to work on 2 units per day...so, I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I am hoping that we'll kind of have a better idea on everything early next week.
We also went around looking at possible house purchases that are on the market. The houses here are relatively cheap as compared to those in California. Like $250,000 is what we're looking at. However, I'm still not too confident that the numbers will work out with me still being out of work. But, we're looking at all our possibilities. If we did purchase something it would need to be "rentable" in the future, as we are only staying here for 3 years. So, we'll see how everything pans out.
It was SUPER HOT here today and I went around in a tank top most of the afternoon. I think we must be closer to the sun, or something. The temp in the truck said 66 degrees, but it felt like 90!!
We arrived via ferry at 8am this morning. The boat docked and we walked down to the car loading area to get ready to leave the ship. We were excited to see that the dogs did well alone in the car all night...the ferry would not allow them to come up to the deck. So, for 12 hours they were alone in the car. They were SUPER EXCITED to see us when we came down!! ...super thirsty, super hungry, and needing to pee...but they were really glad to see us!
As we pulled out of the ferry...towed car & everything...we saw the Chris' new Senior Chief, Chief, and 2 of his fellow airmen. They were all there to welcome us to Kodiak. We pulled the car off to the side and got out to greet them. As Chris went off to greet his new coworkers, 2 women came up to talk with me. They were from the Kodiak Spouses Association and they knew I was coming...I was surprised and flattered that they came out for me!! It was really nice of them!!
We talked with everyone for a little while and then Alex Major (Chris' friend from San Diego who is now stationed in Kodiak) took us off to get all checked in with the appropriate offices. Chris got checked with the Admin offices quickly, and then we were off to the Housing Offices. This is where the "Happy Story" becomes a little sticky.
We walked in and the lady there pretty much said "Welcome to Kodiak, we have no room for you." She went on and on about we should consider renting an apartment in the City because the Coast Guard Housing was full...even went as far to give us the daily listings of open rentals. The whole time this lady is trying to give us bad news...I'm just thinking...Holy Shit! Where will we go now?!?! -- We hadn't made any reservations at a hotel because a few weeks ago the very-same-Housing Office said that they had "plenty of housing" and we shouldn't be concerned. Well, needless to say...they lied.
We are now #8 on the list and waiting to get a house. She said it could be a few weeks before we get a house; and when something finally does become available we will need to take-it-or-leave-it...basically saying that if we don't like what's available we're up Shit-Creek! (sorry for the 4-letter-words...I'm so upset right now) We were under such different expectations!
We called the 1st listing on the ad which did not say "No Pets" (there were about 7 listings total...no one wants pets) and the 1st listing we called said he'd prefer No Pets, but might consider us. However, the location wouldn't be available for another few weeks. So, we'll be stuck in a hotel for at least a few weeks!!!!! SHIT...we've been in a hotel for 3 weeks already!!!!!
Speaking of which...this is where I am writing from...yet another freak'n hotel! We were able to get into a local hotel which actually accepts dogs...thank God!! And, I guess we'll be homeless for a little while longer.
Oh...it gets better... let's talk money... I know this is a "foopaw subject" but we're going to briefly discuss it. -- The Coast Guard does not pre-pay our current hotel stay in Kodiak while we're awaiting housing! We need to put the money up-front for the hotel and we "should" be able to get about $140/day to spend on a room, however the room is costing us $180/night, but they don't care...and we can file the form after a ten-day period, and then it takes about 3 weeks to get reimbursed. (Hell, I just got reimbursement last week for a claim they owed us for Chris' expenses while he was in North Carolina Jan-May!!) So, basically...we're going to front a hotel stay for about 2 weeks at a rate of $180/day for 14 days...um, that comes out to roughly $2500 out of our own pocket!! And then the Coast Guard will pay us back like a month later. Again...Holy Shit!!!
So, that's the story right now. It's a little after 1pm, and Chris is out doing some more admin stuff...so I might have an update for you again later.
By the way...we got a phone call this morning to tell us that all our stuff arrived today! So, our "house" is here, but we still don't have a home!!
As most of you already know, we went to Disneyland a few days before Christmas. We had a GREAT TIME and it was so much fun to watch Emily at The Happiest Place on Earth. She was dressed as Snow White and everyone thought she was adorable!
Now...there was a "catch" - I HAD TO CUT IT DOWN! You see, the tree was on the other side of a small creek and I was the only one wearing waterproof shoes. Yes, a small creek...BUT...if one of us were to slip and get wet by the FREEZING WATER...it could, within minutes, turn into frostbite! So, I just across the creek with the help of some small rocks in the water...and then I balanced on a tree branch that hung over the creek...and then walked along the branch until I reached the shore. My shoes got a little wet, but if I would have slipped in I would have been past my ankles in FREEZING WATER! 
