Addicted to Skittles

It's true, I jsut can't stop eating them. I don't know what the deal is. Now that Bob is home, he is seeing how bad it is. They're just so delicious!!!
Molly "manning the fire"
Bob lounging




Bob and I have spent a couple quiet days together. Yesterday we just stayed home and watched movies. Today we went out to Sunshine Cove for a few hours and just enjoyed being outside. Now we are home, I have made a roast. Yes, I have cooked all of our meals since Bob has been home. We are going to eat, watch Monk and Pysch, love Friday nights. Here are a couple pictures from today. Tomorrow I head back to work, but just at "the Dog" until 4:30 pm, that will still give us tomorrow evening. Bob returns to work on Sunday and we'll be back to having Tuesdays off together. We will also have Friday mornings which is a little more than before he left.

We just finished dinner and my roast was dry, go figure. But it was okay. We are now settled in to watch our shows. MJ

He's home

and he looks sooo good! MJ

A little closer to home . . .

That's right, Bob just called from Anchorage, he's getting closer to home. His flight is delayed /2 hour for mechanical difficulties (that never makes me feel warm and fuzzy). Me, I am just trying to do everything in slo-mo so I don't get done too soon and start pacing (or show up at the airport an hour early).

It's been beautiful out the past two days, our first two days of summer. It was 72 at 5:06 pm (on my walk home from work I pass the clock). That is an intense heat here. It felt good. Hopefully the weather will hold for Bob to enjoy some of it. He had some crazy weather at Red Dog. Snow in July. His comment "I don't know what to do with snow in July".

We have a couple off days together. I go back to work on Saturday and right now Bob is going on back on Sunday. It's good we have the time, I have lots of pictures to show him of the Chilkoot, plus, I just miss him. Just being will feel really excellent. MJ

August Birthdays

This is a crazy month for birthdays in our families. Look at this list:
8/3 Miss Jacquelyn
8/6 Uncle Kim and Brennen
8/7 Mom
8/8 Josh
8/9 Court
8/15 Tracey
8/20 Dad, Erica, and friend Brooke
8/22 "Z"
8/23 ARB
8/26 Sheri
8/30 Tom
Nana, Grandpa and Dad Emery also shared August birthdays. The month is full of wonderful people. (I hope that we didn't miss anyone). We are working on this month and trying to catch up for the rest of the year. Who would have thought that "the Hallmark girl" wouldn't be so "hallmarky" after all. My brother still says I remember everything, yeap, still have him fooled.

Happy birthday to all of you. We can't wait to see you all in December. MJ

North to Fort Yukon

Just got Joelle to the airport and she is headed "way up north, way up north" to Fort Yukon, AK. What an adventure she has ahead of her.
As for me, I am up early, which I so enjoy. Then off to work. It seems to be a nice looking day, we'll see how it goes. The paper said 5 days without rain, of course it also showed the sun which I have yet to see. but a little break from the rain is nice. It's so peaceful in the early morning. MJ

A couple of days in Skagway . . .

Joelle on a swing at the Mollie Walsh Park
Engine from the White Pass Rail
Me asleep on the ferry (a common site)

We spent a couple nights in Skagway and one full day. The ferry schedule is a little messed up this year. As this was my third visit in 2 months I felt like a resident. Did some school shopping. I finally found the khaki skirt that I have been looking for since we moved here. Bought some Christmas and Birthday presents (hey, I like to plan ahead). Had a fantastic meal (same as I had last time - I just love sweet potato fries) walked around and then called it a day. The ferry ride home was a 1/2 day of sleeping. I have been fighting some cold/sinus thing and I am still wiped out. MJ

A day in Haines, Alaska

Me in Haines at the Visitor Center

Fort Seward

Joelle

Flowers in a garden

Okay, more like an afternoon and that's just about all you need. But we had fun and it was good to see a new place. We took the 8 am ferry over from Juneau. We almost did get to go, there were no parking spots in the lot to leave the truck. They let us park in "crew" parking, there was one spot left. It was raining, but we started our walk into town. The only "taxi" service in Haines is $20/per person. To go 5m, I don't think so. We did have a "gentleman" stop and ask if we needed a ride, he gave me the willies, so we passed. A little later a young girl stopped and we rode into town with her. We went to the visitors center, asked about where to find a coffee shop and headed out to find it. As we walked we stopped at some of the shops along the way and there was the girl who gave us a ride.

We checked out the shops, went to the old military barracks, hung out at the library (we were done with "site seeing" (nothing left to see), then we went to have dinner (at 4 pm). We were discussing if we should spend the $ and call the taxi service when Joelle asked the waitress if she knew of anyone who would like to make $20. We ended up getting a ride from one of the cooks. He was a young guy who had moved to Alaska recently from Wisconsin. He drove an old Chevy with hole din the floor boards and a cabbage patch kid head on a stick in the be. It was a fun little ride. We spent the rest of the day at the ferry terminal and then headed to Skagway on the 10 pm ferry. More on our trip to Skagway later. MJ

My view . . .

This is GSI (Gift Shop 1 at the Red Dog Saloon) and what I look at when I work there. Just wanted to share. His head is above the bar on the other side of the wall, just above Wyatt Yurp's gun. MJ

Chunk o' Rock

That's what I came home to in the middle of the driveway. Big ole chunk o' rock. If it wasn't so late and I wasn't so tired, I would have taken a picture of it. I will take my camera with me in the morning and if it is still there I will capture it. Guess that's a risk you take when you live on the side of a mountain. It is obvious that it rolled down. So glad that we don't park on that side. MJ

The rock, in between the plywood that they put up to "warn" us I guess. It was gone when I got home from Haines and Skagway. I think that they chopped it up. There was a pile of rock that wasn't there before. I guess that's one way to get rid of it. MJ

Wow, What a Week . . .

It's been a busy, crazy one with work. The Dark Night is still selling like crazy. It is fun, but tiring. Today is my day off and I am doing a whole lot of nothing. I really don't plan of leaving the house.. I do need to do a little cleaning up. Joelle will arrive on Saturday. We will be going to Haines and Skagway for a couple of days. Haines will be new to me, so I am excited for that, some place new. It's just been daily life here. MJ

Happy Birthday Amanda Lynn

My Manda Girl. . .

This is our Manda Girl and today she turns 32. She is one of the most beautiful women I know. Her spirit and heart fill me with joy. She has a inner strength that has seen her through trying times. She'll be embarassed by this, because that's who she is. But this is one of my favorite pictures of her. Taken the weekend that the "cousins and Aunt Marlys" took over Gram's house in 2006. Good times. We have shared many special memories, laughs and tears growing up. Days on Lake Michigan, summer trips to Saugatuk, Clinton Fall Festivals, road-trip to Dan and Jen's wedding, Lenawee County Fair, late nights just giggling, Zoo Day, shopping for bridesmaid dresses, twice, learning to lean on one another when our hearts were broken, being strong, learning to cherish memories. She is a quiet soul who like my mom, sits back and takes it all in. She is so beautiful (which I think that she forgets) and I miss her all the time. Manda Girl we are looking forward to seeing your smiling face soon! Happy Birthday to you, from your two crazy cousins in Alaska.

The Dark Night

I am drinking coffee at 8 pm so that I can stay awake to work the 12:30 am showing of The Dark Night. We got to see it this afternoon. I ate too much popcorn and treats, my belly was a little unhappy. So I ate a burrito and drank some milk and water. I feel much better now. I am still trying to watch all those darn Batman movies and they are due back at 10 pm. I just put in the last one. We'll see if I make it, it will be close. I won't give anything away about the movie except that it is a little creepy. Yicks. There was one good trailer, Watchmen. Again, looks a little creepy, but one I will see. I better bug off, I have a few things to do before I head to work. MJ

Details of my day off. . .

I got out of work early last night, what a treat. I went to bed early and thus I woke up at 6 am this morning. I figured it was a good time to call my mom, I don't get to do that much any more with my work schedule. It was good to hear her voice. Of course she had to go into work early, go figure. So here's my day:

6 am wake up and call mom
7 am watch Enchanted (cute little movie)
9 am eat breakfast and decide to take a nap
9:20 am phone rings (Deb who is going to be the new Attendance Clerk and DHMS and I know
her through Chris - she had some questions about the job)
10 am shower
10:15 am continue the Batman Movie Marathon an work on Chilkoot Trail (start over with a new
file, easier to organize over 600 pictures - Yicks!
Noon make lunch (flour tortilla pizza and cream soda) take a break from Batman
Noon to 2 pm dishes, laundry
2 pm talk to Bob - we talk on the phone twice a week, Tuesday and Friday, it' good to hear his
voice
2:26 pm "freak-out" moment because I just realized that I forgot to feed the fish this morning

When I get out of my routine I am no good, ask the fish

2:30 pm make bed, water plants, clean up some more
3:00 pm more Batman Movies
4:00 pm All Star Game
5:00 pm see above
6:30 pm dinner - fettuccine alfredo, salad greens with cucumber, shredded cheese and ranch,
garlic bread (potato hamburger bun squished flat and toasted with butter and garlic salt),
water and a little cream soda
10:oo pm more Batman

Wow - long All Star Game - I am actually glad that it is over.

Not everyday in Alaska is an adventure, sometimes just daily life, but still breathe-takingly beautiful. MJ

Rossco

This is Tristan and Adam's dog. He is part Beagle and part Jack Russell. He is so cute and I was just love this picture. Tana took it before we left for the Chilkoot Trail and is you just look at his little face, he knows that he's not going. He likes to go hiking and I do believe from some of our hikes he is part mountain goat. Love this dog! MJ

Is anybody out there?

I keep checking all my blogs on my blog list and it seems that nobody is out there. Or at least nothing happening in there lives.
Here the excitement is all about movies. I saw Hellboy II on Thursday night an next Thursday it will be The Dark Night. With that, I rented the 5 Batman movies and have started watching them tonight. I still remember watching the first one with Sheri (who else? Tina?) at the old theater in Adrian. And owning the Batdance single on cassette. Ahhh, Good Memories.
The past couple nights at the theater have been a little hairy. Technical difficulties and lucky me, I got left there alone. That will never happen again - I will make sure of that by saying no the next time some says "I am going to move my car"!!!
I've got a great, fun story to share with you from Bob. It will be a back post, which I know, I complain to my mother for doing it, but that's the way it goes.
"Hi, I am Vicki Vale" Oh, Prince. Jack Nicholson is just creepy
Have I told you all that Bob also left me ice cream in the freezer? Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip - if I am not, well, I guess that I had better not finish that sentence - keepin' it PG, keepin' it PG.
Well, I had better bug off. I've got movie to watch and some ice cream to eat.

My Aaron, Nick, and Zac

The boys in order of the pictures: Nick, Zac, Aaron

My mom and I were having a conversation the other day and I told her when she moved here with us not only could she work at the schools, she could get a part-time job at the theater with me. Well, she replied "I did want to see the American Girl movie" to which I replied "oh, let me tell you, I work with Aaron, Nick and Zac and they all went to the preview last week, I couldn't believe it. When Aaron was telling me I just laughed and said "you have got to be kidding me" to which he replied "well, it was a Sunday night and we were all bored with nothing to do" and my favorite of the reply "we weren't the target audience" no kidding, would that be because you

re NOT an eight year old girl? We had a good laugh. Back to mom . . . "what are there names again?" Aaron, Nick, and Zac "That's the names of the boys that I work with". So, being the "dork" dork that I am I told her I would get their picture and post it on the blog. The other part that is a little strange . . . Mom's Zac, his dad works at Merillat. My Zac, his Dad is on of the owners, so needless to say, he works there also. So here are mine, it took 3 pictures to get one that they all agreed to and even then Nick is feeling the need to defend himself from Zac. I snapped the picture just as I said Zac's name (so he would stop dinking around). My little theater job is so much fun. I have meant so fun, wonderful people. I keep thinking that I will give it up, and then I take some time off and I really miss that place. We saw the preview of

HellBoy II last night. It was good. I had a really hard time staying awake, but I made it. By the time that I got home (2:30 am) and to bed, it was already getting light out. We only have 4 hours of darkness right now, 11 pm to 3 am. Next Thursday we are going to show Dark Night to the general public at 12 midnight. It should be fun, but another late night. My plan is to rent all the Batman movies and watch them on Tuesday to prepare for the "big night". MJ

I said bear, not clear!

This came to me in an email from Bob, I have copied it word for word . .

hey mol, i gotta tell you this, i think i need some ninja fish here. earlier today i was going out to the helicopter and some guys in a truck pulled up to me and said to watch out, there was a bear in camp. i looked down the road and the bear was about 100 yards away on a little dirt mound checking out a fake deer that is set up there for archery practice. no problem i just turned around and went inside. some people said the bear actually bit the fake deer. a few hours later i was working on the helicopter cleaning windows and jag (oh yeah jag is here for a couple weeks) and jarod were checking out the deer. i turn around and the bear is about 15 feet away from me and coming at me. i jumped in the helicopter and closed the doors. i started hitting the horn (there is a warning horn in the helicopter for low rotor speed i can make activate). the bear hesitated but kept coming closer. this was not a small grisly. i kept hitting the horn and finally he turned around and started walking away (after he got about 2 feet from me and the helicopter). i opened the door and yelled BEAR. that finally scared the bear enough that he kind of trotted away. afterwards i walked down to jag and jarod and asked if they heard me. they said they heard me but thought i was just makin jokes with the horn (an inside joke from something that happened earlier) and they thought i yelled clear not bear. they thought i was kidding again and pretending i was going to start the helicopter. this is what i get for being a smartass so much i guess. i was really trying to warn them there was a bear around. well after my heart slowed down we did have a good laugh.

Woke up with a bruise

Well, I knew that it was going to happen, after my spill down the stairs yesterday. It is an ugly thing. Go figure. It is a rainy mess outside today, so I think that I will be staying in. I need to fold up the tent (it was soaked from our last night, so I had to dry it out), get some packages around to mail, gather up recycle, work on my Chilkoot photos. So that is the plan. Then this evening Chris and I are going to go and see Wall-E, right now I am enjoying the Golden Compass. Our electrical rates went back down, so I am also enjoying the fireplace. It's chilly here. MJ

Go figure. . .

I make it 41/2 days in the wilderness, hike 33 miles through avalanche zones and over boulders, and only come home with one bruise. Then I come home and am "hoofin'" it to go to Blockbuster to return movies in between my jobs and bust my butt. I was walking down a set of stairs that connect two levels of downtown and I was just thinking in my head that I wished that I had on my hiking boots and not my tennis shoes, it as raining and a little slick out. Next thing I know, bamm I am on my butt and back and sliding down the stairs. At least I didn't spill my coffee, but my butt, back, elbow, head all are a little sore. Go figure. . .MJ

What is True Love? Part II

aka: What I came home to . . .

Bob and I knew that we would not see each other when I arrived home from the Chilkoot Trail. He would be flying out that morning. It was tough to say good-bye to him, I miss him.

We had Friday and Saturday to spend together and it was nice to just be together. Bob sewed ties for our tent, cut rope, double checked what I had packed, took me to Coastal and got me his Astronaut Pen, and weighed my pack (45 lbs). When we got to the Ferry Terminal he insisted on on carrying in my pack. Then he picked up the other girls packs and guess-timated the weight of each of theirs. He is a good man and so cute for looking out for me.

Advance forward one week and my arrival back to our condo. . .

The first thing that I see is the Finish Line, flowers on the counter, food in the fridge, he takes such good care of me and I am a lucky girl. I had a good little cry before I made my phone calls.

Tomorrow I return to work and daily life. I am hoping that my ody has recovered by then. I feel a little off, but good, so good. MJ

Here's the plan . . .

I made the separate blog about the trail, I am going to post pictures on Snapfish (it will take me some time, there were 3 cameras and 1 video so there is lots to sort through, but I will be working on them as much as I can. I go back to work tomorrow, so just keep checking. MJ

Home and Away

I arrived home today around 2 pm, returning safely from the Chilkoot Trail. Bob has left for Red Dog and I home to hear from him soon that he arrived there safely. I have much to tell you about the Chilkoot. If you look in our Blog List you will find the link to a new blog dedicated to the hike. It will be an on going process so keep checking in on it, I am sure that yo will find something to laugh about in there. MJ

Ready to Go

It's all in the pack and ready to go . . .

and yes, that is Mr. Bear on top, he will be going along. I need someone who can talk "bear" and he's the best that I've got. For now he goes inside the pack, but on the trail I will have him strapped to the outside.

Bob and I have been able to spend the yesterday and today together. We've watched a few movies, had a steak dinner (Bob is such a great cook), went out to lunch this late morning (suppose to be breakfast, but we didn't get there too late and they weren't serving it any more), now we are back at home, curled up, watching another movie.

Bob will be leaving for Red Dog on Saturday, July 5th. I will be returning from Skagway and the Chilkoot on Saturday, July 5th.

I added another blog for you to check out, it's Cousin Erica, give it a read and I'll tell you all about the Chilkoot when I return. MJ

Getting ready for the Chilkoot . . .

That is today's plan. Time to pack the pack and make sure it all fits. We have a couple of places to go, Costco for granola and jerky (and lunch, no better deal in town than a Costco dog). The Nugget for a couple more items that I need (like a bug net, I almost went insane on Tuesday, they kept biting my head!), and Hearthside (for my waterproof notebook and pen for the trail). Bob also rented a few movies and is going to make steaks for dinner, a "last super" of sorts. After I leave tomorrow, we will be a part for 5 weeks. And as Bob pointed out last night this is his last day off in 5 weeks. Thus the reason I am letting him sleep in, it is 10 am the day is 1/2 over!!! I am really excited and nervous about the trail, and a little teary-eyed about being a part. Selfish me is sad because there won't be anyone to come home too to tell about the trail. Line in the present and I guess that I will just have to use descriptive language in my notebook.
I better be off, lots to do today and it's time for a shower. I will post again before I leave. MJ

Side note

I am finally all caught up with my posts, but you may want to look back, I had some to fill in. I know, that annoys me too, but sometimes there is no choice. MJ

The bird picture I meant to post. . .

This one is not blurry.

What I learned. . .

It has taken me many years to focus on being "in the moment". I tend to always be looking ahead either worrying about what will be or counting down the days to a "big event" that I am excited about. But since before we moved here I have tried really hard to be totally present. Time is too short and you don't know what will be.
When A Mary and U Phil were here I discovered a couple things that I had never known. First, my Uncle has an infectious laugh, an incredible, hearty laugh that makes you join in. I can still hear in my head and it cracks me up. How did I ever miss this? Must always be totally present. Second, well truthfully I already knew this but it was so fun to be reminded. A Mary is one of the silliest, funny people I know and being with her is always kooky-fun. She just is fun, doesn't matter where or who is around she is silly-fun. A zest for life which is so refreshing.
Well, I am tearing up now(not a sad tearing up though, a happy one that I am so blessed to be a part of such a good family) so that's it for tonight. MJ

Our day together

A much needed day together. We hiked out to Point Bridget. It was a beautiful view. On our way home a bear galloped across the rode in front of us. It was pretty cool. Bob had just said "keep an eye out for bear" and there it went in front of us. No picture, it moved to fast (and the camera was in the bed of the truck, Bob). MJ

What is True Love?

(The photo is explained, read on)


I found this in the paper one morning, it is a response to a letter written to Dear Abby. I have been saving it for the right moment, when I figured out how I wanted to us it. The original letter was from a women basically talking about how her partner never "buys her anything to express his love". This goes along with all the marketing of "jewelry" that men are bombarded with. If you don't by your "women" a diamond, you must not be in love. There were many responses, but this one was "clipping worthy" and I have been caring it around in my notebook ever since:


Dear Abby: My parents have been married 45 years, and the most romantic gesture I ever saw too place ten years ago. One day, while she was digging in the garden, I saw my dad standing there, hovering over her with a can of wasp spry, ready to blast any potential threat to eternity if it got near mom. Now that's better than a diamond any day. - Sam in Palatine, Ill.
At first I cracked up about this, then I clipped it out and have been thinking about it ever since. It's not the fancy gifts, tied up in a bow that I love my husband for, it is the thoughtful, caring things that he does that blows my mind. Here are two that I wanted to share with you. I am still in awe. . .
When we have guests stay, we move our bed into our guest room and sleep on our new air mattress (okay Sheri, we didn't for you, but we're the same age, the same aches and pains, well, Bob is older). When I came home from Skagway, I am not even sure how we got on the subject, but Bob commented that he had just moved our bed back into our room and couldn't wait to sleep on it. I asked what he meant and his reply "It didn't feel right to sleep in our bed without you, so I waited until you got home". That's love.
Because of that plantoficiitis (whatever) that I have, my feet hurt, a lot. I walked around the house many nights on my tippy-toes making noises with every step. Thanks to A Mary, I have gone to icing them which helps greatly. Poor Bob has had to witness all of this, so the other night he came home and as he approached me on the coach said "close your eyes, you might not like this, but open them". It was the above foot bath complete with vibrating attachments (for my feet yo dirty people (person - Scott)), heat, bubbles. He filled it up, hooked it up and my feet were (are) so happy, happy, happy (just like the note he left on top the net night says, with little feet drawn on it, Happy Feet! Now that is true love. MJ

The Ferry Ride Home

Tuesday, June 16th

This morning was a little "ruff". A Mary and U Phil drove me to the Ferry Terminal. We had long hugs (where A Mary commented that I wasn't gong to let go). I jabbered about seeing them in December, only 6 months away, to tell my mom and brother that I miss them everyday (here come the tears), and that I wasn't going to cry. So I got my stuff, didn't (couldn't) look at them and I turned around and walked away. I felt a little bad about it, but I just couldn't look back. It's not a sad time, A Mary and U Phil are continuing on an incredible journey and I am returning to a new life that I (we) are very proud and happy with. But it still makes the heart sad and the eyes weepy to be a part. But we will be home for Christmas and that will feel . . . there are no words, it will just be.
On the ferry, the sky cleared up and it was beautiful out. I slept a bit, tired, the rhythm of the ferry, and willing myself not to cry. Part way through the trip they announced that they would be having their weekly Coast Guard drills and maneuvers (crew only). I didn't really feel the maneuvers, but you sure did hear the drills. First was the fire drill, then (I can' remember the second), but the third one was Abandon Ship! Now I had fallen back to sleep during all of this and let me tell you, I never, ever, drill or worse yet, the real thing, want to hear those sirens, bells, and whistles again. I jolted up and said "oh my goodness", hand over heart, then remembered that it was only a drill. What a horrific sound. At the end they made an announcement that the drills were over and anything aft that was to be treated as the real thing. Well I held my breathe the last 1/2 hour home.
As we approached the ferry terminal I scanned for out truck and my gorgeous husband. They were both there. It feels good to be back in his arms. We spent the rest of the day being kind of lazy and just enjoying being. MJ