Northern Noise

Took the dog for a walk today which, I agree, is not that big of a deal.  However.....(wait for it!) I did it without wearing gloves or a hat!!  Spring is giving us clues that it will eventually come.  Granted, I'm not willing to put my winter gear away just yet, but this glimpse of sunshine will keep me going until spring really gets here. 

My baby turns 9 years old today.  He's been flying high & having a great day.  It's a little bittersweet for me.  I love my son.  He's thoughtful, funny, strong-willed, and can be as annoying as possible.  He loves his family, and his dogs, and math.  He like practical jokes and snuggling.   He talks constantly, has a lively vocabulary, and says things that seem wise beyond his years. I love watching him grow and change, but I mourn for the days of having a little one.  I remember so clearly the night I went into labor, and the way he looked sleeping in a bassinet that first night at home.  I remember when the only way to distract him if Bob and I were leaving him home with a sitter was to show him "ups!" (weightlifting videos).  I remember how much he loved to strip himself nekid, no matter the time or place, and streak around doing his booty dance.  I remember when he decided that he was a supporter of Obama in 2008 and...

A pregnant Irish woman from Dublin gets in a car accident and falls into a deep coma. Asleep for nearly 6 months, when she wakes up she sees that she is no longer pregnant and frantically asks the doctor about her baby. The doctor replies, 'Ma'am you had twin - ! a boy and a girl!  Your brother from Cork came in and named them.' The woman thinks to herself, 'Oh No, not my brother... he's an idiot!' So she asks the doctor, 'Well, what's the girl's name?' 'Denise.' he replies. 'Wow, that's not a bad name, I like it! What's the boy's name?' 'Denephew.'

Part Two: Nature LXXXVII ~Emily Dickinson D EAR March, come in! How glad I am! I looked for you before. Put down your hat— You must have walked—         5 How out of breath you are! Dear March, how are you? And the rest? Did you leave Nature well? Oh, March, come right upstairs with me,         10 I have so much to tell!    I got your letter, and the bird’s; The maples never knew That you were coming,—I declare, How red their faces grew!         15 But, March, forgive me— And all those hills You left for me to hue; There was no purple suitable, You took it all with you.         20    Who knocks? That April! Lock the door! I will not be pursued! He stayed away a year, to call When I am occupied.         25 But trifles look so trivial As...

(and no, my mom isn't the antique...) So I got to leave Alaska for spring break.  I think its the first time ever!  And I left behind my kids, my dogs, and my husband to enjoy a girls' week with my mom and my sister.  It was also the first time I was getting to see the house now that it's done! The morning I left Alaska it was -16 degrees.  I got off the plane 5 hours later in Portland to sunshine an 50 degrees above zero.  Ahhhh.  Plus my sister greeted me at the airport, and we stopped at Trader Joe's.  These are all good things.  Zippy trip to the coast, mom and wine waiting at the house - life was good. And then armageddon began.  Over the next five days I experienced at least three nights of hurricane (75mph+) force winds, hail the size of marbles, record-setting snowfall and rain like I had never seen before.  It was crazy. In fact, it was so crazy that one night, after I had crawled into my snuggly bed, my mom came to get ...

My awesome 6 year old nephew was under the impression that on St. Patty's day, leprechauns come to your house and hide gold.  When his mom shared this with me, I had to set the record straight.  On St. Patrick's day, the sneaky little leprechauns come to your house to STEAL your treasures.  But I told Miles how to deal with them.  You see, if you can catch a leprechaun, they have to grant you a wish and tell you where their pot of gold is hidden.  So I told Miles the secret.... take peanut butter and spread it all around your bed on the floor of your room.  That way the leprechauns get stuck in the peanut butter and can't steal your treasure! Can't wait to hear if it worked.... he he heh.....

"So died a man both great and good, who, like all the erring human race, mingled some defects with his virtues; yet they were with him so open and natural that they enable us the better to feel the reality of his excellences, as part of a character that is set before us in all its merely human proportions, and claims no ideal perfection." http://www.queenofscots.co.uk/culloden/cull.html I'm missing my dad tonight.

Last time I was in Anchorage, I stayed in a "reputable" hotel.  In reality, it was kinda yucky.  Thin, scratchy sheets.  Rough towels.  No room in the bathroom. I mean, it was clean and the staff was nice, but it was just ugh. Tonight I'm hanging in style at the Embassy Suites.  Awesome bed, fast internet to work on my homework, big tvs, spacious well lit bathroom.  I'm digging it. This week has been frustrating because there simply haven't been enough hours in the day to get everything done that I need to.  At least tonight I can relax and sleep well before getting started in meetings tomorrow.  I'm really loving my new job, but I'm constantly feeling like I'm behind the learning curve.  I know that the next time I do things, it'll go much more smoothly, but in the meantime I'm frustrated that I don't have it all clicking along as I'd like it to.  Tonight I'm going to pretend that I'm on top of my game and just enjoy the ...

So today I finished my second to last class.  One more to go and I'll have earned my Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.  Whew.  Been a long time since I've matriculated.  It's been fun and stimulating, but I'll be glad to finish up.  The funny thing is I've applied to another program starting next fall.... it just keeps going. Funny, I don't feel any smarter.

One night, Mrs Mcmillen answers the door to see her husband's best friend, Paddy, standing on the doorstep.  "Hello Paddy, but where is my husband? He went with you to the beer factory." Paddy shook his head sadly, "Ah Mrs Mcmillen, there was a terrible accident at the beer factory. Your husband fell into a vat of Guinness Stout and drowned." Mrs Mcmillen starts crying, "Oh don't tell me that!  Did he at least go quickly?" Paddy shakes his head, "Not really, he got out 3 times to pee."

No, it's not an oxymoron.  In honor of the month of St. Pat's day, we're celebrating things Irish.  Today we get some wisdom, and a joke. Irish proverb: May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door. Mel's Joke: What's green and sits on your porch??? (wait for it....) Patty O' Furniture (get it, patio furniture!!)