I Luv Freebies

I'm a drawing junkie. Wherever there's a raffle, I'm there, preferably multiple raffles together. I bounce from display to display, address stickers clutched in my sweaty palm, frantically sticking my labels to the entry forms. I register for trips I'd never take, jackets, pillows, even a +1000 pound granite rock.I've even entered the Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes, I dream of the day a white van with the giant check shows up on my door step. I prefer free drawings because I love the feeling of getting something for nothing. This spring I've won 2 free jackets, the ugliest candle holder I've ever seen, and a $100 gift certificate for dinner at Lavelle's Bistro.I do spurge in the spring, that's when I buy tickets for the Nenana Ice Classic. http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/

G an...

G and I went to the spring wine fling at the Princess hotel last Saturday. There were over 800 varieties to choose from, I believe I sampled about 12 different types. The food was very excellent, smoked salmon, fresh fruit, cheeses, and chocolate dipped strawberries were a few of the choices.In the beginning I tried to keep notes but when things started moving too fast I couldn't keep up. We did select a few new wines to order, the Forest Glen White Merlot and the Jackson Triggs Icewine Vidal. The Icewine is a desert wine made from frozen grapes. I spoke to my x-husband on the phone last night. His mother is in the hospital in Anchorage. She has some sort of cancer (type?) and has been bleeding from her kidney. Being the dutiful son he is, he wanted everything possible thing done for her. I've been working some exhausting hours at work this week, next week doesn't look better. At one point I thought I was coming down with some sort of bug. I want to slow down at work, I'm not going to work any extra this summer, I swear it!

center>what d...

center>what decade does your personality live in?quiz brought to you by lady interference, ltd</center>

aaagggghhhHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've just spent the last day going through paperwork, shredding, and preparing my taxes. The tax program I bought doesn't work worth a shit so after 2 hours of frustration I downloaded the forms from the IRS website and filled them in by hand. Made me sooooooo mad. On top of all that G started asking a bunch of dumb questions and saying things like "I told you so" and "I don't believe in taxes". I finished up the day by screaming at him to quit talking to me!Bonus, only have to pay $166 and saved scads of money by not going to H+R Block this year. Also, I want my 39.99 back for that stupid program. GRRRRrrrrrrrr. I hate tax season!

Springtime in Winter

The snow is rapidly melting, birds are singing, and the sun is shinning. So, G and I did what has become a rite of passage for Fairbanksins. We went to the home show at the Carlson Center. Today was much more interesting than usual. I managed to cop 10 free pens and registered for 40 different drawings. Go me!Summer time means the all night sound of hammers and saws.

This Worm is Booking

My husband cat just jumped up on the windowsill and started eating my spider plant. I just knew I should have bought her one of those little tubs of sweet grass at Pet Co. When I got home from work Friday there was a package waiting for me. My book order from the book club! I bought The Cell, by Stephan King, The Constant Princess, by Phillipa Gregory, and a new Ann Rule book. I fell on those books like a starving dog falls on a bone. I finished the first two and am finishing up the Ann Rule book. I cant remember the last time I sat down and read a novel from start to finish.G and I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday. Walking in I felt dizzy, there were books everywhere, 20% off, 1/2 off, and comfy chairs you could sit in while reading. I'm ashamed to say I didn't buy anything. I just couldn't decide.

I've Got the Weekend Off!

Been very busy this week because I received somewhat of a promotion at work. I'm doing more supervisory type work, this means more paperwork and less direct hands on care. It's taking some adjusting for me since this was my first week full time. I still want to run down the hall and answer call lights every time one goes off (OK I still did a few).I did a simple discharge that turned complex when the MD decided he was not going to write some of the orders at the last minute. I'm a little nervous about meeting the expectations.I've discovered I have a fairly strong clinical background. Of course I don't know the answers to everything but I think I'm able to guide most of my coworkers. G and I are going shopping now. I've got to get a move on because my friend wants me to go skiing with her this afternoon.The university is having a wine tasting this evening and I'm planning to go. Hope they have tickets left!

Quest

Last weekend there was a summer snowstorm up in the mountains, with winds clocked at 97 mph and whiteout conditions, several of the mushers and their teams lost the trail. Because they were overdue Quest officials called out the national guard for air rescue (conditions were too bad for a ground search).Reactions to the rescue were mixed, some were mad because they had to forfeit (because they had to be flown out), a few were angry because they weren't rescued soon enough and nearly died up there, sill others felt the race officials did the right thing. Other local news, the Iron dog snow-machine race had to be rerouted because of unfrozen rivers and thawed conditions.Sounds like global warming to me!

The Dogs Are Back In Town

This morning G and I went downtown to see the start of the Yukon Quest. This year the trail starts in Fairbanks and ends in Whitehorse. Although not as famous as the Iditarod, the Quest is a grueling 1000 mile race.Today the weather was unseasonably warm, one temperature read 38F above! After the race G and I walked around downtown for awhile. It seemed like the whole town came out today. Yukon Quest information http://www.yukonquest.com/servlet/viewnewslistNumber 10, rookie Yuka Honda, heads down to the shoot.Veiw of the shoot.a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"></a>These guys seem pissed they got left behind.Someone was so excited he jumped right out of his boots.Number 3, rookie Regina Wycoff, waits her turn.

This i...

This is going to be rather short because I'm so tired today. It's a good thing I'm off because I need to recover. News on the home front. We let a friend of my daughters move in for the next several months. She's going to be living in the spare bedroom. We are charging her a tiny bit (I feel guilty about doing that) just to help out with utilities. Now we are adjusting to having a person you don't know well living in your home. Yesterday she couldn't get in the downstairs door(frozen locks) so she came in the upstairs door. That in itself isn't usually a problem except G was doing the dishes wearing only a shirt! LOLHey, I never knew he did housework in the nude, I'm at work most of the time. Anyhow, I guess she didn't see anything but he was embar-ASSED anyway.I'd tell him to keep his p---- in his pants, that doesn't work very well when he's not wearing any!

Today was a to...

Today was a toasty -43F, although the temperatures around town varied. Tomorrow I'll take some pictures of ice fog to post on line.At work the greenhorns were talking about how cold it was today. One of the new nurses was saying "I'm surprised no one called with the cold, in the states everything would shut down".I cracked up and responded, "Nope, when it's 80 degrees and sunny, that's when everyone will call in".Fishing and camping weather don't ya know!Right now the roads are littered with corpses of vehicles. Old Betsy (my ford escort) is 9 years old, Today she was wheezing and groaning in the cold. I don't think she'll make it through another winter without needing some major work. It's just a feeling I have, nothing I can put my finger on. I remember when first bought her, my first new car, seems like yesterday.

Still Cold

Took the second picture later today (I haven't left the house yet).

Today is a balmy -30F

I snapped this picture off the front deck this morning.I believe the white dots are ice crystals.

Santa gave ...

Santa gave me a digital camera for Christmas this year. I finally have it uplinked to the computer so I can down load pictures. The camera is a Kodak EasyShare C310, this picture was cropped and digitally enhanced with MCI PhotoSuite 8.1.I tried to darken the background a little but ended up darkening the whole pictureThree miniature horses (ponies) were brought in the place where I work, we were celebrating "western days". One pony even wore tennis shoes on his hoofs.

Turning Japanese

Tonight I saw Memoirs of a Geisha.Having read the book I looked forward to seeing the film version. I was not disappointed. Although the film did leave some of the story line out, it remained true in offering viewers a glimpse into the secret world of the geisha. I thought the cinema photography was fabulous.

Workin Some Serious Hours

I've been working allot of overtime this week. Worked over 55 hours last week. With several nurses calling in sick, things are only going to get worse because several nurses have moved or left for other positions. Working these extra hours are good for my wallet but back for my psyche. I have caught myself saying the f--- word twice in front of staff members this past week.I need to be more careful because I've seen the establishment do that to people (nurses). Call them and load them with overtime (which is accepted). Then when they crack under the strain, fire them.I really need to work less hours, not more. I was a much happier person when I worked 32 hours a week. But with things being what they are these days, what do ya do?Outside Temp Today -25F

Here Comes The Sun

We are up to five hours of daylight, yeah!

Random Thoughts?

This year the snow is really hard and crystallized, it makes a crunching noise when you walk on it.I need a new coat but am too cheap to buy one.My friend want me to go x-skiing with her this weekend, I haven't pulled my skis out of the shed, much less tried them out.I have a list of stuff I'm probably not going to do.I feel like I forgot everything I learned in school.I have been working allot of extra hours. Today I finally got a day off I've goofed around with the computer for 6 hours and stayed in my pajamas all day. I wish I had a nice bottle of wine (says out loud). Of course I don't feel like getting out of my pajamas to go buy any.I sent my 21 year old a random text from the internet (so he won't know who sent it). I asked him if he noticed it took more to get high each time.I hope it makes him even more paranoid!

Ring It On In

We had an embarrassingly boring new years. I drank too much wine and fell asleep at 9:30. At midnight my daughter showed up and said, "What the hell happened here?" Every light in the house was on with G "passed out" in front of the Nintendo in the living room. We didn't make it out of the house, nor did we blow off fireworks at midnight.In spite of it all, it's still special time for us.I first met G at a new years party in 1997. To me it's our real anniversary!

Ring It On In

We had an embarrassingly boring new years. I drank too much wine and fell asleep at 9:30. At midnight my daughter showed up and said, "What the hell happened here?" Every light in the house was on with G "passed out" in front of the Nintendo in the living room. We didn't make it out of the house, nor did we blow off fireworks at midnight.In spite of it all, it's still special time for us.I first met G at a new years party in 1997. To me it's our real anniversary!