Messengers of Spring

This winter has been particularly rough for me.  I don't think it's wise for me to go Outside in the winter.  Oh, it's nice to get a break from the cold and dark, but it doesn't do my psyche any good.  I've spent the last couple of months swinging like a pendulum from depression to anger and back again.  Depressed that it's been SO DAMN COLD, and then angry that by the time summer gets here it'll be over in a flash and then I'll be back in the cold (which triggers the resentful depression).  It's no different than other years - well maybe just a bit, since this year we had a record number of days below zero in January, and we're working on record snowfall - but it's worse because just a short while ago I was walking around in shorts and t-shirts, and wearing my jacket was often too warm.  Now I can't seem to get warm, can't go outside without several layers (and I *still* get cold),  can't seem to beat the winter gloom.  But the end is in sight.

Visits from my sisters, headed to fish camps, are one of the signs of spring.  It's a treat - I almost feel like it's a reward for having endured another winter.  Plus, I *love* to see my sisters!  I didn't have a whole lot of time with either of them, but a few days is much better than no time at all and years between visits.  I'll take what I can get!!

Sara wanted to make goulash, go to Bear Tooth for dinner and a movie, and go to Turnagain Arm Pit.  We made two of the three things happen - and will try to work in a trip for barbecue when she comes back in September.  It's going to be an exciting, alarming, growing summer for her and I'll be sending support and love vibes - and working in a trip or two, if I can.

Not even a week later, Jeannea was here to visit.  Yay for more Sister Time!!  We had some friends over to visit and "help" Jeannea practice what she's learned in massage therapy school.  She did mention that she needs to build up strength in her hands - and there are more than plenty volunteers that we can drum up for her!  It's also going to be a crazy-busy summer for Jeannea, so I'll be sending support and love vibes to her too, I just can't go visit.  =(  But she'll be back to see me in August, so I'll be content with that.

Now if only the snow would melt so we can get through the dirty part of spring and on to the green, growing, warmth of spr... I guess by then it's pretty much summer.

Spring Saunter

We still have ice on the roads, a couple feet of snow on the ground, and a chance for more frozen precipitation - according to the weather forecast I just watched.  So it'll be a few more weeks until we get the growing things.  But... we're in the melting phase!!

This weekend was absolutely gorgeous!  We decided that we needed to get out and enjoy the weather, so we took a drive.  All the sunshine makes me think of afternoon bike rides and camping, green leaves and flowers, barbecuing on the deck...  In short, it makes me anxious for summer.  Greg's been for a couple hikes in the snow, but I'm not that adventurous.  I'm waiting for the snow to melt and the ground to dry up a bit before I wander forth into the wilderness.  That way, the worst I have to look forward to are the mosquitoes and the bears.  I take plenty of bug dope with me for the former, and hope there's someone that runs slower than me (or that I can trip) for the latter.

On Sunday, after an early morning hike (for Greg - some sleeping in for me), we went back to Kriner's Diner for breakfast.  As promised, I ordered the cinnamon roll (almost as big as my head) and a side of bacon.  I'm not sure what Greg ordered, but he liked it (and it had a pancake, among other things).

I tried really hard to eat the whole thing, but I just couldn't do it.  So the leftovers became dessert for after dinner.  I did not suffer a sugar coma (I think that's because the bacon took the edge off), and I'm pleased to announce that Kriner's Diner cooks crispy bacon well (not over- or under-done).  Next time we go for breakfast I'll look for healthier fare, but I just couldn't pass on such a treat.

Random Minutia

I washed the car yesterday - not that it's easily discernible now.  I wanted to get Sully clean while it was sunny and (relatively) warm out.  Nights are still in the single digits, and I don't want to end up having the locks freeze.  (Although it'd be significantly easier to climb in through the back of the Xterra than it was in the Geo Metro.  Thank goodness I only had to do that once!)  Anyhow.  Because it's warm the snow and ice are melting - which is fantastic! - but that means that I didn't even make it home before Sully was covered in dirty road spray again.  So he's less dirty now than he was before, but I suppose he won't be "clean" until the snow is gone, roads are dry, and the weather's nice.  Maybe never.

With the last of the clean wiped off the car - at least the front windshield was still looking freshly washed - I picked up Greg and we headed out for lunch and what ended up to be some shopping (which I mention because it was for ME and I'll be posting a picture of my new toy later... *happy dance*)  [That's an awfully long sentence, but it's full of happy thoughts - except the new dirt on the recently cleaned car.]

We had a tasty burger at Kriner's Diner - our fist time eating there.  Plus we found out it's owned by a member of a family that owns a restaurant in Soldotna that Greg used to hang out at (and the food is very similar), so it brought back memories of days gone by for him.  If you haven't been yet or you come up to visit, you should definitely give this place a shot!  We both ordered the same burger (I asked for mine without barbecue sauce), and had part of a homemade cinnamon roll for dessert.  I say part, because that sucker was HUGE!  And tasty!!  We had the rest of it for dessert tonight.  And now I'm sitting here wishing that I had another one - or at least another part of one, since I think I'd make myself sick if I tried to eat a whole one all by myself.  I think I might try it, though.  On a weekend, when we go there for breakfast - so I can go home and be sick or sleep off the sugar crash, should the need arise.  I'm going to order a cinnamon roll and some bacon.  (What!?!  I can't eat just sugar.  It'd make me sick.  And it's unhealthy.  If I add bacon, I'm getting some protein to balance out the sugar-coma that I'll be putting my body through.  I hope they cook bacon the way I like it.  I guess there's only one way to find out - and the results of that test (should I survive) will be the subject of another post.)

In the process of eating lunch and conversing, my phone became the topic du jour.  Mostly because I've had some [user] problems texting.  Nothing that's terribly embarrassing.  If I don't pay attention, Nita comes out bits and apparently we don't have any pistachio buts (well, we didn't but Greg picked some up at Costco last weekend).  It's because the keys share letters, autocorrect cannot read minds, and I sometimes don't re-read what I've typed before I hit the send button.  So not entirely my fault.  Autocorrect should learn what I mean to be typing, as well as what options are available with that combination of letters.  Anyhow.  I've been wanting a different phone for a while now, just felt a little guilty getting a new one when my current one works just fine.  Well, I bit the bullet and yesterday we retired my old phone.

I had specific features I was interested in, when I was scoping out my options.  I want a touch screen, the screen size has to be bigger than my current phone (I almost *never* use the data package we're paying for now, because it's such a huge pain in the ass to navigate and see anything on such a small screen.), and I want a better keyboard.  I was comparing the Blackberry Torch and the iPhone.  Screen size is comparable (iPhone is slightly larger) and both are touch screen.  The Blackberry has a physical keyboard or you can use the touch-screen.  iPhone only has the touch-screen keypad, but it has cool apps like Angry Birds and that one that'll tell you the constellations when you point your phone at the night sky.

I *love* my new phone!  (I picked the Blackberry Torch - in burnt orange, so we can tell it apart from Greg's work phone.)  It'll take me a while to get used to some of the changes and figure out the nuances of my new toy, but I'm up for the challenge.  I've already been surfing the internet on my phone.  Unheard of before now.  YAY!  I was up until 3am this morning (well, 2am really but then the time change happened) installing software on my computer to manage my phone.  I know.  That sounds odd to me too.  Why do I need to use my computer to manage my phone?  Well, it's easier to get everything transferred from my old phone.  And it's easier to surf the 'net for free ring tones (ALL the default ones on this phone suck!) and download them to the computer.  Did I mention that the camera on my phone is pretty good?  It has auto-focus and even built-in flash.  I can play music or watch a movie... and I haven't even tried the video recorder on my... phone.  Calendar, notepad, reminder, alarm, calculator, password keeper, email, rolodex, games, and internet.  And that's not everything.  Remember your first mobile phone?  I wouldn't go back, but sometimes I feel a sense of nostalgia for the way things used to be... (mostly when I can't get the stupid extra features to work like I think they should.)

Because I was up so late playing with my new toy, this morning I got up at 11am (which was really 10am).  I only like Daylight Savings Time in the Fall - when we I get an extra hour of sleep.  I *hate* it in the Spring, when I lose an hour of anything - particularly sleep, but I could have had one more hour today to... play on the computer, update my phone, work on my blog post, do laundry, or any number of other things (which I might have done, probably wouldn't have done, but now it's gone and I don't even get the choice).  I understand that now we'll have light longer in the evening, but I was enjoying the extra morning sunlight.  I know I'll get adjusted in the next day or two, but until then I'm prone to be a bit grumpy.  At least this is yet another indicator that winter is almost over...

A Slow Record?

For me, this year's planting process was a record... of sorts. Slow to get started (didn't get my flowers until really late in the season), but a record finish (normally the flowers sit on the deck for quite a while before they're planted, and then the planting happens over several days - possibly separated by several non-planting days...). Slow to start, record finish - I hope that's not indicative of the flowering season this summer... =)

Because of busy schedules and Memorial weekend camping, I didn't go flower shopping early on. Once I determined that I wasn't going to be able to go until the end of May, I figured that it would be slim pickin's at the flower stores. I mean, there's always something at Lowe's or Fred Meyers, but I guess I'm a flower snob. I like to do most of my flower shopping at Forget Me Not Nursery in Indian, about 15 miles south of Anchorage. The owners plant gorgeous displays and they're different every year. If you look closely at the picture above, you'll see that it's a clock with different types and colors of flowers. Very cool. Last year they had a rainbow - see here. Plus, the starter flowers are always well tended and healthy. And it's a nice drive out along Cook Inlet.

On Saturday (after Greg's biathlon), my friend Heath & I made the trek out to Indian. It was a great day for it - the weather was nice, great chance to chat & catch up, views were spectacular. But, as I suspected, I should not have waited 'til the end of May to do my shopping if I wanted to get my things at Forget Me Not. It was pretty sparce - which is good for them & thier business. But it wasn't so good for me. So I settled for a couple starters (my only supertunias this year) and two beautiful hanging baskets. (Normally I plant my own hanging baskets, but I so wanted to give more business to this local company - and the ones I got are really nice - that I opted to get them pre-made this year.) Then we headed to Bell's Nursery.

Walkway Pot
Pink Cosmos, Osteospermum (either Lemon or Orange Symphony), & Lobelia

By the time we were done shopping, I ended up with three flats of flowers and three hanging baskets. On Sunday evening, I decided I'd get some of the planting done - at least the deck & walkway pots, and I could save the flowers for the front bed for another night. When I gathered all my implements and the flats, I really wondered if I was going to have enough for what I wanted. I should not have worried in the least...

Petunia Pot

Deck Pot

Red Cosmos, Sunny Sheilas, Asters, & Lobelia

Supertunia Pot

When I was done planting the pots, I consolidated the flowers and considered what I had left. Would it be enough for the front flower bed? And did I want to water them on the deck tonight (they were really dry), or get them planted and just water the bed? Since it was still early (just after 9pm), I opted to finish up the planting. Greg tilled the bed for me while I moved all the implements around front. The front bed has a mix of all the flowers in the different pots: petunias, pink & red cosmos, Sunny Sheilas, more Osteospermum (Lemon, Orange, & Melon Symphony - I love the little purple centers), and Lobelia. There's also a few other types, but I don't remember everything I got. It'll make for a nice surprise as the flowers start blooming...

Front Bed Flat

Planted Front Bed

Even though I just purchased the flowers and they're just barely unfolding their little roots in the beds of soil I plopped them in, I find that I'm already anxious to have them grow. I want them big and full and blooming. RIGHT NOW. I mean, I did my part, so grow already!! =)

Before & After

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for the past week, and today was no exception. I was on my own for the day, and decided I just couldn't spend it sitting inside. But what to do? I decided that I'd rake the lawn. Get in a little exercise (in the form of manual labor), spend the day in the sun, and get rid of the leaves in the back yard. A sure sign that Spring is finally here - yay!!

Raking is dirty work. I mean, normally it's dirty - but when you add in moose poop and volcanic ash, it's even dirtier. But it was nice to be out in the sun, and there was a lovely breeze to cool my sweaty brow (and blow the ash away). The yard doesn't look all that big in pictures - or looking down on it from the deck. But I swear it grows when you get down into it - especially if it's for raking. Just like the driveway grows when there's shoveling to be done. Anyhow. It took me about an hour to get the leaves piled up. I know Greg will be jealous, so I saved the bagging for him to help me with. =)

Under all the leaves and dirt, I found buds in our perennial flower bed. This means I'd better start thinking about my flower pots and the annual flower bed up front...

Saturday Stroll

Greg & I participated in the Anchorage Heart Run yesterday. Greg did the run, and finished in time to do the course again - this time walking with me. While we were waiting for the start of his race (runners started 30 minutes before the un-timed portion of the race), I noticed that people were hanging gear anywhere they could before the run. Got a picture of one of the "coat trees" around the area. =)

I tried to take a picture as he was crossing the finish line, but my camera was too slow to turn on and get the shot - so I ended up with a picture of random people and the time, which was 9 seconds after he crossed the line. He finished the 5k (3+ miles) in 29:01. It's the first "official" time he has, and he'll use it as a baseline for the rest of his marathon training. (The Mayor's Marathon is in June.) Someone else took a great shot as he crossed the finish line - it's now his Facebook profile picture.

The weather was nice. Particularly, it was NOT rainy or snowy - which was what was predicted earlier in the week. It was rather chilly so I kept my jacket on, but that just made it so I didn't overheat as the walk commenced. There were several thousand participants - it was fun to see all the people out on a nice Saturday morning, supporting healthy hearts.

As we walked the course, there were entertainment stations at various points. A school band playing music in one spot, and belly dancers at another.

Second walk of the season down. I just spent a little time online looking up dates for the other walks to get them on my calendar. There's the Anchorage Visitors Industry Graze (where you walk to different feeding stations - yay!) on May 1st; the March of Dimes walk on May 16th; the Alaska Run for Women (in support of Breast Cancer - I do this one for Aunt Carol, and this year I'll be adding Greg's mom as a survivor) on June 13th; the Walk to Whittier on June 14th; and the Light the Night walk (love you M!) on September 11th. I'm sure there are loads more walks scheduled throughout the summer, those are just the ones I've done in the past.

Let the walking commence!! =)

MS Walk = Beginning of Spring?

Jeannea is here for a few days before she heads out to Dillingham for the summer. We've done lots of visiting, and today we took her along for the annual MS Walk. I love when it gets to be "walk season" in Alaska. That means that we're heading into the Spring/Summer months - the best part of the year!

It's a chance to get some exercise that's not at the gym, which is much more enjoyable. It's also a chance to get together with people that I don't see all that often and chat as we make our way around the course. Today was a *lovely* day - considering that it's still April, there's snow on the ground, and Lake Hood was still icy on top. But the sun was shining, there wasn't much wind, and we had good company.

One of our walkers

Taking a break

Greg ran the course (twice) instead of walking - still prepping for his marathon run - so he's not in the group picture, as he wasn't quite done yet. Next weekend is the Heart Run (I'll be walking), and soon we have the March of Dimes walk and the Women's Run. There are more - just about one every weekend from now until September sometime - but those are the ones I've done & can remember. Yay walking! Yay Spring!

Anticipation

I've been griping because it's April already and we haven't even broken 40 degrees. I mean, come on already! Give a girl a bone! It's not like I'm asking for 80 and sandy beaches... I just want a little warmth. In the spirit of anticipating Spring (and keeping our sanity), we decided to get ready - or at least get our feet ready for sandal weather. Pedicures, here we come!! =)

Sara, Stacy & I started the day by going to breakfast, then headed to the salon. Had to kill a little time, since they weren't open until noon, but it was *totally* worth it!

My last pedicure was in September. All the color from my big toes had grown out, except a thin sliver at the top. The scrubbing tickles and it's hard to keep from twitching my feet. But the massaging is just *lovely* and I do feel a little more patient as I wait for Spring... Can you guess which color goes for which person? I love the little flowers - they're so... happy. =)

We spent the afternoon doing a bit of cleaning so we could have guests over for dinner & game night. Sara was super helpful, vacuuming & doing dishes. She even vacuumed the stairs, which looks like it might be a dangerous occupation...

Looks like there were a couple hats laying around... Thanks, Sara, for staying safe and helping out!! =)

Spring? What Spring?

I'm still waiting for it to warm up... I am grateful that the days are close to 30 - sometimes above, sometimes below, and that's loads better than a month or so ago. But March is almost over. It's supposed to be warmer. You know, sunshine... melting snow... I'm not being too greedy. I'm not asking for green grass and leaves on the trees (yet). I'm just wanting my world to warm up. Here's what this morning brought...

When I was brushing off the car this morning, the last of the rubber came off the old wiper blade on the passenger side. Fortunately I had the replacements in the car, just hadn't put them on yet. I decided I'd only change the passenger one since I'm running behind (again). I found a latch to release the old blade but for the life of me, I couldn't get it off. Didn't matter which way I flopped the blade or how I wiggled it, it wouldn't come off. So then I decided to try the driver's side. Took me less than a minute and I had it off. Must be because the mechanism was totally backwards from the other side. That and I just happened to accidentally pull down after unlatching it so it popped right off. So I was a bit late(r) to work, but my new wiper blades are super cool!! (Either that, or I've actually needed blades for quite some time and am just impressed with the way the rest of the world sees things...) Now I've got to replace the one on the back window - so I can see behind me just as well as in front. =) Yay, new blades! Boo, snow!

So what's that Spring saying: Out like a lion, in like a lamb??

Status Update

It's hard to believe that it's mid-February already. It's noticeably lighter in the mornings & evenings - I get at least some dusk light for the trip home, altho it's still dark enough to need headlights. But it's one of my Portends of Spring. This is how it goes:

1. December 21 - Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the return of light
2. In February, the increasing amount of light becomes noticeable
3. Seemingly related to the increased light, I expect temperatures to get start getting warmer
4. March is Spring Equinox and eventually an end to snow (probably after a huge dump)
   
5. April is dirty, but drying
6. May is the start of green
   

I know it's going to be a while before everything warms significantly and even longer before things green up, but we're almost halfway through my Portends. Yay!

As for the rest of my update: We're still on Orange Alert for the volcano watch - but fewer & fewer people think it's really going to go. Scientists are still saying that based on it's current activity, it's may blow - but it also could subside. Way to cover the bases! We're off the hook at work - don't have to cover the equipment anymore. If the volcano erupts, we have people who are responsible for coming in and getting everything squared away. This saves lots of time - not only the time saved every morning & evening, but we've had lots of computer issues (slow boot up, problems with updates, computers dying, etc.) that are tapering off. Whew!

I've also been spending a lot of my free time on Facebook. I finally set up an account, and I've been customizing it and adding pictures. Haven't figured out how to link my Flickr account to it, but I've still got some learning yet. Yesterday, I took a break from my computer to do some shopping with my friend Jennifer and then take in the movie Taken (with Liam Neeson) - a *great* way to spend the evening! And today was spent in my pj's helping Greg to re-organize the miscellanea that has migrated into the office. I've enjoyed the three-day weekend, and am going to spend the evening watching Chuck & Heroes (and avoiding thinking of work - which will be here all too soon).

Sleeping Lady
with ice chunks in the inlet

(photo coutesy of Greg)

April Showers May Bring Flowers?

After a week of absolutely gorgeous weather - sunshine and in the 50's for the most part - we were warned that we were in for some rain, and maybe some snow. An unfortunate forecast, since the Heart Run was this weekend. Greg was signed up to run, and I signed up to walk. I was looking forward to the walking - for exercise, and because I was going to walk with a group of friends.

The Run was canceled. Too much snow - creating safety concerns, since runners & walkers wouldn't be able to see the terrain and might twist an ankle or fall. So we didn't get any rain - it was all wet, heavy snow. I didn't measure, but I got some good pictures.

If I still had my Geo Metro, I would've had to leave it at work for the weekend. By 5:30pm, the snow was deeper than the floorboard of the Geo. Thank goodness I have a taller car now - and I'm extremely grateful for 4-wheel drive. We burrowed in for the evening - watching movies and the snow. Glad I didn't have to do any more running around than what I already did. =)

Most of the snow will be gone within a day or two. Then I hope we're done with it for the summer!! Makes me wonder how Dillingham & Valdez are faring...??

M's Birthday

Last week was warming up - as Spring should. I mean, we were in the mid-40's during the day, and night stayed above freezing. It looked like we were well on our way to thawing... until this morning. More snow. And tonight it's below freezing, so the roads are icy. Oh well. It'll get warm eventually...

Today is also M's birthday - O Happy Day! She had to work, so ate her birthday cake yesterday. I had some ice cream for you yesterday, M! Sara & I went shopping today - and to prove that she was here (and to show the snow on M's birthday), I took some pictures.

It's lovely packing snow...

Spring!!!

The grass looks a little greener, and the plants in the back bed are *definitely* bigger. (Not that I had anything to show scale, but in the pic from the previous post the greenery is no bigger than the last joint on my pinky. Definitely some growth going on here!) Pretty soon it'll be time to start shopping for flowers... Wahoo!!!

Spring?!?

It's definitely getting closer! Daytime temps are warmer - 50's or so - and I can see buds on the trees. The buds won't show up in pictures from a distance yet, but I know they're there and it's just a matter of time until things start turning green. Wahoo!! We raked the backyard today - it was a Three Bag Job. It's been worse - but last year (before the first snow) Greg mowed up the leaves that had already fallen. Saved us a lot of work (and bags) this Spring... =) Now we have to do the side & front yards - but they're smaller, so it'll be a breeze!

And we're starting to get growth in the Annual Bed in the back - some of the goodies are already popping up. That *must* mean Spring is here!! Just wish it were greener - but that'll come. We'll see what the yard looks like next week... =)

Spring Still Cometh...

It's a week later, and the weather has been lots warmer. Today is sunny & supposed to get up to the 50's - wahoo!! Lots less snow in the yard (but there's still some closer to the house), and the swamp is getting dryer. I think I can see buds on the trees (maybe pre-buds?), and I'm anxiously awaiting the green-up that is to come.

The backyard

Jeannea is here for a short visit - she went to a GeoCaching event with Greg today. I bagged that and went instead on the first walk of the season - the MS Walk. Four miles around Lake Hood. It's a nice, meandering walk. I didn't walk fast, but at least I was out and about. I went with a group of friends, and we had a blast. Went for lunch after, and visited for a bit. All in all, a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday!

We are the Champions!!