Didi's on her way!

Hi!
I talked with Didi this morning and she was on her way to PDX. By now she's here in Alaska! I'll see her Monday, somehow. My plans are a bit delayed since I caught a bad bug several hours after same bug caught my roommate. We've both been quarantined for a few days but today was a day of healing! Whew! The bug is still catching a few other people by surprise but I feel I've been initiated - and hope to stay resistant now for quite a while. Tomorrow I'm back to work. I'm still hopeful that I can get a day or two off with Didi but will know more after finally returning to work tomorrow to ask. urgh.
ALSO today all our team at LBCC received the NEWS that Parenting Time has been renewed until January. Hey, that's something! After taking life one day at a time for a while, a few months really is nice to ponder - and it gives everyone the opportunity to ponder their own life's pathways. Perhaps it will continue even beyond January - in some form or another - or perhaps this is just a short reprieve. I don't know. I still know only that I don't know where I may be going but I do know where I am.
For a few days the sky was overcast with smoke. I asked but no one seemed to know where the forest fire WAS!
I could barely believe their nonchalance. I suppose it's like Alaskan earthquakes. Unless they're of a certain size, no one even mentions them much. Yesterday the news announced 43 forest or tundra fires are currently burning in Alaska. They have lots of firefighters out there taking care of business. Everything here is so BIG or so plentiful - even the fires!
So, outside my open window today smelled like a campfire. Somewhere not so far away is yet another fire. Alaska is big enough to take all that in stride.

In the meantime, I've considered working at a nice hotel in Switzerland, at Grand Canyon, at Mammoth, at DHS, at Headstart and I've considered fulfilling my lifelong dream of teaching here in Alaska in the "bush". I enjoy having t i m e to consider all the possibilities while devoting my energy to working through each day one at a time.
I had three goals set for myself this year. One was to move the house from 5th and Oak to my lot as my retirement home. Another was to get a job with Princess in Alaska for the summer. The third is still not to be mentioned. The job in Alaska is everything I'd hoped and some things I couldn't have expected. The house has been demolished because I just couldn't swing it financially - no matter what I figured. That's the great thing about goals. If they were all easy and doable, they wouldn't be worth writing down and trying so hard.
I received two letters from my lifelong friend, Per, today. Letters are so precious. I'm opening them both tonight once all the hustle and bustle are done for the day. She believes in hand-written letters. I try to write back but am not so graceful and thoughtful. My letters sometimes look like scratches across whatever paper I can dig up and throw into an envelope. I keep trying, though, because my friend mails me real letters. And, sometimes we talk on the phone - and I find myself telling her things I didn't even realize I knew or felt. I hope she does the same.
Obviously, I've been in bed for a few days and not talking much. Now I can't seem to shut up. Before I do, let me brag.
Maria earned 3 A's and 2 B's this term! That's remarkable. She and Laurie are adults in our home without me there to nag. What an achievement!
Laurie earned a 4.0 this term.
Perhaps I should stay away!
I'm very, very proud of them BOTH!
Laurie is preparing to attend OIT at Klamath Falls in September. Maria wants one more year of high school. Please keep them both in your thoughts and prayers as they move toward their goals.
The internet appears to be somewhat more reliable here now.
I always look for replies to the blog but am realizing that those are "public" . So, please, talk with me. If you don't want to write on the blog, please e-mail. It sure helps with any possible homesickness that might periodically appear!
My only working e-mail is bnewt46@yahoo.com
I simply can't open my old e-mail address anymore from up here.
I look at your names and your pictures and think of you. Thanks for being here with me.
It sure helps!
g'nite,
love,
barb

tea and

Today I was off work!
I spent the day completely on my own, alone, but always among at least 40 other people. Up at 5 to meet the 6am narrated tour into the park, we went to Stony Point. The driver was very knowledgeable and I learned more about the history of the park. The tour completed by 3:30 so I went to the sled dog demonstration.
Home again, I guess the best part of the day was that the other 38 passengers were on a tour from Australia. So, there were lots of concerns by 10am that no one had gotten any tea.
Also, my seat partner needed "tea and teddy". Finally, I asked about teddy. The biscuits they like with their tea are shaped like teddy bears. of course!
Our lorrie drove us safely all day and we stopped for the lou (sp?) about every hour. Each time, there was more mourning for the missing tea.
All that regret about missing tea and it's only Lipton that they would have been drinking??!!
I suppose they were watching us yankees as well. One mentioned that at the restaurant she noticed that we have something we call a "bis cut" and we pour gravy all over it.
I believe I heard her say that was "revolting".
Didi is coming up next week - to stay at the lodge (if there's availability!) for two nights!
That'll be a treat. Suddenly I'm asking for days off - I hope I can get Tuesday off - we'll see!
There are so many things to do.
I'm thinking maybe she would like to go up to Wonder Lake - and to Kantishna? As far as the road can go into the park??? It just opened up that far a few days ago and our best chance to see animals close up would be there - down here, there just aren't the numbers of animals along the road since all the tourist busses started rolling several times a day.
Maybe we'll even hike around a bit??
It'll be so good to see her!

It wsas an earthquake!

The internet is down and I’ve just discovered what happened the other day – the landslide that spooked the moose, her calf and the hikers (INCLUDING me!) was due to an earthquake!
I’ve felt kind of silly after writing that – wondering what kind of exaggerated reaction we’d had!
We were so scared we didn’t even realize the earth under us was also moving. Another outfitter was on a tour up among the Polychrome Mountains – a single lane dirt road – part of the only road into the park when the earthquake hit. Their bus was already stopped – mountain on one side and cliff on the other – they were fine but a hill in front of them collapsed! None of the road was damaged.
So. That sure would explain all that.
Cool.
It’s one thing to read that Alaska has 1-2 earthquakes a day somewhere in its interior. It’s another to hear and feel a landslide, see a moose get upset and try to figure out what the heck was happening.
So…Martin told me I can just copy and paste anything onto the blog. This’ll be the test. I’m excited about finding out what had happened and need to write right now!
Perhaps I could add some pictures here too.
You’ll know if it worked.




Hmm. Looks like it’ll be there.

This is one of my FAVORITES ( I WAS back in the car by THEN!)


Gee



Gee, this is great! These are three of my favorites and if only internet comes back on in the next few days and this copies to the blog, why then I will have sent pictures!
Yahoo!
(See why it’s so great here!?)
Tomorrow I’m heading back into the park on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I’m feeling very happy that some ladies tonight asked me to join them at the end of this month on an escapade. They’ve rented a car (I’ll share expenses with them) and we’re heading toward Anchorage for

Mosquitoes are here!

Hi!
First - a bit of news. Our internet is sporadic at best. I can't open e-mails often. That's when there IS internet. Also, cell phone coverage is intermittent. Oneof our Parenting Time families called here today to let me know they needed to get hold of Madeleine right away. Our call failed within seconds. I called and tried to leave a message for Madeleine. I think it went through but am not sure - Sometimes when I see that someone has sent an e-mail I'll call to find out what it said (since it wouldn't open).
Of course, I can't always call.
The other news is that sometimes both the internet and the phone are working!!
Martin & Trudy - Thank you again for this blog.
God has funny little miracles that are easy to see but hard to communicate. For some reason, if the internet works -at all - the blog does. And there some of you are - even with pictures! When I get a tad homesick, I look at your pictures. Thanks. It gives me the chance to journal and to hear from some of you sometimes - and that's GREAT for me. I very much look forward to hearing from any of you!
Today is almost a day off. I've slept in and still have hours before work! (11-8 today - EASY!)
About those mosquitoes:
I'd forgotten how large they are. They weren't out last week. We hiked two days ago and there they were - ready and huge. Now, in addition to my water bottle, tiny first aid kit and bear spray, bell and survival blanket, there is bug spray in the pack I carry with me at almost all times.
I was embarrassed about the following story and had decided NOT to tell you about it.
However, the story is now known by people from Switzerland and Australia to Great Britain, so I suppose it's not a secret anymore.
After work two days ago, Stanna (from Alabama) and I rode the shuttle into the park and headed off on the Horseshoe Lake Trail again. It's a simple, lovely trail where we'd seen moose and beaver lodges before. This time we saw new wildlife: mosquitoes! (and a swan)
We met people who had just seen a moose nursing her new calf. We were excited to sneak in further and see them too. As we were watching the pair, some kind of landslide started - it was really loud and we weren't even sure what it was - thought it might be an animal rushing at us - so we each hid behind a tree. More hikers came and went into hiding too - very hard to figure out what was happening, what the noise was! The moose and her calf became very agitated also. After a while, there were at least 5 people hiding behind trees and nothing was happening. So....I sneaked out from behind my tree. I told the others that I was sure the moose and her calf had left the area. I came into the clearing and could not see the mother. Suddenly Stanna motioned wildly to my left and urged me back. There on my left, in the tall grass were the calf's ears poking up just a bit. I had a pretty terrible feeling that the mother was much, much nearer than I'd thought. I backed slowly and resumed my position hiding behind my tree.
The mother moose was terribly agitated and we saw the pair rather closely a few more times as we all tried to get out of that area. I wouldn't call our exit "hiking" - we must have looked ridiculous moving quickly from tree to tree. On the way, we reminded each other how much fun this would be to remember IF we got out ok.
We DID!
Then at work yesterday, a couple from Switzerland came to ask me a question. Many plan to go hiking and I'm always giving basic hiking and safety information. This couple's first question: How do they protect themselves from getting in the way of a moose and her calf - I started to answer and then saw Stanna - having a laughing fit.
So Stanna enjoyed her day periodically sending couples from around the world to ask for information on moose safety.
She's a great friend and hiking partner and there is much summer left. Revenge will be sweet.

the moose calf

There's so much to remember and to tell but I have to be back at work early - gettingup at 5:30 to be there on time!~
Today was my day off!
I started to sleep in and then realized that if Ididn't get up I'd miss my trip into the park. 15 minutes later I was on the bus - We went 66 miles into Denali Park.
The story I want to remember involves a moose and her calf. We first watched them coming to a glacial stream. They crossed - but the the moose kept going back and forth. Finally we realized that the calf was not strong enough to climb back out of the swift icy stream. The calf lost it's footing repeatedly and was swept partly downstream. The driver reminded us that it was not appropriate or even safe to think about rescuing the calf - that it was the way of nature.

I thought the calf was gone - the water is so cold - the driver warned that it would be over shortly. Then the mother stood directly above the calf, and she somehow eased the current in just the right spot and the calf gave one final jump - onto LAND!!!!
There was lots more -
but if I only remember one scene from today,
that's it, hands down.

Pictures?

Hi
With the help of my son, his smart wife AND my roommate, there may be pictures uploaded here.
I could have gotten more and closer views of the bear - but instead I was saying, over and over....
Let's GO Let's GO
Instead, my niece got some REAL close up pictures! (while I cowered in the car!)
Same thing with the moose. By the last frame I had moved back INTO the car.
I'm a woose - however one spells that word.
I don't know if you'll see pictures or not. I can't see any from here.
i sure hope they're the ones I THINK I uploaded and not some random others.
Life is not boring.
Feet are tired.
Brain is tired.
People are wonderful.
The woman who broke her foot in Ketchikan left here today - having had a pretty good time here even if in a wheelchair.
Two couple who had never met before became fast friends during a white water trip.
Somebody hugged me goodbye.
Somebody missed their bus.
Life here is simple, pleasant, full of adrenaline and fresh.
I don't know where I'm going but I know where I am.
love,
barb

New world

Hi
Tonight's blog will be different and also short since I'm back at work early tomorrow.
My job at LBCC ended. So did all our team's jobs.
I can barely believe it.
So this is what having the rug pulled out from under one really feels like.
I love our college and our supervisor.
I always knew our grant could suddenly disappear.
After 10-1/2 years, I'd begun to doubt it would end.
It did.
I refer to my LBCC job as my "real" job.
Suddenly, my Alaska job IS my "real" job.
What about Madeleine, Martin & Patty?
The meandering realities of life continue with or without my permission or even awareness.
I'm so proud of the team I've worked with
Today in Alaska, the weather was a bit warmer again today. It had gotten cold and windy.
Today in Alaska I met people from Bulgaria and Santa Clara, from Taiwan and Thailand.
There are people in Oregon reeling from new realities.
I reel too.
g'nite,
love,
barb