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November 1, 2005 Off work for most of the day except for about half an hour tonight. The phones and data lines went out today over much of Alaska today due to a cut phoneline in Anchorage, so things were a little discombobulated to say the least. Apparently, a fiber-optic cable got cut somehwere. The newspaper said it was in Moose Creek but the people at the phone company said it was in Anchorage. (shrug) At any rate, it sure did mess things up for awhile since it was a "backbone fiber" running all the way from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline right of way. Yikes, stripes, eh? Bill phoned from Sitka and all is well there. We look forward to having him back by November 7th. He's got quite a tale to tell about the windshield of the plane they were flying. Again: Yikes, stripes! Dad-GUM-it, baby, it's COLD outside! We really need to get the inside dog door installed. The outside one is there but another one is needed on the inside to create dead-air space for insulation. We're closing it off at night to keep critters and cold out.  Today we went and looked at the Cabins near Pike's Waterfront Lodge. They are really nice and the winter rates are reasonable. While I think it is a DUMB move financially for the girls to move out, I understand their motivation and the urge for some independence. It would be a nice alternative for them for the Spring semester.
Winter is here, it's minus 22. BRRR. It's warmed up some -- above zero during the days, which is nice, believe it or not! Still not much snow. Gonna have to get out there and do a snow dance! I made Emily's black velvet, floor-length skirt for her concert tomorrow night. It's really pretty. I hope she likes it. Tonight we get to go hear Emily sing with the Alaska Camerata. That should be WAYYY cool. The Music Department Schedule of Events is also available online at http://www.uaf.edu/music/department/Schedule.html Work. Tonight we went to see "Bye Bye Birdie" and it was real cute. I hated having to rush home to get up at 4 am tomorrow. I'm sure looking forward to Christmas Break. Work. Brrrrr, Brrrrrr, Brrrrrrrrrrr! It is cold! After a very busy weekend it is nice to be able to relax today. We did so much! Emily's concert on Friday, Bye Bye Birdie on Saturday and yesterday Bill and Emily went to another concert while Annie and I bought materials for her Digital Photography class presentation. Her "handout" is online at: http://www.birchgrove.net/annie/digital/index.html She made posters with photos made at four different locations and compared the cost, quality, time involved, etc. Ordinarily she wouldn't make a web page with just plain black for a background but since she used black posterboard for her presentation, this is appropriate. Fashionable coordination in web design, eh? We are still VERY skinny on the snow situation, but Bill said something about flakes falling tonight. It have been cold and clear but hopefully it'll warm up and we'll get some insulation on the roof (and ground) soon!  Tonight Emily has classes at Dance Arts Academy. Bill will come by and pick up her tights (which were in my room, so she couldn't find them...) and pick Annie up there at about 5 pm. We plan to assemble a cabinet to hold office supplies and paper. Then I have to hit the hay early for (SIGH) work tomorrow. Deacon Wive's Lunch: We met at Boston's in Fairbanks and had a very nice lunch, shared good news and ideas and decided to meet in December, but did not set the location yet. Work. UAF Registration and fee payment for the spring 2006 semester begin Monday, Nov. 21. I've got my classes all picked out, I just need to go in and handle the financial side. I'll do that on Wednesday. I have today (Monday) off, but work on Tuesday. I have a new Addiction. Tim's Cascade Snacks Maui Chips Famous sweet Maui Onion taste - right from the plantation ... They're wicked-good, but really require discipline regarding serving size. I'm seriously going to have to get one of those little food scales and meausre out 1 oz. portions into baggies so I don't sneak ... uh ... or simply consume the whole 9 serving bag. At once. Yumm. Work. Bill was supposed to leave for Sitka today, but thankfully won't go now until tomorrow. One more day at home is a nice Thanksgiving treat. We will sure miss him on Turkey Day! No Work!  November 23, 2005 0830am We are pleased to share this Thanksgiving with Royce, one of several new friends from AVIS. Royce is new in town and we are looking forward to having a few days with her to help us get organized before we go to Texas for Christmas. She will house & dawg-sit for us while we are gone which is going to be great - peace of mind! The doggies will be loved and the pipes won't freeze and Royce will be comfy cozy with our Babies (We hope!) Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving holiday (campus closed) Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 24-27 No Work! Hurrah for holidays! Royce is such a blessing! She is a motivator for me and I am feeling as though I've had about three years of successful therapy overnight. (laughing) Goodness knows I could use THAT. 08:30 With the turkey in the oven, we can relax (actually the whole house is still asleep except for me...) and enjoy today. No rushing, no pressure, it is totally refreshing.  Wow, you can sure tell it, too. How long has it been since I used the noddingsmiley.gif in my journal!?? Too long! I checked, it was OCTOBER 18th!
Work, but not for too long. Just went in long enough to do the DBR. Gonna go to sleep... I think the turkey has hypnotized me. Work. Work. Work. Royce felt bad this morning, so we kept her at home. Too much Punkin Cheesecake? We just hope that's all it is. Today Royce felt worse so we went to the doctor and the hospital. Now we will wait and see. (sigh) No fun. Still in hospital, no news. (sigh) No fun. Emily has been busy beyond telling with rehearsals for "Babes in Toyland." Life is nutty at home, of course, but that's normal. December 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||
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