Deerly Encounters of the Creature Kind

Do you ever get that feeling that something is watching you? The little hairs on the back of your neck stand on end giving you that unusual sensation that something is not quite right.

Today I had that feeling, not a lot, just a little. I got out of my truck and looked around at the snowy landscape. Nothing out of the ordinary that I could see. Hmmmm. I walk down the hill.

As I walk back up the hill, once again my intuition is telling me something is off, and this time I could hear some sounds. As I scanned the area I saw a form pop out of the bushes just ahead to the left of me.

It was a gorgeous doe deer! I stopped in my tracks, as she was about 15 feet in front of me and we just stood there. Staring at one another. I began speaking to her, softly at first. I then told her I was going to be walking toward her and that she should probably hop off into the bushes any time now. Except I think my talking to her was a little too non threatening. She continued to stand there and gaze at me, not looking worried one bit.

I got to about 4 feet from her before my mind started to say that she should really be dashing off into the woods now. The next thought to float through my brain was, I have an apple in the passenger seat of my truck, I am close enough to extend my hand and feed her if only I had my apple. And for those of you who know me well, I hoard my snacks to no end, but I would have gladly shared my apple with this doe.

Which would most likely explain why she was so fearless of me, perhaps someone in the neighborhood is feeding her.......hmmmmm.

Finally I get too close for her comfort and she bounds off up the hill side and into the shade of the snow laden trees. I finish my work and jump back to my truck. Only then asking myself, darn, why didnt I use the camera on my phone to snap a photo of her!!! Well even if I had thought about it, it would have taken me a precious second or two to find the camera application(since it is a fairly new phone and all grrr.....)

If only I had time in the day to post all that happens to me throughout a regular working day. And this apple sure is yummy!

Tax Evasion, er I mean Invasion....

I figured I should do something productive with the free time I had tonight as it does not seem to come around too often, in complete unhindered form anyhow. I seriously thought about blogging more about(oh no now why in the world would I ever do that) my so called life, but when I looked at my bag sitting there minding its own business I decided to delve into it to find a piece of gum. However I proceeded to uncover my uncompleted pieces of tax pile. Sigh.

I began mine about 2 weeks ago....I put them off to the side and have been in a perpetual grumpy mood ever since I started them. I didnt realize it but there they were, those W2's, and flimsy bank interest slips, flying retirement account, numerous forms, formulous numbers, (almost as confusing as the actual taxation process) unremembered account information from last year, economic stimulus drama(because I didnt get one and they are the only ones who can and wont tell me why)......all hovering in the back creases of my mind. Waiting, just waiting to be picked up and completed before the dreaded due date of April 15th.

And I am now pleased to say after multiple snack breaks, eye rubbings, grumbling, catching myself singing along loudly with the music, dog harassing procrastination, I finished mine tonight!! Huge sigh of relief, and give myself a pat on the back until next year.

Have you done your taxes yet?

Mathmatical equation for dating

Sorry if this seems harsh but if you are under the age of 20 or over the age of 38 you need not apply.

Lately I must be sending out subliminal frequencies to older men. Is this because I am looking for a mature, successful, smart man? The only ones in Sitka who are picking up on these brain waves (and I dont think I am intentionally sending them out, but then again perhaps I am unknowingly doing so...) are darn near my fathers age.

Im NOT sorry for not wanting to give my own dad a heart attack!!!

So here is this so called equation: Take your age, divide it in half and add seven. That is the youngest for your age range that you are able to date. Try it. I'll wait.

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It goes the other way as well. If someone older is trying to date you- first you must ask their age, (dont worry they will wait, and if they will not give it to you thats reason enough to not want to date them! Really what are they hiding?) divide their age in half and add seven. If the number is higher than your age you are too young for them to be thinking about you in a romantic nature!!!

Im not sure where this "rule" is derived from but first heard it years ago out of my brothers mouth, you never know when younger brothers will pick up crucial information to which you may benefit from if you never listen! All I had to do was remember the rule! I have to say recently Ive used it myself. And Ive used it on my dad. So you silly little girls need to go find someone in your own age range. (Sorry dad you know me loves you!!! :)

Do some math, its good exercise for your brain!

(**DISCLAIMER: As with any dating with a strong adult theme, some exceptions allowed with strong parental/child guidance and or acceptance by friends/family of an individual in the dating field is highly recommended** )

(*****By the way there is no age limit to having a no frills omelet any ol day!!*****)

My Norwegian Dream Coming true

And no, by that I dont mean I met a handsome hunk of a man who is Norwegian by birth who is eagerly making my wildest dreams come true (although a girl can hope *grins*) If that were the case I would have labeled this entry "My Norwegian Hunk Dream Coming True" and you would no doubt hear all about it in detail.

But......I have had a particular notion in my head for some time and recently decided its time to help things happen. I have decided I am going to Norway. This coming June or September(date still to be determined) with my dad in tow we are headed off to the land of the Vikings!

Why Norway you ask? The cold weather I have been working in should be giving me a directional nudge somewhere warm, like the Bahamas, Hawaii, Figi, anywhere in South America if my internal map needs some broadening.

North, where the weather in September is just as rainy, cloudy, cold and gray as Sitka? But maybe June will be the better bet. With its immense beauty which draws my attention to it any time I see a magazine article or a picture on the internet or hear the language spoken. My heritage must play a role in why everything Norwegian seems to be so attractive to me.

Which by the way my favorite all time book that I highly recommend to everyone (even more so if you consider yourself a traveler) Is called "Berserk" written by a man named David Mercy, (you should pick up a copy of your very own because I keep lending MINE out and seem to have lots of trouble in getting it back) but they made a documentary of this trek and it is pretty great. The Sitka Library has a copy of this movie and I also recommend it (Or at least to get yourself on the waiting list) The captain of the boat is Norwegian and the film has lots of Norwegian influence is why this so happened to pop into my head....

I am about 25% of Norwegian decent. We have relatives in Norway, but some serious research will need to be done in order to meet them. As you leave the bigger cities and get into the more rural farm areas, communication seems to be not as easy. Internet is available but most people prefer a more simplistic way of living.

I am sure I will be talking, writing, singing, dancing and over communicating about Norway Norway Norway as my anticipation grows. So please bear with me in the upcoming 5-8 months. Who knows maybe I will find a Norwegian hunk to bring back to Sitka with me. Now we are talking!

Banff film fest 2009

Its been another year and time for the Banff films to leave their thumbprints on Sitkans once more.

The films that are awe inspiring, packed with creativity and so full of energy as they leave us all with a sense of grace as they fly out of the filmmakers minds and onto the screen before us in such fantastic form.

This will be my fourth year of volunteering in Banff film fest Sitka. And if you couldnt tell I am thouroughly excited about the films we have lined up for the evening!

The radio announcer sounded like he was having a difficult time pronouncing Banff today, if I were there I would have told him "Its okay, it took me about 2 years to pronounce it correctly." I just kept repeating: banff, banff, banff, banff. And then somehow I found myself there in October of 2007. But that is completely another blog event to come.

Maybe soon you too will find youself there! So do not stall on getting your tickets if you havent already and I will see you at the show!!

conversations that fortune cookies must hear

This may be a fluke but the last couple times Ive been in the Chinese restaurant here my fortune cookie has been freaking me out!!!

Seriously, have you ever gotten 3 fortunes in a row of eating at the same place? And then a 4th one out of sequence but still basically reiterating the same message of the previous encounters. Is it fate? Is it someone standing in the kitchen laughing their butt off at the quizzical expression plastered to your face? Is it a conspiracy? Or do fortune cookies really know things they are not telling us right up front.

Instead they have to hide all these ulterior meanings in crispy little white banner like sayings that you can alter depending on the tone of your mood, if you are feeling serious you can read your fortune with "at work" behind it, or if you are rather feeling a little frisky you can add "in bed" behind the saying (really now admit it we have ALL done this)

Or how about the hypothesis about eating your cookie and saving your fortune if you want it to come true. If it is true and you leave your fortune behind and do not consume the cookie will you have no luck in your favor?

If that is so then my brother and I had no fortunes when we were small. In fact when the older chinese restaurant used to operate in the little cubby hole where this place now resides Im sure they found lots of fortunes when they moved out...... we used to think it was too much fun while the owner (and our mom) was not paying attention to stick our fortunes into the backrests of the overlapping vinyl red cushions that served as the seats. We still ate our cookies though, so maybe luck didnt abandon us entirely.

I'll bet you are wondering what exactly those fortunes read? Well I can tell you because I carry them with me in my wallet. So I can look at them everyday to remind me that things like this do happen. And they can be eerily correct in a very round about way.

#1 you will soon vacation in a place of cool climate
#2 make time for a relaxing vacation
#3 need some adventure and enjoyment? take a vacation

Im not kidding! And last (but not least)

#4 traveling at this time would be a good investment of time & money

Seriously if you doubt me just ask to see my fortunes in my wallet its all spelled out for me! Oh by the way......Im going to Norway in September! Skal!!! (Cheers!)

Unbirthday party

An unbirthday party is an okay thing if you are not one in need of a lot of attention to celebrate the day you were born. I didnt really have a birthday party this year. But thats only because I am spreading it out, enjoying the entire month at my leisure. The planets are aligned in the proper spaces for fate to determine the year ahead of me and many changes are already taking place in the little corner of my world.

Lately I feel I am similar to the overly animated mad hatter at Alices tea party. (Hatters were mad because they handled mercury, a liquid metal that soaks into the skin quicky, in the production of making fur hats) Except instead of changing chairs like in the movie my qualm is coats. Liquid rain that is so wet here in Sitka that I can easily drench 3 coats a day. Yes, thats 3 coats per working day. I am out in all the elements: rain/sleet/snow/hail, sometimes occuring approximately at the same time. Which like mercury can cause madness after prolonged exposure.

Or maybe beyond working hours I become the doormouse: Another mad creature who takes tea all of the time because he lives in a state of frozen time. He also sleeps a lot. Which is all I require for myself after a long grueling day at work. A nice warm cup of tea and some hibernation.

I think its time to invest in a 110% "waterproof" jacket. A birthday- er unbirthday gift to myself. After all January is the month of my birth. Anyone know any good brands?

Intimidation 2009

I am sitting on the edge of our local Swan lake unting my iceskates when I see a rowdy group a kids around the age of 12-13 pushing each other, yelling at each other, even so much as spitting at one another. Geez I think was I ever like this?!!

All of the sudden the young man in the group (the only one in a swarm of girls I realize) yells to me, "Hey dont I know you?!!" And he comes over and plops down next to me on the frozen grass.

I smile at him and say "no I dont think I know you, but do you recognize me from somewhere around town maybe?"

"No, actually I dont know you, but I had to get away from those girls they are being pushy!" He admits sheepishly to me. "Its fun sometimes, but at the same time sometimes its not so much fun." He explains further.

I look toward the girls, "yeah girls can be a little intimidating sometimes." Then think to myself that sometimes we girls can be down right scary but this is the first guy in a while that has used me as an escape, a safe haven almost. That doesnt happen too often I point out to myself.

Do I come across as rowdy, screaming, spitting, freakishly intimidating as these girls were being to this very logical little man? I sure hope not.

Then again, intimidation gives myself a blanket of security from those guys that you need to be intimidating towards. Its finding that balance of the boundary to let the good guys in.

This year is a whole new chance to redefine what other people think about your own intimidation level. Whether it is in a much needed place or if we can make the boards in the symbolic fence stretch a little to let who you do not wish to intimidate through.

And dont worry if you are a good guy: Im not at all like those girls, really I can let you in. And unless you make me really really really mad, I wont spit on you either. :)

Happy New Year!!!!