Why books are better than boys

I haven't written for quite a while, let me tell you, I knew that buying a house keeps you busy but PHEW!! But, in the next few months I have some fun upcoming blogs for those of you that have stuck around and periodically poke me and ask me, "Hey! What happened to that blog of yours."

So, a very close -yet currently far away-friend came up with the title for this blog post, and at times it has been very true, I have been known to say sentences similar to this statement....

Boys. Boys are a lot of work.

They take attention, that in some opinions could be spent on reading. 

They don't always understand those nights that all you want to do is curl up in comfy pj's with a cup of hot peppermint tea and lose yourself into another realm. To be interrupted....is, well.... distracting. To say the least.

This year, its true, I have found me a distraction. One that I am quite fond of really, but it (he) does butt into my solo reading time quite a bit....but, more often he also entices me to curl up next to him, in my frumpy pj's, messy hair, bowl of pistachio's in reach. What can I say, I'm in love with this one of a kind guy. 

Disclaimer, *he will be showing up in more of these blog posts as though it weren't 2 years later, and I'm just now getting around to updating my life. Dear reader, you and I have LOTS of catching up to do- I do believe :)*

This particular winter I borrowed 2 "hot off the press" books for myself from the library, along with 3 more books for my guy to read(as I knew he wanted my 2 books to read) by the time I was half way through my second one; he had read ALL 3 of a separate series AND the first of the books I had rented.... 4 books to my 1.5.... I would say this guy enjoys good books just as much as I do. Or even MORE THAN I DO!!

And I am just a tad envious that he sets time aside for himself more readily than I do for reading. He reads in the morning after he has gotten ready for the day and work. Me, well... my mornings are hectic and rushed and the snooze button hit as many times as I can before bolting breakfast and a slosh of coffee and here's to hoping I am fully dressed.... (In my defense, I have never arrived at work in this latter state) but I for sure do not think about reading in between my "snoozes" and the few times I have tried to read in the A.M. all it does for me is ease me gently back into slumber mode.

So while I perhaps don't think books are altogether "better" than boys, I do think that finding a boy that enjoys books as much (or in this case more)and learning how to to balance with books is always a good thing ;)

I'm off to stick my nose in a GREAT book written by Patrick Rothfuss called "The name of the Wind" my guy has recommended it to me, and I highly recommend it to you!!! That should keep me out of trouble for a while. At least until my boy gets home. Turns out he also likes peppermint tea ALMOST as much as I do :)

Merry Christmas!!

My very first visitor!!!

Its true, I had my very first visitor last week.

But..... its probably NOT who you would think!

A mischievous type of visitor in fact. I walk down my new hallway into my empty extra room only to find.... "It smells like urine in here!!!!" Excessively. I turn and look at the dog. Who looks at me as if saying, "my pee doesn't smell this bad biped mom."

I walk outside and look about my yard surrounding my house. Well, look at that- something has been digging under my foundation! I feel like goldilocks has been present. In fact there are many 6"- 1' gaps all around. Tunnels. It had dug and sprayed and ripped out insullation under my floor!!

Whatever is visiting me this week is NOT welcome!! So here I go off to collect some rocks!! I block off the gaps as best as I can.

Then, a couple hundred bucks later I'm shoveling bucket fulls of gravel between the cracks of the rocks. No way in or out now, looking good! Now I just hope whatever critter visited isn't stuck under there!!

My coworker identified some poo, turns out it was a (cute) pesky mink. No goldilocks at all. On a side note I am 200 feet above sea level, but, it is not uncommon for mink to travel far and wide in their territory(especially if there is a food source). The neighbor has poultry, and though I did warn her of the one had recently been around, she happily reported no unusual activity.

I must admit I did resort to putting a trap under my crawl space, but of course didnt want to cause it harm so I was happy to find I caught nothing after a few days ;)

Update: critter has not revisited, at least if it has, it didnt stick around= success!!!

 

Now onto hosting my next "real" visitors! Ones that are welcome!!!

Living big in a small space

So as only some of you know, I have recently traded up my cozy little trailer for a moderately bigger (by comparison) house!

(Note, this is NOT a picture of real trailer)

Well, I was running out of bookshelf space anyhow.....Thats right, no more organizing by arranging items like a real life puzzle piece. Cramming dishware behind applicances in the cabinets that is out of reach when you actually need it, fighting over limited counter space when you have a friend over to "cook dinner". And living out of totes that were stored under my specially designed bedframe for added storage space.

The tiny bathroom that you could literally reach everything from standing (or sitting)in one spot. Where you could only stock 4 rolls of toilet paper at a time. Where you had to step up into the tub and hunker down to the catch the stream of water while showering. That you had to keep your towels out in the hall closet with kitchen appliances, just out of reach if you needed a fresh one.

Low ceilings and doorways where when my dad and brother come to visit had to duck their way in less they knock their noggins upon entry. The smaller than average door that you couldnt get a couch or fridge through if your life depended on it. Which that reminds me, when I first moved in 10 years ago,(Yes I lived here for over 10 years!) nowhere- even online, could I find a toilet seat replacement to fit the trailer size model that I considered "quaint". But was just my size at the time!

   

I really was living big in a small space.

 Sigh. Im going to miss that cozy little place. My first ever "home" on my own.

But, times change and I have quite happily moved up in the world. I bought a house!! A 63 year old 3 bed(room) "cottage in the trees" is what the flyer said when I went to look at the house. Thats totally what got me. The trees and the land the house sat on. Images of gardening and bonfires danced crazily through my mind as I also quickly thought about how much work a 1950's home was going to take.

 Good thing I have good friends and family ;)

And a bunch of fun ideas!!

Stay tuned!

southeast Alaska soundtrack

When I was a little girl I had a black purse filled to the brim with coins. Sure, it was mostly pennies, but still it was worth loads to me. I was lollygagging down in the harbor, stepping over the cracks in the dock. It was a warm breezy day, Im sure I was daydreaming about what I could buy with my current fortune. Talking with some of the fisherman my dad knew. I liked the way the fisherman tipped their caps to say "hows it going little lady". When suddenly, the strap broke on the purse and before I could grab it, it tumbled into the cold, unforgiving water which snatched it right up. I watched it twirl quickly down to the shallow bottom, spilling copper the entire way.

Those sea stars sure are rich now. I think that was when I decided to be tomboyish. No more silly purses for me. From now on Im gonna live in blue jeans and keep my money at home!

I practically grew up on the beaches and woods surrounding my home. It sure was misleading when the summer clouds didnt tell you it was almost dusk and past the time to go home. I would stay out until I could hear my mother yelling at me to come inside. Oh, and could I ever hear her. I was the kind of child that craved wholeness. Reality. Gravity. Logic. However hard you look; these traits you cannot find in shredded wheat.

Walking the neighborhood dogs to earn honest dollars. Fishing for salmonberries. Erecting forts up in the forest. And little lean tos on the beach. Building places where I could travel to when my heart needed a home. A place where troubles came, and troubles also passed. Where you could find peace, and hide from it as well.

It is happily similar these days too, only now I am allowed to go farther and stay out as long as I like. Searching for my aurora borealis while still I find time to play and be young as well. Being born, rooted, raised, grown and not to mention disciplined here. I like to believe that the people who live in Alaska know all they need is in their soul. For the remainder of you, there is always Walmart.

Feel fortunate if you meet the people who will invite you in, and offer you fresh baked bread, dandelion tea, pickled fish, venison, huckleberry jam, and sit you down with plenty of attention to the woes in your life. And maybe some devils club salve to rub on the delicate bruises. Try to feel here where the air here is thick with friendly. Almost as thick as the herring eggs on that chunk of seaweed they are attempting to get you to taste test.

Take some time to hear the rain reverberating upon a tin roof. We have all heard about the songs that state how you will miss out if you've never kissed in the rain. This aspect is the true southeast Alaska soundtrack, one slow long passionate kiss in the ceaseless rain that exposes you down to your damp, saturated skin.

If you tend to think the dark rainy winter days dismal and expressionless. I have empathy. Leaving great impressions on anyone who has ever witnessed them. Hate it or love it. Im hungry for the ulterior motive of its soppy moisture. There is no need to go outside. Look around you. Curl up and devour a book. Find anything to do that will keep you from doing what you are supposed to do. However keep in mind, imagination is required to become a local in southeast Alaska. They must have somehow forgotten to put that on the permanent fund filing application.

A time comes where you get the urge to tell everyone to just shut their red chapped lips, because somehow, we have gotten to the point of an over articulated existence. Yep. You may not realize it at first. But to someone who knows, those are the times when some precious solitude can be set aside specifically for you. Dont forget to take it.

A mildly comforting sensation invades my bones when I pretend there is no world outside our island. Unless I so choose to crawl out into it. We all want to experience more sometimes. I for one need a vacation now and again. But be wary and tread slow, would not want an overdose of big city civilization. The end result may turn you more solitary than when you started your venture.

Whats best about moving up from the lower 48 is that no one you know lives here. You will hear plenty of these anecdotes depending on which southeast town you are frequenting with a tidbit of bad or otherwise twisted humor thrown in for good measure.

A huge thank you to all the friends I've met who live here. Who chose to make Sitka their home. Without them it would be much much more boring on those mediocre rainy days. And who make the sunny days that much more valuable. Another thank you to the friends who do not wish to make Sitka their home- to whom I go calling on when I need to GET OUT.

I still reminisce about my change on that one summer day that I fed to ANB harbor. Just laying on the bottom somewhere. Maybe I'll go find them and just look at the coins dwindling lazily on the bottom. Because that is what I think about when I think about being Alaskan. Sometimes you have to give up things which are valuable to reside here.

And I must be committed, as I have bought a house!!!!

Stay tuned!!

A promise.

Once again,my life has been overtaken by health and medical related issues. Hence the no posting.

Time and energy is ever consuming, and Ive been busy, but I'll be back shortly. I promise. :)

Unhinged

Did you know that there is no such thing as a right hinged microwave? Really, companies only make microwaves that open from the right side.

I have a space in my kitchen. I've pondered it for a while and decided this space is just right for a microwave! But, what would be even better, is to buy a microwave that opens from the opposite direction so myself(or guests) do not need to lean over the counter(as the space is pushed back into the corner) to warm up some leftover chicken taco casserole.

So I go to my local hardware store to look. Now, I know this will not be the cheapest place, nor have many options to choose from, so I am not surprised when they do not have what I am looking for. My next stop is amazon.com. Because they have free shipping of course!!

Do you believe it? I can't find a residential right hinged microwave at all! So I venture farther to google.... Okay, so I find a stainless steel 750 watt opposite door 5 cubic foot commercial microwave for just a little under $2000.00. Um.... Plus I don't think I will be needing 5 cubic feet, unless I start dating a crab fisherman and need to melt a lot of butter, and I mean ALOT of butter!! There are a few options(also commercial) manufactured in Britain, but the power standards are different than our US voltage but cost and shipping ain't cheap from there either!

This begins a discussion at work, causing everyone to go home that same night and analyze their own micro directional alignment of the feng shui of their cooking station. Now that we are aware of it, it seems none of us has ever seen a microwave of this caliber. A discussion that turns into a rant, a rant that turns into an obsession. Dangit!! I can't help but want a microwave that opens the other way!!

Plus I am left handed, where is the mastermind that patented the left handed scissors, or the left handed rotary cutter, or how about the left handed can opener? Don't they know that a left side opening microwave could possibly help life of left handers around the world easier!?!

Okay maybe not easier but happier.

And forever more I will be looking at every microwave I run across just see if maybe, just maybe one time there will be one little microwave that is different. That stands out from the rest.

For now, that space in my kitchen will be designated for my crock pot. Winter is around the corner and I will need it for soups and stews and maybe even some of that yummy chicken taco casserole. Who needs a microwave anyway?

I know I have not blogged for a bit. I have been busier than usual and have some medical issues going on, but Im back- This one is for you mom, and your coworkers too ;)



- Posted using BlogPress

Adventures in housesitting 104: Quad dog

Maybe this isn't a whole post in itself but..... Same housesitting job as the last episode; different dog.

I let them out the door to go potty around 3:15pm this afternoon, just before it gets dark outside, and what happens? Only 2 of the 3 dogs come back 2 minutes later when I call for them. Okay no biggie, I wait another 60 seconds. Then I step outside And call again. Nothing. This dog happens to be hard of hearing and I know that higher pitches work better for this guy. So I whistle. Still nothing, hmm...okay this is not the first time he has wandered away from this hearing issue but he always comes back after 10 minutes.

Ten minutes later. No trace. I'm still not too worried but the neighbors down the hill are plowing and don't want him to get in their way so I slip my boots on to go look for him, wait though, the phone is ringing! Caller ID says it is my coworker? Who lives a few blocks away (but ACROSS the street) my gut is already telling me....... The collar has his name and number to the cell phone of the owner(gulp) and the house phone number.

Which I answer, it's my coworkers wife, and speak with her briefly. Sure enough he has walked himself down the 400 yard steep hill, across the icy road to visit(and get a rewardable dog cookie) at a pooch doting coworkers house.

As icy as the hill is at the moment, and so I can get down there quicker as she is waiting for me, I jump onto the 4 wheeler and boogie down to retrieve him. I look both ways, and scoot across the highway to the road where they live. He sees me and hangs his head, I reach down and pat him on the head and tell him (he cant hear of course) that is is a very naughty boy! All the while thinking, oh no, how am I going to get him back safely across the road!?!

I could get off the 4 wheeler and walk him across, only I do not have a leash to secure him on the other side and he would of course, follow me back across.  I could have her hold him for a minute so I can bring the quad over and walk back to get him! Aha, oh wait though! As I am thinking this he is already solving the issue at hand by climbing up behind me on the bike: "okay captian, ready when you are!!" He signals.

Nice, the dog not only knows how to walk himself and ride a quad(he may be better than myself at this) can he cook too?

Okay, maybe this was a longer post than I first let on. Not that I condone dogs running off in the first place(but it does happen) I am happy to have him back.

ZZZZZOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!! Happy New Year everybody!!!!!

- Posted using BlogPress

Adventures in housesitting, Episode: 103

Dont you hate it when you plan on a nice leisurely lunch break and you get to the house, let the dogs out to potty, and realize a few minutes later that the young black labrador you are watching has inadvertantly been chewing on a deer bone, which has splintered, lodged itself inside the dogs mouth on the upper part of the palette. The dog is frantic, which in turn is causing me to become frantic.

Deep breath. This is not an emergency. This is also not my dog. What are my current options?

1. Take to vet. Give owners vet bill which could possibly be avoided.
2. Try to remove bone splinter myself and get arm bitten off.
3. Call for a friend.

Bingo, placed call to said friend, she is on her way. The dog is now calm, with sporatic pawings at his muzzle. I get him to sit down which he responds to extremely well. The gaze in his chocolatey brown eyes seem to plead to me to get it out pleeeeeeeaaaseeee!!

He opens his mouth wide and I can see the bone crossing the span of the roof of his mouth but I cannot tell if it has punctured the gums or not. I tremble at the thought of not being able to remove it myself. This is my job though, to make sure these dogs stay out of harm and are well taken care of. What are you supposed to do with knuckle head labs though?!

I take a few deep breaths to steady myself, then brace him between my knees and tell him to open up. I gently pry my fingers between his teeth, if I get bitten at least I know I am trying to best that I can. I feel for the protrudence, I find it and play with the tension to see if I can get it to move- if even a little. The dog of course can only take so much of this at one time, so I reassure him between probings. He wags his tail and tells me its alright, just get it outta there!

So I bend forward once again, open the jaw and AHA! Got it!!! Wow, this shard looks so much smaller now that it is between my fingers and not wedged in the roof of his mouth. Emergency diverted. Will be looking for soreness and lacerations later. Was I a veternarian in another life?

I hear a car revving up the driveway. Yay, friend has arrived!! I release the dog, who goes over to greet her. Yep, everything is alright now. Time for some well deserved lunch!!!!!