July 11 - a little about the pictures - some of you have seen from Facebook:
- Alaska pipeline,
- moose (along the road),
- caribou (in a pen),
- North Pole Alaska light poles and McDonalds,
- the flower design is at the Visitor's Center based on native american crafts;
- in the greenhouse they grow tomato plants hydroponically - these have been growing for 15 months and they wind the stem of the plant around and around;
- the ice museum - everything is carved out of ice - even the design in the Christmas balls
- hydrangea arrangement from my plants
- front yard flowers
- Daisy - I'm babysitting her this week
July 7, 2013 – wow, the past 10 days since I’ve been back from Alaska have been a whirlwind – weather-wise and with what’s going on here!
Happy Birthday Brett! Hope you had a great day!! We love you!!
Four years ago at this time we were together for Grandpa Slocum’s funeral – I’ll never forget the honor guard at the cemetery – it was so touching. I’m so grateful that he served in the military! Who has the pictures of Mom and Dad together when they were first married?? I’d like to get copies!
We’ve had rain and more rain here! It definitely put a damper on the neighborhood July 4th activities. At one point it was POURING!! I think it’s rained everyday for the past 16 days. (july 11 - add 5 more days to that). There are weeds everywhere there is bare ground, and the rain washes away the weed killer before it can take! The tomato plants have grown, but not blossomed.
We’ve had several people on vacation at work this week, so it’s been very busy, plus Maggie and I are training 6 new rats. It’s so amazing to see the moment when they “get it” – when they learn to push the lever hard enough so it retracts and they get water; and then when they realize that now they have to put their nose in the “nosepoke” correctly so that the light goes off and they get the reward. Perhaps it’s like the way God looks at us, wondering when we’re going to “get it” in order to progress toward our eternal “reward.”
[By the way, as I compose this I’m watching Music and the Spoken Word – wow , it’s so good today!!! Wish I could see it in person!! Don’t miss it!! (I’m at work so I have the benefit of my two monitors). ]
And speaking of work, for those of you who don’t know, Dr. Hampson says the NIH hasn’t approved one grant, so they’ll have to “downsize” personnel for 2014. Time to update the resume and start job hunting. (Pray that I can stay with the Medical School so Jenny can get her tuition concession!!!).
I finally found some cupboards I like at the Habitat Store – for $200 I got 2 bottom cupboards, a top cabinet, and countertop. They look like the ones in the kitchen! Now I have to find someone willing to install them at a reasonable price. [the Habitat Store has been getting in a LOT of cupboards like the ones we have in the kitchen] I mean the former owners had BIG kitchens, so big that the store unusually divides the set up. Unfortunately they wouldn’t let me just take a couple pieces from each – there were pieces with drawers I really wanted.]
We’ve had NUMEROUS families moved into the ward. One guy came with his small family from Albany New York to start his PhD. Program in my department. He remembered our lab when he came through on a tour in February. Ryan Brown’s family came down from Michigan and they’re staying in a furnished apartment; hopefully their home in Michigan will sell. It sure helped to have the extra money from him staying here.
Frances at work suggested that I advertise for a graduate student to live downstairs until Wheng and Xylar come next summer (when Scott is deployed).
Jacob Brewer is getting married this Tuesday - I don’t know if he’s getting married in the chapel, but there is a reception here. Joseph came for the wedding – he’s in the Navy, and learning CHINESE – they won’t tell him why.
I’m volunteering for some races this summer. Last week was the “popsicle” run and this little bitty 3 year old girl ran – she was soooo cute! Next weekend I’ll be doing the same kids triathlon I worked with last year.
Matt – Kim Henderson’s sister Shenole lives in Kathy and Lynn’s ward. She lived in Winston Salem for several months, so she knows who I am.
Some tidbits from my Alaska trip:
- - All the cars had the plugs dangling out from the grill; fire hydrants are set back from the street and have small flags sticking up so they can be found in the winter. (I'll have to send the picture)
- Scott and Wheng fixed me some salmon - it was very very good!
- - Posts with electric outlets in public areas so that people can re start their cars!
- - I spoke with a Pampered Chef rep who had a booth during the Sun Festival downtown. I asked her how she could keep her business going in that weather. She said business was great because people wanted and excuse to get out of their homes!!
- - The apartments that Scott lived are configured so that the doors don’t open directly into the home. On one side, there was a little “vestibule” with two doors, on the other side of his townhouse, you had to make a “u turn” from the entryway.
- - I thought something looked different about Fairbanks. It took me a few days, but I finally realized it was I never saw any structure was built out of brick! Makes sense – the dirt is sandy, and it probably cost a fortune to ship it from the “lower 48.”
- - They don’t have sales tax AT ALL in Alaska!
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