After spending 54 years from birth to 2008 living in Iowa I was presented with an opportunity to live in Fairbanks, Alaska. My blog is a diary of the adventure to get to Alaska, day to day life in Alaska, as well as facts for loved ones left behind in the Lower 48. Enjoy.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Rain complications

Rain has complicated things a bit this week. Had a big thunderstorm move through last night which happened to be the night trash and recycling was to be set out. I'm an avid recycler (in case you hadn't figured that out), and sometimes mother nature doesn't cooperate in keeping papers dry until the recyclers arrive.

Hoping to get as much out as I could, got up at 4 a.m. and began taking things out to the curb. Made it with the first bag of trash and two big bags of paper recyclables, then back to the basement to bag up more.

I proudly emerged from the basement with one large bag of trash, one bag of recycling, the wedding dresses to be sent away, and one bag of clothes for Goodwill. The trash truck had been by, but not the recycling, so out went the other bag of recycling and box full of papers to be recycled.

Nate got his trailer hitch put on his vehicle for the trip to AK...we plan on towing my mini van behind his recently purchased AWD Toyota Highlander. I'm gambling that my Dodge mini van will do okay in the AK weather.

Last night I took a break from packing and made rhubarb crisp with rhubarb from my parent's garden as well as some from a co-worker. Suppose they have rhubarb in Alaska? Regardless, this is the last Iowa rhubarb I'll have for quite some time, and boy, is it yummy!

Managed to get away from work this week long enough to attend Brittany's end of the school year recognition program. Each child received a recognition certificate. Hers was in handwriting. From the looks of her handwriting this was probably for the most improved - from totally illegible to nearly legible. Handwriting just doesn't seem to hold any priority with her. She woke up that morning throwing up, as she gets very nervous about "performances", only to learn later that she had a fever, too. She managed to make it through the awards ceremony, then Nate took her and her mother home where she rested and was sick for the next couple of days. What a way to end the school year. One good thing - at least she didn't miss any more school due to her sickness.

Work this week has been extremely busy with learning new components of HR that I'll be doing in AK, preparing procedure manual for the HR tasks that I've been doing to share with the gal here that will take them over, doing my "regular" duties, and training a new employee. Received info yesterday that there is a mandatory training in Anchorage in early August that I will need to attend. It's on a Tuesday so perhaps we'll make a weekend trip out of it, take a vacation day on Monday and mix business with pleasure.

Learned that BGH is providing temporary housing for us in Fairbanks until the end of July which GREATLY relieves my mind, as well as other co-workers' minds. I've been doing a lot of research on the internet about housing, but it's really hard to know what you're getting without actually seeing it in person. Now if only I know exactly how "furnished" the furnished apartment we'll be renting really is. It's not like we can make a day trip back to Iowa if we leave something behind that we'd really like to have/need in Fairbanks!

Looking forward Saturday to going to Ames to Nate's granddaughter's annual dance recital. We typically see Shari, Gary, and Allysa this one time each year, and made sure our calendar was clear for this. They are building a new home and have sold their current home, so will be moving into an apartment for the time being. Lesson: Be thankful we only have to move once!

After this weekend have one more full weekend to get things ready for the rummage sale. Sundays are busy with church, and have several things going on there. This Sunday I fill in for the full-time organist and do children's message, June 15 I fill in as lay speaker during our pastor's absence and June 22 they are planning a farewell potluck for us following church.

With the busy weekend ahead probably won't get much more posted right away. Thanks to those of you who have e-mailed that you are enjoying the blog. We appreciate hearing from you and knowing that we are loved so deeply. Have a good weekend and know that you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

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