Just Another Day

We have 15 hours and 39 minutes of visible light today. By the end of the week we’ll have 16 hours! It’s pretty incredible to be here during the light gain. It’s so much easier to be awake… and so much tougher to make yourself go to bed.

I’ve been working away the days… trying to catch up after last week’s vacation. It’s been good if not a little hectic. I’ll be heading into Anchorage Tuesday night since Bill’s got to go in for the job fair. I plan to do a little shopping at Costco or Sam’s Club and mail stuff back here – trying to get ready for next year. Then I’ll fly over to Valdez and hang out there for a few days.

Stacie and I headed out on a walk today. It was COLD! Still, good to get outside. It’s very sunny – deceivingly so!

Grandma called tonight, just to check in. I think she just wanted to brag about the good weather they’ve been having! 🙂 They haven’t seen the newest little Aune yet. Sounds like Ethan’s parents both have colds. I’m sure they’re all a bit run down from all the excitement and company. Hopefully things are starting to settle down for them.

I talked to Amy (Stepec) tonight. I didn’t realize what Dance Dance Revolution was, so she explained it to me. I then spent the next 30 minutes looking for a version that would be compatible with a Mac. (It’s designed for playstation 2.) Anyway, I also learned that Amy was a big climbing buff in her college years – and a snowboard champion! 🙂 She, too, enjoys the floor hockey – so when we all move back to MN we’re going to start with that and possibly move into the elite game of broomball.

I heard from Lo that Dad was sick today. Apparently there’s a flu bug in the area. Hope to hear he’s well tomorrow.

I got some new stamping stuff in, so I had to try to create a card tonight. I realized that I need a ton of more stuff to make decent looking cards. Tonights was alright. Just wait, maybe you will be the lucky recipient! 🙂

I finally got a look at Andrea and Jeff’s new little baby. I’ve been waiting since Monday, when she was supposed to be induced. Looks like a beautiful little boy… Alex Brennan! Cute name. I hope Andrea’s well – he arrived as a 10 lb. 4 oz. little guy! Congratulations guys!

Well, that’s enough from me!

xoxo

Since Bill is busy blogging, I figured I’d do a quick entry before bed. I’m pretty sleepy though.

I had a work call scheduled for 6:00 this morning, because I would be talking with someone over on the east coast. Well, just before 6, I got a call saying it’d be post-poned for 2 hours. It took me a while to fall back asleep, and when 8:00 rolled around I struggled out of bed.

I actually ended up having a pretty productive day. I’ve got a lot of e-mails and phone calling to catch up on, and I feel like I at least got a hold of the scheduling today. I’ve still got a lot of work to do on my New York topics for the end of the month. My stomach turns to think about presenting over there – but I know I just have to do it.

Bill got a new computer for work today, so he’s been busy playing with it. It’s a Macbook Pro, and I’ll admit it’s pretty cool. The neatest feature is the built in iSight (web cam). It’s got a “photobooth” application that lets you take pictures as though you’re in a photobooth. Hence the name. 🙂

Talked to Dad, Gram & Gramp, and Ape today. Lo also called, but Bill was on the phone and it got too late to call MN. Anyway, sounds like things are going well. Grandma has promised me that she’s going to start painting another picture tomorrow!

April and I have been thinking about a trip to Germany this summer. Well, actually April’s the one who brought it up, but I’d really like to do it, too. It’d be so fun to meet more of mom’s family and see where she was born! The biggest problem is the time shortage during the summer. I feel like there’s just always so much to do and never enough time to do it. Like she said, though, there will always be excuses. Too true.

Well, this has become a much longer post than it needed to be. They generally do! I’m going to get outside and take a little walk with Stacie and the boys tomorrow. Looking forward to that!

I hear the weather down south continues to be beautiful. Enjoy it!

While I appreciate the extra daylight, I hate losing an hour of my weekend. Oh well. Enjoy the extra sun!

We’re back in Unalakleet, and I’m getting geared up for a busy week. My work week will start with a 6 a.m. call tomorrow morning. I guess that’s the way to get back into the swing of things.

We met Tiff, Rick, and the boys on their way out to Washington, Disneyland, and out east when we arrived at the Pen Air “terminal”. They looked ready for a vacation! You can’t help but be excited for people heading out for a break… even when you’re depressed because you’ve just finished yours up. 😉

We headed down to Johnson’s to visit last night. We got caught up on what was apparently a very busy week… lots of news. It was nice to just hang out.

Back home the world is moving quickly. Dad’s been working lots of overtime, and the girls are constantly on the go.

Bill and I are thinking about building a climbing wall. We’ll be out the cost of the wood when we leave next year, but the holds can come with us. If we really do this, the wall will go in the 2nd bedroom (also known as my office and where we keep the treadmill). So, we’ll have to do a little rearranging. It’d be a fun addition to the apartment.

Well, it’s time to put the computer away and watch a little Ghostbusters. (Yea for free showtime this weekend!)

Have you seen the movie The Terminal? Sometimes I feel like it’s my life. I wonder exactly how many hours I’ve spent in airports this year. I should start a log… though I know I’m nowhere close to where a lot of people who travel for work are.

We’re delayed for the second time on our voyage back to Unalakleet. Our first came last night in San Fransisco as we were trying to get to Seattle. We ended up getting in about an hour and a half late, thus shaving that time from our hotel sleep. We awoke after about 4 1/2 hours and grabbed the shuttle back to good old SEA/TAC. After boarding our flight and feeling really good about all the extra space we’d have on our flight to Anchorage, we learned that they decided to delay our flight by 2 hours and add the passengers from a later cancelled flight. Yes, we get another glorious 2 hours here in the airport and a full flight. We’re fortunate, though, to have exit row seats with lots of leg room.

This vacation has been something of a “Board Room Tour”. I’ve got to admit our passes were probably the best purchase we could’ve made this year. I give the SEA/TAC boardroom 4 stars, while San Francisco only gets 2… it was just too small and quiet. Anyway, I enjoyed a delicious bagle and cream cheese here this morning, and think I’ll go hunt down some more juice here in a minute.

Bill had the grand idea of heading to Valdez tonight and post-poning our return to Unalakleet by a couple of nights. I was all for it, but the airplane is full. So, back to UNK we go. It would’ve been nice to see Barb… Bill’s down in MN right now – so it’s probably good that we wait to visit another time.

My next excursion isn’t for another 3 weeks or so. I’ll be off to New York then, and I have plenty of preparation to do before then. Next week I will have to keep my nose to the grindstone… is that how that expression goes?

Fantastic news back home… Ethan will arrive in Minneapolis on Saturday! This has been long awaited, and I know his family is overjoyed. I’m so excited for them all and can’t wait for a chance to meet the little guy! Congrats Tom and Moniuqe!

More great news – my friend Amy is going to have a baby in October! I can barely belive it… how exciting! She’s going to be one of those extra cute pregnant ladies – since she’s already super cute. 🙂 Anyway, I am just totally excited for her, and I can’t wait for our trip “out east” this summer so we can all pamper her. 🙂

I’m convinced that I’ll need to head back to Mexico next winter… it’ll be my compromise for one final year in Alaska. (Did everyone know we’ve decided to stay one more year. I don’t think I’ve ever made it official… mostly because I haven’t been truly sure until just recently.) Anyway, I’m hoping that next year’s vacation can include some family and friends. Be thinking ahead. 🙂

This has been a rather long post. I do hope you’re well.

Think Spring, Everybody! xoxo

I’m slumping into depression here as the hours of our final full day in Mazatlan tick by. It was another good day by the pool. 🙂

Bill keeps telling me how dark I am. It’ll be good to bring some color back to Unalakleet.

Today was like all the others, though Bill threw a little parasailing into the mix. I considered it, but I’m too big of a wimp to head up that high by myself. Perhaps on my next tropical excursion.

We headed to the restaurant across the street for a final dinner of chicken fajitas and strawberry margaritas. Very tasty. While watching the Mexico vs. Paraguay soccer game on their big screen, I got to reminiscing of my days as a floor hockey champion. Bill refuses to believe I have any offensive skills. Now it’s on… the next chance I have to show off my floor hockey talents, I’m taking it. I’ll recruit my sisters, too, as that sport happens to be all of our specialty. Ah, genetics.

Anyway, we’re going to try to get checked in on Alaska Air tonight in hopes of getting upgraded to 1st class for the way back. That would sure be nice.

I hope to hear from you all soon!

We had another good day in Mexico. Unfortunately, I decided it’d be best to keep myself out of the sun in the early afternoon. So, Bill and I both got a good nap in.

I’ve been falling apart down here. Even that is better on vacation! 😉 Seriously, though, this sun rash is something I’ve never before experienced and hope not to again. My superman burn started blistering today, and I wiped out on our walk around the golden zone. That was kind of funny. Bill was kind enough to not laugh until this evening. That’s longer than I would’ve made it.

We did do a little sight seeing around the area this morning. Then it was back to the pool for a couple of hours. After the benedryl didn’t make me better, I opted for the hotel room. It’s amazing how tired you can get from doing nothing!

Tonight we walked down to the Guadalajara Grill and I stopped by the D.Q. for a blizzard. MMMM! We also got to watch a guy do some painting – very cool. I believe Bill posted a little video of it in the gallery… check it out!

I hope Spring is upon you!

Stone Island was a good trip, but I’ll admit it fell a bit short of our last adventure out there. We got hooked up with a different booking agency, so it was just different. Bill took a fantastic sunburn off the island with him, and me, I got a stellar sun/heat rash all over my arms and legs. I spent today battling the darn thing and am just praying it finds its way off my body this evening.

I’ve also found a cool sunburn for my chest. My swimsuit has a halter-style top. Apparently all the sun was funneled onto the middle of my chest, and Bill claims I’m trying to look like superman with the big diamond shaped red mark. He’s got me figured out. 😉

I’m really having a great time here in Mazatlan; it will be difficult to get on the plane Thursday knowing I’ve got another month and a half of winter to face on the other side of the ride. C’est la vie!

I’ve really enjoyed just sitting by the pool. I’m reading Wicked and Bill’s working on The Da Vinci code. It’s nice for us to have a chance to just hang out. I’m surprised he’s not bored with me, but he claims I’m fairly entertaining.

We’re at a little coffee shop with free internet. 2 little girls came by selling roses and instead ate my chocolate cake and played on the computer. It was pretty cute. I’ve been good (or bad, if you must) and haven’t purchased one chicklet yet… I’ve been tempted!

Still wish you all could be here with me. Take it easy!

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Hola! We’re on our 2nd full day of vacation in beautiful Mexico and loving it! 🙂

The trip started on Wednesday when we flew out of Unalakleet. We didn’t arrive here at the Costa de Oro until 4:00 Thursday afternoon. Flying through the night is not my favorite, but it’s certainly worth it to be here.

I was concerned that this stay was going to be a flop. I chose this hotel based on price and pictures at hotels.com. We got here and found our room. The main part of the hotel is right along the beach, however, they’ve also got another (less desirable) building across the street. That’s where our room was. It was very dark, and I was disappointed. Maybe I’ve just been spoiled since I stay in hotels so often now, but we asked to be moved. Luckily, they had room, and now we’re in a room that looks like the pictures that were online. We’re also close to the pool and have a peak at the ocean from our balcony. It’s good.

Thursday was gloomy and cool, and I was worried that Bill would not get the Mexican experience I’ve talked up for years. Luckily, yesterday the weather resumed a nice high 80 something, and today followed suit. We spent both days lying by the pool, sipping margaritas and coronas and eating chips & salsa. Yum!

We’ve had early evenings, as the sun takes a lot out of you. I’m at least trying to abide by the 9:00 or later bedtime rule that Ape and I established here years ago. 😉

We’re planning to head out to Stone Island tomorrow… though we’ve been enjoying our time around the pool here that it’s tempting to spend every day here. I know we’ll be happy we went once we get there.

I’m trying to get some pictures on the gallery, if you want to have a look. Wish you were all here!

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

It’s already Wednesday! Time is moving quickly up here.

It sounds like I need to hire a doctor for my family – Lo’s recovering and Ape’s limping around on her sprained ankle. It must’ve been a bad one, as Ape is as reluctant as I am to go into the doctor, and yet she had to. Sounds like she’s okay now.

We’ve had a good week – lots of get-togethers. Spring break is upon the citizens of Unalakleet, so last night we celebrated with dinner down at the Holt’s. This is one of many reasons I’m still not packed for our trip… and we leave in 4 hours. That’s plenty of time.

I’m very much looking forward to my Alaskan white skin seeing some sun. We don’t have anything planned once we get to Mazatlan… just some beach time and plenty of resting.

Wish you could join us!

It’s beautiful weather here today – and I haven’t left my apartment! At least I feel like I had a productive day. I got about 6 things completed off my check-list. I love those kinds of days. (Don’t worry, there are plenty more to come!)

Tomorrow we’re going to merge coffee time with a little stampin’ demo. I’m looking forward to it as always. Perhaps I’ll become a master stamper! 🙂

Anyways – I have posted the latest picture of sweet little Ethan Thomas. You’ll want to check this cutie out! http://www.bbryson.com/pictures/details.php?image_id=218&sessionid=bea95697c0575eb36d31457a9eb08995

Happy Monday!