San Antonio

We went to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago and we had a wonderful time. We stayed to nights on the riverwalk. It was wonderful to kick back and relax. Jerry took me to see the Alamo and we had lunch at the 120 year old Buckhorn Saloon. Our first real night in San Antonio it was off for puffy taco. I couldn't get enough we had to go back for dinner again. The Tower of America was a highlight. We saw a 360 degree veiw from the top and I got to chase the squirrels in hemisphere park. We even managed to take in an AK Aces game on the Net. At 70 degrees the natives thought it was cold but we we're loving it. I can't wait to go back ! ! !

Oktoberfest...

Yeah! ! ! I finally got to go to my first Oktoberfest. The picture is from the Alyeska website. Jerry took me up to Alyeska Resort where they had Oktoberfest last weekend. The hotel was fablous. They did a great job with the party and the food was great. We tried to go two years ago when they had it. I even had reservations but then Jerry got me a puppy (Simon) and the puppy was too young to be boarded so we cancelled. While it wasn't Oktoberfest in Germany it was a lot of fun and really nice to spend some quality time with Jerry.

C-5

This is a C-5 the kind of plane Jerry used to work on in Dover. Jerry would love to work on the C-5's again. There was one up here in Alaska on Monday. As you can see fall is here and I thought the trees were just beautiful behind the plane.

Simon...My Buddy

I love both our dogs but I couldn't resist posting another picture of Simon. He was such a snuggle buddy this weekend.

Jerry swore up and down that I couldn't have a dog but I found Simon on the puppy rescue page and even Jerry couldn't say no. Before we got Missy Simon kept me company when Jerry had to work nights.

Fall in Alaska

Greetings! I don’t think I ever really experienced fall before coming to Alaska. Seems like the trees have changed over night and are turning different shades of gold and red. It finally stopped raining today. It’s been cloudy and wet for the last couple of weeks. The clouds cleared for a few hours and we could see the termination snow on the nearby mountains. There is a crispness in the air and winter doesn’t seem too far away.
Jerry made a friend at work that has ATV’s and he’s been out a couple of times the last few weekends. He comes home looking like a complete mud ball. We’ll be getting ready for the winter activities soon. I got a new snowboard last season and need to properly break it in without breaking my neck. Our dog Missy is supposed to start sled training again soon with her brother. Sled races start in December I hear. After winning one race last season they are ready to win some more. She loves running with her brother. She’s gotten to play with him a couple of times over the summer. There’s been a mamma moose and baby moose hanging around our block. The other day we opened the blinds to see mamma feeding her young. I couldn’t get the camera fast enough to snap a picture. I just finished another class towards my Master’s. I am taking a week off from class before the next one starts. I am still on track to finishing in June of 2009. I am really looking forward to being done. I think Jerry is looking forward to me finishing too he’s tired of watching me do homework all the time. Hope all is well!

Fishing In Ninilchik...

Jerry went fishing this last weekend in Ninilchik. On they way down he did some fishing and caught a small trout. On the boat he caught his limit of halibut. The fish were bitting good and all the guys caught thier limit.

Jerry's is the second largest fish! He said they are strong when you reel them in. Ninilchik and the Keani area look really pretty. Maybe Jerry and I will get change to take the dogs and make a trip down together.

Air Show and Hockey

Greetings! Time has gotten away from me…Jerry took me to the air how at the end of June. We had a great time going in and out of all the planes. I especially liked watching the Air Force Academy jump from the C-17 and then Jerry showed me all the in’s and out’s of the C-5 which is they plane he worked on as a flying mechanic for 8 years. It was somewhat cloudy that day so we didn’t stay to see too much of the show but we had a great time! The weather has been rather rainy lately and the prediction is that winter will be here early this year. In fact you can already see some termination snow on the local mountains. It never has really gotten very warm this summer.

Jerry is starting to play some hockey games again. He took much of the summer off. At the end of last season they had a photographer taking pictures at the game. We call this one Jerry’s sports illustrated shot. I’ve watched a few of his games and the team is pretty good. Since Jerry plays goalie he can play for any team and everyone seems to need a goalie so our phone is ringing all the time.

I am just a week away from finishing another class towards my Master’s. I am taking a week off between classes but I am excited to be close to being done.

The weather has kept us from exploring Alaska too much, but Jerry is going finishing down in Seward in a few weeks. It’s an overnight boy’s weekend. I am hoping her catches enough Halibut to fill up the freezer. I made him buy me a small deep freezer just so we’d have enough room!

Denali

Greetings! Jerry and I just got back from visiting Denali State Park. We didn’t go all the way up to the National Park but we had a great view of Mt. McKinley right from our lodge. It rained but we really enjoyed the view and the lodge. We took the train up and along the way we saw, moose, owl, eagles, and a bear. Many of the trails were still closed because of the 16 inches of snow we received a few weeks back so we spent most of our time in front of the lodge fireplace and the floor to ceiling picture windows just relaxing and enjoying the view. One night went too fast but we are thinking we’d like to try and make it back up maybe to one of the lodges closer to the national park and for a longer stay. There is so much that one can do up there from hiking to fishing to river rafting.

Our husky Simon is doing much better with his leg and we hope that he will have his cast off this Friday. I am missing my afternoon walks and I know he and our other dog are too.

I am still diligently working on my Masters program. No summer break from me. Classes are going well but there sure is a lot of homework which keeps me busy most nights. Although I am going to start a tennis class this week for the summer through the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Jerry is taking some time off from hockey this summer to finish up his AA and start on his BA. He’s taking Math and History right now and then he’ll be just about two classes short of his AA.

We made a stop in the tiny village of Talkeetna on our way home from Denali. It’s a cute little Alaskan village about three blocks long. The closet groceries are about 3 hours away! That’s quite a drive for a gallon of milk.

Is It Spring Yet???

Greetings! Just when we thought spring had finally reached us here in the great white north we got 16 inches of snow in one day! Most of us Alaskan’s already have our studded tires off. They have to be off by May 1st so needless to say it was quite an adventure driving around in that much snow. We had to take a snow day at work and leave early. We seem to be back up to the low 50’s now. We’re hoping it will last and that we’ll finally see spring. Our little girl dog just about got lost in the snow in the back yard. You can see it was up to my knees. Our other dog Simon did not have as much fun in the snow. He must have stepped into a whole or something and he fractured his leg. It was quite frightening for us. He’s in a cast now for 4-6 weeks. We have a two story house so I think he’s really enjoying being carried up and down the stairs. Jerry and I are getting ready for our one night stay in Denali in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, Simon will be healed enough by then that we can still go. We’ve been looking forward to the trip for a while now. I just finished another class towards my Masters. I have a week off before I begin the next class. Only 7 more classes to go. Jerry is just finishing up his hockey class and then he has two classes this summer in History and Math. He’s hoping to finish his AA and start on his BA by the end of the year.

Race Day

Jerry's dog Missy ran her first sled race last weekend with her brother and another dog. The team was the 20th run out of 20, but won the 2mile race with a time of 6.06. The mushers strated 2 mins apart and they came in only 20sec behind musher 19. Now that's fast.

My dog Simon doesn't like pulling the sled and after all who could blame him. He'd much rather be having a cookie or watching TV. The first time we went out he came back in the basket. He thought that was great. We tried again and he took off with great speed only to suddenly stop. He did pull just me on the sled but the incentive may have been Missy and her borther Germo up ahead. I think Simon just wanted to catch up!

Snowboarding

Sunday I went snowboarding for the first time. It was the hardest fun of my life! I took a lesson and Jerry was so sweet to take it with me even though he didn't really need it. We started out on the bottom of the hill getting used to the board and turns. I could have stopped there but then we road the lift up. Of couse I face planted trying to get off the lift! I almost ran when I looked down the mountain. Only 150 feet and it took me an hour. I fianlly let Jerry go so he could have some fun. He was so sweet to stay with me. The instructor stayed with me for every foot I was so nervous. Right at the end I finally started getting it. I think I was so tired I just gave it and then it was easy. But by that time I was so tired I couldn't stand up so I kept getting up and falling but I finally made it. By the time we got home I was on ebay buying my own board and I can't wait for it to get here so I can go back and practice.