Ice...

I'm having issues getting these pictures on so I hope it works this time...you know how I love dealing with computer problems.
Here are a few more sculptures, a bit more detailed than the scuplture of a whale I made out of a bar of soap in 5th grade:). Hope you like them considering the time and effort it has required to get them on my stinkin blog...that's a hint to send lots of nice comments! Ha

Roadtrip!!!!

Fairbanks

I love road trips! My friends and I once drove 18hrs to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras and 20hrs later we headed home, it was awesome. This time I convinced some girlfriends, Tamsin and Sara, to head to Fairbanks to check out the World Ice Championships, visit Chena Hotsprings and go to the Northpole. I had been warned that the roads could be trecherous as could the weather but we were blessed with clear roads and fantastic weather. Aaron, I thought you might enjoy this bumper made out of duct tape :)!



It was quite cold but not as bad as it could have been, thank goodness. The sculptures were amazing, the details in them lifelike. My pictures don't do them justice but I hope you enjoy them.

Sara, Tamsin and I on the Ice stage and Tamsin making a quick call home.

Iditarod - The Last Great Race

The Iditarod is an 1100 mile dogsled race from Willow to Nome, Alaska. I think you have to be a little insane to compete, temps this year went down to -5oF!!! I like my body parts too much to expose them to that! Jeff King took top honors this year in a super close race. I got to see both the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage and the official start in Willow this year. The following pictures were taken at the official start.



The starting line is on a frozen lake and was packed with tons of people cheering on their favorite musher(s), snowmachines and of course all the dogteams. It's quite the event, some groups even had their grills going and were having a big ol'party. My friends and I decided that next year we should do the same.



Hee hee...some mushing humor for you. One of the prettiest teams I saw, all siberian huskies I think. Some of the teams are pretty motley looking, but as we know looks aren't everything. One dog handler we talked to said mutts are some of the best dogs for mushing.



Dog teams all harnessed up and ready to go. Every team had tons of handlers to help keep the ganglines straight and the dogs in line as they waited their turn at the start line. Tamsin and I watching the teams go by as they head to Nome.



That's Robert Sorlie, last years winner, putting fat in between the dogs foot pads and then putting their booties on. I think he said the fat helps prevent snow from balling up and freezing, (don't quote me on that). He didn't run this year but his nephew did. I'm not sure who this is coming up the hill, with 84 teams it was hard to keep track. You could get pretty close to the teams as the came up this hill which was pretty cool.

Bingo!

BINGO!!!!
Bingo is a BIG part of life here in Anchorage, especially with the Native population. Many of my patients can't wait to get out of the hospital so they can play again. We had one pt. who missed Bingo so much that we made a game and played it with her at night when she couldn't sleep. We used the call light system to call the numbers out to her, she loved it!
With Bingo halls everywhere I thought it was high time I checked it out. My roommate Alicia allowed Tamsin and I to tag along last friday. Although I didn't win a thing it was a good time and I can't wait to go again and lay my fortune down, leaving it to the whims of little numbered balls... :)! As first time bingoers we were presented with goodie bags with our own personal dobber and keychain, oolala.

PS - Dobbers are fun to play with especially if you are really tired...

Congratulations!!!

My bestfriend Tamsin celebrating passing the dreaded nursing NCLEX. A nurse in England, she had to pass the test to become "official" here in the States. Congratulations girlfriend!!! I knew you could do it!

My Family

My younger brother Aaron looking quite posh.


Self-portraits are a must when on vacation.
This is me and my mom in Honduras. Aren't we cute?!


My twin brother Nathan and his new wife Molly.


My fashionista father...don't ask!


My beloved sister Sarah hanging out with
a friend at the famous Wall Drug.

These are just a few of my favorite pics of my
fam in Michigan. They are a little nutty but I
love em and miss them.