Southern Hospitality in the Last Frontier

Summer is Coming to a Close..

2010-09-07T21:42:00.013-08:00

Hello friends and family! We are extra-super-sorry that it has been sooo long since our last update. We have had kind of a crazy summer to tell the truth. We've been working too much, but we've also had some excellent times, enjoying visits from friends and family. Our friends Dave and Barb Whiteman stayed with us off and on while they were in sunny Southern Southeast Alaska. We were also blessed to have a brief visit from Carolyn's Aunt & Uncle (the visit part, not that it was brief) when they came through on a cruise ship.

Possibly the most exciting event was a visit from the Mom-in-law. She came for 10 days during the first half of August and it was a lot of fun having her stay with us. Shortly after she arrived, we all hopped on a ferry and headed up to Petersburg for a quick visit with my parents. While we were there we enjoyed the scenery and a boating adventure. I promise no matter what you heard, I didn't really try to sink the boat!

Back in Ketchikan there were visits to the Blueberry Arts Fest, shopping trips, and tasty dinners. One of my favorite activities was taking Mama K out to the gun range to try out a few of my guns. She did awesome! She plinked around with the .22 and the .38, but she really shined when firing the .45, wow!
All-in-all this has been an excellent summer, but now that things are cooling down and its getting dark earlier maybe we'll have time to curl up with a computer and update this thing a little more often. Much love to you all- James

Must Update Blog!!

2010-08-26T00:58:00.003-08:00

It has been a crazy few weeks and I know we really need a new post. I had every intention of posting tonight but I fell asleep on the couch. I am already worn out this week and desperately ready for the weekend. It seems to be non-stop lately for both of us. Maybe I can blog tomorrow night... For now, it is 1:00am in Alaska and I need to get myself to bed. Happy Thursday! - C

A Video for Tuesday

2010-07-27T13:35:00.007-08:00

As you know, we occasionally like to share YouTube videos that we feel are worthwhile- at least to us, but we hope you enjoy them too. This video was done by Church on the Move in Tulsa, OK and shared for their Father's Day Service. Hilarious!! - C

Before & After

2010-07-20T21:12:00.007-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted about a project I was working on while I was taking a few days off from work. Just thought I would share the finished product. This dresser was originally white and gold (it was awful- but it was free!) and then I painted it lime green, distressed the whole thing and added some new hardware. The dresser stayed lime green for a while, but I have decided to change things up a bit in the living room- or as much as I can change things up since we're just renting. I want our own house so bad!! - I digress

So, this time I started off with a good coat of white primer and then the green/blue sea glass color. Then I used my Black & Decker Mouse Sander to sand in various spots. Some parts I would sand down a little more than others letting the lime green actually come through. It's basically done, but I did not put any type of protective clear coat on yet, which I really need to do. Enough talking, here are some pictures! - Carolyn

BEFORE

AFTER

What is this 'culture schlock' I keep hearing about?

2010-07-18T20:49:00.002-08:00

For a very long time (over 15 years) a good friend and I have been talking about collaborating on some sort of project. Back in high school we talked about doing an underground 'zine, and over the years other writing projects have been kicked around, but nothing really came of it. More recently we discussed doing a podcast together, but for one reason or another it just didn't happen... until now!
Last week we broadcasted our very first live podcast on talkshoe! There were one or two technical difficulties... mild panic may have ensued, but once we got goin' things were golden! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again! For now you can listen in live every Thursday night at 8PM Mountain/6PM Alaska time either by finding us on talkshoe, or by using the widget I added to the sidebar on the left. You are also invited to check out our show blog (listed in the blog roll) where you can click the links and maybe leave a comment or three. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: you can even download our show on itunes!!!! How cool is that?

-J

Need a new flick?

2010-07-06T19:59:00.012-08:00

Carolyn and I like watching movies together. As with books, our taste in movies can vary widely, but with a little compromise we are usually able to find something we can sit down and enjoy together. We watch a nice variety of genres, but of course I lean toward SciFi and Carolyn is all about the Christmas movies. =o)
We watch some of the "blockbusters" if they look good, but we have more fun finding those movies that might slip under the radar in theaters. Not necessarily star-studded, dripping in awards, artsy-fartsy films, just otherwise good movies that don't get as much attention.
So here are a few cool flicks that we've discovered over the last year. They are quirky, funny, unexpected, and (in my humble opinion) worth watching!

"Based on a true story of love, victory and fermentation." This film tells the story of the early days of California wine making.

At first the subject matter of this film could be a little offputting (crime-scene cleanup), but it proves to be about so much more.

This movie got some press because Drew Barrymore directed (her first?), but it didn't show well in theaters. I was surprised by some of the twists the movie took and pleased with the flow of the story.

Check out these films for yourself and then TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!! Leave a comment and tell us why we're wrong or give us some love for introducing you to some great new movies!

Update, a Birthday & a Visitor!

2010-06-29T19:54:00.008-08:00

Well, the SoleStice shoe auction is finally over and done with!! It was a success and we met our goal of $40,000. I am just so glad it's over! I feel like I have been so busy working that I missed half of summer. Now I can finally relax a little bit and enjoy the rest of my summer. Speaking of relaxing, I'm actually taking a few days off to rejuvenate and work on a few projects. Here is a peek of something I've been working on the past few days (this is just the primer). I'll have to post once this baby is done!

I also wanted to wish my intelligent, beautiful, talented mother a very happy birthday!!! Love you momma, hope you had a wonderful day.

... On that note, guess who's coming to Alaska for a visit??? Yep, mommie dearest will be here for 10 days in August. James and I are so excited that she is coming to K-town this summer. We've got several things planned and may even head up to Petersburg for a few days to see the Corrao clan. Mom came up here a few summers ago (before I married Jimmy James) and we had such a good time together. I hope this trip will be just as fun and memorable.

Swingin' baby!

2010-06-24T10:55:00.005-08:00

I know, I know I'm a dork. I don't care. I thought this was awesome!

Blog Design Changes

2010-06-12T12:40:00.003-08:00

We've been messing around with things- bare with us as we are trying something new! - C

Hanging out with Christian, Betsey, and Miuccia..

2010-06-04T15:46:00.013-08:00

...as in Christian Louboutin, Betsey Johnson and Miuccia "Prada". Want to know what's been consuming my life and keeping me away from blogging? Here it is:

Yes, the annual "SoleStice" fundraiser for Ketchikan General Hospital Foundation (which is where I work in case you didn't know). Basically, we auction off new shoes/handbags/accessories that have been donated by various individuals and businesses to raise money for the hospital foundation. Which, considering that the two places to buy shoes in Ketchikan are Wal-Mart and the local trading company that mostly carries neoprine/work boots and shoes, this is a pretty genius idea. The event always occurs around the Summer Solstice, hence the play on words for "SoleStice".

This will be the 4th year for the big auction and our goal is to raise $40,000 with all proceeds going to the hospital foundation. So, as I'm sure you can imagine, it's quite a lot of work to prepare for the big night and it's been keeping me very busy! At this point, I'm just ready for it to be over! If I could just attend and have a fun "ladies night out", that would be great, but since it's a part of my actual job it's a whole different story. Well, only a few more weeks until d-day and then hopefully I'll be able to catch my breath.

The Book Swap

2010-05-15T22:41:00.009-08:00

Carolyn and I are big readers. Ever since childhood we've both had a deep love for books. I can't tell you how many times we've started conversations with: "Remember that book..?" We read a lot of the same books when we were kids and have fond memories of reading with our parents.

When it comes to personal taste we agree on children's books and many of the classics, but beyond that... saying that our tastes vary wildly might be an understatement.

We both enjoy reading before bedtime, but a couple of weeks ago we had a minor crisis: it was time for bed, but we had nothing new to read! After scouring the shelves and coming up empty-handed Carolyn proposed a solution: Why not pick out a book for the other person? I know, crazy right? After careful consideration we presented our picks:

As you can see these books are about as different as you can get. Nevertheless we both set to reading with a gusto and wouldn't you know it, we've both really enjoyed the other's pick! If you're looking for some new reading material I can safely say we recommend either of these books.

Alright people, you've had enough excitement for one day. Go forth and read!

32

2010-05-04T13:13:00.004-08:00

I just wanted to write a quick thank you note to everyone for all the kind words and birthday wishes! I have an amazing wife who spoiled me rotten, some fantastic friends who partied with me, and in a couple of days my parents will be here (hopefully more spoiling will ensue). My thirties have been the best years of my life so far and I know that year thirty-two is going to be even better! Much love to you all!

We've Been Summoned!

2010-04-27T19:27:00.003-08:00

Yep, that's right, see those 2 documents on my fridge- that would be jury duty notices for both James & me. James is scheduled for May and mine is in June-although I've asked for it to be delayed until August, but I haven't heard back yet.

In 10 years of being a registered voter (which is what Mississippi uses to select names), I have never had jury duty. Alaska randomly selects individuals from the list of Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend applicants and I guess my number is up! If I didn't have to work, I think I might actually be excited to exercise one of the most fundamental rights guaranteed in our Constitution and hey, it might be pretty interesting! Unfortunately, I have one of those awful things called a full-time job that keeps me super busy and even missing just a few days of work means I'll be playing catch-up when I get back. Oh well, hopefully they will allow me to defer until August when things should be a little calmer.

I'm Back

2010-04-14T22:56:00.006-08:00

I haven't felt like blogging lately, so I begged James to post something.. and he did, I can't say they were great posts (sorry babe), but not that mine are either.

Anyway, I thought I would share a unique wedding gift we received several weeks ago from Carly & Jon Michael. Yes, we've been married over a year, but it's never too late to get presents, right Carly? I say definitely not! I would be happy to continue receiving wedding gifts :)

So, what did we get? Well, this really cute wood cutting board in the shape of Mississippi. I love it! Not only is it functional, but of course it reminds me of my homeland- thanks Carly & JM!

The instructions said to treat with mineral oil before use. James picked up some mineral oil at the hardware store and I thought I would go ahead and treat our bamboo cutting board while I was at it- I guess I should have been doing that from the get-go, but yeah, I never did. By the way, did you know that mineral oil can also be used as an intestinal lubricant? Lovely, I have to say I didn't know that. Anywho, the cutting boards have now been treated and are ready to see some veggie dicing action!

DABDay

2010-04-08T20:26:00.003-08:00

So I was looking for something to blog about and I stumbled upon this entry on Wikipedia. If you read the article you will find that today, April 8th is Draw A Bird Day. I know what you're thinking, why in the world would I want to draw a bird?!? I have no idea. It was just a way for me to start writing about something. If you continue reading I may even show you the drawing I completed after hours of extensive labor in MS Paint.

Not a lot of new news with us at the moment. Carolyn and I are both wishing we could run away and start a life of crime (okay, maybe not that last part). I think we need a vacation! It's times like this that I look back with nostalgia at those halcyon days of long, long ago when I was but a school boy and had whole MONTHS of vacation time. Why can't the "real" world be like that? You work really hard 9 months out of the year and get to goof off the other 3. No bills to pay, no responsibilities... *sigh*

One very cool, very exciting thing happening this weekend is the marriage of our friends Pat & Cheryl! We are so happy for them and we are praying they will have a long and happy life together!

Okay, now comes the moment you've been waiting for: I'm gonna show you the bird.

Happy DABDay!

At long last, a James post

2010-03-22T23:29:00.003-08:00

So I know it's been quite a while since I posted anything on here. I don't know what to say really, I've been in a bit of a writing slump... Anyway, I promised Carolyn I would post something tonight and I was stumped for an idea until I came across an old myspace survey. It's a little dated, but it's something! I promise my next post will have a little more substance, until then:

My current life in 90 questions

TAKE THIS SURVEY!

Take this survey

1. What was the highlight of your week?
Not dieing from this stupid cold

2. Whose car were you in last?
Mine

3. When is the next time you will kiss someone?
Tonight! =oD

4. What color shirt are you wearing?
Brown

5. How long is your hair?
Shortish

6. Are you good looking?
Super HOTT!!

7. Last movie you watched?
Planet 51

8. Who were you with?
My best girl!

9. Last thing you ate?
Chocolate Egg

10. Last thing you drank?
Diet Coke

11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?
A loooonnnggg time ago

12. Who came over last?
Dawn

13. Are you happy right now?
Yup

14. What did you say last?
Yup

15. Where is your phone?
On the table beside me

16. What color are your eyes?
Brown

17. Are you left-handed?
No

18. Spell your name without vowels:
Jms

19. Do you have any pets?
No

20. Favorite Vacation?
I'd go just about anywhere right now

21. What do you dislike currently?
Coughing

22. What are you listening to?
The dulcet tones of Brent Butt

23. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
Ice cream

24. What is your favorite scent?
Fresh baked bread

25. Who makes you happiest?
My wife

26. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Trying to sleep

27. When is your birthday?
In May

28. Who has the same phone as you?
no one I can think of

29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?
No idea

30. Do you read your horoscope?
not a chance

31. Where was the last place you bought something?
A&P

32. How do you feel about your hair right now?
Needs to be cut

33. Do you bite your nails?
No

34. Do you have any expensive jewelery?
No

35. Do you have any expensive jewelery?
Still no.

36. Myspace or facebook?
Facebook

37. How fast have you driven a car?
around 100mph

38. Have you ever smoked?
yes

39. What was or is your favorite subject in school?
Lunch

40. Do you have Verizon?
No

41. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for?
Cute brunettes w/southern accents

42. Do you have any hidden talents?
Yes

43. Favorite Song?
idk

44. Do you like to sing at all?
Yes

45. Dream Job?
Beachcomber

46. Where does most of your family live?
Petersburg

47. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
2 sibs

48. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
not usually

49. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
Ouch

50. Do you drink?
Diet Coke

51. Know any other languages?
Not really

52. Ever write a coded message?
Yes

53. Have you ever been IN a wedding?
Yup

54. Do you have any children?
No

55. Did you take a nap today?
I WISH!

56. Who has the same birthday as you?
James Brown

57. Ever met anyone famous before?
Not really

58. Do you want to be famous one day?
Sure

59. Any Pet Peeves?
People who say "woofs" instead of "woLVes"

60. Are you multitasking right now?
Kinda

61. Do you like Britany Spears?
No thanks

62. What is your least favorite chore?
Dishes

63. Last place you drove your car?
The road?

64. Ever been out of the country?
Yeah

65. Where were you born?
Petersburg

66. Could you handle being in the military?
NO WAY!

67. What is your average cell phone bill?
$80

68. Who are you thinking about right now?
You

69. When was the last time you laughed REALLY hard?
Today

70. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
3 or 4

71. Are your toes always painted?
ALWAYS!

72. How many piercings do you have?
None

73. What are you doing today?
I worked and came home...good times

74. Have you ever been gambling?
Tried it once

75. When is the last time you updated your page?
I can't remember

76. Do you like rollercoasters?
Not really

77. Have you ever been to disneyland or world?
Once...like 30+ years ago

78. Do you have a favorite cartoon character?
The Brain

79. Last thing you cooked?
Chili

80. How's the weather?
Overcast

81. Do you e-mail?
you betcha

82. What's the stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
dropped it in a puddle

83. Last time you were sick?
Now =o(

84. What states have you lived in?
Alaska, Oregon, North Dakota

85. Do you wish you could move?
Sometimes

86. Do you take all the QuizPox.com quizzes?
uhhh no?

87. What is your dream car?
The new batmobile

88. Have you ever wanted someone you cant have?
probably at some point

89. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
On the back porch of my own house enjoying a warm summer evening

90. Are you happy with your life?
Pretty much

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THIS SURVEY!

MySpace Surveys

Quick Change

2010-03-13T11:49:00.007-09:00

On a whim I decided to paint the bench that sits in our mudroom. It was just raw, rough wood that had never really been stained or painted and was dark and dingy. I really like the bench because it's nice and sturdy plus it was something James picked up at a thrift store for just a few bucks. After a good cleaning and a couple of coats of primer, I decided to use this beach glass blue color that I had left over from another project. Since the bench has some rough spots and I wasn't planning on doing any sanding, I thought this color would give it a beachy/cottage feel and add a lighter color to our dark mudroom.

As usual, I forgot to take a before picture but I did find this picture from a year ago that I took right after I had re-organized the mudroom.

Crazy Weather

2010-03-13T11:42:00.003-09:00

This picture was taken on Wednesday. After a mild winter with very little snow, winter decided it wasn't quite done with us. The beginning of this week was really nasty, cold and windy with rain, snow and sleet. Thankfully, we got a little reprieve yesterday and had a nice sunny day. Now we're back to gusty wind and rain for the next several days. Gotta love SE Alaska!

Kinfolk

2010-02-21T20:04:00.004-09:00

Saw this photo on my cousin's Facebook page (if you see this Kathryn, hope you don't mind) and thought it was a cute picture of a few members on the Griffin side of the family. This is from a wedding in Jackson, MS a few months ago.
L to R: Aunt Jan, Grandaddy & Grandmomma Griffin, Momma, Uncle Frank.

Lookin' good fam! - C

My Kitty

2010-02-10T20:18:00.005-09:00

This is Kitty, also known as Big Girl (not because of her size but because she was the oldest- we later got other kitties), Kitters, Kitty Girl and originally named Sugar- although that never seem to stick. Kitty has been a beloved member of my family for 16 years. In 1994 we went to the humane society to pick out a kitten and couldn't resist Kitty's big blue eyes and loving demeanor. Unfortunately, she had experience some trauma before she was rescued and had red marks on her skin where she had been shot with a BB gun (her nickname at the humane society was actually "BB"). Despite the trauma, Kitty was so sweet and just wanted to be taken home and loved. After a week of treatment and medicine at the humane society, she got to come home with us and has been with us ever since.

Kitty is the most "people-loving" cat I have ever seen! She will come up and sit/rub on any stranger that walks in our house. Even when there have been various service men (plumbers/builders/etc.) in our house, she just follows them around and wants to love on them. It was always so funny because we would seriously have to go and pick her up and shut her in a different room because she would get in the way.

A couple of weeks ago Mom called to tell me that Kitty wasn't doing well. She had stopped eating and was having some digestive problems and just not acting like herself. The Vet did some x-rays and blood work and found that for her age, Kitty was in pretty good health, but had a virus and a heart murmur. They put her on some medicine and she stayed at the Vet for a few days. At first, things weren't getting better and she still wasn't eating well. When Mom called she was planning on leaving her at the Vet and hope that she got better, but if not, she was going to bring her home so she could pass away in peace with the family. I thought for sure that she wasn't going to make it and prepared myself for losing a long term member of the family. A few days later, Mom called to say that she had brought Kitty home, she was doing much better and back to eating well and acting more like herself. Yay!

I know Kitty won't live forever, but I'm certainly glad she is doing better and still with us for the time being. She is the best kitty cat ever!

New Blog

2010-01-31T12:51:00.003-09:00

I have started a new blog. I know what you're thinking, "why start a new one when he doesn't update this one often enough?" The truth is I started it in the hopes that I could become a corporate shill. I joined a pay-to-blog site thinking that someone might pay me a couple extra bucks to tell others about a new product or website. So far that hasn't happened, but you never know. Anyway, I also view it as an opportunity to write about things that may not always be of interest to the general public.

I have a wide variety of interests, but two of the major areas are technology and woodcraft. These are often conflicting areas of interest best illustrated by my two favorite magazines: Wired and The Backwoodsman. Thus, I have created my TechnoDichotomy blog as an opportunity to "geek out" about these things (or anything else that catches my fancy) mostly for my own amusement, but also on the off chance that others may find my ramblings of interest as well.

You can check it out by clicking the link above or in the blog list to the right and if it doesn't interest you at least you'll add traffic to my hit counter :o)

-J

It's Been a While

2010-01-20T11:25:00.015-09:00

Confession: I've been taking a blog hiatus, sorry to disappoint all 3 of our readers. Work has been crazy and the last thing I've wanted to do when I get home is try and put complete sentences together that make some kind of sense for a post.

James and I had a nice Christmas and although we're already in the middle of January, I thought I would share a few of our Christmas gifts.

1) James got me the original "old school" Nintendo (NES for any gamers out there) and a box full of games. This has already provided many hours of entertainment and trips down memory lane. Even friends that have been over to our place have gotten in on the action. We have toyed with the idea of having a old school Nintendo party complete with fun-dip, TAB soda and Pop Rocks- scrunchies and high tops optional. Dr. Mario- Bring it on!!

2) We also got a new printer from James' parents. It is so nice to once again be able to print/scan/copy from home! Our old printer blew-up when James tried to hook it up shortly after we moved into our apartment- woo boy, that is another story in itself. Lets just say an electric current arced across the living room and the printer was declared dead on the scene.

3) James made and framed this "C" monogram. I have to say I was really impressed at his crafty-ness and truly surprised and delighted when I opened up this gift. You know a Southern girl loves the monograms!

4) From me, James got a new phone. Since James' motto is "Death to the Mac!", no IPhone for him, so he picked out the snazzy new Samsung Mythic. It's pretty cool and I think he is enjoying it so far. Maybe one day I will get to join the smart phone bandwagon :)

5) Aunt Tekla gave me some Envirosax. I have been eyeing these babies forever! I have to admit, I am still trying to get in the habit of remembering to grab them every time I go to the grocery store, but I'm getting better and I now keep one in my purse for any spur of the moment shopping trips. Did you know that you even get a a small credit back on your grocery bill for each bag you bring in with you? I also think these will be great for other things like bonfire supplies for summer trips to the beach.

6) From my mom, James got a new Calphalon sauce pan and skillet. She had given him another Calphalon piece for his birthday last year and he (actually we) have really enjoyed it. These suckers aren't cheap, but let me tell you, you can really tell a difference when you're cooking. We are enjoying slowly replacing our cheap-o pots and pans with this top-of-line cooking ware.

Well, that's just a sampling of the great Christmas gifts we received. There are many other wonderful things and we are enjoying them all. Thanks to our family for a wonderful Christmas!

We're Still Alive!

2010-01-18T23:15:00.002-09:00

Despite evidence to the contrary (mostly our poor neglected blog) we are in fact alive and kicking. It's been a week or three since our last post. In that time we had a lovely (way too short) visit to Petersburg and a pretty cool new year's eve party (those rumors about me blowing up our guests are just rumors people!). We also got to host my bro and sis-in-law for a week while they were painting the town red! Other than that it's been back to the ol' grind. Work, work, and more work...yay...

One of us (I'm voting for Carolyn) will write up a proper blog here in the next week or so, but it's good-bye for now. Much love to you all!

-J

Feliz Navidad

2009-12-28T10:03:00.003-09:00

A belated Merry Christmas to all! It has been waaay too long since we posted anything (my fault). I have a lovely Christmas story that I've been working on for the past...several weeks. I wanted to have it done in time to post on here before the big day, but it's still not finished :( maybe next year?

I am definitely looking forward to the new year! I know it's all in my head, but the new year always feels like a fresh start. A whole year of possibilities laid out ahead of me like virgin snow! Maybe this will be the year I finally overcome my crippling lachanophobia!

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, may the peace, joy, and love of Jesus Christ fill you to overflowing today and everyday! Happy New Year Everyone!

-J

We must have been really good this year...

2009-12-13T13:46:00.007-09:00

..because Santa or um the Postman has already delivered us a few presents early!

From my Grandmomma & Granddaddy Griffin, a personalized welcome mat now gracing our mudroom and offering any who pass through the door a place to knock off the snow and muck from his/her boots. I believe it's from Pottery Barn and I'm lovin it! Very classic/stately look. You know with James around this place, I have to make an extra effort to class this place up- just kidding honey!

And from Aunt Donna, personalized stockings! We don't have a mantel, so they are actually hanging in our bedroom on the knobs of the cabinets above our closet. Maybe by next Christmas we'll have a fireplace or wood stove that provide a proper place for hanging stockings.

I love stuff that can be monogrammed or personalized with a name. I think it's a Southern thing. Thank you to G. Dad & G. Mom Griffin and Aunt Donna & Crew, we are thoroughly enjoying our gifts!

As for our Christmas shopping, I am so behind this year. Less than 2 weeks, I better get on the ball!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like..

2009-11-30T21:31:00.008-09:00

Christmas! And you know what that means, chocolate oranges! You know, whack and unwrap. OK, so that's not what it's about, but I love those things and I happened to see them at the store the other day. Seems like they only make an appearance around Christmas time. Dee-lish!
I have been so bad about posting lately. Actually we're always bad about updating, but this time seems to be worse.

James and I had a nice Thanksgiving together. We were all alone (pout, sniffle, sniffle) and of course it would have been wonderful to be with family, but we had a quiet and relaxing few days and even made some pretty yummy Turkey Day grub. I was missing good ol' Southern cornbread dressing and James was missing his family's potato rolls, neither of which we attempted to make ourselves. Hopefully we can get our fill of those traditional dishes at Christmas.

I did get my Christmas tree up as well as a few other things, but I'm feeling like I'm not quite done. Here's a peek at the tree- I couldn't get a really good picture, maybe it's all the twinkling lights messing with the camera? The lime green and red ornaments made their appearance for a 2ND year and this year there is a little aqua blue in the mix.

I also have another new (and kinda old) addition to my holiday decor. My mom made this little stocking for my first Christmas (way back in 1982!) and every year since it would get hung with my "big girl" stocking. A few years ago when we pulled it out of the attic at my mom's for another Christmas season, it was looking kind of sad and some of the threads had started coming apart- I think moths may be to blame. I decided it was time to put it under glass. After a few years of forgetting to do that until I pulled it out for another Christmas, I finally had it framed!!! It looks so cute and hopefully it will last much longer now. I currently have it propped on a plate stand, but I may end up hanging it up somewhere.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I tend to skip ahead because I get so excited about Christmas, but I really do enjoy Thanksgiving and I think it's a really great time to stop and reflect. James and I have so many things to be thankful, among them are family, friends, a happy/healthy marriage and stable jobs in a tough economic time.

Here's to a wonderful holiday season! Sheesh, can't believe tomorrow is December 1st!!

You Gotta See This...

2009-11-22T17:13:00.005-09:00

It's time once again for another episode of: "Funny, Cool, and/or Weird Videos from Around the Internets". The title is a little wordy, but you'll be glad you stayed tuned to this channel.

First, I don't know how many of you know what "Auto-tune" is so let me explain: it's a device being used by a number of musicians today that digitally corrects the pitch of their voice so it always sounds melodious. Now the beautiful people don't have to lip-sync to the beautiful voices of merely average looking people, they can lip-sync to their own digitally manipulated voices! Yay!

Anyway, a recently exploited feature of auto-tune is that it can take regular speech and make it sound like singing. Now everyone can sound like a karaoke robot from the comfort of their own living rooms! You may have seen the YouTube video, "Charlie Bit Me" where a couple of adorable British kids have become internet stars. Now, for your viewing pleasure is the auto-tune "Charlie Bit Me" song! Both videos are very cute and funny.

One downright cool video is called "Symphony of Science" in which someone has auto-tuned a scientific documentary featuring a number of prominent scientists (including Carl Sagan and Bill Nye) talking about the nature of our atomic makeup. I do not agree with all of their scientific conclusions regarding our existence or the existence of the universe we live in, but the obvious pleasure they take in discussing how vast and amazing life is, is quite inspiring! How can you argue with the line "the beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into, but the way those atoms are put together."? Not to mention the song is quite catchy.

Finally today, here is a treat for you movie fans out there. This is a Star Wars themed tribute to composer John Williams. Fans of a cappella music will be especially thrilled! I think this qualifies as funny, cool, and weird, but I'm guessing it depends on who you ask.

Next blog update will be: whenever we get around to it. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

Look What We Woke Up To..

2009-11-13T11:49:00.005-09:00

Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, it has begun!

It snowed a little late yesterday afternoon, but it was rain/snow mix, so it turned into a big slushy mess. This morning we woke up to more snow, but not too much, just a nice dusting with the roads being mostly clear. James hates it, I on the other hand I'm glad to see a little snow, I may have even done the happy dance- making sure no one was around of course.

I will say that it definitely makes me want to make a big pot of chili, blare my Christmas music and start "decking the halls." James said I have to wait, at least until Thanksgiving. Sigh... Well, that hasn't stopped me from making plans for my decorations this year. I'm going to stick with my lime/apple green & red tree decor from last year, after all it's only a year old and I still really like that combo, but I'm thinking of adding a little teal/bluish to the mix this year. I've seen lots of that color around and I even picked up a few ornaments in that color. Who knows, I may not like the blue mixed in, but I'll play around with it and see how it looks.

What about y'all? Doing anything different with your decorations this year? What about Christmas cards? I have been searching for the perfect card to send out to fam/friends this year, but can't seem to find exactly what I want. I had hopes of making my own, but I think I've decided against that, for this year at least.

Ode To a White Dodge Dakota

2009-11-08T13:42:00.006-09:00

Gather 'round dear children and hear my sad tale,

about a little white truck with the heart of a whale.

Many years ago when I was but a lad,

I needed a new ride so I called up my dad.

I looked around once, he looked around twice,

and found a small pickup for just the right price.

It had a few flaws as used trucks do,

but it ran like a dream and had a stereo too!

I got in my new truck to go for a ride,

it started right up and rumbled with pride.

As I started uphill I was startled to hear

a loud moaning sound that sounded quite near.

I knew the solution for just such a sound,

I turned up the stereo and let the bass pound.

One day I got out of my little white truck,

I tried to close the door, but somehow it stuck.

For awhile brute strength would keep it shut tight,

but that all changed out at WalMart one night.

In the dark and the rain I prayed to the Lord,

and remembered somewhere I had a bungee cord.

People would smile at my door latching device,

but it kept the door shut and it was just the right price.

Then in the terrible winter of Oh-Nine,

a sad thing happened that really crossed a line.

While attempting to escape from a snowy, white grave,

I heard a great CA-CHUNK as the four-wheel drive gave.

It pained me to think it, but I knew it was so,

It was time for me to let my poor white truck go.

So many long drives, so many good times

I need to end soon I'm running out of rhymes.

I will miss that little dodge dakota truck,

I hope it brings the new owner great luck.

Say goodbye now dear children as it drives away,

be sure to wave for me if it drives past you someday.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

2009-11-03T18:14:00.004-09:00

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I am leaving K-town and heading to Cincinnati to attend The SEARCH Institute's Healthy Communities/ Healthy Youth Conference. This is actually not a work function, but for PATCHworks, a local Non-Profit Board I sit on that promotes the Developmental Assets Model for children/youth within the community. This is an annual event that representatives from our board and community attend, and I was just about the only board member who had not yet attended the conference. So, I'm joining our Executive Director and heading to Ohio for the annual shin-dig.

I kind of have mixed feelings about actually going. While Cincinnati would not be my destination of choice, it will definitely be great to get off "the rock" and you can't really knock a free trip, right? On the other hand, work is so crazy right now and I just know I'm going to come back to 200 emails and a desk stacked full of crap! Plus, traveling definitely makes sticking to the Nutrisystem plan much harder. My game plan is to take some foods with me and the rest of the time, carefully watch what I'm eating and be sure to grab plenty of fruits and veggies.

Too bad this conference couldn't be in the deep south. If that were the case, maybe I could steal away and visit family and friends for a few days. Anybody going to be in the Cincinnati area this week? Anyone have any suggestions for sites to see while I'm there?

In other thoughts, with the end of Daylight Savings, it is getting dark here at almost 4:00pm!!!! I hate that, and I know until Dec. 21st, it will just continue to get worse. Sigh... Well, I am looking forward to decorating for Christmas and even seeing a little bit of snow. Shhhhh, don't tell James! I believe he has previously referred to snow as the "white, flaky menace".

Let me know if you feel like making a random trip to Cincinnati!

Week Four Already?

2009-10-28T21:39:00.004-08:00

Here we are in our fourth week of NutriSystem. This last week has been a bit rougher than we would have liked. Truthfully, we've cheated a couple of times and although our commitment to stick to this program has been challenged, we remain determined to change.

Right now we're facing the bottom of the barrel food-wise. Breakfasts are still easy enough, but fewer and fewer of the lunches look appetizing, and the dinner selection has come down to choosing the lesser of the "evils" that remain. Next week we'll get our new shipment and I think staying the course will become easier. Having quick, convenient food we actually like will make eating in a lot more palatable.

The weather has been considerably colder the last few days here in Ketchikan. Much of October was relatively pleasant, but there is a real bite to the wind tonight and rumors of snow are making their way around town. I've been trying to spread counter-rumors about a November heat wave, but no one seems to be buying it. My theory is: if you don't talk about snow it won't come. Denial is our first defense against the white, flaky menace!

-J

Week 3 Begins

2009-10-21T19:23:00.005-08:00

We just finished our 2nd week of the Nutrisystem plan and have begun week 3. I had designated Tuesday as our weekly update time of the week, but well, there was other stuff I had to get done last night and it just did not happen. So, here is our weekly check-in.

We are still trucking along and following the plan and even made our selections for next months order last night (one of those things that had to get done). Our first month we chose to just do the "favorite" package, which included a sampling of just about everything on the Nutrisystem menu. That allowed us to figure out what stuff we really like and what stuff we could definitely live without. So I'm excited about next months order because I know it's full of my favorite selections for each meal of the day. There really are some pretty yummy choices, especially dessert, I don't think I have found one thing that I don't like in my dessert choices!

I did hit a little bit of a discouraging bump yesterday. Going back a little bit- our very first week I did not weigh myself for a starting weight because we didn't own a scale- this was Tuesday. That following weekend I bought a scale but didn't want to weigh myself in the middle of the week, so I waited until the following Tuesday- the beginning of week 2. I was feeling pretty good, my pants were a little looser and I definitely had more energy. Yesterday morning (Tuesday) was the beginning of week 3. I hopped on the scale in the morning before I got in the shower (the same thing I had done the week before) and was aghast that I had lost all of about 1/2 a pound!!!! Are you kidding me? I've been following the plan to the T, feeling better, having more energy and I basically didn't loose squat!! Needless to say, I was very discouraged and I'm still at a loss of what's going on. That being said, I have not given up, but I'm definitely on a quest to figure out what is preventing my body from reaching that magic formula to start dropping some lbs.

I will say that I haven't been exercising- not yet anyway. In the past when I've dieted and been successful at losing weight, I usually don't add exercise for the first 2 or 3 weeks because just the change in my diet is enough to get things started. Then, when I can tell things are slowing down a little bit, I'll kick in a exercise regime. Well, what the heck is going on this time!?!? I must be getting old and my body is more determined to hold on the the extra pounds. I don't know, ahhhh!! It's so frustrating.

I was feeling pretty hopeless yesterday, today I feel a little better, but I still would like to see some results! Anyway, I have decided it's time to kick in the exercise, just got to find the right thing/place/time. I have used the rec center here in the past and I can always do that. I would love something different like a spin class, but I don't think anywhere in town offers that. I actually don't mind exercising, for me it's just getting over that hump of actually going and finding something to wear, and not being self-conscious, all that stuff. But once I'm there and in the zone I get this incredible high! Well, I will find something I can do and enjoy and feel good about.

Ok, enough complaining. It actually makes me feel better to get this out and to admit that I've hit a bump in the road. I am determined to get the ball rolling. CALORIES IN VERSUS CALORIES OUT, CALORIES IN VERSUS CALORIES OUT!!!! This chant will become my new mantra.

So here's to week 3! By the way- thanks for the encouragement. I think our "weight loss" posts have gotten more comments than we've had in a while. Guess we've found what you guys like to read about- our fat asses! Ha!- Carolyn

Anniversary

2009-10-18T20:48:00.003-08:00

One year ago today I stood alongside the woman I love and made the most important promise of my life. I haven't regretted it a single day since! I am truly more in love with her today than I was yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow. She is the best wife I've ever had, my true love, and my best friend. I love you baby!

Frame the Date

2009-10-15T21:04:00.003-08:00

This was last week's weekly give-away on one of the blogs that I regularly read and I thought this was cute enough to share. Plus, our one year anniversary is just a few days away (10/18/08) and if you're looking to get us a present, here's a suggestion (hint, hint). Although, I should really say if you're looking to get ME a present, this would probably not be James' first choice. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. So on frame the date.com you can select the frame of your choice and from a variety of black & white number pictures, have a special date to hang on the wall or place on a bookshelf or wherever.

Super cute, huh? What a great wedding or baby gift for someone! I think you could totally make these yourself. Of course you would have to be sure and have your camera on you at all times and be on the lookout for interesting numbers.

In other news, the Nutrisystem thing is still going well. We will be sure to do another full report next Tuesday. Other than that, it has been a crazy week at work and I am so glad tomorrow is Friday!!!! Nothing too big planned for our anniversary, we are planning to disappear for about a day, unfortunately we'll still be on this island, but it will be good to escape the normal for a little bit.

Until next time...

- Carolyn

Week Two, See It Through

2009-10-13T20:17:00.005-08:00

We have successfully completed our first week on NutriSystem! It hasn't been easy, but we stuck to our guns and the week went by fast. I used this program a couple of years ago and met with some success so I know the effort is worth it, but the first couple of weeks are the hardest.

Since Carolyn and I are doing this together it has been interesting to see the differences in the areas we struggle with. I have been hungry all week and it has been a battle for me not to cheat. Carolyn on the other hand has had a hard time eating all the food she's supposed to. Part of it is because she's been sick, but it's also because dieting this way is new for her. She'd gotten into a bad habit of eating a tiny little breakfast and not much else until dinner. Eating small, well-balanced, regular meals is supposed to be the optimum method for weight loss, but it's not always as easy as it sounds.

Trying out the different foods is always an adventure. The picture on the box usually looks quite appetizing, but when you peel back that plastic seal... I've had many of these dishes before and I remember what's good, but it's been a bit scary for my lovely wife. Fortunately she's found a few things that she really likes and before our next shipment we'll be able to go online and customize what comes next month.

Eating lots of veggies is a huge part of this program, but that's easier said than done. I'm not anti-vegetable, but I prefer to eat my "rabbit food" as a part of a well-balanced cheeseburger. I guess the hardest part is the monotony of trying to choke down the same veggies day after day. That being said, I want to appeal to you our faithful readers! Please share some of the unique and delicious ways you enjoy your greens. Baked, stir-fried, or steamed as long as it's healthy and tasty. There is only one rule: no brussel sprouts!!

RaNdoM

2009-10-06T18:08:00.008-08:00

First...

Day One

Well, after much soul searching, research and financial analysis, James and I have decided to start Nutrisystem together. Seriously, we actually sat down and talked about what barriers were keeping us from dropping the lbs, looked at several options and even tallied up what we typically spend on groceries/eating out in a month. Nutrisystem seemed to fit our needs and our budget, so we placed our order and just received our first shipment last night. Therefore today, October 6, 2009, is DAY UNO for this new adventure in our lives. Last night we got all our Nutrisystem goods sorted and stashed away in the kitchen cabinets and made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on fresh fruits & veggies so we could start off on the right foot. Both of us are actually super pumped and motivated about this. James has even come up with a slogan for week one- "Week One, Stick to your Guns!" - I know, he's a total dork, but hey, whatever works for ya. So, here's hoping that the motivation keeps us going and puts us on the path to success! We'll have to post updates on our progress as things truck along.

Second...

Voting

Today Ketchikan had elections for City Council, School Board, City Mayor and some other bond and tax issues. As I was driving home from the polls and feeling pretty good that I had taken the time to go vote today, I started thinking about my history of voting. Y'all here is my confession for the night, I NEVER voted in an election in Mississippi!! We're talking 7 years in MS where I was of age to vote. I never really cared, didn't know the people who were running and well, just never took the time to actually go and vote. On the flip side, since I have been an official Alaska State resident, I have not missed a single election at the local or state level! I'm really surprised at myself. After reflecting on this for a little bit, my conclusion is this is a direct result of living in a small island community. Number 1, I actually know the people that are running for these positions and Number 2, I can actually see and feel the effects of the decisions that these leaders make. In other words, I'm motivated to get my butt in gear and take the time to cast my vote. As a side note, I'm not on a campaign to get everyone to vote or anything, just sharing my thoughts for the day.

That's all I've got for now - C

Explaination & Update

2009-09-26T10:34:00.002-08:00

In my last post I shared that there was change on the wind for Carolyn and I. According to my lovely wife (and a 'just curious' phone call from mom) I have an unfortunate habit of over dramatizing things sometimes, so I wanted to give a little more clarification, without totally spilling the beans.
First of all, no, we are not pregnant! I know that is an easy conclusion to jump to (us being newlyweds and all), but that is not the case. We aren't moving or buying a house, and we haven't decided to quit our jobs and become dirty hippies...yet. There are just a couple of things happening in our lives, some decisions that we've made that we aren't quite ready to share. There will be full disclosure soon enough, you'll just have to be patient.

Alright, that being said, here is one of the changes I was talking about: I got a new job! I still have my first job, this new job is only part time for now, but I'm really excited about it! I have a couple of friends who started a computer repair shop this summer and business has been booming. They are moving from their cramped downtown shop to the new hub of commerce in Ketchikan: The Plaza. These guys are computer whiz-kids and they have promised to teach me how to fix computers as well. This is a field I have been interested in for a long time and I can't wait to get started!

More to come another day, for now just watch this and smile.

Ch-ch-changes

2009-09-22T22:18:00.007-08:00

Change can be scary. Its an unknown, virgin territory, going-out-on-a-limb upset of the status quo. That doesn't mean its a bad thing, just new and different.
Without going into details at this time I just want to give fair warning to those who read our blog that there are some changes on our horizon. Good changes. Changes that we hope will mean good things for the James & Carolyn show. They may be one small step today, but it could mean a giant leap tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers! We're excited and we're motivated, but only time will tell how it all pans out and the love and support of our friends and family means the world.
One of the changes already in play is the college class I'm taking. This is new territory for me, but so far things are going well. The class is all online and I've gotten 100% on the first two assignments, but the true test of how well I'm really doing is coming up in the next couple of weeks. The first few assignments have all been mini-bulletin posts about the class material I'm reading, but coming soon to a computer near me is: (pause for dramatic music sounds) my first essay. I'm feeling optimistic -I usually do- but I guess we'll see how the teacher feels in a couple of weeks.
And now for something completely different:
Here is a video you should watch. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but FYI: the "cute" needle on your monitor will probably explode. Much love to you all!

-J

Are you in need of some anonymous revenge?

2009-09-15T15:46:00.004-08:00

We went to dinner with friends this past Friday night and they told us about a website where you can pay to have a bag of dog poop sent to someone. Don't ask me how we got on this subject, but I just had to check it out once we got home. The prices start at $9.99 for a small bag of poop and go up to $30.00 for the "Extra Mad Special", which comes in a black bag and apparently is extra messy. This company even has pictures of their dogs who actually "produce" the product for sale.

I'm not condoning this, but I have to admit there may be a few people I would like to send an anonymous bag of crap to. Come on, you know you're thinking of someone too!! Even if you're not ready to make a purchase check out the website here when you get a chance, just for a chuckle. This is a crazy idea, but it I think this is hard evidence that you can make a business out of just about anything and that there are people who will actually pay for ... well, crap!

Overdue Post

2009-09-14T15:40:00.003-08:00

Ok, for all two of you who read this blog, I apologize that it has been so long! I had intentions of posting one evening last week and well, it just did not happen. By the time I get home from work I'm usually tired of staring at a computer and my brain is incapable of putting together complete sentences.

So, what's been going on? Well, not a whole heck of a lot. James is doing well in his first college class in a decade, Yay Jimmy James!! One night last week I wanted to go do something, although I can't remember what, and James tells me he can't go because he needs to do some reading/studying for his class. GET BACK! What did the self proclaimed slacker just say to me? WOW, I was a little surprised, but very proud. Yay for motivation & maturity!!

The weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, Fall is definitely on the way. I like all the seasons for different reasons, but Fall is probably one of my favorites- well, that is until I moved to Southeast Alaska! You see, there aren't any college football games to go to, no pumpkin patches or hayrides, no pretty changing leaves and definitely no Southern style tail-gating. I must admit I'm missing Fall in the South right about now. Usually "Fall" boasts some of the worst weather of the year up here, I'm talking literally raining sideways people! It's awful!

Obviously, it's not just the nice weather that I'm missing, but also the activities. Especially college football. A couple of weekends ago it seemed like everyone in blog world was posting about the opening game and all the activities that this monumental event entails. Admittedly, I was a little jealous. Sara had an excellent description of the culture of tailgating in the SEC. If you've never experienced this, it is a sight to be seen. My husband has yet to experience "real" tailgating, I will have to remedy that as soon as possible. Anyway, as much as I would like to be there for all home games, I can't. So, everybody keep blogging and posting pictures so that I can pretend that I am there ringing my cowbell and having a drink with you.

By the way, is that a new jumbo-tron in front of the M-Club? That sucka is huge!

I'll try not to wait so long between posts. Hail State! - C

I remember...

2009-09-01T20:59:00.005-08:00

Today was my great uncle Verner's funeral. The service was very nice, although I didn't really get choked up until the very end when taps were played. It's been a long time since I was at an actual funeral. I always have a hard time connecting my memories of the people that I know and love with the box that holds their remains. Memory is a strange thing. It can be triggered by things you might never expect. Yesterday I was mowing the lawn(at my paren'ts house in Petersburg) and all I could think about was how I used to watch him right next door, cutting the grass or working in the yard.
He turned 90 not to long ago. He lived a long and interesting life and I wish I knew a lot more of his stories. Last time I was in Petersburg he told me about some of his adventures in the Navy, but it was only yesterday I learned that he was actually in the bay of Tokyo when the peace treaty with Japan was signed ending WW2!
I'm going to miss him. My grandparents are gone and now that my great uncle has passed away my connection to "The Greatest Generation" seems fleeting at best. I have my memories; those moments I shared or the stories they told... it's not the same, but it does remind me to cherish the ones I love who are still around.
However long I live I hope that I'll leave behind as many great stories and memories as my great uncle Verner!

Weekend Re-cap

2009-08-23T17:10:00.013-08:00

Friday Night: Hung out with Caleb & Erika, played a little Catchphrase, cards and Fusion Frenzy (multi-player XBox Game). Caleb proceeded to dominate everyone at the video game and I think the boys beat the girls twice in Catchphrase, but it was still fun playing games!

Saturday: James headed up to the University of Southeast Alaska Ketchikan campus to register for a class this fall- I'm so proud of him!!!! I hung out at the house so I could clean up and re-organize the mudroom. I completely forgot to snap a before picture, but basically everything was piled in the corner on top of small table. I decided to "freecycle" the table to the Salvation Army and grabbed some inexpensive snap together plastic shelves from the store, not the most eye appealing, but very functional.

Saturday Night: James and I went to see "The Proposal" at the theatre. After the rest of the country has already seen this movie, we finally get it in Ketchikan! James was appalled that a movie set in Southeast Alaska was filmed in Massachusetts, can't say I blame him, kind of how we Southerners feel when the movies make us sound like complete idiots who just fell off the turnip truck. I thought it was funny that they were sure to include Xtra Tufs in every shot they could and that everyone in the little bar was drinking Alaskan Amber, making sure all the labels were facing out. Good plug for the Alaskan Brewing Company I guess. Betty White as a 90 year old half Tlingit woman was a little over the top, but overall, it was pretty cute and had some funny moments.

Sunday: A bunch of lazing around, a little blog reading catch-up, a little blog posting and some laundry. Just getting ready for the weekly routine, UGH! I'm ready for a vacay OFF OF THIS ROCK!

Hope everyone has a great week. - Carolyn (& James)

Just a quick post

2009-08-19T19:01:00.002-08:00

I just wanted to post real quick, since I've been neglecting my share of the blog writing. I returned from my hammock camping adventure mostly intact. I did leave a pint or two of blood with the bugs, but other than that it was a great success! Now that I'm getting a little older, sleeping on the ground just doesn't appeal to me very much. I was warm, comfy, and slept quite well! I will definitely do that again.
In other news: I am heading to Petersburg to see my folks in a couple of weeks. It's not really a vacation, more of a work-to-pay-back-mom-and-dad-for-money-I-owe-them sort of thing, but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless. In a startling turn of events I found out last week that my brother and sister-in-law are going to be moving to Petersburg the same day, so I'll be able to help them haul some stuff up there and then my dad, brother, and I will get busy on the house.
And finally, A few weeks ago I read the following story:

"In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell (a Canadian band) were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn't deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say no to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world."

It's always frustrating when "the man" does something that makes us feel powerless, and I liked how creative this guy was in standing up for himself. There are plenty of people who go online and post angry rants about the injustices (real or imagined) they have been forced to endure, so this guy's reaction was something of a breath of fresh air. Check out his first song and see what you think!

Rambling

2009-08-06T15:27:00.008-08:00

It has been over a week since we posted and I hate it when we let that happen, oh well. Truth is, I don't really have anything exciting to write about, I'm just going to start rambling and hope that it culminates in some sort of sense.

This past weekend was Ketchikan's annual Blueberry Arts Festival, lots of handmade goods, food and "blueberry activities" such as the great blueberry ball roll down main street, best blueberry dish contest... you get the drift. It really is a lot of fun and when walking through all the booths, I'm always amazed at the talent and creativity of the locals. James and I went downtown to enjoy the festivities and walk around a little bit. We didn't make any grand purchases, but of course we could not leave without getting our hands on some delicious blueberry crepes and lumpia. The artwork for this year's festival was super cute (see above) and I would have loved to have purchased a print, but they did not make any this year. I love art festival prints/posters and I have a few from my hometown's annual art festival- Gumtree Arts Festival in Tupelo, MS. I did buy note cards with the blueberry holding octopus and I'm debating having one of those matted and framed- might look cute propped on a bookshelf or something.

This morning, James headed out to do some camping for a few days. If you don't already know, I'm not much of a camper. I can handle a night or two at some nice camp ground, but after that I'm ready for a hot shower and a comfy bed. James was in the mood to totally rough it and trek off into unknown territory, needless to say, I gladly stayed behind for this particular trip. He has decided to try hammock camping, which honestly, I am a little skeptical about how that is going to work out. He is out of cell phone range, so I can't call to see if he was able to get his hammock set-up, but hopefully everything is going ok. Alaska boy with knives and a gun- he's probably just fine and maybe he'll bring me home a bear skin or some other exciting wildlife token. He is supposed to head back late Saturday afternoon. No big plans for me while he is gone. I'm debating whether or not to paint our kitchen table and I have few other projects in the works that I could start. I told James to be prepared for changes when he got home. I guess when the husband is away, the wife will....... decorate!

I'll have to get James to post about his camping experience when he returns, so stay tuned! - C

It's gettin' hot in herrre...

2009-07-28T21:13:00.004-08:00

Some of you may have noticed the little weather forecaster thingy on the lower right hand side of our blog. It lies. The sunny part is true, but I don't believe for a moment that it only got up to 77 today. I didn't see a thermometer, but I'd guess it was at least 140-150 degrees out today... Ketchikan is all about the liquid sunshine (a.k.a. rain) so the real McCoy, all hot and shiny, confuses and distresses me. Okay, that might be a bit of an overstatement, but I am truly a lot more comfortable when the weather is in the high 50's to low 60's. It can be sunny out once in awhile, but the special moss I cultivate between my toes requires a couple-hundred inches of rain every year.
As if the heat wasn't bad enough, I have more complaining to do before this blog is through! (That rhymed, but I assure you it was unintentional) I've lived in Ketchikan for over half my life. I don't know what it is about this place, but it gets in your blood. So many people come for "just a year" and end up staying a whole lot longer, sometimes a lifetime! However, sometimes this island starts to get under my skin... I can't tell you how many times I've wished aloud that I could go somewhere, anywhere to just get away from everyone (except my lovely wife of course)! The sad truth is that we don't have a lot of road around here. Less road means less places to go, so on a lovely summer day anywhere you go seems to be packed with people!! Why can't everyone just go away?!?
Alright, I'm done ranting (for now). Truthfully we have had a spectacular summer! Nicer than the last two or three years combined... It isn't over yet, I predict more sunny days in our future and I guess I'd better soak it up while I can get it. Soon enough I'll be blogging again about the never ending horror that is snow!

A Junk Huntin' We Go!

2009-07-22T15:29:00.012-08:00

This past Saturday Jimmy James and I decided to go hit a few garage sales (something we have blogged about before- see here), an activity we occasionally like to do- occasionally because we also enjoy sleeping in on Saturday morning. We only hit up a few places this time, the first being advertised as an "Estate Sale", which was really the whole reason I actually wanted to get up and go in the first place. Estate Sales tend to be much more interesting than garage/yard sales, unless the ad is a lie, which thankfully this one was not. This particular estate sale was in a rather large building, and oh buddy, was there lots-o-stuff! This person (or people) must have been an interesting character with many talents because there were tons of old tools, old maps, architecture/drawing paraphernalia, it was really quite neat. I think if we had a shop or garage, James would have been happy to walk away with many of the old tools.

After poking around for a while we walked away with only 2 small things for a grand total of $7. I got an old red metal hook, which I probably won't even hang in our home now since we're just renting. But it is really heavy duty with some neat ornamental flourishes that I thought would be neat in a home of our own one day, and you always need extra coat/hat/bag hook, right? James stumbled upon a tin full of matchbooks (some not even open) from various travels this family must have taken. James really wanted these because there are a few matchbooks that look like little books and he thought they were neat. I liked them because it is an inspiration to start a hobby that I've always wanted to do- collect matchbooks from all of my vacations and keep them as a sort of a trip down memory lane. After telling James I thought we should start this little collection, he wholeheartedly agreed and said he had even thought of doing the same.

A high school friend's parents collected matchbooks from all of their travels and kept them in a big glass bowl in the living room. It was so neat to look through them and find some really unique matchbooks- it really is a lot more exciting than it sounds people. Anyway, so this is the beginning of a new collecting hobby for us. Who knows, maybe we can hand our collection over to our children one day and say "Kids, here is a unique little memory from all of our vacations throughout the years", and they will say "Oh neat Mom & Dad" or "Wow, a lifetime supply of matches". Either way, a collecting we go- just need to schedule an actual vacation!!!

Need a little morale boost?

2009-07-20T23:45:00.002-08:00

As James and I have shared before, we love a good YouTube video and I'm back with a quick post to share a video you may have seen before, but this one is worth a another watch. So, whenver you're feeling a little blue, here's a video that might just leave you warm and tingly inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Good night y'all! - C

Savory Sautéed Sockeye Cakes & Steamed Rice

2009-07-19T18:49:00.004-08:00

I thought I'd write a quick note about the delicious dinner we had the other night. An old family friend sent us some jars of sockeye salmon when my parents were here last (about 6 weeks ago) at the time we had talked a little bit about ways to prepare the fish, but I had sort of forgotten about it. Lately Carolyn and I have been trying hard to plan meals (especially dinner) and make healthy choices. It helps the waistline and the wallet, so we know it's a smart idea, but we sometimes get stuck in a rut making the same old things. Carolyn suggested we do something with the salmon, which I thought was an excellent idea and it made me think about the conversation we'd had with my parents.

I took a jar of sockeye, added a couple of eggs, a couple handfuls of panko, chopped onion, salt, pepper, and a dash of thyme. Sautéed in a little EVOO with a side of rice it turned out to be a very tasty meal, one we're sure to make again soon! Here is a pic of the finished product:

It's Been Too Long...

2009-07-14T22:45:00.009-08:00

As Carly commented on the previous post, it's been too long since we've posted! We were on fire there for a little bit. I've discovered that I like blogging more frequently because then I don't feel like my post have to be so significant and I can just write about silly stuff. I'm back with a small update in hopes that the blogging ball will start rolling again.

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous, so we took advantage of the warmer temps and sunshine and spent most of the weekend outdoors. Saturday we grabbed some grub from Burger Queen (not to be mistaken with Burger King, the Queen is a hometown hole in the wall that makes the best burgers in K-town- in my opinion anyway) and headed to the beach for a little picnic. I read, listened to music and soaked up some glorious sunshine and much needed vitamin D. James, who is not quite the sun worshiper that I am, found a nice shady spot and did a little bit of whittling (he's such an old soul sometimes). We had the beach all to ourselves for about 2 hours, it was wonderful!

We enjoyed ourselves so much Saturday that we decided to do a repeat performance on Sunday, this time heading to Ward Lake. We made some sandwiches and found a secluded picnic table and just relaxed- very nice.

Friday night we headed out to Herring Cove to do a little bear watching. The Kings (Salmon) were out in full force doing their thang swimming upstream to spawn, which I think is so cool to see. The eagles were out in full force and we did manage to see one black bear. He was trying hard to catch a fish, but did not succeed while we were watching. I got a few pictures, not great ones because I don't have a great zoom. My camera is small, lightweight and great for carrying around in your purse or pocket, but not so great for taking pics of Alaska's plethora of wildlife. A bigger camera with rapid shoot and a better zoom is on my wish list, in case you want to buy me a gift. Ok, now for a few photos.

Big badda-boom!

2009-07-08T21:39:00.005-08:00

Carolyn and I watched a foggy fireworks performance this 4th of July. It was lovely, although short, and more than once I expressed my appreciation of all things that go boom. I enjoy shooting guns, I like watching buildings blowing up, and as previously mentioned I appreciate a good pyrotechnics show. Even more than watching I like setting off those lovely, smelly, noisy, blowey-uppey things!! I've been accused of acting like a kid when I start playing with fireworks...guilty as charged. I admit I can get a little crazy, lighting fuses, running and screaming like a little girl...okay that was only one time, anyway I have a lot of fun.
Unfortunately fireworks are not allowed in Ketchikan. They aren't allowed anywhere on the island for that matter (which is utterly ridiculous, and completely insane in my opinion). So imagine my excitement when in a recent issue of Wired magazine I found an article about how to make my own fireworks! No really, check it out for yourself: http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Make_Fireworks
I haven't tried it yet, I don't eat that much soup...but it looks like fun right? After Carolyn read the article she's decided to forgo the non-dairy creamer from now on, I can't say I blame her.
If I am able to gather all the supplies to make my own I promise to take some pictures when I set it off...maybe I can add it to the festivities at the annual chair burning!!

A Few Matters of Blog Business

2009-07-07T23:29:00.004-08:00

** Edit 6/8/09: I had to change the background again b/c I found myself squinting at the screen to read the text. Sorry for all the changes Mom Corrao, glad you're reading and keeping up! **

1) I changed our background and used a new site for blog backgrounds. I think this one is really cute, but it seems to make the text a little difficult to read so I don't know how long it will last. Anyway, people that design blog backgrounds will mostly let you use them for free as long as you do a plug for them, so here's the link:

http://simplychicblogs.blogspot.com/

2) We have added a box for James' twitter feed (right side of the page under our blog list). He usually updates once a day, a lot of the time in haiku format, so be sure to check out what he's up to or what he's thinking on a daily basis.

3) Jimmy James, I have done my duty as far as posting the past week so it is your turn my dear!

- Carolyn

I was on such a good roll!

2009-07-03T22:09:00.010-08:00

I'm so mad at myself for breaking my everyday posting streak! I had every intention of blogging yesterday and well, it just did not happen. We ended up having a bonfire with several friends last night and I was going to wait until we got back from the bonfire to blog for the day (day #4), but we ended up staying out WAY too late and I was so sleepy by the time we got home so sleep won out over blogging.

To catch up, yesterday I slept in for a little bit and then had a pretty relaxing and lazy morning. After lunchtime (and a nice online chat with Carly), I decided to get dressed and head downtown to play tourist and shop around a little bit. It was such a beautiful day so I enjoyed walking around and I found lots of stuff I would have loved to purchase and bring home with me, but I actually made it home with only one thing- a box of hand-dipped chocolate covered Oreos from Ketchicandies- my fav-o-rite!! Like I said earlier, last night we ended up having a bonfire on the beach and although I ended up coming home with several mosquito bites, it was still a lot of fun and very relaxing.

Today, we took it pretty easy and then headed down to the booths they have set-up for the fourth of July weekend. James wanted to get some lumpia sold by the Filipino Community Club, something I think he looks forward to every fourth of July. Nothing really exciting after that, just a relaxing day for the most part.

We're talking about possibly going fishing tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the big firework show tomorrow night. I think after four post in a row, it is time to hand over the keyboard to Mr. James so that he can blog.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Temporary Housewife- Day #3

2009-07-01T22:36:00.013-08:00

Ok, I said I would blog everyday this week and I am bound and determined to stick to that, even though it's late in the day, it is still Wednesday (at least in Alaska) so I'm saying this counts as my third day in a row!!!

Well, this morning I had to take a little time away from my staycation (as James would say) for a work meeting that really needed to happen this week. This was a post-Sole*Stice event meeting so we could tie-up any loose ends and have feedback from those involved. Didn't last too long, so no big deal, I'm sure I can make up for the time it took away from my vacation later.

The sky was kind of gray and gloomy looking this morning but by the time I got out of the meeting, the sun had found it's way through the clouds-yipee! Therefore, my car got a very thorough cleaning inside and out. I'm feeling pretty good right now- clean house-check, clean car- check, haircut- check, pedi-check. It feels nice to be getting these things done. I still need to get my oil changed, maybe a manicure, and I have a nightstand that I want to start painting, but still two days left in the week so I'm feeling pretty good. woo hoo

Tonight James and I had a date, nothing fancy, just a relaxing dinner and a movie. For dinner we went to The Narrows- pretty good food and a GREAT view! We had the pleasure of watching the sailboats race down the Tongass Narrows. Sailboat races are something that the Ketchikan Yacht Club does every Wednesday evening in the summer- at least when it's windy enough. I've heard about this since I've lived here, but never really been in the right place at the right time to watch. I did manage to snap a few pictures, not really great ones, but I'll try to post anyway. I could never seem to get all the boats in one shot- I think there were about 7 to 8 sailboats total.

After dinner we headed to the movies to see........ TRANSFORMERS. I loved the first one and was anxiously waiting to see the second installment. It definitely did not disappoint, AWESOME MOVIE, so glad we got to see it in the theatre. The next summer movie I really want to see is The Proposal- that is if/when it makes it to our rinky dink theatre- this is one of the downsides of living in K-town. I hate having to wait for new movies to get here (if they come at all) when I know they are already playing elsewhere, ahhhhhh!!!

Overall, pretty great day. Now, let me see if I can post those dang sailboat pictures.

Day 1 & 2

2009-06-30T15:18:00.012-08:00

Well, the SoleStice Shoe Auction Fundraiser for the Ketchikan General Hospital Foundation was a big success, but lots of work!! Whew, it wore me out and it was time for a break, so I am actually on vacation this week. Unfortunately, I'm not headed out of town to an exotic location, but the truth is, I just needed a week to catch up on my personal life- housework, haircut, oil change for my car, projects, etc.. Soooo, I am playing housewife this week and really enjoying it so far. Unfortunately it's only for a week (until James writes a best-selling novel that is) but it's nice to get some things done and take a break.

Yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom, I'm talking some deep cleaning- you know, doing all those things you don't do in your regular cleaning (or at least stuff I don't do on a weekly basis). It was hard work, I was actually sore last night!! But, it needed to be done and now the house is looking good. After that I went to my Board of Directors meeting for PATCHworks (local non-profit) and then came home to a wonderful spaghetti dinner cooked by James- yummy!

Today, I got up, got dressed and went to get a haircut and a pedicure, two things that were way overdue and I enjoyed thoroughly. I really need a manicure too, but the nail lady was booked up so I may try and do that Thursday or Friday- have to complete the body maintenance, right? When I was finished at the spa I ran a few errands and then decided to come home so I could catch-up on email and blog (I have no excuse not to blog this week).

Next on the list: clean the car inside and out! Just wish the sun would come out to make that job more pleasant, I may just have to proceed sun or no sun.

Well, that's it for my first few days as a housewife, real exciting stuff, huh? My goal is to blog everyday this week so stay tuned... - C

A Momentous Occasion

2009-06-29T23:03:00.003-08:00

This is a little late in the day (6/29/09), but this is a big birthday so it deserves several days of celebration. So...

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!! I am blessed to have you as a mom and you deserve the best. Hope you have/had a wonderful birthday and that your 50th year is the best yet. I love you and I miss you everyday. I am wishing that I was in Mississippi to help you celebrate or that I could send you a plane ticket to Alaska, but I guess we'll just have to make up for it later. Cheers! - Carolyn

Sicko

2009-06-17T20:31:00.006-08:00

Unfortunately it's been a whole week since we blogged last. We are doing better about keeping it updated, but sometimes life gets in the way. The last few days Carolyn and I have been sick. You'd think with all that extra time laying around the house we'd be blogging like mad right? Yeah, not so much. When you don't have the strength or motivation to change the channel (even during the infomercials), doing something as exhausting as blogging is out of the question. I'm happy to say we're on the mend, eating solid foods again and everything!
In other news, have any of you seen "I Survived A Japanese Gameshow?" Crazy!! I have always been fascinated by the Japanese culture, but there's so much of it (especially the game shows) that is just baffling to me! Anyway, if you're home on a Wednesday night check it out on ABC. It's a head-scratching good time!
Work is work, what can I say. Things seem to have mellowed out a little for me right now, but this week is crazy-busy for Carolyn. The Foundation is having their annual Shoe Solestice fundraiser which is really great for raising funds, but not so great for stress-levels or sanity. I'm pretty sure she won't go on a killing spree or anything, but...just please keep her in your prayers. =o) The good news is that after Saturday her life should get a lot less hectic.
Alright, enough blabbing...I mean blogging from me for now. Much love to you all!

-J

Youtube Follow-up

2009-06-10T15:46:00.005-08:00

Ok, James got to share a few of his favorite youtube videos and I thought I would add a few other videos that I feel are worth sharing. Who doesn't like wasting a few minutes on a great youtube video, right? So, click away my bloggy friends...

1) Christian the lion- Have y'all seen/heard about this story? A-MAZ-ING! I tear up every time I see this incredible reunion. I'm not really a fan of "The View" but this was the best version I found that kind of summed up the story of Christian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGKWoJi5qM

2) Sound of Music Flashmob- James has recently introduced me to flashmobs, a very interesting social experiment/phenomenon. This is one of the coolest ones I've seen. I wonder if we could pull off a flashmob in Ketchikan? hmmmm.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Enjoy! - C

Do Youtube?

2009-06-07T22:58:00.005-08:00

My parents are in town and it's been a lot of fun to hanging out with them and my brother and sister-in-law! Whenever we all get together it seems like we talk about every topic under the sun. Sometimes voices are raised and the discussions get intense, but more often than not an eavesdropper would hear long periods of laughter as we joke, tease, and tell funny stories. So far my folks have only been here two days, but I've noticed two or three times now when a conversation has included the words: "Have you seen the video..."
Since it is my turn to blog, and I was having trouble thinking of a good topic, I thought I would post some links to a few of the funniest/coolest videos we've been talking about (or just ones I think are awesome) so YOU TOO can join in on the fun.
So here we go in no particular order:

1. David after the dentist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs&feature=fvst
-This kid is a riot! ...but I still don't want to go to the dentist...

2. LED Sheep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb9NPPDLzso
-I KNEW sheep were useful for something besides sweaters!

3. Dog dreaming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqrhZW9xIrY
-You'd never catch a cat doing anything this undignified! =o)

4. Evolution of Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
-This guy has some sweet moves!

5. Dramatic Prairie Dog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40
-Short and haunting...LOL! Okay, just short and silly/funny.

If you have a few minutes and you need a laugh, please click on the links above!

A Belated Congratulations

2009-05-28T19:07:00.002-08:00

I forgot to do a shout out to my brother Drew for his recent graduation from NYU. So, congrats on your graduation Drewbie!! Quoting Monica from 'Friends' - " Welcome to the real world, it sucks, you're gonna love it!"

Staycation

2009-05-27T22:51:00.005-08:00

Memorial Day weekend was a quiet one at casa de Corrao. As much as we would have liked to go on some exotic vacation or drive off to a romantical B & B it just wasn't possible. I don't know what the next best thing would be, whatever that is, we did the next best thing after that. We had ourselves a little "staycation".
Things have been a little hectic at work for Carolyn and me. It's a busy time of year and we have both been feeling a little stressed out. It makes me miss the good old days. When I was a kid the advent of summer was always a time for much rejoicing! Now... I don't want to say it's a source of dread, but it sure means a lot more work.
Anyway, we decided the easiest way to get away from it all was just to hide out in our apartment for the weekend. We stopped by the grocery store, rented a few movies, and tried to forget about work for a few days. There wasn't much change to the scenery, but at least we had all the comforts of home! Who knows, maybe someday we'll look back and reminisce about the good ol' days of staying home for vacation.

House Fever

2009-05-18T22:10:00.004-08:00

Before I jump into my post for today I just wanted to say that I guess my last post stirred up a few extra comments. Let me clarify that my words were not written in anger, I was just being silly, but it is nice to know that more people are reading than I realized. Thanks for the comments Gmomma & Rhonda- love you and miss you!! I'm overdue for a game of spoons with the whole fam sitting around the Henry table, oh.. and maybe some good catfish & hush puppies!

OK, before I digress too much, let me get back to the subject matter that inspired this post title. Yes that's right, I have a bad case of HOUSE FEVER!! Meaning, I want to buy & own a house, or I guess I should say, I would like to "own" the loan on a house. hehe

James and I really did luck out and find a nice apartment, but we are lacking a nice outdoor space i.e. deck or patio. Now that the temps have warmed up and we've been having some beautiful summer days, I have been longing for a great deck so that we can grill-out (bar-b-que for the Northerners) and sit outside to enjoy the wonderful weather. Silly reason to suddenly want a house payment and home owner responsibilities, right? Well, that's not all....

If you know me, you probably know that I love to decorate!! Unfortunately, in our current "home" I'm not able to start painting walls, put down new floors/counter tops/etc. or any of the things I really enjoy doing! Sometimes I sit in our current apartment and visualize all the things I would do if this were MY place, it's really quite sad. I think I get this from my mom, for the most part I grew up in older houses, (I so love the older houses!) so it seems like we were constantly doing something- painting, ripping up carpet, replacing light fixtures, and so on. Anyway, I think this has led to my need to make home improvements. It's so bad that not only do I sit in my own apartment and think of things I would do, but I do this when I go to other people's houses!!! I think I should have majored in Interior Design or something, I'm pitiful. OK, so that' reason 2...

Reason 3: I want a pet!!! More specifically, a kitty cat. We're not allowed to have pets, so I'm also feeling a little deprived in that area too. This is another thing we always had growing up, our cats were members of the family and 2 of them still live with my mom back in MS- "Big Girl" & Katie. Last Friday I came home from work and turned on Oprah. Well, the whole show was about animals- all kind of amazing animal stories, but also about how special it is to have a pet and how much love they can bring to their owners, blah, blah, blah. So, about halfway during the show I realize that I'm tearing up- pitiful I know, but it made me realize how much I miss having kitty cats in the house.

My current illness has led me to daily searches on the local real estate websites and even rides around town so that I can drive by a house I have seen online (or in the paper) that I wanted to investigate further. James & I have decided that we're not quite ready to jump into home ownership for several reasons, but sometimes it sure is hard to wait, we're just trying to be smart before we take that big leap. For now, I will just have to settle for looking and dreaming. I have to tell you that I am not alone in this illness, I'm pretty sure James has a slight "house fever" too.

This & That

2009-05-13T21:02:00.017-08:00

Oh, what to blog about today??

James and I are so bad at keeping the blog updated on a regular basis, sometimes we seem to do better than others, but most of the time I have blog guilt because we take forever to post something new. Well, I have been thinking about why it seems to be such a chore for us to update and I've come up with two conclusions:

1) For some reason I have had this crazy idea in my head that I have to have something significant and worthy enough to actually post and then I get all paranoid about my grammar and spelling, so it takes me forever to even write anything. I have come to realize that some of my favorite blogs to read are those that contain posts that are nothing more than someone casually rambling about their every day life and who cares if they contain typos/grammar mistakes/etc. Therefore, I have decided that even if I feel I have nothing of note to post, I will still post something and not fret over my grammar and spelling!

2) I'm not even sure who reads our blog on a regular basis! I think we have about 3 people that ever really comment on the blog. One of the main reasons we started this thing was so we could keep the family updated, but I don't even know that they read it, except when I remind them to, and then half the time they can't figure out how to comment- Yes I am placing some blame on you the reader and yes, I'm also talking to you Mom! LOL

So the conclusion... Well, my plan to post more (even about insignificant stuff) will hopefully spur family/friends to check in more often and even comment.

Ok, enough of my ranting. So, want to see some of our completed projects? It seems like one or both of us are always working on something- like right now I have a half painted canvas on the coffee table and James has one of his guns on the kitchen table that he is re-bluing, but we do have some finished (or mostly finished things) we can share.

First is the bottle lamp. This is the champagne (or sparkling wine) that we drank on our wedding night- some kind of Spanish stuff. Anyway, we thought the bottle was really neat so we decided to make a lamp! We both kind of worked on this one, but James did all of the actual wiring. PLEASE IGNORE THE LAMPSHADE!! - I know it is too small, but I have not yet found one that would work. Sorry this picture is a little dark so it's kind of hard to see the detail on the bottle.

Second we have the distressed lime green dresser. The dresser was a freebie, but started out white and gold with some really gaudy hardware, wish I had a before picture. I painted it the lime green color and then did a little distressing with sandpaper and a hammer and finally added some new hardware. Now, I have to tell you that it turned out a little more "lime" than I meant for it too, but oh well. The dresser is in our living room and all the drawers serve as wonderful storage for our DVDs, CDs, Video Games, etc.

And close-up..

Well, to our very few but faithful readers, that is it for now. Goodnight - Carolyn

"Ode to a Red Cotton Sweatshirt" by James Corrao

2009-05-06T22:17:00.006-08:00

I once had a soft cotton sweatshirt,
it was warm and comfy and red.
A gift from someone who cared for me,
a gift from the heart and the head.

It brought color and cheer to my wardrobe,
all blues and greens and grays.
It kept me safe from the elements,
warming my nights and my days.

I wore my red cotton sweatshirt,
with pride I wore it a lot.
It made me feel good to wear it,
but sometimes it got really hot.

Some people thought it was stupid,
some people thought it looked bad.
I ignored all the hatred and slander,
it was the best sweatshirt I'd ever had.

I miss my dear old red sweatshirt,
all holey and stained and torn.
and though it has now since departed,
forever in my heart it is worn.

Happy Birthday Jimmy James!

2009-05-03T17:10:00.004-08:00

Happy Birthday to my hubby and best friend! I hope you're having a wonderful day and that 31, will be the best year yet! Love you- C

Happy Birthday lil' Bro!

2009-04-29T23:41:00.004-08:00

Drew, Happy 22nd birthday from Alaska!! Hope you're having a great day. Your present should be on the way! Cheers! - J & C

Treasure Hunting

2009-04-23T21:02:00.003-08:00

This past weekend we decided to hit a few garage sales on Saturday morning and despite having to get up at 7am on a Saturday, we had a really good time. I enjoy going to garage/yard sales, but why do they have to be so early on Saturday mornings? How about a Friday night garage sale or even a Saturday mid-morning garage sale? Ok, I'll stop rambling.

So, what did we find? Well, I think James and I both walked away with a couple of new books to read, James picked up a new game for his Nintendo DS and some new knives- one thing he definitely doesn't need more of, but whatever. I found a cool old wooden float (picture below). I think this is going to go on the bookshelf in the guestroom where I am trying to do an Alaska Beach look. I also found this great original painting for $50 at the first place we stopped but sadly, it did not make it home with me. I hesitated slightly because it was the first place we stopped and it really wasn't what I had on my list to look out for so I hated to spend $50 in case I found something else we really needed/wanted even more. Well, I came to regret my decision to walk away and learned a valuable garage sale lesson- if you find something you really like, buy it right then!!!!- it's not like a store where you can go back to get something if you change your mind. Oh well, I guess it wasn't meant to be this time.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-13T19:30:00.008-08:00

Happy Easter everyone! I just wanted to write a quick blog and show off my mad baking skillz! =o)

Easter Egg Bread has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. Usually my mom makes this tasty treat for the whole family to enjoy, last year she even mailed me some! This year mom was crazy-busy and didn't really have time to do a lot of baking. However, she did have time to email my brother and I the recipe so we could take on this culinary challenge for ourselves.

I must say this is the most difficult thing I've tried to make on my own so far. I had trouble getting the dough to rise (maybe our apartment is too cold?) and as pretty as the pictures look, it doesn't taste quite as good as mom's. Nevertheless, it does look good -and it's edible- so I'm calling this one a success!

Carolyn has this egg dying thing down to a science!

Aren't they purty!?!

TA-DA!! (and check out the cool vintage tablecloth from Mama K!)

A big thank you to my mom for the recipe and for the years of lovingly baked goodies! Another big thank you to my awesome wife for dying the eggs and for supporting me through the un-risen dough crisis of '09.

My New Ride

2009-04-11T16:08:00.005-08:00

So, on Tuesday I got to pick up my new car that arrived on the barge. Yay for a new ride!! I have been driving for over 10 years and this is the first time I've really gotten a say in what kind of vehicle I wanted. My first two cars where picked out and bought by my parents, which don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that they provided me with my own transportation, but I didn't really get to pick out these cars. The last car I had was just a junker I bought when I first got to Alaska with the thought that I just needed something to get me around for a year. Well, y'all probably know how one year turned into longer and therefore the junker stayed around. So now I've got something that I got to pick out. I feel like a big girl!! haha Now, let's be honest, if money were no object, I might be pimping around in something totally different, but considering, I am very happy with my new set of wheels. I also have some new features that I have never had on a car. This is the first time I have had 4wd, leather seats, a 6-disc CD changer, and keyless entry- yes that's right, it's 2009 and I've yet to own a car with keyless entry. I am loving my little SUV and I'm very thankful that it can zip up and down our big hills and get me around in the snow!

Update time!

2009-03-26T19:45:00.007-08:00

Wow, I just realized it's been over three weeks since we updated last! A lot has happened in that time, but I won't bore you with all the gory details. Here are some of the highlights:
- We had our first official guests stay with us! Our friends Will & Shelly came up from Colorado for a mutual friend's wedding (Congrats Stina-Marie!) and we were delighted to offer them our guestroom (now with a real-live bed!) for a few days.
-I was blessed with the opportunity to preach at our church a couple of weeks ago! I know God has blessed me with that gift and I felt honored that Pastor Cade would ask me to fill the pulpit. Who knows, maybe Carolyn will get up there and preach next!
-It is without sadness that we announce the passing of Carolyn's car. She bought it shortly after arriving on this rainy little rock, and now it is gone! To tell you the truth we were hoping it would survive a little longer, but that's the way the rust-bucket crumbles. The good news is that after much blood, sweat, and tears (okay, mostly just searching the Internet) we have located a sweet new ride for her! Sometime in the next couple of weeks (whenever the barge arrives) Carolyn will be the proud owner of a sweet, new-used Ford Escape (with that new-fangled 4-Wheel Drive I keep hearing about)!
-Last night I am proud to say that I crafted a culinary masterpiece! Using mostly ingredients we already had, and doing my best to make it healthy, I made pseudo-chicken cordon bleu! Just to clarify: the chicken was real, but the "cordon bleu" part is open to interpretation. Anyway, I had fun making it and we enjoyed eating it (so much so, that we didn't have time to take pictures). A couple days before that I made one of my favorite Norwegian desserts -Lefsa- for the first time ever. I would have dearly loved to consume the whole plate myself, but supposedly eating an entire stick of butter is "unhealthy" or might "clog my arteries." Whatever.

Just think, if you came to visit us, you too could be a part of this crazy adventure! Well, it may not be crazy or some big adventure, but at least you'll eat well!

In the mood...

2009-03-03T19:15:00.002-09:00

Ah, spring. I know it's coming! To paraphrase Alfred Lord Tennyson, "In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of..." camping. I've been thinking a lot about camping over the last few days. I know spring isn't quite here yet, in fact it was snowing just this weekend. However, the blessed rain returned once again to wash away my winter blahs and remind me that soon, much sooner than we might expect, the long awaited spring will be upon us.
To be honest, I'm not exactly a hardcore camper. I don't hike off into the wilderness with a change of socks and a bowie knife for weeks at a time, but I like to think I could handle myself if the need arose. Although, it seems like the ground is a lot harder then when I was a teenager.
Maybe I'm more of an armchair camper. I can't tell you how many times I've daydreamed of disappearing into the wilderness with nothing but my rifle and a full pack. Of course, I'm a married man now and that means my lovely wife is eager to hit the trail with me at a moment's notice right? ...not so much. =o) For some reason she likes showering daily, being warm, and sleeping in comfortable bed...
Nevertheless, I am determined to take a few days off this summer and spend it in the great outdoors! I'll do some fishing, pick some berries, kill a bear with my bare hands...so far I'm only in the planning phase, but it's shaping up to be an excellent adventure!

One More Thing

2009-02-26T19:39:00.002-09:00

I forgot to say that my mom is now on facebook! This may not seem like big news to most of you, but I can barely get her to read our blog, so I was shocked when I saw her on facebook. Go momma, you're a cool kid now.

I'm feeling old and boring..

2009-02-26T18:57:00.003-09:00

It's my turn to blog, but I don't have any new pictures to share or anything new and exciting to post- pout :( James and I apparently need to liven things up, maybe find a new activity to do together or something.

We did get our taxes done and we're getting money back, Yay!!! We thought we might actually owe money so I would have been thrilled to just break even, but getting money back, that is a unexpected bonus! Only problem is, we've yet to decide what to do with this extra money. Should we be wise and put it towards bills and/or savings or just totally blow it! We have yet to come to a conclusion, but I imagine the verdict will be somewhere in-between, part on something smart and responsible and a little on just something fun and frivolous. James wants to buy a Xbox 360- VETO!! I want a new ride with 4wd, unfortunately it's not enough to buy a car :)

We've also been enjoying about 2 weeks of beautiful sunny days. It's still been cold, but to have a reprieve from snow and rain has been wonderful and you just cannot beat the view in Ketchikan on a sunny, clear day. These are the days that get you through all the rain, I'm just hoping this is a preview of what is to come for the summer.

Ok, obviously my life is boring right now if I can go on about the weather for 3 sentences. Geez!! Sometimes routine is nice and comforting and the positive side of this is that nothing tragic is going on in our lives. James has some friends coming up to stay with us while they are in town for a wedding, I'm in the process of booking a trip back to MS to see the fam, and I've got several projects around the house I want to work on, so hopefully things will liven up.
Until then....
- C

Alas and Alack

2009-02-18T19:29:00.005-09:00

In my last post I excitedly announced my return to the hallowed halls of edjumakation. Unfortunately it is not to be. It turns out that since this was such a special pilot program they had some special qualifications for the students they were looking for, and apparently I am overqualified. I am seriously bummed out, but I guess this isn't the end of the world. I am attempting to project my previous levels of excitement onto a new class of some sort (to be determined in the near future). In the meantime I thought I would share something funny and brainless to drown my sorrows in.
Here is something a friend recently posted on facebook.
1. YOUR REAL NAME: James Corrao
2. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME(mother and fathers middle name): Roy Mae
3. NASCAR NAME(first name of your mother's dad,father's dad): Spencer Robert
4. STAR WARS NAME(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): CorJa
5. DETECTIVE NAME(favorite color,favorite animal): Blue Hedgehog
6. SOAP OPERA NAME(middle name, town where you were born): Ralph Petersburg
7. SUPERHERO NAME(2nd fav color, fav drink, add THE to the beginning): The Black Oatmeal Cookie
8. FLY NAME(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name): Ja-Co
9.STREET NAME(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie): Chocolate Swedish Butter
10.ROCK STAR NAME(current pets name,current street name): Kipper Buren
11. YOUR GANGSTA NAME(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle): Jamizzle
12. YOUR IRAQI NAME(2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name,last two letters of your last name then last three letters of your last name): Arraaorao

That's all for now kids. Much love to you all!

Time for an Update

2009-02-10T18:18:00.010-09:00

It's been a while since I blogged so I thought I would do a quick update and post a few pictures. First we have,

SUPER BOWL PARTY!

We had lots of good friends over to our house and lots-o-good food! Here are a few pictures.

James and Caden (our friends, Rich and Sara's cutiepie son) Check out his shirt:

Intense moment in the game I guess. I didn't really pay that much attention to the actual game :)
Here's what Jim and James did for most of the 2nd quarter:

Next update, BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!

Yeah, that's right, I'm officially 27. I had a great birthday, just wish I could stay 26:) James spoiled me all week with little surprises and on Sunday morning he made me breakfast and surprised me with a cake he had made the night before- or rather very early that morning (apparently he stayed up til 3am making the cake after I had gone to bed Saturday night), he's pretty good to me!

I was also given tickets to the Wearable Arts show from my office. James and I went to the show on Saturday night. It was so awesome! This is an annual event, but this is the first time I have gotten to go since moving to Ketchikan. I guess I should briefly explain, the Ketchikan Arts Council accepts submissions of "wearable art" from anybody in the community and then puts on a big show, runway, pumping music, and all (I felt like I was at fashionweek in New York)! The "art" is outfits and headpieces made out of just about anything you can think of, candywrappers, beads, utensils, etc. It is so amazing what people create. I told James that we should submit something for next year and find some friends to serve as models.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any good pictures. They didn't allow flash photography and the models were strutting their stuff so fast that every picture turned out blurry. I will share one of my sad, blurry pictures but you should also check out the arts council website for a better explanation: http://www.ketchikanarts.org/content/view/158/109/

A Momentous Occasion

2009-01-31T13:20:00.007-09:00

It is with much fear and trembling that I document my plans to enter a realm I have long avoided. My success in this arena has been limited at best, my willingness to re-enter the fray has been virtually nonexistent. However, at long last I see before me an opportunity I cannot ignore.
On February 18th, 2009 I will begin a series of college classes as a part of a program being offered through my work. It is an apprenticeship, a pilot program being offered through the University of Alaska for Direct Service workers. It is a cool opportunity all by itself, but what makes it irresistible is the cost.
Up until this point one of the biggest obstacles, or perhaps excuses, that kept me from pursuing any further educational endeavors has been the cost. Even taking a one credit class at the local satelite of the University seemed like more money than I wanted to part with at one time. Then you factor in how much going back to school would really cut into my laying around time and it just wasn't going to happen. However, when I heard about this program I realized I just couldn't pass it up.
It is an apprenticeship, which means it will take about 18 months to accomplish, that seems like a long time, but beyond the classwork there are 3-4000 hours of actually doing the job required as well. I already have that much experience (and a lot more) so maybe some of that will count toward the final length of time, but since I'll only be taking one class a week, eight or nine weeks at a time, the process will be fairly drawn out.
So how much is this invaluable, possibly life changing opportunity going to cost? Let me put it this way:

Tuition and fees = $0.00
Books and supplies = $0.00
17 college credits, a pay raise, and maybe, just maybe gaining more of an interest in furthering my education = Priceless!

Okay, I don't know about priceless, but I've always wanted to do one of those Mastercard commercial ripoffs.

Anyway, I wanted to share this with everyone for two reasons. One, because I think it's a pretty cool opportunity and I'm actually excited about the possibilities. Two, because by putting it on here for the world to see I'm kind of making myself accountable to all of you. I hope you will ask me how things are going and maybe pass on a word of encouragement or a kick in the rear if necessary. Of course my biggest encourager (and rear kicker) will be my lovely wife, who I think is even more excited about this than I am!
It is my hope that by the end of this I will have gained a new appreciation for studying, possibly rekindled my desire for learning, and most of all, actually succeeded in furthering my education!

My How Time Flies!

2009-01-26T20:33:00.005-09:00

Two years ago today I stepped off the plane in Ketchikan, Alaska ready to begin a new adventure in my life. I was ready to start my new job and excited to spend a year in a completely new and different place. Little did I know what was to come. It's still amazing to me that I moved to Alaska, ended up getting married, and have now lived here for two years! It has been a wonderful two years, I have seen and done things I never would have imagined, met some great people, and come to love the 49th state of the Union as much as I love the 20th state. I still miss my family everyday and sadly, I think my southern accent has faded somewhat, but I am proud to be an official Alaska resident and this year I will finally qualify for the perm fund! Yay! (You Alaskans can probably understand my excitement)

At this point, James and I are not sure whether Alaska and/or Ketchikan will become our permanent home , but wherever we go, Alaska will always be a part of me.

Art is purty

2009-01-19T12:45:00.010-09:00

Here is a short little update to brag about the beautiful new artwork that is now gracing our walls! At Christmas all of the grandkids were blessed to have the opportunity to take turns picking out pieces of art from our grandparent's extensive collection. Not only that, but my parents gave us some money to help pay for framing! These photos don't do justice to the real deal, but they give me a good excuse to blog!

This a scene from somewhere in northern Alaska that my multi-talented grandmother painted.

Another painting done by my grandmother. She painted this one from a photograph of some relatives back in Norway. Check out the cool frame we got for it!

Finally, I leave you with this awesome Virginia Eggert print of Hammer Slough in Petersburg.

Uneventful Week

2009-01-11T15:40:00.004-09:00

I know we have not blogged this week but we haven't had a whole lot to blog about! It's been a pretty slow week, which is actually a welcomed change. Usually things seem to be crazy and we're always running, so it's nice to have some down time. We did actually do a few things this weekend, but for the most part it was a lazy couple of days.

Friday night our church had a Wii tournament and we had volunteered to help out with one of the Wii stations. We actually had a lot of fun and I think people enjoyed having something fun to do on a cold, rainy night. Saturday, we had my brother and sister-in-law (Chris & Debi) over for a belated birthday celebration for Chris. We made calzones and played a new board game. Lots of fun!

That's about it for the update. I know that it is already January 10th and the new year's excitement has died down, but I saw this on someone else's blog and thought I would try it out, so here goes:

2008 Quiz

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Got married!! Spent Christmas away from my family in MS :(

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made new year's resolutions last year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? no

5. What countries did you visit? Unfortunately, didn't make it out of the country last year

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? more patience, smaller waist line :)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 18th- wedding day!, January 26th- finished my year as a VISTA volunteer (the whole reason I came to Alaska)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? getting us moved, organized, and purging James' stuff!, finding a new job that I like, staying on top of all my wedding gift thank you cards!

9. What was your biggest failure? I don't know, can't think of anything

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? not really, think I got a cold for several days but that's about it

11. What was the best thing you bought? new couch

12. Where did most of your money go? Probably bills and plane tickets to Mississippi

13. What song will always remind you of 2008? oh gosh, I don't know. Maybe "Mercy" by Duffy, I played it a lot (thanks for the cd Carly)

14. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? happier, well really about the same

15. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercised

16. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worried

17. How did you spend Christmas? went to Petersburg on the ferry to spend Christmas with the Corraos

18. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes

19. What was your favorite TV program? Chuck, Grey's Anatomy

20. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No

21. What was the best book you read? by far, The Shack

22.What did you want and get? a great hubby

23. What did you want and not get? new car with 4 wheel drive

24. What was your favorite film of this year? Probably, The Dark Knight

25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? got my Alaska Driver's license, I think we went out to dinner, I turned 26

26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? more time, more traveling, more money

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? comfy for the most part and in Ketchikan- stuff that will keep me warm and dry

28. What kept you sane? James

29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? i'm not big into celebrity world, oh, I do like Vince Vaughn

30. What political issue stirred you the most? Presidential Election

31. Who did you miss? always miss my family

32. Who was the best new person you met? Cheryl

33. Valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Don't take any wooden nickels :) (thanks for the valuable lesson, Karla)

- Carolyn

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T14:24:00.002-09:00

We wish all our family and friends a happy, healthy, joyful and prosperous new year!

I always like starting a new year, you get to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. (not that I can complain too much about 2008, but there is always room for improvements, right?) James and I enjoyed a day off work yesterday and I was able to get my Christmas decorations put away, my house cleaned, and my new 2009 planner organized and ready to go. I feel refreshed and ready to start 2009! I of course have some goals for the new year, which I will share with the hopes that this will hold me accountable:
1) Eat healthier and exercise more (this always seems to make the list)
2) blog more frequently!!
3)Communicate with Carly more often (I miss our daily emails Carly Jo!)
4) Get involved in something new in the community

There are probably a few more but I will stop there for now. Happy 2009 Everyone!

Christmas in Little Norway

2009-01-01T22:22:00.018-09:00

I hope all of you had a joyful and blessed Christmas! We had a great time visiting with family and friends in Petersburg. It was really cool to have all of the family together, it's been a while. We ate some delectable dishes (an important part of every family gathering), and I made my very first pumpkin pie!! I also got to sing with my dad and my brother during the Christmas Eve candlelight service which is always a lot of fun. I was hoping I could show Carolyn a moose, but no luck this time.

A beautiful winter sunrise off the back of the M/V Taku

This is why I love traveling by ferry (thanks for the sexy pic babe)!

I took Carolyn for a drive one afternoon to show her more of the island. Here we are about 30 miles out the road, driving through virgin snow!

Also out the road, a huge chunk of ice drifting off the beach as the tide came in.

For those of you who collect "end of road" pictures, this one was taken 36 miles (minus 1000 feet) outside of Petersburg.

Here we are back in town. The fresh snow made the tree look awesome!

One more pic before I sign off for tonight. Here is a doe and her fawn foraging for food among all the snow. The doe is trying to knock over a bird feeder in the background.

Lots-O-Snow!

2008-12-30T22:26:00.004-09:00

I feel like there is so much to blog about! We had a great time in Petersburg with the Corraos and made it home safe and sound on the ferry Sunday morning. I've got some pictures to share from our trip but first, the one thing on everyone's mind in Ketchikan, SNOW!! We came home to a good bit of snow on Sunday morning but it was still coming down and by Sunday afternoon we were pretty much snowed in and without electricity. Thankfully, the electricity was only out for a couple of hours, but poor James shoveled snow all afternoon just so we could tunnel our way out of the driveway.

Here is a picture from our driveway, right at 2 feet of accumulation and they are predicting more this week.

It's almost 11pm so I'm stopping there for tonight but will try and post some Petersburg pictures tomorrow. - Carolyn

A-traveling we go!

2008-12-21T19:42:00.004-09:00

In about eight and a half hours we will be getting on a ferry and heading to Petersburg, Alaska for Christmas with the Corrao clan! We are excited about the trip and we will post more later in the week (maybe even some pictures!). Much Love to you all, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Adventures

2008-12-11T19:28:00.010-09:00

This past weekend was full of Christmas activities! As James said, we had a double dose of work parties and had a lot of fun, plus, we walked away with about $250 in gift certificates! Crazy, I always feel like I am one of those people who never wins anything.

We had an eventful Friday and Saturday. Sunday we went on a hunt for fresh greenery! I had put up our tree a few weeks ago, which is fake, so I had decided I wanted to at least have some real greenery around the house in other places. James, being the Alaskan that he is, happens to know all the tree types and what locations we could find some good branches that were easily accesible to cut. So, off we go on our adventure. First of all let me mention that Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. Knowing this myself, I knew that you couldn't just go chop down a tree and/or branches wherever you please. James did not seem to be concerned about this as much as I was, but he did try to find us some somewhat discreet places for our hunt. I basically just pointed to what I wanted and James did the cutting and carrying. As he is hacking off big branches from trees that are probably older than the United States, the occasional car would pass by. At this point I would freak, yell at James to drop the branch he was holding, and play dumb as the car rode by- silly I know but I thought for sure some crazy ranger or greeny would stop my Christmas decorating quest. Thankfully we ended up with some beautiful pieces of the Tongass National Forest that I had a great time placing around our house. We had a good time and I just had to laugh at myself for being so paranoid.

Ok, I'm out... But first a few pictures.

Our First Tree! Thanks to all the ornaments Mom shipped from Mississippi, the tree turned out great:

The Kitchen Window:

Real Greenery:

The Hubby:

Party Time

2008-12-11T15:06:00.001-09:00

I know it’s been about 3 weeks since we updated last. Carolyn and I have been reminding each other to blog for a while now, so last night we arm wrestled to see who would have to do it. She won, so here is another note from me =o)
I think one of our New Year’s Resolutions should be a weekly blog update! I guess I hesitate to write when it doesn’t seem like a lot is going on, but even a little “hey, we’re still alive” post now and again shouldn’t be too difficult.
It feels like time has flown by since we returned from Mississippi. I thought things would get less busy and we would grow bored from all the leisure time… yeah, right! I won’t tax you with all the mundane details, but there are a couple of highlights I thought I would share.
On the 5th and 6th we had back to back work parties. I’ve always considered “work party” to be an oxymoron, but these turned out to be a lot of fun. At Carolyn’s party we were treated to fine dining (mmmm prime-rib), entertainment (Mr. & Mrs. Luther if you’re reading this, GREAT JOB!!), and fabulous prizes!
The hallway outside of the dining area was lined with tables, and on every table were three or four gift baskets. Every department at the hospital had filled these baskets with a variety of prizes, some directly related to their specialty (the Pediatrics basket was filled with kid DVDs) and some stuffed full of a random assortment of goodies. As each employee walked in they were given 5 free tickets, with the option to buy more, that they could drop in the bags strategically placed in front of each basket.
We sat at a table with friends and enjoyed some entertaining conversations as well as all of the things mentioned above. When at long last they started drawing prizes, lo and behold, Carolyn won a basket filled with gift cards from businesses all over town!! It was very exciting, and an excellent ending to an enjoyable evening.
The next night we attended my party, which wasn’t quite as fun (or profitable), but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless and Carolyn got to meet a number of my coworkers that she didn’t know. They all thought she was wonderful, of course, and I know she enjoyed meeting them and putting faces to names.
Alright, I think you’ve heard enough from me for now, so I will say goodbye. Stay tuned for the next post where you’ll hear all about our adventures hunting for greenery! I also recommend you leave some comments begging to see pictures of our Christmas tree. Carolyn did an amazing job decorating, but she has yet to put any online!! If we all band together and ask nice, maybe she’ll give in.

Wedding Quilts

2008-11-17T19:36:00.006-09:00

We received 2 beautiful, handmade quilts as wedding presents, both from very special people :)

This quilt was given to us by some of James' good friends, Will & Shelly Arbaugh. I think they both worked on this one, or maybe more like Shelly did the majority of work and Will pitched in occasionally ;). It is a great quilt to snuggle on the couch with and apparently doubles as a lovely Halloween costume for Mr. James. Doesn't he kind of look like a giant patch?

This one was made by James' mom, pictures do not do it justice:

Back in the AK

2008-11-12T19:20:00.005-09:00

Hello all! We have recently returned from the deep south. It was an excellent adventure, one which I'm sure will be the subject of many stories for years to come. I know Carolyn and I had a great time, I hope everyone else did too!
We made it back to Ketchikan safe and sound Saturday evening and it was so nice to have Sunday off so we could catch our breath. Now we are getting caught up at work and settling into a nice routine.
That's all for now. I think Carolyn is going to post some pictures of our wedding quilts soon so be on the lookout for that!

I am a blog slacker!

2008-10-24T14:38:00.004-08:00

So, I know that I am long overdue for a post,I think James has done our last several updates, including his most recent tear jerker. He's such a sap but very sweet.

Well, the biggest news is WE'RE MARRIED!! Wow, it's still hard for me to believe that I have a husband, but it's really great. I think it is an adjustment for both us to now be sharing a bathroom, bed, etc, but so far so good, just some of those adventures of newlyweds. After some debate, I have decided to change my name to Carolyn Henry Corrao, I was having trouble deciding whether or not to keep my middle name and become Carolyn Lee Corrao, but I'm going with the traditional southern way! By the way, for those in the south, that is not really the rule of thumb up here in Alaska, seems like most women keep their middle name and drop their maiden name. Funny how these things vary from region to region. I'm not looking forward to all of the hoop jumping i will undoubtedly encounter with I begin the process of legally changing my name, but so be it!

In other news, I've been working on decorating our new apartment and getting everything unpacked and organized. I have begun the process of (to make-up a word) "de-bachelorizing" James' furniture and the projects I've completed so far turned out really cute. I've still got several projects to go but fortunately I enjoy doing these things.

Also, a week from tomorrow we are "leaving on a jet plane" and headed for the deep south! Yay!! I can't wait to visit and celebrate with my family. James' parents and aunt will be joining us for the trip and I'm excited to play tour guide and show them my home state. I am praying for some cool, but beautiful sunny weather. I'm also hoping that the leaves have begun to change so we can enjoy the fall colors. Living in a temperate rain forest filled with evergreens, this is something I really miss out on up here.

Well, that's it for now. Tonight some good friends of ours are hosting a dinner party so I'm looking forward to visiting and celebrating with friends.

Until next time.....

- Carolyn

Countdown...

2008-10-17T13:03:00.004-08:00

I know it has been waaayyy too long since we posted anything, but I promise we will get back in the habit of posting more often when things settle down a little bit. Today I just wanted to write a little something about tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the day that I have waited for, for a long time. Tomorrow is the day that I sometimes thought would never come. Tomorrow is the day I have been hoping for, and praying for, since before I knew what the day really meant. For some, tomorrow is just another day, but for me tomorrow is the first day in a lifetime of tomorrows. Tomorrow I continue life's journey with the Love of my life; a living, breathing testament of God's Love and blessing; my best friend!
Carolyn, tomorrow I will take your hand and I will look into your eyes. Tomorrow I will finally speak out loud the vows I have been singing to you in my heart since before I even met you! I Love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.

-James

Apartment

2008-09-24T10:00:00.002-08:00

I just wanted to put a quick note up here about our new apartment. We have a new apartment!

Carolyn and I spent many, many hours searching through the newspaper and various websites trying to find the perfect place. It took a lot of phone calls, and a few walk-throughs, but we finally found a really cool spot to call home! It is an apartment, but it doesn't really look like an apartment from the outside. It's got 2 medium sized bedrooms, a huge bathroom, and a great big living-room/kitchen combo. We don't have a view or a private deck (or a fireplace), but it does have off-street parking and heat is included in the rent (very important up here in Alaska)! All in all it's got character, and Carolyn is very excited about decorating and making it cute!

I'm going to start moving in this weekend and about 3 weeks after that we'll be married (yay!) so I guess I'll have to have Carolyn move in too. =oD

We'll post some pictures when we have some, but for now you'll just have to take my word for it. And since we will have an extra bedroom, interested parties should start planning to come visit summer of '09 (Kay, this means you!)

-J

2nd Annual Chair Burning

2008-09-09T20:36:00.008-08:00

Labor Day weekend was surprisingly beautiful, and we decided to take advantage of our good fortune by having a bonfire on the beach. This is something we try to do when the weather cooperates, as it is one of our favorite summer pastimes. However, this bonfire was going to be special. Instead of the usual raging inferno of pallets and driftwood, we decided it was time to burn "the recliner." This particular recliner had been in my family for over 18 years and while it was still fairly comfortable, it was well beyond "shabby-chic." The upholstery was threadbare and discolored, the faux-wood grain handle to lift the legs was worn smooth from years of handling, and the arms were getting shakier by the day.

So we sent out a mass-invitation via text message, loaded up the chair, and scavanged around town 'til we had a truck full of wood. Armed with my trusty Zippo (and a box full of fireworks for good measure) we headed out to Refuge Cove on a mission.

Last summer BC (before Carolyn) I was given a nasty old chair that I took out and burned. It was a lot of fun, and when I told Carolyn about it she thought it sounded like an excellent idea and suggested several of my furnishings that would be suitable for a similar treatment.

This event has not grown big enough to warrant national media coverage (yet), but fortunately for all of you, Carolyn took some excellent pictures:

The flames get their first taste of vintage Laz-E-Boy

Here is a negative shot of the chair burning

If you think these pictures look cool, book a trip to participate in the Third Annual Chair Burning, summer 2009!

Together Again

2008-08-21T14:47:00.002-08:00

Now that Carolyn and I have both safely returned to our rainy little corner of the world, I thought I'd share a little bit about my half of "our last trip as single people."
Originally we were planning to take two separate trips together, one to Petersburg to visit my family, and another to Mississippi to visit hers. It turns out that the airlines are charging money to fly these days... a LOT of money, so with heavy hearts we cancelled our trip north. Carolyn booked a ticket south and I was planning to stow away in her luggage, but she said that wouldn't leave enough room for all her shoes ( I think she was joking) so I decided to hop aboard a ferry and go visit my folks.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the geography of my great state, let me explain. SouthEast Alaska is made up of a series of islands that hug a strip of American soil sharing a border with Canada. To get from island to island we travel via the Alaska Marine Highway on ferries, which are kind of like miniature cruise ships without all the amenities. I've always thought they should build a whole bunch of bridges and link it all together, but apparently that would "cost too much money" and "kill all the fish and wildlife" so I guess we'll make do for now.
It takes about 9 hours to get from Ketchikan to Petersburg, which may sound like a really long time to be stuck on a boat, but since I grew up traveling this way I really enjoy it. The scenery is excellent (when it's clear out), and there is usually a good chance you'll see wildlife of some kind during the summer.
One of my favorite ways to pass the time is people watching. During the summer there are people visiting from around the globe, and you'll hear any number of different languages and accents. I find it fascinating to observe the dress and mannerisms of all these different people and try to guess where they're from. Occasionally I will run across someone so intriguing that I have to remind myself not to stare! On this trip I spotted someone that really caught my attention and I'd like to share with you what I wrote:
08/13/08

To my left sits a gentleman with "salt & pepper" hair, matching beard, and an enormous, bristly moustache. Periodically he pulls out a clear plastic tray from the rucksack in the chair beside him. He lifts the lid part way, removes a danish, which he carefully places on the book laying in front of him, closes the lid and places the tray back inside his bag. Like a child expecting to be chastised at any moment for sneaking a cookie, he looks furtively around the room before snatching up the pastry. Cautiously tilting his head up to a much practiced angle, chosen possibly to minimize danish to moustache contact, he begins to nibble from one end of the pastry. He checks the room for possible breakfast thieves once more, pushes his coke-bottle glasses up his nose, and cracks open his book. He is reading a book entitled "Kanada." Whether he knows he is now twelve hours north of Canadian waters or not is unclear, but he seems very intent on learning all he can regardless.
The danish is gone. He has finished eating it a few moments ago, but seems too engrossed in his book to notice. He holds his right hand poised in the air near his mouth. If another pastry appeared there he would no doubt continue eating unaware it had been gone in the first place. At last he appears to notice his predicament. He closes his book, licks his fingers, and reaches into the rucksack to start the process all over again.
I watched the gentleman repeat this cycle 3 times until he was down to his last danish. After that he put his book away and walked off, much to my disappointment.

The rest of my trip was excellent. Very mellow, very enjoyable, just what the doctor ordered! Maybe I'll write some more at a later date, but I think it must be Carolyn's turn to write again :o)

-James

My Turn!!!

2008-08-09T20:34:00.002-08:00

Ok, so I know I/we have neglected the blog lately and have even gotten comments that we are way over due for a new post, so here goes! James' 100 things seemed to be a hit so I figured I would try it out for myself. First of all, we have to give props to the Parrot family (their blog link is listed on the left column). They were the ones who actually did the 100 things first and I thought it was a great idea and suggested that James try it out so, SHOUT OUT to the AWESOME PARROT FAM of K-TOWN! woo hoo!

And so it begins... 100 things about Carolyn that you might (or might not) want to know!

1) My middle name is Lee
2) I was given this name b/c my maternal Grandmother's name is Lee
3) I have an aunt and a cousin who also have the middle name of Lee (seems to be a trend for the women in the fam)
4) and coincidentally, my future father-in-law's name is Lee
5) I HATE Valentine's day!
6) I am "closet ghetto"
7) I enjoy rap (yes, a white girl from Mississippi who likes rap)
8) and can even speak limited ebonics
9) I hate for my feet/toe nails to be in disrepair SO..
10) I believe in giving myself weekly pedicures- chipped polish is a no-no
11) I LOVE to ORGANIZE!!! ... and I'm quite good at it
12) I think this drives other people in my life insane at times- sorry James :)
13) I would absolutely love to be a Professional Organizer
14) I also think Professional Student would be great, if I could make money doing this
15) I miss being in College!!!
16) I have come to love Alaska
17) and I think everyone should come here at least once (family & friends, this is your invitation to come visit)
18) BUT, I miss my family everyday and
19) I do miss the good ol' South
20) Especially the food :)
21) I love cornbread dressing (nobody up here even knows what that is)
22) I love boiled shrimp, potatoes, & corn (the Alaskans think their shrimp is better than ours, yeah right!)
23) and I haven't seen fresh black-eyed peas or good BBQ since I left MS over a a year and a half ago ( shame on me!)
24) I live with the Mayor of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough- impressive right? not really :)
25) Since I moved to Ketchikan I have acquired the new hobby of collecting beach glass
26) I've also grown quite fond of bonfires on the beach
27) and bear watching
28) I love living by the ocean! all the sights, sounds, smells, activities- it's awesome!
29) I like antiques
30) and could spend hours "antique shopping"
31) I enjoy re-finishing furniture
32) and one of my favorite things to do is take something old and re-purpose it for a new use
33) My favorite shopping partner of all time is my best friend Carly!!
34) I have always had a secret thing for nerdy/ "diamond in the rough" type boys....
35) I'm marrying a grown-up nerdy boy :)
36) James is the first guy I've ever dated with a beard but..
37) I've always liked guys with facial hair
38) James took me out to shoot my first gun a couple of months ago
39) I think I only shot it one time and quit-
40) I was a little nervous
41) BUT, I'm still fascinated and want to try again
42) I was born in Germany
43) and would really love to go back one day
44) I love to travel
45) but don't get to do it as often as I would like
46) I think my favorite food of all time is Mexican
47) a really good hamburger is a close second
48) I think Alaska and Mississippi actually have a lot in common ( I will have to blog about this sometime)
49) I love to drive!!!
50) Unforunately, I now live on an island with only 33 miles of road where the max speed limit is 50mph
51) Because of this, one of the first things I want to do when I get to MS is get on the interstate so I can drive for a longer distance and go fast!
52) This is much harder than I thought it would be!
53) Less than half to go!
54) The beaches here are absolutely gorgeous but
55) I still miss the white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico
56) I am truly blessed to have all 4 of my grandparents living!
57) I didn't realize until later in my life that this is not a common occurence
58) I'm not a big fan of wearing socks
59) I even have a tendency to wear my tennis shoes without socks
60) If I were a millionaire I would hire someone to scratch my back every night
61) I guess James will have to do for now
62) I love going to the dentist!
63) I take great pride in taking care of my teeth and love the fresh, clean feeling after a trip to the dentist's office
64) I think my Mom and my Fiance are both addicted to Diet Coke!!!!! - it's quite sad
65) Drew is a great younger brother but
66) Growing up, I always wished I had an older brother too
67) I think I look a lot like my mother
68) I remember in high school, people would call the house looking for my mom and when I answered, they automatically assumed it was her b/c we also sound a lot a like
69) I took clog dancing lessons when I was younger
70) There are some embarassing videos that serve as evidence of this fact
71) I like thunderstorms
72) I had a 0.75 GPA the first semester of my freshmen year
73) and now I have my Masters degree- go figure
74) About the 4th week I was in Alaska I was propositioned by a male prostitute ( if I haven't told you this story I would be happy to share)
75) I love kitty cats!
76) I miss my kitties that are back home with momma
77) I hope to eventually get a kitty up here
78) I am somehow related to Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) on my mother's side of the family
79) My brother lives in New York
80) I think it's quite ironic that the 2 of us ended up on opposite sides of the country
81) My birthday is a palindrome, 2/8/82
82) I have broken 2 bones
83) but never had stitches
84) I took piano for 8 years, from 3rd grade to 10th grade
85) I love to read!
86) I believe this mainly stems from the fact that my mom read to my brother and me all the time when we were growing up
87) Berenstain Bears were some of my favorite childhood books
88) My favorite number is 8
89) I became an official Alaska state resident in February of this year when I finally had to break down and get my Alaska driver's license
90) James and I have a regional language barrier
91) It's not bad all the time, but there are random occasions where I say a word or phrase and he has no idea what i'm talking about
92) I love to play board games and card games
93) One of the best memories I have is sitting around my grandparent's (the Henrys) dining room table late one night, playing SPOONS (a card game) with my extended family
94) I miss the smell of honeysuckle in the summer (can't get this in Alaska)
95) I start every morning with a cup of coffee
96) I hate being called CAROL!!!
97) I'm also not fond of Caroline, nice name, just not MY name
98) I like bluegrass music
99) I have naturally curly hair- this has it's pros & cons
100) I will be home in 4 days!!!!!!!

100!!!

2008-07-23T17:14:00.004-08:00

Okay, so in order to keep our devoted readers (all 6 of you) coming back for more I thought I would share a few things about myself. Here are 100 random things you might not know about James:
1. My middle name is Ralph.
2. Everyone called me “Jamey” until 6th grade when I became a man. My name is James. Don’t forget it (this means YOU Carolyn!)
3. I like to cook.
4. I was born in Petersburg , Alaska .
5. I hate going to the dentist!
6. I have had my gallbladder removed.
7. I went to college in Canada .
8. I love to read!
9. I am Norwegian, Swedish, English, German, and Italian
10. I was in choir from Jr. High through College.
11. Eggs are one of my favorite foods. I will eat them prepared almost any way.
12. I am a big fan of techno/trance music.
13. My favorite number is 13.
14. I am interested in a wide variety of topics, just not politics or sports.
15. I know a lot of random, useless factoids.
16. I have only broken one bone.
17. I love being on or near the ocean.
18. I have moved about 16 times in my life (so far).
19. I have no tattoos.
20. I’ve been thinking of getting one for a long time.
21. I worked as a hand-troll fisherman for a couple of weeks one summer.
22. I like to try exotic foods.
23. I’ve eaten jellyfish.
24. I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand .
25. I write Haiku’s occasionally.
26. I’m getting married on Alaska Day. =o)
27. I make excellent grilled cheese sandwiches.
28. I’m mildly allergic to the sun.
29. I am not a vampire.
30. I enjoy woodworking.
31. I love to write, especially science fiction.
32. I have great starts to at least a dozen stories! Now if I can just figure out the middle…and the end…
33. My favorite comic-book hero is Batman.
34. I think I may be addicted to Diet Coke.
35. I speak a smattering of a half-dozen languages.
36. I worked for 2 summers at a cannery in the “egg-house” processing fish eggs.
37. I used to have a cat named Kipperlugs.
38. My favorite comic strip of all time is Calvin & Hobbes.
39. When I was in Jr. High my secret dream was to become a rapper. …SO glad that dream died!
40. I once kissed Tigger on the nose at Disneyland . I was 1½, leave me alone.
41. Whenever I pay a bill at a restaurant I add the tip then round up to the nearest dollar amount so the total will be an even number.
42. I am allergic to bird dander.
43. I am not a fan of Country music.
44. I used to be able to stuff an entire McDonald’s cheeseburger in my mouth.
45. I once drank a case (24cans) of Mtn. Dew by myself over a 12 hour period.
46. I’ve worn corrective lenses since I was in 1st grade.
47. I enjoy public speaking.
48. I like electronic gadgets.
49. I think cheese is delicious! I like trying new cheeses.
50. I once sold over 100 candy bars door-to-door so I could go on a class trip for free.
51. The crinkling sound of certain types of cellophane makes my skin crawl.
52. Except when I’m traveling, I always carry a pocket knife. I’ve been carrying one since Jr. High.
53. I have only been seasick once in my life.
54. I enjoy cleaning my ears with name-brand Q-tips.
55. I like hunting, but have only ever killed one deer.
56. “Post-apocalyptic” is one of my favorite genres.
57. I am fluent in geekspeak.
58. When I get an idea for something to write I like to buy a new notebook to start writing in.
59. I have a LOT of random notebooks.
60. I tried to start a band with my best buddies in high school. We were called “Periwinkle Blue,” but I don’t remember why.
61. My current nickname is “Dreamcrusher.” It’s not as bad as it sounds.
62. I am a night owl.
63. I’ve been to 11 states and 3 provinces.
64. I would rather clean bathrooms than do dishes.
65. I have the skull of a grizzly bear my grandfather shot in my living room. I think it makes a good conversation piece.
66. I still watch cartoons sometimes.
67. I enjoy playing PC/video games.
68. I consider Pizza to be a balanced meal fit for any occasion.
69. I had a roommate in college that everyone called the “dark prophet.” Yeah, he was kind of scary.
70. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail.
71. I tried to rollerblade once. It did not go well.
72. I find cake donuts quite tasty.
73. I like to go beachcombing.
74. I got my drivers license when I was 22.
75. My first job was at a You-Pick berry farm in Oregon when I was 12.
76. I believe naps are a gift from God.
77. I toured with a music ministry group in college.
78. I have read “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy almost a dozen times.
79. I once ate a live goldfish.
80. I enjoy eating breakfast (foods) for dinner.
81. I like to watch sitcoms. “Newsradio” is one of my all time favorites.
82. I laughed during the movie “Castaway” when Tom Hanks lost his volleyball.
83. I used to decorate my walls with random castoffs I found in the thrift store. I have since been informed that this is “tacky.”
84. Once in a while I like to get creative in the kitchen and experiment. It’s usually edible.
85. Air Hockey is my favorite “sport.”
86. I was born with only 3 wisdom teeth.
87. I like building bonfires on the beach.
88. I love the Oregon coast. I have some very fond memories there.
89. I am an organ donor.
90. I refuse to ever purchase anything made by Apple.
91. I think it would be cool to be stranded on a deserted island.
92. I want to build a Baja-buggy.
93. I watch the Superbowl for the commercials.
94. I don’t like sugary cereals in large quantities.
95. I’m a big fan of recliners!
96. I once hit my brother in the head with a metal chain guard. It was an accident, I swear!
97. I think cheese and crackers is a perfectly legitimate dinner.
98. I want to build a raft and float down the Yukon river.
99. I want to visit all 50 states.
100. I can’t believe how hard it was to come up with 100 random things about me!

My Co-worker, Mr. Black Bear

2008-07-17T09:47:00.006-08:00

So, I have a big window in my office on the backside of the building. Our office building is kind of on the side of a hill and the backside of the building is surrounded by trees and brush. Well, this morning I am sitting in my office reading emails when I see something black out of the corner of my eye. Upon further inspection, I can see that it's a black bear cub sitting in the bushes outside of our office building! He's just a little guy and I keep waiting for a momma bear to appear out of the trees, but she never shows up. I watch in silence for a while and then begin to spread the word in our office and suck others in to observe this cute little black bear. Before you know it, about 7 of us are sneaking out the back door to get a closer look. We couldn't have been more than 20 feet away from the cub and he just sat there, eating his snack (garbage that somebody had unfortunately not locked up) and occasionally staring back at us. Mind you, this is not the first black bear that I have seen walking around the backside of our office building, but they are such neat creatures and I never tire of watching them. I would post a picture but I only had my cell phone camera and never got a good shot!

I would venture to say that there are not a lot of locations outside of the great state of Alaska that you can sit in your office and watch black bears. This is one of those unique things that occur up here that I love! As I tell James when I see something that you would never see anywhere else, Only in Alaska!! You gotta love it :)

On another note, it looks like we've had some hits on our blog and I'm so excited to see that! I guess it could be just random people but I'm hoping that it's friends and family that have stopped by to check out our latest news. Mom, thanks for the comment, I hope you will continue to visit and comment :)

- Carolyn

My parents! (AKA: Lee & Karla)

2008-07-16T15:21:00.003-08:00

2008-07-16T15:14:00.007-08:00

Big news from the wedding front! We’ve told a few people already, but if you haven’t heard by now this may come as a bit of a surprise. After a lot of careful thought, prayer, and discussion we have decided to elope! Carolyn was getting so stressed out about planning the wedding and she finally realized that it wasn’t what she wanted. She still wants to marry me (YAY!!), but one of the things we feel strongly about is that marriage is not about the wedding, it’s about a lifelong commitment to each other! Pouring all our time and energy into one crazy day when all we really wanted to do was relax and celebrate with friends and family seemed excessive. So here is the new plan: We’re getting married in the morning in Ketchikan, AK on October 18th. I don’t know what the bride will be wearing, but the groom is probably going to wear blue-jeans and a clean shirt =o) and then we’re going to run away for a few days, just the two of us!!!
We’ll have some sort of reception later on so people can party with us (and bring us presents) and then the first week of November we’ll fly down to Mississippi and introduce our families to each other!
I have lots of mushy stuff to say about how amazing and beautiful and smart and practical Carolyn is, but she’ll demand that I remove it, so I’ll just say goodbye for now. Love to you all!

-J

2008-07-14T15:06:00.002-08:00

Lil' Bro Drew and Carolyn- Home for Christmas 2007

2008-07-14T15:04:00.002-08:00

Mom and the lumberjack... oo la la

2008-07-14T15:02:00.002-08:00

Mom has Crabs! - Aboard the Alleutian Ballad, Summer 2007. (She'll probably kill me for this one :)

2008-07-14T14:59:00.001-08:00

Ketchikan Sunset