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MilSpouse (First) Friday Fill-In #73

The first week of July is pretty much behind us…. time is definitely moving fast.  And it’s time for another MilSpouse Friday Fill-In. So far the summer days have been few and far between: few warm, sunny days here and there, and more gray, overcasted days. But at least it is not raining nonstop like last year. I have been lucky to keep my running and biking miles up (read: Ironman training is progressing), as well as have been playing golf quite a bit. Earlier in the spring I made a decision to get my golf handicap down to where it used to be before moving to Alaska, around 2. Right now I am closer to 20 than 10 but direction looks good.

But let’s check out this month’s questions! Thank you to Wife of A Sailor  for hosting this lovely tradition of getting to know fellow MilSpouses.

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed? Nothing. Not a single thing. June was a great month, even though work was crazy busy, and I was running behind on my research stuff, including the IRB paperwork.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in June? Super awesome bear photography excursion on McNeil River. We were incredibly lucky to get a spot to go there, and furthermore the weather truly cooperated. Even a little bit too much based on my sunburns. Photos turned out great, and my photo agencies’ editors have been praising them. I also started two new blogs. While Adventures of The K Family is not going away or anything, I wanted to have a separate blog for my professional writing in the field of behavioral sciences: Action Potentials, and From Rough To Green, covering my golf adventures.

3. What did you do to celebrate Independence Day? Not a whole lot. We went to see the parade in downtown Anchorage, as well as saw the flag ceremony and reading of the Declaration of Independence. After that we were just hanging out at home, cooked steaks with steamed vegetables. And of course had corn on the cob! Jason had Thursday off but I was working, and since the Independence Day was (awkwardly) in the middle of the week, it was hard to get into any longer adventures. But nevertheless, we had a great 4th of July!

4. When you PCS, what items do you take with you and not let the movers pack, and if you do a DITY, what do you take with you and not box up (thanks to Sespi at And You Never Did Think for inspiring this question)? Important papers, some clothes, all the external hard disks and data storage system, laptops, iPads…. Everything else I can usually find along the way or at the destination if the HHG are taking for a while.

5. What are you looking forward to in July? Getting the IRB approved for my research, keeping on track with Ironman training, ….. and we have our Anniversary on Monday, July 9, as well as my birthday is coming up in about 20 days, followed by my husband’s birthday a few days later (in August though). So lots of celebrations in this month. I will also head out to California for a business trip, which is always a blast!

And I am also coaching kids’ soccer on post this summer. I can’t wait to get the practices started – that should be fun!

MilSpouse (first) Friday Fill-In #71

It’s time for a new MilSpouse Friday Fill-In! And it is May. Up here in Alaska it looks and feels like summer is making its way to north. Even though we saw a few random snowflakes yesterday…. just random ones though! But let’s take a look at the past month by answering the questions that have been put together once again by Wife of A Sailor.

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed? April was a great month but I would have greatly appreciated it not flying by super fast. Or maybe I would have needed a few extra hours here and there. April was the month of deadlines, papers and exams. On top of regular business travels in and out of Alaska. Hopefully May is slightly less hectic.

2. What was your favorite thing that happened in April? Melting snow!!! We had a super snowy winter this year, and we broke the snow record from 1955 here in Anchorage area. While shoveling snow is a superb workout, I am glad we are finally free of snow for a few couple months.

3. What are your plans for Memorial Day? Adventures, of course! Jason, Tassu and I are heading out to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park for Memorial Day weekend. Wrangell-St Elias is one of the largest national parks, bigger than the country of Switzerland. It is rather primitive area but a perfect spot for exciting adventures. We are thinking of taking a bush plane flight into the middle of nowhere, and do some backpacking and whatnot. Also, knowing my hubby, I am pretty sure some excursions around Kennicott Mine will be on our agenda.

4. Have you ever traveled Space A? If yes, where… if no, would you ever try it? Yep, just a short flight in L48. And look forward to doing some more! Too bad that full-time work limits my adventure opportunities. If I ever find myself in a position where I am free to hop onboard whenever I feel like it, I would be taking way more advantage of it.

5. What are you looking forward to in May? University commencement ceremony is this Sunday – how exciting! I am also looking forward to our trip to Mile-High City aka Denver and its vicinity in a couple of weeks, as well as the Memorial Day weekend adventures. And I already have some pretty neat business trips lined up for May too. Looks like another busy month in front of us…

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #67

Only a week to go to Christmas, and a couple of weeks to the end of 2011…. Christmas preparations are still work in progress but at least we got all of our Christmas cards out more or less on time, as well as presents have been purchased – or at least I have a great plan in place. Finally.

Tonight hubby and I went to see Anchorage Ballet’s Christmas 2011 performance that consisted of some more contemporary dance pieces as well as the most loved pieces of Nutcracker. It was a real blast, and we had so much fun. I would have loved to see the whole Nutcracker ballet but unfortunately there were only few shows in Anchorage, and at the time I woke up to book tickets, all the good seats were gone. Oh well, hopefully next year! However, Nutcracker music and ballerinas never fail to make that Christmas feeling.

This is the last MilSpouse Friday Fill-In this year. Always awesome  Wife of A Sailor will come up with new questions in 2012, so stay tuned, and join the fun – either now or next year!

1. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more organized with all the things I need to do and tasks I have to juggle with. I am hoping that better time management will eventually give me more free time. I don’t know if it is just wishful thinking but we will see!

2. One thing I’d like to happen next year is to participate and finish an Ironman race…

3. One thing I’m looking forward to next year is our move and new duty station.

4. One change I’d like to see next year is for people starting to care more about their health and well-being.

5. My plans for NYE include not sure yet….. maybe checking out the fireworks in Anchorage downtown, and having a friend or two over at our house.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #65

It’s time for another MilSpouse Friday Fill-In, thanks to Wife of A Sailor for putting this together again!

Hard to believe it’s December already. Less than 30 days left of 2011. While it is not time to review this year yet, I have to say this year has been full of adventures, and oh boy how fast it has flown by. But now to the questions of the week.

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I’d want to be on Amazing Race. I love to travel, enjoy the adventures – more excitement, the better… And besides, I have been traveling extensively all over the world, speak fluently seven languages, and know all the tricks what comes to using any transportation method in the world. Yep, I think I would totally rock it with my hubby.
2. This past Thanksgiving was absolutely awesome. Hubby and I had a wonderful, relaxing time together. And cookings were delicious.
3. I’m looking forward to December because of all the upcoming travels, and because I simply love holiday season.
4. One thing I’d like to accomplish this month is to finish some crafts projects that I really would like to have done for the holidays.
5. To me, winter is another season full of adventures. Time for skiing, snowboarding and all other good stuff! 

Fill In The Blank Friday

First time ever I am joining the “Fill In The Blank Friday“. Get to know some great fellow bloggers by filling in the blanks, and linking up at The Little Things We Do.

1. My favorite thing about this week was/is the great feedback on my research work.

2. Colder weather makes me simply dressing up in layers… have learned it while living Alaska. Yep, it is getting cold here!

3. Three things that make me terribly happy as of late my wonderful husband (he makes me terribly happy every day), the beautiful winter weather in Alaska, and great workouts – gotta love the runner’s high!

4. If I could only wear one kind of shoe for the rest of my life, I’d choose running shoes. Or maybe hiking boots – they’re terribly useful in all terrains. Or my beloved Merrell Pure Gloves.

5. My personality type is ENTP.

6. I have a serious problem resisting working out. I would be working out all the time if I could, and hate rest days.

7. My favorite color to wear is black, dark green and grey.