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Christmas Spirit

Posted on December 21, 2010
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Christmas is almost here. We got more or less all of our Christmas things done – the ones that were not finished can wait.

Right after midnight, early on Tuesday morning Jason and I started our trip to Chicago and Indiana area. It has been a long trip from  Alaska – flying via Seattle to Houston, and then to Chicago. The final leg of our flight a got delayed – there is no holiday travel without delays, right? Well, we both love traveling and little changes in the schedule don’t bother us. Hurry up and wait! Nothing new with that.

However, our Christmas spirit truly lit up today. We were in the USO lounge at Houston airport, waiting for our flight,
and a few kids came in to wish Merry Christmas to troops and their families, thank for our service and sacrifices, as well as handed us self-made Christmas cards. There was some money taped into these cards too. What a beautiful gesture. It almost brought tears to my eyes when thinking of these little kids drawing cards for us and showing their patriotism and support. I am sure this little present made a huge difference to all of us, and we were more than happy to donate the money to USO for everything they do for us. Christmas spirit apparently finds us when we least expect.

In a couple of days, when we all sit down for Christmas dinner, let’s say a prayer for those who can’t spend this Christmas with their loved ones, and pray safe return for our service members who are out there, in a harm’s way.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us All!

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #25

Posted on December 18, 2010
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And another week flies by again. It is hard to believe that Christmas is already next week. I still have a bunch of stuff to do but I really do love the season!

1. What is the best gift you have ever received or given? Hmm, this is difficult. I am sure I was more than excited about new skis, ice skates and such when I was a kid. Nowadays, however, I do appreciate a lot more the time we can spend together, and am just simply happy about being with my loved one.

2. Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition? I love the Christmas season and even if I spend the holiday alone, I try to something in order to keep the tradition. Not that I cook and bake all nine yards or have all the decorations out but still making it looking like Christmas – or any other holiday! Even though I love him dearly, I can’t stop living the life if he is gone. Maybe I sound cold-hearted or something but to me trainings, deployments etc are just part of the job that come and go, not a reason to get depressed.

3. Id you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree? I would love to have an angel – I have a mental picture of a perfect treetop angel but while looking for it, we have just a star.

4. What are your three favorite websites? Geesh, I have more than three favorites but probably Facebook, B&H Photovideo and Steve McCurry’s Blog.

5. On your man do you prefer… boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando? (yeah, I’m starting to get desperate for questions!) Boxers or boxer briefs are hot! :-)

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Kodiak!

Posted on December 17, 2010
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It has been a while since my last posting but I am back!
Now I know it! There is a spot in Alaska where the temperatures do not hit subzero and people are not drowning in the snow. Hard to believe when we are now living in the middle of the Winter Wonderland…
I was on a business trip in a small island of Kodiak, which is located southwest of Kenai peninsula. It is home for about 6,500 people, and was originally inhabited by Alaskan natives – Alutiiqs for over 7,000 years.

Kodiak is known for its bears – the island has its own brown bear species, Kodiak bear. And guess what, there are 0.7 bears per a square mile in this island! So no wonder it is a popular bear viewing destination too.
Also the Coast Guard has a rather large base on the island, a home and training spot of brave rescue divers. Coast guard base in Kodiak concentrates for example on Search and Rescue (SAR) missions – covering oceans from the Gulf of Alaska to Bristol Bay, Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean above 40N latitude. If you happened to watch the Deadliest Catch on Discovery channel, the rescue teams were launched from this CG Air Station.

Such a small island but still so fascinating! I can’t wait to get back there, and with my photo gear.

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #24

Posted on December 10, 2010
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Here we are at the end of the week again, and time to join the MilSpouse Friday Fill-In, hosted by Wife of A Sailor.

1. What do you see your life like in 10 years? Hmm, ten years is a long time. And I definitely didn’t see myself living in Alaska ten years ago, or doing most of the things I do nowadays. However, I’d like to see myself having doctorate, Jason having at least his Master’s, living somewhere where the Uncle Sam needs us…. being happy and healthy.

2. What do you like most about your job? I just recently changed a job, and have been with the new company for about a month. I absolutely love what I am doing – I am privileged to work in a great team, job is challenging and gives me a challenge to travel a bit too. The are evenings when I really look forward to going to work in the morning. Pretty worrisome, right? But I love what I do.

3. What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is? Working out, taking the dog out, and drinking coffee or tea.

4. What would you do with an extra five hours in your day today? I would so need those extra hours today! I have to get some final school papers done, and it will be a late night.

5. What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)? I am not a big cookie eater although I like baking. My favorite Christmas cookie recipe is probably the old gingerbread recipe that I got from my Grandma who got it from her Mom and so on ….. If you want to try this gingerbread recipe, email me.

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MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #21

Posted on November 12, 2010
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And it’s another Friday. Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching way too fast – I still have a bunch of things on my task list that I haven’t even started yet. New table runners and place mats for holidays are still in planning phase, no clue about Christmas presents yet – except two that I just purchased last week… But now to Friday Fill-In!

1. Were you named after anyone? Not really. Except that my middle name is same than my aunt’s and sister’s middle name, so there is some family history there.

2. What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted? I love pedicures! Wish I had time to have them regularly. In the summer time I like to try all kinds of colors, and usually have flowers or other creative paint work on my big toe nails. In the winter time …. well, people tend to hibernate here in Alaska over the dark winter months and on the other hand, when you really can’t wear flip flops or sandals, who cares!? So in the winter time my toe nails usually are not painted, except for a special occasion.

3. How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else? Hands. Although I always hope they have those automatically flushing toilets. And I always carry hand sanitizer …

4. When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on? Hmm, I don’t remember! I liked MacGyver though – he was nice-looking, and nerdy smart :)

5. Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why? I love to see and hear things, so I definitely wouldn’t want to lose those, as well as love the taste of good food. Same thing with the touch – I love to touch and be touched. So smell it is.

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