Here we are

I've heard that we've been requested to post another day in Seattle. So, here goes: I normally wouldn't have time to do this because I've been working alot, although this is what my bosses call the "slow season." I did get a week off a couple of weeks ago, and November looks nice and sparse, but its been crazy the last couple of weeks. This week I've been getting up at four in the morning to serve breakfast for the Machinist's Union at Boeing and working for twelve hours a day getting ready for this weekend, which is booked solid. The reason I've got time today is because I'm bedridden with some sort of terrible virus. Go figure. I think my throat is going to burst into flame and light my hair on fire. And my voice sounds like a cross between Yoda and a heavy-set transvestite. I think my work is just going to have to do without me today. Who wants a skinny version of Divine serving them drinks?
Carrie also has been busy, as I say "saving the world and destroying people's livelihoods." But recently the only livelihood she's irradicated has been that of coal workers. Which is fine. And by the looks of it, she's going to be mighty busy since there are dozens of plants applying for zoning across the nation right now. Especially in her home state of Kentucky. They seem to love coal there. Come January she's going to be travelling down to Olympia more with the start of the legislative session, of the "Sesh" as they say in the biz, to lobby for the Coalition.
I just turned on italics for no reason and can't figure out how... oh there we go. I just read this great article by Naomi Kline in Harper's called "Disaster Capitalism" it was incredible. She spoke on NPR last night and has a new book out I want to read. Very interesting. All about how the current administration has outsourced all these tradional government jobs to large multinational corporations and how they are providing only relief and coverage in disaster situations, from wars to natural disasters, to the wealthy and monied interests. Very interesting indeed.
Somehow, between the working, I have managed to read alot and have been entertaining the idea of going to law school. Possibly for Environmental Law ,though it appears that the LSAT's are very hard. Who would have thought? I've been studying one of the Princeton review course books and have discovered parts of my brain unknown to me. But we'll see.
We celebrated my 32 birthday this tuesday. It was a lovely evening complete with an Italian man named Luigi stuffing us with all sorts of delectible treats and savory tidbits. We do love a good meal. That mixed with the great company and a couple bottles of northern Italian wine made it a wonderful celebration indeed. Other highlights since our last post:

Carrie road her bike to Bellingham, which is just over a hundred miles away, her first Century ride.

I got my car back, then had to replace the alternator, steering fluid pump and various other parts. But, its still cheaper than a car payment.

Harley Rose is becoming the best puppy ever. Though she does seem to harbor some confusion over the rule of no peeing in the basement. She's still rather adorable otherwise.

It seems as if we are going to make it to KY for Thanksgiving. Maybe Harley too.

And besides all that I'm sure other wild and wonderful things have happened, but I just can't think of them. So there you go. I'll attempt to be more diligent in my future updating. Hope your all enjoying the Autumn change. It is gorgeous here.

Welcome back to Seattle

Carrie and I have moved into our temporary house here in Seattle. The steady roar of the freeway lulls us to sleep. We've both started our new jobs and are enjoying ourselves tremendously. Although, some aspects of the big city are hard to wrap our country heads around. Like, for instance, how you need to lock your car. One of the unfortunate results of living in urban sprawl is that if your car is unlocked, it will have a greater likelihood of getting stolen. As ours did. I told the officer on the phone that we had been in town for less than a week and he responded, "welcome to Seattle." Thank you indeed. But, the return rate is high and hopefully it won't be used as a toilet or crack den by some homeless vagrants. All our friends, while lamenting our loss, show no surprise. They have all had their cars stolen, or know somebody who has, sometimes even multiple times. Rough. But we will move on cuz "The good lord giveth, and the good lord taketh away." Cheers.

Getting outta here!

With mixed emotions we are leaving Alaska. Just when the weather was turning promising, the bears are coming out and the Halibut are being caught, we are packing up and leaving Ketchikan.

I (carrie) accepted a job at the Northwest Energy Coalition. After attempting to land a job there for the last 3 years, I was offered a position as a policy associate. I am thrilled. My first project is to monitor the rule making of new landmark legislation passed by WA state to limit emissions of power production. A bold and brilliant idea! Check out their website, www.nwenergy.com.

Since the shamrock challenge. We have had some great times in Alaska, with some fabulous and fun visitors (Mom, Dad, Sarah and Wilson the bulldog). I would like to share some of the highlights and corresponding picture for your visual enjoyment.

Shamrock Challenge

 

Dog shown for size.

My Angry Blind Worm

So I got my appendix removed Monday night. Good times. Thought I had a stomach ache from eating too many hotdogs on Saturday, then maybe some stomach flu going around on Sunday. By Monday, when I went home from work early on account of me being worthless, I figured something wasn't sorted. After some poking around I located the focal point of my anguish, which wasn't in my stomach after all. It was my old friend the appendix.

In human anatomy, the vermiform appendix (or appendix, pl. appendices) is a blind ended tube connected to the ascending colon of the large intestine and the ileum. The term "vermiform" comes from Latin and means "wormlike in appearance." It develops embryologically from the cecum. The cecum is the first pouch-like structure of the colon, in latin "caecum," meaning "blind." The appendix is near the junction of the small intestines and large intestines. It may have some function in regulating homeostatic mechanisms in fetuses though has been largely regarded as a vestigial structure. The cecum is more largely developed in our long lost cousins Cercopithecidae, or The Old World Monkeys, and also in other herbivores where it houses the bacteria that digests cellulose. But since we've all but left the digestion of plants behind, especially those in Texas, not too much need for the old fella anymore.

The largest appendix ever removed was from a 55 year-old man in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was 23.5cm or nearly 9.2 inches. The acompanying picture at the Guiness World Records site shows a mid-surgery photo of the appendage's extraction. Apparently in Pakistan they use serving spatulas to spread open the incision and old levis for sterile clothe. Nice.

I think my surgery was somewhat more refined, but then again, how would I know? All I remember really was the room being very cold, walk-in cooler cold, and full of hastily moved equipment with freshly painted walls. The anesthesiologist was our neighbor Jan, who was very surprised to see us. She held the mask up to my face and told me to take some deep breaths. I wanted to say something funny, like "I'll be right back" or "Wait, I'm getting better" but I was out before I could think of it.

Everybody was there when I woke up, and I felt like I was the guest of honor at a small impromptu party. As I reeled back out of the anesthesia fog I asked "How's my hair?" Which I'm sure was looking good. Luckily I'd been given a nice blue paper shower cap, which unfortunately Carrie didn't take a picture of, though she did manage to snap off a few of me lounging about later, high as a kite. Or as we say up here high as an eagle -kite soars.

Everything went well. I won't go into details but while they were rummaging around in my entrails, no doubt, my Mom assured me, spread out on a table, they did happen to find some dead lymph nodes. But testing was all negative for things that when tested negative are good. I didn't have any ill effects from the anesthesia and the surgery itself is healing well. Though I still am in a fair amount of discomfort and plan to see how long I can use that to get Carrie to do things for me. Really she is too kind and I couldn't have asked for a better person to take care of me. She even made me homemade chicken soup. Which she had never done before. I wished she would have tried it out on someone else but, luckily it was scrumptious.

One lasting effect of the continued narcotic usage is temporary constipation. Which has never been my style and is causing me probably the most discomfort. A belly wound and bloating are not symbiotic. But things are working their way out and I'm feeling better by the day. All in all I can't recommend the experience. And if your thinking of trimming down I would just leave the little worm alone, if content it is.

Thanks everyone for the calls while I was in the hospital. It was nice to hear from you all and receive your well wishes. Hopefully this is the most exciting thing that happens to me this year, well surgery-wise. I could go a long time without going through that again.

Take care of yourselves and eachother.

Carrie's Time to Shine

Okay everyone, as you may or may not know Carrie has a big interview on Tuesday April 3rd for her ultimate dream job. The interview is from 11am to noon our time. After that she has another interview with a lesser slightly dreamy job. That one should last till around one. So what we'd like to have you all do (that's y'all for some of you)is send Carrie some chocolate love during those hours. You can either direct it at her, or at her interviewers. Just grab a bite of your favorite chocolate and start a mashin'!Taste that sweet chocolaty goodness and picture transfering all that joyous sweetness towards Carrie's interviewers so that they may be overcome with sweet cocoa bliss. My dearest friend Kala Nyx, formerly known as Stacey Nyx Stanley, swears by this method for achieving sucess. Let's do it people! Mark it on your calendar and be an integral part in Carrie's success.

Thanks from the Alaska crew.

How could I be so wrong...3 hours later

 

If you peruse the following posts, you will see that Spring was here earlier today. Now there is a blizzard outside, and the crocuses are getting blanketed in white. You know what Johnny and June Cash says, "When its Springtime in Alaska its 40 below".