More Birthdays and Happenings

Rats I'm a few days late, again, I'll get this Aunt thing figured out at some point. Jacob hope you had a super duper fun day and party. I hear 3 is great age. That is Monkey. If you ever come up here you can meet Monkey, he lives on the Babkin, my favorite boat in the whole world.

Well, I have officially resigned from the Forest Service, effective 9/28. I will be on leave for the last week and a half. Right now I am suffering from a disease known as "short-timer," I may have to take some sick leave to help recover from it. In case you don't know I have taken a job as a GIS Analyst with a consulting firm in Anchorage. I'm excited about the change and the opportunity. I've been with the FS since 1999, and have made some great friends and had many once in a lifetime experiences, but it's time to move on.

Since carharts, fleece and extra tuffs are not included in traditional office wear, I am now the owner of such things as trouser socks. These trouser socks will go very well with the "few" items I have allowed myself to buy for this new position. Not to mention the new shoes; new Dansko's and cool tall boots. FYI, I have had my black Dansko clogs since I was a junior in college. I wear them all the time and they look it so a new pair is perfectly acceptable, thank you very much. I like shopping for new clothes...I think I'm most excited about that aspect of the new job right now, but don't worry that will change, I think. It's like buying new clothes for school.

I proved to myself last night that after ~17 years I can still pick up a clarinet and play the chromatic scale, know what a ligature is, and play my favorite rift from "Hot Stuff" by Diana Ross which I learned during my days as a Bass Clarinetist with the John Adams Junior High Honor Band. Maybe I should have been a band geek after all.

Hope all are doing well and recovering from birthday parties.

I Blame My Mother

I cried last night while watching David Letterman. Yep, I think your supposed to laugh. But it was a good cry, a happy cry. Dalton Carriker, the newest Little League superstar, was a guest and it was probably the best thing I've seen on TV in years. I was also impressed with the way Letterman interacted with Dalton. It was as if he was reliving his own childhood and just soaking in the pure innocent energy oozing from this kid, and maybe pretending it it was really him that hit that homer. In case you don't know the whole story here's a link http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spllws275348352aug27,0,3934530.story and here's another one http://www.littleleague.org/series/2007divisions/llbb/gamestories/26sunday/game32/gamestory.htm

There is probably a You Tube clip of the interview, but apparently the Forest Service doesn't want me on You Tube at work, hmmm. I'll look for it later.

If everyone had passion and an attitude like this kid the world would be a better place.

Happy Birthday Mike!

So sorry I didn't get a picture ready for you...but if you look at an older post you can reminisce of your time in Alaska...hope you had a wonderful birthday.

KBL

I was lucky enough to join Glenda on a trip to Alaska Wildland Adventure's Kenai Backcounty Lodge. We stayed for one night, had excellent weather and a wonderful dinner made by another Bridget (not too many of us in the world, and this one could cook!).