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Chugach Range Shadows the Flats
October 2015 |
Relax...there are no pics to accompany this week's blog title. We value your eyesight too much! But in the midst of wedding planning, and a lack of available clothing resources to meet the challenge, we are feeling a pinch here and there -- pun intended! I so appreciate the planning efforts of our eldest son and future daughter-in-law, though. Nothing says "prepare" and "excitement" like getting a text message with the exact style and color of pants for the male attendants (are they even called that? no, they are groomsmen!), and being able to find said pants for more than half off on the designer's website! That is...until you read the fine print, and the style of pants is listed as "
s-l-i-m f-i-t." My husband, God love him, has been walking like a senior citizen marathon maller, and has lost quite a few pounds these last few months. But to hear him say, "ALEX?! When do you
ever think I have
ever worn slim fit pants in my LIFE?!" was absolutely priceless! As a good wedding sport does, he dutifully ordered his pants early to verify fit, in the size he believes he is now. Boy are we glad we did that! He ordered the largest "slim fit size" available, and we waited. They arrived in skinny jean fashion, and the "dunlap disease" and eternal wedgie that resulted have been great family fodder for more than a week now. You all know about dunlap disease, right? Where you squeeze yourself so tightly into your breeches that your belly "dunlapped" over the waistband? He fashion paraded those pants as only Michael can, and I thought we were going to wee ourselves. I still have a stitch in my side -- for which I blame him! So the pants are a no-go for now, and I have traipsed all over the Valley and Anchorage trying to find a "comfort fit" pair that will match the other fellas at the wedding. Time to revisit the website! Now if only I could find a matching dress for myself and pants for Ethan, we would be golden. No, scratch that...we wouldn't be golden, we would be charcoal, or medium gray...which will be lovely and match the wedding colors come mid-December.
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| History Lesson with Dad & Ahtna |
I must confess, I enjoy the fact that the Lord has blessed Michael with a good job, that allows him to have such a varied schedule. In his role, as with most other service professionals, our family has learned to value its time, and to not take holidays, special occasions, or dinners together for granted. We do take advantage of them...but we DON'T take them for granted. It's especially wonderful when I can plan a "girl's shopping day" -- just for myself -- and know that Ethan will be enjoying a field trip day with Dad, while I look through any and every area of any store that I want to! Such was the case earlier this week, as I tried to find Michael some not so skinny pants and myself a not so skinny but not an old lady dress.
With appropriate formal selections at a dismal minimum here the Valley (sorry, Mat-Su, just keeping it real), I knew I'd have to make a trip into Anchorage. Being the introvert that I am, I do not mind the trip "into town," or perusing the mall by myself, or even eating lunch alone. Gasp of gasps...I have even been known to go the movie theater ALL BY MYSELF...AND ENJOY IT! And this trip, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, certainly causes long, thankful conversations with the Lord, and the beginnings of carpal tunnel in my index finger and thumb from snapping pictures. If Ethan had been with me, he would've been ecstatic! He's always hoping I'll break some sort of traffic law and get pulled over by Alaska State Troopers. I don't know if he's wanting to see his family members actually on the show, or if he's hoping it will be that one trooper in particular that he finally gets to meet. Regardless, I don't think it's illegal yet to hold your phone up and just snap pictures. I never know what the pics on my phone will reveal once I get home, since I never look at what I'm snapping. I do keep my eyes on the road, and one hand on the steering wheel, particularly if it's "just scenery." Animals, however, are a completely different story, and they get pull-off-the-road, caution-lights-on, undivided attention. Mom would be so proud!
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| Chugach Range at Sunrise |
I did tell Michael it was probably a great thing that I don't currently work in Anchorage. I think I would have to invest in a dash cam...or risk road rage from others, potential crashes, and perhaps even eventual arrest! And wouldn't you know it...weeks of rain, and I pick the only "nice" day to spend all day indoors shopping! At least Michael and Ethan were able to get out. They tried bear hunting...and grouse...but all they saw was one grouse. Maybe next field trip! They had fun, and my trip into Anchorage was amazing.
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| A'Hunting They Will Go... |
The scenery was absolutely surreal...on the Valley side of the Knik, the sun was rising, burning the fog away, revealing the most beautiful Tarheel blue sky I have ever seen! Who says there isn't a bit of Carolina here? But as I drove into the flats, the clouds rolled in from the sea, the temperatures dropped, and the rains continued throughout Anchorage. It was amazing to see such an abrupt change within less than 3-5 miles. So the trip to Anchorage wasn't a complete bust!
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| Sunrise in the MatSu Valley |
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| The Fog and Rains Rolling In |
I hit up the 5th Avenue Mall, but don't let the name fool you. It really is a mall on 5th Avenue in downtown, and they have a Nordstrom's...but that's where the similarities end. I scoured all four stories, but only found one dress that fit the theme/style of the wedding. I could wear it, but it's not my favorite. Ladies, you know what I mean...I'm looking for a dress that screams "Yes, I
am too young to have a son getting married!" but that doesn't scream, "Hey, I'm
that old lady trying to look like a teenager again!" So I keep searching...and if nothing else, Madison giggled at me (which I took as her approval) when I told her I was just going to be-dazzle a brown paper sack and wear that!
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| Throwback Mary Poppins Style! |
The first of their wedding gifts have begun to arrive, and that means that the time is growing very short! Alex continues to pass the time working and going to school. I thank the Lord for his job, which provides him with flexibility for school, but has also helped him to secure some financial savings for their near future. And...he has made some fun friends in the process. I think they are all even planning some Halloween fun as characters from the
Princess Bride movie. We don't traditionally celebrate Halloween, but since they have all assumed characters and accents from that movie, Halloween gives them an excuse to actually dress the parts they have already been playing for weeks. Alex is Inigo Montoya...you killed his father...prepare to die! Andrew and Sydney assumed the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert last year, so we're anxious to see what this year holds for their festivities.
The only other "report" we have for you this week includes Michael's first encounter with a bear and Alex's roadside encounter with a bull moose. A mother and her cub were spotted outside the VA clinic while Michael was on foot patrol. He was able to get one blurred pic before the mother ran off and shooed her baby right along with her. Tuesday this week was extremely foggy, and as Alex headed to class he sent a text that said, "Just passed a 1400 pound bull moose I could have spit on!" Apparently other drivers did, too. It made the front page of the paper! See...there
are wild animals here, and they are proficient with hunting season calendars and city limit rules!
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| Wild, City Life |
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Ligers and Ralphie Bunnies are My Favorite
Wild Animals! |
So many thanks to our Skyping friends and family. Although we love the sentiment behind hand-written notes, it is wonderful to see your smiling faces and hear about the every day goings-on in your lives. We love and miss you all!
"Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
II Corinthians 1:2
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