3 a.m.

Haven't written in awhile. Just finished my Board exams. I had many poetic things to say earlier in the day, but now it is 3 a.m. and I am debating whether I should sleep or just stay up until on of the kids wakes up for the next go-round. Sad, so sad. Other than my usual lack of sleep, things just keep getting better around here. More soon.

Congrats Val and Brent!

There are few times in life when everything comes together and appears to be seamless, obscuring the fray. I had the honor of attending the wedding of two good friends last night. Brent, whom I have known since 3rd grade (I'm pretty sure he was assigned to me as my classroom buddy when I returned to Alaska) and Val, my partner 24/7 for most of the past three years in Residency. They met on something of a fluke turned into a blind date, and funny how things work out. I am the true winner in this situation as now, two of my favorite people are now joined among friends and I will save big bucks on Christmas card postage. My sentimental cup runneth over.

Mildly outraged or moderately insulted

"Pops." Seriously, "Pops". I was exiting a local fast food establishment earlier this morning, affectionately known as "Old Macdonald's" around our house, and a strung out, haggard, chain smoking woman drinking coffee outside behind the garbage bins said "How'se it goin' Pops." I looked up, puzzled, and said "Did you just call me 'Pops'?" She said "yeah, well I don't know your name." I replied in a very non-comical and somewhat hurt voice "well, I don't think 'Pops' is the right term," before jumping into the jeep (no, not the minivan) and driving away.

How old does this lady think I am? Upon my brief image of her and her somewhat weathered state, she must have been 10 years older than I am (or at least I hope she is). For Pete's sake, I am only 36. Pops????

Jana said that maybe it was my glasses. When did blublockers go out of style?

Number 15,000!!! You Win...

the satisfaction of having stroked my ego! Okay, I have no prizes, but I am pretty excited that this many hits have been made on my site. Today's winner was from Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. A place I know absolutely nothing about, but now that I know it exists...Check the jump for a little info.

Done and done.

I completed Residency last night with a formal graduation and all. A little anticlimactic, but otherwise very pleasant. To celebrate, today, I went to jury duty. Sweet. I have testified in well over 100 cases and spent a considerable amount of time in court in my former life as a forensic scientist, but I have never been set on a jury. The last time I was called, I knew the Prosecuting and Defense attorneys, as well as the judge. I had actually testified in the same courtroom the previous day.

Now, in a new state and with new rules (they get our names from the pool of people who applied for the Alaska Permenant Fund Dividend - that money they give all of us for living up here), I was called again. This time I had no excuse but to perform my civic duty. I was called to show this afternoon, or as we call it in Alaska "summer" (yes, today is one of the nicest we have had all year), and sat. And sat. And sat until my cheeks ached. Then after promptly filling out a form I was excused. Until next Tuesday. Gotta love the justice system.

PS-check the counter, it's my own little ego boost. You could be visitor number 15000. Let me know who you are.