What a difference a month makes

There isn't any snow on the ground. The temps are light jacket weather only.

Oh wait, it wasn't a month that changed, it was our location.

We're in Arkansas now. We arrived February 15th. So far we've purchased two houses. What were we thinking?! One we'll live in, the other we'll rent. We can have possession of both houses on March 15th.


The price of gas is increasing to where there's not much difference between what we paid for it in Alaska. A gallon of milk is about the same price. Fruits and veggies are almost a steal in Arkansas. Other items are much cheaper, too. We've compared the prices on kitchen appliances that we owned in Alaska versus buying them here. Same size, same brand is running at least 50% cheaper here in Arkansas. Some things are running a third of the price we paid for them in Alaska.

We've met some extremely nice people here. We also left some extremely nice people in Alaska.

I start work on Monday. I think I'll really enjoy the job.

Until later...

Post it notes

Aren't Post-it-notes great?

I have one on my desk. It simply states: Time to start packing.

And it is.

I've been interviewing lately. There are two spots that are standing out from the crowd. And it appears I'm standing out from the crowd with them, too.

One is 30 miles from the town we originally wanted to call home when we picked the place we'd live if we didn't have to work. The other is about 75 miles from that same town, but in a different state.

I'm excited about both places. Each one has a lot of positive things going for it.

I know I've been quiet lately, but I haven't been lounging. I really do need to start packing. Seriously.

A brand new year

Yes, 2008 is finally here.

It's a brand new year. One we can coast through, or one where we can work to make it the type of year we've always dreamed we'd live.

This is the year I want to mold the events in my life as much as possible.

How do I plan to do this? Glad you asked.

I'm very, very lucky. Years ago when I made the choice to go back to school I picked a field that is in high demand today. It wasn't by luck either. I'd met too many degreed people doing minimum wage jobs in my life. The last thing I wanted was the responsibility of student loans and a career that didn't have openings. I researched the careers that interested me the most. I looked at the job market that was available at the time and the predicted job market.

Since the medical field had always interested me, it was a perfect fit.

Today I have many options available in my chosen career.

Since we want to relocate, but we're not sure what part of the country we want to call home, signing up with a temp agency that supplies qualified techs to hospitals with a staffing crunch seems like a logical choice. That way I can work in several spots each year. We can learn about different areas of the country and try the areas out before we make a commitment (buy a house).

Today is the day we put our place on the market.

Later this week, or next week, we'll go into town and start the process of obtaining our passports so we can travel through Canada. I do miss the days when they weren't required to get from the 49th state to one of the lower 48 states.

This is the year that Roger and I will reconnect with family and friends that we haven't seen in over a decade.

So with all that going on, why let the constant snow bug me?

I don't know what Roger dreams about, but I'm dreaming of lilac bushes and dogwood in bloom.

If you're a transplant, what are some of the things that you miss from your former homes?

Merry Christmas and Hotel California

The bug came back. Boy did it really knock me down this time.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

I know I should change it to happy holidays, but we celebrate Christmas in our house. If you don't, change the Merry Christmas to whatever holiday you do celebrate.

What does Hotel California have to do with all this? I put in my notice at work. Friday was supposed to be my last day. When the phone rang on Saturday, I thought it would be safe to answer it. It was work wondering if I could come in and work. They had a couple of people who called in sick. I went it to work.

So, I can check out, but I can't leave.

Until next year, have a safe holiday season.

A bug??

Eating hasn't been fun lately.

It started last Wednesday. I barely made it out of the bathroom. In an hours time I was in there on ten different occasions. Not a pleasant way to spend a Wednesday.

Wait, then came Thursday. Same story. I was able to stay out of there long enough to run into town and watch my grandson's Christmas program. Too cute. It was absolutely adorable. For anyone in the audience, I really hope I didn't give you the bug.

Friday was more of the same with living in the bathroom.

I just knew when I went to bed on Friday night that Saturday would be okay. If it were a bug it would have run its course.

Wrong. More of the same on Saturday. My stomach hurt. I was ready to admit I needed to get to the doctor on Monday. Even knowing some of the tests they'd want to run wouldn't be pleasant in the least little bit.

Sunday was no better. I spent much of it worried about how in the hell I'd pay for all the medical bills that I'd rack up on Monday.

Monday. Was. Heaven. I woke and I was normal again.

Today has been as kind as Monday.

I have no idea what I had. I'm guessing a bug of some kind. It's a five day ordeal. Which gets really old before it's finished.

In other news, there's a respectable chance of seeing the lights tonight. The stars are out right now.

Changes

Life is full of changes.

I have found what most important to me in life.

Family and friends.

Over the last two years, Roger and I have both lost our two closest friends in Alaska. They died, so they won't be back.

This summer the last of our family will move away from Alaska. Those two grandkids mean the world to me. Not to mention I have another grandson that I barely know. I want to get to know him.

Our kids and grandkids won't be back.

Alaska is wonderful place to live and raise a family. I can't think of any other spot in the world where I'd want to raise kids. I'd hoped my kids would have the chance to raise their kids here, too. For various reasons, they don't.

Roger and I have a lot of acquaintances up here. We appreciate each and every one of them.

But close friends and family are far and few in between up here.

Another thing that we've thought about is the fact we own a very expensive chunk of land. Yet we live paycheck to paycheck. It's time to sell the expensive chunk of land and move on.

We don't know how quickly or slowly things will happen, but we're going to leave Alaska. We're going back to an area where we can be around family and friends. And yes, a place where our cost of living will be reduced.

We've found one spot that we both like. The location is a nice location and while it doesn't have the beauty of Alaska, it has its own beauty.

Over the next few months, this blog will be hit and miss. And one of these days, I guess I'll have to change the name since the ramblings won't be from Alaska. Or maybe I'll keep it with the understanding that it will still be ramblings from an Alaskan. You can take the girl out of Alaska, but you'll never take the Alaskan out of the girl. As many who knew me before I ever lived here, I was Alaskan long before I ever stepped foot on Alaskan soil.

Part of me is sad to think of leaving, but another part of me is looking forward to a new adventure. Not to mention fresh fruits and vegetables.

This and That

I took the grandkids to another birthday party today.

They had a blast and loved the party gifts. They didn't want to play pin the tail on the donkey, but when musical chairs were played, that was a different story. At least for the eldest. It's so much fun to watch them laugh and play.

Speaking of playing, I received a couple of new fragrances today. Now I want to make soap and lotion. I can't wait to try out the new fragrances. But I have to wait. I have another box arriving with some wickedly wonderful stuff for lotion.

I hope this last week isn't a sign of the winter to come. We've had snow. And more snow. And even more snow. At least it's been light snow, but still, I'm not ready for snow. This is one of the banana belts of Alaska. Where's the rain that usually melts the snow?

Sadly I have to work Thanksgiving Day. Worse yet, I have to work Black Friday. I hate shopping. I hate crowds. Why in the hell am I in retail right now? This is not a good time of the year to be in retail.

The research for the writing is going slow. On the days I get to research it goes pretty smoothly. Too bad there are too many days between research days.

Here's to calmer days.