Second Daughter's Wedding Day July 7th, 2007

I know, Beth (my second daughter), you have been very patient waiting for these pictures. This blog thing takes time when you are uploading pictures. And you know how much I hate to sit in front of the computer, I would much rather be doing something active.
I am very proud of you, Beth! I've watch you grow up from 3rd grade when everyone thought you were a boy, I always thought that was so cute. Now you have grown to a beautiful young lady. You've met a wonderful man who is great for you and I know you love very much. I have always been very honored to have you call me your second mom. We are here for you and Chris whenever you need us.
So here's the unprofessional pictures we took, they turned out better than I thought they would. I hope your professional pictures turned out great. Love ya, kiddo !!!

Julie

My Name Is Sasha, and I Like My Bone...

KML

"Termination Dust"

That first morning when you can see the tops of the mountains, and there's snow where there was no snow up there yesterday... In this case, a dusting on top of Mount Stroller-White, above about 4000 feet.

Summer is over. Whatever didn't get hiked, probably will have to wait 'til next year. Or, will have to be slogged on snowshoes. Crap.

The days grow shorter, ever quicker, exaggerated by the high latitude. The nights grow colder, the grass wet and chilly while walking the dogs before work.

Time to make the most of what's left of the outdoors, before every outing becomes an expedition. Still and all, it is beautiful. Just less warm.

KML

Sasha

Blogger has a new feature that allows your humble author to attach short video files (about 5 MB, so be patient), in lieu of photos, and this seems like as good a way to introduce Sasha as any other.

We got Sasha a week ago from the Humane Society... a gorgeous 2-month old female black lab mix. We think the mix is something like 80% black lab, 10% chocolate lab, and 10% pitbull. It's too hard to nail down now while she's a little puppy, but we'll see.

Carlos thinks Sasha is the best toy we ever bought him. Sasha has already figured out that a well-placed bite to the lips or ears will get the big dog off her back. Anyway, they get along famously... and we look forward to her big brother helping in her training.

These videos are admittedly lame, being taken in the garage at 10pm, but whadda ya want for free, huh? Now that I know this video-thingy actually works, I'll start taking some better footage.

So have a nice Labor Day; Happy Birthday, Merritt; be safe y'all; and keep those comments coming-

KML

OK, Here's Some Pictures

We have a new house. It has a kitchen off the open living room floorplan, and here it is:

And here's the view from the kitchen into the dining area:

The hot tub is through the sliding door... ahhh, the hot tub.

The living room...

I will publish some outside shots of the house and garden soon, but it's late right now and I tired and have to get up early in the morning...

We went hiking this last weekend, and Carlos treed a juvenile black bear, a small 2 or 3 year old out on his own, startled while eating a salmon next to the trail. Good Carlos!

This was earlier on the same hike... Julie's friend Melody on the beach, with Carlos in the background, and our new puppy Sasha peeking around Julie.

We also went yachting... I got qual'ed on the Morale boat, and we took off to the Taku Inlet, tooled around for 60 or 70 miles altogether. Everything's better on a boat...

A few weekends ago, on a perfect SE Alaska day, we hiked up the Perserverance Trail into the Silver Bow Basin, a classic Juneau hike and well worth the effort. The mountains standing straight up all around, and the running water through the valley floor... this is why we came to this place.

Lastly, another hike while we were camping out the road at the Eagle Beach State Park... Carlos is exploring a spawned-out salmon, just minding its own business waiting to die and be returned to nature.

Hope you enjoy!!

KML

Yes, Sir! No, Sir! No Excuse, Sir!

These were the three acceptable responses to an upperclassman while I was at the Academy. The first two are easy enough, and the third will stay with me the rest of my life... What it means is: Hey, I screwed up, I know it, I take responsibility for it, and I am ready to move on.

In my case, I have been kinda busy, and my blog has suffered as a result. It has been two-and-a-half months since last I wrote. In my defense, a lot has happened for Julie and I; but, no excuses.

In no particular order, the last two months have seen Julie and I buy a new house, teach Carlos to catch a frisbee, attend Beth & Chris' wedding, and assemble a workbench in the garage (complete with pegboard, but this is another story). I spent 10 days working at the edge of the planet in Bristol Bay for the June salmon opener, where my team completed over 650 fishing vessel dockside exams. Julie, Jessica and I joined my parents in Europe, to celebrate their 51st anniversary with a 10-day cruise of the Western Mediterranean. I earned my certification from the State of Alaska as a FireFighter I, and I am an active volunteer at the Auke Bay Station.

All this excitement needs to be shared with my gentle readers, so expect that I will do a better job of posting than I have recently. I have lots of pictures (like over 1200 from Europe), so I will post some of the best.

It has been a cool, wet summer in Juneau, and we are staying busy. When not busting butt trying to get rid of the moss that we call a lawn, we are hiking with Carlos. Or, stockpiling fresh wild salmon for the freezer. Or, enjoying the hot tub. Life is pretty good.

More to follow soon...

KML

Belated Happy Momma's Day...

We want all the Mommas out there to know that we love you and wish you the best. Hope you all had a great day!!

Now, somebody please show Dad how to tone down the green-eye, so that we don't look like devil-spawn...

Carlos and Baby (and Zoe, but not yet liking the dog)

A Little Credit Goes a Long Way

Every once in a while, if you do good things, like hard work that others appreciate, you get recognized with some token of appreciation. This was the case with me, when a couple of weeks ago, the District Commander awarded me with a commendation for my efforts in Portland. It took a while, but my co-workers in the Rose City wrote me an award, got the Admiral in Seattle to sign it, and sent it up here for presentation.



Sure, if I'd worked for private industry they would have given me a gold watch or something for 14 years of dedicated service, but the feds can't do that because of taxpayer dollars or whatever. Instead, the military is generally good about certificates and medals (so good, that there is a chapter in the personnel manual titled, "non-monetary incentives"). It was cool, getting up in front of everyone at the monthly All-Hands meeting, having the Chief of Staff read the citation, and getting photographed shaking hands with the Big Man.





So now everyone up here knows that I have some previous legitimacy. There's value to that, I suppose...

I had initially thought that this blog entry would be a "I love me" type of affair, like I am so great that I got this big deal award and aren't you thrilled for me.

The nice thing about doing these not-so-often is that I can take some time to think about what I am going to write, rather than just spewing (or, as I have heard it described, having "blog-arrhea"). I started to think about how this award really represented all the little (and big) things that happened along the way, that allowed me to do all that great stuff. No one ever succeeds entirely upon themselves; there are people on the path that helped, and probably too many to know or remember them all.

So I am going to be grateful for a few minutes, in no particular order, to some of the folks whose path crossed mine, and have left me a wealthier and grateful man:

• Mike D., our landlord... you let us live in your really cool house out the road, made us welcome, fixed the heat when the oil company delivered the wrong kind of fuel, let us take Carlos for a month, and provided a first-hand example of how the Alaska male works.
• Danielle, my assistant... you keep me outta so much trouble, you and John are great friends, with great firewood skills and keen sense of all things Alaskan, and great halibut mango ceviche.
• Pat and family... thanks for entrusting your dog, Carlos, to us. We know it wasn't easy to let him go, but you did with great dignity. I am grateful every time I take him for a walk or play ball with him.
• Gene and Betty... you guys are how Julie and I want to be when we are in our eighties: independent, strong, humble, gracious, and open. Thanks for selling us your home.
• Janet and Nancy... thanks for making the paperwork flow so easily.
• Ann, Jim and Arbe... for giving Julie the best job in Juneau, and letting her express herself and keep y'all entertained as well.
• Sue and Dan... you left me a great opportunity to come to Alaska and serve, your program kept me going in the right direction, your advice is always appreciated. You and Dan are good friends, whether sitting at our table in conversation or playing some fierce rummy.
• My kids... you have my heart, and I will always love you.
• Jessica, for reminding me of all the fun I had studying probability and statistics. You're a great kid.
• Mom and Dad... I could never say enough to thank you for everything you've given me.
• Jan and Mike, you welcomed me to the family with open arms. You guys are always there when we need you.
• To all the volunteers who keep the Juneau hiking trails in such awesome shape... you guys should get paid!!
• That guy at the gym who hands out towels and always has a smile and a greeting... you obviously know the "secret" of living a good life.
• John G., thanks for all the Saturdays and Wednesday nights. This is going to be a lotta fun...
• Timmy, though you are at the other end of SE, I really missed you while you were recovering. I am glad you are back on the job, and making my life easier. Stay healthy!!
• Dan, Curt, Mike, Niles, Scott, and all my colleagues in D13... I couldn't have gotten where I am now without your aid, support and comradeship. You were the best co-workers ever, and I miss you.
• Petty Officer David Bosley... you are remembered by most for sacrificing your life while attempting a nighttime surf rescue off Quillayute River, but I remember that while you were stationed in Newport, you cranked out hundreds of FV dockside exams in the early 90's. You made untold fishermen safer. You did well, my friend.
• And, all the men and women of the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxilliary. It is my greatest honor to stand with you and serve our nation.
• Yau-Man... you didn't win the million, but you were the winner nonetheless. Thanks for the example you set, the gentle wit, your integrity. And great words to live by: Love many, trust few, do wrong to no one.
• Lastly, my best friend and wife. You trusted me to move us to Alaska and start again. Your support has never wavered. I would be lost without you. The next 49.5 years are going to be amazing. I am blessed to have you in my life.

We all have some credit to pass out to others. I truly believe karma surrounds us all, and I am a lucky man for the good that others have given me. I hope that my gentle readers will have their plates full as well.


KML