On July 10, 2008, we got up early and drove to the Austin Airport to begin our Alaska adventure. The drive was okay, we got the car parked and were shuttled to the airport. Stress levels began building when F tried to check our bags with the skycap and the tags wouldn't print--we had to check in at customer service after all! So we got in line (a medium line, about 10 people) and as we waited, stress levels climbed steadily. You'd think AA would put more than one person to help people with problems. We waited in line for over an hour and to make a l-o-n-g story short, the jet began boarding just as we ran to the gate. F is praying our luggage gets loaded. So we finally begin our AUS to LAX leg of the trip. Arriving in LA is no problem and after a short layover, we're on our way to SFO. In San Francisco, we have a 3-hour layover and a long way to walk to the gate for our flight to Anchorage on Alaskan Airlines. We have to leave the secure area, walk across the terminal, through security again and then to our gate. While we are waiting, Frank sees our luggage being loaded on the plane!! Yay!! One less thing to worry about. The flight from SFO to ANC is over 4 hours. The flight attendants are very friendly and offer drinks and snacks at no charge! It was a smooth flight and we got to ANC at about 11 pm and YES, our bags made it too! The Hampton Inn shuttle picked us up and got us to the hotel, where we collapsed into bed.

NEXT: Anchorage to Seward and the "Bus Driver from HELL!!!

Went to Hobby Lobby yesterday (July 3rd) to get some Fourth of July decorations cheap and was shocked to see the Christmas trees and ornaments out. GOOD GRIEF!! And they only had a very small section of Fourth of July stuff and they were all picked over. Guess I'll have to get next years' Fourth of July decorations right after Christmas! Now I can understand the ads in today's newspaper for "Back to School" stuff. School starts in a month and a half, at least down here it does.

d

This was a busy month and I was just trying to mentally jot it down:

1. New pastor. I was skeptical but mr. frumpy is stepping up to the plate and taking control of the sad situation at church. I'm more impressed as I get to know him. He's smarter than he looks and knows the tax laws, which took a ton of pressure off of me, and he is on a personal budget. Imagine that, a pastor who knows how to handle money! HA! Time will tell.

2. Installation of officers. Went real well and Ann will be a perfect WM. She will help me get through this coming year as DGM.

3. Scare. Dh came home and said he'd have to go to Wash DC for 6 months of duty. If he refused, it would ruin his career. If he accepted, it would make his future bright--no brainer--go to DC. Meanwhile, we prepared mentally and started making arrangements for his absence. Then, last week he was told everything was off! Politics came into play and bottom line is he can stay home.

4. Hay. We stocked the barn with hay for the winter with a record high price of $6.50 a bale.

5. Hey! Chuck cut and baled the grass in the pasture. First time it's been done in probably 25 years.

6. OES. I attended the installation of officers for every chapter in the section except Carlton's. I also went to Burnet's meeting and saw a fellow DGM and friend. GJ. Had such a nice time and I'm so glad we went! Hotel reservations for GC all screwed up but that's okay, we just made our own at a much nicer hotel!

7. Infinity. Ds went on a trip and we traded cars. I got to drive his Infinity around town! Hot!

July is a big month. We have the Alaska cruise coming in 10 days on board Radiance of the Seas. Grandson #1 will be turning 3!! The big DGM wheel starts turning.

About the cruise, I'm going to try to blog it here instead of a word document that will get lost or deleted by mistake. The scariest part is flying to Anchorage from Austin. AA has changed our flights 3 times already. At least we're flying a day ahead of the cruise. I pray our luggage makes it.

later, d

The new pastor made his debut yesterday. Second impression was a tad better than the first. At least his suit wasn't as frumpy looking. Nothing worse than a frumpy looking man. Sermon was "safe." It was a relief to have him step up to the pulpit. The service was horribly drug-out. Every "praise" song was sung to the beat of a funeral dirge and was soooooooo looooong. I'm not against praise songs but for goodness sakes, please keep them upbeat and lively. The church was pretty full. There was a potluck dinner afterwards that was good and we sat around and visited until 2 pm. We got home and I did some laundry and Frank washed the pups and gave them a good grooming.

So now begins the reign of a new shepherd of the flock. We'll see if he's as shallow and lazy as all the other pastors I've known. Like they say in Missouri, he will have to SHOW ME!

We celebrated "Father's Day" on Friday with DD & family. We splurged and got them a garage door opener from Sears and the guys installed it--no problems! I got L his first pair of shoes from Stride Rite. His feet are narrower than J's. He was wearing J's hand-me-down shoes. SIL was happy with his Father's Day gift: a new drill.

Less than a month until we go to Alaska! Wow, Oh Wow!

later, d

I guess I should write about this before I forget. Things are so ugly at the church that I hate thinking about the whole situation, let alone write about it. It would be easy to just forget it and maybe I should....

This Sunday, our new pastor begins his new job. Rev. Jody Jones. Everybody calls him Jody. It's too familiar for me and I prefer to call him Reverend Jones. Somehow, "Jody" is too casual, no dignity or respect. My first impression of him wasn't too good. He preached "in view of a call" last month. When he stepped up to the pulpit, the only thing I could see was his frumpy suit. It looked like he'd slept in it. Also, the sleeves were way too short. I doubt if he could have buttoned the front, so he must have gained weight. I don't think I heard a word he said, all I could think about was his poor choice of suits and "You'd think he'd dress his best in view of a call." I guess he felt safe in that he had been assured that he would be the next pastor by a certain "committee" in power. His sermon was "safe" and at the question/answer session afterwards, his answers were so-so, wishy-washy, non-committal. Like a smooth talking politician.

more later..... I have to walk the dogs before it gets too hot.

d

A milestone day today, our 34th Anniversary of our Wedding. The years keep adding up and sometimes I wonder about that. Who knew it would last this long? The funniest thing is that FIL sent us a happy anniversary card--the bigot. I cannot believe he would have the guts to do that after the years of hating my Japanese tainted blood! I am totally serious about this. I find out years later that they were so ashamed that their son was marrying a half-jap that they didn't invite many of their friends to the wedding. I always wondered why they gave me the cold shoulder or why they treated our children as third-class. When I found out their true feelings about me, I was furious!!!! So I made it my goal that they (in-laws & family) will never see me or my kids or grandkids ever again. I will never write them or speak to them.

There was a time earlier this year when I thought our marriage was over. So I guess you have to look at the "big picture" and not at the chapters or paragraphs. One of these days I'll write about what happened.

Yesterday we did the final registration for the Radiance Alaska cruise! I think Frank is happy about it, I don't know. He doesn't say much. The scariest part is the flying. American is changing schedules so much and I just pray we just get there and home in one piece, with all our luggage. We agreed that this was our anniversary present to each other, I guess to justify the whole cruise thing.

I talked to Dad yesterday and the only thing we talked about was the weather. I guess it's the only thing we have in common.

later, d