HNT...climbing up

I took a little time to enjoy the view when I made it to the top this weekend at Savage Rock in Denali National Park. Truly a national treasure and only a 2 hour drive down the road! A good pair of Keen's and a sense of adventure is all you need! Happy Trails...Happy HNT!

It's smokey here...

Smokey was at the parade but a few hours later the REAL smoke settled in. With all the natural, undeveloped land across the state many forest fires are either unaccessible or uncontrollable so they are let to burn. Burning they are after a week's worth of lightening across the state. The smoke settled in thick through the Interior this week. My friend Megan and I went to Denali today but the mountains were failed in soot. It made for some interesting views though....

HNT...a girl's best friend

8 years ago this month I said I do. Six years ago last month it all came on done. I have been through a lot since then. I have grown and matured. I have reflected and don't cry about it anymore. But I hadn't gotten rid of the ring. It laid in my jewelry box for the last 6 years through 3 or 4 moves. This past Valentine's Day (the anniversary of when he first cheated on me) I finally pulled it out of the drawer and took it to several jewelers. At the time, the offers weren't what I wanted. As much as I wanted to let go, I wanted it to be done fairly.

A couple weeks ago a friend and I were shopping for Alaska jewels and went to a different store. I happen to have the ring in my purse still so I turned it in to them to see what they could do for me. When I got back from Chicago, I stopped back in to see. They were the first jewelers who agreed to pay me for both the gold and the diamonds. I could take a cash value OR have TWICE cash value in store credit.

This is what I decided on....

My first set of diamonds that I purchased for myself. I picked them up about 10 days ago and I haven't taken them off since. They sparkle and swing and catch the light. Aren't they beautiful?

Happy HNT!

Midnight Sun Baseball Game

Checkin' the clock to see if it's game time yet! First pitch is 6 minutes away!

Not sure why the picture is sideways but that was the sun just before the National Anthem!

The competitor came all the way from Lake Erie to take on the Goldpanners.

GAME ON!

Midnight Sun! Complete sunset was still about 50 minutes away.

GAME OVER! GO GOLDPANNERS!

Home at 2:00 AM! Yes, that's pink clouds and daylight still AFTER sunset!

Midnight Sun Festival activities

Summer Solstice is a big deal in the land of Northern Lights! Those of us who chose to live this far north endure some interesting weather. The cold in the winter is the least of the strangeness. Cold is cold. But all day dark and all day light are a unique experience. I did okay adjusting to the dark b/c I've always lived in areas where I went to work in the dark and came home in the dark during the winter months. For me, it was easy to adjust to. Now, going to work in the daylight and coming home in the daylight, and being called back in during the middle of the night in daylight are a whole new experience. On Thursday night I drove home from the ER after taking care of a patient and needed to wear my sunglasses. It takes some getting use to and can play games with your mind when you think it's time to go to bed. But it's ALSO an excuse for a weekend long PARTY!

Saturday night of Solstice weekend is prime time for the Midnight Sun Fun Run. A 10K is started at the college at 10 pm and finishes in Pioneer Park. The hitch...if you start the race in costume, you have to finish the race in costume.

Here are the stats from the night before. The numbers are a little rain soaked but the sunrise was at 2:57 am and sunset was at 12:47 pm. Just two hours of "night" but night doesn't get dark. Think 2 hours of dusk!

This was before we were wet. It was raining but only barely. Julia and I posed for a shot under the arches before it got really wet.

This is Julia's husband, who was up to visit. Doesn't he look freezing? It was pouring rain around 9:00 pm and continued until almost 11.

It warmed up as the night went on. Anyone want to guess what time this is? It was around 11:00 pm. Those are the finishing shoots for the runners and we were "people movers" to keep the line going so there wasn't a back up at the finish line.

This pink flamingo made it with all her feathers intact but very heavy....

The Runaway Bride crossed with his bouquet and then waited for his love one while shivering. We saw him later at Denny's and someone had given him a coat.

Hey Dad! This was fun, but I've got my jammies on and I'm ready for bed!

These two had a few beers along the way but they made it. Giggling while they crossed. Notice Julia's t-shirt. It's THAT wet!

I was a bit worried about the mermaids shells but they stayed on the whole race.

Just b/c I wasn't running didn't mean I couldn't play along in the fun. I added my lovely 80's costume jewelry to my volunteer t-shirt. This is me still making sure runners are going through just at the stroke of midnight!

Today downtown hosted the Midnight Sun Festival. The streets were lined with fair food vendors and local artists. I was excited because my friend Vicki and her family were in town so I met them this afternoon. I had my obligatory chocolate covered frozen banana (it was so much easier to eat without all the crew back in Rochester making fun of me!) and great Thai food too.

Vicki's daughter wanted her face painted. She sat so still...

And came out with a moose on her face!

There were three stages of entertainment to be had as well. This stage had belly dancers dancing to the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.


Last night before the Fun Run we stopped by Creamer's Field and found a flock of heron's hanging out. I just thought they were pretty.

Midnight Sun Festival

Check it out! This weekend is Summer Solstice and time for the Midnight Sun Festival!

HNT...Sexy Softball Socks

THOSE are socks you just gotta love! Unfortunately tonight I made it to the bottom of the fourth and had to go to the ER to take care of a little kiddo that fell off her bike. It was dusty and windy enough though that they did get just a little dirty. Little kiddo is back in one piece, I'm home, showered, and off to bed! Happy HNT!