Karen's great adventure

30 Year Anniversary

2012-01-30T09:55:00.011-05:00

Robin celebrated his 30 year anniversary with the Department of the Interior. (He started a seasonal job there while still in high school.)

We had a surprise party for him with cake (the decorator accidentally put the blue goose upside-down and a co-worker started cutting into it before I could take the picture) and entertainment (a slideshow I put together covering all 30 years). Thanks to all who submitted photos and quotes! It was great and he was very surprised and happy.

View the .wmv, complete with music (it's worth the download wait, but probably only works on a PC).

Download the PDF.

Remembering Mike Voshell

2012-01-20T11:31:00.005-05:00

My brother-in-law, Mike Voshell, passed away on Sunday after a brief (but long), brutal battle with leukemia. He was only 62.

Please send condolences to Theresa, Allison and Josie.

I've known Mike since I was 6 years old! He was the first person to give me a motorcycle ride. He dutifully served in Vietnam and served as the local fire chief for more than 27 years.

Winter weather

2012-01-12T00:11:00.003-05:00

We've been hit with some snow, wind, rain, snow, rain, wind and some more snow.

Did I mention we've had some snow? Not as bad as Cordova, the place with about 18 feet of snow, avalanches and collapsing roofs ... where National Guard went to help dig them out.)

In Kodiak, the heavy wet snow caused some boats to sink in the harbor. (Listen to the local radio station report.)

Several deep puddles in the road, more like ponds, really, made for very hazardous conditions. Local officials finally closed the road when puddle depth reached 3 feet. Yikes. The airport was also closed for several days. (See the local paper.)

Quote of the day

2011-12-16T00:15:00.003-05:00

"How do you know when Santa's birthday is?"

Robin's response when I said, "Saturday is Janet's birthday."

Note: Robin just met with a hearing aid specialist last week ... I think this clinches the deal.

Computer error message of the day...

2011-12-14T23:32:00.002-05:00

Received when Robin tried to check his work (i.e. government) e-mail:

"The requested service is temporarily unavailable. It is either overloaded or under maintenance. Please try later."

Kodiak Shuffle

2011-12-05T23:32:00.002-05:00

Snow. Slush. Rain. Ice. Snow. Rain. Ice.

Waaahc, waaahc, waaahc. Everyone walks around like penguins shuffled across the ice. Through the gravel strewn across the top.

Only our friend Jimmy wasn't so lucky ... he slipped on one tiny spot of ice on a grassy yard. Sloooop! Down he went and tore his quadriceps tendon off his kneecap. Ouch! He had surgery Friday and went home from the hospital today.

A long, slow recovery is in store.

Happy Turkey Day

2011-11-24T22:11:00.005-05:00

We celebrated the day by being thankful we didn't have to cook! We joined friends at the Coast Guard base for a turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings. Between the two of us, Robin and I ate 6 pieces of pie: pecan, pumpkin and cheesecake. Now we have bellyaches but it was worth it.

Last weekend, our friend Liz celebrated her last night in Kodiak (at least for now) with an ice-skating Olympics at the awesome public rink. Right here in Kodiak. What a great rink! I dusted off my skates, pulled out my roller blade pads, donned my poncho and skated away.

Here are some photos of skating, our boat and Robin's deer hunt on Raspberry Island.

Failure to appear: Juror number J62324

2011-11-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

The stupid City of Lakewood court wanted to have me in contempt for "failure to appear for jury duty" on October 28.

Not that it hasn't been almost 5 years since I lived there.

I e-mailed them a copy of the muzzleloading newspaper article, with the date, and told them that I now live in Alaska.

That wasn't sufficient for the "Judicial Specialist" and I was not excused. Librarian!

I served on the court as a juror once about 6 years ago. The case was a riveting, he-said, she-said thriller and someone's pet rabbit died in the middle of an apartment dispute.

Stay tuned ... I hope they don't press charges!

Fall trip to East Coast

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

We traveled to D.C., WV, MD and PA in September. Most of the time was spent at Robin's training facility in WV. We traveled to Robin's home town near Gettysburg, visited with friends and Robin's brothers.

Robin took some time and went hunting for whitetail deer, bagging 3 or 4 and carting the frozen burger back to Alaska.

I took some time and visited battlefields, Harper's Ferry (home of John Brown) and the National Apple Museum. That's where you can get your own personalized tour for $2 and spend 8 hours with the old couple who do the tours. (Yikes, I don't THINK so!)

See pictures of our trip out east.

Leathermans make headlines again

2011-11-06T23:19:00.007-05:00

We made the front page of the paper again ... this time for a muzzleloading class. It was a two-day class and a cheap $20 to pour powder down a barrel, pack it with a roundball and fire at a target. Robin fired off his rounds and qualified before everyone else had even loaded their guns.

It was fun and we both passed. The instructor did accuse me of cheating on the written test because Robin and I both missed the same question. I said, "Wow, that's weird. I didn't even cheat on that question."

Read the article.

The Possible Bag

2011-10-18T22:09:00.005-04:00

For those of you who know Robin, you ~know~ he is a hunter. For those of you who don't know Robin: he's a hunter. And I do mean a hunter. He has a particular passion for archery and muzzleloading (aka black powder). Muzzleloading involves more of an old-fashioned approach where you actually poor black powder down the barrel of a gun, followed by a round ball/bullet/or whatever you want to call it.

A necessary tool of any muzzleloading hunter worth his flint is called a "possible" bag. When Robin first talked about it, I asked why the name, "possible bag."

He responded with, "Because with this, anything is possible."

I am compiling a list (for my book) of what should be in a Possible Bag...and not the typical muzzleloading Possible Bag. I'm talking about a Possible Bag for getting by in Life!

Please comment on what you would pack in your Life Possible Bag.

Moose on the loose

2011-10-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

I received this came at work from the regional office in Anchorage (intended for Anchorage employees as there aren't any moose here in Kodiak):

Reminder: Watch out for moose

Moose have been seen on our campus recently. Please be extra cautious, especially during the dark hours, and keep a watch out for them. If you see a moose, please alert Security and stay away from it.

Robin makes headline news

2011-10-12T00:34:00.007-04:00

Robin built a public use cabin on Uganik Island in August/Sept. and the local paper covered the story.

The total cabin materials weighed about 6,000 pounds. Robin and crew moved those 6,000 pounds at least four times: once from the shipping container to the transport boat, from the transport boat to the little ferrying boat, from the ferrying boat to the shore and then from the shore to the building site. Whew!

The cabin itself was a kit consisting of 22 wall panels (weighing about 120 lb each), 30 roof panels and some other pieces parts. It took five people three days to build the foundation and another four days to build the cabin. If Robin had not been crew leader, it would have taken another 3 weeks and 10 people to complete!

See the presentation Robin will be giving at the Refuge Visitor Center.

Read the Kodiak Daily Mirror article.

Earthquake and fire

2011-10-02T22:30:00.003-04:00

After being away for a couple of weeks after having only been in our apartment a couple of weeks, we were excited to have a nice relaxing weekend morning. We settled in for a nice cup of tea, still in our pajamas. The pans on the kitchen stove started rattling. We looked at each other, asking, "Is that an earthquake?" Then, one of the pictures on the wall started rattling. I asked Robin, "Should we get dressed? Should we go to higher ground?"

I then went to monitor the earthquake site to see what was happening. There were a couple on Friday but as of this morning, nothing was logged.

Then, we looked out the window. "Where is all that smoke coming from?" we asked. We went out on our balcony to see if there were flames. There were no flames and we sniffed.

"That's dryer smell ... someone's doing laundry," Robin said. We looked at each other ... "Laundry. I bet it was the spin cycle, not an earthquake!"

Rocket launch

2011-09-29T11:38:00.003-04:00

Perhaps you know, or don't know, that Kodiak has a rocket launch complex (near where the buffalo roam). One launched this week and was reportedly pretty spectacular. I, however, missed it because I had just returned from my travels and had forgotten all about it.

It was a beautiful morning and the launch was something to see.

Boiler malfunction

2011-09-28T17:32:00.000-04:00

Upon my return from the East Coast, I walked into our apartment and it was so hot in here, my eyeglasses fogged over. Literally!

I spoke to the landlady about this. The synopsis: a boiler zone valve is apparently stuck open. It is at least 90 degrees in here, quite a rarity for Kodiak.

Fortunately, heat is included in our rent. A repairman is on the way.

Hallelujah!

2011-09-28T01:02:00.010-04:00

After six long months, I am back in the land of Internet connectivity. Wow, I can't believe it's been that long but hey! I now have phone, e-mail, blogging, streaming video, you name it! Here's a snapshot of how I've been spending my September:

Took a a two-week trip to the East Coast (D.C., West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and probably Virginia) with Robin. (Once he returns with the camera, I'll upload photos.)
Got a new best friend, Samantha, our GPS unit. She guided me throughout that clustered area of D.C., West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and probably Virginia.
Toured Harper's Ferry and learned all about John Brown, the Civil War icon, and could find nary a Park Service guide or interpreter, despite the high $ this park rakes in. I did add more to my knowledge of the man, whom I only knew that "John Brown's body lies a molding in the grave," (really, listen to this song) compliments of my weird elementary school music teacher and her course on Civil War music.
Visited Antietam National Battlefield. This place was awesome! If you don't watch the video at the visitor center or listen to their ranger (yaaawwwn, boring) talk, you can get away without paying a fee! Seriously, this was a little-trafficked battlefield so it was a great place to tour, learn and be away from the crowds.
Visited Gettysburg National Park, the site of Robin's very first Park Service job, and where all the crowds were.
Saw Robin's brothers, met Robin's high school buddies, saw my sister and brother-in-law and visited with friends in PA.
Saw my first groundhog, although I didn't get a picture of it. Those things are just as fast and elusive as that @#!! lame porcupine (aka Porky) in Gustavus!

Quote of the day

2011-09-20T09:13:00.001-04:00

"Rebuffering? Rebuffering? What does that mean?!?"

Robin in response to a message on the computer while trying to watch a YouTube video on the Internet. (It's been a very long time since we had Internet.)

A whirlwind summer

2011-09-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

Since moving to Kodiak in April, we lived in three places. The first month we spent living out of our totes at a bed and breakfast. The second month we spent living out of our totes in a small house. Now, we finally moved into our permanent apartment and partially unpacked our totes before heading to Maryland/West Virginia/Pennsylvania for a few weeks.

In the midst of all that, I started a new seasonal job (Salmon Camp) which ended and started a new permanent job (as a communications and PR person at the hospital). We celebrated our Sand Ceremony. We had friends Hal and Lindy visit and my sisters and their husbands visit. And bought a boat. And haven't slept!

Here are a few of the photos from our whirlwind first summer in Kodiak.

4th of July bash: We had a party at the Buskin Beach House (official headquarters of Salmon Camp). Everyone had the same 4th of July t-shirts on (Wal-Mart, the only place to shop, had $1.98 t-shirts on sale).
Visit with family: My sisters Mary and Sharon, along with husbands Carlos and John, came for the sand ceremony and fishing.
Bears and views: What would Kodiak be without brown bears and scenery? We've seen plenty of it and are lovin' it!

My first set net experience

2011-09-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

Set netting is a type of subsistence fishing. You set a net on either side of a "fish highway" (like stringing a net from one side of the road to the other to catch any cars going down the road). You catch all the fish that are passing through. Only with the net there, they get stuck. Usually, they get stuck around the gills (which also kills them) and you have to wrench them out of the net (picking the net).

Once they're caught, you pick the net. You take your boat and keep working up and down the line of the net, pulling all the fish out that are stuck. We went with our friend when he set net for red salmon. We hauled in more than 75 fish in one day. It is a lot of work. Whew! But really good eating -- yum!

See pictures of set netting for red salmon.

Sand ceremony

2011-09-14T08:39:00.004-04:00

What a journey these past four years have been! Alaska. Florida. North Carolina and back to Alaska!

We celebrated with a party and a sand ceremony, an Outer Banks, North Carolina tradition. During the ceremony, we poured two individual containers of sand into one. We also drank a special "unity" wine my sister Mary brought with her from Pennsylvania.

We had the ceremony in a lagoon near an island around Kodiak. My dress came from Colorado (Robin bought it without me and it fit to a T!). His tux was borrowed from the local dry cleaner, and it happened to fit to a T! Of course, what would an Alaskan celebration be without Xtra Tuffs, decorated by our friends Hal and Lindy.

See a few pictures, narrowed down from the hundred taken that day.

Wow, photos to enjoy

2011-06-18T22:44:00.010-04:00

Just a quick note to share some photos. We've barely had a moment to sit still, let alone gather any coherent thoughts! Work, boat shopping, househunting and getting settled in our temporary summer home has engulfed us. I need a margarita!

My work training had some great opportunities to explore Kodiak. We went tidepooling with local biology experts. See some photos.
A local author and botanist shared her plant knowledge. We ate plants all along this trail thanks to Stacy's guidance. Check out the photos and if you're interested in plants, check out Stacy's awesome book.
These are the Salmon Camp headquarters ... way better than any office!
Robin and I were drivers and designers of this year's Crabfest float. We even won second place for the float! Check out these photos of the float and crew ... and me in uniform (again!).
Someone around here is a John Wayne fan. Check out the John Wayne memorial and some views from around town.

Sun up to sun down

2011-05-27T11:13:00.005-04:00

The days are lengthening and our crazy pace continues with househunting, boat shopping and more. Days are currently 17 and a half hours long and gaining more than 3 minutes a day. Sunrise is about 5:25 am and doesn't set until 10:49 pm.

This weekend kicks off the summer season with Crab Fest, one of the most popular Kodiak events of the year. Robin and I plan to drive this year's float for the Refuge so stay tuned for what are sure to be some spectacular photos!

Al-Can highway photos

2011-05-11T23:47:00.000-04:00

Here are some scenic photos from our move to Kodiak.

See pictures of St. Louis, Southeast Alaska, the Yukon and more!

Salmon camp

2011-05-09T11:21:00.005-04:00

Today is my "official" start date as the Salmon Camp Director for Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. This is a summer science camp program for kindergarten through 8th grade. Started in 1996, this very popular program is the largest science-based camp in Alaska. It is one of the Refuge's top five environmental education programs in the nation.

Fortunately, I have three college interns to help me with a new group of 18 kids each week.

About the camp
More camp info
Alaska Geographic (camp co-sponsors)

Shotgun slinger

2011-05-02T11:11:00.003-04:00

Ah, Alaska. Ya gotta love it.

I signed up as a volunteer with the Fish and Wildlife Service and they also hired me to be this year's salmon camp director! Whooo hoooo!!! One of the training courses is becoming "shotgun certified." Depending on how good of a shot you are, this enables you to either carry a shotgun to protect yourself in the field or carry a shotgun to protect yourself ~and others~ in the field.

The testing part is pretty fun, although my shoulder was sore after shooting about 30 rounds, including 8 big, powerful slugs. You have a stationary target: a bear poster stapled to plywood. You then test on a moving target: a bear poster stapled to plywood, rigged up on a pulley and it's coming at you! Aaahhhrrrgghh!

I actually qualified to carry to protect myself ~and~ others (although I'm not sure that is a good thing). Robin, of course, qualified to protect everyone.

Photos galore

2011-04-28T11:47:00.004-04:00

The Journey to Kodiak: Pictures of us: Our route: North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Oregeon, Washington, Alaska, Canada and Alaska.
The Journey to Kodiak: Friends and family: We didn't get pictures everywhere but saw many friends (and met some new ones, thanks to Robin's quest to 'meet new people'). Thanks to all for your hospitality!
Roadblock in Wanchese: Let the move begin!
Florida trip: A quick trip to warmer weather before the move to Kodiak.
Bluefin fishing: Fishing with John, Carla, brother Tim and Doug while still in North Carolina (forget that Robin just had shoulder surgery!).
Striper fishing: Fishing for striper with Doug.

Quotes from the Roadtip

2011-04-23T09:30:00.004-04:00

"I like to meet new people."
Robin in response to being asked if we wanted to stay with the parents of my niece's husband. (We had never met the parents ever before!)

"We don't need any of that stuff."
Robin in response to being asked if we wanted any towels during one of our overnight stays. (He didn't want to be a bother to the parents we had never met.)

"There is no bad weather ... only bad clothes."
Our friend Paul from Haines, AK as we watched the snow/slurry fall during our beach picnic and campfire.

Top 10 Roadtrip Tidbits

2011-04-20T21:05:00.012-04:00

The worst gas mileage was 4.8 MPG, going up an 8% grade in passing gear with our "light" load.
Most interesting thing in our "light" load: a set of bear claws being salted down and dried out. (From Robin's bear he got in December ... the paws had been in the freezer until the week before our move when Robin took out the claws.)
Another interesting thing packed was fresh bluefin tuna from Robin's latest 226 lb. + catch. (And some bear sausage and halibut, of course).
Bowling Green, KY gas stations are all owned by one person. This monopoly results in an extreme gas hike on Thursdays (you can set your watch by it). Within one hour, all the gas station prices in town went up 33 cents.
Do not, repeat, do not engage the border guards in Canada or in the U.S. in any sort of conversation other than the task at hand: getting across the border without inspections. It's illegal to take any sort of animal hide, rack (and maybe bear claws?) into Canada. In addition, this is not the time, repeat NOT the time, to ask about transporting firearms.
Red beer is a delicious drink. I tried it and liked it, plus the recipe is really easy: One glass of cold beer and some cold tomato juice to taste. It sounds nasty but it's really good.
Don't buy an atlas that is on sale. Robin found what seemed like a really good deal from Big Lots: $5 for a 2011 atlas. While looking up our route for Utah and Washington, we discovered that it was missing all the states that came after the letter "T."
Temperatures ranged from 84 degrees in North Carolina to -2 degrees in Frisco, Colorado.
We had snow in every state, including a record 5" in St. Louis, MO and white out conditions that forced us to pull over on the interstate in Oregon.
It is still colder in Iowa than in Alaska. This week it has been unusually sunny with blue skies and 50 degree temperatures in Kodiak, while Iowa has it 20 degrees and 4 inches of new snow!

Adventures in Moving: Day 1

2011-03-18T09:15:00.004-04:00

After frenzied activity getting prepped for the move, the mover arrived this morning, sans his 3-person crew. Despite Robin's strong recommendations not to do so, he decided to back his tractor-trailer down our long narrow lane on the Wanchese Superhighway.

Having chosen rush hour (7 to 8 a.m.) on the Wanchese Superhighway as his starting time, he hit the utility pole and knocked his trailer off-kilter.

With traffic building and building, the sheriff finally arrived and summoned a tow truck. Now it's an hour later and he's trying to get supplies and crew here.

Photos to come....

Valentine's Day Wedding

2011-02-23T19:50:00.019-05:00

We decided to make it official and get married in a small ceremony on Valentine's Day.

We were married in the chapel on stage at The Lost Colony waterside theater, along with our officiant Carl, Kelly and Joe (our two witnesses), friends from the area and a whole slew of Park employees. Larissa volunteered to take photos and we have more than 400 of the wedding and reception!

See a mere 70-some of these photos.

The weather cooperated, with sunny skies, breezy breezes (it was blowing around 20 mph) and temperatures around 60. Robin and I wrote our ceremony and vows. It was very heartfelt, sincere and wonderful. (I could not ask for a better husband because he is the greatest...Robin says "ditto" for him.)

We kept it informal, "Outer Banks Style". I wore a scarf from my mom around my waist and a bracelet from Robin's mom around my wrist.

The people from the park surprised us with a reception, complete with wedding cake, champagne and gifts. It was wonderful. We could not have planned a better celebration.

We do, however, plan to have an Alaskan Celebration on July 25 in Kodiak...so mark you calendars! You are invited.

Quote of the day

2011-02-11T16:38:00.002-05:00

"I may be full of something but I don't think it's wisdom."

My response to Robin when he said I was full of wisdom

Beautiful boat for sale

2011-01-29T08:26:00.004-05:00

In preparation for our great migration westward and northward, we are selling our boat. It's a wonderful boat and we are sad to part with it. It is just not quite the boat for Alaska weather. If you or anyone you know is interested in a 21' offshore, awesome boat, let me know.

Delivery may be available!

Shoulder surgery

2011-01-21T15:45:00.004-05:00

Robin underwent shoulder surgery yesterday to remedy an AC joint problem. Thankfully, the rotator cuff was not torn (much) and did not need repair. The surgeon removed a whole lotta bone and a whole lotta bursa that was causing impingement anytime he moved his shoulder. Essentially, she gave him an intentional "Type 1 shoulder separation".

The patient is resting comfortably, thanks to heavy-duty drugs. Keep your fingers crossed that the medication keeps the pain at bay! Last night was tough but we have a handle on things ... at least for now, anyway.

Anniversaries and Alaska

2011-01-18T06:39:00.008-05:00

Robin celebrates his 29th anniversary with the Park Service today! (That doesn't include his 2 years of seasonal time.) It is a happy celebration, marked by an upcoming and momentous transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This transfer includes a move to Kodiak, Alaska! We are super excited to be going back to Alaska. Robin is excited to be transferring to the agency who's mission is "to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats." He will be in a new style of uniform, too.

More about Kodiak:
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Kodiak

Stay tuned for exciting travel details and the Wanchese opening of Robin's Retail!

Flippin' Filipines

2011-01-08T20:28:00.004-05:00

Since September 23, I have been working with Microsoft and their subcontractors in the Philippines to obtain my software disk, which I paid for, which the subcontractors insist could only be shipped to a physical address.

Because we have a post office box, this presented a challenge. The post office does not deliver to our home address, which the representatives in the Philippines could not understand. I tried to cancel my order, but they told me their cancellation policy was that they did not accept cancellations.

At one point, they told me to "talk to my facility." I told them I did not know what they meant by "facility" and needed more direction. They hung up on me.

Another time, I asked to speak with a supervisor, at which point they transferred me to no-man's land where the phone rang, rang, rang, rang and rang some more. I eventually hung up, after I figured they accrued quite an international bill for the call.

At another point, they told me to call "911" and ask to find out what address they send responders to...I refused.

Finally, just today, I received my software disk in the mail at my PO box. It only took almost 4 months but I did it!

Top 10 Symptoms of Fishing Fever

2011-01-01T19:15:00.013-05:00

Glassy, watery eyes (worn and tired from scanning the water for birds and boats)
Red cheeks and nose (wind burn)
All-over body aches (being on a boat all day)
Raccoon eyes (wind burn and sun burn)
Crazy hair (stocking cap)
Crazy and erratic driving (the need to get to the boat launch first!)
Crazy and erratic boating (the need to get to the fish first!)
Crazy and erratic walking across the parking lot (forgetting boat keys and other essential equipment in the craze to Get There First!!)
Unprovoked yelling and screaming (boat launches are notorious for this)
Persistent cough (being immersed in diesel and gasoline fumes from all the other hundreds of boats circling around the same area time after time after time after time)

Quote of the day

2010-12-22T19:38:00.003-05:00

"Well, have you told anybody about it?"

Robin in response to me when I told him our Skype wasn't working. My response to him was something along the lines of, "&&%%##$@, no. I think 25 million people already have...."

Authorities Close In On Serial Killer

2010-12-16T07:24:00.008-05:00

WANCHESE, NC -- DECEMBER 16, 2010

Local and state authorities moved in on a suspected hunter, rumored to be closing in on the number of kills allotted for a non-resident hunting license.

"This has been my dream season," says hunter Robin Leatherman. "I have one more hunter's choice for deer. I got my first North Carolina black bear last weekend." Leatherman logged an unprecedented number of days hunting.

"Our three (yes, three) freezers are nearing capacity," says Karen Smith. "It's good there are only a couple weeks left of the season."

Fortunately for Leatherman and unfortunately for the natural resources of this state, he is now eligible to buy a resident hunting license this weekend. "That gives me six more deer, another bear, boar and some other stuff," states Leatherman.

See photos of his bear. (Warning: May contain disturbing images. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Back in the groove

2010-12-09T08:00:00.029-05:00

I am playing catch up with our (relatively) recent photos and events from the past several months.

In August, we took a fishing trip to our old haunts in Gustavus, AK. We had fantastic weather and stayed with fantastic friends, Josh and Christina. They own and operate Majestic Expeditions, a truly fantastic place to stay whether you are relaxing, fishing or hunting. Alaska is fantastic!
Also in August, Robin's oldest son was married near Seattle, WA. What a whirlwind. We met the granddaughter and attended the wedding. There is definitely a family resemblance, as you will see. Robin was introduced to a nasty concoction called a duck fart, a mixture of Kahlua, whiskey, Bailey's and who knows what else. After this celebration, I resolved never to drink any alcohol at any event where the alcohol is provided for free.
During the week we were in Washington, Robin and son Josh built a timber frame structure for the wedding. The weather was perfect and could not have been any more beautiful. We didn't get rained on even once! I know lifting and moving those 300-lb + timbers had nothing to do with Robin's current shoulder problem. (What am I saying?!? There is no "problem" because it only hurts if he moves it.)
We took in a quick trip to tour the Olympic Peninsula, complete with a stop in Forks, WA where we learned all about Twilight. Holy cow, we had no idea! Rooms in dumpy motels were at a premium and booked solid! Robin became a big fan, at least for the first movie. (Interest is waning after watching the second.) Once again, this is proof that one person can make a difference in the world.
In September, Robin started deer hunting. I haven't seen him since. I did see him (briefly) when we squeezed in a deer hunting trip to his cousin's in West Virginia around Thanksgiving. I even hunted one day, if you can call it hunting. I sat in the woods in the pouring rain and didn't see a thing -- not even a squirrel. Well, I was armed with a gun so I guess it was hunting.) Be warned, some of these pictures are graphic!
In October, Robin's mom, brother, niece and cousin visited.

The $126 breakfast

2010-12-05T11:37:00.005-05:00

A mere $126 will buy you room service breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta. We learned this after a recent trip there for Robin's work. They kept messing up so we got a free breakfast (and a stay in an executive suite at a later date). We only were asked about three times to show our room key. (I guess we didn't look like their typical guest.)

Our fun-filled trip (well, my fun-filled, anyway, because Robin was working most of the time) included lots of rides on the Marta subway, me seeing an arrest at Olympic Centennial Park, a great NHL hockey game and a fantastic puppet performance of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (The Center for Puppetry Arts is a must-do for all Jim Hensen and puppet fans!)

See pictures of the most expensive breakfast and other photos from our trip.

21,000 diapers

2010-10-20T15:53:00.025-04:00

That's my estimate of the number of diaper changes my mom endured for us 13 kids. That number doesn't include any of the 23 grandkids' diapers she changed during her seemingly endless role babysitting them. In addition, she had morning sickness for more than 10 years. Not all at one time of course, but nonetheless, it adds up to 10 years. She baked more than 10,000 loaves of bread and washed more than 10,000 loads of laundry ... in a wringer washing machine she refused to give up!

She recently passed away, succumbing to a brain tumor and other ailments she faced the last couple of years. She always kept her sense of humor, noting on the days when she was feeling particularly good that she "didn't want to change her luck." (This, a glimpse to her fun-lovin', gamblin' side. She always enjoyed playing the slot machines and once kept me out past 3 a.m. in Las Vegas.)

Although her words were sometimes mixed up, you only had to listen with your heart and not your head. When she talked about the "hocus pocus," she was referring to the weather forecast. (This was a very apt phrase substitution, especially in a volatile weather state such as Iowa where she lived for 80 years.) When she talked about all those "germs" walking around, she was referring to the cage of 50-some birds at the care facility. (She always thought birds were very germy creatures and raised and sold over 500 parakeets to pay for her wedding dress.) Most importantly, despite her mental changes, she had times of clarity, stressing that "I'm still in here," and "Thank you for being here."

Her actions and attitudes convey something we can all strive to do: Be happy for the good days. Listen with your heart. Keep your sense of humor. Always treat people with respect. Always be there for those you love.

Brake replacement 101

2010-07-26T15:11:00.000-04:00

After a local company quoted us $150 to do a brake job on our car, we decided to spend $50 and 15 minutes to do it ourselves. Plus, I learned how to replace brake pads. It's so easy, I think I could even do it again -- unsupervised!

See some photos of this project.

Work, work, work

2010-07-23T14:31:00.000-04:00

Robin still runs around like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest, although not 24/7 like he did when we were at Dry Tortugas. He now has a crew of guys and they are getting a lot done!

See some photos of Robin and crew working on a road project and working (eating) at another special event. (Our friends who were visiting from Dry Tortugas and I tagged along. It was fun.)

Salvaged shipwreck

2010-07-20T14:54:00.004-04:00

Under the cover (and safety) of darkness, Robin and an entire cast of characters from contractors to archeaologists to co-workers and volunteers (like me), helped move a 10-ton remnant of a shipwreck from the 1600s.

Robin's day started out at 5:30 a.m. to load the "vessel", a process which took about 12 hours.

To move the 17-foot wide load down a 22-foot wide state highway, they had to secure special permits and sheriff and police escorts. This was a task far safer to do in the middle of the night instead of during the crazed traffic of life on the Outer Banks during high season.

At midnight, we began the 90-mile, 15- to 35-mph journey down NC 12. Despite a police escort of 6+ vehicles and an entourage of paparazzi-like media (all more of a cluster than a help), we made it through a couple of torrential downpours to arrive safely at Hatteras Village around 4 a.m. We made it back to our house around 6 a.m., concluding Robin's 24-hour-plus workday.

See some of my photos.

See some great video and more from a local news station.

The little cabin in the woods

2010-07-18T17:17:00.000-04:00

Earlier I blogged about us hitting the motherlode. We've been spending some time out at the winery riding our 4-wheelers and working on food plots. The grapes are really loaded right now. Harvest time is in a few weeks. I hope to document that and the bottling process (if it doesn't coincide with our Alaska trip). We're planning to spend a weekend in the little cabin soon ... maybe for our 3-year anniversary!

See some photos of the vineyards and more.

Spamtastic

2010-07-14T09:08:00.000-04:00

While we were at my mom's, we managed to squeeze in a tour of the Spam Museum in Austin, MN. What a great place! Who knew they make 12 kinds of Spam? They even had Spam trivia, pack a Spam, a movie and all sorts of stuff. With more than 16,000 square feet of Spamtasticness, you could spend hours there!

We bought a can of turkey Spam (thinking it was healthier than regular Spam) and I tried it for the first time. It was better than I thought.

See some pictures from our Iowa trip and some of the other projects we've been working on, like building a boardwalk (I used a nail gun for the first time), reroofing our shed (no Robin, you can't call that stuff Black Mamie anymore), putting in food plots for deer (don't even ask) and more.

How to skin a bluefin tuna

2010-07-10T17:03:00.002-04:00

First, you need to be strong. These things are big. Their skin is really, really tough and you have to strip it off, muscle it back and have someone hold onto the fish while you do so. They don't carry these things, either ... they tie a rope on it and drag it around!

Check out some photos of how to clean a bluefin tuna.

Turtle porn

2010-07-07T16:59:00.003-04:00

Robin and I took the Suzy Q out fishing Sunday. Wow, what a beautiful day. It was calm and beautiful with blue skies and blue water. Robin caught a dolphin ... not the bottle-nosed kind but the mahi-mahi / dorado kind.

We saw some pretty incredible sea life, too. At one point, we spotted all kinds of splashing going on. Now, you wouldn't expect to see something like that in the middle of nothing 10-15 miles offshore. We took the boat over to investigate. It was a pod of 50+ bottle-nosed dolphin feeding. What a neat sight.

When we were heading back in, we saw something really huge in the water. We took the boat over to investigate. It was a gigantic sea turtle, probably about 8 feet long.

Still on our way back in (it takes about an hour to go that distance in our boat), we saw something else weird in the water with lots of splashing and commotion. Of course, we had to check it out. Right there, in the middle of the whole wide ocean, a couple of sea turtles were gettin' it on. I am sure they were thinking, man, there's a whole ocean out there and you have to come over here?!?

It was pretty cool to see ... even better than last year's shark porn because I wasn't in the water and scared.

See the photos of turtle porn.

Updates from The Edge

2010-06-29T06:47:00.009-04:00

Suzy Q: Our schedules and the weather (sort of) finally cooperated and we were able to take our boat out together for the very first time after 3 months of ownership. (My month in Iowa didn't help.) We went out on the ocean and it was great! I didn't get sick or anything. We caught a few blue fish and worked out some how-to's with the electronics. It was fun.
Employment: I returned from Iowa and happily joined the ranks of the underemployed. I am working a part-time job as an office assistant in downtown Manteo.
Another Big Dig: Not quite on the scale of the last archaeological dig at Fort Jefferson, Robin used a back hoe to help out with another archaeological dig at Fort Raleigh. Unfortunately and fortunately, I'm working at a part-time job and was not able to document this dig.
Wedding day (not ours): Robin's son Josh is getting married at the end of August. We reworked our Alaska travel plans in order to attend.
House guests: My sister and brother-in-law spent a quick 52 hours enjoying the sights of The Outer Banks. We all went to the Lost Colony show. Although they market fireworks as part of the show, they didn't do them when we went because of a rain delay. We checked them out another night but the "fireworks" were really just big sparklers. We're looking forward to some "real" fireworks in Manteo over the 4th.

Heat wave

2010-06-24T08:24:00.002-04:00

Wow, the solstice just happened and summer is here! The heat index today is projected to be 105-110 degrees. Yikes. That's almost as hot as it was at Dry Tortugas. Hopefully, this will be short-lived.

Water temps are going up, the crowds are here and tourism season is in full-swing. A trip to the grocery store yesterday took 2 full hours: lots of traffic, lots of groups of tourists shopping and of course, one checker. Certainly not like Alaska!

We're looking forward to getting our boat out on the water soon and getting some fresh mahi mahi, mackerel and whatever else we can catch.

Quote of the day

2010-06-23T06:45:00.002-04:00

"He'd break a rubber crowbar if I gave it to him."

Someone's reference to a breakage- and accident-prone co worker.

Good news and not-so-good news

2010-06-10T14:26:00.008-04:00

The good news is my brother Lee is back from Iraq!

He returned just in time for the Memorial Day parade last week. I do mean "just in time" ... with 10 minutes to spare! Robin and I watched said parade and spoke at the same time: "That looks like Lee ... that IS Lee!" He returned about a week early and we are all very happy to have him back. This should be his last deployment but ya never know.

The not-so-good-news is that my mom's brain tumor and dementia continue to worsen. She's confined to a wheelchair now and can hardly move. On good days, she can speak coherently some of the time. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the past month with her. We had some good times, some laughs, some nice car rides in the countryside and continued our ongoing research project: Conducting ice cream taste tests and reviews.

Barbie's birthday

2010-05-13T19:56:00.005-04:00

My mom, a.k.a. Vacation Barbie, celebrates the big 8-0 this weekend! She recently moved from her home to the local assisted living place. Fortunately, her cat Molly was adopted by her previous home health care worker! I won't be able to attend the big bash but we're trying to get there in 2 weeks for a longer visit when my temporary job is done.

Wanchese Whistle

2010-05-08T09:36:00.000-04:00

The other day after work, we were making dinner and all of a sudden, some sort of warning siren sounded. This went on for about 5 minutes or so, enough to make all the hounds in the 'hood bark. We weren't quite sure what it was but thought they were testing the warning system. Not many days later, the same siren sounded, this time lasting for about 20 minutes.

(This warning siren is reminiscent of my home town "whistle." The whistle dates back to factory days and blows at 7 a.m., noon, 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Even on the weekends. Except for Sunday when they abstain from the 7 a.m. one. For "nostalgic" reasons, the town voters decided to keep the whistle blowing, although it still causes some rankor.)

The Wanchese whistle blowing continued and we finally found out why it blows. It is the warning system for the volunteer fire department. The length of time the whistle blows depends on the time of day, type of fire alarm and other factors no one could quite explain to us. We apparently have been lucky and not had a fire alarm in all these months we've been living there.

Suzy Q

2010-05-06T18:36:00.003-04:00

Based on a suggestion from my sister, we decided to name our boat Suzy Q. This appropriately chosen name was the nickname my dad called me when I was a little girl. In a serendipitous coincidence, I learned this is the nickname/call sign that airplane pilots use when flying over and referring to the area around my hometown.

Boat buying

2010-04-10T16:02:00.001-04:00

As you know, I have neglected my blog recently. Between moving, finding a place to live, unpacking, job searching, buying a car, etc., we also were combing Craig's List and every place else in search of the perfect boat.

I can now tell you all about 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke, gunwales, deadrise, cuddies, center consoles, T-tops, diesels, inboard/outboards and all sorts of boat-related stuff. Our due diligence paid off and we found an awesome boat, the Palm Beach. This 21-ft. brand new boat has a 150 HP Yamaha engine and a 21-degree deadrise. Which means less rockin' and rollin' in the water, always a good thing for me!

We finally get to install and use all of the boat electronics we've been hauling around with us since Alaska. Once those are on, we'll be out on the water.

The motherlode

2010-04-08T15:51:00.002-04:00

Robin and I befriended a couple who own and operate Vineyards on the Scuppernong. These nice people not only make awesome wine (we recently bought 4 cases!), but they also are in desperate need of someone who will come and help them with their deer problem.

The deer find their land and grapes irresistible and the does are running rampant. Boy, did they find the right man for that job. I'm not sure Robin could be happier. Plus, they have this awesome cabin we can stay in whenever we want (yes, I'll take pictures sometime). Did I mention they make awesome wine?!? You know what I'll be doing while Robin hunts!

We spent a day out there over the weekend playing farmer. I drove a Kubota around and we planted some food plots to help lure the deer away from the grapes.

Employment

2010-04-04T15:44:00.003-04:00

I'm back to the world of 9 to 5. Boy, what a change! I haven't had time to update my blog! I now have a full-time (temporary) job doing general office work that goes until mid-May.

In addition, my job search is in full swing and taking what free time I have. I had a very hopeful interview last week. This entailed a lot of prep. Robin and I went shopping for my interview outfit because of course, I didn't have a thing to wear (I left all that in Colorado). Plus, I had to pull together some semblance of a portfolio from the stuff I could get my hands on (some is not unpacked and the rest is in Colorado).

I am hopeful to be called back for round two. Which means another shopping expedition for another outfit!

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Regulation, regulation

2010-03-19T07:07:00.003-04:00

Robin is taking a water treatment certification class for the state of North Carolina. In this weirdly over-regulated state, they require a high school transcript in order to register for the test. Yep, a transcript just to take the test.

We ordered his transcript. Robin had so many approved and unapproved absences, I am not sure how he actually graduated. Based on his attendance, he was hardly ever in class.

"People needed a lot of help with their cows," he said. "That's how I got all of those approved. People would call in when I was hunting or fishing and say my cows got out again." It didn't hurt that he plied his principal and teachers with meat and fish!

Windy Wanchese

2010-03-16T07:01:00.003-04:00

Instead of snow days, they have wind days around here. It was so windy here the other week they canceled school. Between the high winds, surf and tides, roads were flooding and washing out. The school buses couldn't get through. They sent the kids home early and canceled school the next day.

Like Christmas

2010-03-08T08:32:00.005-05:00

The movers delivered ~most~ of our household stuff. The only things missing (so far) are our motorcycle key, a table, a marine cooler full of stuff and another big box full of what I'm sure is very important stuff (although I have literally no idea because we haven't unpacked everything yet).

It's like Christmas opening all these boxes, some of which have been packed since Alaska!

The movers provide an itemized inventory list we signed off on in Key West. When we were reviewing the items prior to their arrival, we were very intrigued by one listing: an "exercise stepper." We don't own an exercise stepper and had no idea what they could have listed as one. The answer: A foam archery target.

So far, only a few things are ruined. I'll be taking pictures and filling out paperwork on all that. For now, back to the boxes!

Shindig

2010-03-02T09:05:00.002-05:00

The local hospital hosts an annual, themed event for a fundraiser. Known as The Gala, all the highfalutin members of society attend. (Plus a few not-so-highfalutin.) This year's theme was Paris. (Last year's theme was James Bond and next year's is Egypt.)

It's held at the Wright Brothers Pavilion and Robin had to staff it. I got to volunteer. Whooowheee! (At least for me because I could drink but Robin couldn't.)

Actually, it's a wonderful event. The community really gets excited about it and it's great for the hospital. Part of the event is the ever-popular silent auction. It was our first silent auction and we went crazy bidding on items. It was fun. We were the proud new owners of, what else? A new surf rod!

See some photos of uhh, Robin's rod, the Eiffel Tower and what the rest of the decorations looked like.

Holy mackeral, Robin!

2010-02-28T08:52:00.002-05:00

Only it's really Holy Bluefin!

Robin had the opportunity to go out on a charter boat and came back having hooked not one, but TWO bluefin tunas! Robin spent 30+ minutes hauling in a 158 lb. bluefin tuna.

See the photos of this huge fish!

Bluefin tuna is the source of some of the best and most expensive grade sushi, toro. A bluefin could sell on the black market for thousands of dollars. The guys on the boat split the one tuna. [NC regulation -- yet another long, long list of do's and don't from this over-regulated state -- says you can only keep one per boat.] We've been eating toro sushi and tuna steaks all week. Yum!

Now, the hunt for our own boat will reach a new height soon. Time is ticking and the fish are starting to come in. Robin is frantically searching Craig's List and calling people ~every~ day!

On a side note, Callie, the outside cat we inherited and who doesn't belong to us, is looking much better, thanks to the fresh bluefin tuna scraps she's getting this week (not to mention the salmon, halibut and deer scraps that go her way).

You know you're a redneck when...

2010-02-24T06:49:00.012-05:00

One of the criteria for our rental house was storage: either having it or being able to put a storage shed on the property. After a couple years being separated from all our stuff, we were in a bit of a panic that soon it would all be in one place. We didn't have a place for everything. It has been in storage somewhere in Virginia (the closest government storage facility). They have finally located it (see The Hunt for Red February) and will deliver it next week.

Our landlord, a local character named Winkie, is awesome. He said we could do whatever we wanted. We took him at his word and went on a whirlwind hunt for storage. We ended up finding an awesome carport that has storage in it. (You know you're a redneck when you own a carport and are proud of it!)

We then had to arrange to have the car port taken apart, delivered here, reassembled, etc. Plus we had to prepare the foundation for it, which involved a lot of hauling gravel and smashing it around. Fortunately, our man Winkie had an excavator he let us borrow and my man Robin knew how to use it!

See some photos of this involved project.

Grandparents!

2010-02-16T08:55:00.005-05:00

We are now the proud new grandparents of a bouncing baby girl, Hannah Jo. Hannah arrived late last week, an early Valentine's present. All are doing well and are settling in at home.

The Hunt for Red February

2010-02-05T12:01:00.004-05:00

In this elusive cat-and-mouse game, breaths are held as the moving and storage company, Atlas Van Lines, tries to find, locate and deliver a couple's entire household and lifetime belongings. Robin Leatherman and Karen Smith star in this not-to-be missed adventure. Lots of plot turns and twists in this low-tech thriller. The hunt is on.

Finally! Photos!

2010-01-27T15:20:00.012-05:00

Finally, I am able to upload all the long-awaited for photos all my, uh, fan(s) have been waiting for. (Hey, I know at least two people who asked me for photos!)

Rest and recovery: More rest, recovery and fun following Robin's surgery. See some pictures from our road tip to Iowa, a rocket launch, our cruise to the Bahamas and what we can do with a 22 rifle.
Fantasy fest: Caution: Contains nudity. View at your own risk. Just so you know, here are some verbatim rules (yeah, right!) from the city of Key West published in the Fantasy Fest Event Guide: Nudity is illegal. City code specifies that body paint does not constitute clothing. Nudity is not allowed on public property or in public view. Please wear a cover-up to avoid exposure on city streets. Body painting must be done in enclosed or screened areas, out of public view. Drink from paper or plastic cups provided by bars and vendors. Open containers are allowed in the Fantasy Zone.
The move: Robin's last hurrah fishing at the fort, how you move 300 pounds of frozen fish 1,000 miles, a forewarning of a Nor'easter and more during our move from Key West to North Carolina.
Redneck revival: The winner of my family's annual Christmas Sock Contest, our awesome, completely furnished rental and some wildlife and scenery around Wanchese.
Wright Brothers: A celebration of the 106th anniversary of powered flight.

Rants and raves

2010-01-20T06:52:00.005-05:00

Transportation: Our ghetto Jetta wasn't road-worthy enough to drive to North Carolina. Now, we bought a similar (only better) ghetto car. It's a Honda Civic and is getting 36 MPG! Plus, the air, heat and radio all work!
Medical madness: Now that we finally have a mailing address where we actually receive our mail, all the medical bills are coming in. Somehow, the chiropractor Robin saw last summer in Kodiak charged more than $500 for two, 20-minute visits. Because Robin has insurance, the chiro billed him $200, twice what the cash price would have been. That's after the insurance already paid over $300. That puts the chiro's hourly rate at about $750 an hour!
Working out: Dare County has a community center with a small workout facility. Originally, it was supposed to be for senior citizens only. But, they had to open it up to the entire population to legally receive the funding they lined up for it. The best part is it is free to use (especially helpful for one unemployed person in particular)! Based on the music they play, however, I am certain they are trying to drive out anyone under the age of 70.
Wired and wireless: We now have home internet service! Whoohooo! What a luxury.
Unemployment: My seasonal, temporary park service job ended in July. Since then, I have been unable to receive unemployment due to some weird government regulation. Effective this week, I can finally receive unemployment after 6 months of trying. (Hopefully, it will be short-lived and I will get a job soon!)
Weather: Wow, what a treat to not be hot and sweaty all the time. After an almost 3-week streak of 20-degree colder than normal temps, we are now in the 50s most days.

Dangers of driving

2010-01-05T09:32:00.008-05:00

North Carolina is a highly regulated state when it comes to driving. Actually, it's a highly regulated state for most things, as we are discovering.

To get a driver's license, you must have proof of car insurance. It does not matter if you have a car, however. If you don't have proof of insurance, you can't get a license. Period. We had to call Robin's car insurance, add me to it and have them fax proof that I am on the policy.
Unlike the state of Florida (who will let anyone drive), NC makes you take a written test to obtain your driver's license. The motorcycle test is way more difficult than the car test. Instead of 3 multiple choice answers for each question, you have to choose from 4.
We just purchased a second car (this area has no public transportation whatsoever). The problem is we can't drive it. The motor vehicle license and registration office says you can't drive your car without plates. If you purchase it from the owner directly (which we did) and not a dealership, the state says you can't drive it home until you get new plates. (We broke the law to get it home.) They have no contingency for a temporary tag from a private owner. Plus, you can't get a NC license plate until you have your NC driver's license. We are waiting for our licenses to arrive from the ever-so-safe-and-secure U.S. Postal Service. Brilliant!
On a side note, to obtain a library card, as always, is the most difficult. You can't get one of those until you have a state ID. Sheesh! They were nice enough to give me a "guest" card.

Two-handed driving

2010-01-03T13:32:00.001-05:00

is a must around here!

Wind gusts are 50 mph+! Talk about windblown.

There's salt spray all over the road and the windchill is 11. (At least it's 11 above zero and not below, like where my mom is.) Some of the edges of the water around the sound have even frozen.

Happy New Year

2009-12-28T14:00:00.013-05:00

We've been busy settling into our new place in Wanchese and enjoying 50+ degree temps (it was 60 on Christmas). I haven't had time to get at-home internet yet and I don't have a vehicle to get to an internet cafe much so photos of our "Redneck Revival" house need to wait. Here are some of the things we've been busy doing during our month in North Carolina:

Explored Matamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge and saw flocks and flocks of swans, ducks of all sorts and some deer.
Bought a new space-age memory foam mattress (like a Tempurpedic only different). This replaces the inflatable "bounce house" Eddie Bauer mattress we've been sleeping on for four, yes four, months.
Went to a hunting camp near Windsor, NC for the weekend. Robin shot a deer and we've been eating it ... yum!
Entered Robin in my family's annual Christmas Sock Contest and he won! (Photos to come.)
Endured our first Nor'easter (sort of) ... it was blowing about 40, much like a typical winter day at Dry Tortugas.

Celebration of First Flight

2009-12-17T08:49:00.003-05:00

Today in my new neighborhood is the 106th annual celebration of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

Robin will be an official Park Service Represenative and I'll be attending as a spectator.

This will be my first visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which includes a 60-foot tall granite monument on top of a 90-foot hill.

Cheesers

2009-12-15T08:43:00.002-05:00

I learned that "cheesers" is the nickname for people who live in my village, Wanchese.

Today we will get our very own post office box. I am truly looking forward to being able to receive mail, especially without having to rely on 4 or 5 other people to coordinate getting the mailbox key and manage to get the mail to the appropriate recipient.

Where in the world...

2009-12-08T12:49:00.004-05:00

is Wanchese, NC? (I tried to find more web info about the area but that is the best I could do.) Our place is just south and east of Mann's Red and White, a local store.

After a whirlwind week packing, loading, driving and finally arriving in North Carolina, we went on a whirlwind search for temporary housing. Although we had a temporary Park Service house on the beach, we decided to get our truck out of the pelting sand and seasalt.

We looked at more than 25 places, including a foreclosed house that would have been a fantastic deal (if most of the floor joists not been rotted out).

Our new home is in Wanchese (a village, not a town because it is not incorporated). "It's about as close to Alaska as you get around here," said one local resident who lived in Alaska for a while. They even had a community luncheon last weekend with free fish, ribs, beer and wine!

I can't believe how excited I am to clean and unpack.

Scenic South Carolina

2009-12-01T09:03:00.005-05:00

We are officially on the road and spent the night in scenic Santee, South Carolina...with free WiFi for guests. Wow, what a luxury!

Traveling with us is always an adventure. We have a loaded down 16-ft trailer in tow and a chest freezer in the back of the truck. The freezer is filled with Alaskan halibut and salmon. An extension cord snakes through the parking lot from the truck to our hotel room.

We expect to make it to Columbia, North Carolina tonight.

Phases 2 and 3 complete

2009-11-28T19:06:00.002-05:00

With the help of movers, we packed up Key West and completed Phase 2 of this drawn-out move. Next, we headed to our third location: Titusville. We are almost done packing up the good stuff (guns, 4-wheeler, etc.). At long last, we head out of here tomorrow. Yippee!

Next stop: who knows (we have yet to map out our route because we've been too busy packing to try and get online till now).

Phase 1 of 3 complete

2009-11-22T17:52:00.002-05:00

OK ... we moved all of our stuff out of the fort and are on to Phase 2: Packing up Key West. Ug.

I need a beer.

Hatteras here we come!!!

2009-11-18T21:46:00.006-05:00

After a 6+ hour drive to the Keys followed by a 3-hour ferry, we've been on Garden Key packing and loading all of our stuff from the fort to the Park Service boat. We head out from Dry Tortugas at 0700 for our journey back to Key West.

Then, it's a meeting with the movers and then me moving all of our stuff (because Robin is restricted from moving stuff) from the boat to our Key West apartment. It's sure to be a fun-filled weekend.

Expected Hatteras arrival date is December 3 or 4 with Robin's first day on the job as Dec. 7.

I'll post as I can pending Internet accessibility.

Ahoy, Hatteras!

2009-11-09T14:45:00.012-05:00

After more than a year in the heat and humidity, we are now moving to yet another island outpost, only this one is accessible by road: Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina. We are super excited about this move and are really looking forward to getting four seasons of weather again.

Robin will be the maintenance mechanic supervisor for Cape Hatteras, Bodie Island, Fort Raleigh and Wright Brothers. I will be continuing the next chapter of Karen's Great Adventure, starting my book and searching for a "real" job (sort of). (If you have any leads in that area, let me know.)

Stay tuned for the exciting and ever-changing logistical details of how we will get all of our stuff from Fort Jefferson to Fort Raleigh and surroundings ... without Robin's physical assistance because of his still recovering knee.

Quote of the day

2009-11-03T14:21:00.003-05:00

"Damn infomercials. I'm done with 'em. Unless it really looks good."

Robin in response to the $15 in postage he had to pay for returning one of the [several] money-back-guarantee infomercial products he got sucked into buying during his knee recovery.

Top 10 things learned on our Bahama cruise

2009-10-25T19:15:00.003-04:00

Different accents (with crew members from 59 countries and passengers from 38) made every conversation a comical misunderstanding. When Robin's mom asked for iced tea, the waiter (from somewhere in Indonesia) wanted to bring her ice cream.
You can get all the steaks and desserts you can eat, no questions asked. Or you can get all the free ice cream and coffee you want. But if you have more money than sense, you can wait in a the ridiculously long line to buy Ben and Jerry's ice cream for $4.75 or Seattle's Best coffee for $6. If you want the artificial sweetener Splenda, you'll have to ask. They treat it like gold and store it in a back vault somewhere.
The onboard personal trainer is not really a personal trainer. He's just a front for selling detox supplements. A 3-month supply will run you about $500 for supplements or $800 for bath oil and a cactus exfoliating brush -- ouch.
If the winds are blowing 30+ knots because of the tropical depression we were in, don't expect to enjoy all of the amenities. The winds and the 6-8 foot seas made it too rough for the tender boats to get to Cococay, the cruise ship's private island, so we didn't stop. They will also close the onboard climbing wall. The swimming pool, on the 12th story of the boat, becomes a wave pool, so be careful!
Tipping is not at your discretion and you are told what to tip each person. Under the cruise ship's guidelines, your head waiter and your stateroom attendant can each expect to rake in $1,452 on a 5-day cruise. They work 9 months straight, so that ends up to be $52,200 a year in tips alone.
Contrary to what the taxi drivers tell you, you can take a one-way ferry ride to Paradise Island (home to Oprah Winfrey, Nicholas Cage, John Travolta, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan). The taxi drivers tried to convince us it was cheaper by taxi because you had to buy a roundtrip ferry ticket and the ferry stopped running in an hour. (We took the ferry one way and a taxi on the way back.)
Robin is a natural at his casino game of choice: the Bar 7's slot machine. (He tripled his money but ended up putting it back in. The "free" drinks were worth it!)
You can't bring your own alcohol on board. That would cut into their profits. Drinks were $8.25 plus a mandatory 15% tip/fee (and for your convenience, they add it on automatically). If a couple had two drinks each a day, drinks would cost more than the entire 5-day cruise. For those of you teetotalers who can't live without your soda for 5 days, $24 gets you all the soda you can swallow for the length of the cruise.
Don't bother taking any cash on board. The only place that will accept it is the casino. The cruise ship wants you to link your credit card to your stateroom key card. They don't like taking your credit card, either, but will do so under duress.
If you stay at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, the cheapest night there is $440. Again, more for one night there than the entire 5-day cruise for a couple! The aquarium at Atlantis is awesome and is free after 5 p.m.

Bon voyage

2009-10-18T09:17:00.000-04:00

To get a break from this record-setting heat in Florida (it was 106 degrees the other day with the heat index), we decided to take a cruise to the balmy Bahamas.

We latched on to this last-minute special for Florida residents ($150/person plus port charges and taxes). Robin's mom and aunt are going along. We'll be celebrating my belated birthday and Robin's aunt's birthday.

We sail on Monday for 4 nights and 5 days, going to Nassau and Cococay.

Exhausting recovery and rehab

2009-10-10T15:32:00.008-04:00

I tell ya, it's hard to recuperate! After Robin was released to travel, we took a road trip to see my injured mom in Iowa, with a stop to see my long-recuperating base-jumping brother. The trip was relatively uneventful and very relaxing, except for the constant attention I had to pay to my forgetful mother and over-exuberant Robin.

We stopped at Big South Fork, TN on the return and stayed with a friend. If you're traveling through Georgia, remember my advice to avoid Macon at all costs. Drive a bit further to Cordele ... it's waaaay worth it!

This week, Robin goes in for his 6 week evaluation. All is going great with his recovery and we expect to see him off crutches and in the knee brace following that appointment.

Stay tuned for some exciting developments coming soon!

Quote of the day

2009-10-01T12:11:00.002-04:00

"I'm so full I couldn't even eat an ice cube."

Robin in response to all the yummy fresh produce (butternut squash, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, raspberries, apples and more) we have access to on the mainland.

Recovery and rehab

2009-09-18T15:22:00.002-04:00

Three weeks after surgery, Robin continues to do really well with his physical therapy and recovery. His staples are out and he's halfway through the 6-week crutches requirement.

Thanks to our friend Gordie, we're still in St. Augustine with easy access to the doctor, physical therapy and the gym. (Now that Robin has been cleared to do a little light lifting ... machines only. No plates. No barbells. No dumbbells.)

See some pictures of Robin's recovery, staple removal, my birthday and more.

Birthday time!

2009-09-15T09:00:00.003-04:00

It's my birthday and we are going to Orlando! Guaranteed to get to the front of the line every time because Robin will be in a wheelchair and I'll have my birthday button on!

We're not sure if he'll be able to do any rides besides the kiddie rides so stay tuned for pictures and a recap of how it went.

Quote of the day

2009-09-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

"Pain is just a sign of weakness leaving your body."

Robin during his first post-op, modified workout (only slightly mind-altered from the pain med withdrawal symptoms).

Coleslaw wrestling

2009-09-06T13:14:00.007-04:00

You can't help but watch TV when you're hanging around the house recuperating, getting up at all hours for the next dose of pain medication, having another icing round and searching for short excursions to take during the day. Boy, the things we have learned from infomercials, regular commercials, talk shows and other shows at all hours.

One thing we just missed was the annual Coleslaw Wrestling event, held in Samsula, FL and not too far from where we're staying. (But, we will mark it on the calendar for next year!)

Who knew you could watch women wrestling in a pit of 2,000 pounds of raw cabbage? The event slogan: "We have done for cole slaw what the moon did for rocks." (Not to worry, either, because after the event, they feed the slaw to livestock.)

This event is so huge, they even have aerial camera support. The Cabbage Patch Bar hosts this infamous event, along with several other out-of-the-ordinary events (including a sexy banana contest, a bike drop and skydiving), all with the understanding that "nudity is not only an accidental by-product of those activities, it is the reason our friends attend, participate, and enjoy viewing the proceedings."

Top 10 similarities between Mom's and Robin's lastest medical events

2009-09-02T09:58:00.005-04:00

You wouldn't think a broken wrist and knee surgery have much in common. But when it comes to The Twins (Mom and Robin), the eery similarities are readily apparent. Or if you want to just feel pain, take a look at some photos of the surgical event (warning: some are gory).

Both were worried about something happening to their clothes before they were ready to leave the hospital and wanted to hold onto them.
Both had a mean nurse.
Both can't "ambulate" unattended and need supervision for most activities.
Both can't use their right arms or feed themselves.
Both were drugged beyond belief.
Both have a groggy memory and recall about events.
Both are very anxious to get better.
Both have great meals prepared for them.
Both have physical therapy daily and get chauffeured around.
Both suffer from impaired judgment and think they are OK to do more than they can or should.

Quote of the day

2009-08-30T18:47:00.001-04:00

"I itch like a chicken with lice."

Robin in reference to the surgical stockings he has to wear for 6 weeks.

Top 10 knee surgery highlights

2009-08-29T11:20:00.012-04:00

Robin's surgery went well and he is home for recovery. Here are a few highlights from the experience.

It takes about an hour and a half to install a new cadaver ACL and it's an outpatient procedure so you'll be home by noon.
It can take up to two days for two nerve blocks to wear off and is pretty painful when it does. (Robin's wore off today and we are counting the minutes until Robin can take the next roundof pain meds.)
A combination of anesthesia effects, pain medication and antibiotics, all with side effects of dizziness and light-headedness, combined with a leg numb from two nerve blocks, makes for a scary experience when getting accustomed to crutches.
Ambulating is commonly used in the medical world instead of "getting around."
The St. Augustine Surgical Center does not have water, snacks, comfortable chairs or a comfortable temperature (it's freezing in there!) so prepare accordingly.
ACL and meniscus repair involves 4 incisions, 11 staples, a leg shave and scrub, 5 injections, 2 vials of blood removal, a shot of valium and an antibiotic injection.
A large vial of blood contains only 8 to 10 ccs of platelets (used in Robin's elbow and knee injections to repair cartlidge and soft tissue injury).
An ice cuff machine is very expensive ($255) , very cumbersome, not guaranteed to work and is difficult to convince the manufacturer that the unit really failed and needed immediate replacement.
A CPM machine (constant passive motion) is rentable only and its goal for ACL recovery starts at a 60-degree bend and progresses to a 120-degree bend after a week or so.
If you're tired enough, you can sleep through the drone of the CPM machine and the pump of the ice cuff machine.

Medical mayhem

2009-08-25T15:22:00.005-04:00

Ah, the world of healthcare.

My mom fell recently and broke her wrist (badly). Unfortunately, this happened after hours, on the weekend (of course) so she got to spend the entire weekend in the hospital because the staff didn't want to call in the surgeon and doctor. Plus, she had to stay there 3 days for her senior care to pay for it. Anyway, she's still waiting to get a cast and reportedly was to be discharged to a rehab facility soon.

Robin undergoes an ACL revision and meniscus repair on Thursday. This procedure entails a 3 to 4 month recovery, which we will spend in Florida and other locations around the country (like Iowa to see my injured mom) and Kentucky (or similar) if Robin can hunt from a wheelchair.

I plan to take blow-by-blow pictures of the event so stay tuned for the before and afters!

Pet project

2009-08-16T08:28:00.003-04:00

Now that I have some spare time, I'm starting a book project. Please vote for your favorite post and/or type of post. Leave a comment if your answer doesn't quite fit into one of the categories.

Remember, I'm in Florida so you can vote early and vote often!

Kodiak photos

2009-08-14T11:33:00.003-04:00

We had a great time in Kodiak and I really liked the town. It reminded me a lot of Sitka and Southeast. (Heavy sigh.) Here are a slew of pictures from our Kodiak trip.

Kodiak oddities: See the local brewery, home of Sarah Palin Ale, Robin demonstrating how to pee in a funnel, a U.S. nuclear missile site, how to park your plane at your house and more odd shots from Kodiak.
Kodiak cabin: See the cabin we went to look at in Viekoda Bay, including the "his" and "hers" bathrooms, a Russian sauna and an elevated deer skinning station that keeps you and your meat safe from bears.
Kodiak friends and family: See us and The Boys and other friends in and around Kodiak.
Kodiak fishing: See me an my first king, the halibut slaughter (when the guys got 300 lb + of meat) and more.
Scenery and wildlife: See fox and buffalo, mountains, oceans and more scenic views in and around Kodiak.

Quote of the day

2009-08-06T19:51:00.002-04:00

"My back's great ... as long as I don't move."

Words out of both my mom's and Robin's mouths on the same day.

Top 10 Kodiak trip highlights (so far)

2009-08-02T22:33:00.003-04:00

Managing to get our huge, supposed-to-be checked bag through carry-on security after purging all liquids and leaving them with a secret contact. (All valuable contents ... like my expensive hair stuff ... secured and in hands of friends.)
Seeing real wildlife ... like eagles, puffins, sea lions, porpoises, sea otters and a really cool fox.
Waiting on the second floor with no railing in a dark, dark cabin in the middle of the night to pee in a weird funnel contraption because I couldn't climb down the ladder in the dark and face being met by a bear outside.
Seeing the parents of our future grandchild and our other Boy who made a trip to E.R. for a partially sliced off tip of his index finger.
Flying in a small plane over The Emerald Isle on a calm, sunny day to explore property in Viekoda Bay.
Catching a 34-pound king salmon for the first time and eating king salmon!
Spending time with some longtime friends of Robin's.
Trying Sarah Palin Pale Ale beer at the Kodiak Brewery.
Enjoying nice, cool comfortable weather (upper 50s) and not being all sweaty and slimed up from sunscreen.
Seeing Kodiak and all the places Robin knows and being on the Alaskan waters again.

Another Alaska anniversary

2009-07-25T08:26:00.046-04:00

I am so excited! Robin and I celebrate our two-year anniversary with a trip to Kodiak, Alaska. This will be my first trip to Kodiak (Robin lived there for several years).

We will see The Boys (both in their mid-20s), friends, some property for sale, some wildlife (whales, bears, etc.) and all that this area of Alaska has to offer. And yes, of course, we will be FISHING for salmon and halibut.

In preparation for hauling back all that fish we plan to catch, I actually had to research and read baggage requirements. Here are some interesting things I learned:

Allowed in carry-on luggage:

Human organs: They did not specify how, what or why. I guess anything goes. I assume you would be questioned, regardless, so be prepared if you're traveling with an extra kidney on board.
Ashes: Provided they are in a sealed, leak-proof container that fits in an overhead compartment. They did not specify what type of ashes so I assume this applies to all ashes, human and otherwise.
Reading material: Provided it is a "reasonable amount," reading material does not count towards carry-on luggage. (It scares me that they think people can determine "reasonable" for themselves. So far, my experience hasn't led me to believe that people are very good at determining "reasonable" on their own.)

Allowed in checked luggage:

Alcohol: If you can keep it under 5 liters per person and it is less than 140 proof, have at it! Just keep it in "retail packaging." However, forget about it if you are traveling to Barrow, Bethel, or Kotzebue, Alaska where you no longer have all your basic American rights and can't possess such contraband. Then it's a big no-no. I guess residents there could learn something from the folks in Santa Rosa where they can control their alcohol consumption. If you travel out of Santa Rosa, you can check one box of wine per person at no cost.
Critter stuff: Un-mounted antlers and horns, raw capes from big game and bear hide, provided it bears special labeling and meets normal size and weight restrictions.
Pepper spray or chemical repellent: Provided it is less than 4 ounces, a less than 2% active ingredient and a cap, case or other mechanism in place to prevent accidental discharge. (Unfortunately, most bear sprays exceed the active ingredient percentage allowed so they suggest you buy such items at your destination and leave them behind upon return.)
Ammunition: Provided it is securely packed in the original manufacturer's package or in a container designed for ammunition and of sufficient strength to protect it from accidental crushing or discharge. (Note: having a single 22-bullet is not acceptable in your carry-on luggage, regardless that you have no weapon whatsoever. Just ask Robin.)
Firearms: Defined as "designed to or may be readily converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive." They must all be unloaded and packed in a hard-sided container that is locked and you must have the key or lock combination in your possession. All parts of the firearm must be packed in the same container as the firearm itself.
Paintball cylinders: Provided the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside.

Not allowed in checked luggage or carry-on:

Wet ice: That's frozen water, folks. I know I always considered this a dangerous item so I'm glad travelers can't posses it! But, you can have dry ice ... up to 5.5 pounds per item, provided it allows for the release of carbon dioxide gas. (FYI: Gel ice is the preferred type of ice and styrofoam is not an acceptable container.)
Radioactive materials: If you have something radioactive, leave it at home, along with any other hazardous materials such as poisons and infectious substances.
Self inflating rafts: Although I think this would be better as a carry-on, leave your raft at home ... or anything else in a pressurized container such as butane fuel, scuba tanks, propane tanks and C02 cartridges.

The unemployed

2009-07-19T08:35:00.010-04:00

My nephew Scott, recently laid off from his civil engineering job, joined me for some fun in the sun at Fort Jefferson. What better way for two recently unemployed workers to spend some time but by kayaking (in a kayak that had a hole in the hull and was taking on water -- a lot of work to paddle that thing!), snorkeling and exploring?

See the photos of our adventures.

Shark porn

2009-07-16T11:48:00.007-04:00

Now that I have some time on my hands, I can take advantage of some of the cool stuff around here. For example, I spent a morning with Wes, a researcher studying the mating habits of nurse sharks and learning all about shark fornification.

A step ladder is a primary tool in this process, along with standing in waist-deep water. Pretty neat stuff!

See the photos of how all this stuff works.