The Greear Family: Dear Anna

Thank you for your pleading email (begging me to update this blog). It made my ego feel nice and plump again.

Mema took the children, like the hero that she is, so that Vince and I could spend the weekend in Anchorage alone together. I brought my camera thinking of the blog post I could create but really... Anchorage mid-winter is a grey bland place which is finally trying to update the curb appeal of its strip malls but is only having moderate success. It is an unusually warm winter here in Alaska and the roads were dry. The ice sculptures have melted into frigid blobs. It feels like break-up in Alaska: snow melting, water everywhere, sand thick on driving surfaces with no ice to cling to (the dust is unreal!). A part of me kept getting a little joyful that spring was here, but it is not spring. If I give into the feeling that we are nearly past the dark cold months it will certainly blizzard again. The world is not supposed to look this way until late April.

There was an incredible avalanche that closed the highway the day we left town. Because Vince was working late it was cleared before we got there but his co-worker was stuck behind it for 6 hours. She, obviously not a die hard Alaskan, was the only person in the long line who did not get out of their car to take a pee. She had to go super bad but could not bring herself to do it, even when she watched every other man woman and child in her vicinity following natures call.

Vince had pharmacy meeting and convention to attend over the weekend and I...here is my news...have a new job. That's right! I am again blessed to have another small but VERY meaningful job as the parent navigator for Stone Soup Group in Homer for parents of children with learning disabilities! I spent a couple hours Friday morning getting oriented and clarifying what I'd be doing exactly.

Oh, you didn't know I was applying for other positions? I wasn't. I kind of got asked to apply. I am not sure how it happened actually. My new boss said something about hidden cameras. All I know is that I am excited and feel that I can be of service and you know what a huge deal ethical expression in my work is to me...

Vince and I watched the Tiger Woods press conference. It was refreshing hearing someone refer to themselves as something other than Christian. Then when the porn star followed up his press conference with one of her own stating, "he said I was the only one, besides his wife!", we collapsed into laughter and spent the rest of the weekend making jokes that referenced that statement.

It is wonderful to have such an interesting and happy partnership with someone after all these years. I am definitely still enjoying myself in this partnership.

We ate gyros. There was a very tall, very broad shouldered waitress with no make up taking orders in a put off way. She was so compelling to me! Was she gay, straight, Greek? I tipped her for our take out and Vince could not believe it. He sees all that aloofness as bitchiness and not interesting at all. However, I find her attitude so un-Alaskan I can't help but be curious.

I went back the next day but with no more success than the day before in getting a better understanding of this woman's story. Drat! I did have fabulous gyros though!

Vince snuck me into dinner at the convention. Drug reps put on the hourdurve feast. Pharmacists are such a bunch of geeks. They love free stuff and free food. Vince is definitely one of the hippest in the crowd. I was happy with the meal, enjoying the scene, when Vince's friend came up and said, "is this the best he can do? Sneeking you into a free meal?" I said, "We have eaten out at such fabulous places so frequently that this is more interesting to me than spending big money for a meal in Anchorage."
I didn't hear another word about it.
We ended the evening watching TV and eating popcorn in a quiet hotel room. That rarely happens! It was a joy.

I shopped for furniture. How do you take a picture of that? I went to Pennies. I went to the day old bakery. I went to my favorite Asian food stores.

That evening we met up with Homer friends over Korean food. I didn't get out my camera for that. Why? It was such a fun evening and the food was great! Sorry Jean, I don't know what came over me! Vince and Mike had a lot in common and Jean and I caught up joyfully. Great night!

We drove home the next day after going to Target. It was sunny and warm and I had to keep reminding myself that this is not spring.

I am substituting this week in the Russian village of Razdolna. I'd better get ready. I'll write kid updates and substitute teacher warfare in the next installment.

Thank you for your continued curiosity about things in this wild country.