Shabbat shalom from Sebec Lake I sit on our back porch looking out at across the lake, a view that has been a part of my life since I was two years old. I am surrounded by memories. In no particular order they come to me. Aunt Bill helping us put together a skeleton of a small rodent we found under the porch, picking berries for pie, hoisting the flags in the morning and taking them down at night while singing "Day is Done", stubbing countless toes on the roots and rocks, taking pictures on the picture rock and on the back steps, watching the sunsets, dreaming about the castle across the lake, riding in the Mary B. across the lake, cleaning brush, sweeping floors every morning, doing dishes, running through the woods with older cousins ... read more

(I am working off an iPad and unfortunately can't select the correct location so I am choosing Anchorage which I can select easily) Sitting in LaGuardia airport waiting for my next flight that will take me to Boston and a week of touring cemeteries in search of ancestors. On another plane flying north is Mark...we spent the last few weeks together traveling over 2000 miles from Chicago to Winnipeg and back. This airport is set up for business and professionals. Comfy chairs, outlets for electricity and USB. Ethernet connections too. Even the decor is business oriented. Etched glass, "Make a profit" "Check your investments" I wonder what an airport lounge for educators would look like? I thought I would be  able to upload this blog today from the airport but wifi costs here...I think I'm spoiled ... read more

Being on a vacation, a true vacation is a wonderful thing. This time it is Mark who has obligations and things to do. I just am along for the ride and having a great time. We spent one night in Seattle with my cousin, Kelsey. He took us to a great place for brunch. The coffee was good and the food excellent. Then a quick stop to get a few snacks for the plane and we were off to Minneapolis. This flight offered free wifi on the plane. It will cost after July 31 and I am not sure that we’ll pay for it on the way home but it was fun to try out. I think that I would consider it if I had nothing else to do, like getting the digiplayer one time for ... read more

Camping in Alaska this summer, well spring too has been quite an adventure. We started the season at Eagle River campground which was the ONLY sunny weekend, the beginning of May, till now, mid-July! Eagle River was lovely, definitely close to town but also quiet and a great place, especially as none of the other campgrounds were open yet for the summer. It was cold… We also stayed at Tenderfoot Creek, newly remodeled, paved and clean! It was near the road so a bit noisy but not bad at all. Rained… Mark set up a tarp over the picnic table and I sat in the van typing my portfolio for my last class in my masters’ program. Not as relaxing as I would have liked but better than being at home. Bird Creek campground one weekend ... read more

Spent the day yesterday puttering around getting ready to drive to Fairbanks when Mark got home. We got on the road by 4:30PM in rather poor weather. Rain and we just washed the Element! Visibility was so-so and just past Wasilla we stopped to wash the windows and headlights. Did that a few times. By the time we got to Talkeetna the roads dried up and stayed dry till we pulled into Fairbanks by midnight. The only wildlife we saw was a lone red fox who was trying to cross the road in front of us but thought better of it and went back into the woods instead of becoming a hood ornament. Woke up around 9:30am, after chatting a bit went back to bed. Missed the sunrise at 10ish, now we are drinking coffee, talking ... read more