Wilderness adventure

When people say you don't have to go far to be in the wild here in Alaska, they are not kidding. We decided to go for a walk last night, but Connor had different ideas. He wanted to go get ice cream at the BX, so we tacked on a drive out around the Bear Lake and Chena Lake road so we could see the Fam Camp and have a scenic drive. As we munched on ice cream cones, we rapidly found ourselves in quite the wilderness.

The drive we took borders the live fire range, but really all you see are these scrubby pines, boggy grasses and white birch, dense, stretching as far as the eye can see. We were grateful for four wheel drive at that point because the road was not the best with the thaw and recent rain.

Almost immediately we saw two moose enjoying all the melted rain and revived grasses. They both stood close to eight feet tall. That sure is an impressive animal...I'm not sure when the fascination is going to wear off with them. We pulled over and watched one closely (from maybe 20 feet away) while he/she went unconcernedly about munching a fair swath of new growth foliage. We decided to drive on, and after circling the Fam Camp -- it's not open yet, but the campsites looked very nice with some amenities like bathrooms -- we drove on to the Chena Lake campsites. Chena Lake stands about 12.5 miles from where we were...it's actually very close to North Pole, but the side closest to the base is still a controlled access area because of the range and base borders, so we drove with abandon. We got about six miles down the road when Charlie slowed and pointed out something largish trotting on the road.

It was an honest-to-goodness black wolf! It stood probably a little under three feet at the shoulder, so definitely large -- apparently Alaska gray wolves are some of the largest in the world because of the size of the prey they hunt, reaching an average of 140 lbs. The biggest one ever caught was in the Interior in 1939, and weighed a whopping 175 lbs! We pulled over to look at him and he slunk into the bushes and watched us as well from only about fifteen feet away. He was black with a goldish undercoat, and dull yellow lantern eyes. Both Charlie and I were just silenced by the wonder of it all -- how many people have seen wild wolves from that close? You could sense the power and immense wildness of the animal even from that far away.

I then of course said one of the dumbest things I have said in a long while, and asked Charlie if we shouldn't lock the doors. After he stopped writhing in uncontrollable laughter, he did indeed punch the lock buttons -- if that wolf had opposable thumbs, Charlie would have been very sorry for laughing at me! And yes, I realize just how stupid a question that was, but I justify it by thinking that any woman heavy with one gestating child and a chocolate-coated Connor bon bon in the back seat would have done the same thing surreptitiously.

We drove on, sighting Canadian geese, mallards, loons, an Arctic hare and some grouse along the way. We pulled up to a wide fishing ground on the Chena River, which was frothing and foaming energetically with all the snow melt and admired the view of the surrounding mountains and roiling river. There were warnings about salmon fishing from the spot -- apparently by the time the salmon reach this point they are tired and only have a few more hours/days to spawn and die, so they are distinctly untasty by that point. But rainbow grayling and trout are still tasty and very popular there, so Charlie made a mental note of a good fishing spot and vowed to return. We were going to get out and walk around a bit, but the large and importunate mosquitoes bumping aggressively against the windows were desiring that same thing and we hadn't brought repellent. Connor was still coated in ice cream detritus, so we decided not to serve him up for voracious insects as dessert.

On the way back we spotted another moose and more ducks, and kept an eye out for our wolfish friend, finally encountering him a couple miles from where we had previously seen him. He was trotting along the road, but hid in the nearby brush when we got close. Apparently the road was nice and pleasant to travel on, and he used the surrounding foliage for camo when necessary -- though really not trying that hard to hide. He was definitely not all that afraid of us. We sat for perhaps ten minutes til he got bold enough to venture out again and he came out on the road to investigate the car more closely, coming within ten feet or so, sniffing experimentally. He then slunk away, and loped gracefully along the verge and into the woods. How we wished for a camera! But since it was originally intended to be an ice cream outing, we hadn't thought to bring it. Damn and double damn.

Charlie pointed out that we were only four miles from Fam Camp at that point...it gave me shivers to realize there were predators of that power and size within six miles of our house. I know, I'm just sheltered...and probably far safer than I was in Las Vegas from human predators...but still, the fact that we could venture down a dirt side road and come face to face with a wild wolf was a bit startling and disconcerting all the same.

Humbling, awe-inspiring and exciting all in one...without ever getting farther than ten miles down the road from home. Alaska sure is incredible!

The Moose is Loose! and other adventures

Today marked the opening of the Tenana Farmers' Market, so we hied ourselves off to see what there was to see. Very neat vibe...lots of crafts and some plantings for sale, though no veggies or fruits yet to speak of. We indulged in some Little Saigon food which was tasty but not extraordinary. We heard amazing things about the falafel and pitas there, but the line was much too long for an impatient toddler, so we opted for the Asian food instead. The pitas are definitely on my "must taste" list though, because they looked AMAZING.

After buying two different vendors' local honey -- we've become honey connoisseurs, snobs, if you will -- we headed over to the Pets and People Day at the fairgrounds. We figured we'd get an hour's entertainment out of it. Well, Connor went nuts. Certifiable, over the moon manic about all the animals.
It was primarily dogs, which makes sense, since Companions Inc was hosting it, but there were bunnies, guinea pigs, pigeons, goats and alpacas to also coo over.


Mommy had to help pet the pigeon...you never know when the claws and feathers might whirl into destruction mode and eviscerate small boys. Didn't stop him from dancing in front of the table, chattering at them for nearly 20 minutes.
We were NOT happy about leaving the bunnies and goats. Not happy at all. But daddy had to drop off mommy at a going away and take Connor for a haircut. After a traumatic haircut (for all involved, the lady got a $20 tip for putting up with it) we had a seminal moment. The elusive moose was finally spotted WITH camera in hand! Finally...we've seen moose after moose, a virtual plethora of the danged things, and we finally got a good picture of one! My friend Breanne had one enjoy an episode of Young and the Restless with her, peering over her shoulder while munching her new hydrangea bushes, but alas...none have ventured that close the Freel household.


The moose was just cruising right down Broadway Street, the main thoroughfare of Eielson that cuts through housing. Connor, of course, has become an expert moose spotter and here demonstrates proper moose watching sangfroid. Never let them know that you're excited...because after all, pigeons are much more worth the energy! Sheesh.

Break-up!

May 6th at 10:53 pm...the ice on the Tenana went out at Nenana. We're officially into spring! YAY!!!!!!!

And on a side note, the last few days have been beautiful -- 60 degrees with some rain showers, which of course is bumming Connor out since they always seem to hit at our normal park-going hour. But there's no rain forecasted today, so boyo might actually get to go fight off some hummingbird mosquitoes to swing his heart out!

Time to invest in sunscreen and bug spray, methinks...

Why I haven't posted for a week!

...Connor's playroom has been taking up just about every spare moment for days. We took half the basement and turned it into a play space...important when you spend 9 months inside!

We painted the walls blue and green with a hill scene on one side...the stickers for the farm scene haven't arrived yet. I would have tried to paint them, but I have the artistic talent of a six month old.

I finished sewing this last night...


A few days ago, I made two of these huge pillows. They're 43 inches across...just big enough to hold one little boy while he watches a show or flops after daddy tickles him into exhaustion.


Here's a long view of the room...we got these great organizers on sale. The whole set up was less than $150! We put up his train table too and there's still a nice large space for riding his trike.


Connor loves his new room!


He was so excited about his teepee when we finished it last night that he went running out of it shrieking and careened against the wall. He has a huge welt on his cheek now. Yipes!

Midwife appt...blah

I had a midwife appt today...I know it's very silly, but I get really excited about them. Sometimes I feel like I haven't paid poor Timmy the attention I lavished on Connor from conception day on, and this really focuses me on him for awhile.

But they're busy...very busy. Alaska Family Health and Birth Center is really the only game in town if you want an out of hospital birth so they are overloaded. They had two births going on in the building when I showed up. That's wonderful and nice, but it makes for much more rushed and less personal appts than I got in Las Vegas. I got so spoiled having a midwife who gave every client at least an hour once a month and would reschedule for births coming during appt times, that it's disconcerting to be in a more clinical model.

I can see how the setting would be very reassuring to some ladies...it feels homey, but a little like a doctor's office too -- answering service, receptionist, billing procedures and exam tables. A nice easy transition from hospital to a less traditional setting. But for me (and maybe other homebirth moms?) it feels a little clinical. With my midwife in Las Vegas, she had a bed that she spread with protective covers, there were candles everywhere, and you really felt like you were a friend invited in for a pleasant chat. Not only that but she was fantastic at making you feel like the healthiest best mama in the world by the time you left. My midwife friend in Vegas had mass group appts on Tues night, so it was like a big preggo party every week. The ladies at the Birth Center are lovely...but there's no friendish vibe either. I guess I just miss that special womanly comradely feeling.

The appt went fine...pee test was fine, blood pressure was fine, uterus measurement fine...I'm essentially very healthy with a strong healthy baby boy. So really no complaints. But I would have liked more than seven minutes of "you're fine", especially after chasing Connor out the door immediately after waking up and a forty minute drive downtown. And I'm worried that the birth is going to be handled in a more clinical manner than I would like. Something to talk about next time I guess...if I get more time.

The wintry scenes of April

This is the view out my back window this morning. It's April 25th right? The ironic part? Today is the day that people are hosting "Break-Up" parties (aka welcoming spring) around here. Wouldn't it be hysterical if they were canceled for snow?

Oh but this also means Connor and I need to suit up and shovel today. Sigh. We thought we were done with shoveling this winter!

I hate Air Force moves!

Why is it military movers pick the most priceless things you have, monetarily or sentiment-wise , and pick those to destroy??

They:
- lost the key to our antique china cabinet and the stabilizing pegs to our antique matching dining room table. These things survived two world wars in Europe, but can't make it through an Air Force move.

- wrapped our $7,000 persian silk prayer rug in paper rather than the gun carton I asked them to, and then wrote on the paper with a permanent marker. Can you see where this is going? The ink only got on the back, thank goodness not the front, but it still lost THOUSANDS in value. Charlie bought that for $1200 overseas, so we're not really crazy enough to spend $7000 on a rug. But still, that's what it would cost to replace it here. The weave is crushed too and needs professional cleaning. They just slapped a high value baggage sticker on it and called it a day.

- crushed my one and only print of our Hounds of Heaven air war portrait. My squadron chipped in $250 each to have a portrait of our jet over Baghdad on March 19 2003 painted, and there were 250 prints made from it. That's it. EVER. And they must have gotten inside the expensive framing job I had done and grabbed the damn print and squeezed it like a dishtowel. I think I can have it repaired, but it will never be as good as new. I gave my other prints to people who couldn't afford to contribute and were part of the war effort, like my troops and the life support guys and an Army guy who was my personal savior as far as imagery goes -- so they're basically irreplaceable to me. Not that I would wish for those back or to negate an important acknowledgment of their efforts, but I am selfish enough to wish I had one for myself.

- smashed a milk glass child's tea set that I've had forever from my family. Again, 70-80 years old. They were wrapped so carefully in a special container...it looks like they played soccer with the damn thing.

- lost our ladder. There's a small note in writing on one of the kitchen boxes that says, "Alan almost stole the ladder -- Anthony and Tyler have it, bring it back at 3." What that means, I have no idea, but I have a strong suspicion my ladder got absorbed into their company assets while my stuff was in storage.

- lost our gucci cordless drill. Now if I had to guess, I would think that maybe, just maybe, the drill disappeared to the same place as the ladder. Possibility, hmm???

- spilled ketchup and mustard on our air mattress and its sheets. Again, I'm thinking someone needed an air mattress and decided to "borrow" mine. We're afraid to ask what the OTHER stains are.

Then the real kicker...I'm just beside myself. I opened the last box -- yay! -- from the move and found all the pictures we were missing. Miraculously, all of them were unscathed...or so I thought. The last one I unwrapped was my diploma from the Air Force Academy. You get a paper one, your commission on paper and a big wooden walnut plaque with an etched titanium plaque on top with all of your stuff on it. The bastards BROKE the graduation plaque.

Now it's not like I don't have my diploma...I do. It's not like I don't KNOW I went to the Air Force Academy, because BELIEVE me I do. But of all the damn memorabilia to break, why did it have to be that? The replacement is $220 for it and you better believe I am going to charge the Air Force every damn cent. I paid for that in the first place with much much more than money. But still...it's not MY plaque, that I got on my graduation day, while shaking the Vice President's hand with the Thunderbirds roaring overhead and a stadium full of people clapping and cheering in the background you know? It's not the plaque that I danced with over my head as my classmates and I hugged and cried when it was finally all over. It just won't be the same.

As hard as this move has been, this is the hardest blow of all. I would have rather been in some crappy little crackhole of an apt for six months and lost most of what I own than have my plaque damaged. Yeah, it's THAT big of a deal. Lesson learned here is to never let the Air Force pack another one of my treasured items ever. But it was a wooden and metal plaque...how do you crack that in half and leave a cheapo metal frame and glass right next to it intact? Never in a million years did I think they could wreck it.

I guess it's ironic that the Air Force giveth and the Air Force taketh away. But irony isn't much comfort right now.

The house is a wreck from the marathon unpacking session I just had, but Connor's still asleep upstairs so I can't start rattling around to fix it all yet. The poor kid has been so discombobulated and has really been acting out lately, so I'm thinking this final clean up process needs to go a bit slower so I can focus some attention on him. He's been unhappy with his diapers so has been sneaking away to poo and pee in hidden corners. Thank GOODNESS we didn't get new carpet in this place! We've been having serious talks with him about it and he's been having to help clean up his mess, but frankly we just need to get him on the way to potty training -- but first, we need all the crap cleared out of the bathroom, to find all his training pants, and actually be able to breathe in a clean house for a few days before embarking on such a life changing event for him. He's been having a tough time sleeping with all the light at night too, but I think the curtains should help block the light that was coming in around the blackout shades -- we just installed them last night and it did seem to help. This was the first time he wasn't flopping and twitching and whining in the night.

Well, I have about 12 loads of laundry from compiled clothes, dirty dusty linens and Charlie's uniforms I need to attack, junk strewn on every available surface and three bags of trash I need to run to the dump. I better hop to at some quiet tasks now before the boy terror is up and swinging from the chandelier. Shed a tear for me as you go about your day eh?