Tale of the Missing Chicken

Once upon a time, Jordan went to Costco and bought a rotisserie chicken for $4.99.  She ate a few bites when she got back to the office, but had bigger plans for said chicken. She took it home from the office and went about her way.  To hockey class she went, then home to drop off cottage cheese for her roommate, and even stopped at Kaladi Bros for some hot chocolate before heading to the house to feed dogs, play with them, and go to sleep.  When she arose Wednesday morning excited to take some chicken with her to work and put it on a sandwich on the bread which was there, the chicken was nowhere to be found.  Distraught, she made her way to the gym, ashamed that she had misplaced the chicken.  She decided she may have simply left it at the office the evening before.  When she arrived to the office, the chicken was again, nowhere to be found.  On her lunch break, she made a more thorough investigation of the fridge at the Midtown location home.  Still, no chicken.  "The chicken must be somewhere?" she thought to herself.  In the truck somewhere?  In the truck bed covered in snow?  At the UAA ice rink?  The search continues....

Best Halloween Costume Ever - 1985?

When I was in kindergarten, my mom made me up as a Gypsy.  It's an incredibly vivid memory for me, for whatever reason.

I remember crying as I walked in as everyone turned to look at my costume.  It drew so much attention to me, and I was overwhelmed.  I hid behind a metal flip chart thing that we used to count and go over our A, B, Cs.  My mom and Mrs. Meadows tried to comfort me, and I remember not being able to articulate how I felt.

The feeling in the pit of my stomach is as real then as it is today.  I remember the feeling because it's a feeling I have experienced my whole life.  Sure, I am crazy and goofy, and sometimes, people find it entertaining.  However, it's not something that comes easy to me.  I've always had to work at being outgoing, because, playing alone was only so much fun.  Believe me, I tried it.  You couldn't be a Harlem Globetrotter and do all the tricks.  Some of the tricks involved others and it just couldn't be done without the help of another human being.  Perhaps someday, when droids are more of a reality, I won't need others, but until then, the development of business and social networks of influence necessitates human interfacing.

Even to this very day, I remember how incredible a job my mom did in making me look like the best dang gypsy you ever did see!  We didn't have much, but she sure knew how to throw a gypsy costume together, and for some reason, I remember the amazing job she did on my eye make-up.  No one made fun of me, or pointed at me, in fact, they all saw me walk in and I remember seeing a little bit of envy, but, the pressure of having all eyes on me was just too much to take in.

Now, I am an extremely confident woman, despite the nerves that always seem to find their way to the pit of my gut when having to be in front of people, or making a comment, or joke that brings people in.  I am always looking to lengthen my stride and push myself.  This year, I have decided to get more into the "spirit" of Halloween and having gone through a myriad of ideas, that if I can follow through on any of them, is sure to create quite a spectacle and raise a few eyebrows. 

So mom, if you're out there and happen to read this post, though I may not achieve the greatness you so excellently did in 1985, I am going to do my best to create something authentically me and not mass produced, but something home-made.

jf

Crossroads

A lot going on these days!  What an exciting time huh?

I am all moved out of my apartment and now happily installed at the little red house on the corner.  I haven't spent much time there just yet, but now that my house sitting is all done in the valley for now, I can sleep in my own bed.  It was great to be out in the Valley though.  If life happens and I don't go out to the Bush, I will definitely make my way out to Palmer or Wasilla.  It suits me and I like that there are less people and you don't have to see your neighbors.  Besides, who doesn't want to live on a pond or lake front and build a sauna?  =D

good morning, what a view

snow on the ground and the sauna

a bit of snow

Setting up to work on my Beast poster board

My friend's son plays hockey, and I go out and support when I can

The Dirt Road that leads to the property

on a pond front

Hockey is in full swing and though I am still working on concussion recovery, I'm having a blast.  I earned my first bagel of the season last night and that felt good.  Played Defense on my other team last night as well, and that was a challenge.  I had no idea that I was gonna play defense, and then I had no idea where to line up on face offs.  LOL!  Good times, though no one thought I was having a good time.  You know how I look ticked off when I am focused?  Yeah, that was me last night.  I also didn't transition well from goalie skates to skater skates without a warm up in between.  I had  to undress in one set of gear, rush from one rink to another rink, and put on a different set of gear all within half an hour.  I missed only the first few minutes of the second game, which is fine, since I just got on the second shift.  I had a hard time staying on my feet though.  I need to skate more during non-game situations.  Good times though!

Besides hockey, I of course have plenty of homework to keep me busy and that's been going well so far.  A little behind because I had to do an emergency move out last weekend, but getting back on track.  It's early in the term, so I am not too worried.  =)

I've had the opportunity, now that work has slowed down a bit, to actually get out and see a few movies at the cinema with some new acquaintances, and a few "old" ones.  I'm pretty much addicted to the soundtrack for Pitch Perfect and laughed a lot at Here Comes the Boom.  I am now a Kevin James fan.  Liam Neeson is still a favorite of mine, so if the movie was legitimately good or not, I couldn't tell you.  Liam was in it and he beat people up.  That's enough for me!

Conference was good, and I enjoyed it tremendously.  Getting ready to start working on my GC artwork for FHE.  So many choices to make and lots of adventures up and coming!

Here comes the snow!!!!

JF

Concussion Week

I hereby declare this week "Concussion Week."  Yep, I am still recovering.  I was cleared to play in last night's game, providing I didn't play "aggressively."  My team worked hard to keep me from having to play my usual game, and we lost 1-3.  My reflexes are still slow and my head still "cloudy" but it's getting better.  I've a had a headache for the last few days, but I'm all good.

I took a huge hit Tuesday night playing goalie for one of the Men's teams I started playing with.  It was my fault, as I didn't have the position and he was coming in full on.  I stepped in anyway and totally got rung!  Took me a few moments to get back up and it was all downhill from there.  I missed the easiest shots after that.  I couldn't figure out why I missed them.  Apparently, my slowed reflexes and other symptoms were because I had a concussion.  LOL!  I kept thinking I was fine, but the pukey feeling, the headache, the eyes, and the reflex issues were all symptoms.  I went to the doctor on Wednesday because I knew something wasn't right.  Went again yesterday before my game to make sure I recovered enough.  Needless to say, when I attempted to go to the gym on Wednesday morning, I knew I shouldn't work out, so even though I showed up, I decided to go home.  I just couldn't get my head right, and for good reason.

Still, I should be good to go by Sunday's double header!  Woot woot!  Just so the worriers know, it's not that men's league is violent, I am the aggressive one, therefore, the risk assessment should be based on my actions and not the actions of the guy I collided with.  I always make contact with other players because that's how I like to play.  Them come into my house, I'm gonna defend it and if that means taking a hit, it's what I do.  Most goalies in my women's league just hang out in the crease, but I just can't sit and wait for someone to score on me.  I want to stop it before it gets close.

To add insult to injury, he still scored!  Blah!  We ended up losing 2-12 and yes, I would say it's my fault.  I should have gotten off the ice, or told my team I was not 100% after that hit.  I think the refs (who I happen to know) suspected something, as they were checking on me every so often.  My game certainly was off, that's for sure!

I've been taking it easy, promise.  No gym since Tuesday morning, but gonna get a light workout in this evening.  =D  I am actually resting.

For persons who participate in athletics, the Third International Conference on Concussion in Sport (Zurich Switzerland, Nov. 2008) recommends a graded series of steps in which once a person is symptom free for 24 hours, he or she can move on to the next step:
1. complete physical and cognitive rest.
2. light aerobic activity (less than 70% of maximum predicted heart rate, no resistance training).
3. sport-specific activities such as running drills and skating drills.
4. non-contact training drills (exercise, coordination, and cognitive load).
5. full-contact practice.

I'm on #3, but being careful.

Wedding Weekend

Spent the weekend in the lower 48 and I survived.  It was a whirlwind trip, but worth it to see a beautiful couple married for time and all eternity!  Next year, I will try and schedule a trip where I am not rushing around to see people and actually spend some time with family and friends.

I am such a nerd!

Highlights:  I stayed with my friend John and his lovely wife, Becky and baby boy, Scott.  So precious was little Scott, and lovely the company and hospitality of my friends.  Didn't get to spend much time with them, but it was great of them to open their house to me for my few hours of sleep I had each night before rushing off to my next item on my agenda.

Don and Esther were married at the Oakland temple and what a beautiful couple they make.  I smiled so much for them that my face started to hurt.  What a blessing it was for me personally, to be able to make the trip as well as to have been invited to the simple, yet spectacularly beautiful ceremony.

Though it was quite warm for me, I made a goal not to complain, or to look like I was dying from the heat.  In fact, when I returned to Anchorage, my friend said she was shocked that she didn't receive any texts about the heat.  I told her that even though no one but she or I would know I was complaining about the weather, I still wanted to stay true to my effort and not complain.  But just so you know, playing and hour and a half of tennis in 85 degree weather was a little tortuous.  We had fun, nevertheless.  Actually, I played kind of awesome, so, that's okay too!  =D

I was able to see Victoria and Max!  Haven't seen them in years so that was a wonderful treat!  First time all three girls had been together in a very long time.  All in the same trip, I saw Aunt Miriam, Uncle Wes, and Aunt Louise.

I came home with more than what I left with.  I purchased a used goalie helmet (way cheaper than if I had purchased it here) and already have most of my art concept work completed.  I also have some pieces of jewelery that belonged to my great-great grandmother Anderson, and great grandmother as well.  My painting that was given to me also survived the trip!  I was terribly worried about it, but all is well in Denmark.  Or in this case, Alaska.  Oh, I also brought my racquet with an amazing string job as well.  I swear it's true, but the current stringing is incredible and makes me play like I am actually good!  Haha!

Belky and Maximino =D

So much packed into a short weekend left me exhausted, in fact, I am still trying to catch up on sleep.  Despite the daylight, I have crashed out early every night since I returned!  Without drugs!!!  I plan to start hitting the gym full on starting again on Monday.  I need it!  I always feel more energized when I hit the gym in the morning and hungrier!  LOL!  But really, hockey season starts in a few weeks so I need to be ready to play!

Photo Booth Fun - I always look at the countdown LOL

CONCEPT ART

CONCEPT ART - IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A WAVY FLAG HEH!

Heard this song come on so I am posting it

....

Did you know that I loved you or were you not aware?
You're the smile on my face
And I ain't going nowhere
I'm here to make you happy, I'm here to see you smile
I've been wanting to tell you this for a long while

What's gonna make you fall in love?
I know you got your wall wrapped all the way around your heart
You don't have to be scared at all...
You can't fly unless you let yourself fall

Well, I can tell you're afraid of what this might do
Cause we got such an amazing friendship and that, you don't wanna lose
Well, I don't wanna lose it either
I don't think I can stay sitting around while you're hurting...so take my hand
Well, did you know that you're an angel who forgot how to fly?
Did you know that it breaks my heart every time to see you cry
Cause I know that a piece of you's gone
Every time [things go] wrong I'm the shoulder you're crying on
And I hope by the time that I'm done with this song that I figure out

What's gonna make you fall in love?
I know you got your wall wrapped all the way around your heart
Don't have to be scared at all...
But you can't fly unless you let yourself,
You can't fly unless you let yourself fall

I will catch you if you fall
...
But if you spread your wings
You can fly away with me
But you can't fly unless you let...
yourself fall

So fall in love...
[let yourself fall]

2012 Discover Hockey Clinic

This year we had a much smaller group, but it made for a lot more individual attention.  Coming off two weeks of a back injury, I didn't skate all days because my back was a bit sore and I didn't want to risk missing the beginning of my season because I over worked my back at goalie camp.  I had fun when I did skate and it was great to see that we had more goalies than skaters out on the ice! 

I also went to dinner with my friend and teammate after last night's session.

Mickey Mouse - She's wicked awesome!  Small but mighty!

Me, Mickey Mouse, and Beast

The Beast

Smack

The Wall

Jan - Hardest working skater on my team

Mickey Mouse - She's happy

The Green Machine aka Holli-Boss

Me waiting to take some shots

The Skaters receiving instruction

Beast doing her thing!  She's such a good skater it makes me mad!  LOL!

The Green Machine trying to score on Beast

The Green Machine ready to fuel up!

Had to take some of this home!

Me reacting to my hair!  Who knew???

Holli-Boss was very thirsty!

Our server made her a custom straw!

We asked for crayons

We submitted our drawings and jokes for the contest.  There is not age maximum on awesome!

A little slow down but...

My semi-annual back issue has reared its ugly head trying to mess up things, but thanks to my trainer, yoga, my chiropractor, and groupon (cheap massage), I have only missed two days worth of life.  Pretty much the only exercise I can do is walk and swim.  It's better than nothing, and getting better everyday.  I'm probably at about 50% but it's a whole lot more than where I was six days ago.  All that aside, it's been a busy week.

Yep, house sitting and I get to be a gardener.  Looking forward to doing it again next week!  Yum!

Not sure what I'm surprised about, but oh well.  *shrug*

This was supposed to be my Batman cape thing, but all I really accomplished was getting a pic of my forearm.  Nice.

Time to water those fuchsias!

Sky writing outside our roof access door!  I was so excited to see the plane do its thing!  My boss made fun of me because I was so excited.  "How old are you???" he asked.  He can kiss it!  It was awesome!

SHOW!!!!!!!!!

Rainier Cherries for a post swim snack!   Yep, they're awesome!

Fun Stuff

omelet making time

and now you have breakfast

Bleaching time.

It's getting hot in herrrrre!

bleached and ready for Blue!

almost ready to take the foil off!

Getting my Blue on!

blue hair

Prepped veggies for making vegetable broth!  All organic:  walla walla onions, celery, white carrots, and carrot tops

Reindeer dog (not laced with pork)

I hung out with this Awesome girl twice last summer, she came back and looked my number up.  We've hung out 4 times already this summer!  Lucky me, she's a cool girl and probably in her last summer working in Alaska.  Hopefully, we'll keep in touch.

Saturday Market - Five Finger Puppet Glove thingy

making a lovely salad after church

Post Church salad

"New" racquet.  Thanks, Mattius!

Found a copy of this book that I owned back in '85 that I must have read 20 times.  I was a vivacious reader as a kid and loved the Hardy Boys (not Nancy Drew), but this was a choose your adventure and a lot of fun to read!  Had to get it!