West Virginia and too much philosophy

Life is slow for the moment- I got back a few days ago from four days in Capon Springs, WV, where my father's family has traditionally congregated for gossip and hilarity. I discovered several important things in this short time: (1) Homegrown golden apples are delightful to body and soul (2) My cousin's daughter looks exactly like her and has an awesome maniacal cackle when she's particularly amused (3) My cousin's son is secretly Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes, and may someday take over the world so he can play baseball all day. I'm not worried about this event, since it will inevitably make baked fudge pudding into an everyday dessert. (4) Capon does not serve baked fudge pudding after lunch on Thursday.

I hadn't seen this portion of my family since last October, so it was amazing to see how everyone has grown or changed, and to hear what they've all been doing... You know, I'm confused about how to cover things like this in a blog. Logically, the people who were there already know everything, and do the rest of you really care whether I played ping pong or walked to White Cliffs?

Since getting home, there are a couple things going on: I'm working again, of course, and getting my passport renewal paperwork sorted out despite certain uncooperative staplers (not naming names). Also, while in WV, I took a lot of old pictures off of Valerie's computer, and I was jolted by the ones of me taken right after college. I have a new, solid resolve to get back to that weight, which was toned and yet still healthy (no, I'm not planning to relive the gaunt, unhealthily skinny days, so no nervous hints, please). I'm finding a gym that will let me work out on a short term basis.

I've got several programs in mind for Africa, but I need help deciding on one. Or two. I need help. I need to talk to someone who either thinks about this stuff the way I do, or is able to put themselves into my mindset.

Question of the day: Why is it that I can never see my own decisions clearly, when everyone else's dilemmas usually seem crystal clear? Why do people need outside eyes to see their own lives in focus?

Ok, enough philosophy. Shaking out of the introspective mood... I love peanut butter and jelly. Nice, seedy multi-grain bread, crunchy peanut butter, and strawberry or grape jam... serious comfort food there.

Stayed tuned to this entry, because I'm going to attach pictures once I filch them from my father.
As you were.

Reunions: Sled dogs, roomies, hometowns and ex-jobs

I'm currently snugly ensconced in the curve of my mother's sectional couch, enjoying such luxuries as rum, fig newtons, free internet, and NCIS on dvd and on demand. All at once, even. I'm a multi-tasker.

I had a great visit to the Blue on Black team, almost two weeks ago now. The first question I asked after hugging Karin was "Who's that dog in the middle there??" I was pointing to a tall, dark male. She grinned and answered "That's Chisel!" I was flabbergasted, stuck between "I can't believe I didn't recognize him" and "OH MY GOD HE'S SO TALL!" When I first met the dogs, Chisel was four months old, and able to fit into most average-sized laps. Not to mention, he was all skin and bones, recovering from a digestive issue.

The dogs are looking great- they've all been running with the four-wheeler for several weeks now. Most of them remembered me- Angel did a welcome dance, and I even received the rare Scooby face-lick- and I flitted from house to house, saying my hellos and blissfully letting them cover me with fur and mud. Ah, familiar dishevelment! I've come to the conclusion that tidiness is simply not my natural state. I prefer to be mussed. All the puppies were big, and I got complete report cards on all of them- for full details, please visit blueonblackdogs.com. My friend Adam, who drove me out there, and I had dinner with Karin and Varan and the new handler, and I have every confidence that the whole team, both human and canine will come through the season with flying colors. And Louise, the handler, gets extra approval points for taking some pictures of me with the dogs.

I flew home early the next morning. It was instantly weird being back in the Lower 48. I had mean jet lag to begin with, and spent the first few days in a bleary fog. Shortly afterwards, my college roomie, Amy, arrived to visit for the weekend (YAY!)! We frolicked gleefully- a trip to Boston, to frolic with Tricia, exploration of my native colonial town, all very exciting. Ok, well, the trip to Boston was exciting. It's sad for my curly-haired copilot that Concord doesn't offer anything more interesting than the North Bridge for entertainment. It's fine. I'm entertaining in my essence.

But now my roomie is gone, and I'm picking up some work from my former employers, a dog-walking agency. Good money, and the clients don't talk back. Well,I revise that: there was a boxer yesterday who definitely had some things to say about my presence in his house. We made up today. Anyway, it's something to keep me busy while I plan my exit.

I'm bored. People are encouraged to call and say hello.

One Day Left

Well, Glenn left this morning for his annual officer's training, and I've been busily wasting time. Tomorrow is my last day in Alaska- at 2am on Tuesday, I hit the skies and head for warmer climes... well, a little warmer.

Fortunately, tomorrow I'll have something to do- my friend Adam has been kind enough to offer to drive me out to Wasilla, where Karin, Varan and the wet-nosed tailwaggers hang out these days. This I am really looking forward to! Expect an account after I get back to Mass.

Leaving any place is sad. It's funny, because I'm usually not thinking about it at the time. Once I get to the airport, then I start the dwelling and the sighing and the philosophizing. Something in the air systems of airports? Yes, I think we could make an argument for that.

People keep asking me what's next. I hate this question, not because it's not justified, but because I always feel like I'm jinxing myself if I reveal my plans. If I say it out loud too many times, plans seem to skitter away, or suddenly become too expensive, or become sidetracked by more mundane things. So I'll give you a rough idea, and then I'm clamming up:
The plan is for Africa. I've always wanted to go; it's been top of my list for a long time, partly because of all the continents, it is home to the most kickass animals. Lions? Leopards? Hyenas? Elephants? Cheetahs? Crocodiles? African wild dogs? Need I go on? Yes, of course I do- meerkats, rhinos, antelopes, hippos, jackals, giraffes, gnu, not to mention varous feathered and scaled critters. And I only skip over them because I don't know a lot of specific names. I hope to be working with some of these animals, either in a rescue or a research setting. I don't know exactly where, and I don't know exactly when- as soon as humanly possible. Of course, the african people are also extremely fascinating and I'd love to work with some of them as well. So. We'll see. That is my simplest answer to the "what's next" question. Hold your zebras- I'll give you particulars when I'm sure I won't jinx myself.

And no, I'm not superstitious, I just learn from experience.
To everyone in Skagway and from other adventures, I miss you. I'm feeling very In-Between and small right now.