Supposed to be 90 today.

Patricia, while we went to the U of Alaska at Fairbanks and saw many displays, we saw nothing like what you have posted.  Of course, that was 11 years ago too.

Mary Ann

It seems so many are having serious accidents and medical issues lately and while I may not mention it, I am thinking of all of you and keeping those close in my heart and in my thoughts.

MaryAnn, I have a lot of sinus issues and the sound of my sneezing bothers Farrah so much that simply taking out a tissue will send her running. 

I'm not sure what displays you mean? Are you talking about the ones from the tribal hall? It is primarily focused on Natives and their arts and crafts. whereas the University museum tries to encompass the area as a whole.

Larry, we have a combination of underground and surface utilities because some areas have permafrost forty or so feet below the surface and the continuous freezing and thawing of the ground leaves items looking like the leaning tower of Pisa.

Patricia, we were at the University Museum and saw nothing like what you have posted.  However, in 11 years, many things must have changed. 

Our bus driver was from Fairbanks and he did drive us around town and pointed out various places and things.  We stayed at the Wedgewood Lodge (?). 

Mary Ann

There are different tribal Halls and area museums and buildings built for and by Natives for use by Native people and showcasing their heritage. Some but not all are open to the public. The Chief Andrew Issac Health Center is said to have many wonderful exhibits but as it is primarily for Native medical treatment, I have never walked in to see anything.

This area is mainly Athabaskan Indian territory, but some areas lie next to Inuit Eskimo lands.

The University exhibit is more showcasing the state as a whole and is more geared to European expansion, settlements, and development than older Native arts and crafts. I'm not saying one type is better and disparaging the other but the exhibits are covering different styles and viewpoints.

The tribal halls are more for showing the past and instilling pride in their people's heritage.

Patricia - I enjoyed looking at your new photos this morning.  I especially liked the moose/caribou archway, and all the other vintage native items.

I wish I could see the mountain ranges that surround Fairbanks.  I love high mountains, and don't mind the winding roads that lead from one beautiful place to another.  California is a mountainous state, which most people in the East don't realize.  They think of it as being beaches and year round sunshine, but that's only in Southern CA.  Up here, we have the Sierra Nevada range and the highest mountain in the contiguous United States - Mt. Whitney, at 14,505 feet. Also the gorgeous Lake Tahoe, which at 6,225 ft, is the largest alpine lake in North America. 

Marilyne so much beauty in so many of our states! But you are right about folks associating only one type of image for an entire region. Here it is the Southeast with the oceans, cruise ships and the Scandinavian look to the land which is how people "see" Alaska.

There is a town, Whittier, that is totally inside one apartment building, http://www.npr.org/2015/01/18/378162264/welcome-to-whittier-alaska-a-community-under-one-roof

And public buildings in the North Slope that had to discontinue the use of motion activated doorways as humongous polar bears were strolling inside and islands to the East that the Japanese occupied during WWII and remain home to Aleuts a people that were imprisoned by our government for their Asian heritage and also killed by the invading forces of Japanese.

Each of our fifty states has different and noteworthy areas for visitors to see and enjoy. I am familiar with Northern California because I had two uncles and their families living there. I have only visited Southern California by driving through so I am actually not that familiar with the area but when I think of it, I tend to think of deadly, wind driven forest fires.

Angle, I watch a program called "Life Below Zero" about folks who live close to and above the arctic circle on the National Geographic Channel.   http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/life-below-zero/

The folks who live off the land are very resourceful.  And say they wouldn't live their life any other way.  Some have lived there for 20 or more years.

Hal, just as a side note, I lived in San Antoine  when my first husband was in Vietnam. My daughter was born at Brooke Army Hospital. I loved the Oriental Gardens and the zoo. I actually saw a newborn giraffe there in late 1972. I know it is totally changed now.

I spent five years following two husband's military careers through 43 states.

I've lived in Alaska sixty years of my given sixty-five and four of those sixty in Anchorage so have been in this Interior for a long, long time and yes I never want to live anywhere else. This land seeps into your marrow and never lets go. There are people, mainly young, who don't like the absence of giant malls and noteworthy clubs with long lines but for those who love nature and adventure and life extraordinary, it captures your heart, mind, and soul.

You are right about the sentiment. Although, what you see on that program is dramatized for television. It is like believing that what you once experienced in the western part of Alaska is the norm for the entire state. Or even if that part is still the same as you remembered now in 2017. I've only looked at the promos however and am basing my ideas on that so I may also be guilty.

I spoke to one thirty year old, visiting her grandmother and family here. She is from Albany and said before she got here, she firmly believed that Fairbanks was exactly like that old Television show, "Northern Exposure!"

Patricia, I feel the same way about the Great Lakes area.  My dad was born in Minnesota, my mother in Wisconsin.  My dad's father and siblings were born in Denmark and I understand MN and WI terrain is much like Denmark (I didn't see enough of Denmark to know) and that is why my ancestors went to MN and WI.  My mother's ancestors were mostly in NY, but migrated to WI which was common in those days.  I feel at home whether in MI, WI or MN.  All three states have many lakes, hills and forest areas.  Maybe that's why I felt so comfortable in Alaska.  We don't have glaciers in Michigan but we do have bears in Michigan, too.  I know whatever we have in Michigan, Alaska has six + times as much, but I'll take what I have.  Both states are beautiful.  I really think that every state has its beauty, whether mountainous or flat.

Joan, did you get to 90 degrees today?  We are at 48 degrees and that is as far as it's going to get.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - My husband was born in Milaca, Minnesota, and his father was born there too.  The generation before that, emigrated from Sweden.

Patricia - "Northern Exposure", was a cute show, full of eccentric characters, but I never took it seriously, as a representation of a real Alaska small town.  Even more unlikely, was the movie "Mystery Alaska" . . . comedy/drama that takes place in the  fictional Alaska community of Mystery. It's entertaining, but has a preposterous plot: the New York Rangers hockey team, comes to Mystery, to play against their little rag-tag team of local characters.

Mary Ann, we are at 86 right now but usually hit our peak at 5 and it is only 3:20 right now.

Joan. I will take your weather.  Just got home again soaking wet. 4th time this week. I always seem to have appointments.. when it is storming. Storms started 6 days ago and still coming down. 46 deg.  Lots of flooding in town.Schools are closing on the South west side as the school buses can't get down the street.  Been many years since we had such storms.

I know some of you go to Aldi's grocery stores. I had to get some things and as ours is across to street from me I just stopped in there.  I usually get what few frozen veg I use from them.  3 weeks ago they had removed all of theirs out of the freezers. Told me that the provider had call all of them to be taken of the shelves. Well today they are still empty. Cashier says none yet being shipped to them . Hard to think what could go bad with such as peas and corn.  She say the plant is closed down.  I know Aldi pretty good at making sure nothing bad gets into their stores.
How about your stores . thing O.K . Although most of you seem to be more in the South.

Mary Ann, tis almost 5 P M here and we are at 89 degrees.    Good call from the weather people.  They are usually so wrong.  LOL

Joan, even if he's right, that's quite warm.  I prefer temps in the 70s.  Ours today got up to 50 degrees and is 45 right now.  As I'm heading for bed, I don't care.

Jeanne, I cannot help you as we don't go to Aldi's.  I'd like to sometime just because so many people shop there, some only for special items.  But our store is only a couple of miles away and Aldi's is in a complex that is four or five miles away.  Not so far, really, but we also have a supermarket (Meijer) a couple of miles in the other direction.  And I like to buy "hometown" if possible.

Annie came for supper and cleaned up afterward, a bonus to having her here.  I also needed her to put away some towels that I had taken out of the linen closet and you know how that goes - it is easy to get out, but putting back is another story.  My problem is that I would need to get down on my knees and I cannot do that. 

Tom fixed a very good supper - steak that he broiled and potato salad he bought. 

Mary Ann

We DID make it to 90 and now we have T Storms coming at us.  LOL

It never rains but what it pours, doesn't it, Joan!?

We had 38 degrees at 4:45 and I think it's going down temporarily.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  It is another overcast morning and will stay only in the high 60's today.  I got up a little bit early this morning and made a quick trip to the lab at the hospital to get the blood tests done that my cardiologist had ordered before I see her again next Friday.  This area is wonderful as there wasn't any traffic around 7 am.  Today is the day for the housekeeper and there are no other plans for the day.

Yesterday Pat did get in to see her doctor and then we stopped at Cracker Barrel for a hearty lunch.  Then we had to go to Walmart where Pat got a couple of prescriptions for herself and picked up one for me.  I waited for her in the car as didn't feel up to going into Walmart. We were away from the house about 5 hours.  I came home and took a nap but didn't feel rested so went to bed around 8 pm. 

Mary Ann, our yard people usually take care of our lawns on Thursday.  Not sure they were here yesterday or not as we were gone so long.  It sounds like Kendrick is no worse off for his adventure outside. 

Joan, we finally are getting a nice spring day here today.  It is warm enough but I still haven't purchased any hanging baskets of flowers or anything for my front porch as haven't felt up to going shopping for them yet. 

Patricia, I am surprised that Farrah hasn't become to your sneezing.  We have a lot of problem with allergies down here.  We go through an unbelievable number of boxes of Kleenex.   Thanks for the info on your utilities lines situation.  I have heard of Whittier but never knew everyone lived in one building.  That sounds like a great idea, especially during the winter months.  What an interesting article.  I remember being shocked at what a modern and active town that Anchorage was and that was in the late 60's. 

JeanneP, your part of the country isn't fairing very well now with all the rains and storms and flooding.  So far I haven't seen any empty shelves in our Aldi's.  I expect they are supplied by different suppliers. 

Hal, we adapt to the conditions in which we live, at least after a while. 

Marilyne, I haven't seen much of the area where you live but what I have seen has been beautiful. 

Good morning from a dreary Interior. The last three days have been quite damp, punctuated with thuds and the building shakes from the heavy equipment working on our streets. They have moved into the next set of city blocks but all that heavy duty equipment is still shaking their surroundings.

Now our own building has its issues. The company maintenance men are all in Anchorage for a week's worth of training and of course, something happens. I don't know if it was the city street work specifically, but something happened to our buildings pipes and the water has been shut off while emergency work is being done.

We just got the notices and I had taken my shower, washed breakfast dishes and made coffee so this is a fairly new development. We are presently having a bake and crafts sale downstairs for the new craft club's finances so we are having some folks in and I hope that is not inconvenienced. Then there is the hospitality committee's daily lunch prepared for two dollars per meal. I also wonder where they got the maintenance men as ours are supposed to be away?

Our building is now shaking from the heavy equipment outside and the work they're doing inside in the bowels of the building. I may have to take another walkabout.

Most people are proud of the region they grew up in or the region they now live. Americans are no different and this world is full of natural and sometimes man-made wonders. I am certainly no different in my love for my area of this large state. Alaska is not only fairly new development wise but it is also a fairly new geographical, geothermic land as well. There are young mountain ranges, rivers, glaciers, hot springs, volcanos, fault lines, and earthquakes everywhere, and usually in flux.

We have a very large, strong vocal, politicized Native population who consistently votes out the idea of a statewide road system and a capital city only reachable by air or ship. Juneau has successfully fought off several referendum attempts by Anchorage to wrest its capital destination away and Anchorage has a bit of a bully reputation in this state.

"Alaska has 83% of the nation's mineral wealth and the largest and the majority of the nation's park system. "It is the world's largest wildlife refuge, comprising 16 million acres (6.5 million hectares). Of the remaining land area, the state of Alaska owns 101 million acres (41 million hectares), its entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act."'

Alaska is as wide as the lower forty-eight states and larger than Texas, California and Montana combined.

The state is governed by three authorities, the federal government, the state government, and the tribal government. I mention all this again because I believe Alaska to be unique. But that doesn't mean I don't think other states aren't amazing as well. It is just that I really don't know very much about other states, other than preconceptions. I have lived in several for a period and traveled through several more, forty-three states in total as well as parts of western Canada and some Mexican day and weekend trips in the mid-seventies. But I don't know much more than the surface.

Patricia, you make me think of a song "I know a little bit about a lot of things, but I don't know enough about you".  I have been in 46 states (I think - or close) and in traveling to and through them, I've read about them, but I learned only about the areas where we traveled, not the entire state.  I don't even know an awful lot about my own state, but I do know quite a bit about Western Michigan where Grand Rapids is located.  I've learned a bit about Indiana because I've been in that state many times and when there, the family took me to different places all over the state.

I do believe each state (and country) has its beauty and interesting features, even the desert countries.  A feature I like most about Michigan is our nearness to the Great Lakes and I'm selfish because I would not like to have to share our water with other states.  The states surrounding the lakes, also Canadian provinces, draw from the lakes for drinking water and other uses too. 

Mary Ann

One of my biggest regrets in life, is that I didn't travel more. I wanted to and intended to, but something always happened, that forced me to cancel my plans. Most of my traveling and endless trips, were made between here in Northern CA, to my parents home in Southern CA.

I have visited all of the Western states, except for Alaska, and lived in Oregon and Washington, when I was young.  Our only cross country trip, was in the late 1990's, when we drove to Minnesota, to visit my husband's remaining relatives there.  It was a great road trip, because we borrowed an RV, and could spend time wherever we pleased.  Saw all the sights, along the way, and especially liked Salt Lake City, Chicago, Taliesin, in WI, and Mt. Rushmore, on our way home.

It's wonderful that the younger generation, (my adult children and grands), have traveled a lot, and been to most states, and a number of other countries.

I did a lot of travelling in my work and for vacations I cruised.  Loved it.  Glad I got to see other areas of the world. 

While many of the states I have been in or more accurately though were either courtesy of Uncle Sam as a dependent or in childhood family traveling to visit relatives. The seven states I missed were Hawaii, New York, Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Eight if you count Washington D. C, District of Columbus; which is either a province or territory, I'm not sure.

Not getting to go to Hawaii was one of the final coffin nails in the lid of my second marriage. Hawaii is where many Alaskans go as other states go to Florida. We were managing seven Anchorage apartment buildings in Anchorage in the early eighties. There were also three duplexes in Wasilla, a luxury A-frame in the Alyeska Ski Resort and a completely furnished house on Lake Louise.

My then husband was the maintenance man and I was the bookkeeper and office manager. We employed a military couple part time to help in maintenance and some office assistance. The owners lived in Germany so we were the bulwark between the renters and the owners.

As a thank you slash Christmas gift, the owners offered us a free trip to Hawaii for two weeks, stay in their Kona condo and the use of their car or instead, one thousand in cash. My ex, without telling me, I knew nothing about the offer, took the cash instead and only mentioned it when I questioned his sudden deep pockets. I insisted on his giving me 500. and that actually may have been what was left when I found out about it. I have always regretted not getting to go on that trip!

My dad was a teacher and unless he worked in the summer, he had two months off.  My mother had died and from 1951 on, Norm was in service for two years, then married his first wife in fall 1953.  So there was just Dad and me.  By that time, I got two weeks vacation at work, so we often took trips.  I loved it out west.  Until recent years I had not been west of the Rockies.  Our trips took us as far west as Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Montana.  I counted one day and I think I have not been in four states, Hawaii among them.  Jim suggested we go there, but I wasn't too anxious and I still am not anxious to go there.  I know not why!  But I did want to see some of Alaska.  Jim had been in 49 states, but had not been in North Dakota.  I had been through North Dakota.  I told him I'd go to ND with him if he'd go to Alaska with me.  His reply?  "I've already been there" (with his wife, my cousin).  He belonged to a club in Indps that sponsored trips and a trip to the Alaska interior was offered.  He mentioned it and in 2005 we drove to ND and in 2006 we took a tour to Alaska.  Other trips took us to the NE states, Canada two or three times (one was in the east), Pacific Northwest, we visited Jim's sister on Vancouver Island three times in the nine years Jim and I were together.  Now that I'm in my 90s, I'm content to stay home, although I am going to Indps later this month to attend a wedding.  I stay with family.

When I wanted get in S&F, only B&T was offered.  I had not been in S&F for a couple of hours at least.  It must be that everyone was too busy to post!

Gabby Mary Ann

I went to the Craft Club's bake and craft sale which was a mistake as I ended up buying oatmeal raisin cupcakes and some Indian fry bread. One lady was selling large individual cheesecakes for eight dollars each. I was tempted until one of the buyers said it tasted like jello mix and not homemade. There were a multitude of crafts from knitted slippers to hats, scarves, and tutus to dolls transformed into lamps and teddy bears into vacuum covers.

The ones I wish I had spare cash for were the homemade jams and preserves. The lemon watermelon rind jelly and the lemon curd looked to be particularly good. The dried fruits and vegetables, as well as the hot and or pickled offerings, also drew my eyes.

Mostly I sat with some friends in chairs along the edge of the room and simply gossiped.

Patricia, the Craft Club sounded interesting.  Kind of like the bazaars that churches and schools used to have. 

I am so pleased that Tom is walking a bit - maybe only five or ten minutes, but it is a start.  He doesn't feel he can walk up hills yet, but with time, he should be able to do that.  He goes across the road where things are more flat.  I used to walk a couple of miles every morning but I can no longer walk any distance, certainly not a mile or two. 

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, it was like a church bazaar! I'm sure these ladies and gentlemen are all past professionals from state fairs, churches, and school bazaars!

I'm glad Tom is again attempting some exercise!

Here are the last photos from my Monday afternoon and that tribal hall

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg84575#msg84575

Patricia - I've been watching a series of shows on HGTV called Living Alaska.  It's about families, couples or singles, moving to AK from another state.  Tonight the show was about a couple from Arkansas, looking for a house in Fairbanks!  The husband had a job teaching at the University.

They looked at three houses - all gorgeous!  The first was a short distance from Fairbanks, in Chena.  The second one was "off the grid" - way up in the mountains with spectacular views, but with no electricity, they would have to rely on solar panels or a generator.  The third was right outside of town, on the Tanaka River.  I won't tell you which one they chose, in case you might watch it online? 

The realtor who was showing them the properties had lived in Fairbanks all her life, so you might know her.  Her name was Kelli ??  I can't remember her last name at the moment, but it will come to me.   They showed some nice shots of the town, and there was also a quick hello from an AK Senator, who was from Fairbanks.

It's the Tanana river or the Chatanika river, but probably Tanana if it's closer to town. I haven't had a TV since 1997 so I'm not familiar with any of these recent shows about Alaska.

Fairbanks has a population of over just 100,000. Then there is the Borough which is similar to a county as well as five military bases and the University so I don't know a Kelli. There are almost as many real estate companies as there are people here. So, I'll probably Google.

There's several who were born and raised or moved here. This one is the only one with a similar name.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjsr7GCwtrTAhUW4WMKHWKfB1wQFgg4MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realtor.com%2Frealestateagents%2FKelly-Moore_Fairbanks_AK_1938861_480184998&usg=AFQjCNE32tdF2v41Ba10UiSL3hutPYSi4w&sig2=yvIuAsuZSg51h4mXCpqsuw

Hi everyone.  It is a nice sunny but cool morning.  We turned on our heat to remove the chill from the house.  It is 52º now but headed up to 70º this afternoon.  We stayed home all day yesterday and other than getting our house nice and clean since our cleaning lady was here, there is really nothing to write about.  It looks like today will be another of the same, which is fine with me.  The only thing I need to do this morning is grate up another pound of cheddar cheese.  I did just get the results of most of the lab work done yesterday and they all are fine. 

Patricia, the ground moving with the heavy equipment hitting it must bring up the idea of an earthquake happening.  It sounds like you are due for some sun. It doesn't sound like very good management to have all of your maintenance men away for a week. I hope they soon have the water problem fixed.  Alaska certainly has a lot of natural elements as you described.  I do think Juneau is a strange place for the capital as certainly isn't centrally located and is not easy to get to except by air.  Of course, I realize a lot of travel in Alaska is by air with many small planes.  The Native people have a point in resisting the change as it likely would ultimately destroy much of their culture in future generations.  The Craft Club sale sounds like it was a pretty big event. 

Mary Ann, Michigan should always have a water source from Lake Michigan.  It sounds like you and Jim had some delightful tirps.  I remember your writing about them at the time.

Marilyne, Pat and I have the same regrets that we didn't travel more when we could.  However, our traveling days are over.

Jane, we had hoped to take a cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary but the heart attack and surgery took care of that. 

Patricia, we have never made it to Hawaii but were never offered a trip to there either.  That is sad your husband didn't tell you of the offer.  I did win a trip from Atlanta to San Diego once time but we decided not to use the offer as it was just for plane fare and we didn't feel we could afford it and also would have to report it as income and pay taxes on it.  We did get to San Diego later and it is a beautiful town.