The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- "Alaska Singles Thread (January 05 - 07, 2007,)

various | 5th January 2007 | Proud_yank

[snugs]

The 49th State - The Last Frontier
by proud_yank

Having recently moved here, I thought an Alaskan Singles Thread would be pretty fun.

Alaska is the largest state in America, roughly twice the size of Texas (sorry Texas!).

Putting Alaska into perspective. The Aleutian Islands over California, and South-eastern Alaska over Georgia.

An interesting fact I learned the other day is that in addition to being the Western and Northern-most state, Alaska is also the Eastern-most state too. The Western tip of the Aleutian Islands is just West of the International Dateline.

Alaska can be separated into five regions. The Far North (Also known as the 'North Slope') extends from the Brooks Range (the Northern-most extension of the Rocky Mountains) to the Arctic Ocean. Here are some photos of the Brooks Range, and the North Slope region. Barrow is the most Northern city in America. For fun, here is Barrow's weather.

Most people in Alaska live in Southcentral Alaska (Anchorage), and then the Interior (Fairbanks). Temperatures in the interior are sometimes colder than in the Arctic. Western Alaska is famous for the finish of the Iditarod dog-sled race in Nome. Southeastern, and the Interior, are famous for the Klondike gold rush.

Juneau, the state capitol is located in Southeastern Alaska. As a staunch conservative, it makes me smile that the govt. is located somewhere that can only be reached by boat or plane :-).

The Regions of Alaska

There are lots of moose here, and you really have to be careful driving. In the winter moose will come down from the mountains, and casually stroll through downtown Anchorage. We had one right outside the front door of our main office today! Other animals here include caribou, grizzly, polar, and black bears, muskoxen, beaver, otters, wolves, wolverines, tons of birds, and lots of delicious fish!

Some other interesting info about Alaska....

At 20,320 ft., Alaska has North America's highest peak, Denali.
State bird - Willow Ptarmigan.
State fish - King Salmon.
State tree - Sitka Spruce.
State spore - Dog mushing.
State animal - Moose.
State flower - Wild Native Forget-me-Not.
State song - 'Alaska's Flag'.

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue -
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
Over land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.

Here are some of my photos that I've put online so far

[rzeznikj at stout]

From the collection...

Looky Here (if you dare)...

Taking "Meat and Greet" to an entirely new level...

[Kate of Spice Island]

Surgery sux! That is pretty much why I gave up on exercise about 13 months ago. Now I am beyond starting at square one. There are negative squares and I am slowly inching towards square zero.

Our Christmas and New Year's was very nice all in all. Dad is doing well. Kids enjoyed their gifts, but preferred the baby gift for my one son's baby.

Now we are just waiting to see if my daughter's dad is just going to sign off on a custody agreement or if he thinks he can afford two attorenys. Mine threatened with his fees and court costs if he wants to fight.

School started and I was approved to take a few additional courses.

A part of me is trying to determine if I can apply with the first class of students to a seven year program at ASU. The reality is I already have some credits that would count and I could probably do it in five, but it would be very strange to graduate by myself and ahead of schedule. Gotta see how things pan out one day at a time...

[darkangel82]

Good evening Kate. :) School has been over for me for 2 1/2 years(thankfully, I don't need any more debt)

[ilovew]

Aww that sounds like everything's going really well. I was wondering how the custody thing was going. I hope everything works out with that. It sounds like he's being difficult.

The school thing sounds really interesting. What kind of program is that?

[krunkygirl]

First, Vooky and rezzy--I want you to know I had to get out pen and paper just to include you in this post...{you think FReepers have photographic minds?!)

Second, to all my dancing partners (and even those who refused me...r___y) thanks for your gentlemanly selves. You are smart, witty, nice guys...I posted a picture of me on my page [well, I cannot tell a lie, I had my son do it for me...) Now you'll see just who your dancin' partner wuzz...

I think I am on the wrong thread...I'm going to wait for the "Been There, Done That" thread to get started. You know the one where everybody has a looong history and graduated from college DECADES ago?! [This is painful for me... ;)]
With that in mind, remember me to your dads (single dads only, of course,) your uncles, your professors [rezzy and ilovew]and nice judges you have met [Vooky].

If any of you make it to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (dk82?) I would love to join you for coffee and foolishness...

I enjoyed my time with you all and I'll "bump" into you on other threads, I'm sure.

Dolly, when you get a chance, take me off the ping list.
Thanks.



What a KRAAZEEE play that was!

[Kate of Spice Island]

He has been nasty and hell-bent on revenge for everything in his life before I ever met him.

It is a dual-doctorate in psychology and law. You have no clue how desperate this country needs that combo. The beauty part is that it is in Maricopa County and that is where I have been dealing with BS from Holly's dad. Meanwhile, the "recovery movement" has caused the mental health care in Arizona to change the state ranking from 49th in the country to 10th.

Essentially, this means that my daughter's dad opened the can of worms about pointing the "crazy finger" and playing "expert" with a GED. There is no way I would call on the ACLU to fix this mess if I can do it myself and correct a problem instead of making a spectacle of the whole thing.

[WFTR]

I thought of you yesterday...front page article in local neighborhood newspaper: headline, "Snake man willing to collect all snakes" No lie!

What was the story about?

[darkangel82]

So you're going to be Dr. Kate now? Sorry to hear about your legal difficulties, I've had those myself.

[snugs]

Night all see you tomorrow

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

we will miss you :( you brought a sense of humor with you. If you wish you can see who you were dancing with as well (even though I don't think I danced.)

ilovew, I guess it is just you left to pick on my name. ;)

[Kate of Spice Island]

Right now my scholing is free. If/when I go to ASU, I will have to scrape up the tuition, but that's just life. I will not borrow. The joys of marriage and good enough income to make it work is a perk that I have never had. The beauty part is my husband supports this goal 100%.

[ilovew]

Wow! That sounds like it would be a tough combo. I bet you would do great though. I can tell. :)

[rzeznikj at stout]

ASU? That's the second-biggest party school in the country (second only to the University of Wisconsin)...

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Hey, y'all forget Chico State. lol

[ilovew]

Well, I shall certainly do my best. Although I don't think I'll be calling you "Vooky" anytime soon. :P

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

It's alright, krunky cornered the market on that one.

[krunkygirl]

It was about a man who catches snakes when people call animal control about a snake in the house, etc. He just loves snakes and helps people out and doesn't want to see the snakes get hurt...

The guy is 80 years old! He currently has about 50 snakes...(thank goodness he doesn't live on my street) The article says he spends $200. dollars every month or so for mice he keeps IN HIS FREEZER...

Now you see exactly WHY I thought of you? :) This is you in forty years, Bill... ;)

[ilovew]

Maybe I'll call you DV. Or DVD, just because I like that better. ;)

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

You may call me whatever you wish. :)

[ilovew]

You learn so well, Dmitry. I didn't even have to tell you not to argue with me this time. :P