My back flared up last Monday, aka, intense, unexpected pain. Although I constantly experience low grade chronic pain (which I manage through yoga and walking), this is the first time in years it has been acute. I was hoping it would be over quick, as going from a somewhat functioning (haha) person to non-functioning person (there were moments when it really really hurt to sit, stand, walk, or lay down) is mentally debilitating as well. Being incapacitated makes me appreciate the small things.

For example, I got this puzzle for Abby for Christmas. When I took it out a month ago, I thought there was no way we were going to finish it as it seemed beyond her skill level. Alas, it sat for a minute, we picked away at it, kept making progress, and lo and behold we finished it last night! I am so proud of her for sticking to it!

Wasted space

 

It bums me out to see good space wasted.  To watch something valuable fall apart. 

 

 It even comes with a good view.

 

 But sometimes the best of potential doesn't mean ...

 

you can see the forest through the trees.

 

Things get twisted.

 The blinding light shelters the fear.

  

Although there may be a beautiful view on either side...

 

 I find myself stumbling on the same paths, going in circles (literally), trying to get to a certain spot, but it's the wrong way, because I end up on the same path that doesn't go to where I'm trying to find, and it's creepy and disorienting.

Renderings

 Did I mention Abby went ice skating for the first time?!  I have never seen her try so hard at something.  She has been drawing pics of ice skating and totally into the Olympics ice skating. She also likes the snowboarding, but "not the kind with the sticks" (skiing).

 The Nutcracker. 

She still likes the Nutcracker.

 They have been making these books in school.

 That totally looks like Basil too! With the tuft of fur on her cheeks and the black stripe down her back and tail. I am proud of Abby because she spelled "bazsl" herself, by sounding out the word. K, now, I did not even know my alphabet in Kindergarten (that I recall), let alone begin to read and write! "This" and "is" and "go" and "feel" and.....are all easy words MOM!

 Gggrrrrl power!

Anchorage

 I went to Anchorage, in this small, small airplane for work.

It was work the whole time except for the evening with Amy and family and two hours - one I spent waiting for a federal building to open. It was cold and I had to pee. I had this feeling finding a restroom would be hard (all locked). And for some reason, there were NO coffee shops around the federal buildings, and it was so early nothing was open.  I took photos of entryways (and other public spaces) to pass the time.

 

 I like the No Smoking sign, and then the hundred butts - ew.  This was outside the probation office.

 Well, I had to take one selfie...in the Anchorage Museum.

The other free hour I had I jumped on a bus and went to Central Market - my favorite store, oh, and Indian food buffet - right next to each other!

 They have so much imported goods, much of it without any English.  What is this?! Seriously?!!

It was right before Chinese New Year, so they had fresh treats (from a Portland bakery)! Sweet red bean with walnuts. Yum! Since I didn't have a bag (just my backpack), I did not get to bring back nearly as much exotic foods as I wanted :(

Kodiak

 From the bridge

 Near Is. gravel pit - what a pit!

 Mission beach

Abby and I in the woods

Juneau

 I went to Juneau for work, and ran around the downtown hills on my off time, despite having a bum ankle, which is still not better. Some of the hills are really steep. So steep the old roads are blocked off, maybe just for the winter. There are staircases all over going up and down the hills.

 The roads on the hillside are narrow. The sidewalk is right up against the houses in many cases. 

 Great view from atop. 

The street the old Russian Orthodox church was near was so steep. The kind of steep where ice cleats and studded tires wouldn't help.

Downtown is small but pretty nice. Hey, they have one! The layout of the downtown area is a little strange with the federal structures splitting the downtown in two. It can be difficult to navigate by foot.

 

 

 

Real estate was once at a premium.  It's hard to tell form the photo, but this tiny building is a just little triangle that fits between the two bigger buildings.

They have vacant buildings available now though.  I can only imagine the cost of rehabbing historic buildings in Alaska - so expensive.

 The Wharf. There are some stores (mainly tourist oriented) and restaurants. I did see a unique antique store in Juneau - the mantique!  Historic items for men or man-ly-ish oriented products.

 

They had things to buy in Juneau, like things you wanted to buy! They had a cool comic/artist book/graphic arts store. This is the yarn shop where I got my mom some hand dyed yarn.

This is one of the only daytime images I got! 

(Amazing how the hills rise right out of the ocean.  The mountains are like so in your face in the southeast.)

It was January and by the time I got done working, it was dark.

Me with a moon rock.