One Hundred and Sixty-nine, Start of a Queen's Reign

"Go on, get in there!"

As I stepped forward, a fleeting moment of nervousness and panic entered me and left as I strengthened my resolve. I was ready for this. I'd seen it done many times by now and felt comfortable with the process along with the doctors there. I held the little girl's head as it came at me. I moved the head and the shoulders downward until the top shoulder came free. Then, before I could blink, she popped out! I wasn't prepared for the speedy exit she made so I was holding her with both hands as she started crying (the practiced physicians develop a one-handed safe baby-holding technique). The resident put the clamps on the cord and Papa leaned in to cut it with the scissors. Finally I handed the little girl off to the pediatric crew ready to assess her health.

Later on I asked the resident, "Does it ever get old?"

"No."

Eighty-seven, A Grand Adventure!

So there I was, a little tired, thinking of going to bed (but realizing I would probably put it off by another 2 hours) when I get a phone call returned. It's Amish Girl and she's on a study-kick like no other. But I talk her into hanging out for a couple minutes. Then I hit a dilemma. [insert dramatic musical splurge, then a pause... continue] I don't want to put on my coat! [insert dramatic musical splurge, then a pause... continue] Idea! [spirally uplifting tone] I grab the chorso/chaddar that I have wrapped around me and walk Boldly out the door. Once I shut the door behind me, I briskly walk over to AG's place. I knock insistently and stand there freezing. Who the heck thought it would be bright not to wear a coat? (goes back, "... continue] Idea! [spirally") Oh, mine... hehe. Thankfully, she opens the door fairly quickly and I enter the warmth of her place. Despite the evil that slowly but surely is permeating the place. Of course I speak of her studiousness and not of the cat dander. Her cat is quite precious and would not wish harm upon me (except perhaps when I intentionally try to startle her--the cat, not AG...I think AG would just spray me with mace if I startled her regularly).

After realizing the faux pas of wearing a long coat (which I still don't know if it's still adhered to or not, so I think I'll ask my mentor!) and figuring out which type I'll need and whatnot, I brace myself and head out. A happier man for the load I now carry: AG returned my balloons to me and of course balloons make me happy. They make everyone happy!

Mmmmm...pie

Eleven, Hope Junction

I have a couple of comparison shots set up today. The one where everything is caked over in ice are shots I took when I was there. The ones with water flowing are ones my Alaskan friend took some other time when it wasn't as cold.

These two are almost the same shot

These two are another shot

An excerpt from March 18th, 2006:
"It was breath-taking. We stopped near Hope Junction and got out of the car and walked a short area from the road. I was a bit hesitant because it was downhill slightly. But when I arrived, Oh. My. There was a little wooden bridge crossing over a partially frozen over creek which was deep down the little canyon merging with another creek a little beyond the bridge just beyond the end of the canyon where there was a shoreline on the opposite side that came down to the merging of the creeks. And the trees were covered in the fresh snow that even then was falling adding to the magical quality of the spot. It was beautiful. And on the other side of the bridge was a small cave with a short ice waterfall coming out of it. It looked like some fantastical place where hidden ice dragons were harboring their captives and there was even a pathway across an icy slope up to it that involved crossing an ice bridge with flowing icy water underneath."

And, just because it's one of the neat shots I took back then

That was a magical trip. Between seeing a good friend of mine and getting a chance to visit Alaska and San Francisco in one go, it was memorable.