Merry Christmas!

Hi All-

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday!

I spent today X-skiing with the Adventure Group on trails at the University.  I thought we only going 3.5 miles...we did--each way!  Oh my--was I dead!!  I think that was the farthest I have ever skied!!  It was flat and tons of work--but the sun was out :)  I did see a moose though--

I got home and had to take a nap!!

Speaking of home--I'm house and dog sitting.  I'm up at what's called Government Hill--Elmendorf Air Force base and Fort Richardson are up here.  It's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Anchorage.  The houses are cute and all different.  Bronwyn (who owns the house) is in Mexico with family.  I received an email last night from her--she finally made it after two says in the Seattle airport.  Lucy (dog) is here with me--she's a mix, but definitely has some Husky in her.  She took off on me the first day I was here--great--I tried my usual "cookie" but she would have none of that!  I went back to the house, got a pocketful of cheese and proceeded to search for her--all the while thinking "great"--Bronwyn's the head of the English Dept. at my school--everyone will hate me if I lose her dog!!  Well, I captured Lucy sniffing through a fence at a couple of dogs--Whew-that was a close one!!  :)

I loved to tell you that the excitement stopped there-but I can't!  The very same night, I was getting ready for bed--I had just bathed, flannel PJs, warm footies--you get the idea--and I go to lock the Arctic entree door (mudroom) well--I shut the door so Lucy would not escape again and..............I locked myself out of the house!  Okay--picture this footies, my cars locked can't even get my ski boots, PJs, and of course a "darling" hairdo--as only I can style--you get the picture!  Thank goodness I actually read the note Bronwyn left me so I remembered that the neighbors to the left (????) in the brown house had a key---I found some gardening shoes 2 sizes to small and trudged  to the neighbors--which way????--I did pick the right house--but wait--it gets even better!  The nice couple invite me in--the house smells like cigs and old fried food--but they were very nice and looked for the key--what no key--YIKES!  So Steve calls the locksmith who arrives an hour later after I inhaled many second-hand cigs.  So that was my Duhhhhhh--dunderhead experience--so far!  I imagine Steve and Tami will have a good laugh about the "kooky" house sitter from Michigan for many Christmases to come!! I did have to change my PJs before bed to get the smell off! :)

Can you take one more story???  I was driving through town and all the sudden the traffic stops--the roads were a bit slippery--there he is, that damn moose in the middle of the road!

I'm suppose to hike up a mountain in Palmer (near Wasilla) tomorrow (if I can move)--we shall see--I hate heights!  Maybe I'll see what Sarah and family are up to for Christmas--I can't believe she didn't invite me!

So there you have it--it's all true--I never could have made it up!

I'm on my third novel--love break time!!

Have a wonderful Holiday!

XOXO