December 7, 2003

• January...Our friends the Eder's Baptized their newborn little girl Hannah Joy Eder and they made us the godparents! Also both of us took the auxiliary specialty course AUXSEA (seamanship). 

• February...Attended the Auxiliary District conference and put the SAFEboat in the Fur Rondy parade, that was actually a lot of fun!

• March...Cathey did volunteer work at the Anchorage REC (regional exam center) Coast Guard office. Went to the spring auxiliary social at the Harvey's, everyone had a great time as usual.

• April.. Went to Arctic Man!  This was the only real snowmachine trip that we did all year, at least the weather was great and a bunch of our friends were there. As always, we took the week off for vacation and stayed in the camper and had a great time! Also took Tazlina to her first birthday gathering with her other siblings that still live in Alaska, they of course went crazy and had a great time chasing each other!

• May...We both went through the Coast Guard Coxswain academy in Seward, a nine day intensive course to get our Coxswain ratings to be able to operate on patrols for the auxiliary. I also went to the American Fighter Aces reunion in Tempe AZ with my brother Jim, as always had a great time with the aces-- but it was sure hot while we were there (115°!) While I was there Cathey and Ross did the first Auxiliary PWC class at Big lake and even did a rescue and towed a boat that had broke down.

• June...attended the PAC Area training in Seward for a week that the CG puts on for small boat stations, did lots of training with regular duty coasties. The last day there I had my  check ride and became rated to be UTM Coxswain. Cathey did her check ride the next weekend and we are now both rated as UTM Coxswains. We can now operate the SAFEboat by ourselves (with a crew of course)!

• July.. did patrols in Prince William Sound on the weekends with 611 (the SAFEboat) and even on the PWC's a couple of times. On the 26th we had our first SAR and Cathey towed in a boat in some foul weather that had broke down.

• August...Did the annual Summer Splash event with Challenge Alaska, this time as Coast Guard Auxiliary and ran the auxiliary PWC's. On the way home got hit on the freeway and Cathey hurt her knee and did $8,000 damage to the truck and camper (put it out of commission for two months waiting for parts!). I had to rent a motorhome to go to the Seward salmon derby, where I ran SAFEboat 610 for a week during the derby! Attended the CG cutter Mustangs annual "appreciation cruise" the last day in Seward for the derby and Cathey came down to go out also. Had a great time spending the whole day on a 110foot CG patrol boat, they had a BBQ on deck and gave us a first class tour of the Kenai Fiord area. Also ran 611 in Whittier several weekends. Our friends the Kosik's moved back to Anchorage after being in Vegas for too many years!

• September...Cathey dealing with doctors and physical therapy for her knee, this goes on for the rest of the year. Ran 611 several weekends in Whittier. We also took in a playmate for Tazlina, another Shiba named Walter. Had him for a month but we decided it was best for him to return to his owners after being with us a month, he is a great dog but with our busy schedule could not give him the attention he demanded. Taz is used to our schedule but sure missed him. I attended the AUXWEA specialty weather class, Cathey did it the time before.

• October...Pulled SAFEboat 611 for the winter. My brother Mike from Fairbanks came and stayed with us for a  weekend had a great time with him and put him to work as we had to get a new refrigerator! Also went to the Auxiliary's fall social at the Bury's residence, they have a nice place on the bluff overlooking Cook Inlet.

• November...Towed 611 to Seward for winter storage. Attended the auxiliary district training event on Ft Richardson and the annual district holiday gathering, fun for all! Had Thanksgiving dinner at the Eder's , Yum!

• December... here we are! The holidays are fast approaching. Work is getting crazy. Looking forward to 2004.....maybe I can stay a little better up to date next year!

Everyone have a safe and happy holiday season!

December

25, 2002

Happy Holidays!

Once again time has zoomed by since the last update! And, as usual we have been very busy! Lots to report so here goes!

Work is work, nothing new to report there.

Tazlina continues to get only a little bit bigger. She is basically full sized now, but still acts like a puppy. She is no dummy though, as has learned how to get things her way! she really is a smart cookie! Her last class didn't go very well because her Mom n Dad had too many other things going on and she missed too many classes. Will have to take it over I guess! She did everything in the agility class fairly well but did not like the long curved tunnel to go through. Also to report, ALL of Tazlina's brothers and sisters have won at dog shows now! Makes you proud that her family is in the winners circle!

The SAFEboats have been put away for the winter and the Auxiliary events have slowed a little for the winter. However since I have been appointed to be in charge of 256611 and now the PWC operations officer for Alaska next year the training and meetings go on! We went to Juneau to take the Navigation rules test and PASSED. We are now PWC operational and well on our way to becoming coxswain qualified! Its going to be a busy summer next year!

We sold our Snowmachines that we had and purchased new ones. The old ones were starting to show wear and tear with the miles on them so it was decided to get new ones instead of dealing with any breakdowns that might happen. The new ones are sure nice though. They ride much better as the technology has improved since we bought the last ones, you really notice it! We have only been out once though as the snow this year has been slow in finding Alaska. Went to Eureka December 7 and only put about 25 miles on the sleds, didn't even use up all the break-in fuel with extra oil in it! Too many other thing have been going on since then and because of the still poor snow conditions getting out and riding has not been a priority. Hopefully that will change as in the last couple of days it finally started snowing again!

On Friday December 13 Cathey was in an accident with her truck while on her lunch break. Although she was hit very hard by a Ford Ranger in the passenger doors, her 2001 Dodge Ram absorbed the impact very well and she WAS NOT seriously hurt (just very sore!) The truck however was written off by the insurance company as a total loss! After much looking and test drives another Dodge Ram was bought over getting a SUV. I have to admit she picked out a nice one too, this one is all black with all the goodies including a Hemi engine! Lots of power to pull the PWC's and snowmachines and it even gets better fuel mileage than the last one and its not broke in yet!

We close the year by wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Hello to all at my Dad and Miriam's  house including Aunt Elaine and Aunt LouAnne & Uncle Gerry! Also My sister and her family basking in the warm weather in Hawaii for Christmas break and Mike n Cheryl in Fairbanks and Jim & Mary (and Amber and new puppy!) across town!

September 27,2002

The Seward Silver Salmon derby Auxiliary event was a lot of fun actually. Seward got their new Safeboat so there was a lot of training going on for everyone. Both Cathey and I got a lot of wheel time so that was good also. Several boats got towed in and there was some excitement with high wind in the harbor one day, other than that it was uneventful as far as "rescues".

Our trip south to see my Father and go to the Fighter Aces reunion was a good time for all. Dad was glad we showed up and brought the rain with us. I think it rained at least an inch a day while we were there. At least it was cool so we didn't melt! The American Fighter Aces reunion was great as to be expected. We enjoyed our time that we spent with the aces and their wives. The hospitality suite was interesting also. I helped out as Bartender trying to keep the glasses full! Lots of good stories were flowing with the drinks! The Seattle Museum of Flight  is the new home for the Aces so put on a good show for all. We even went to see the "New" ME262's being built, that was impressive!

Our friends the Folkerts are moving to Juneau and will be missed. They have a lot to do with why Cathey and I are so involved with the Auxiliary. We wish them well, although we will be seeing them from time to time doing auxiliary projects.  Being  officer in charge of 611 should be a good challenge for next year and keep me in touch with everyone in Juneau! Hopefully I can pass the next Nav rules test! 

On the home front things are busy. It looks like I will be taking over control  as officer in charge of Auxiliary vessel 611 next year, Mike Folkerts asked if I would do so, and for some reason I said OK! The Auxiliary PWC training is moving along, but not without its glitches. Nothing we can't overcome though. Cathey and I are still studying up for passing our Nav rules, its an ongoing battle! 

The Seward Silver Salmon derby is going to be a big project also. The Auxiliary will be there in force with TWO Safeboats for the duration. I actually took time off of work to be there the entire week. I hope to get a bunch of Coxswain training in as well as train some Seward folks on Crew!

Mike and Cheryl visited along with Dana and Julie recently, all had a great time. Julie was going to MN to a summer music camp. She is now back and reports a great time was had!

Plans are in the works for our yearly trip to the American Fighter Aces reunion, it will be in Seattle this year from the 12th to the 15th of September. The few days before that we plan on visiting my father in Arizona.

AND

Cathey finally got me to say yes to getting a dog! We have picked out a little Shiba Inu  female puppy. No name yet but she is now six weeks old. She is a purebred and will have AKC registration. We will be bringing her home in two weeks, that's when the breeder will let her go. Here are a few pictures of her. Will keep you in suspense as far as the name until she comes home.

Well, there are only a couple of things to report. I have returned to the slave pit (work)! My knee is good enough according to the doctor to go back to work. I only have to wear a neoprene brace and just be careful. It is feeling better although it still aches and  won't let me bend down on it, I have to do that with the other one as long as it holds up! 

Back to work means less time to add to the site so it may take awhile for me to do what I wanted to as far as adding material. Cathey and I have also been asked to prepare a PWC training class for the Coast Guard Auxiliary to use to train its own members as well as other state agencies that use them. Eventually it might be a public class. It really takes a lot of work to set something like that up!

Well, its Christmas Eve. Just want to say hi to everyone-friends and relitives, and anyone just dropping in. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!

Cathey and I want to say a special hello to everyone at my fathers house. He has quite a gathering this year! Aunt Elaine, Rick-Dana-Julie&David Moore, my Dad and Mirium will be having a great time, sorry we can't be there.

We have several things to report on

First----I am still off work. I still can not bend down in a squat to pick up anything yet. But it's getting much better and I have the full movement in my right knee at least. Still going to physical therapy and the pool. The  plan is to go back to work Jan.2, that's when they have released me for work.  

Second---Cathey has managed to get herself appointed to the Alaska Boating Safety Advisory Council. It is a governor appointed position and has to do with promoting boating safety to the public and recommending ideas and programs to the governors office regarding safe boating in Alaska. My hats off to her! She puts a lot of effort into what's going on in the Alaska boating world....It's finally paying off with a little recognition!

Well its been a month  now and I have to go back to work. Light duty for at least three weeks! The knee still does not feel great but it is better than before. I still can't squat down though. We will see how it goes. I have added more of the intro pages and a few photos here and there with links added to some of the pages also. Enjoy and keep checking back!