Graduation reflection

It happened as planned, our young man graduated with honors from UAF with a BSCS and minor in Math. The ceremony was loooong but interesting speakers attempted to keep us awake. There were some VIP's there apparently but I didn't really know them, as the really important VIP was Seth.



Just before the exit processional they dropped balloons from the ceiling with the school colors of blue and gold. That was a highlight watching the kids trying to capture the balloons and the graduates hitting them up into the air. The brass band did a splendid job with providing the pre and post music, and a drum band made it lively for their walk out to the reception.



It was nice visiting with family during and after this event. Since we are so spread out around the country I look forward to these visits. As you can see we are quite proud of our son and tolerate his style. (I didn't include the picts of his mismatched socks).



After graduation services we had worked up quite an appetite sitting in the bleachers ;) and Amanda had planned ahead with reservations for Gambradellas Pasta Bella. Seth's roommate Chris (far right of pict) joined us for a pleasant meal and fellowship. (The Fierenze Pizza was scrumpdilliicious.) All good things come to an end and we are currently waiting in Anchorage at the airport for the final leg of the journey home and Seth is awaiting a phone call from a potential employer for the second phone interview. We wish him well in his career as they prepared him well to be a top game programmer. Congratulations Seth.

Fairbanks and graduation

Here we are in Sunny Fairbanks, Alaska getting Seth moved out of his dorm apartment and readying for the graduation ceremony. Mom and Dad Willes are here from California and Amanda came up from Anchorage to celebrate this event. We all realize that the ceremony will be somewhat boring but it is a milestone in Seth's growing up. He is packed and nearly ready to move on to his career. He has had a number of job offers but is trying to get one more related to his passion of programing games. He has the talent for doing that task and we look forward to good things coming from him in the future. Will try to post some pictures of Seth and family at graduation tomorrow.

New pets

We decided to put up bird feeders even though we haven't replaced the deck. They are about 25 feet off the ground and we weren't sure anything would come up that far. They did, dozens and dozens of them costing over 10.00 a day for bird seed, all the same species - Pine Siskin. Their chatter is delightful and they are a pleasure to watch.

We have actually had some spring weather with about 5 days in a row of sunshine, (may be a record) but the rains have returned so we feel at home again. Flying up to Juneau again today in the small plane so will take the camera and see if the lighting works right. It is cloudy with spots of sun and winds are expected to be light so it should be a pleasant hour flight both ways.

Here is a link to an article about the contest Seth and his group won. click here

April Snow

Snow in April, I guess the evidence is there. I flew to Juneau to pick up a new rehab patient and they had 3-6 inches of snow. This snow storm caused them a bit of trouble as there was an avalanche that took out a stretch of their power lines from the hydro project thus requiring them to run diesel generators for electricity. Apparently their electric bills are going from .11 to .55 per KW. That is 5 times the amount they currently pay and this will continue till the lines are restored which may take several months. Coming home the snows started that afternoon in Wrangell as well but was gone off the roads shortly. Now we have clear skies and cool temperatures. The birds are singing this morning and several boats are leaving the harbor to get the early King Salmon. I guess I should get my boat ready and join them (maybe when it gets over 40 degrees).

April Showers

Greetings and salutations from the land of the April (and nearly year round) showers. The snows have been staying over the 500 ft elevation so maybe it is spring. Lots of Robins migrating through, the Skunk Cabbage is in full bloom but that pesky sapsucker must have found a better sounding board to attract a mate as the house has been quiet.

Flew to Juneau again on Sunrise Aviation in their 5 seat Beechcraft and forgot to take my camera. It was just as well since we were flying through snow and clouds most of the way and when there was a view the light level was so low that it wouldn't have taken very well moving at over 100 mph. The flight was uneventful which makes a good flight. Great pilots to fly with and a sterling record for safety. Finished the electrical on the little house and will call for the final inspection. Next for that project is to finish the ceilings, floors and walls then install the bathroom, kitchen and replace most the windows. I guess I have a ways to go. I thought I would have my yacht ready to go but my mechanic had the audacity to go and break his leg in such a way he may be laid up all summer. The repairs will have to wait or I will have to find another mechanic able to do the job. He was the best in town and the busiest.

Lynda is continuing with her craft starting another basket and another painting. I look forward to each new work of art and am blessed with having so much of it around the house to enjoy.

Amanda is planning a trip with a friend to Disneyland to celebrate the end of the busy tax season. She has had to put in long hours to complete the work before the deadline and was successful.

Cynthia finished another quarter at college making good grades again as usual and continues her success for the last quarter of the year. She got a job as a tutor for one of her classmates at his request so she gets paid to study for her classes. Not a bad position to have.

Seth graduates in a month. He was part of a small group at UAF that won a national mathematical modeling competition comparable to winning a national football championship. The last time UAF won was when one of his professors was in the competition. He plans on staying in Fairbanks working on a programming project this summer as he continues to hold out for a job programming for a game company.

Here's till next time I get inspired to communicate.

musings of a middle aged man

It has been nearly a month since the last posting and I was sitting here trying to decide what to report. We do live eventful lives, work 5 days a week but all that is confidential, suffered from the crud that makes its way around the community this time of year and in my case hit another milestone in my progression of middle agedness (if that is a word). It was bad timing for a birthday as the crud was going round and we couldn't risk indulging in large amounts of sugar related products that would lower our immune system so I made do with 1/2 gallon of ice cream and Lynda a more sugar free sorbet. Thanks to all that sent cards and to those who called me on that auspicious day.

Our next major event will be the first part of May where we will experience the granting of the degree of BSCS with minor in math to our son Seth in Fairbanks, AK. Any wishing to attend are welcome. It is nice in Fairbanks that time of year and the hotels still have their winter rates.

The weather is turning more into spring and we have had definitive signs that nature is feeling the change as well as the early morning knocking on the side of the house has started by the red-breasted sapsucker. Ever since I removed the deck he has found it to be optimal habitat to sound out for a mate and make holes in the siding for a nest only to abandon the project and try another spot. I put a house up for him last year to cover the one hole made but I apparently didn't paint it the right color or make it the right shape or maybe his pounding did not sound good enough to attract a mate. I hope I don't have to make more birdhouses this year to cover more holes.