Natasha I roll to my side and can feel the heaviness on my eyelids. As much as I want to jump right up and put on my swimsuit and head down to the hot springs, even I can realize my limits and admit I need at least a short little snoozer before I am going anywhere.“Alex?” I use my whiniest voice in hopes he will comply with my request. “Yeah?” he asks as he pulls me toward his body, positioning my head on his chest. “Will you promise to wake me up in thirty minutes so we can go check out the hot springs?” Then I add an extra whiny, “Please,” just so he knows how serious I am. ……….I feel an elbow nudge the side of my waist. It's Alex, he’s still laying beside me. “Hey you still want to check out the hot springs or do you want to keep laying there snoring all night?” “I do not snore.”“Ok tell that to the bears you woke up out of hibernation,” he says laughing. “So dumb,” I say as I roll my eyes and throw my legs over the edge of the bed and walk across the room, bending over t
Alex I wrap a towel around my head, shaking my longer than usual, end-of-season hair and beard, while I try to dry off the sticky mess of gatorade my team dumped over my head as the timer rang declaring our victory. The Alaska Aces took the Stanley Cup for the very first time in Alaska history and not by easy feat. This team has been through it. Four different owners in the last four years and so much office turnover, it's hard to know who’s working from one week to the next. After closing its doors for over a decade, the Aces were re-established when millionaire Stephen Osborne purchased the team just four years ago. However, his fascination with hockey faded quickly and the team was sold twice the first year and again two years ago. It is now owned by Frank Holander, a retired Olympic Skier who honestly thought when he purchased it that the two sports would be similar just because they are both considered winter sports. What is it the kids say? Shake my damn head. At leas
Natasha Yes! Today is the day I've been waiting for. Action Auto just called and my baby is ready for pick up. 1984 Chevy Corvette painted with thermochromatic paint in a deep aquamarine. “I finally did it, Marky. I got our car,” talking to my younger brother as if he’s here. It’s something I do from time to time and since the therapist said it causes no harm, I am officially free to speak to my dead brother whenever I see fit. And today is a day he would definitely want to have a little chat. My mind shoots back to the memory of us laying in the grass, sweating our asses off since our parents wouldn't spring for air conditioning like the rest of the neighbors. “We’re in no competition with the Joneses,” dad would say. So we lay there barely moving while dreaming up our perfect lives, everything from who we would marry and how many kids we would have to what car we would drive and what our houses would look like (they would have air conditioning to start). I was going to marry T
Natasha The final bell rings and kids squeal as they push the front doors open and race to the freedom that summer break brings. “Bye, Ms. Knight. What are you doing this summer?” Sarah, one of my avid readers asks as she walks slowly toward the door. “I’ll be reading.What else?” I tell her. “And actually, if you're interested, the library has summer reading group Wednsdays at noon. So come see me.” I have a feeling she doesn't have the greatest home life, or social life for that matter. I wonder if she has many friends. “I'll be there Ms. Knight. Maybe we can read those new werewolf books you were telling me about.” “Sure thing kiddo.” I turn and head for the bathroom where I trade my black suit skirt and yellow librarian blouse for jean shorts and a black band tee shirt. Topping the outfit off with some chunky-heeled summer sandals and tying my long amber hair into a high ponytail, I look like I’m officially kicking off summer right. I'll be driving North for the week, enjo
Alex Waking up later than usual, I scratch my long beard and look in the mirror. I’m not so bad, I say to myself. At 6’4”, I’m taller than most men and thanks to my hockey background I have a solid foundation of thick muscles. Those boys had no business calling me ‘Quarter Pounder’ last night, I work out nearly every day. My hair is starting to turn silver, but the salt and pepper isn't bothering me. I could use a haircut though. Going into the playoffs, the team agreed this year to refrain from cutting their hair or beards in a superstitious ritual. This was the first year I played along, letting my locks go wild. Considering our victory, I guess I’ll be growing it out next year, as well, if we make the playoffs. Seriously, if it grows any longer than this, I'll have to pull it back into a man bun. I guess I should call and schedule that haircut today. I grab my phone off my night stand and notice Cameron has called four times since last night. He’s such a hard working k
NatashaIt feels beyond good to be back home, back to my own kitchen, and mostly to my own bed. I had a great time in Chena Hot Springs, I got to check out the breweries as I was hoping, and now I’ve returned from a full week of visiting my parents in Washington, a trip I force myself to make each year. My parents are getting older and while I’m usually losing my sanity by the end of the week, I know I would regret not spending this time with them. I was also lucky enough to be able to get in a few nice hikes while in Washington, including Maple Pass Loop, which was on my hiking bucket list. Nothing can compare to the seclusion I can find in Alaska, though. While I am always anxious about visiting my parents, it wasn't as bad as I was anticipating and now that it's over, I can concentrate on having the kick ass summer I deserve. I mean it’s not that my parents are bad people. It's the opposite, really. My mom has never really got over the loss of my brother and my dad just spend
Alex This morning has turned into a series of uncomfortable silences. Both on the ride to the cafe after Cameron dropped his pregnancy bomb and while we were sitting eating our sandwiches, and now again on the ride home. That woman’s anger was the topping on the shit-cake that Cameron didn't need today. I mean I can understand why she'd be upset. I'd be upset too if I had a sweet ride like that and it just got smashed. But to yell such obscenities in the middle of the parking lot? She must have a few screws loose. She’s old enough to know accidents happen. Obviously old enough to be able to handle a fender bender with a little more grace than yelling at a kid in his twenties. Though, I deserved what she said to me. I know better than to mention a woman's age. It's not like she looked old. In fact, she looks pretty damn good for whatever age she is. I guess it's true, the better looking they are, the crazier they are. I should have already known that. I was hoping to just sit
NatashaI was able to barely salvage the summer. My car is still in the shop. As I suspected, the passenger side front fender and door both needed to be completely replaced. So the search for parts begins. Once they are found, the whole car will need to be repainted as it could never match up correctly due to both color matching and the thermochromatics. To top it off, the driver who hit me is refusing to pay what the insurance won't cover and unless we come to an agreement soon, the whole mess is going to wind up in small claims court. I'm confident I’d win the case, but the time it takes to do that only puts me more and more behind on actually getting to enjoy my ride and that is what's making me so angry about the whole situation. Needless to say, it's going to be at least next summer until I can enjoy my baby again. I was able to get in some decent hikes and camping and now that school is back in session, it's time to concentrate on the fall reading festival. Summer reading g