God Bless Our Neighbor

I knew yesterday that a neighbor who has been in Iraq for the last year had come home. Today as I rounded the corner on 6th Ave, this is what I saw. This is Mark and Hillary Evans home. Mark has been involved with the young men in the ward, so I think they are probably responsible for this. Mark has been gone quite a long time. This was his second tour of duty in the Mideast. I know he has been in harms way. He has a beautiful little girl about two years old that he hasn't been able to hold for too long a time. I couldn't handle being gone from my family for even a month. I don't know the family did it. If you make a practice of praying, please thank God for all the Mark and Hillary Evans in this country.

Return to Zion

Well things have worked out differently than I thought they would. After only a month in Skagway, I have returned home. There were some issues that couldn't be resolved in Skagway so I decided to brighten Rhonda's life by returning...No I'm not sick...(no more than usual) but lots of small things added up and I decided to return home. In the coming days, I will be posting some observations of my month long sabbatical and updating things from time time to time. I'm really glad to be home because of one major reason. I really missed Rhonda.

Bring Your Own Milk

Here in Skagway, this is the only market. If you like milk, it currently is priced at $6.28 per gallon. The market tends to run out of some of the basics like diet coke and frozen burritos. There is an ample supply, however, of what is alleged to be chicken(different shades of green and gray) some multi-colored cheese and bread for $3.00 per loaf. The supply ship comes in every Tuesday evening. You generally want to make it to the store no later than Thursday. There is an acceptable supply of fish. It's in a can labeled Starkist. There is also an ample supply of all kinds of jerky, chewin' tobacco , and all the recent issues of Guns and Ammo Magazine. I don't think they accept your fresh-value cards, either.

No Oprah up here

Well here at the Empty Arms in Skagway we are fortunate to have cable TV. All 8 channels. One is C-span, one is the shopping network, and I think the other 6 all have to due with something outdoorsy. Lots of huntin, killin, swearing, hidin in the bushes and other such red-neck fun. The last 10 minutes of the program are usually reserved for letting the old-lady hone her backwoods culinary skills over a Coleman stove. After ingesting the poor unfortunate animal, the proud hunters usually relive the excitement of the hunt and then smash beer cans against their heads and pass some gas. The picture in this post is of some poor unfortunate Alaskan animal who is about to be dispatched to the other side. I can't tell what kind of animal this is because the picture on the TV is not too great. Please rest assured, however that it will be mighty tasty.

Does she look scared?

Can you say apprehensive? This is MC boarding Wings in the Water Airline in Skagway to start her trip back to Zion. She wasn't too thrilled about this leg of the flight. But she told me she never even opened her book during the 50 minute flight Juneau. She must never have opened her eyes.
Just before going to the airport, we went to the only cafe that is open this time of year. Don't get hungry in the evening because it closes at 3pm. She looks real excited about
1.her flight
2. her hamburger
3. not being able to read for 50 minutes. She sure is fun to travel with.