Thought I should put an additional closing onto
this moose-tracked-dog-damaged yard. After threats from the landscaper to Mark over the phone (saying he'd punch Mark in the mouth), we still forked over $350 to have the yard fixed, even though they are over there right now fixing only what the warranty covers. Seriously?
The story, if you dare:
Since the moose walked in through the yard, essentially covering the dog prints, we have been at ease, and the landscaper never contacted, or showed up on the day she could fix it (Tuesday, she was a no show). Yesterday we got a call asking us to pay for it.
Seriously?
We go over to talk to the only nice neighbor, and we started talking situations. Mark said, "If this were our yard and moose tracks walked through it, I don't think I'd ask anyone but the landscapers to fix it." She replied with a "yeah, me neither."
Seriously?
This morning we went to the temple to
do baptisms with the youth, got home at 9:30, and got ready to paint the front room. Yes! We decided on some colors! hurray! We were very tired, so we took a nap on the couch and was awaken by the phone call from the
"nasty landscaper-lady's" husband. It started somewhat civil. If anyone has met Mark, they know he doesn't raise his voice, and he certainly never swears. This man started accusing Mark of swearing at his wife, Inga... yea, she's white, when it all first happened. Then he said to Mark, "You know what happens when someone yells at a man's wife? He gets punched in the mouth!"
Seriously? Maybe in a bar.
Mark then said we can pay 1/2 of the total cost today(because there's another party at fault here who shares the responsibility - oh wait, besides the moose who obviously don't know where the property lines are). They said they'd come out next week, but then said, "We are coming in one hour. Have the money." We were courteous (at least, I thought), and said we'd have our half ready and the other guy's phone number when they got here.
The man showed up, pony tail (with blonde highlights in his dark brown hair), smoking a cigarette and all, on our driveway with the nice neighbor's husband (who really is a nice guy). When he kept telling Mark off, not letting my polite, gentleman of a husband get a word in, I start piping up. Uh-oh. A lot of people outside my family rarely see the fire spark in me. Then when Mark gets the chance to speak he brings up the threat, telling him that's not the best way to do business. The guy says, "Leave that outta this conversation." I pipe in, "Hey, you brought it into this whole ordeal when you threatened him on the phone!" So anyway, me and Mr. Ponytail have a little one on one stare-down. He throws in the towel and says, "I'm done!" I totally won. Not that this is a contest or anything. Just a thing of honor and defending the spouse without threats. Hm. I just realized maybe he doesn't know how that's done. Then while he's storming off, waving his cigarette around, he said the nice neighbor should sue us for not paying twice our contracted amount (meaning the other guy's share).
Seriously?
So after we discuss it with the nice neighbor, Mark and I decide that the best solution is for us to play "Banker," write the check for $350 dollars and be done with it. Mr. Nice Neighbor takes it over while Mr. Ponytail is fixing the warranty-spots, and brings it back (while we're prepping for more painting) saying his business only takes cash... shady.
Seriously?
I just heard the garage door go up. Mark is back from the ATM with the cash in hand. I don't think this Mr. Ponytail is going to treat this as honest money. But that's just between myself, Mark, and all you internet surfing bloggers.
Seriously, I don't like to use this word, but it kept being repeated in my head over and over and over and over again. So
"all together now";SERIOUSLY!? We just paid $350 just to be
Christlike, and fix a little neighborhood brawl. Wow. I really am glad I went to the temple this morning, otherwise I think I would be 50 times angrier.
Seriously.
After a nice night in yesterday, I knew Mark would want to get out and explore a bit. We had Stake Conference's Adult Session, so afterwards we went to midtown to Manhattan Pizza. Across the street is this lit up windmill... serving a purpose only known to the person who built it. But it was so vivid against our now-dark-night-sky! We're losing our night-light. 
"What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue." -Henri Matisse 
Saturday, my sunny day, was spent outside! I took Buckwheat with me to the farmer's market downtown and enjoyed the shops and excited cooing that little kids would do in the general direction of "the toto dog." 
After gratefully sleeping in a little past 8:30, I woke up to something bright, yellow, and round in the sky that was filling my room with warmth. I had missed the sun more than I realized!
This week the Alaska State Fair is in full swing! Above, the picture of the ferris wheel is in full color. I have a wider shot with other things in the picture along with the wheel, and it's still a grey silhouette. It was a dreary day, but the following pictures helped brighten everything up: 
The deep, muted colors of these cabbages (correct me, please, if I'm wrong here on the whole cabbage thing - these are almost too beautiful to be cabbages!) really drew me in. The teal and the violet. oo la la!
And the star of my little show, the ripe, little raspberry: 
too bad the sign said, "no nibbling, please" 
This is Mark's hotel while he stayed in Japan. Not too shabby right? And no spanking street walkers either! Just zen-goodness all around. He'll be touching down here again in the next little while for a short day trip. Hopefully I'll get more photos out of him.
I asked Mark to take a couple of shots of Thailand while he was away. Above is his view from the hotel room, and below is a street view in the city of Pattaya. I'm sad to report, he was pretty grossed out by the country, but it still hasn't stopped my fascination with any culture that has this much color. The buildings, the cars, the boats, the plants.. 
Another reason he was so grossed out was he got smacked on the bootie TWICE by ... we'll call them "street walkers." Oh my!! I guess they knew it was his birthday. Ever hear of the Birthday Spanking Machine? They were carrying on the Reeder Family Tradition. How considerate!!
A few nights ago there was a break in the clouds when the sun was setting around 11:00. We had wanted to drive around and look for bears, so this was our Sunday night activity. With the good morning, moon post, this was a must-have. 
I saw the moon this morning for the first time in about 5 months. I never thought I'd love, so much, the sight of this misty veiled sleepyhead. For one reason or another, either because of cloudy nights or the bright and sunny nights, I haven't seen the moon for far too long. 
He is 27 today and he has accomplished so much! I am very proud of him, and wish I could be with him on his exciting trip carrying who-knows-what to who-knows-where, exactly. 
I love you, Mark! Instead of celebrating with cake and ice cream, I'm celebrating with naps, chicken noodle soup and vitamin C. I woke up this morning with a horrible head cold. Lucky me!!
Last Thursday at midnight we picked up Mike and Molly from the airport. They flew in for one very spontaneous trip! We all decided that day that they should fly in that night! The above picture is how light it is still. Below was Friday night at the ward's Fish Fry! It was perfect weather, so we all ate picnic style. 
Saturday, along with the zoo, we went to the Anchorage Museum and saw all sorts of things involved with the history of the 49th State. Even the really weird, awkward art displays, we were bent over laughing. I've found that anything can be fun with these guys: 
Saturday night we did some Frisbee Golfing. In the beginning, we were teaching Molly how to throw a frisbee and by the end she was creaming all of us. Notice Michael's expression? ha ha
After more fun of canceled flights Sunday night because of a huge ash cloud from a Volcano in the Aleutians, they caught a flight home Tuesday at noon. We will miss them! Thanks for bringing the sunshine Mike and Molly!!
Like all good zoo trips, some animals, like this polar bear, were asleep with their bums to the camera. Mark and I still thought it was pretty impressive with those huge paws. On with the bears, we saw black bears (one of which loved to dance for us), and these two grizzlies: 
There were three tigers, Molly and Michael mastered some animal calls and actually got some responses from the above grizzly bears (a look of utter annoyance), and some curious perk-ups from los tigres. 
Some action shots of the wolves during which I was holding my umbrella and camera so tight I had white knuckles and near-piercings from the little knobs and buttons. I know, I'm a wimp.
Three injured bald eagles who have been in the zoo for about 30+ years, each. They are beautiful. 
Having guests really lets you see and do things out of the norm! 
A few days ago, Mark and I were in the car and were tired of our usual playlists, so I grabbed my small collection of favorite CDs that for some reason aren't all on my ipod. I went straight for the Shall We Dance? soundtrack. I was in the mood for something fast paced and spicy. We enjoyed the whole disc, then it came to track 10. This particular song, was one I played through the night when I was younger; so simple, so peaceful, so heartening, and so disarming. 
Funny word, right? Say "jog" 5 times and you'll agree with me. Want to know what else is hysterically funny? Snow in July. That's right, I found this stuff on my jog this morning up in the hills at the back of the valley. See the 'termination dust?' That is the appropriate name dubbed for this cold, white stuff by my friends' kids. Even the flowers were all torn up over it. 
Looked like they were tearing up, too.
You are all probably thinking why wasn't I expecting this? Well, I sort of was, but this is one weird summer, even for up here. I think I jinxed the whole state of Alaska when I said "I'm so excited for Autumn!" earlier this week. whoops!
