Just Livin the Local Life

Starting next week our office will switch to four 10 hour work days instead of five 8 hour work days. This will enable us to have more time to play. "Work hard, play hard," my boss Carol says. And oh does she mean it. The other day she came over to our set of cubicles and asked the two male manifest agents if they would like to go up to the Denali National Park the weekend of the 28th. Their answers consisted of sighs and checking of schedules. Meanwhile, Mk and I were near squealing with excitement just thinking about seeing the park. After too many sighs from the guys I said, "I'll go!" (just to throw it out there, you know). And Carol said,"Oh yeah! Why don't we let the girls go on this trip boys and you guys can go the next weekend." And Mk and I said, "WEEEEEHOHAHAOHMYGOODNESSREALLYHOHA!!!" Carol laughs at us and says that she's going to print our itinerary. The sheet she brings back looks something like the following:

Friday morning--Ride on the Alaska Railroad (First Class) up to the park

Friday evening--Extreme White Water Rafting

Stay at the McKinley Village Hotel

Saturday morning--Tundra Wilderness Tour

Saturday afternoon--Airplane Tour of the park

Saturday Evening--Cabin Night Theater

Stay at the McKinley Village again

Sunday--Come home.

All expenses paid for.

As I read this sheet of paper, my mouth gaped larger and larger until you could probably fit a small watermelon into it. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity and I can't wait to leave next Friday!

Mk and I have gotten really good at riding the PM by now. We have even picked a local coffee shop, the Midnight Moon, to stop at a couple times a week for coffee on our morning commute. Our goal is to become "regulars" at the Midnight Moon. We'll see how that goes. We hope to go on a hike and another bike ride or two this weekend. Between weekend getaways, morning commutes and local coffee, we're just livin the local life.