More from Juneau

Here are some more photos from our time in Juneau:

This is my favorite picture - we came home one day to Sanjay hanging out in his backyard with his son, Surin, plucking on his guitar and enjoying his amazing view.  Love it!

Getting some homework done at a local coffee shop.

The Mt. Roberts Tramway, takes you up the mountain to a restaurant to enjoy the view.  It's closed right now, but will be opening soon for the cruise ship tourist season.

We tried to go on a hike outside of downtown, but they were doing construction on a bridge.

I guess we'll stay within a 1/2 mile of the roadway! HA!

Downtown Juneau

Another downtown shot

Sniffing some spices at a local tea/spice shop

Another view from downtown

Mt. Roberts Tramway again

Downtown...

I love this shot, too.  This is where the cruise ships come in to dock

Cruise Ship docks

More cruise ship docks

This was in a different local coffee shop - lots of people from all over come to Juneau!

These are all over downtown

A bear-proof trashcan.  It's latched and only lifts high enough so a bear paw can't get into it.

While driving, saw this beautiful sight!

This is the the view from the office that Brian might be fortunate enough to get in a few years.  Until then, he starts out in an office without a window...gotta start somewhere! :)

This is where I want to work!  I took a tour, introduced myself to the Executive Director and sat and talked with her for about 20 minutes.  I was encouraged, if nothing else :)

This is the view from the Birth Center....God willing, we'll welcome our baby (in a few years!) to this view :)

And the most surprising blessing of the trip - a signed rental agreement!  Woohoo!

Celebration of Hands

Today was the Hands Celebration for the Lane Community College Massage Therapy program.  After 3 years, I'm finally in my last term!  They went ahead and did the celebration before the term is over, so even though I have 7 more weeks to go, I received my certificate of completion today and got to put my hands on the tree - a long time tradition in the program.  I've been waiting for this day for a long time!

Receiving my Certificate of Completion - woohoo!

Prepped with paint - blue, of course!

The laying on of hands :)

3 years of hard work!

I hope these hands help many in need with healthy, compassionate touch.

Signed, sealed, delivered!

Signing my name and year

I was here :)

...along with many others!  Appropriate that I got to do this on "earth day" :)

Brian was supportive and took a study break to come watch and take photos.  It's a very different feeling being in a room full of massage therapists rather than a room full of economists (a bit like herding cats) and he handled it very well - HA!  I think he had to take a few deep breathes to do so :)

Anyway, this was a very special day for me.  Deciding to enter this program and to experience it just "feeling right" over the past few years has been a life-giving experience for me.  Now I'm excited to look forward and see where this training is going to take me!  Thanks for all your support!

First Full Day in Juneau

After our visit to the glacier, we headed to where we were staying, the home of Sanjay Pyure, a university faculty member.  He and his wife have two adorable kids and two big dogs named Dobro and Banjo.  Dobro (below with Brian) is probably the biggest dog I've ever seen.  I would have guessed he was pushing 200 lbs, but it turns out he only weighs about 120-130 pounds and the rest is all thick fur.  Every time I saw him, though, I gushed about his size!  They were all very friendly.

Dobro greeted us at the door every morning.

Dobro & Banjo

I steadied myself so he wouldn't knock me over.  Sanjay told us not to let them out unless they were really whining, because they've been known to "wander down to the pub" - ha!

For our first full day in Juneau, we both "participated" in the symposium by attending the "field trip" portion.  A boat ride from Auke  Bay to Berners Bay, about 4-5 hours out on the water in this really nice boat.  

We got front row seats in the enclosed portion.  I sat next to Marcia, the Dean of UAS, and she was just lovely.  Very down to earth and friendly.

Our starting view.  The boat was enclosed, and you could go out on deck, too.  There were presenters speaking up front throughout the trip, and they'd pause whenever there was a wildlife sighting.

There's a humpback!

Part of the purpose of the symposium was to incorporate the Tlingit voice into the body of research and insight.  Throughout the boat ride, an elder would stand and speak about their culture's stories behind the wildlife and the area. It was very interesting!

Another whale sighting.

A woman from Ketchikan took our photo.  Evidently it rains a lot more there than in Juneau!

Marcia, the Dean, is standing there in the yellow.

Everyone wears these boots.  Literally, everyone.  Men and women alike.  Same color.  They're called "XtraTuff" boots and you can get them at the mall, and everyone said "you'll live in those!"

a big group of sea lions

a great day to lounge around,  I guess! :)

This is Auke Bay, the "backyard" to UAS campus

On this boat trip, we did a lot of networking without knowing that's what we were doing.  As it turns out, we met our future landlord on this ride!