Mom's Weekend!

Stace, Ko, and I get some much-needed Mommy time

Who needs therapy, spa days, or tropical vacations when you've got Pinot Noir, Alaska mountains, and some of the best girls in the world? I had a fantastic weekend campout with some of my besties at Eklutna Lake.

No babies. No cooking. No dishes. And, perhaps best of all, no early morning. Just fire, fresh air, and lots of laughs.

Jose, thanks for being a hero and watching my lil' guy. Dylan thinks Uncle Jose is the coolest. And to the girls who were missing this weekend, (Ahem, Sara!), I am always down to do it again. I heart my ladies. And I heart Mom's Weekend.

12 Years Ago Today...

Twelve years ago today, I married my best friend.  We were young, very young, only 18 in fact.  But we were romantics and we knew that love had no boundaries, no restrictions, and no age limits.  Our families were shocked by our decision as we had only just graduated from high school a few months earlier.  But after many discussions, much advice, and many, Are you sure?'s, they remained supportive in every way they could be and joined us on the big day our life began together.

We had decided to marry in the Glennallen Courthouse and wait to have our wedding in December when our entire wedding party would be home for Christmas break.  So on the morning of August 21, 2000, I woke up as a single girl in my parent's home for the very last time.  As I began to ready myself for the big events of the day, the phone rang and I was greeted by the charming, sweet voice that I had fallen in love with on the the other end of the line.

"Hey ugly," Dave teased.  I smirked.  He was always a comedian and a jovial kind of guy.  That was one of the many things I loved about him.  "Whad'ya say we go on down to the courthouse and get hitched?"  I laughed.  Of course, the ceremony had already been planned and booked, but we had a habit of practicing playful sarcasm.  It always served as a good ice breaker, particularly during major events that can make even the calmest person nervous.  You know, events that seem larger than yourself, events that will undoubtedly change the rest of your life, events much like an 18 year old girl's wedding day.

Dave's wisecracks and tactical use of irony always made me chuckle and never ceased to calm my nerves.  I teased him back and said, "I'll meet you at the courthouse at 1.  Don't be late.  I'll be the one not wearing white."  He laughed.  We said our 'I love you's' and hung up the phone.

When we arrived, we were met with our close family and a few select close friends.  Being that Glennallen is such a small town, the magistrate that was performing the ceremony knew us very well.  And she shared with us that it just happened to be the date of her own wedding anniversary.  Then she asked us to join hands and repeat our vows to each other.  Then she began to cry.  And our mom's began to cry.  And I was holding it together, until I noticed that even my Dad was beginning to cry.

Much of what was said is still a blur to me to this day.  Those of you who have been through your own wedding, probably know exactly what I'm talking about.  There is an array of different feelings and emotions; bliss, anxiety, eagerness, sentimentality and, of course, overpowering, unconditional love.  And you know that that moment, that day would be the launch point for something significant and extraordinary, for your own grand, epic adventure... with your BFF.

And an adventure it has been!  From the moment our teary magistrate pronounced us husband and wife, we embarked on a great journey.  We moved from Glennallen to Anchorage, to college, to a career in Prudhoe Bay, to Portland (college again), to our cabin in the woods, and back to Anchorage.  We have become avid fans of exploring Alaska and traveling the country and the world.  We have enjoyed many great, life-changing friendships.  We have celebrated the gift of life and we have consoled each other through death.  We love to make each other laugh, but we are not above the occasional healthy argument.  And we have recently embarked on perhaps the most exciting journey of all; parenthood!

I am blessed to have such a beautiful life and such a beautiful partner to share it with.  Twelve years ago today, I couldn't have begun to guess how any of this journey would go.  But I knew for sure that unconditional love also meant a life without limits.  And so we said, 'I do', and away we went.  I have loved, cherished, absolutely adored, every single minute.  And I look forward to so many more.  Happy anniversary to my husband, David Dempsey.  You are everything I always wanted.  And so much more.  Cheers to the rest of our adventure!

Goofing off on our wedding day

French Toast Friday

It's French Toast Friday!  That's how we roll in the Dempsey house.  I have been avoiding carbs all week as I have been working on some of that unwanted bulge that I think nearly every Mommy battles.  But this morning, bread and sugary syrup were my allies.  And coffee was my friend.  Best friend.

Yesterday was a challenging day.  One of those where you know as soon as you see your kiddo that they woke up on the wrong side of the crib and they are not going to let you get anything done.  Nor do they want your snuggles, or for you to read to them, or for you to help them stack blocks or help them open their snack pack.  They simply won't be fooled into liking you.  It was one of those days where you realize just how human your little one is and how sometimes they can wake up crabby and have an opinion regarding everything from how their food is prepared to what they're wearing.  It was one of those days where you are reminded, no matter how much you try to alter their behavior, that your little toddler is... well... exactly like you.

Yikes.

So, this morning after my little mini-me woke up at 6, I couldn't help myself.  The day called for carbohydrates.  And french toast it was!  Smothered in syrup.  Dylan was pleased.  And, although he insisted on rubbing the syrup all over his tray and in his hair (just after last night's bath), he ate a good-sized helping and, afterwards, he gave me some snuggles.  They may have only lasted a few seconds, but they were snuggles nonetheless!  Besides, he's nearly 21 months old.  He's got a busy and important schedule ahead of him today.  There are books to be read and blocks to be stacked... independently mind you.  And there are parks to be visited.

Today is the day that Mommy enjoys extra carbohydrates with her boy and her boy gets to get "the wiggles" out at the park.  I love this little man.  Mini-David, mini-me, "tiny human" as Dave called him when he was in my tummy.  Tiny human indeed.  Full of attitude, full of opinions.  Full of life!

Thank you, God, for each day.  For good days, for bad days, for snuggle days, for grumpy days.  And especially for "French Toast Fridays."

Dempsey Mining Introductions

Good morning loved ones.  I was just thinking that it's probably time for you to meet the crew.  Many of you already know us, but for those who don't, I would like for you to meet our family and fellow crew-mates. Dempsey Mining, meet faithful readers.  Faithful readers, meet Dempsey Mining....

Dani, aka Little General

Dani digs up some gold!

Dani, aka "Little General", has been our excavator-running extraordinaire!  You should see her folks.  She operates that excavator like nobody's business.  Hour after hour, day after day, she digs material out of the ground and pours it into the trommel.  She is literally our gold-digger.

Dani gives Daniel 30th birthday cake!

Daniel, aka Croatian Sensation

Dani's husband, Daniel, aka "The Croatian Sensation", is my brother-in-law from abroad, and Dempsey Mining's loader-operator.  He pushes needed material to Dani's excavator, and processed material (or "tailings" in miner's terms) away from the trommel.  And he does all of this in between his hitches on the North Slope.  Busy guy!

Dylan gets some Grandma time

Rita, aka "Momma La Rita", is our camp Mom.  She is camp cook, clothes-washer, and errand-runner. She keeps the coffee going, our bellies full, and keeps our spirits healthy and alive... which is no easy task! She is the Mother Hen to us all and Dempsey Mining couldn't do it without her.

Uncle Mike and Auntie Peggy

Peggy, aka Auntie Peggy, is our loader operator, rock-crusher operator, and camp cook.  What doesn't she do?!  She pretty much does it all!  And she always keeps a smile on her face... and ours!  Sweet Auntie Peggy.

Peggy's husband, Mike, aka Uncle Mike, is our excavator operator, rock-crusher operator, loader-operator, and maintenance man.  He keeps the wheels turning on the equipment and he, too, does this all in between slope hitches.  Uncle Mike keeps it real with a cool-head and a cheerful attitude.

Doctor Dan

Dan, aka "Doctor Dan".  Well, where do I start?  Dan is our go-to guy for just about everything.  Equipment problems, camper problems, rock-slides... there's nothing he can't operate, fix, or invent.  Hence his nick-name, Doctor Dan.  He's the backbone of the operation, the glue that holds it all together.  Dempsey Mining is extremely fortunate to have it's own "doctor."

Miner Dave gives me a ride in the loader

Miner Dave and Miner Jr.

Dave, aka "Miner Dave."  I love this miner.  He's one of my faves.  (But I may be a little biased.)  Dave is the one that dreamed up the whole operation.  He took an idea and ran with it.  Dave's enthusiasm and persistent attitude is what inspired six people to buy campers, move to Valdez for a summer, and work their butts off for their share of that legendary Alaska gold.  He organized the whole affair; from finding and buying equipment to spending hours on paperwork and phone calls, from sorting out the financial aspect of everything, crunching numbers and hours and wages, to spending his two weeks off from the slope slaving away with his crew-members at the mine.  And, so far, his perseverance has paid off.  We all love Miner Dave... especially me.  Without him, there would be no Dempsey Mining.


ALSO STARRING...

Apollo!  The wonder dog! AKA "Polly-zipper-face ."  He's part golden retriever, part arctic fox, party mystery-mutt mix, and an all-around fun, energetic guy.  We love him for his cute face, his lively attitude, and his never-ending zest for life.

Midgey! The mini-canine with a big heart.  She's a sweet little thing.  We love her for her calm spirit, her "don't you love me?" eyes, and her ever-faithful loyalty.

Keiser!  The insistant, persistant, consistant play-fetch-all-day pooch!  AKA "Labradork."  He may have a grey beard but he is still a puppy at heart.  We love him for his friendly demeanor, his ambitious "I WILL play fetch all day" attitude, and his handsome mug.


AND OF COURSE... THE CUTEST MINER OF THEM ALL...

Dylan, AKA "D" or "Wolfie."  He's got class, he's got style, he's got cheeks to die for, and he's got one heck of a heart-melting giggle.  We can't imagine mining (or life!) without Dylan.  His favorite things in life are stacking blocks, wrestling, dancing to wee-sing silly songs, Toy Story, bouncy balls, Daddy, Mommy, his three Grandma's, Grandpa, all of his Aunties and Uncles, his BFF Apollo, apples (or bapples in Dylan-terms), and yogurt-covered raisins.  We love him for just being him.  He is pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread. Dylan: my laughter, my love, my heart. Cutest.  Miner.  Ever.

Well, that pretty much sums it up.  Hope you had fun meeting the crew.  I wish you a day full of merriment and wonder.  

Departing thought... "Everything you can imagine is real." ~Pablo Picasso~

Life (and mining) in the fast lane...

So I was just reading my blog description and I came to the conclusion that the phrase "life's daily adventures" should really read, "life's weekly adventures... or life's adventures that this busy Momma can sneak away from her To Do list long enough to actually write about."

See there?  Yep, right there.  The page break above?  Yeah, that happened when I sat down to write and then my dog interrupted me mid-thought and started whining at the door.  Then when I went to let him out, my sweet little toddler (whom I had slyly put in front of Toy Story 3 with a snack) noticed my presence and suddenly decided he needed to play-wrestle with Momma.  After about ten minutes of fake body-slams and belly-raspberries, Dylan was satisfied and turned his attention back to the nail-biting misadventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  I was able to tiptoe back to my computer and my favorite hobby, writing for my faithful readers.  Again, my apologies for the lengthy blog hiatus.  Sigh.  I really do hope that the winter slows our lives down enough so that I can write to you all more often.  Until then, sneaking away between labrador demands and toddler wrestling will have to do.

As you have probably guessed, we are back home, back in the bustling metropolis of Anchorage, Alaska.  I think it is always nice to come home, no matter where you have been.  This last few weeks was no exception.  After a hitch at the mine, we drove the 300 miles home and I eagerly walked through my front door, ordered Thai takeout, gushed about how comfortable our bed was, how convenient our appliances are, and how nice it was to tune into the Olympics after feeling so cutoff from the world... and that was after only a week.  Dani, Rita, Mike and Peggy have been staying there full-time, no breaks, no phone/internet connection, and certainly no 2012 Olympics.  Now that's dedication.  That's hardcore mining, Dempsey style.

So far, the mine has been good to us in the gold department.  We are very pleased with our findings and all the worker's spirits are brightened every clean-up day.  However, rain, sickness, and close living quarters, can make some days seem long and patience can wear very thin.  Once again, Dylan and I brought the germs.  This time, we were struck with pink eye.  Yes, pink eye.  Ugh.  Don't even get me started.  I think Dempsey Mining is going to start quarantining us to the camper every time we visit.  But the pink eye was severe enough in Dylan one morning to warrant a trip to the Valdez clinic in which we were seen by two different doctors.  Funny story:

The first doctor walked in, looked at us and said, "Well it's definitely not pink eye."  Oh.  Okay.  What else could it be?  Then the second doctor walked in and said, "Well, it's definitely pink eye."  Oh. Okay. Wait.  Whaaat?  The most confusing doctor visit I've ever had.  I am so glad that Rita and Jesse were with me to verify my story and that I hadn't mis-heard their two completely different diagnoses.  It's a good thing I didn't break my leg or anything.  "It's definitely not broken."  Oh.  Okay. "It's definitely broken."  Ummmm...

I left the Valdez clinic puzzled, with a bottle of children's Zyrtec, and an uneasy feeling that we had just been Punk'd.  But Dylan started feeling better by that afternoon, and Rita, Jesse, and I, reflecting on the previous few perplexing hours, shared a good laugh all the way back to the mine.  That's what I love about our family.  We are able to find humor in just about every situation, no matter how precarious or challenging it may be.

Page break and thought interruption again.  Dylan needed a snuggle, and a diaper change, and a reading of "Go Dog Go."  Keiser needed to be let back in.  Now both are back to quietly napping.  Yessss.  Now to quickly finish before its time for my Jillian Michael's workout (whimper!) and a babysitting gig.

Where was I?  Oh yeah.  I was discussing the power of positive thinking.  On that thought, my nephew Jesse was a welcome addition to the mine.  I hadn't realized that he had literally become a teenager overnight and that his interests have changed, so I'm afraid I failed miserably at trying to entertain him during the many hours of down-time we had.  But he was a good sport and shared many laughs with us, watched many movies, played a few games of scrabble, and he even found some gold.  Dave set him up with a small sluice box that Jesse shoveled material through for a few hours.  He and Dave panned it out and found about $100 worth of gold, all of which will go straight towards Jesse's brand new scooter.

Jesse and Dave take some time out for a hike in the mountains.

Again, I left the mine both eagerly and reluctantly at the same time.  Eager to get to the comforts of home, but reluctant to leave the mountains, the adventure, and our family and hard-working miners.  But we will be returning again next week when Dave returns from his slope hitch.  And this time we will be there for six weeks, with a few small breaks in between.  When that six weeks is complete we will be wrapping up the mining season and gearing up for winter.  Can you believe it?  Autumn is fast approaching.  Where does the time go....

I hope you are all doing well.  I must say I miss my long-distance friends and family immensely.  But until we meet again, I hope I can continue to keep you updated with this blog.  Sending you smoke signals from Alaska, this is Jo, signing out.  Love and miss you all!

Jesse strikes gold!

Scooter money