whirlwind week

It has been a whirlwind of a week in Wrangell. In addition to working 8-5 this week, I spent time with my mom. Mostly we ate dinner, watched TV and hung out at home. However, Thursday night we "walked" Addison together and drove to a couple scenic spots before dinner and TV time. Friday, I brought her to the airport to return home. It's somewhat surreal having people from home visit you when you live so far away. You can't quite believe they're here and you can't quite believe it when they're gone. I didn't realize how much I was used to living independently until Mom visited...nor did I realize how much was missing from my kitchen. Each night when I'd come home, she would have something new that she bought me: a kitchen timer, a cutting board, another pan, dust buster, clothes drying rack, some of my favorite foods, etc. It was nice. She even cooked me dinner throughout the week...what a nice surprise. I felt like I should be the host since she was staying with me, but she took care of me very well. Thanks, Mom!

Friday night I went to dinner with some people I had first met in Wrangell. Saturday, Ryan and I went out to Thom's Lake and hiked around for the afternoon. The fall colors here aren't quite like home, but I settled for the yellowish orange of the muskeg with the contrasting green evergreens here. At the end of the trail is the lake, placid except for a few fish that would surface. In the evening, we went to see District 9. I didn't know it would be in a documentary-like style, but it was still pretty good. It seemed to point out some similarities to the Nazis with concentration camps and Apartheid in South Africa with the aliens vs. humans plot. It wasn't as violent as Inglorious Bastards, which isn't a surprise since Tarantino did not direct this film.

Today is gloriously sunny. I've spent some more time organizing my apartment, thinking about different wall colors, hanging out with Addison and cleaning. When the sun shines so little, it is amazing how important it coming out is.