Oktoberfest 2007

Well during the fall the VCVB has a fall fundraiser. To get people to show up we run a Oktoberfest. This year was mu first ever Oktoberfest and, well, there was a lot of beer and a lot of people drinking. So our fundraiser portion did not do as well as we had hoped since no one would pay attention to the MC they just wanted more beer tickets and more chugging contests.

We decorated the Civic Center and the decorations turned out well. That is until some of the beer chuggers discovered that the vases on the tables were much larger than the mugs they received upon entering. Soon all our vases were beer steins and we had to ask the beer vendors not to pour into the vases just the mugs.

We did receive a lot of support from many businesses as far as donations for Auction Items and Cash sponsorships, for those we are very grateful. We are planning a little different activity for next year.

It is hard to run a business that receives a large percentage of its operating income from gambling and alcohol. Since I don't participate in either.

Valdez Gold Rush Days

FHE

This Monday was nice and sunny so we decided to take a little trek out behind the house to Mineral Creek. We made up a little picnic and headed out. We pulled in by the old bridge and took a little break from our busy lives.

The kids taking a minute to eat before they went off to explore.

Exploring

On the Old Bridge.

Michelle chasing Corey to make sure he does not run off the bridge into the silty stream.

Working on the Apartment

As we have become the managers of a local apartment complex we have been tasked with getting the carpeting replaced in our apartment. The former managers had a small dog with a very poor bladder, oh yes, she was a chain smoker as well. So needless to say the apartment really smelled.

To get new carpeting we have to have at least two quotes from local contractors. Well Valdez being a small town there are only two contractors that lay flooring professionally. One of which would never return our phone calls and even blew us off after I spoke with the owner personally. So we only had one quote to work with. The time frame for carpet was mid August so we decided to get laminate flooring and do it ourselves. It turned out quite well and we really are enjoying it.

In the entryway there was a piece of vinyl floor that sat about a 1/4 above the sub floor, and of Course it was glued and stapled down. (There had to have been 300 staples in the 3X3 area) So set my circular saw to a 1/4 inch and cut strips into the underlayment and vinyl. Then I used the Ice Chisel you see to scrape away the smaller pieces. It actually worked quite well.

Here I am in the hallway, the very last area we had to do. The entire Apartment took three days mostly working after I was done with my first job at the Visitors Bureau. The Fished Product looks pretty good (No Pics yet).

Full Camping Package for Two!!!

As the Director of the Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau I have the job of fundraising to help pay for our small non-profit organization, well so we can stay in business. This is a raffle the staff and I have put together. It is a camping package for two. There is a picture here but I will list the things we have included in the raffle.

1- North Face Roadrunner 3 Season Tent
2- Slumberjack Mummy Latitude 0 Degree Sleeping Bags
2- Thermarest Prolite 4 Sleeping Pads
1- Tent Repair Kit
1- North Face Crestone 60 Backpack
1- North Face Terra 40 Backpack
2- Helly Hansen Packable Rain Jackets
1- Garmin eTrex Legend CX Personal Navigator
1- Map Source software for Garmin eTrex
1- Jet Boil Group Cooking System
2- Jet Boil Companion Cups
2- Tikka Plus Headlamps
2- Leatherman Core Multitools
1- Brunton Helios Stormproof Lighter
1- Gerber Camp Axe
1- Bear Spray
1- First Aid Kit
1- 16 Pc. CSI Outdoor Cutlery Set
2- N-Case 840 Waterproof containers
2- Storm Safety Whistles
2- Packtowels
2- Nalgene Canteens


Retail for these items is over $2300. We are selling tickets for $20 and if you win we will ship the package to you via USPS.

If you are interested please let me know. You can email me at executivedirector@valdezalaska.org. Thank You for your support.

TSA Locks. What the HECK!?

Okay so my family and I went camping this last weekend. Well it wasn't really camping but more of drive to Anchorage, set up the tent, and shop until Corey or Kali would cry loud enough, then return to the tent, sleep and repeat. So while in the campground in Eagle River we decided to get a few small locks for the tent zippers. Not that anyone could not just cut the tent and get our stuff, but at least the kids roaming the camp could not turn it into a hideaway. THERE IS A POINT stay with me. So we go to Wal-Mart and buy some TSA locks since they are the only locks that small any more. So four locks cost just about $15.

So here is my problem with the whole TSA lock thing. Think for a minute why you would lock your luggage. I came up with "To keep the baggage handlers from stealing your stuff," Which is a good reason. But as you ponder a little longer the TSA locks are made so the baggage handlers can open the lock without breaking it! So you buy a $15 lock to lock your luggage thinking it is safe and secure but lowe and behold the very people that may have stolen your stuff now have their very own key to your $15 lock. It all seems like a big hoax to me. Now if your things are stolen you will not notice at first glance but then you may think you forgot to pack it and go weeks without knowing for sure.

That is my soap box speach for TSA. I would suggest no locks at all since if you put on a lock they already have the key to it:)

WHO NEEDS A MOUNTIAN??

This is the giant mound of snow just outside my office. There are a few of these mounds around town. They are on lots either owned or rented by the city. These lots are left open year round, thus making a spot to pile the hundreds of inches of snow we get every year.

This mound has melted this week to just over two stories. The snow is melting quicly but we are planning of having snow on this lot until at least June.

I usually don't pay much attention to the mountian of snow but today was a little differnt. As I was leaving for lunch I noticed voices coming from our mound of snow and lo and behold three people standing at the top with skis. I snapped a few picturs as you can see.

Since I had to take these pictures with my phone I enhanced the one outlining the mound and circling the people at the top.

Addicted to iTunes

Recently we purchased a iPod to help us with our resolution to live a healthier lifestyle. So that means iTunes. I am fortunate to have a friend who is addicted to music seeing how he is a music teacher. Well in June he was up in the great North to visit and also shared with me a large selection of music for my iTunes library. That just seemed to start the flow.
I have scrubbed some of the original music out of the library but I seem to be on a quest to fill it to an unimaginable amount of music. Well for me anyway, I am sure there are people out there that have twenty times the music in iTunes as I do but 40days of straight music (and growing) is pretty overwhelming.
I have been transferring all of my CDs and all of Michelle's too. But I can't stop. I have not bought any songs off the Internet yet, (that will probably not happen much seeing as they are at least $1 a song). So I have borrowed some CDs and things are growing. I will keep the day count posted in future blogs.