i have to wake up early.....

 it will be fun...i just never think about the waking up early thing.  haha. hoping we have some fun whale sightings.  off to Seward for an 8.5 hour whale watch, including dinner.  :-) having firsts so I'm hoping for a first time to see bubble net feeding.  can't plan wildlife though so odds are not always with you.

 it was another busy week in the ICU.  they are winning all the staffing battles to gain me...they are short staffed. I'm sure the run will end though.

 I've hit the dog park at University Lake, which is always great, but i figured I'd do an evening run to Reflections Lake.  the wildflowers are always really popping about now. it did not disappoint.  doubt i caught it for you, but all that pink..it's shooting stars.  always a favorite.

 these are chocolate lillies.  the do not smell great.

 there is a loop around the lake but there is a side trail that takes you out to this!! the tide was coming in.  pups enjoyed some short swims and tennis ball chasing out here on the flats.  too many folks on the main loop to attempt to get away with that.

 me being tired and leash walking both dogs can be a disaster but we managed and i was not overly crabby with the pups. 

 i had also met a friend for dinner...thanks for the b-day dinner SJ.  also enjoyed another b-day meal with SG!!  the company on both occasions was great.

 this is wild cotton.  Below are shooting stars.

 i also got to walk and catch up with my cousin? what is the relation exactly.  i forget.  haven't seen him for decades.  he was always nice to this little kid though . he and his partner had just arrived for an Alaskan holiday...another brother and his wife came in later...so i may get a chance to see them all at the other end of the holiday. 

 one of the many perks of living in a vacation land.  some times you get to see folks who you haven't seen for years.  :-) 

 the hand tram in Girdwood is out of service for a bit after a poor guy lost his grip while helping others pull the tram across.  it sounds like he was initially communicating with the rescue folks but he ended up dying at the scene...so quite a sad ending to that story. 

 another sad, distressing, disgusting story that just seems to keep getting worse....a young girl, 19, who had some delays i think, was murdered.  worse, someone who claimed to be her friend worked with other young adults/older teens in plotting her murder.  the poor girl was sexually attacked, duct taped and murdered, then ditched in the water at Thunderbird Falls. initially it was one person, then a guy and this girl who plotted to kill her, then it sounds like they are arresting even more who were some how involved in this brutal plot. horrible.

 this was sunset from a patients room last night.

 one of my patients grabbed my arms while we were turning the patient and the nails were then dug into my arms.  it was painful and the bruised came out immediately.  i let that patient know that this was not acceptable behavior. the rest of the next two shifts big puffy mitts were applied to prevent anyone else from getting injured.  my other patient was super strong and i was worried I'd get clocked...so a fun week as a nurse.

 the patients can be demanding, rude and entitled.  i have no idea how we turn our society back around to having any kindness towards one another.  it does make me happy that i am on this end of my career and life and not trying to find my way through the hate and nastiness.

 this pair opted to cross right behind the dogs and me ( or is it I?) she did not seem concerned at all about the dogs.  i barely noticed her passing.  there is a little bit hanging from her belly...it did concern me.  had she been in a battle and lost....she only has one baby...bear like to seek out the baby moose and kill them. i know it's the circle of life, but those baby moose are sure cute....so are baby bears i guess and i wouldn't want them starving to death.

 i am pretty tired.  hopefully, i crash quickly.  the alarm will go off quickly. i did sleep today well so i shouldn't really be that far behind.  it was worth it to make the trek out to Reflections Lake. 

 in the summer the days are so long you really just don't want to miss any of it.

 solstice is rapidly approaching and our decent into darkness begins again.  we are either going in darkness or coming out of darkness. 

 i really debated the Reflection run, but why miss out. 

 the wild iris were also beginning to explode

 the mosquito's were also making their rounds and i brought no means of protection. 

 after i met with SJ for dinner i headed over to Bass Pro to look around.  my day pack is getting pretty beat up. I've had it for years. it was time to replace it. it's got to be able to fit camera gear, dog gear, bear spray and whatever else i am wanting to carry. I'll test out the new one tomorrow on the boat.

 last i looked on the Windy app the wind looked fairly decent and the weather app seems to show decent weather as well.  fingers crossed.

 nice to have a few days off of work.  work hard, play hard, right?

 there were several river otters at the inlet to the lake tonight.  watched them for a few, until the puppies noticed the river otters and were getting frisky with desire to capture one. couldn't have that happen. 

 attempts at dog shots with some flowers...also attempts to prevent dogs from smashing through all the flowers

 as usual they were more interested in the ball and the water.

 as they should be....such a great life puppies have.

 my friend lost her pup this week.  it is always such a difficult decision.  i know some great dogs and their people.  a lot of love went into that pups life.  he had it good!!  most folks i know with dogs, their dogs live an amazing life.  envious. our dogs live better than a large percentage of humans out there. 

 i almost feel bad passing by homeless at the corners begging as my dogs ride all happy in the passenger seat and rear seat.  spoiled rotten.. without a care.  dogs give what they get though.  it you treat them well, they will give you every bit of love and loyalty they can muster.  we do owe it to them to be fair when their time comes.  to let them go no matter how difficult it is.  many hugs SG, I'm so sorry....

 a closer look at a cotton

 they do look like something out of the Lorax.

 this was sunset the night before from a patient room. 

 the pups are tired. it will be a long day for them tomorrow. LS said she may stop by either to walk them or hang out with them.  bummed she won't be joining us...we will hopefully catch her for another fun trek later this summer....and a lot of hikes.

 below are wild roses.

 seems like it's been a busy but overall fun week.  work...not so fun, but we got through it. 

 had a patient extubate themselves.  that is a first for me.  somehow I've managed to have that never happen.  so that is another first....the wolverine sighting, a first as well. 

 there is sunset from work. 

 come on whales...mama wants to see some bubble net feeding. 

 a few to fill up some space out at Harriman. 

 we had a porcupine join us. 

 it hung around our camp for about an hour i think? 

 they are odd little creatures...pretty cute in their own funky style way.  haha. 

 better close out this day and get some sleep.  the sun is down and so i shall join it

 perhaps I'll have some whale shots tomorrow...or perhaps I'll end up clinging to the side of the boat sea sick...

thankful for: A.  opportunities  B.  the amazing place that i get to live and explore in.  C.  that nothing worse happened than bruises...there are some bad folks out there and they all eventually become patients it seems.