May 08
By Ryan McFarland in Zieak
What have i been up to for the last two weeks? Well, from Tuesday to Saturday Petersburg was host to the Alaska Recreation & Park Association conference. We had about 50 people in town for exhibitions, classes, workshops, and socialization. Hosting a conference is a lot more work than going to them. I usually put on a session or two at them also which seems like a bit of work at the time. Compared to putting the thing together doing a few hour session is cake. I was up late socializing and then up early to prep things for the first sessions. I stressed myself out, slept poorly, and exhausted myself to the point that i have felt sick since Saturday evening. We had Jason Avery and Tom Martin (both from Fairbanks) staying with us. Now i’m trying to get a few work projects closed up before the end of the fiscal year in a month and a half.
I took Monday and Tuesday of to rest and i did a pretty good job of not doing much at all.
Saturday night i’m playing music for Niccole Holtzinger and Bob Olsen’s wedding and reception. The rehearsal is tonight. I’m waiting for a software program to finish downloading so i can mix a song for the men to walk in to. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute. My laziness on Monday and Tuesday was pretty severe.
Next weekend is the Little Norway Festival. I requested Thursday and Friday off because we’ll have Kevin and Bailee here as well as Don and Julie Spigelmyre. This year is the 50th anniversary of the festival so there will be a few more people in town for it.
Download is almost done… better get back to work!
May 04
By Ryan McFarland via Flickr in Work
Last week city staff finished up the siding on the weight room expansion. Now the interior can be finished and opened up.
May 04
By Ryan McFarland via Flickr in Uncategorized
Cena and the cats enjoy a day of rest after a rigorous week.
Apr 22
By Ryan McFarland in Zieak
Today i bought four Lego sets at the hardware store during lunch. They came to $202.24 after a 70% discount. They originally retailed at $635.96. Two of the sets were identical and originally cost $249.99. How could a Lego set cost that much? It is the Lego Mindstorm base set which includes programmable robotic features, bluetooth integration (control the robot with a cell phone), motors, sensors and more. I bought two so i could sell one on Amazon and pay for the cost of the purchase. I also bought two other sets that are pretty valuable on Amazon also. I have always felt a little shame in selling Lego. Don’t worry family members — i never have sold any of the family collection. In fact a number of people have given me their family’s collection and I have bought a fair amount on eBay and at garage sales. But i did buy a set of train tracks at the thrift store for $2 which i listed on eBay and sold for more than $100 once. I’m sure they went to a home that will use them more than i would have anyway.
Apr 21
By Ryan McFarland in Thoughts
Remember, i live in a temperate rainforest. Last week i left the recycling bins out to rinse in the rain. When i brought them in 24 hours later there was more than 3 inches in them.
Apr 18
By Ryan McFarland in Zieak
Cena and i were on a team with Lynsey for Cranium last night. We won $25 each as the top prize after we tipped Tiffany for putting it together and running it. One of the questions was a definition with multiple choices and i knew the answer before looking at the options. Crepuscular. I know it because of wildlife biology class at Finger Lakes Community College. I learned it because it describes animals that are active at dawn and dusk — they are not nocturnal or diurnal but crepuscular.
Apr 17
By Ryan McFarland via Flickr in Zieak
I’m rarely ever clean shaven. I never have tried growing a massive beard like Earl is. But I do horse around with my facial hair. This time is odd because it involves a mustache which I don’t grow well. It won’t last long!
Tiffany on 
Karna on 
