Hi everyone!
Sorry I've still been mostly a lurker around here. It probably keeps me out of trouble LOL!!

Updates on me:

With all the rain and non-summer like behavior around here, Fall is already in the air here and I anticipate an early winter. I suspect we will have snow on the ground here in Anchor Town by the end of September.

With that snow will come my lay off from my seasonal job. I'm hanging in there for the lay off as I'll get a "Finish the season bonus". Not sure how much, but I've heard around $1000. This will be a nice boost.

School is just crazy to keep up with, but I've been managing my time better and sailed through several sessions and have caught up to the point I am only about a month behind now. YIPPIE!!!

The Alaska Permanant Fund Dividend (PFD) that is due in October will be paid out early this year so those who need to buy fuel for the coming winter can get it paid for and ordered. This year will be the highest payout on record. They are predicting $2100 (every man, woman and child who is a resident). For those who don't know, this is money all Alaskans get from our Oil wealth.

So then our Govenor decided that since Oil prices boosted the State's revenue, that she would pass some of the profits on to all Alaskan's to help offset the energy costs/food costs of living here. So she added another $1200 to our PFD (Every man, woman and child). So the grand total should be about $3300. The payouts are coming on Sept. 12th. Another YIPPIE!!

If you want to know about the PFD:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund

Anyway...with all the extra money we will get ($6600 between me and DH and that end of season bonus) I should be set for winter and school...at least for awhile

DD starts back to college on Monday and she can't wait. All the animals are well and I'll be celebrating my 13th Wedding Anniversary on Sept 2nd.

It's been a hard year, but I see a better future.

Best to all,
Jeannie