Well, I’ve finally got a chance to breath a bit and thought I would write and update a little. The weather here is staying nice to everyone’s amazement. They say it is not normally like this. The temperature is expected to drop in the next week pretty drastically though. My car is now “weatherized” now so if the temps dip down too low I can plug my car in and have it start for me in the morning. Our landlord’s brother is a mechanic and it was nice to get a referral when you don’t know where to start. I told Anthony we were getting the car fixed and he said, “Oh, our car will have a tongue.” Many of the cars up here have the plug sticking out of the grill of the car and it looks like a tongue hanging out. Our plug tucks nicely into a ledge on one side of the license plate though so it is more sophisticated. 
Anyway, I’ve been hard at work trying to learn my new job. Last week I spent time training with the girl whose place I took. Today was my first day without her but I had lots of help from my boss and others so it went ok. I have a lot to learn but I REALLY like my boss and the people who work there and the office is beautiful and it always smells like coffee.  I take coffee orders from our clients which are mostly the coffee huts and businesses in Fairbanks and North Pole. (There are coffee huts everywhere here! I guess because people want to drive though when it’s cold and not get out of their cars.) We roast and flavor coffees shipped in from all over. (We also supply bulk and retail coffee to the Superstores up here like Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer.) I handle the accounts receivable right now and as soon as that is organized and running smoothly I’ll be adding the other pieces (A/P, payroll, and the rest of the bookkeeping responsibilities.) The business is small consisting of a service technician who’s been trained to work on the espresso machines and other things and a delivery guy and a couple of part-time roasters and packaging people. Today, Tom, my boss said we were going to have an office meeting Wednesday morning and he’s asked his dad to come in and make us waffles (apparently his dad really likes to cook and bake.) And, Janet, Tom’s wife brought lunch in for all of us today. Steve says he wants to quit his job and come work with me. 

I guess some of you may already know my last bit of news but, if not, it is my delight to inform you that I’m going to be a grandma again! Jessie and Mark are expecting another baby and I couldn’t help myself; I just had to announce it.  We are so excited!

Well, better leave it there for now. Thanks for checking in on us. We love and miss you! Denise