Getting Ready for Alaska

The time has finally arrived to begin the long journey to Alaska. For those of you who are just beginning to follow my blog, I took a 2 month vacation to Alaska this summer, and while I was there decided I missed it more than I had thought. It was the first time I'd been back to Kodiak, my hometown, since our family had left almost 12 years ago. I knew as soon as I set foot on The Rock that I wanted to go back. While I was there, I was blessed with several job offers, as well as a variety of places to stay if I came back. I decided to go for it, and arrived back in NY in September excited about the possibilities. I began making plans to move, but had an unexpected delay when I found I needed another surgery on my shoulder. My ortho surgeon was able to get me in on Oct 14, in hopes that I'd be able to leave early November. A minor complication arose when he doubled my recuperation period because my shoulder is 'too loose', and therefore needs much more time without movement than normal for that surgery. Still, I continued to make plans, and at my follow-up on Nov 18 he ok'd me for the drive. I'm still in a sling most of the time, and unable to do anything with that arm, but I'm thankful I'm moving forward! Which leads me to the beginning of the trip...
Last Wed, I had some help from family and friends loading my car, and it is FULLY loaded! I then had the car serviced, and it was declared ready for the long haul. Friday, I finished up all the loose ends, particularly the most important one of watching the Youngmann girls play their parts in the Hoosick Falls School play (they did a great job!), and then crashed at my parents' house for the night.