Monday, June 4, 2007, Fairbanks, Alaska~

Dear Journal~

Well, it's me, Katrina..."Kat" to my friends.

I am sorry if I haven't written, but I have a good enough reason: I went on a cruise, then Frank Hammer and myself got married. I'm now Mrs. Katrina Hammer (nearly put my maiden name, "Delchamps", down; I have to keep reminding myself that I'm now married!).

We had a most wonderful time on the cruise: saw many things I didn't get to see on our last Alaskan cruise. We were on the cruise for a week (not nearly long enough, in my humble opinion!), got married on board the Carnival Spirit. It was a wonderful wedding: lots of tears and happiness to be had by all. (I think I was the one who cried the most! LOL)

We have moved in to our new home here in Fairbanks; finishing the last of the unpacking. What a time-consuming feat that is! (You don't know how much stuff one accumulates until you get ready to  move! Then it's like *GAAAAHHH!!* How'd I get so much STUFF??) Thank GOD for Frank; he did most of the heavy lifting. My job was to pack while he did the *REAL* work! LOL We now have a good portion of the furniture in place: it looks like a real home. People can come over  without worrying about sitting on the floor! LOL

We have met some of our new neighbors. They seem nice, but they laugh at my Louisiana drawl: they say I sound like a "Coon-Ass". LOL They brought us some food: salmon patties, green-bean casserole, potatoes au gratin, canned milk (that is disGUSTing!!), even cake, cookies, and ice cream. (I guess they are trying to tell me that I need to gain some weight! LOL)

The place where we now live is incredibly beautiful: trees and mountains surround our log cabin-style house, and the northern lights are a common sight here (might be pretty in the sky, but boy, the lights sure play havoc with the cable reception, radio frequency, and the Internet!). It's like the lights are putting on a show just for me; really beautiful to see!

I have talked to Louisiana Sandusky; she says she is busier now than she ever has been. With sixty kids, it's not surprising. She works millions of hours at the hospital near her place, and then she goes home, only to wrangle with the kids. She and Bill (her husband) have recently adopted a little three-year-old boy from Finland (Bjorn Wilhem is his name) who is a real handful. Little Bjorn Wilhem ws born deaf and blind; the world must be a terrifying place for such a seriously handicapped little guy like Bjorn! The other kids are doing really well (or as well as can be expected); that is good news right there!

Ronee' is going to be on tv in the coming weeks: she is going to be on the new tv talent show "America's Got Talent". As you can imagine, the whole family is excited. I am happy for Ronee'; she deserves to be on there; she has a beautiful singing voice, and she is going to be a bright new star in country music one of these days! :)

Well, gang, I must go now. Time to change my cath tube again; bag's looking mighty full, don't want to have a nasty accident! I will write in here again once we finish with the unpacking. Then I'll have all the time in the world! Take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Alaska, Kat Hammer (dang--nearly put "Delchamps"; have to remember that I'm married now! LOL). :D