Longtime lurker and new poster

[AKPacker]

Hi. I have been lurking on DU for a couple of years and have recently started posting. I just killed my first thread (apologies to undeterred) and want to introduce myself so this does not happen again....hopefully!

A little background about myself: I grew up in Ft. Atkinson and Two Rivers Wisconsin and joined the Army when I graduated from high school. I really enjoyed the Army and retired in 1996. My family and I have always wanted to live in Alaska so that is where we ended up. I work in a small hospital in the Southern S.E. part of the state.

Please, my dear DUer's, ask me any question and I will answer it....well maybe not every question!

[Shine]

1. Hello again, AKPacker! I think we may have already "spoken"

but, again, let me welcome you to DU! :hi:

What sort of work do you do in the hospital?

[AKPacker]

14. Lab Rat

I have been a Medical Technologist for going on 30 years now!

[Lavender Brown]

2. Welcome, AKPacker!

:hi:

[AKPacker]

3. Thank you all!

It is good to come in from the cold!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. Welcome to DU! Thanks for serving!!

[AKPacker]

5. Thanks

Your posts have cracked me up on more than one occasion!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

9. You have great taste!!

:toast:

[AKPacker]

16. Of course!

N/T

[WritingIsMyReligion]

6. Hi! Welcome to DU!

:hi::hi:

Like you, I was a lurker for some time--I first became aware of DU right after the 2005 coronation, and tuned into the Top 10 Conservative Idiots every week for a long time. Finally, in September, I joined up, and it's been just wonderful. DUers are great people!

Don't worry about the thread killing... I seem to have that ability at times.

I'm currently still in high school (*points to signature* :hi:), looking to pursue politics, history, and English in college.

And please, my "handle" is a bit of a mouthful (fingerfull? ;))--just call me "WIMR," if it's easier for you.

:D

I gotta split right now--it's my grandfather's birthday, so here comes the obligatory birthday dinner... But I'll check in later on this thread...I hope you get some great DU love! :hug:

:toast::toast:

WIMR

[AKPacker]

8. Thanks WIMR

Hope the birthday is a smashing success!

[WritingIsMyReligion]

112. It was--it was fun!

I'm glad to see you've gotten such a warm response!

Have a great evening, and see you around the boards!

:hi:

:toast:

WIMR

[AKPacker]

116. Thanks

How was the birthday party?

[undeterred]

7. On the male to female ratio in Alaska...

I heard that for women "the odds are good" but "the goods are odd"! Is it true?

[AKPacker]

11. Ahhh the first question!

No the women are not odd, and at least in my part of the state it is a pretty normal ratio.

[southlandshari]

10. Welcome to DU!!

So glad to have you here. I convinced my sister to come out of lurking last week - glad to have new members here!

You mentioned family - any children?

:hi:

[AKPacker]

12. Two

A son 22 and a daughter 20

[tjwmason]

13. Welcome to D.U.

:hi:

It's always good to see new folk around here.

[AKPacker]

15. Thanks TJ

Hope to have many pleasant moments with you folks.

[Call Me Wesley]

17. Welcome to DU, AKPacker!

:toast:

[AKPacker]

19. Thanks Wesley

You have brightened many a dreary afternoon.

[Call Me Wesley]

22. Wow!

Thank you! :blush:

[AKPacker]

26. Your welcome!!

N/T

[bigwillq]

18. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Do you like sports? :shrug:

[AKPacker]

21. Oh yes

PACKERS Football, Fly fishing (my therapy), and baseball.

[bigwillq]

23. Who's your fave

baseball team??? :shrug:

[AKPacker]

25. Who Else...

The world renowned Milwaukee Brewers

[bigwillq]

27. How did you adjust

to the time thingy in Alaska, I mean where it's dark for six months, light for the other 6....???

[AKPacker]

30. It wasn't difficult

In the summer we get about 18 hours of daylight and in the winter about 5. In the summer you are looking forward to the shorter days so you can slow down and in the winter we look forward to the longer days so you can get some things done.

[bigwillq]

39. Maybe a silly question but

say you have a job in Alaska that is primarily outdoors---if there is daylight for 18 hours, are the work shifts longer? and in winter, shorter?? :shrug:

[AKPacker]

41. No

Alaska labor laws are on the side of the worker...for the most part

[bigwillq]

42. Well that's good!

:)

[AKPacker]

48. Yes it is

Where are you at?

[bigwillq]

50. I live in Connecticut

and I am currently at work!

:hi:

[AKPacker]

53. Lucky you!

No time for me to post at work.

[bigwillq]

55. We have some down time

in between answering phones and taking faxes...sometimes it can be boring, so I pass the time by DUing!! :bounce:

[SeattleGirl]

20. Welcome to DU, AKPacker!!

I, too, was a long-time lurker -- probably a couple of years. Finally signed up in May '05, and I'm so glad I did! My mom just retired from the hospital where she worked for many, many years as a CNA and then Ward Secretary. My two sisters still work there, in the OR department.

Anyway, glad you decided to sign on. There are many fabulous people who belong to DU, and I'm sure you will like being another of the fabulous ones!!

:hi: :toast:

[AKPacker]

24. Thank you!!!

From one of my all time favorite posters...that means a lot!

[SeattleGirl]

29. Wow! I'm touched!

And to thank you:

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :evilgrin:

(I rarely ever spank someone so new, but hey!)

[AKPacker]

31. Anytime

Spank me...as hard as you want!

[SeattleGirl]

33. Oh boy!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[AKPacker]

35. Do it to me!

:evilfrown:

[SeattleGirl]

43. Glad to oblige!

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:
:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

Just think of all the spankin's you've missed by lurking for so long!!

[AKPacker]

45. Loving it!

:9

[SeattleGirl]

47. Well, you certainly fit right in with the Lounge crowd!

:evilgrin:

[AKPacker]

51. Thanks

I am trying to be on my best behavior...but it is hard and I may be back sliding a bit! :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

52. Well, if you behaved too well, we'd have to work on

corrupting you. But I see you are already there! :rofl:

[AKPacker]

54. Been there a long time

Ladies like you make life more "interesting"

[SeattleGirl]

59. Well, I do my best

Or, should I say, my naughtiest!

[AKPacker]

61. Yes you do and I love it!

Great thread the other night BTW.

[SeattleGirl]

64. Which one? n/t

[AKPacker]

66. The one

where you really need to be put to bed. It was a great memorable thread :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

67. Oh......

:blush:

[AKPacker]

70. Don't blush

It was a classic and I loved it!

[SeattleGirl]

77. It was pretty damned funny, I have to admit!

:rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

76. gotcha

:rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

79. In spades!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

81. you can run

but you can't hide

:rofl:

[AKPacker]

83. Not with

this crowd!

[MissHoneychurch]

85. Oh I make sure

she won't forget .... :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

86. True!

:rofl:

[AKPacker]

90. Good thing

A repeat of the other night might make us all :blush:

[SeattleGirl]

94. All right you two!

Now I really am going to :blush: !!!

[MissHoneychurch]

95. yeah right

and you want us to believ that?????

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:



... sorry *wiping tears away from eyes*

[SeattleGirl]

98. Miss H!!!!!!

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:














:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

101. did I say something?

that shouldn't be said?

:evilgrin:

[AKPacker]

96. Since when have you ever threatened and not delivered?

Your turn now :spank: :spank: :spank: OOOHHH that felt good :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

100. Probably never!

Wow, that DOES feel good! :evilgrin:

[AKPacker]

103. Doesn't it though!

I have been wanting to that for a long time!

[SeattleGirl]

104. Oy, you two!

I need to go catch my breath! :hide:

[AKPacker]

106. Go catch your breath.

I have a lot of :spank: to catch up on :blush:

[BikeWriter]

28. Welcome to The Lounge. Thank you for your service!

[AKPacker]

32. Thank you

It was a pleasure serving

[BikeWriter]

146. I served in VietNam and in Alaska, too...

I loved the hunting and fishing in Alaska, but remote duty was a bitch!

[xmas74]

34. Welcome from one former Wisconite to another! n/t

[AKPacker]

36. Thank you xmas

Where abouts are you from?

[xmas74]

38. Originally from Kenosha

but I also lived in Medford and Tipler(don't remember that since I was just a baby). Nowadays, I'm just SE of KCMO.

[AKPacker]

44. My brother

used to live in the Kenosha area. Sometimes I miss the lake shore but not enough to move back.

[xmas74]

49. It's expensive.

I couldn't afford to live there anymore. I still have family in Kenosha proper. I also have an aunt in Racine and I think my uncle might be in Bristol. After that, they are in IL and N. WI (Green Bay area). I also have family in the UP.

[AKPacker]

58. I know

that is one of the reasons I left. When I changed my residency, it was like getting a raise! Are the taxes still the third highest in the country?

[xmas74]

62. Last I heard they were still very high.

I have relatives who come to visit and they marvel over the price of everything. I have one relative who stocks up every time she comes down to visit and that's just because of the cheap local taxes here! They always talk about how cheap housing is here but they never consider the local wages in my area( much lower than up there).

[AKPacker]

63. I understand!

Believe me. Alaska's prices are higher than the lower 48 but I am compensated for it

[xmas74]

82. No real compensation here.

The wages are low and, since I live in a college town, the housing is high.

[AKPacker]

84. Any Chance of

Getting out of there?

[xmas74]

87. Not right now.

Child custody bit and all. I have custody but he has visitation and permission has to be granted by either him or a judge before I can more out of state.

[AKPacker]

89. That sucks.

How long will that last?

[xmas74]

91. Until she is old enough to make her own decisions.

In MO that is at the age of twelve. We have seven years.

[AKPacker]

92. I guess

it is tough it out time. Any idea where you will end up...or better question...where do you want to end up?

[xmas74]

93. West Coast, eventually.

I always wanted to live on the ocean.

[AKPacker]

97. The ocean is wonderful

One of the reasons I am never leaving Alaska!

[AKPacker]

73. Both sides of my family

came from Spencer and Unity. Know the area well!

[MissHoneychurch]

99. hey xmas

how things going??

:hi:

[xmas74]

114. hey.

I'm getting sick. And my arches in my feet ache really bad.

[djeseru]

37. Hello from a fellow lurker!

And (ready for it?!) welcome to DU! :hi:

So glad you decided to stick around!

[AKPacker]

56. Hi

Thanks for the welcome!

[Redstone]

40. Yo.

Redstone

[AKPacker]

46. Yo

How are...things?

[Redstone]

57. Good. You?

Redstone

[AKPacker]

60. Couldn't be better

Days are getting longer and the Stealhead are starting to run!

[Redstone]

127. Dammit, I'm jealous. No steelhead here.

Though the Rainbows are tasty.

Hey, I just read a great book by the woman who writes the obits for the newspaper in Haines. Do you read that paper?

Redstone

[AKPacker]

132. Love to catch Rainbows

Sorry, We do not have access to the Haines paper so I have never seen it. What was the author's name? I might be interested.

[RetroLounge]

65. Welcome to DU

from your home state!

:hi:

RL

[AKPacker]

69. Wow

I feel honored!

[MissHoneychurch]

68. welcome to the club

we are happy to have you here.

Looking forward to your threads :)

:hi:

[AKPacker]

72. Now I am truly blessed

Miss Honeychurch..I am so honored by your welcome.

[MissHoneychurch]

80. now you make me blush

I don#t deserve that honor :blush:

[AKPacker]

88. Misshoneychurch

yes you do!! :)

[AKPacker]

102. I spent almost

Three years stationed in Germany. Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl. My wife and I are planning on an extended vacation after we get the last kid through college.

[rockymountaindem]

71. Is AKPacker your initials, or do you own a Kalashnikov?

[AKPacker]

75. Sorry no AK47

I am an Alaskan and love the Green Bay Packers

[sarge43]

74. Hey AKPacker, welcome

Another lifer here.

:toast:

[AKPacker]

78. Thanks

From one lifer to another:toast:

[Radical Activist]

105. Why lurk for so long?

I'm curious.

[AKPacker]

107. I guess

I was afraid to put myself out there. I am pretty shy by nature.

[Radical Activist]

108. I see.

I'm an introvert by nature but I find it easier to be more extroverted on DU.

[proud2BlibKansan]

109. What do you pack?

[AKPacker]

110. I guess

you will have to find out.:evilgrin:

[AKPacker]

111. I guess if there are not any more questions

I can go cause trouble on other threads.

Thanks for all the invites and I am looking forward to interacting with all of you!

[KitchenWitch]

113. Welcome Welcome Welcome!

Packer fan, eh?

I am a Vikings fan, but I play nicely with others (ask RevCheesehead).

:hi:

[AKPacker]

115. I am touched

by your welcome. One of my favorite posters :blush: even if you are vikes fan. How do you feel about the Culpepper situation?

[KitchenWitch]

117. I go back and forth with Culpepper

I do believe he has talent and potential to be a dominant QB, if he would not put the ball on the rug so much. On the other hand, Brad Johnson is good but he is getting old.

I am glad Wilf fired Mike Tice, however...Tice is a Bush loving, worthless piece of shit!

[AKPacker]

118. Agreed

Culpepper's hands are too small and he will never be able to hold the ball when he is hit. Firing Tice was the best thing the Vikes could have done... Not that I like the idea of a real coach in Minni. The Pack has had, and will have, enough problems in the years to come. I just fear that we are slipping into the 70's again.

[KitchenWitch]

119. Yeah

What do you think about Favre, is he going to retire?

[AKPacker]

120. ?????

With the hiring of a new coach...hell...all new coaches, I wouldn't blame him if he did. He is up there with Fran, Bart, Johnny, Morino, and the rest of the great ones, but I would hate to see him go on such a sour note.

[weeble_wobble]

121. Hello!

I'm new, too, this is my first post :)

Looks like a fun crowd.

[SeattleGirl]

122. Welcome!

We're a ton of fun, but I'd like to suggest you do a "Hi, I'm new" post of your own, so you can be properly welcomed by the Lounge crew! :hi:

[bigwillq]

123. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[AKPacker]

124. It is a great crowd!

Some of the best people ever!!!!

[newyawker99]

125. Hi AKPacker!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[AKPacker]

126. Thanks

for the welcome! :bounce:

[northofdenali]

128. Welcome to another fellow Alaskan!!!

The one and only time I've ever been to Ketchikan (I peeked at your profile)............

IT WAS SUNNY!!! Not a drop of rain!!

It'll never happen again. :P

:hi:

[AKPacker]

133. We got pretty close to 196 inches

this past year. Sunny days can be few and far between.

How are things in Fairbanks?

[MrScorpio]

129. Welcome to DU, AKPacker

A fellow retired service dude!!

Anyways, ever do a turn in Europe?

[AKPacker]

134. 92 to 94

Lived in Kaiserslautern and worked in Landstuhl. Loved europe! I have always wanted to return for an extended vacation.

How about you?

[MrScorpio]

145. Spangdahlem AB: '94-98

I really miss the place and had a great time. I feel exactly about it as you do.

[NMMNG]

130. Welcome to DU AKPacker!

[AKPacker]

136. Thank you for the welcome

Looking forward to getting to know so many of you.

[fishnfla]

131. Welcome to DU

1. Cheeseheads rule. There are quite a few Wisconsinites on DU and in the lounge (they put the "sin" in Wisconsin) Great people all. Just off the top of my head:
Archae
Rabrrr
ewagner
RevCheesehead
MrsGrumpy
saigon68
Jackpine radical
hippiechick
eyesroll
RetroLounge
CyndyLouwho
bobthedrummer
Madisonprogressive

there are more that I cant recall.

I'm from GreenBay originally. My avatar never changes. Today I'm pulling for the Steelers though.

[AKPacker]

135. Wow

You would probably be surprised how many transplanted Wisconsinites are putting the "sin" in Alaska. I have met more cheeseheads in Ketchikan than any other place I have ever lived over the years.

I am pulling for the Steelers also!

[ScreamingMeemie]

139. So is MrG. I can't put my heart into any of them.

:hi:

[AKPacker]

141. I wish it was the Pack again,

and there is no way I can ever get behind any Holmgren team.

[ScreamingMeemie]

142. Me either. I just want to see him choke.

They're already talking him up today.

[AKPacker]

143. I really want him to choke also!

There are a lot of Seahawk fans in town and they are going nuts! Carolina winning would make for a real sweet Monday! Not that I would say anything mind you.

[fishnfla]

144. Well I reckon the steelers are the bluest team

of the bunch. I'm OK with Holmgren's success. Seattle stuck with him thru some tough seasons,

:hi:

[rustydog]

137. Welcome to DU

:toast:

[ScreamingMeemie]

138. Hi AK Packer! Welcome to DU! I was born in Milwaukee and raised

in Grafton, FonDuLac, Greendale and a couple of other states! My heart is still there though. :hi: I look forward to getting to know you.

[AKPacker]

140. Thanks

MrsGrumpy. I had a roommate when I was stationed in Korea from Fond Du Lac. Nice area of the state.