A Very Fraunk-en-steen Hall-o-ween

We got a jump on Halloween and had an all Fraunk-en-steen weekend with going to the theater and attending Gus’ school Halloween carnival (or being P.C., "Harvest Festival" as it is now called). Friday night we saw the production of "Frankenstein" by the Alaska Theatre of Youth at the Performing Arts Center’s Syndey Laurence Theater. It felt good to change out of our jeans and carhartt’s and seek a little live theater to feed our soul, and good on Derek for seeing the advertisement in the paper and wanting us all to go. Our near front row seating provided added excitement when the “creature” came to life! After the production we had a chance to meet the cast and Derek realized that the lead, Victor Frankenstein was played expertly by one of his past students! Gus is completely enamored with all things Frankenstein, and you'll never guess what he was for the Carnival? His costume was totally thrift store finds including a perfect fitting pair of Doc Martin boots(!) and was thrilled when he won the judges choice award in the costume contest. I went as a Spenard Artist looking for that big phat commission. The Rasta-dreadlock hat was a cast off of Will’s from Mexico (I didn’t dare go near any open flames!) and the hot pink button I made for the top said “Will Do Art For Work.” Daddy-O was a Viking and our costumes helped blend in when we volunteered to help with various booths at the Carnival. This weekend we're going to Alyeska Resort's party (a photo of the Hotel they are using on a poster for the event is at the top -spooky cool huh?!), and just when I was finally getting last weekend's green face paint out of Gus' ears!

Monday night while having dinner we got a call from our daughter in Fairbanks. She was upset and said that one of her good friends had just hit a moose North of Wasilla (about an hour away) and could we go and pick her up?

Kristen's friend thankfully was not injured and her Jeep Grand Cherokee not totaled. Kristen’s friend was returning to the University (about 6 hours North of Anchorage) after gathering some gear from a research vessel and recent trip in Seward (about 2 hours South from Anchorage). She was able to slow down enough before the impact that the large cow

moose rolled up onto the windshield and “only” caved the window in but the shattered glass stayed mainly intact. She said she was fearful that the moose was coming through the window! After the impact, the moose jumped up, limping but ran off into the woods. Good Samaritans waited with her on the dark and wet highway and called the troopers for her car to be towed to Wasilla. The windshield would need to be replaced the next day. We readied the guest room, made some mint tea and reheated the lasagna 

dinner for her. She was shaken up but one tough cookie. Taking her to her repaired car up in Wasilla yesterday I was able to visit an elementary school that has a new 1% For Art RFP out. I missed the formal project tour but was glad to have another reason to drive up to Wasilla and be able to see the new Fred and Sara Machentanz school. There are 3 possible sites for artwork but I’m interested in submitting a design for proposed art for the Multi-Purpose Room walls. Wow, was I impressed! I would have never imagined from the architects drawings that the school was so cool. I was inspired, happy Kristen’s friend was OK and drove home (carefully) as the season's first big fatty flakes of snow started falling.