I played in the Fairbanks Interior Table Tennis Fall Tournament at the local university on Sunday. I won 1st place in my division (beginner-level). The higher levels featured excellent players, including the second highest ranked player in the state who can up from Anchorage for the tournament and won the main event.

No, I didn't get more pets. For the past few days I've been dog-sitting for friend who lives up on a ridge over-looking Fairbanks.

She has four beautiful, rambunctious dogs: Foster, Nika, Doogie, & Maggie. It was next to impossible to get a photo of all four dogs together - they have some territorial issues.

My boss, Bobbi, and I recently traveled to Tok, AK for a girl scout leader training and CPR class (both taught by Bobbi). Along the way we stopped at Mukluk Land (sadly, it was closed for the season, so I didn't get to see the "World's Largest Mosquito"). Tok is a small town with a strong community. We stayed at the home of a Girl Scout leader and ate moose steaks with potatoes and carrots from her garden.

The living room in my apartment

My friend Emily and I at a picnic by the river during our lunch break.

Cool photo of the sky!

On Labor Day, I went to a cook-out with some friends. The menu included moose burgers (one of the party attendees killed the moose last season) and salmon from a nearby river - yummy in the tummy!

Here's a newspaper clipping of the northern lights I saw on Sunday night!!!

I visited Chena Hot Springs today with some friends. It's about fifty miles from Fairbanks, and most of the resort is powered with geothermal energy.

The 110 degree water was relaxing. I had a good time even though the water discolored my ring, and I almost fainted when I left (I guess I was dehydrated though I drank a jug of water beforehand).

Some regulars recommended that we return in the dead of winter so we can stay warm in the spring while icicles form on our heads:)