CHANGES BRING FORTH ADVENTURE!

Well, as some of you may know that due to the major slow down in the cabinet business Kevan made the decision to do go and do something different that had a bit more stability when it came to bringing home a paycheck. He accepted a job with a company called MAJOR DRILLING AMERICA. He is a drill helper and hopes to move up into the Health and Safety program within the company He may have to become a driller to do this though. HE is not real thrilled about becoming a driller and hopes he can bypass it. His first hitch he was sent to Alaska! We packed him up and off he went to the top of the globe to work on a drill rig in the middle of nowhere. He was stationed at the Red Dog Mine which is the world's largest zinc mine. He worked 12 hour days 7 days a week. His hitch was supposed to last 6 weeks but, thankfully they reached a little beyond their required footage (3600 feet) and he was able to return home after 3 weeks. He was extremely grateful! He was lucky enough to work the 7am to 7pm shift and didn't have to train his body to sleep during the day and stay up all night. We talked a few times on the phone as he would call collect ( I'm scared to get the phone bill!) and we were able to update one another on the daily happenings of each others lives. Now that he has returned from Alaska I can tell he enjoyed the experience even though he says it is the hardest dirtiest work he has ever done. He will most likely be sent to Safford, AZ from now on where he will work 15 days on and 6 off. He will be living in Safford three weeks out of the month and though it will be hard to have him away we feel extremely blessed that he has a job. The pictures posted are some that he took with his phone camera so they are not that clear but, I think you can get the jest of it. If you ever get the chance Kevan has some great stories to tell about his time in Alaska. Enjoy!


This is Glen, the driller Kev worked with who enjoyed hand feeding the squirrels!

These are the squirrel friends that showed up everyday faithfully for food. They would help themselves so Kev had to keep his pack in the rig! They actually gave names to these little critters!

The first day Kev was thrown down by the powerful water pressure that built up in an ice blocked water hose and dislocated his jaw and split his face open. This is after he cleaned it up. He came home with a full beard since he couldn't shave with the deep cuts. Ouch!

Though Kev never came in contact with a bear while he was there he did get to see one running wild on his last day as he was flying in the helicopter back to camp. This is a stuffed one at the Anchorage Airport. Kev said they are so massive!

Here is what he saw everyday - miles of hills and nothing else but and occasional heard of caribou. Isn't that open country beautiful?

This is the drill rig he worked at 12 hours a day. As you can see it is in the middle of nowhere!

This was Kev's transportation to and from the drill rig each day. There are no roads to the rig. He is a pro at flying in a helicopter now!