Andersons in Seward

Rum Doodle

2010-08-14T13:25:00.001-07:00

For charity, the skipper of the AnnaKate invited me to sail with her crew for her first race. She shared the helm with the boat's former owner, Judy, who calmly walked me through the steps and skills I needed to be a savvy crew member. With little wind, it was not much of a race, but the comraderie among the ladies in this female-only race lifted my spirits as much as being out on the water again. What is a Rum Doodle? "A bumbling group of British mountaineers mounts an assault on Rum Doodle, a slightly higher neighbor of Everest, in Bowman's parody novel. First published in 1956, The Ascent of Rum Doodle quickly became a mountaineering classic. As an outrageously funny spoof about the ascent of a peak in the Himalayas, many thought it was inspired by the 1953 conquest of Everest. But Bowman had drawn on the flavour and tone of earlier adventures, of Bill Tilman and his 1937 account of the Nandi Devi expedition. The book’s central and unforgettable character, Binder, is one of the finest creations in comic literature."

Weekend Adventures

2010-07-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

After filleting and vacuuming sealing, I cleaned the kitchen at 0130. Seven hours later, after some sleep, I cleaned the house in anticipation of my weekend guests. Kim, a colleague, and her SO, Andy, joined me for a fun weekend of outdoor activities. They rose early and boarded the train in Anchorage and embarked on a four hour ride through glaciers to get to Seward. Upon pick up at the train station, I took them to Le Barn Appetit, a Creperie owned by Ivan and Janet. Ivan, the flirty Frenchmen, treated us to his 16 inch crepes, stuffed with caribou, cheese, and spinach. His outlook on life and his stories had us in stitches as we finished a strawberry and nutella crepe as dessert.

We made a quick change into kayaking gear and drove to Miller’s Landing at Lowell Point. Kim and I shared a tandem kayak; and Andy captained his own single person kayak. Our float plan took us to Caines Head with a couple of stops to hike waterfalls and sunsoaking at Derby Cove. We went against the start of incoming tide as we headed south. Upon our return north, I had hoped that the combination of a wind from the south and the tide would expedite our transit. Unfortunately, we hit some cross currents as a result of an incoming storm churning outside of the bay and the wake of multiple charters and sightseeing vessels returned to the harbor in the late afternoon. Our tandem rode atop some of the larger waves, eliciting squeals of “yeeeehawwww” from Kim and me.
The next day, the sunshine turned to rain. But: have raingear, will hike. We set off for Mt. Marathon- but not the runner’s trail (I ain’t that crazy, dear readers). We sought the trailhead for the “Jeep Trail” that takes us to Schaeffer Falls and then up to the bowl (behind the mountain where it abuts the range). Seeing a “wide” Jeep trail, I did not change from my water-resistant pants to my actual rainpants. In hindsight, I was an idiot for not doing so. I tried out my carhart rainjacket as a warm hiking jacket; and it did, indeed, keep me warm. Half way up the first leg, I stripped off my jacket, took off my shirt, and then clad in only my sportsbra, I placed the carhart over my shoulders, allowing the hood to hang off me like a cape. There was no mirror; but my guests assured me I looked like a fool. But, hey, it’s Alaska, and after seeing what people wear to run this mountain, anyone who sees me on this trail can deal with my faux cape.

We broke out of treeline and into lush meadows of flowers and waist high skunk cabbage and alders. The trail narrowed to a small foot path for the remainder; this is where I became soaked from the waist down. After scampering over some mudladen corners, we rounded the northfacing slope of the mountain. In the bottom of the bowl, the wind caught us. We pulled back on our layers, zipped up, and met the rain in the face. The wildflowers landscape changed to berry brush; each of us noted where to come berry picking next month- cranberries, blueberries, and possibly some nagoon berries (if I identified the plant leaves correctly).

As we hiked up into the bowl, we met a snowpack. Tok was the happiest puppy in the world. His whole demeanor changed as he bolted from the trail and into the pack, rolling around and licking the frozen white precipitation. As we turned to head back, he literally hopped through the berry meadow, renewed from his roll in the snow.

So, within the span of three days I caught three sockeye dipnetting on the Kenai, soaked in the sunshine from a kayak bound for Caines Head, and then met a snowpack in the north bowl of Mt. Marathon.

Just your typical weekend in Alaska.

Dipnetting 101

2010-07-21T13:33:00.001-07:00

Having dipnetted for a grand total of 2.5 hours on the Kenai, this tough little expert has some top ten guidelines for this adventure:

10. Go with a local. A new friend set me up with his family to join them for the day.
9. Get a loaner net from a friend. These nets can cost up to $125!
8. Start just after low tide. This ensures you prime realestate along the mouth of the river.
7. Have a beater. Make sure that the local family you go out with has an enthusiastic young boy (under the age of ten) who likes to wield the bludger to shock the sockeye up the backside of his skull.
6. Have on chest high waders. Need I say more?
5. Be prepared to see children playing and swimming in the water next to an Aleut filleting fish and casting the innards into the water. Also, did I mention how cold that water is?
4. Use the bathroom before you get there! The portapotties rival a state fair on a hot day- even from afar.
3. Don’t look back! Once you feel a sockeye in the net, twist the net to the ground, and start hauling it to shore. Don’t look back at your net; you’re apt to lose your balance and fall in the water (author’s observation, not experience – thank goodness)
2. Watch for ships. There is a hate-hate relationship with the fishermen and the dipnetters. Boats do not observe a wake zone as they enter the channel and stir up mud, discard fish guts, and undertow as they make a mockery of those standing in chest high water, holding heavy, five foot wide dip nets, an a feigned attempt to remain stable.
1. Enjoy the view. While waiting for a sockeye to slip into the net, take a moment to soak in the nearby volcanoes, the Cook Inlet, your fellow dipnetters, and the range along the Kenai Peninsula.

I stood there in yard of my Kenai host, clad in long underwear, darn tough Vermont socks, my new chest waders, sportsbra, my long sleeve UPF fishing shirt, UPF neck kerchief, my wide brimmed hat; and my polarized sunglasses. I was HOT; but I knew the breeze at the river’s mouth would cool me. As stood in the chest high water, holding this long apparatus, the cold water sucked around me. I was thankful for the insulating layers.

Per my permit, I could have caught 35 (!) fish that day. I was limited on time. I left Tok at home (not wanting to burden my Kenai hostess with a dog; and, it was too hot to leave him in the car). A four hour round trip drive left me with only a few hours to fish and then cart my catch back to the house to clean and load into the cooler. I score 3 fish, which was 2 shy of my goal of 5; but I had a blast and learned a lot. Furthermore, I did not get wet (my number 1 goal).

Fourth of July- Seward Style

2010-07-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

As I prepped for Brad’s homecoming, I stopped at my new favorite salon for a haircut. While there, a local came in and starting lamenting about the weekend’s traffic. Her forecast was that this year was going to be another big year for the Seward 4th of July Celebration.

Complete with USCG Helicopter flyover, a parade opens our town’s festival. The day’s events center around the multiple races up and down Mt. Marathon. Crazy people, er, I mean, runners, enter their name for the honor (desperately trying to hold back here) of putting their body through ultimate terror as they launch up the mountain and then, literally, SLIDE back down on the shale that makes up the mountain’s face. Younger generations are given a showcase in the morning, followed by the women; and then the men in the afternoon.

Well, back to the lady at the salon. When I asked her how many people she expected to be in town, without batting an eyelash, she said, “Oh, we swell to about 30,000 for the 4th.” We’re a town of 2500. Our teeny tiny footprint couldn’t even hold 20,000- much less 30,000. I smiled inwardly and estimated that 10,000 was a high year for Sewardites to endure Marathoners.

Brad and I headed into town just before the men’s race. We found a parking spot easily enough and then made our way through the vendors, passed the USAF band from Elmendorf, and the flag-waving fire department. As colorful dots of runners’ jerseys emerged from the treeline on Mt. Marathon, we watched in awe at how quickly the men raced up the face. Expecting the streets to be packed, we found ourselves comfortable in the crowd capacity- both determining that it was not, as so accurately forecasted, 30,000; and that in comparison to 4th of July on the National Mall- this was nothin’. We liked the Classic Americana around us.

We found friends at the shoot, where the runners re-entered pavement and made their way to the finish line. Some of the runners’ backsides made us pause as we sipped coffee. One man ran by with pieces of slate stuck in his back, blood oozing down. I can only imagine what his shower felt like thereafter. And then came the parade of what people thought was best to wear to either comfortably brace the blow of sliding down slate. We saw raingear, nylon pants, rubber knee pads, and items that may have been tested via a Columbia gear head (yes, some were that bizarre).

After the races, our house hosted some locals and some friends from Anchorage. Cornhole games ensued in the rain; and we made delicious smores at the bonfire near the creek. Our last guest departed at 0130 – bound to camp riverside in hopes of fishing the next day.

Tree Removal

2010-07-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Our property is surrounded by trees- trees that need maintenance. Our first venture in helping out our arbors was over Memorial Day weekend, when, with the help of a house guest, we cleared nasty alders from the side of our yard, giving the good ones some space to (pardon the pun) branch out. We have many Sitka Spruces in the front and back yards, two of which concerned us. Enter our friends from the Rock Gym: Josh and Paul. Both are tree guys (although, Josh prefers the title of 'Urban Lumberjack') who work for a company during the week and do their own side business on the weekends.

The guys joined me last weekend and took down two trees. The first was a large, 90 foot spruce in the front yard. It pained me to see it go, but it had a spiral crack in the base and a good north wind in the middle of winter would have left it in the middle of my driveway for a long while (inevitably in six feet of snow with Brad underway- 'cause that is when it always happens, right?). Josh set up the chipper, and Paul hooked a chainsaw to his hip and climbed and de-branched the tree. Josh gathered the falling branches as I sat on the porch in awe of how quickly he de-frocked the tree. Then the first cut, about 45 feet up. The top portion of the tree made an echoe-ing boom when it finally hit the ground. You could count almost three seconds for it to fall- which is a long time to stand in the middle of your front porch, mouth hanging open with the words, "Holy S..." desperately trying to escape your lips.

Paul climbed down, took the saw to the trunk and had it neatly stacked on the side of the yard, as Josh began the burn pile of the brush that would not go into the chipper. Once cleared, the second cut was at the base of the tree, and, to be honest, I cannot describe how loud that boom was. It shook the house, and- I am sure- peeved all of our neighbors that Saturday afternoon.

So, how to does one remove a 90 foot spruce from the front yard? Why, find a neighbor with a wood stove, of course! Throughout the action, our neighbor, Myla walked by with her two kids, Olin and Alta, and the dog for their daily walk. We struck up a quick conversation where she made no mistake in heading directly for the tag line, "So, whatcha gonna do with the wood?" "I don't know. I don't have a wood stove, and I would like to exit from my driveway this evening." "Well, we'll take it. Let me go get Tom and the Rhino." Tom rolls in and hooks chains to the logs, and hauls the smaller ones with the diesel-powered rhino (insert Tim the Tool Man grunt here) and the larger ones with his Dodge (insert Tim the Tool Man grunt here, again). All the while, Alta played in the front yard, and Olin road the Rhino with dad. Just your typical Alaskan family.

Myla caught onto the fact that Josh and Paul were spending the night so as to head to a job in Soldotna the next day. She ran over to her coup and selected 18 fresh eggs to feed the fellas breakfast the next morning. Some of them were still warm!

Alas, the business deal ended with a handshake and a promise to deliver fish in exchange for teh four cords of wood they just towed out of our yard.

The second tree was in the backyard and fell neatly into the devil's club. A fellow coastie traded us some fish for the two cords of wood he got out of those logs. Now my freezer has both halibut and fresh king salmon. Yummmm. Good trade.

The big spruce in the front yard was over 360 years old-

hence my heartache at seeing her fall.

Salmon in Ketchikan

2010-07-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I received an email with a picture- no specifications such as weight, where it was caught, or any of those particulars I would want to share with you all. Alas, here's what will be in our freezer tomorrow evening. Happy Fourth!

Earthquake up here

2010-06-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

It was subtle, but Tok and I defintely felt it. The plate is moving, folks.

http://www.adn.com/2010/06/24/1340108/51-quake-centered-northeast-of.html

White spots among the wild flowers

2010-06-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

A baby goat is called a kid; and around here, those kids are superb rock climbers. Along Turnagain Arm, I pulled over with some other cars to catch this family in action.

Lost Lake Trail

2010-06-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, Brad, myself, two friends from Anchorage, their dog, and Tok embarked on the snow laden trail that was Lost Lake. We trudged along, the dogs, Marika, and I gingerly walking atop the snow pack with poor Jon and Brad post holing the whole way. We did not complete the 17 miles trail, and instead stopped for a brief break after two hours of hiking without snowshoes.

In all it was a good time; but, Marika insisted that the trail was a blast in the summer. For matters of edification: Memorial Day in Alaska is not summer. Fast forward three weeks, and the constant rain followed by increasingly longer days bring us to solstice. After surviving five days of rain and overcast, I woke up to bluebird sky on Sunday morning. I readied Tok, brewed coffee and made oatmeal with packing my camelback. I was one of the first cars in the parking lot at the trailhead for Lost Lake and was delighted to have the trail to myself for the majority of the hike.

I entered a different world once I started climbing. The trail narrowed thanks to overgrown ferns and blooming salmonberry bushes. Flowers lined the intermittent mud puddles and the waterfalls were picturesque. As we departed the tree line, the mayflies clustered in large groups, making Tok sneeze as he rushed through them with my impersonation of the “Alaskan wave” as I did the same. For about a quarter mile any voyeur could see my arms flailing in a mock wave to brush those pesky flies away from me.

Being atop the tree line doused me in sunshine, breeze, and views of the Bay with eagles soaring overhead. That sheer delight, that euphoric state of breathing in fresh air is not only better than any drug out there but worth suffering through days of rain. I came off that trail happier than I had felt in days. And now a plethora of pictures:

Flowers

the beginning of the trailthe trail out of the treeline
First glimpses of the mountain range as you move toward the treeline

You cross multiple waterfalls on this trail
A very happy puppy found snow
Beware: Cheesin' eco-geek

And a happy puppy

Greenery after the rains

2010-06-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Wild strawberries are everywhere on our acre.

Do you see the bunny trail under the Devil's Club (aptly named plant, I promise)

Some baby ferns at the back of the property.

Evening at On the Bay

2010-06-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

The drive to Lowell's Point is an adventure, and reminded me of Kodiak so much that my heart stopped. After the bridge into the unincorporated town of Lowell Point, the road turns to gravel, and the recent rain left potholes worthy of Kodiak. As I bumped along, with Bearfoot singing on my stereo, I curved around waterfalls and million dollar views of the Bay.

Our cutter's ombudsman is the owner of a wonderful B&B called Cottage On the Bay. She invited me for dinner to meet and chat about all things Mustang. I think we spoke of the boat for a grand total of three minutes during my three hour visit.

I learned that today was her birthday and that her hubs was out of town, too. Armed with a bottle of J. Lohr and my new favorite Giada recipe, I drove to Lowell Point to spend some time getting to know my right arm for the next two months.

With the Celtics/Lakers match in the background, this former Bostonian gave me the scoop on all things Seward and invited me to the Saturday night potluck at Miller's Landing-- where, she promised to introduce me to the stars of the eco-documentary, Paddle to Seattle. They are "Lowell Pointers," she quipped with pride.

After the Lakers won, we turned out attention from the tube to the peaceful scene of sea otters playing in the bay. I snapped a few pictures; but the rain and the distance was against me, so forgive the grainy-ness.

As she bid me adieu, Sue said to me, "It's gonna be a fun two years with you!" With how much I laughed and loved spending time with her this evening, I echoed the sentiment and returned home, snapping a few more photos along the way.

Birthday Celebration

2010-06-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my birthday, local Rotarians joined me at the Resurrection Roadhouse for drinks and apps. We started with some wine, lots of gossip, and introductions among those locals who crowded the bar during "locals night" where the chef features special apps and double wine and beer points for those of us enrolled in the wine/beer club (clearing of throat, yes, I am a member).

After the wine came a special present from our incoming Rotarian president, Deb. She is in CA with a sick father, with whom I share a birthday. A few years apart, her 92 year old father and I exchanged text messages today to celebrate our special day (seriously, how cute is that?). She went a step further and had champagne ordered at the restaurant to celebrate my birthday with the gals. I've known the woman for a grand total of six weeks, and she is already buying me champagne! And yes, for those who know of my collection, the bottle already atop the cabinets in the kitchen.

After opening cards, I grabbed what I thought was a wine bag. Upon picking it up did I realize it was far too light to be a wine bottle! That's when Kristi started to giggle. She had come to our home on 27 May when Brad and I hosted a fete for his change of command and birthday. When she arrived, we had popped out for moment, and while absent, she cased the joint. Apparently, she checked the cooler to see if the ice was cold and looked into the back door to see our slammin' spread on the dining table. When we pulled into the driveway, she was about to get into her vehicle and depart. A few hours later, when cleaning up the back yard of its bocci and cornhole games did I realize that one of the flamingo tent stakes was missing. "Perhaps Kristi or Amy took it?" quipped Brad. "Never!" I replied, "No Rotarian would steal!"

Alas, I was wrong.

Gifted to me was our missing flamingo tent stake, whom I blew up and posted on our table for the remainder of the evening. Five years later, and our totem remains a present figure at each of our celebrations!

Amy and the thief, ahem, Kristi

Linda Rae and Sharon

A sampling of the Rotarian Ladies

Then came the food. Chef Eric rolled out the good stuff for us foodies:

Flatbread with poached egg and bacon

Prawns with truffle oil

Pulled pork with a spicy black beans

Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

2010-06-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

For two years, I searched for waders that fit me. I love being an eco-geek, nature lovin' female; but GAWD, it is hard to find gear that fits. Having a female CEO keeps my arse in REI because they actually stock women's apparel; but, admittedly, and REI habit can be a wee bit expensive. And REI does not really carry fishing cache. Hunting and fishing gear is best left to outfitters like Cabelas and such. Alas, Cabelas idea of stocking women's gear is $200 waders and camo lingerie with hot pink lining (seriously? Who buys that ____?).

In Kodiak, I "got by" with my $4.00 salvation army-found hip waders. Fishing along the road network in Kodiak was easy. Here in Seward, you wade into the tide to snag reds. If you don't judge the tide correctly, you end up wet.

Enter my renewed search for waders: determined not to spend over $100 for ones in my size, I searched ebay and found an XS with size six boot that had been a display model in a sporting goods store. $40 and then $25 S&H (gotta love Alaska) got them to my yesterday!

With Brad in Ketchikan for the summer (boat is in dry dock), he is fishing for King salmon to bring home. A small but hearty competition has started between us, and I hope to "out catch" him. Although highly unlikely because, physically, I cannot wrestle a large king to shore (the better part of valour is at least admitting it, right?); I do hope to snag some reds and perhaps talk myself onto a halibut excursion sometime soon. At least I'll be outfitted to keep dry, as long as I stay upright!

Birthdays Boat Wife Style

2010-06-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

He is gone a lot. I knew this when we got together ten years ago. I knew what I was getting into. Does it make it easier to bear the celebratory milestones alone? No. Hell no. It's tough to be a boat wife; but, as the old adage states, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." And our extended periods apart does make the reunion more cherished and special.

"How do you do it?" I am often asked. Honestly, there are good days and bad. Like when I can make a batch of cookies and have them all to myself...for dinner-- that's pretty awesome. Or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, like when I have to celebrate a birthday without him-- that's not so awesome.

Yes, this year Brad and I celebrated our fifth year wedding anniversary in person-- for the first time in our five year marriage. We also celebrated his birthday together, too. But, alas, the streak had to end somewhere- my birthday. My darling husband is in Ketchikan, where his boat is in dry dock through the middle of September. Yay. So the idea of breakfast in bed, followed by fishing, followed by hike, followed by dinner out, etc, etc, is not going to happen on June 16, 2010.

So, here I sit, in a new town, without any "real" friends around to party into my third century on this planet. Despite that, I piped up at my Tuesday Rotary meeting and put a "happy buck" into the scholarship jar and announced my impending birthday. In a group of 30, two other Rotarians followed suit and put a buck in the jar for their birthday-- on the same date. How great is it that in a town of 2500, and in a club of 30 people, three of us have the same birthday?

Alas, this boat wife has invitations for both lunch and dinner tomorrow. It may not be with my beloved; but, at least I get to celebrate. I look forward to celebrating with him, belatedly as it may be, when I see him in a few weeks.

Maiden Voyage

2010-06-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Upon receiving orders to Seward, I bought a used kayak. I wanted one that was light enough for me to load solo and easy to handle in the water. A fellow coastie on Kodiak sold me his Rascal, a paddle, lifejacket, and spray skirt; and, I took her out for the first time on Sunday. The afternoon turned warm as I finished lunch and loaded the Rascal into the bed of Brad's truck. I journeyed north to Kenai Lake, where a small campground has a boat ramp to offload into the turquoise waters of the Kenai River. Silt from the nearby glaciers turn the water this magical color but it remains cloudy lake itself and then clears up later down stream. I nosed the kayak into the water, adjusted my skirt and set off with a goal of getting to one side of the lake and back with no incident. I succeeded.

The rascal moves solidly, is easy to maneuver among the tight spaces near the shore, and is wide enough to balance my shifting my hips and getting comfortable in the pocket. It's a bit slow, due to design, so I will likely rent or borrow a larger kayak for actual sea kayaking or longer day trips.

Not many salmon inhabit the lake itself, and fishing for them is prohibited. Trout limits are one per person, but due to the cloudy water, I did not spy any. Instead, I chased some gulls and loons occupying nooks around the water's edge and enjoyed the sunshine- while it lasted. Through the pass, the wind picked up and gave me 12-18 inch waves across the lake, making my transit back to the ramp a test. I was out for about 2 hours before heading in under rainclouds.

Behemoth Mulcher

2010-06-01T18:01:00.001-07:00

Brad and I worked to clear a bunch of debris from the yard. Much of the property's arbors needed pruning and the spring melt left behind lots of litter. With the help of a great house guest who wanted to do yard work (seriously, she did!), we gathered the branches and fed them to the mulcher.
At Resurrection Rentals, they only have one size of mulcher available for rent: behemoth. Even Brad went "whoa" when he saw what he was getting for his money. Alas, it was a wee bit much for what we needed to do; but he still had fun playing with heavy machinery. Clad in protective head gear with ear muffs, he safely operated the noisy and destructive vortex for about two hours.
Although the machine sprayed the mulch into a specific area in the yard, it was certainly not accurate. Despite the hardwork for us and our houseguest, we enjoyed warm 60+ degree temperatures and direct sunlight in a cloudless sky. The yard is taking shape but needs lots of work. More to come!

Brad's Change of Command

2010-05-28T09:51:00.001-07:00

With the backdrop of a cloudless sky in Resurrection Bay, Brad's change of command was a stellar success and venue. During one of the three speeches, some sea lions popped up in the waters below, distracting nearly half the crowd to watch them rather than listen. Although the change of command is focused on the departing CO's tenure, in my mind, the day was all about Brad. Immediately after the ceremony ended, he and I could not steal away for food, water, bathroom breaks, or anything. Community members and leaders, friends from afar, and fellow Coasties drew us into conversations about our time in Seward, local resources, and promises about upcoming events.

With smiles, many handshakes, and lots of smiles, we felt loved and welcomed into the community immdiately. I am beyond proud of him and know he will make an outstanding CO aboard CGC Mustang and that Seward will be a wonderful home for us for the next two years.

Red's

2010-05-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Guy Fieri fans that we are, Brad and I love trying out small holes in the wall and "joints" that could make a play for a feature on "Triple D."

Our first selection in Seward is Red's, a white school bus with red racing stripes that has been sunk into the ground. Decorated with a coke machine, potted plants, and picnic tables in the parking lot, the menu features yummy burgers with season-salted fries. The "coming soon" menu boasts salmon burgers and baskets-- once they start running...

As I feasted on the burger and listened to Brad recap his day aboard "the stang" I noticed that just beyond their open sign sat a fantastic view of the Bay.

Sunlight

2010-05-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Brad and I have been in awe of the amount of sun we soak in here in Seward. Yes, Alaskans are, literally, basking in the glow of longer, spring/summer days; but in Kodiak, we did not always see the sun. Sometimes, for weeks at a time.

For the fifth day in a row, Brad and I woke up to sun streaming in our back windows. Almost the entire back part of the house is windows- some that do not even have curtains yet. I captured the beginnings of our home in the below picture.

Mail Call!

2010-05-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

For those lovely readers who are on the new address card distribution list, please make sure that you wrote down 14720 as our house number- not 16720. Thanks!

Rentals

2010-05-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Resurrection Rentals. May I help you?"

"Yes, I'd like to reserve a table saw with a guide, please."

The carpet and new pad we installed is too high for all the doors. The bright side is that Brad gets to play with heavy machinery after his first of a three day relief with the current CO...

Money Pit. v. Funny Farm

2010-05-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those life episodes that is so akin to a movie you swear there is camera hidden somewhere? As I make those house an actual home, I have had two runs ins that could be deleted scenes from these two movies:

Money Pit. The lovely tale about a fixer-upper- around every corner, another project. It started with the washer and dryer purchase, followed by the pressure washer rental to clean off the muck, to the flooring installer who had to McGuyver an uneven section in the living room, to the baseboard. Ah yes. The baseboard that the painter INSISTED we would need because the new flooring would lower than the previous carpet. So, off to Lowe's I went. You know you are spending a lot of money in the store when as you walk by each department, the agent there waves and says, "Hi! Mrs. A!" $250 later, we own 120 lineal feet of baseboard, at a whopping $2 per foot! Two days after it is delivered, the painter returns, and declares there is no need for it; the old baseboard fits!

Funny Farm. The mailman in that movie cracks me up. Raucously drunk the majority of the movie, his final, sober mail delivery to Chevy Chase was classic. Upon purchasing our new digs, I called the local Postmaster about the availability of a mailbox in our division. We live in one of those places where off of the main highway there is a stretch of boxes for all of us hidden here in the woods. The poster master had our mail delivery person call me from her personal cell phone (gotta love small town America). She informed me two boxes are available. I pick which one I like, afix our numbers to it, and collect mail for the next few days.

A couple of days later, while walking Tok in the rain, I stopped by our box to pick up that day's mail. In our box was a nasty note telling me to get my own box. This one, apparantly, was taken. I grabbed my stuff, careful to not disturb the note, and made a turn to return to our walk. Due to my hood blocking off nature's watering can, I did not notice the man who had walked up on me. Cursing myself for not being vigilant, our exchange started off haltingly. He started with no introductions. He immediately questioned my use of their box. I explained that it was a simple misunderstanding; the post master gave me permission; but he must have been mistaken. At which point he begins to go on and on about his wife being upset, calling the postmaster, considering calling the state troopers, and the message his wife left on my phone. At which point I remind him that I am new here and am not yet listed. "Well, she left a humdinger of a message for someone." Internally I laugh and feel sorry for the guy who has to sleep next to this woman. He opens his mouth to drone on again, and interrupt, "Hi. My name is Christina. I am new in town." He pauses, looks down at my extended hand, and hesitates. In the end he shakes it. He starts in again about how his wife was so upset and how he looked out his window, saw me, did not remember seeing me before, and decided to follow me to see if I were the one who "stole" their $60 mailbox. At which point, as I reached into my pocket to grab my cell to call the police and report a stalking charge, his son walks up behind him. Opting to not verbally bash the man and his "humdinger" of a wife, I beg my leave and again, tell him that it was a misunderstanding and that I will followup with the postal service about it.

After formal confirmation from the post master, our new box is the one right next to their's. Oh joy.

Grocery Transport

2010-05-09T13:35:00.001-07:00

Seward does not have a commissary, so Brad and I plan to go up to Anchorage every month or so to stock up on groceries. With nearly 30 mpg, we'll pimp the Subaru up the Seward Highway and back. Last week, while picking up supplies in the metropolis, I bought a cooler that fits *just* right in the back of the hatchback and *may* actually be able to contain all the meat and dairy we'd stock up on for the haul-- and still be able to fit the rest of Brad's groceries along side it. Whereas it is not "life in the bush," Seward's being on the road system does have it's advantages, as long as you are well-equipped.

Tell "Tail" Signs

2010-05-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday's sunshine and rain showers melted away some of the snow in the backyard and the front. In the late afternoon, I tackled some of the much needed raking and pruning. While out there, I had to step over piles of moose and deer droppings and saw several rabbit hiding in bushes- being very still so as to not be spotted by Tok, who was at my side the whole time.

Today, as I sipped my morning coffee, chatting with Paula on the phone, with Tok napping at my feet, and I see a HUGE rabbit bounce across our backyard. Combined with the amount of deer and moose droppings on our property, our back porch may be your best vantage point for hunting this season.

It's tough to be Tok

2010-05-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Dogs are insightful. They know what's going on. And when you spend as much time with your's as I do (since I work from home) you learn to speak their language.

Last week, once all our goods were loaded, we let in Tok from the backyard. As Brad and I sat in the living room, on the floor, watching a 19 inch tv, we heard his nails click and echo on the laminate floor. He came around and sat in front of us, and I swear, if he could talk, he would have said, "Dude. We got robbed. Where's my comfy sleeping pad that's usually here in the living room?"

In an effort to keep some normalcy, I placate him just a little; but, he gets anxious when I move him from his routine of sleeping in the office from 0900-1200, lunch at 1200, basking in the yard and sniffing from 1300-1500, walking with daddy at 1530, followed by dinner and more napping until bedtime.

And being placed in the back of a subaru and going to sea for 9 hours, followed by a five hour car ride, a night in a dog friendly motel, only to be moved to a new house with no floors or furniture has him on edge. With all the vendors strolling in and out, I have to be able to move quickly and respond. If I go out of sight for a second, he comes looking for me; and worse yet, if I place him in his kennel (for safety) or go outside without him, the husky whining starts. One of the vendors looked up and asked, "Is that your dog?" "I replied, "Yes, that is the spoiled furball who is convinced that after two years together, I will abandon him to sign your paperwork."

Alas, he is getting used to it a bit. I hope that a day at doggie day care in Anchorage will be good relief for him tomorrow. But, that does mean over 3 hours roundtrip car ride. I'll do it in the morning-- during his usual naptime. :)

Bug Attack

2010-05-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

A couple of nights ago, I drove from Kenai to Seward. Around the Cooper Landing area, the sun was setting, and I heard what I thought was rain on the windshield. I thought it was the first droplets of showers. Instead, upon closer inspection, I realized that the droplets were actually former mosquitos who entered battle with my windshield-- and lost. The shield was covered. I was amazed at the size and density of the swarm. And to think that three feet of snow was on either side of the road, slowly melting from the afternoon sun's warm rays...

It's springtime in Alaska.

PCS Stage III: New Digs

2010-05-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

The new digs are empty, save a suitcase of clothes, this laptop, Tok, and my sleeping bag. Since grabbing the keys on Monday morning, this home has been full-tilt transition.

Upon arrival, I was not ready for what I walked into. Apparantly, since selling the home, the husband (former owner) was diagnosed with cancer. He is in his second round of chemo. Alas, the house reflected the fact that he and his wife spent more time in Anchorage with treatments that in moving out of the home. I find it hard to be "mad" at the house's condition, knowing the circumstances, and I was expecting to clean and tidy up a bit; but wow.

They hired movers to pack up their things, and those movers took the washer and dryer that were part of the purchase agreement. Long story short, the realtor and I agreed that I would purchase a set and give him the bill to settle up. Then I glanced at the yard. No snow in the front yard, but it was covered in little piles of dog poo. New spider webs hung from every surface of the porch, and the doors were covered in dirty hand marks left by movers. The back yard has three feet of snow and little piles of poo frozen within. The back porch was littered with construction debris from a renovation they made to the overhang (part of the purchase agreement).

Each window has a layer of mold around the trim. All the sills have a layer of dirt. The kitchen counters, shelving, and drawers had to be vacuumed and wiped down. Same goes with those located in the bathrooms.

And then I learned the most important lesson of all: I will never, ever, again purchase a home that has white doors and trim. In the past two days, I have used 6 of those Mr. Clean bathroom size erasers to remove grime from bathrooms, doors, window sills, floors, and baseboards. And I am still not done...

On the first day, two lads came to rip out the existing flooring. Next up came the painter for our consultation and to determine how much paint I needed to purchase. Then I headed to Kenai to visit Lowe's and purchase some paint, extra supplies, a washer and dryer.

On the second day, I was a cleaning machine while the painter splashed up the first coats of paint, the Lowe's guys delivered and installed some of the appliances. The cable guy did his installation; and at one point, I was outnumbered four to one as men (vendors) helped me make upgrades to the new digs.

On day three, the paint is applying his second coats; another installer is here to convert the range to propane gas and install it, the dishwasher, and the microwave. I took a shovel to the snow in the backyard, extracting the leftover poo. Along with some snow (byproduct, I guess is what I would call it), the poo from both yard filled a 13 gallon trash bag. I'll rip apart the grownover flower beds in the front yard and determine my garden planting layout. Off to my gardening tools!

PCS Stage II.V: Saying goodbye

2010-04-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning was my last meeting with my Rotary here in Kodiak. The hugs, goodbyes, and salutations were heartfelt and warm. Today and tomorrow, almost systematically, Brad and I will start saying goodbye to friends- people who have made long patrols a little bit more bearable, whose homes have been stocked with food and wine to entertain us, whose friendly greetings along trails have lifted our spirits while hiking in the rain. The past two years have flown by; but despite the short time here, I really laid down some roots. We both hope to return to Kodiak in the future. So, perhaps our goodbyes will be short lived...perhaps.

PCS Stage II: Movers arrive

2010-04-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Brad and I worked overtime to prepare the house for the movers. Although tax dollars pay for movers to come in and take care of everything for us- I have a system. For those who know me personally, this should come as to no shock. I prefer to sort through my linens, clean them, and then vacuum seal them. I prefer to stack all my frames and pictures in a central location so they can be unpacked together-- when I am ready to hang them on the wall throughout the new home. And I prefer to pack my own clothes.

While on this rampage, I sorted what items would be loaded into the Subaru to help me make home in Seward for the next three weeks. Brad did the same for life aboard the Munro while completing his tour in Kodiak.

I arrive 2 May. He arrives 20 days later.

In those 20 days, I will close on the house, have the painter splash some color on the walls; invite the Lowe's crew in to switch out the appliances; install an electric fence and teach Tok how to abide by it; have a laborer install new carpet and flooring, install a new kitchen sink; landscape; and accept and unpack the household goods.

Brad arrives just in time to glimpse the new digs before embarking on a one week handoff of the Mustang's new duties prior to his change of command on 27 May.

Stayed tuned for Stage 3: New Digs.

PCS Stage I: Laying out the game plan

2010-03-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Brad came home last week, and a couple days after disembarking CGC Munro (his last patrol aboard), I loaded him and the Subaru onto the ferry to make our way to the Kenai Peninsula. We drove from Homer to Seward to check out the new digs, meet some contractors, and then headed north to Anchorage.

We visited H&R block to do our taxes, salivated in the aisles of Home Depot, Lowes, and Bed Bath & Beyond, and departed to the city of Kenai. The Home Depot and Lowes in Kenai deliver to Seward; the Anchorage stores do not.

Alas, after a nice little bidding war and some negotiations from your's truly, we spent our tax refund on new appliances, carpeting and flooring, and delivery and installation. Whereas we love Kodiak, it was nice to be in a market that has competition and thus better prices. Begrudgingly, we have dealt with Spenard's here in Kodiak, and I will not miss their outrageous price stickers.

Upon returning home, we hosted our moving company reps for a walk through. They walked through the door, and I handed them my nine page manifest of every item in the house, complete with special instructions, dimensions, serial numbers, and approximate value. At that, Brad shook their hands, turned on his heel and departed with the puppy for their afternoon walk. To him, I had it all taken care of.

Boy, do I have him fooled. Stage II: Coming in April.

CGC Polar Sea

2010-03-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, this amazing vessel pulled into Kodiak to collect gear, supplies, and scientists. She is too large to moor in Womens Bay at the USCG base; so instead, tugs push her into the harbor, and she calls Pier 2 home for a few days. The evolution of the two tugs pushing her into the harbor was so quick and efficient. I barely pulled over, grabbed the camera and positioned myself on the dock to take the picture below and then speed up the hill to Dead Man's Curve (real name, I swear) to take the above photo.

On a sunny afternoon, her crew hosted tours for a couple of hours , so I took advantage of being able to experience another platform. This ice breaker is huge. Her bridge takes up the span of the ship, and her elevators provide access to multiple floors of berthing, galleys, sick bays, the library, and the fitness rooms. I was in awe of the wider hallways, the larger morale areas (e.g., entertainment areas for guitar hero and movie theater), the the height of the ship. When ascending the ladders in Brad's 378 foot vessel, I take them with ease; but on Polar Sea, the my legs let me know how many stairs I just climbed-- which is amazing for me and how much hiking and walking I do.

Follow her as makes her way north to conduct research in the Arctic Sea:

http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgcPolarSea/

Old Womens "Gorge"

2010-03-09T00:13:00.001-08:00

Last week, on a sunny afternoon, Tok and I escaped to Old Womens Mountain. As we started up the trailhead, I noticed that the trail we frequented last summer was no longer a trail, per se. Apparantly, during the flooding last fall, the water washed away portions of the trail, created a gorge-like atmosphere. My four legged companion happily bounded up and down steep shale and scampered across the sheets of ice.

Here is what the trail looks like in the summer:

And this is what it looked like after the massive flooding [last fall] eroded the trail.

As we neared the summit, the snow grew deeper. It settled into the crevices, creating mogules for Tok to bounce up and down as he chased me up and down the trail. He was the happiest creature alive, rolling around in the snow, wedging the packed snow through his paws, splaying his paws wider for a better grip. We were the only ones on the trail and enjoyed beautiful views of Barometer and downtown.

An Evening Out

2010-03-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

A friend invited me to the Lions Club Fundraiser: Dinner Theater. Set up in the new Kodiak Convention Center, we dined in the main ballroom and listened the high school's jazz band play the good old tunes, warming us up for the evening's show. After tapping our feet to big band and jazz music, we watch our troupe of players walk in, clad in classic 40s era wigs, fedoras, and trench coats. "The Man with Bogart's Face" is a play set up like a radio show. We watched the players read scripts into microphones on stage, while our eyes shifted to the small "noise makers" in the corner, who tapped shoes to signal someone walking, clapped together metal to mimic a shot, and a host of other treats that made us "feel" like we were listening to a show on the radio.

Seward Home

2010-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

Today, Brad and I close on our home in Kodiak. We set up an occupany agreement to reside here until early May, when we aim to have at least Tok and me depart to Seward.

We decided on a home in Seward, made an offer, and are currently under contract. It's an adorable home on an acre of land about 10 minutes north of Seward proper. It is a three bed, two bath, two car garage set in a small nook of the Chugach State Park. It's been well-maintained by the cute little old couple who are selling and moving to Wasilla to be near grandkids and medical facilities.

In the next few weeks, we'll confirm move dates, arrange for movers, and determine what else needs to occur before we move in May. It's officially PCS season at the Anderson home!

May the Force Be With You

2010-03-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

During my last weekend in Anchorage, I attended the Star Wars exhibit at the Alaska Museum. Set up among a couple of galleries, the collection features costumes, props, and interactive centers for children (of all ages) to learn about the technology used in the film. I found myself humming along to the theme music that played in some of the exhibit's galleries.

Several learning exhibits displayed how the movie forecasted some of the technology and science we use today. For example, Luke's robotic arm was on display next to a large collection of prosthetics and how they have developed since the late 70s when the movies came out.

And then there were features like the art collection and inspirations. To create some of the sets, the film crews visited remote villages to see how people lived in the sand, or underground, or in rain forests, to accurately depict those on film. For those props that were used during filming, I was amazed that they were already painted with exhaust marks, bullet holes, and rips and scraps from their transport (see below).

But, of course, the highlight were the wookies. Afterall, I am married to one.

Famous Relatives

2010-02-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

A common denominator between Brad and I is our love for our bachelor uncles. His Uncle Carl is no longer with us, but instead, is fondly remembered as the big teddy bear that he was: always available, always there, always straight forward, and offered unconditional love.

My Uncle George is one of the people I truly, madly, deeply miss [on the east coast]. Uncle George gets me. His NPR-listening, nature-appreciating, love to experiment in the kitchen, good natured attitude beckoned me to drive from the beltway to Hagerstown, MD, often. We'd walk, we'd talk, we'd visit farms, thriftstores, and fruit stands galore. His home is a haven for me, and I miss the wave of nostalgia that overcomes me each time I entered his door. Still, to this day, I keep a key-- just in case.

My beloved uncle takes photos, beautiful photos. Photos that get noticed. Recently a marketing firm in Michigan contacted him about using a photo they found on his flickr account. He asked that he retain the rights and expressed a wish that the photo only be used for the label; and then he asked that the firm send him a few labels. The first two requests were granted; but, the firm was only able to provide a picture of the label, as they were printed off-site.

My dear uncle opened the password protected ADOBE and realized he would be able to "pick up a few" locally! Go to Walmart's Home and Garden Department to pick up some Bearded Iris, or "Blueberry Bliss" to see Uncle George's picture!

Seward

2010-02-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Moving from a town of 6,000 to 3,000 is going to be fun. I am in Anchorage for a few weeks, and the past two weekends, I drove through Turnagain Pass and Moose Pass to find a new home for the flamingo lawn ornaments.

It's a small world, I tell ya. In a town of two agents, I picked the one who happens to have a son in the USCG. After we first shake hands, we start building our relationship. We started making the connections among our small family. His son was a year behind Brad at USCGA, which narrowed our playing field. And then I made the connection that baffled me: his son, Luke, was one of my mother in law's sponsor kids. He stayed at her home for a few weeks while at the Academy. So, there you have it: a town of 3,000, over 4,000 miles from my mother in law's abode, and I find the father of one her sponsor kids.

Needless to say, it helped build a great bond.

A great bond that gave him quick insight into who I am, what I was looking for, and what I would not stand for. In my first weekend, we viewed 12 homes in 3.5 hours. There were some that I drove into the driveway, glanced at the home, placed the sooby in reverse, and backed out of the driveway. Yeah, if you are loking for a project home: Seward has plenty.

As I climbed the stairs of an adorable A Frame and saw that the stove was placed under the sloping ceiling, I noted that Brad would not be able to stand and cook for me, so that one was out, too. And the day continued. The realtor crawled over snowmounds to inspect foundations for me, gave me an honest assessment of the quality of the well, and answered all my questions about price, resale value, the works. Even better: he loves Tok and invites both me and the furball into his office when we regroup to chat about our finds, inspections, and prospects.

Each visit enabled me to tour around town, sampling the local coffee shop, and eat lunch at the sea life center. In a vacant parking lot outside this Seward establishment, I munch on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and watch otters swim around the bay. I am looking forward to kayaking around that bay and capturing these adorable animals on film.

Stay tuned to find out about the flamingo lawn ornaments' potential new home...

Cheechako

2010-02-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

You can tell it is mushing season in Alaska. Fur Rendez-vous ads are all over the radio and television, and local coverage of the Yukon Quest is updated as each musher and team pass a check point.

As I read this article on adn.com this morning, I learned a new word, "cheechako." According to the urban dictionary, it means, "A new-comer to Alaska, ignorant of the terrain, the weather, the animals, the culture, the necessary driving skills in the winter, etc. "

Moose

2010-02-09T18:40:00.001-08:00

I am in the Anchorage office, and our local moose stopped in to say "hello" during a recent meeting.

(Picture taken through an office window via camera phone.)

Dutch Harbor Eagles

2010-02-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

While in Dutch, Brad and shipmate, Jeff, spotted a large gathering of eagles who took the liberty of pilfering the contents of a net that was being mended. Brad recounted that as the repairers began to retract the repaired net, and it scooted along the shore, the eagles moved with it- some with the talons still clutching their "catch." None were tangled, but none gave up their hold on thei morsels.

Alaska Marine Highway System

2010-02-01T17:58:00.001-08:00

Ah, the only way to travel in Alaska: the ferry. Marine Vessel (MV) Tustamena (aka Rusty Tusty) took Tok, the subaru, and me from Kodiak to Homer. The ferry has a distinct aspect to its travel:

As you find a spot to park your vehicle, you settle in for the next hour or so until the pursor checks you in. And just like an airport waiting area: the people watching begins. As vehicles disembark, you spy minivans filled with new Coastie families, work trucks filled with laborers to work on our public systems or the canneries, tourists in their RVs, and the fisherman- national and foreign alike- carrying large duffels, walking off the pier. And then there are the people next to you, casting side glances into your vehicle, checking out what you packed/what you are hauling, and then making obvious gestures and comments to their fellow passengers about what they have seen.

The pursor comes out, checks your ID and ticket, and asks if you are carrying weapons, ammo, or anything flammable. And then the loading begins. You watch the dock workers load cargo first, and then the vehicles proceed down the pier, onto a two vehicle lift that drops you into the bowels of the ship. You pivot on a turnstyle and a guide greets you at your rear view mirror. From there, you back up down the ramp and along rows of cars to your car's new home for the voyage. You patiently work the clutch, easing the steering wheel back and forth to the guide's directions and back into the space.

Once in my space, I secured our calm puppy (ah, the joy of natural calming treats) in the back seat, tape a sign onto the window, crack the windows, and lock the doors. The sign reads, "Hi, my name is Tok. I am a good dog that does not bark and am very friendly. If something is wrong with me, my mom is ____ and is in Room ___."

After introducing myself and the pup to the worker who will monitor the cars that evening, I head upstairs and to my room. I curl up under the bleached sheets and wool blanket for a cozy evening of being rocked to sleep. As soon as we hit ocean water, I was out. Ironically, I woke when we hit the calm waters of Cook Inlet. It was still dark as we pulled into Homer and offloaded. The drive up the Sterling Highway gave me a glimpse of the moon and an amazing sunrise, rosey glow of the volcanoes that line the Inlet.

Yes, this is a cloud over the Cook Inlet, with the mountain range in the background.

Isn't that rosey glow amazing?

The only way to get around in Moose Pass.

Orcas

2010-02-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a call from a friend, my camera and I rushed to the harbor this past week. Situated on the beach near St. Herman's Harbor, I joined fellow photogs poised to capture the small pod circulating around the harbor and channel. According to the locals, this is the pod we see every winter, including a bull with a collapsed dorsal fin, a couple of smaller orcas, and a new baby calf.

Our sea lions who hang out in St. Herman's Harbor did not feel safe on their platform and dove into the shallow water abutting Near Island. They swam around to cross the channel and into the safety of the shallow small boat harbor on the cannery side of town. As they made a break for it [across the channel], the orcas were heading their direction into the channel. On shore, we all sucked our teeth as the orcas surfaced to breathe and made an exaggarated dive, signaling that they were going to make a run at the pack crossing the channel.

We stood, each wishing we had an underwater view, or at least a topside view to see down into the channel. Each rooting, inherently, for our beloved sea lions, but secretly each hoping to see some carnage, a la National Geographic or Planet Earth. Alas, all sea lions surfaced near the breakwater and slowly made their way along the large barrier and into the refuge of the harbor, away from the orcas who turned and started back toward the buoys.

Top Ten Signs You are Near the Arctic Circle

2010-01-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

10. You have dined at three spots recommended by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, North Pole Edition.

9. You resemble a marshmallow - or that kid from A Christmas Story.

8. Your cocktail comes in a martini glass made of ice.

7. The walkway into the Chena Hot Springs has a hazardous handicap railing.

6. You thought your husband had big feet-- and then you saw them in bunny boots.

5. Everything is so dry you do not have to clean your ears 'cause there is no wax (gross but true).

4. Caribou hides cover your bed.

3. Cars take shortcuts along the frozen Chena River rather than the road.

2. Sled rides are in high demand.

1. The road signs read: Fairbanks, 10 miles; Fox, 18 miles; Circle, 162 miles. That's right: they drop the "Arctic" because the temperature alone lets you know you are close!

Curling

2010-01-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

The Fairbanks Curling Club was built entirely by its members. The pride of the establishment's heritage shows in the historical photos that line the walls, featuring men and woman with brooms; and in the trophy cases filled with championships both young and old.

The sport of curling is amazing. To me, the scoring concept is similar to bocce; and the technology that has been introduced to the game itself lends to precision and practiced methods. We began with an overview video and then headed down to the sheets (or lanes of ice on which the game is played) to practice what we learned. We split into groups, shook hands, said, "Good Curl" in the tradition of good sportsmanship and proceeded to have a great time.

The students loved it, and their energy in sweeping generated lots of laughter and even a couple of spills on the ice. Here I am in the racks, or for those with track backgrounds, the blocks. These are frozen into the ice. Only one foot goes into the hack. As I am right handed, my right foot dug in while my left foot was placed on a slider (since we were in non-curling shoes). For lefties, it is just the opposite. In my hands is a modified broom (to stabilize my stance) and a rock/stone. To curl, you squat, center your weight, then lift up your bum and draw back your left leg and the rock. Your hand holds the rock in the 12 o'clock position.

And then you launch. As one fluid motion, you have to glide out of the hack and place your weight onto your left leg, extended the right leg behind you. As you do this, you need to turn your wrist to either to the 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock position to enable it to curl down the path and head in a particular direction (to either bump another player's rock or strategically place your own for the team).

You release the rock either before or at the hog line (not my terms), which the thick black line you see below. My form is not perfect, as my leg should be extended without my knee touching the ground (hence the large purple bruise on it now); but I blame my shoes; but back is straight and my shoulders square with the hog line.

And my lil' rock that could glided along the center line the whole way to the tee line, well almost the tee line.

Unfortunately, Kodiak does not have a curling club nor a rink suited for sheets. Hopefully, Seward will offer me the chance to hone my skillz (yeah, with a z).

Winter Orientation

2010-01-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

Our venue was the Pike's Lodge, whose vast lobby is home to Princess cruisers in the summer travel season and Alaskans - furry and bipedal - in the winter. Our evening dinner started with a speech from Lt. Gov. Campbell, who hosted students in the past and is very big supporter of the Rotary District 5010.

And after the speeches, the fun started. The students who had interviewed the day prior find out what language they would need to learn for their new host country. To increase the suspense, the organizers use a power point to showcase the student's name, and they stand. Clapping and cheering ensue. The flag of the student's new home fills the screen, and the shouting and excitement begins!

The students race to the front of the room where the country flags hang. Each student is joined by the Alaskans who recently returned from an exchange in that country and those foreign nationals currently on exchange in Alaskan towns. Their energy, excitement, and celebration was palpable. I loved the smiles, the shock, the awe.

Here is our current exchange student, Sagar, with the Alaskan who went to India last year and the adorable young woman about to embark on her own adventure!

I really love working with this program!

Fairbanks

2010-01-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

I am in Fairbanks for the annual Winter Orientation for my Rotary District's Youth Exchange Program. Gathered at the Pike's Lodge, we are hosting exchange students assigned throughout Alaska; Alaskan students who returned from exchanges abroad this past summer; and those new students vying for a country to host them for an exchange in 2010. We donned color coded tshirts that break students into those groups and designated us Rotarian Youth Exchange Officers.

This weekend, we are part mentor/chaperone/mom/dad/best friend/role model/resource for these students to learn from each other: culture shock, adapting to new family life, language challenges, and regular training (sexual abuse awareness and first aid).

As for fun actitivies, our group will be curling tomorrow afternoon. I am wicked excited about this event and will have my camera on hand to showcase my mad sweeping skillz. Stay tuned!

Haiti: In search of a friend

2010-01-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

FOUND! Maggie checked in via radio station. She is alive, well, and safe; but now she has to locate supplies and shelter before leaving the island. Thank you for your support. Please continue to think about those whose loved ones are still missing.

In search of a friend who is in Haiti, Magalie Brunet (Maggie). She is 5'1, very petite, long wany brown hair, blue-green eyes. She is a French national. She was supposed to be staying at the Montana Hotel (which collapsed), but might have been outside of Port-au-Prince, on her way back from Camp Perrin.

If you have any loved ones providing relief operations in Haiti, please send them this message with the attached picture. Please let me know of any whereabouts, status, anything.

She is a dear friend who went there to help set up villages for ecotourism, to better the lives of families who need money for food, sending their children to school, etc.

She has the biggest heart and is a seasoned traveler. Still, friends in Belgium, US, France, and Iraq (yes, even one stationed in Mosul) are clammering the phone lines in search of this dear friend. Please, pass along the word. My plea has been posted on coastiechicks.net, cnn..com/ireports, facebook, and now here.

Annual Rotary Dinner

2010-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Last night, Brad and I attended my annual Rotary holiday dinner and auction. My Rotary club postpones our celebration until January. With all the parties in December, there would surely be a conflict in schedules; and in Kodiak, many continue to celebrate the holiday season as Russian Christmas is not until 7 January.

In the morning, I joined a small crew of Rotarians to decorate the party space in the local sushi restaurant, the Old Powerhouse. Our theme was a traditional Christmas, complete with strung popcorn on the tree, sugared fruit in the centerpieces, and strung chestnuts hung over the gift table.

Later in the afternoon, I placed the finishing touches on my gift baskets. Each year, each guest brings a gift to auction off. We either seek donated items, make it/them ourselves, our buy an item from a local vendor. We then auction them off to each other and all proceeds go to a local charity. Last year, we raised over $2000!

Brad and I arrived during cocktail hour, placed my two gift baskets on the table, and proceeded to mingle among guests and order drinks from the bar. We took our seats next to the club's secretary, Lorna, and her husband, Mike; and newest member, Heather, and her husband Matthew. Lorna works for Senator Gary Stevens (also a fellow Rotarian in the noon club) and her husband Mike is a retired Bering Sea fisherman (which gave him and Brad lots of stories to exchange). Heather works in the school district, and her husband Matthew works at the local print shop and is responsible for helping me create those great holiday greeting cards we sent out. The sushi buffet opened, and with plates piled high, we dined and began our short awards ceremony: Rotarian of the Year, recognition for our committee chairs, and a round of applause for our most beneficial project: Coats for Kids. Each year, we stage boxes in key areas around town and collect coats for children in Kodiak and surrounding villages. This program is made possible via the generosity of the local dry cleaners, who donate the cleaning of all donated coats. This year, we collected just shy of 500 coats. The owners of the dry cleaners, the Ames, joined us for our dinner and received well-deserved honors for their contribution to this successful program.

The highlight of our evening was the entertainment: St. Innocent's Academy lifted us up with carol singing. They sang both traditional song, such as O Come All Ye Faithful, and then some Russian tunes. After a standing ovation, our local group headed out so we could start our auction.
Reprising my role as Vanna, from last year's auction, I carted items around to each table, showing off their best features as Lindsey, a former Mr. Alaska, took bids via microphone. With the amount of gifts to auction through, we enlisted fellow member, Diana, to tag team with me. Some of the best items included bear viewing from SeaHawk air and 40,000 Alaska Airline Miles; and then homemade gifts of apple pie, blankets, and pillow cases.

We ended our evening by auctioning off Indian dinners, cooked by our current exchange student, Sagar. What a deal: he comes to your home, cooks, serves, and cleans up! He has three menu selections and feeds up to four but can do more as necessary. He is raising money to extend his exchange and go on a tour of the West Coast before heading home to Pune, India.

It is because of programs like this that I will miss this club immensely. I intend to transfer my membership to another club when we move, but this family of friends will be missed, truly.

Rock Solid Support

2010-01-08T15:04:00.001-08:00

The rain prompted me to leave my camera at home, and of course, what do I pull up and see upon entering the base: this guy. He had been on the rock in the bottom left corner, but by the time I checked in with the gate guard, parked, and walked out with the blackberry, he was perched on the Rock. Why is it that when the sun is shining and you can see the ships at the pier- providing me with that oh so perfect backdrop- that this never happens?

Tok the Model

2010-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Tok's picture is proudly featured in the March 2010 collage for the Kodiak Humane Society's 2010 Calendar. For $12.00, you can purchase his first foray into pet modeling and help a no-kill shelter sustain their staff and facility.

Reindeer

2009-12-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

From guest contributor, Brad.

Alaska is the Last Frontier and a unique experience for all that venture here. However around the holiday time, all visitors with small children should be ready to field a unique question at breakfast. That question is, "Mommy / Daddy, if we're eating reindeer sausage, how will Santa get around?"

Now there are a multitude of unique ways to answer that question. Here are my favorites:

1. "It's ok, honey. These are the reindeer that didn't make the cut."
2. "Santa decided to fly Southwest."
3. "Apparently the economy finally hit the North Pole, and Santa had to downsize."

And My favorite option:
"MMMMM. Rudolph is tasty!!"

Rustic Applesauce

2009-12-28T20:51:00.000-08:00

I found a rustic applesauce recipe (read: I do not have to peel the apples) that cooks on the stove, blends in the food processor, and makes my hubby very happy. I love how it makes the house smell! With a recent organic produce delivery increasing the amount of apples in the house, I depleted our stores of a dozen apples, six for each batch of sauce.

Christmas at Alyeska

2009-12-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

Brad and I escaped to Girdwood, Alaska, to spend the holiday at Alyeska Resort. Upon arriving in Anchorage, it was as if we never left Kodiak...it was raining-- pouring actually. As I steered the rental car down Turnagain Arm, I forlornly looked at the melting snow, the flooded highway, and the lack of ice in the Arm itself.

We cheered up a bit when we entered the limits of Girdwood. Despite the lack of snow on the trees, houses were lit with holiday lights, and the resort itself had decorations in every nook, including the lobby.

After settling into our suite and gazing at the view (see below), we headed to the spa to start off our vacation with massages and pampering. After being "abused" as Brad refers to his deep tissue massage, we showered, hydrated and headed to the Double Musky. We queued up 15 minutes before opening (this hot spot does not take reservations). I was delighted to see the sommelier, Justin, who shares my palate for explosive, full bodied wines. As I perused the wine selections, Brad salivated over the menu and immediately ordered two helpings of the coveted steak tip appetizers. Justin helped me select Du Mol, which complimented the rest of our meal; speaking of which, you can order the Double Musky Cookbook to share in our tastebuds' savory enjoyment; but the ambiance cannot be replicated.

On day two of our visit, we saw blue ski for the first time in eight days, so we took advantage of the Winner Creak Trail and set off to make it to the Hand Tram and beyond. In some of the clearings, we took in the views, such as the one below. The small structure on the right is Seven Glaciers Restaurant, where we dined on Christmas Day.

We also spied a snowman, a little askew thanks to the recent warming trend.

We almost made it to the Hand Tram, but at about Mile 2.5, with me in the lead, I made a sudden stop. I heard honking and around the bend of the gorge, I saw four moving tree trunks--- or legs for a very large bull moose. He was a big 'un and certainly let us know he was there with a constant honking until he cleared the bend. I was happy to sit, have a snack, and wait him out before heading to our turnaround point, but Brad insisted on turning around. Bummed that we did not get all the way to the Hand Tram, I made him promise that we could return in the summer and make a second attempt. In all, we finished the 5 miles in just over two hours, which left us hungry for some Pike's Place Brewery ales and elk burgers at Chair Five.

And for Big Mama: the Anderson pose.

Our holiday dinner at Seven Glaciers started with champagne and delicious selections from the main menu. Their pre-fix menu was tempting (as were the wine pairings), but we wanted to sample the usual fare, including their duck confit ravioli, ahi tuna, and tenderloin. Brad enjoyed a beer from Midnight Sun Brewery in Anchorage, and I paired my dinner selections with some Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc. Fellow diners included a group of gals in light up Christmas lights necklaces, a family in their Sunday finest, and a few Alaskans in their cleanest Carharts.

We hope that you had a wonderful holiday and are looking forward to the New Year.

Holiday Season 2009

2009-12-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Alaska Airport Attire 101

2009-12-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

When traveling on Alaska airline jets from Kodiak to Anchorage and Anchorage to Juneau, one may be scheduled to ride in the “combi.” This combination cargo plane and passenger plane brings mail and other small goods to destinations, all while being carried in the section usually reserved for first class. We passengers are deigned to sit in coach and enter through the back door. Due to the backside entry, most boardings take place outside. In the winter, that means dressing like you mean it.

To traverse over the ice on Kodiak’s wind swept runway, one must have yak trax affixed to the bottom of his/her waterproof shoes, with a rainproof shell to ward off the precipitation, in whichever form it may come down at that exact moment. With the boarding door remaining open to the elements as fellow passengers find their seats, be sure to keep your jacket with you; or, in my case, bring a small blanket that can help insulate against the wind that whips down the aisle.

To trudge through the snow drifts in Anchorage, you descend down two (inside) flights of metal stairs, bundled from head to toe, er, snow-appropriate shoe. Upon entering the single digit world of runway-central (sometimes, perhaps with a negative in front of that lone digit), you must gingerly step over small berms of snow and follow little orange cones. At the end of that row of tattered cones is the Alaskan airline employee who lost the recent bet in the employee lounge and resembles the Abominable Snow Person, waving an orange glow stick. Sometimes a jet passes just as you begin the journey down the snow-lined cone-way, which covers the miniscule amount of gravel they placed for traction, causing you to slip, stumble, and then upon regaining your balance and modesty, you glance up and can no longer see the orange glow stick. The wind-blown snow blocks your view of the person who was, just a few second prior, just 35 feet from you. Precariously, you pick your way through the snow, following the orange markers to where you last saw the employee. And like a beacon of hope, s/he reappears. Astounded- and yet remarkably- you feel your right hand go up and wave and smile. Goggles, scarf, and face shield prevent you from recognizing if the smile was returned; but, you turn- as directed by the now-visible glow stick- and are faced with your next challenge: the stairs.

A few words of caution: wind-swept, icy metal stairs whose handle is frosted over have no traction, are incredibly difficult to navigate much less fight gravity in an upward bound motion- even for the in-shape and agile traveler that I am. I dare say that if I struggle, my hat is off to elders and those who legs/hips/whatever are partially made of metal…bravo.

But, once airborne, your struggles seem like a distant memory as you behold the sunlit, snow-capped mountains. The beauty that cannot be described in words and is best left for the lenses of a National Geographic documentary never ceases to astound me. And yet still, as you rub your ankle from the unfortunate near-spill that just transpired, your remember to place your yak trax in the carry-on for the return voyage.

Operation Christmas Tree: Takes 1 and 2

2009-12-07T18:42:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Brad and I set out to find our Christmas Tree. On Kodiak, we do not have lots filled with Douglas furs. Instead, we have precarious icy roads to traverse in search of a tree that -- if felled -- is not violating any land ownership laws.

As we passed the golf course, we left the semi-plowed paved road and started along the gravel, non-maintained portion of Anton Larsen Road. Before long, Brad and I determined it was not a good scene and opted to turn back. And then it happened: another car coming in the opposite direction was more in the center of the road than his lane. He moved over slightly, as did Brad, and then our truck start to slip off the crown of the road. Brakes were no match and Brad decided to steer the truck into the ditch rather than have it flip over on its roof, with us and Tok inside. We were 200 yards from the paved portion of the road. The truck sustained no damage, and neither did we, thankfully. We sat there for 1.5 hours, awaiting a tow truck that was removing someone else from a ditch out near Monashka Bay.

The amount of mush on the sides of the roads, prompting most drivers to traverse down the center of the roads as opposed to our designated sides. And yes, Tok was hot and needed to sit in the cool mush; afterall, it was a balmly 37 degrees. The thick sheet of ice along the road.

On Monday afternoon, we decided opted to keep our Christmas Tree hunt to the paved portion of the road. The issue with finding a suitable tree in Kodiak is that most of our trees huddle in clumps. As you can see below, from afar, it looks like some pretty decent selections just beyond those alders.

But buyer (err, cutter) beware: that is actually a clump of five trees, none of which have rounded frames that you need to hold ornaments or balance in a tree stand.
Alas, after trekking along in Yak Trax, we selected the 2009 Anderson Christmas tree, strapped it to the back of the truck and came home, safely, and without incident this time.

Snowshoeing in Girdwood

2009-12-05T19:48:00.001-08:00

During yet another return trip to Anchorage this past week, I escaped for a few hours to Girdwood, AK. Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Ski Resort, gorgeous meadows, groomed trails, and back country snowshoeing. On the way there, I photographed the late afternoon sun over Turnagain Arm and fell in love with the blue-ish hue it bestowed upon the neighboring peaks.

My camera's battery died shortly afterwards, but not before I caught this shot of my friend, Chris, capturing the inlet's viewshed.

My partner in crime was a new rock climbing friend, Chris, who donned his snowshoes and showed me a fantastic trail that starts just behind the tram [that runs up the mountain]. Not even a 1/4 mile in I had to shed layers. In Kodiak, Brad, Tok, and I snowshoe in an area where are susceptible lots of wind (um, yeah, it's Kodiak). Typically, I wear lots of layers and wind blocking gear. Covered from the elements along the tree lined trail, I trudged along in my base layer and HardWear. The Winner Creek Trail trail varied in terrain, moving along the streams, over bridges, up icy hills, with intermittent glimpses of the mountain from the trail. Occasionally, we stopped to listen to the streams trickle underneath bridges and to behold fungi's ability to live in the winter, as evidenced by a shot I took with his camera:

I am stoked to have learned a new trail as Brad and I make plans to spend Christmas at Alyeska.

Windmills and HH60

2009-12-04T15:12:00.001-08:00

Brad may detest that I am posting this, but I thought it an awesome photo of our air crew and the new windmills on Pillar Mountain.

Wind

2009-12-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

I am an avid reader of Kodiak Konfidential, and I love his posts that bring perspective to some of our laments and reflections about life in Alaska.

The wind in Kodiak woke me up several times this weekend, but having read that Attu was subject to gusts of 178 miles per hour, I will keep my mouth shut about my slumber being disturbed. For the full story, click here.

Gettin' my urban on

2009-12-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

On my way home west, I stopped in Seattle for a few days of loveliness with the Meltons and a future Mrs. Trapp. Having relocated to Seattle this past summer, the Meltons bought a home and immediately gave me the green light to crash whenever possible. And you all know me: I am never one to not accept an invitation from a cultured foodie with a palate for wine that rivals my taste buds.

After my airplane drama, a lovely Sirena collected my sorry arse at SeaTac and took me home. A restful evening ensued, and I was actually nice after a couple hours of sleep. Friday morning, we joined forces to prep the crockpot with the easiest (and later, tastiest) short rib recipe ever. With smiles, we set off to SeaTac to collect Flo, and immediately headed to the International District for dim sum. It was my first dim sum experience, and hearing Sirena order in Chinese made me ever-thankful that my first experience was with a native speaker.

We passed Friday afternoon in the tasting room of Delille Wineries. Our wine steward turned out to be a Coastie mom, and she joined in our lively conversations each time she filled our glasses with a different variety from the tasting menu. Flo and her fiancé are avid wine connoisseurs, living only 45 minutes from Napa. Flo’s specific questions about the varietals and aging paired well with my musing on what foods would compliment the more complex wines we tasted.

Saturday was my day, per se. I started off by taking the ladies to the Donut Shop, on our way to the Needle. This being Flo’s first time in the Emerald City, I wanted to knock out all the regular sights. After being blown around atop the Space Needle and beholding the former St. Anne’s high school (now million dollar condos), we made our way to Pike’s Place Market (click here for video montage). As we walked along 2nd Avenue, passing bars, Umi, and other lively venues in Belltown, our tummies rumbled. I made a bee line for Beecher’s to treat the gals to the best grilled cheese sandwich ever. Our threesome became a quartet when Elizabeth arrived. Introductions made, cheeses tasted, we crossed the street to take in the flowers, fresh food vendors, and artisans in the famous market. As we rounded the corner with the pig, we noticed a loud group of soccer hooligans who took over the street each time the light changed in the favor; they kicked the ball around a little, shouted for MLS, and those with colorful wigs posed with tourists for candid pictures.

We bid Elizabeth adieu and headed back to suburbia. We stretched, rested, glammed up, and then headed back to city center to attend 20something, a wine and food event boasting local vineyards, delicious food samples from catering companies, and a rockin’ DJ. With stewards pouring wine at every turn, our sample glasses filled and emptied repeatedly as we exchanged tasting notes. Two hours after starting the event, I left the girls on the dance floor and collected our coats and summoned a taxi. Safe from the rain, we headed over to our reservation at Purple, a restaurant whose reputation I have extolled before. Wine flights ordered, small bites selected, and musings about the décor began our dinner conversation, which ranged from health care reform, local politics, wedding planning, and travel. To be a part of such a diverse dialogue with well-educated and experienced women was a breath of fresh air.

With tummies full of cheese, wine, and unique dishes featuring autumn selections, I took the gals to Vessel. Custom cocktails ensued, as did our conversation. Close to midnight, I wrapped them up in their coats and headed out to meet my regular car service to return us, safely, to suburbia.

On Sunday, my last few hours in their company featured a goat cheese and spinach quiche, a side of bacon, and mimosas. Elizabeth joined us for some girlie chat over brunch before we packed our bags and headed back to SeaTac…and back to reality. So, a special shout out to my beloved girlfriends. I look forward to doing this again next fall, possibly in Portland.

East Coast v. Alaska

2009-11-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Recently, Brad started watching Lobstermen. This new show is a riot, mainly because nearly every third word needs bleeping. I chuckle each time I listen to a commercial for it, or the program itself, or at least those portions that I can hear. Nestled into the corner of the couch, he chuckles, lifts his fist and declares, “These are my people!” And you know, in some respects I agree with him. There are many (many) times that we both miss the east coast. This week was not one of them.

Brains. While on the east coast, my IQ decreased, I swear. So many conversations evolved around the hottest news items, as we were just 3 hours south of the beltway. And in those dialogues, I was shocked at the amount of misinformation and how it was presented. Honestly, NPR is headquartered in DC. Listen to it. Learn the facts. Be able to articulate why you feel a certain way about an issue. Waxing poetic is sooooooo 2007. Even James Carville no longer does it. Keep up, people!

Beauty. I am all for the beach hair look: slightly wind blown and waves. It is romantic, goes well with swim suits and casual sundresses. But when paired with my business attire, the poodle-esque coif I sported this week was shameful. I had forgotten what humidity does to my follicles. You know the adage, “Are you having a bad hair day?” Yeah, well, I brought true meaning to that each day. BUT, it is somewhat better than the hat head I will sport for the next few months of colder weather in Kodiak. At least my best poodle impersonation gives my coif body…wow, that was a really shameful attempt at a silver lining, huh?

Spirit. Customer service on the east coast is dead, nonexistent, and needs a serious revival. My return trip to the west coast was a test of my patience. On Thursday, FAA had computer issues, which delayed all Atlanta flights by 2 hrs—my connecting city. Long story short: after speaking with Amex (corporate travel booking agent), I went to the NWA/Delta counter to get my ticket kicked over to another airline that was not impacted- US Air. Two women gave me the biggest drama about the change; and I mean drama: whining about how I was getting them in trouble, how the two hour delay was industry wide (it was not), and how my agent had told me wrong (five minutes after getting off the phone with her). I stood my ground, literally, for 35 minutes (!) to get the flight I wanted and that Amex said was available. By the time I finally got them to agree, the actual transfer was done and printed in 4 minutes! The audacity, the complete disregard to help a traveler far from home was shocking. I handed them both my military ID (afterall, Hampton Roads is a military community) and my Alaskan drivers license (afterall, Palin Palooza is omnipresent), and there was no recognition on either count. For the love. I love AK Airlines and knowing the crew in Kodiak- by name.

Suffice to say, I am heartbroken that I was not far enough north to get a true Dunkin Donuts coffee, or listen in a conversation in which every third word is an explicative, but I could not wait to head west and back to Alaska.

Yes, ladies and gents. I think we have a convert on our hands…

Dive Bars

2009-11-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have a confession. I was on the east coast for 65 hours and did not tell anyone. I traveled 40 hours roundtrip to attend the CG Innovation Expo in VA Beach. While there, I connected with some Coastie friends, colleagues, and learned a lot about modernization and a host of other topics. One evening, after a rather large reception, my team and I went out. John shouted out the address and name of his recommended establishment, and we all agreed. We return to our respective hotels and change, and one team leaves earlier than the other. They call me, "Um, is this supposed to be a dive bar?" And then it hits me, "shit, we let John pick the venue, so yes, of course, it's gonna be a dive. Damnit...."

We pull up to a strip mall that contains a china palace, a takeout pizza joint, an Asian grocery store....and South Beach Grill. With the doors wide open and a parking lot full of cars, we roll in and take up residence on the opposite side of the bar. The next five hours was a treat: I watched enough flesh rub up against each other, bad dye jobs, and elvis impersonators dancing to the cover band to have fodder for at least three blog entries, but I will summarize some of the highlights here:

1. There was a dude whose hair, sideburns, and eyeware resembled Elvis. His female companion had an Elvis purse.
2. There was a woman who wore big fake diamond everything: multiple rings on each hand, oversized earrings, large chunky necklace, and rhinestones on her purse and yet wore a tangerine tank top that looked more than a few years old...
3. And then there was Uncle Rico, as we named him. You know the Uncle from Napoleon Dynamite, the one with the football? Yeah, well, fast fwd 15 years, add a collared paisley shirt with a corduroy jacket, and you have the man who gave us the most fodder.

So many times, I turned to my former Army colleague and said just looked at him. And that's all I needed to do. We were on the same wave length, both having lived/been stationed in this part of VA. Wow. We both joked about the "caliber" of the 15 women and 60 men that poured themselves into the bar to listen to a pretty dern good cover band that played everything from Earth Wind and Fire to Kings of Leon. Of course, the older crowd were more attuned to the former rather than the latter, but the other young colleague in the group, Paul, and I enjoyed their rendition of the tune.

For Kodiakians who read the blog, I am sure it was like the Mecca, but I have yet to cross the threshold of that distinguished establishment to find out.

Holiday Photo Selection

2009-11-15T23:08:00.000-08:00

I befriended another photographer in Kodiak, who offered to help us capture a holiday photo for the multitude of cards I send out each season. We have several from which to chose - coming to us on a CD - but our photographer, Amy, loaded some choice photos onto her website.

Log onto the below link to view; BUT return to our blog to reply with your favorite!

http://simplybphotos.blogspot.com/2009/11/christina-and-brad.html

Dinner Parties- Alaskan style

2009-11-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

When stationed in DC amid multitudes of classmates and friends, Brad and I joked about installing a revolving door at our apartment. A mere 2.5 block walk from the metro, our home's dining table became a haven, a free meal, a lamenting conversation, a confessional, and a place a celebration- however minute. Brad adores to cook, I adore to host, and everyone knows our threshold remains open for whomever cares to join us.

In Kodiak, our table has seen a fair share of guests, but let's just say a $1500 plane ticket and 40 hour round trip flight from the east coast has kept some former regulars safely nuzzled inside the beltway, which we completely understand. But, it has turned our focus to locals, and geo-bachelors.

This summer, Brad's fellow shipmate, Kawika (the w is pronounced as a v) asked us to witness his marriage to Elizabeth, who lives on her family-owned farm on Whidbey Island. She flew up a few days before CGC Munro departed for its recent patrol and wed the love of her life on the beach at Monashka Bay.

A short honeymoon ensued, and she departed before the boat left on patrol. Elizabeth called me shortly thereafter and started conspiring with me to return to Kodiak. A few months of planning landed her as my relief driver as I pulled out of Anchorage after two month's of nonstop work. Elizabeth stayed at our home until the boat pulled in on 2 November. She donned her red coat and was immediately spotted on the pier. According to Brad, Kawika leaned over and said, "Elizabeth is on the pier!" Brad, having no clue what I had done replied, "Really? Oooooh, she had a co-conspirator."

We had this lovely couple over for a six hour dinner, which would not be complete without King crab, snow crab, and spicy tomato halibut (e.g., new favorite recipe). As we laughed, told stories about our first apartments as young couples, brewed coffee, and popped corn, I took a moment to step back and reflect on how much our table has seen since we started living together. And it makes me wonder what adventures it awaits as we await our orders, due in early 2010.

Seasonal changes

2009-11-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Brad and I took Tok on one of our favorite, small hikes around Fort Abercrombie. We start the loop at Lake Gertrude and then head around to the Wildflower Trail. The latter trail provided me with some amazing photos this summer, include the one below that showcases the purple explosion of wildflowers during the summer.
And then yesterday, we see the same trail in it's winter glory: brown as far as the eye can see. The area is dotted with some leftover buds from wild roses, marking the distinct bunny trails through the vines (Tok sniffed each and every one we passed). People remark how we "deal" with the winter and the somewhat harsh winter weather.

Simple: we start looking up at those snow covered mountains! Come on, snow!

Screened for Command

2009-11-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

I am proud to announce that my husband successfully screened for command! For those non-coastie followers, in lay-man's terms, that means he is worthy of commanding his own vessel (at least those for which he is qualified).

A few months ago, we provided folks with our next steps as we prepare to rotate in Summer 2010:

STEP ONE: File a packet to screen for Command (Done!!!)
STEP TWO: Submit “Dreamsheet” in October (Done!!!)
STEP THREE: Bite fingernails while the Board meets and determine the screening list in November (Done!!!)

As for how I will keep my fingernails turning into nubs until we hear from the detailer (see steps four and five), I have no idea. Thankfully, the holiday "season" is upon us, so the time will fly until the new year.

STEP FOUR: Wait for a call from the detailer time… TBD (hopefully in January or February 2010)
STEP FIVE: Well, that’s a whole bunch of steps that include Brad going to schools, going underway with CGC Munro during Spring 2010, selling our home (wanna buy a great home in Kodiak?), and move from one remote area in Alaska to another.

YAY, BRAD!

Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak

2009-11-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

The Anderson household has a new addition: a Subaru. Yes, you read correctly, I now own a four door car. Despite the personal identity crisis I seem to be having- in that I do not want to let go of my coupe lifestyle, I love the new ride. Tok is way more comfortable in the backseat, which is now outfitted with a shield that blocks his ability to get to the front seat, and a hammock that covers the seat.

Having driven the truck (via ferry) to Anchorage, my return trip required an extra driver. I put out an APB to my fellow coastie wives in Kodiak and received a quick reply from Stephanie. With three kids and holiday season soon approaching, she volunteered to fly up on my dime and steal the Sub (pronounced soooob) to shop in a “real” town.

In my super secret world of boat wives, I received a call from a new boat wife, Elizabeth. She lives in Washington, and her beloved lives on Kodiak, and she wanted to surprise him when the boat pulls in from patrol. In a win-win situation, I convinced her to save some money and just fly up to Anchorage instead of Kodiak, and be a relief driver (in case something happened). It worked out perfectly. She rode with me for ½ the drive down the Kenai Peninsula and then finished the drive with Stephanie. Our drive took us down Turnagain Arm, through post-card worthy snow covered peaks in Portage, and then through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. We saw lots of moose and volcanoes!

For our one evening in Homer, we stayed at the Mermaid B&B and dined at Fat Olives. The two glasses of wine that I had with dinner accompanied great conversation and delicious pumpkin cheesecake. At 26 degrees with a gorgeous moon, we walked home to our B&B to catch a few hours of sleep before getting up to load the ferry- bound for Kodiak!

The next morning, as I loaded Tok into his kennel in the bed of the truck, I captured an amazing sunrise over Kachemak Bay. The open water greeted us with 35 knot winds and 10+ foot seas. The two gals took Dramamine and snoozed for most of the trip. I dozed in and out and rose in just enough time to catch our sunset before heading to dinner in the galley.

Flat Top

2009-11-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Anchorage experienced an Indian summer. The temperature rose above 50, prompting locals into Tshirts and onto hiking trails. Tok and I tackled Flat Top Mountain, a popular trail that is an easy drive from the sublet we had for Sept and Oct. Many other outdoor enthusiasts joined us that day. People parasailing over our heads, dogs running alongside trail runners, children hopping up and down the stairs, and lots and lots of smiles. Everyone was in a good mood, happy to see one another, easy to forgive a trail etiquette faux pas, and remark about the weather.
As we crested the peak, I started depleting my camelback. I was the idiot who was scrambling over rocks with a dog attached to a 15 foot lead. Thank goodness for voice commands. As I watched my four legged companion near-effortlessly pounce up onto rock faces and make his way north, there was a lot of, “Tok! Sit.” And then mumbling to myself, “Ok, so how does the human get up there?” It was just as, ahem, entertaining, going down, too.

In going down, I beheld one of the most beautiful sunsets ever.

Moose!

2009-10-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

I love where I work. This is the mass email sent out this morning, "Please be aware there is a Large Bull Moose Roaming around the Midtown Office. Last seen in front of unemployment Office Across the street from the office."

Snow in Anchorage

2009-10-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

(Photo Credit)

Anchorage's upper Hillside neighborhoods got their first significant snow of the season Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service is calling for scattered rain and snow showers this afternoon, with snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches above 1200 feet. Highs in the 30s.

Of course, the week I leave is the week I could be busting out my snowshoes!

Deadliest Catch: Cuttermen Style

2009-10-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I've been lucky in some of the people that have set foot on the ships that I've been stationed on. I've sailed with Secret Service, Congressmen, Senators, Former Presidents, and now... Deadliest Catch Videographers.

Unlike the other personnel I've had around, the Video guys follow us around and try to stage different things for us to do. They have realized that as Ops I'm a good person to follow, and man are they sneaky! I just want to do my job in peace, but since we are in Public service so long as I'm in uniform they can film it, and I can't convince XO to let me do my job in Gym Gear....

I'm happy that they are planning to tell the Cutter Side of the story, as the Pilots have had plenty of well-deserved press coverage. Now there is one thing that still surprises me about "visitors" on ships: they never take the seasick pills before they get on board. We have some great footage of our guys holding the camera and the professional chumming the waters of the Bering Sea. Like true college binge drinkers though they have managed to puke and rally. I'm hoping that the Red King Crab season onboard Cutter MUNRO doesn't end up on the cutting room floor.

Camera Aptitude

2009-10-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

I need to preface this story by explaining why Christina has an awesome camera, and does such a great job maintaining the blog instead of having me do it. The theme for the patrol so far is "wow that's pretty / cool / awesome I should really take a picture of that". So on the transit to the Bering Sea we stopped for a little fishing at Albatross Bank. For this evolution I decided not to fish because we were only keeping "trophies" (50+ lbs), but that we would plan to stop on the way home for filling the freezers. One of the guys didn't want to fish, but decided to anyway when I said "if you catch a monster, I'll fillet it and keep the meat", well no later than 20minutes later he had a 72" approx 135lbs halibut on deck. Amazingly he couldn't pick it up off the ground and I was the only person on board who could get it to budge. All he wanted were the cheeks, so I got all four fillets. They filled up approximately 10 freezer bags and are now sitting pretty in the Capt's freezer to bring home when we return (looks like some tasty fish for Turkey Day!!).

So the next time I really wanted a picture was when I was fishing in Dutch and managed to land a 36inch silver (you've seen the pics of the fillets) and I at least had the camera on me, but... The batteries were dead, so I had to come back and have Jeff take pics of the fillets on the cutting board. Now in the deductive reasoning for fishing for silvers in Dutch, I thought to myself they would never be expecting a "Kodiak Custom" lure, and I was correct. When the weather was actually nice enough to fish, they couldn't get enough. I have pics of some cool stuff and or "pretty" stuff that Christina would make me stop of the drive cross country to take a picture of, but I do have the camera, but not the USB cable. I really suck in the maintenance of mementos and memories.

You are so much luckier that she handles all this stuff.

Spider Monkey

2009-10-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night, I joined up with some of the friends that I had made at last week's party. They are all climbers and encouraged me to join the belay class. We met at the Rock Gym where I was fitted with the most uncomfortable rental harness ever with shoes funkier than bowling rentals. Nevertheless, I loved the class, worked on my technique, and then moved onto the walls to join my new friends. Some were climbing via harness, and others were bouldering. The climbing wall was super busy, so I joined the other group at bouldering, where I learned the levels, color coding, and cheered on some friends who were trying to overcome a difficult obstacle.

I immediately jumped onto a couple of the simple routes and had so much fun. At one point, they were all cheering me on as I attacked a new path. I found myself hanging upside down, not sure how to move onto the next grip. We all started to laugh as I asked for advice, hanging upside down. And of course, I start laughing at myself and with them; thus, throwing off my core balance and BOOM-- I lost my balance and fell onto the cushy mats below. Climbing is not a laughing matter--you'll fall if you chuckle too hard.

Noticing that we burned off a lot of calories on the wall and in laughing (ahem, with) me, we decided to fuel up-- on beer and pizza. We finished by heading to Mooses Tooth where a dozen of us dined on humus, salads, and Oktoberfest pizza.

Floral Competition

2009-10-21T14:34:00.001-07:00

Brad's flowers have competition. My client sent me flowers today, as a small token of their appreciation for my work (and loooong hours) on this project. The gorgeous arrangement that Brad sent last week is still blooming. The roses have since past their prime, but the lillies are opening among the sunflowers, creating sunset hues near my laptop's screen.

Return of the Solo Cup

2009-10-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

In working on an extended team of professionals here in Anchorage, I befriended a cool chick named Sue. Meeting new friends in a professional environment is a lot like dating...you have to get to know each other, crack a couple of jokes over coffee and in between meetings, and eprhaps compliment each other's shoes...all to see if you click. Feeling pretty confident, I asked Sue out on a date, "Wanna get a drink sometime?"

Her response floored me, "Well, my husband and I are throwing a kegger on Saturday night. The crowd will be mostly climbers, but you are welcome to come hang."

A few hours later, she passes along the evite with notes about her abode, "We have a koi pond and a rooftop garden...can't miss it."

Around 8 PM last Saturday, I pull up to a humble abode with a koi pond that stretches from the backyard to the front yard, taking up most of the landscaping. Seriously, it could have been in front of the Grand Hyatt in Oahu; it was breathtaking. I opened the front door to the sound of 30-40 climbers chatting away, with Mooses Tooth pale ale and amber chilling on the back deck. For the next five hours, I worked the room, enjoyed the conversation that did not center around my current project, and accepted an invitation to go indoor rock climbing next week.

For the first time in five weeks here in Anchorage, I felt at ease. Yes, I have enjoyed an occassional night out with some friends, but to be so welcomed by- in a sense- complete strangers was exactly what I needed with my current stress level. My hostess handed me a red solo cup, a sharpie, and pointed me toward the beer and food. I wrote, "Hi. My name is Christina." Oh, sooooooloooooooo, how I have missed you.

Dutch Harbor Musing: from the Viewpoint of a CGC Munro Crewmember

2009-10-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

Onto the USCG District 17 website, a young, new crewmember from Florida blogged about his recent experience in Dutch Harbor. I share with you because I could not imagine how life-changing it must be to be so young, fresh out of bootcamp-- from Florida, no less -- and find yourself in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

"I get asked by a lot of my buddies why I joined the Coast Guard. To be honest, I didn't ever see it in my future either. However, once I began to look closer at what I wanted to achieve in life I realized there were many reasons and advantages for joining the Coast Guard. One of these aspects was the adventure and chance to travel to new and fascinating locales. Originally being from Florida, this reasoning weighed heavy on my decision to not do like everyone else and litter my "dream sheet" with billets close to home.

It is well known that the Bering Sea and Dutch Harbor is Munro's primary area of operation. For many shipmates arriving in Dutch Harbor for a port call is a less than desirable way to relax and recover from the hustle and bustle of being underway. I'm a pretty simple person and I've never had a problem making my own fun so I set out on my way to discover everything Dutch has to offer. One of the first things I noticed as I was wandering about was there was no trees anywhere on the island. I found this to be a little peculiar, having been raised running through the woods back home as a kid. Taking in the treeless scenery I pressed on.

My first stop would be The Alaska Ship Supply where I paid forty-five dollars for a sweatshirt emblazoned with their logo. Who knew it could cost that much to advertise for some one? I guess I did it because the ASS as it affectionately called is a Dutch Harbor landmark, and coming home without one is like going to the movies and not buying popcorn. My next stop was to Safeway, where I loaded my backpack with all kinds of "fat snacks" and energy drinks for those late night watches. After a trek through the Dutch Harbor mud I returned to the boat to discover chow had once again been secured.

FN Hart ask if I wanted to go to the gym with him and a few others to release any pent up aggression, but I decided to head off to Amelia's Restaurant instead. I'm not quite sure who Amelia is, but her restaurant makes some of the best milkshakes I've ever had. As I sat enjoying my first ever avocado milkshake the gears in my head were turning as to do next. I had the option of walking to the airport and paying twelve dollars to use really slow internet or walking to The Grand Aleutian Hotel and mooching off of their extremely slow internet. I chose to do the latter.

While surfing the web I did a Google search, and found out that Dutch Harbor was covered with the remains of WWII bunkers, pill boxes, and storage facilities. This bit of information began to stoke the fires of my inquisitiveness, and I decided I had to check it out. As I waited for the Liberty Van to give me a ride back to the boat I began conversation with a disgruntled shipmate who was complaining about having nothing to do. I spoke up and offered my recent findings, and invited them to come with me tomorrow to discover what else lay out to be discovered. By the time liberty was granted the next day it was too late and the weather too nasty to attempt climbing a hill in search of the bunkers.

I instead settled on kicking back at the airport lounge listening to music and sea stories of Munro's more senior crew. I was having a blast relaxing and winding down, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a familiar face. I've never been a real big fan of TV, but you would have to be living under a rock to be on a cutter in the Bering Sea and to have never heard of Sig Hansen. Hansen is the Captain of the F/V Northwestern prominently featured on The Discovery Channel's show The Deadliest Catch. I politely excused myself from the group and grabbed my camera and mustered up the courage to approach him and ask if I could take a picture with him and his crew. He looked at me and responded "No I'm working...What do I look like a tourist attraction or something?" Then he grinned and agreed to do it as long as I made it quick so that all his fishing buddies didn't see it. My guess is that they probably give him a hard time about incidents like this. I returned to the group to brandish my trophy when in walked another Captain whom I recognized, but couldn't remember his name.

Now, that might not do it for some people, but it was a pretty cool experience for me. In conclusion although there is not any trees in Dutch if you keep your mind open and can be easily amused there is plenty attractions for the tourist to find."

Flowers

2009-10-12T13:06:00.001-07:00

My beloved sent me fall-themed arrangement to adorn my hovel of a desk.

I married up, didn't I?

Snow in Power Line Pass

2009-10-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Tok and I enjoyed a climb into Power Line Pass, where our growing puppy found chunks of snow to chew on, and I took in the views of the snow capped mountains.

Sounds of Fall

2009-10-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

In my evening strolls with Tok, we take a path around Baxter Bog. This trail is maintained by the Municipality of Anchorage and it is frequented by runners, bikers, and dog walkers alike. A month ago, Tok and I ran into moose almost each eve. I loved the views of the nearby mountains and the oranges and yellows as leaves changed. A week ago, winds picked up, and now that trail is covered in those leaves. As I walk, I cannot help but kick my feet every so often; thus, shuffling leaves around and making that unmistakable sound of fall: swish, swish, swish…now if it would only snow so I can make that other seasonal sound: crunch, crunch, crunch.

Yellow Brick Road

2009-10-03T16:17:00.001-07:00

From the little work desk at the office on a rainy Saturday afternoon, I logged onto my facebook account to update my status. From the status feeds I see that my friend - and now Student Activities Director at Lees-McRae College -posted new photos from the Homecoming parade in Banner Elk, NC. This morning, friends and loved ones marched on a gloriously sunshine-y day to the theme of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" theme for this year's homecoming.

I swear, I live in hands down, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places on this planet. And yet, when I see those smiles faces and those hillsides of the Appalachians, I feel so homesick.

http://lmc.edu/

Natural Disasters

2009-10-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, in shock, I watched nature's wrath in the Phillipines and American Samoa. In the back of my head, I thought, "Hmmm, that gives us about two weeks until the plate movement catches up."

Four days later, the Cleveland volcano erupts out on the Aluetian chain. I am in Anchorage and have a volcano kit with me, and the house in Kodiak is volcano-prepped. Earthquakes, avalanches, and volcanoes...I love the last Frontier. You never know what may occur.

Snowfall

2009-09-27T10:36:00.001-07:00

In a week's time, the mountains that were covered with red cranberry bushes and varying colors of wheat and brown are now snow covered. From the vantage point of the runway at Elmendorf AFB, I took the following pictures. The base has a walking trail along Ship Creek and past the runway. Yesterday, Tok and I walked the trail after a long day at work. Here's the view.

Silvers in Dutch Harbor

2009-09-26T23:32:00.001-07:00

During a portcall in Dutch Harbor, my fisherman caught a silver salmon.

Jazz in Anchorage

2009-09-26T23:18:00.001-07:00

On Friday, armed with two bottles of wine, I entered the adorable condo of my colleague, Nicole. She is a graduate of Vermont Law School, too, and works at my firm. She has just returned from a month in India. The aroma in her apartment was attributed to the Indian dish on the stove. Shortly after I arrived, five other women joined us for dinner. I found myself surrounded by fellow professionals, some single, some in relationships, and one other married lady, like me. It was the first time in a long while that I had laughed and talked about something other than work.

We carpooled to Anchorage's Discovery Theater. We were there to behold a 23 year old jazz vocalist who plays bass, including electric bass. Portland, OR, native, Esperanza Spalding, walked onto the stage with her drummer, pianist, and guitar player. For the next two hours, we tapped our feet, nodded our heads, and dropped our jaws in amazement. Her energy was palable, and her stories that related her songwriting to us had us in stitches. At such a young age, she has already played for Obama three times and remains humble about her talent, astounding as it is.

I encourage you to buy her latest CD (I ordered mine from amazon.com earlier today). My favorite line last night came from a female anthem,

"I am not going to waste my diva energy on you."

Sing it, girl.

Alaska Bumper Stickers

2009-09-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

With "termination dust" on the Chugach, winter is nearly upon us. I saw the following bumper sticker on a large, black pickup truck, rigged to carry snowmobiles, with an adorable blond gal at the steering wheel,

"Snow makes me horny"

Only in Alaska.

Tok enjoying the fall

2009-09-21T22:57:00.001-07:00

With his second coat coming in, I have been driving around with the back window open and caught our adorable puppy in this photo.

And then his ears open in the wind....

Snow on the Chugach

2009-09-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

My morning commute put a smile on my face when I drove past the Chugach and saw that Mother Nature had poured a slight dusting of snow atop some of the higher peaks.

I am sooooo glad I brought my snowshoes to Anchorage.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/943594.html

McHugh Creek and Glen Alps

2009-09-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

Tok and I startted the weekend by driving along the Seward Highway to take some evening pictures of the sunset along Turnagain Arm.

In the gorgeous warm, fall day on Saturday, Tok and I started early. I awoke to my phone ringing at 0630, with a client calling me before he set out fishing for the day. After a quick breakfast, we set out to McHugh Creek, where I left the camera in the car and carried water on my back instead. Already warm that morning, we climbed above the granite slides to walk along the cliffs spanning Turnagain Arm. Bright sunshine in my eyes and jingle of a bear bell keeping us company, we covered four miles to start our day. On our way home, I spotted Tundra Swans in Potter Marsh.

In the late afternoon, we accepted an invitation to photograph some amazing views of Glen Alps. Flanked by berry pickers and dog walkers alike, Tok, my boss (Jon), his hunting dog (Dazzle, and yes, that really is the name of a hunting dog), and I meandered for three hours. I have no idea how many miles we covered, but Tok has slept ever since.

Munro News Post

2009-09-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

Coast Guard makes high wind cliff rescue on Unalaska Island

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Munro rescued a 39-year-old Dutch Harbor man while fighting more than 45 mph winds from a cliff face on Unalaska Island 22-miles southwest of Dutch Harbor at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. Dan Young reportedly fell down a cliff face injuring both legs. He then activated the emergency feature on his personal locating device alerting Coast Guard and local authorities of his exact location. Munro, conducting maritime safety and security patrols in the Bering Sea, immediately launched the Dolphin and the crew successfully hoisted Young and his dog.
“The winds were what made this rescue difficult. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to get in and rescue him,” said Lt. Jason Smith, HH-65 aircraft commander from Kodiak. “As we came in for the hoist everything just seemed to line up and the rescue went great.” Young was transferred to awaiting emergency personnel at Dutch Harbor Airport at 6:40 p.m. The Cutter Munro is a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Kodiak, Alaska.

Williwaw

2009-09-18T13:19:00.001-07:00

After four days, I finally figured out my preferred commute route from my sublet to my office. on my drive, I pass Baxter Bog, where I walk Tok each morning, a beautiful pond surrounded by golden birch trees, and an elementary school with a distinctly Alaskan name: Williwaw Elementary.

In Kodiak, we experience hurricane-like storms that would have actual, assigned names from the National Weather Systems. Instead, we tough Kodiakians call them rain storms. Wind rages from 30-70 mph as huge gusts cut between mountain ranges and over to our nook of houses nestled on the northeast corner of the isle.

A week after I left, as if on cue that summer was over, the day after Labor Day, a helluva storm stranded Kodiakians for three days. Winds of 50 mph and over an inch of rain accumulated each day. Whereas no flights arrived or left the island, business progressed as usual: children went to school, parents went to work, and Coasties deployed to save lives.

"A williwaw is a sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea. The williwaw results from the descent of cold, dense air from the snow and ice fields of coastal mountains in high latitudes, accelerated by the force of gravity."
Source: Good ol' wikipedia

Big Foot

2009-09-16T23:44:00.001-07:00

One of the blessings about this stint in Anchorage is that there are few reminders of my best friend being gone. And then I made the mistake of toggling through some pictures from this summer and organizing them into folders like the uber-organized, anal retentive person that I am...ahem...and then I found this one.

The weather had actually been nice enough for me to wear sandals to my morning Rotary meeting. We are shoe-less house, so I kicked them off at the door from the garage into the laundry room without a second glance at the photo-op I had made inadvertently. Brad came out and made me take the following picture. Enjoy.

South Royalton, VT to Willow, AK

2009-09-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend, Tok and I relocated to Anchorage for a six week stint for a large project. Brad had left for another long patrol, so the assignment's long hours will help me get through a large chunk of this underway period.

Being in Anchorage enabled me to head north to Willow, AK, and participate in another weekend of Rotary's Youth Exchange program. As the Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) for my club, I attend to receive additional training and to support our community's newest edition: Sagar.

As I pulled into the camp on Saturday morning, the energy was palpable. Greeted by warm hugs from fellow YEOs and waves from familiar students' faces as they devoured breakfast, I felt welcomed back into the fold. Sporting my Vermont Law School tshirt and birks, I took my notebook and curled into a chair to listen in on the sessions scheduled for the day.

During a break, a guest approached me. His name tag read "Ram ___ Guest." Introductions were made, and he asked if I had gone to VLS. Yes, class of '02 I replied. "Cool. I just graduated this summer." Small world. It turns out that Ram will be clerking for a judge assigned to Barrow, AK (the judge is a fellow Rotarian). Born in Mumbai, raised in Atlanta, he attended undergrad at Furman (go Knights) and then VLS. He looked amazed that not only did I know Furman but that my roots in SC and the south were strong, too. He had lots of questions about his upcoming trip and the community, and I tried to impart my limited knowledge unto him. He soaked up everything. When I found out that I had Tok with me, he insisted upon meeting our "Alaskan" dog. We exchanged contact information so that we could keep in touch. Small world, huh?

From South Royalton, Vermont, to Willow, AK: 4,530 miles

Dancing Bear

2009-09-14T23:23:00.001-07:00

Kodiak is blessed by an extraordinary blogger, who bestows upon us his Doonesbury cartoons and Kodiak and Alaska-isms alike:

http://kodiakkonfidential.blogspot.com/2009/09/they-only-flash-for-cash-and-spread-for.html

Turn on your speakers. This is a riot.

Summer's End

2009-09-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

In April, on the porch of Claudia Anderson’s house, I met the Kodiak Audubon Society for our last meeting before the summer. Internally, I was shocked that we would suspend meetings for the summer. We only meet once per month, on a Tuesday evening. Why was it such a big deal to stop? My raised eyebrows clued in the astute Claudia, “Summers are so busy in Kodiak- Alaska in general, really. Just you wait. The fireweed will be blooming in no time.”

Shocked, I remained.

And now, here I am, desperately catching up on blogs while on an airplane on 1 September (editor's note: and yet not being able to post them all until 13 September). The glorious summer was completely opposite of the Kodiak rainy season in which we arrived last summer. Warm days, plenty of berry picking, and wildflowers galore provided this tree hugger with some awe-inspiring hikes. Fishing with my best friend was not so bad either. Armed with my Ugly Stick (Brand name, not the nickname I bestowed upon it) and my $4 Salvation Army Special Waders, I snagged a lot of rocks and seaweed.

If only I had caught a starfish…

Our End of Summer Visitors

2009-09-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

With fireweed blooming along the hillsides and the cow parsnip starting to brown, I knew the salmon runs were changing from Red to Pink to Silver. The middle of August brought us two visitors: Melissa from Savannah and John from Port Arthur, TX. Melissa arrived a few days earlier than John, who stayed a few days longer after Melissa headed back south. The overlap gave us a well rounded table for dinners of salmon and board games (housewarming gifts from our favorite board game addict, John), and a full car to explore the island’s hillsides, streams, fishing holes, and museums.

The highlight of our trip was seeing the bear who has been entertaining a lot of residents and visitors alike down at the Russian and Sargent Rivers. This male has seen some action, as evident by the missing sections of his hind quarters. Not hindered by the missing flesh, he ambles about, catching salmon in the streams, stocking up for the winter.

Now these two visitors did have uniquely different experiences on Brad’s Halibut Charters…. Big Mama remains the top halibut catcher (not processor) by helping put about 20-25lbs of high quality and “organic” meat in the deep freezer, but she did have some notable challengers... Melissa was the ultimate trooper and assassin, but the jet lag proved too much and Kawika and Brad decided it would be more fun to limit out on Pinks in Women’s Bay. John was the seasoned sea going warrior, but not quite the master fisherman. He started slow (he did manage to catch a starfish), but finished with 8lbs of halibut and 4 legitimate non-snagged pink salmon.

Like Big Mama, we treated Melissa to a dinner cruise, where we took in the sea lions in St. Herman's Harbor, birds in flight (puffins mostly), and some amazing ray's of sun over the newly installed wind mills on Pillar Mountain.

Isn't that gorgeous?

Vegas, Baby!

2009-09-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Our big vacation this year took us to Vegas to witness my sister and Suketu marrying in a Christian ceremony. We arrived a few days prior to get our fix of cuisine at Mesa Grill, Rao’s, and Red Square; our spa indulgence at Spa Mandalay; and our workouts at the hotel’s gym. We slept in late, road rollercoasters at New York, New York, and enjoyed picking up “trading cards” along the strip.

Four days into our trip, the happy couple arrived. A few hours after landing, they met us at the StripHouse at Planet Hollywood. Over a bottle of wine and fabulous cuisine, we caught up on summer events and plans for the Hindi wedding in India in April 2010. From there, we treated the couple to a night out at Ka, the Cirque du Soleil show about warfare. This amazing show featured live music, a monstrous and portable set, and remarkable, breathtaking acrobatics from the whole cast.

The following day, we met up with extended family to tour the other end of the strip: Stratosphere, Circus Circus, and the Venetian. After a long day in the sun, we retired early so that I could wake up and collect Dad at the airport on Saturday morning. With my father in tow, Brad and I set off to the Chapel of Flowers, where we witnessed an intimate, personal vow exchange between Jennifer and Suketu. Friends and family celebrated that evening at the Paris’ Eiffel Tower Restaurant. With the sun setting behind the Nevada mountains and the Bellagio Fountain entertaining our tables, their reception featured creative dishes for both the vegetarians and omnivores in the crowd. To see the happy couple as the center of attention was exactly what we traveled 22 hours to behold. To have formal pictures taken with my parents was icing on the cake.

The wedding party and guests at the Chapel of Flowers

Jennifer and Suketu at their reception.Our three tables at Paris Restaurant, which overlooks the Bellagio Fountains.

My goofballs unite!

Port calls with no DUNKIN DONUTS!!!

2009-09-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

So when you really consider my job, I make sure that I get MUNRO from point A to point B and make sure that we can do stuff in between. Being the Chauffeur for 140 people versus 1 wifey (in summer 2008) is a very different job, and we know I had trouble pleasing just one person.

So I have now completed my first full year assigned and have been away from home for 211 days. In those 211 days I have seen Busan South Korea, Yokosuka Japan, Adak AK, Dutch Harbor AK, Pearl Harbor HI, Honolulu HI, and Kodiak AK. Now some of my best memories about being afloat on the East Coast are walking off the pier and immediately finding Dunkin Donuts, the ultimate beacon of my coffee "problem". Our first trip in South Korea, I was fooled, it looked like a Dunkin, it smelled like a Dunkin but..... IT DIDN’T SELL COFFEE!!!!! How is this possible I have no idea, but I got a Coolata instead.

In Yokosuka co-located with the Navy Exchange I found true happiness a full service Dunkin. In our 12days there I had 20 cups of coffee. Ahhh the taste of home.

Now we get to our second patrol..... Dutch harbor doesn’t have a single coffee place, so I can’t expect a Dunkin. Honolulu has all Kona and Lion Coffee for local stuff, and I was surrounded by the evil empire Starbucks. I’m working on this whole staying awake thing, but without the good stuff how can I promise not to fall asleep at the wheel. Ship coffee has gotten better though; I complained enough that they are now stocking an AK blend from Ravens Brew called Deadman’s Reach. It is strong, smooth, but still not Dunkin. It’s a good thing we keep having it shipped to our home.

Lance Romance

2009-09-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Our first houseguest in 2008 returned with a vengeance in July 2009. For a long weekend, we hiked, fished, ate, drink, hiked, ate, and drank some more. Our home was filled with stories from seasoned Master Chiefs—well, more like tall tales—growlers of beer from the local brewery, and lots of homemade pies. The camaraderie generated by his youthful outlook and by his insistence of running eight miles in near monsoon conditions kept our spirits high and the jokes flowing. Lance is about my size, so his thin DC blood was quite cold in Kodiak. He borrowed Brad’s clothes and rolled up the sleeves about eight inches for fleeces to fit his little frame. Despite being allergic to Tok, he played with our puppy constantly, and showered us with love and adoration before he jetted off on more business travel. A couple of days ago, Brad pulled out his gray fleece, and chuckled. The sleeves were stilled rolled up…

Weeks later, and he is still making us laugh.

Cutterman's Pin

2009-09-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

To say that I am proud of my husband is an understatement. At the beginning of our summer together, he came home with great news: he had earned his cutterman’s pin. With five years of sea service, his uniform is now graced with a gold cutterman’s pin. Building upon that, in early July, we started talking about where we want to go next. We toured both Seward and Homer, and we have decided that Seward is our Number One pick. Backed with what we hope to be a very competitive recommendation for his outgoing CO…

What does it take to be Commanding Officer of a Coast Guard Cutter?

STEP ONE: File a packet to screen for Command (Done!!!)
STEP TWO: Submit “Dreamsheet” in October
STEP THREE: Bite fingernails while the Board meets and determine the screening list in November
STEP FOUR: Wait for a call from the detailer time… TBD (hopefully in January or February 2010)
STEP FIVE: Well, that’s a whole bunch of steps that include Brad going to schools, going underway with CGC Munro during Spring 2010, selling our home (wanna buy a great home in Kodiak?), and move from one remote area in Alaska to another.

But the icing on the cake was when our friend (and my colleague), Jim, visited us in July. Jim is a former Coastie who also earned his cutterman’s pin. He belongs to a group of retired Coasties in Washington, DC, who meet every now and then, mentor young Coasties, and talk a lot of shop. Nevertheless, they have shirts embroidered with the Cutterman’s Pin insignia. He brought his own shirt and gave it to Brad. Note: He did not have one made FOR Brad. He gave HIS to Brad, and wished him a lot of luck as he continues his career at sea.

The exchange took place in front of me, and I have to admit my wet eyes and shocked grin kept me standing there, somewhat stupefied by tenderness of the moment. Jim has been a friend and mentor to us both, and his personal gift is a testament to the faith he holds in Brad and in us. We were humbled…and very thankful for the love and support.

Kayaking in Seward

2009-07-28T21:52:00.001-07:00

Brad's mom, Big Mama, joined us on a trip to the Kenai Peninsula. We visited Homer and Seward, and while in Resurrection Bay, we kayaked to a wonderful waterfall and enjoyed sea otters, waterfowl, and harbor porpoises in their natural habitat. We fell in love with this tiny town and have decided to rank it as our number one pick for the next rotation.

While there, we visited Exit Glacier, which has many hiking trails for us to conquer. The recent bear sitings and the desire to get to the Roadhouse for a premium feast on salmon kept us from exploring more, but the sunset over this receding phenom was a beauty to behold while we dined on freshly caught fish.

We had passed the afternoon at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where we enjoyed the antics of locally rescued sea otter, Skittle. Sadly, Skittle died shortly after our visit. He managed to unhook the grate to the sewage pipe and drowned in the pipe. He was bound for NYC Aquarium and was slowly acclimating to loud noises and boisterous crowds. His adorable demeanor grabbed our heartstrings. The sad tidings of his departure were hard to stomach after watching this little guy in action.