Soon I will start writing real posts again. Probably.
Here's a quick one for you:
Spring is slowly making its way here.
It's sunny, and above freezing, so the snow pack is melting off. Cautiously.
There is much more daylight than there once was.
The tour buses are out in circulation, and dangerous with new drivers. I even saw an RV today, but I think it is here for Gold Medal.
I have traded my down coat for my green fleece hoody, though I haven't put the down coat in the closet.
Nothing is growing yet, and the cats still don't want to play outside.
That's pretty much the news.
It's not that we haven't been doing anything bloggable, but if I had gotten around to writing a new post before this, is would have gone something like this:
Hockey, hockey, hockey. Hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey. Should I play womens's league or D league (the "D" is for awesome, btw)? Hockey, hockey hockey.
Hockey
Hockey, hockey.
(I'm thinking about playing hockey next year. Maybe it is time to learn the rules (and how to stop).)
March 25, 2011
January 30, 2011
Finally. . .
Hello. Hello.
It has been awhile, I know, but not because I haven't been writing blog posts. Just because I haven't been posting them.
Things are good here. Quiet, but that is nice. We are headed into the slump, the beginning of the time when winter seems to last forever, and even I start planning imaginary vacations to Hawaii or Mexico.
Except, I guess, I do have a honeymoon to accomplish, so maybe it is not entirely fantastic.
Hmmm.
The news of the day is that we finally got ice skates!
I have wanted a pair all winter, and today we were walking around at the glacier and went out on the ice (cause everybody else was doing it...) and I decided that I must have some skates. Now.
So I informed Ernie of my decision, and told him that there was a free pair of skates in it for him, and we drove straight to Play It Again Sports in Lemon Creek.
The very nice salesman helped us pick out some pond/hockey skates and fit them properly (there almost wasn't a pair left that fit Ernie, but I found the last size 11's in the bottom of a pile--I was not to be derailed), and within minutes we were skated.
Sadly, the guy who sharpens the skates does not work on the days when people are most likely to buy them, so we left with our blades dull.
The other salesguy seemed to think that it would be hilarious to watch us skate without our blades sharpened, but we figured it would be hilarious whether or not we had dull blades, considering neither of us have skated in over a decade.
We stopped at home to change our clothes, and headed right back out to Skater's cabin on Mendenhall Lake. We were hoping that there would be no one to watch us, but on a sunny, cold, day like today, there were a lot of people on the ice. Oh well.
So we strapped on our stiff new hockey skates, and gave it a try.
Skating is awesome!!!!!!!!
It took a little bit of time to get used to the feeling, but soon we were flying across the ice like we knew what we were doing. Until one of our skates hit a crack and got stuck, that is. But we would just pull our foot up and keep going. We both fell a few times, but it didn't really hurt (we were wearing our puffy coats), and we would just slide across the ice.
Skating is so fast and fun, and a great way to get out in the sun during the winter. Of course, we still have a ton of room for improvement (especially in the backwards skating department), but it should just get better and better.
And maybe next year I can play hockey. I hear the girls can be quite aggressive.
It has been awhile, I know, but not because I haven't been writing blog posts. Just because I haven't been posting them.
Things are good here. Quiet, but that is nice. We are headed into the slump, the beginning of the time when winter seems to last forever, and even I start planning imaginary vacations to Hawaii or Mexico.
Except, I guess, I do have a honeymoon to accomplish, so maybe it is not entirely fantastic.
Hmmm.
The news of the day is that we finally got ice skates!
I have wanted a pair all winter, and today we were walking around at the glacier and went out on the ice (cause everybody else was doing it...) and I decided that I must have some skates. Now.
So I informed Ernie of my decision, and told him that there was a free pair of skates in it for him, and we drove straight to Play It Again Sports in Lemon Creek.
The very nice salesman helped us pick out some pond/hockey skates and fit them properly (there almost wasn't a pair left that fit Ernie, but I found the last size 11's in the bottom of a pile--I was not to be derailed), and within minutes we were skated.
Sadly, the guy who sharpens the skates does not work on the days when people are most likely to buy them, so we left with our blades dull.
The other salesguy seemed to think that it would be hilarious to watch us skate without our blades sharpened, but we figured it would be hilarious whether or not we had dull blades, considering neither of us have skated in over a decade.
We stopped at home to change our clothes, and headed right back out to Skater's cabin on Mendenhall Lake. We were hoping that there would be no one to watch us, but on a sunny, cold, day like today, there were a lot of people on the ice. Oh well.
So we strapped on our stiff new hockey skates, and gave it a try.
Skating is awesome!!!!!!!!
It took a little bit of time to get used to the feeling, but soon we were flying across the ice like we knew what we were doing. Until one of our skates hit a crack and got stuck, that is. But we would just pull our foot up and keep going. We both fell a few times, but it didn't really hurt (we were wearing our puffy coats), and we would just slide across the ice.
Skating is so fast and fun, and a great way to get out in the sun during the winter. Of course, we still have a ton of room for improvement (especially in the backwards skating department), but it should just get better and better.
And maybe next year I can play hockey. I hear the girls can be quite aggressive.
 |
| Here I am, gracefully figure skating on the lake (before I bought my ice skates) |
January 01, 2011
Happy 2011!!!
All over the webbers, people are putting together recaps of the year 2010, and outlining their goals for next year. Although I have not been blogging for an entire year yet, I thought I would share my thoughts on 2010 as well.
2010 started out a little on the rough side for us. I was still unemployed, and Ernie was in school, so we had very little money coming in. But we had just enough to make it. I started teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology at Portland Community College, and although I was working, I made less while teaching than I got from unemployment. Teaching was an incredible challenge for me, but I learned a ton, and I am happy for the experience. I'm sure that it built some character.
At the same time, I also kept my eyes (wide) open for jobs in Alaska. We were planning on moving to the Anchorage area, or if we got really lucky, Homer. In May, with perfect timing, a job was advertised in Juneau, one that I knew I had a serious chance at getting because, well, I had worked with the same group before. We had to sit down and decide if we could move back to Juneau and truly be happy, especially Ernie, who grew up here. Juneau is in a beautiful location on the inside passage, with lots of recreational opportunity, but it isn't in all ways perfect. It is also small and isolated and expensive and a little weird. Luckily we are both a little weird, and I got the job, and three weeks later we were headed up the highway towards our new home.
I don't mean to imply, however, that one can drive to Juneau. We took two and a half days to drive from Portland, Oregon to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia in what was the longest and most stressful road trip of my life. We left our families and everything we had known for the last ten years, and took a brand new (used--life history unknown) truck and two cats, and headed north. At that time we didn't have anywhere to go once we got here. But like everything else about our return to Alaska, things worked out better than we could have imagined.
After our arrival and our move into a house, we spent the summer enjoying the copious amounts of daylight and amazing surroundings, and aspiring to get our life in order. I was working were I worked when we left Juneau, Ernie got a job at the place he was working at when we left, and the wheel of ka rolls ever on. I picked lots of blueberries, and we went hiking and kayaking and camping.
This fall and winter have been largely quiet and relaxing. Ernie is attending school and is busy in the evenings, and I use my many powers to keep myself well-entertained. We have been able to get out on the weekends and enjoy the snow and ice that have surrounded us so far. We closed out the year with a bonfire on the beach with a couple of close friends, a glass of delicious champagne, and a platter of brownies. Ahhhh.
2010 has ended well, and we are very happy with our life. We are hopeful for a good 2011, for ourselves and all of you.
And now I have some resolutions for the new year, or at least some ideas. I want to:
Buy something big (a house, property, and/or a sailboat)
Go on at least one multi-day kayaking trip through the inside passage
Explore the area in an ever-widening circle
Write more
Take better care of myself
Get involved with the local community somehow
We wish you all peace, joy, and happiness in 2011!
2010 started out a little on the rough side for us. I was still unemployed, and Ernie was in school, so we had very little money coming in. But we had just enough to make it. I started teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology at Portland Community College, and although I was working, I made less while teaching than I got from unemployment. Teaching was an incredible challenge for me, but I learned a ton, and I am happy for the experience. I'm sure that it built some character.
At the same time, I also kept my eyes (wide) open for jobs in Alaska. We were planning on moving to the Anchorage area, or if we got really lucky, Homer. In May, with perfect timing, a job was advertised in Juneau, one that I knew I had a serious chance at getting because, well, I had worked with the same group before. We had to sit down and decide if we could move back to Juneau and truly be happy, especially Ernie, who grew up here. Juneau is in a beautiful location on the inside passage, with lots of recreational opportunity, but it isn't in all ways perfect. It is also small and isolated and expensive and a little weird. Luckily we are both a little weird, and I got the job, and three weeks later we were headed up the highway towards our new home.
I don't mean to imply, however, that one can drive to Juneau. We took two and a half days to drive from Portland, Oregon to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia in what was the longest and most stressful road trip of my life. We left our families and everything we had known for the last ten years, and took a brand new (used--life history unknown) truck and two cats, and headed north. At that time we didn't have anywhere to go once we got here. But like everything else about our return to Alaska, things worked out better than we could have imagined.
After our arrival and our move into a house, we spent the summer enjoying the copious amounts of daylight and amazing surroundings, and aspiring to get our life in order. I was working were I worked when we left Juneau, Ernie got a job at the place he was working at when we left, and the wheel of ka rolls ever on. I picked lots of blueberries, and we went hiking and kayaking and camping.
This fall and winter have been largely quiet and relaxing. Ernie is attending school and is busy in the evenings, and I use my many powers to keep myself well-entertained. We have been able to get out on the weekends and enjoy the snow and ice that have surrounded us so far. We closed out the year with a bonfire on the beach with a couple of close friends, a glass of delicious champagne, and a platter of brownies. Ahhhh.
2010 has ended well, and we are very happy with our life. We are hopeful for a good 2011, for ourselves and all of you.
And now I have some resolutions for the new year, or at least some ideas. I want to:
Buy something big (a house, property, and/or a sailboat)
Go on at least one multi-day kayaking trip through the inside passage
Explore the area in an ever-widening circle
Write more
Take better care of myself
Get involved with the local community somehow
We wish you all peace, joy, and happiness in 2011!
December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas everyone!
 |
| Another shot of Mt. McGinnis from our back porch, on one of the recent clear, cold days. |
Love,
Sarah and Ernie
December 10, 2010
Fame (internet style)
Last night we went to a poster session to see the poster that Ernie made for his GIS class. We were looking around at all the posters that all of the students made, and I saw one about dissolved organic matter in Auke Lake. The author had put a picture up of Auke Creek, and I went to point it out to Chris to show him were I work in the summer. When I looked closer, I saw that my blog address was printed at the bottom (otherwise I might not have known that I had taken the picture).
Someone had stolen a picture from my blog to use on their poster! (And cited it properly!)
I'm pretty sure that means I'm famous!
Someone had stolen a picture from my blog to use on their poster! (And cited it properly!)
I'm pretty sure that means I'm famous!
November 28, 2010
OMG Snow!
I love winter.
I especially love winter here, where there is snow and ice and dark nights and northern lights.
In Portland it seemed like winter largely consisted of colder rain.
And maybe the hope of snow.
Here there is more than hope...
Of course, there is a thick layer of ice underneath most of the snow, and tomorrow's weather is predicted to warm up a little, rain, and then freeze again.
But I still love it! It is so nice to have seasons!
In other news, we had a very good thanksgiving. We went to a friend's house, and it was a large, traditional, family affair. I made a delicious spanakopita that even the carnivores enjoyed (come to think of it, most of what I ate was spinach-based--I love spinach dip!), and we were sent home with two more meals worth of food.
On Friday we went to the public market. We mostly browsed, and hopefully will go back today to pick up a couple of things. While we were there before we bought only, um, cheese. And bread. But it was a delicious french blue cheese (Vieux berger), and the sample guy let us try everything, so we were obligated. And the bread was a rustic rye similar to the type of loaf that I hope to make soon, so we had to try it.
Now it is time to start decorating our house for christmas. The few decorations that we kept are squirreled away at my parent's house, so we are starting from scratch. This will be our first christmas on our own, so we have the chance to start up some new traditions.
So far all I have done is make some snowflakes to hang around the house (I'm pretty sure that is why it snowed so much last night, and I only made two or three. Imagine what will happen when I make an army of snowflakes! I can't wait!)
So I will make more snowflakes and other things to decorate, and maybe we will get a tree soon. And some lights. In the meantime, our life is quietly busy, and nearly perfect.
I especially love winter here, where there is snow and ice and dark nights and northern lights.
In Portland it seemed like winter largely consisted of colder rain.
And maybe the hope of snow.
Here there is more than hope...
 | |
| I present to you (again): our back deck. The prediction is for 3-8 inches more accumulation today. |
 | |
| Look! Bear tracks on the deck! |
But I still love it! It is so nice to have seasons!
In other news, we had a very good thanksgiving. We went to a friend's house, and it was a large, traditional, family affair. I made a delicious spanakopita that even the carnivores enjoyed (come to think of it, most of what I ate was spinach-based--I love spinach dip!), and we were sent home with two more meals worth of food.
On Friday we went to the public market. We mostly browsed, and hopefully will go back today to pick up a couple of things. While we were there before we bought only, um, cheese. And bread. But it was a delicious french blue cheese (Vieux berger), and the sample guy let us try everything, so we were obligated. And the bread was a rustic rye similar to the type of loaf that I hope to make soon, so we had to try it.
Now it is time to start decorating our house for christmas. The few decorations that we kept are squirreled away at my parent's house, so we are starting from scratch. This will be our first christmas on our own, so we have the chance to start up some new traditions.
So far all I have done is make some snowflakes to hang around the house (I'm pretty sure that is why it snowed so much last night, and I only made two or three. Imagine what will happen when I make an army of snowflakes! I can't wait!)
 | ||
| This was my practice snowflake. I plan to find some shiny paper (maybe blue and silver?) and make some more. |
October 30, 2010
Its snow time!!
It is just starting to get wintery here. The darkness is starting to take over, but hasn't yet, and there have been a few storms.
But no snow. At least not at sea level.
There is snow on all of the mountains though, and the snow level has remained at around 2000 ft for the past couple of weeks.
I have been wanting to get out and touch the snow, but everyone keeps telling me to wait for it. It will be here soon enough. But that's not my style.
So today, with Ernie at work and all the chores done at home, I decided to go to the snow.
I chose the fastest and easiest route possible to get there: I went up Mt. Roberts.
The trail is nothing but uphill (unless you are coming down) and I gained almost 2000 ft in an hour. It was tiring, but I finally got to the snow, touched it, and headed back down.
All around the trail there were birds and squirrels collecting food for the impending winter, and I saw deer and rabbit tracks all over the snow.
I am satisfied for now, and of course, the snow level is predicted to come down to the 800 ft level in the next few days, so I really could have waited for it.
Except I couldn't.
But no snow. At least not at sea level.
There is snow on all of the mountains though, and the snow level has remained at around 2000 ft for the past couple of weeks.
I have been wanting to get out and touch the snow, but everyone keeps telling me to wait for it. It will be here soon enough. But that's not my style.
So today, with Ernie at work and all the chores done at home, I decided to go to the snow.
I chose the fastest and easiest route possible to get there: I went up Mt. Roberts.
 |
| A view of downtown Juneau from about half a mile up the trail. |
The trail is nothing but uphill (unless you are coming down) and I gained almost 2000 ft in an hour. It was tiring, but I finally got to the snow, touched it, and headed back down.
 |
| The first snow that I saw on the trail, just below the tram. Pathetic, I know, but you gotta start somewhere. |
All around the trail there were birds and squirrels collecting food for the impending winter, and I saw deer and rabbit tracks all over the snow.
 |
| Mt. Roberts. I didn't go all the way to the top, even though it is only another 1000 vertical feet or so. |
I am satisfied for now, and of course, the snow level is predicted to come down to the 800 ft level in the next few days, so I really could have waited for it.
Except I couldn't.
 |
| Looking across to Mt Juneau, down the channel, and towards the valley. |
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