So I've been lazy...

...and not posting "real" content.

I'll go through the usual excuses:

1. too busy
2. work keeps me preoccupied
3. Scott keeps me preoccupied
4. too busy

...one NEW excuse that I've been thinking about lately is that if I'm happy, I don't feel/have the need to write. Kinda like writing in a journal when you're stressed out or trying to work out feelings/thoughts.

I've been thinking about me not having the desire to write much when things are working out on my end here in Alaska.

Things now are going really well! I appreciate the state of Alaska incredibly, and that appreciation grows daily.

Why am I writing now?

Because I can't sleep. Not that it's that late, but I just got off work, don't have to wake up too early tomorrow, I'm by myself, and just feel like sharing my little thoughts with whomever may decide to sit down and read them.

I have a TON of pictures to post. Even dating back to when Marianne, Alyssa & Tim visited over the July 4th holiday. What an EXPERIENCE.

I learned a lot about myself and where I came from during their visit. Scott just recently mentioned to me how he hasn't heard me talk about home or being homesick since they left....ha!! It's true!! I don't know what it is, but it's true...

I think what I experienced was eye-opening in the fact that I feel much lighter about my life here. Things are....rosier?? I feel like life here suits me really well. I'm happier. Trying things I've never done before. Been going out on a limb with my thoughts and comforts. There are several examples I'll go into later on.

I think another little part of what I was going through while my family visited was that the people in Alaska, mostly, are very true. And people live here because they WANT to live here. It's such a unique place in America to be, that it's not for everyone. And those people leave. So what we're left with in Alaska is just a bunch of oddly distinct demographic of persons.

Pretty cool.

Having family around, and frankly, just someone from home here in my new element was pretty freakin' cool. Weird, like two worlds colliding, but very cool. It was SO nice to be able to share my excitement for this land with people that I truly love, and know me. I received a very nice email from Tim telling me about his joys of the trip. I still wish that there were more fisheries open for him to really experience Alaska fishing. We'll have to better coordinate their next visit during the running of the reds on the Russian.

All in all, I really appreciate their visit. It was awesome. And I think the pictures show that:



The trip started off with a drive down the Kenai, to Seward, home of the annual Mt. Marathon race. From there we tried our hand at fishing at a couple of local lakes (with minimal success - sorry Tim). My family went on a glacier cruise out of Whittier, via the Alaska Railroad. I know that was a highlight of their trip. And we also managed to fit in horseback riding, a trip to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, kayaking through Passage Canal, and a flight seeing tour of Anchorage's local favorite: the Chugach Mountains. We also found time to go shopping at the downtown shops and market.

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A couple of weeks ago, I went on a local hike with an Alaska newbie. It was a nice hike, with nothing major of consequence.



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This past weekend, Scott, Jilene and I went on a short backpacking trip out of the Eagle River Nature Center. It was Jilene's first overnight backpacking trip. Experiences like this are really good for her to be getting out in nature and to get some exercise.




That's about all I got right now. Pretty tired at the moment and need to head to bed.

Temperature update: 67 degrees with a moon in Whitman, 57 degrees and cloudy in Anchorage
Sunrise/set: 6:03a/7:27p in Whitman, 6:38a/9:24p in Anchorage

"Anchorage's Flower Picture"

Another natpack. This one is about a flower picture that is planted every year at the intersection of L St. and 15th. Once the flowers grow into the beds and fill it out, the picture is seen clear. It is almost always Alaska themed.

"Fire Mitigation"

Fire mitigation in Alaska helps in many ways. Forest fires consume millions of acres in Alaska every year. It is part of mother nature's regeneration. Unless the fires threaten structures or communities, they are allowed to burn. After a small midtown forest fire last year, it was decided to take care of some mitigation efforts in that area to make it easier for firefighters to contain.

"Seward Wind Energy"

Renewable energy sources are a big thing in Alaska, where the cost of energy is so high, and is compounded by long, harsh winters.

People are really trying to convert their current energy to renewable sources that cost less in the long run.

Channel 2 has run many stories about what people are experimenting and going with, and the challenges they are facing as they pioneer in new energy directions.

This is the story of a couple trying to link their new wind turbine to the energy grid, but are facing issues with the city of Seward allowing them to do so.

Reporter Lori Tipton and I visited the couple and the Seward City Manager to have a better understanding of the situation. This story aired in May of this year.

"The Whole Story is Dad"

This is a "natpack". A story that I produced by myself, without the aid of a reporter. In this style of story, the people who's story this is, tell their story. No reporter track necessary. These are my favorite types of stories, as they are the most natural.

This was a Valentine's Day story about a woman who hand-makes chocolate.

Congo Refugees

Leyla Santiago and I worked on a story that told of the strife of one Congo family's struggle to America. Their journey and the hardships of what the endured in their old life.

They are a wonderful family, with much promise for their future. They are very loving of each other and understand the importance of family.




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In part 2, Shawn Wilson was the editor.

City-wide Cleanup

Every spring, Anchorage has a period of time where there is a city-wide cleanup. Volunteers pick up all the trash leftover and hidden from the long winter.

In this particular story, Meg Baldino is the reporter, Scott was the photojournalist, and I was the editor.

"Sailing Resurrection Bay"

Another "Assignment Alaska" story. This story with shot with Reporter Jill Burke, and aired in May 2009.