Just because...

...it makes me laugh and I could use that right about now. This is from our Family Vacation to Disney World this past June, 2007... Thanks Squirty!!

the changing industry

My good friend, Tim, just informed me of the departure of Bob Lobel from WBZ.  I must say I was very surprised, however there are many layoffs occurring across the country nowadays, and the news industry is no exception. 

Shawn Montano, as aforementioned in one of my posts, was one of the members of KCNC who was laid off. Check out this article. Employee: KCNC-TV laid off several staffers.

Here are a couple of links I came across when I was reading up on the changing faces of local news back home in Massachusetts.  

TV News Personality, Likability, Vanishing.

Burton likely to fill Lobel's spot at WBZ.

Lobel out in Ch 4 purge.

Temperature update: 40 degrees and mostly cloudy in Anchorage.

Alaska trivia: Alaska is home to 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States.

The Hug.

As I wake up this morning later than I had hoped; after I make myself some tea, pour a glass of orange juice, toast up an english muffin, boot up my computer and type in my password, I'm sitting here divulging myself with breakfast and I happen to look at the date on the iCal that I've opened.  

April 1st.

This particular post may draw some criticism, or whispers or maybe even some gossip. If it does, oh well.  This blog is here to help me communicate with friends and family back home, and also to promote conversation about other parts of the world strange and unknown to the South Shore.  Today's post is a little different from what I just described, but I feel it is important to acknowledge someone.  

Even though I was not what some people would classify as "friends" with him, he and I have known each other since the days back in the '80's at Conley Elementary School.  For whatever reason, I have never forgotten his birthday: April 1st, 1981.  Maybe because it is April Fool's Day. Maybe because it is so close to my birthday. Maybe because he left such an indelible impression on me, even dating back 20 years ago.  For whatever reason it may be, I know that Adam Menchin brought a lot of people happiness in his life. And I'm sure that the people who are and were most close to him are thinking of him certainly this day.  My most sincere thoughts are with you. 

I saw Adam twice in his last year.  It was great.  Since I had left working for the Red Sox, I had been able to get out more in Whitman and Hanson and to see and visit people I would not have been able to otherwise, given my prior work schedule at Fenway.  Adam was one of those people that I would see out from time to time.  I really enjoyed seeing him and our meetings really brought a smile to me when we would catch up with each other's goings-on of life. Both times it felt very natural and honest. The first was at Jaime's, right around Thanksgiving of 2006. We sat at the bar and chatted about what was new, where we were both working and living. We hadn't seen each other in years at this point, but it didn't feel that way.  The second time was at Damien's last summer. I was there with Jeff and I saw Adam about 10 feet away. I stood up to go over to say hi, and we ended up talking for a few. Things seemed to have been a little rough for him lately, but he still had a smile on his face. After a few minutes, we said our goodbyes and exchanged a hug.  I'll never forget that hug. I remember specifically how deep, strong, sincere and intentional it was. 

Happy Birthday Adam.  There's a lot of people missing you.

mini-Post

I stumbled upon this little nook somewhere in the Turnagain area/Earthquake Park area of Anchorage while working earlier this month.  I was able to snap a couple of photos real quick, and I thought some of you might enjoy them...so here you go:

The Valley

As I was uploading my pictures to my computer from my trip to Nome, I realized that there are some things that I need to update you all on of my recent sights and experiences.  So I've decided to separate my posts based upon the pictures that I've recently taken.

I'm starting with "The Valley". 

Other names are:

The Mat-Su Valley.  

The Matanuska Valley.  

Palmer.  

Wasilla.

One of the reporters that I work with lives out in "The Valley" and two weekends ago she invited me out there to visit her.  The Valley is about 45 minutes away from Anchorage, and is very, very rural.

The two towns that make up the Valley are Palmer and Wasilla.

I liked Palmer better than Wasilla.  Palmer has a quaint and modest downtown area, with town offices a courthouse and several churches. Most of these pictures are of Palmer.  They were all taken from within a car, so they aren't super artistic or involved.  I hope to visit the Valley in the springtime and walk around a bit; I'll be able to take some better pictures then.  Wasilla is more commercialized and spread out. There wasn't much to either community, but everywhere you looked, you had a gorgeous view of all of the mountains.

This, I believe, was the downtown of Palmer. Take a look at that light. I thought it had a lot of character, so I snapped a couple pictures of it.

We have the "Valley Bureau" at KTUU, and it is just one reporter and one photographer who are there. The Valley Bureau is located in Wasilla and is run out of a radio station. 

The reporter and photographer are in constant communication with the station in Anchorage, as they gather and put together their story of the day that has to do with the new goings-on in the Valley.  

The reporter is a great gal, and I've been hearing nothing but great things about her work ethic, passion and drive, from people at the station.  She's been doing a great job!!

 She's also been very good to me, inviting me out with her friends, and helping me get socially accustomed to life in Alaska. She just moved here within the past year, so she knows what I've been going through.

On this particular day, the reporter and I just drove around the two towns of Palmer and Wasilla.  She showed me some beautiful scenery and updated me of some news around that area.  Any information about Alaska is good information for me!! The more I learn about this unknown place, the better off I'll be.

These pictures were taken because, as the reporter was informing me, there are people in that area who have nothing better to do that shoot guns at road signs...  Do they do things like this in New England?? Anybody??    Some of the signs are so bad you have a hard time making out what they used to say!!

...I hate that I can't figure out why this won't post correctly...sorry guys...

So that's a quick glimpse of The Valley.  There are only two roads that leave Anchorage. One is the Glenn Highway (headed North), the other being the Seward Highway (headed South). The Glenn Highway takes you to The Valley.  It isn't very well-lit and there are supposedly a lot of Moose in that area that like attempting to cross that roadway. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed every single time I have to travel that road...especially in the winter. 

Temperature update: 35 degrees and cloudy in Anchorage.

Alaska trivia:  Most of America's salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska.

Another Unknown

I've been in Anchorage, Alaska for rougly 33 days. I've worked at KTUU 23 days.

...is this enough time before the Photography Gods send me on my first "trip"?  We'll soon find out.

I'm off to Nome, Alaska in just a few short hours. This posting will also be short, as I need to get at least a couple hours' sleep tonight.  I am ready to embrace this trip, and am holding back a lot of excitement, as I don't want those emotions to overrun the logic needed to make sure I have all of the station's gear that I will need packed up well and correctly, and also to make sure that I have all of the winter gear needed to prevent myself from getting frostbite...or worse.  It's going to be a helluva trip and I'll be sure to take pictures so that I can share them with you all when I return. With any luck, I'll have some stories to share as well.  Did I mention that I have to learn how to drive a snowmachine (that's a snow mobile to all you folks back home) and I'll be flying from destination to destination on a plane that holds no more than 3 or 4 people...

WHO:  13 Mushers

WHAT: Alaska Sweepstakes

WHERE: Roundtrip - Nome, Alaska to Candle Alaska

WHEN: Sweepstakes begins Wednesday morning and will finish sometime Saturday evening. I leave Tuesday morning and will return sometime Saturday evening/Sunday.

WHY: The race is winner takes all - $100,000.00.  Part of the Mushers' entry fees had to be paid in Gold...they take this shit seriously.  This sled dog race is celebrating it's 100th Anniversary since the first run...the race has not been run in all 100 years; the last time it was run was 1983, the 75th Anniversary run.

Talk to you all in a week...

Temperature update: 33 degrees, few clouds in Anchorage. Temperature in Nome: 11 degrees and mostly cloudy.

Alaska trivia: Nome is the leftovers of the Gold Rush way back in the late 1800's and early 1900's...  "The discovery of gold in the Yukon began a gold rush in 1898. Later gold was discovered in Nome and Fairbanks". I also believe Nome is where "Balto" was born...