It’s coming… October 3, 2008

Monday morning it was 30 degrees at 9am and we had to scrape the windows.  Today, the mountains look like a baby spotted seal as the snow has made it to the treeline, but the berry patches and rocky outcroppings are still fighting for visual presence.  It wont be long now. 

The boys are ready, except David will need new boots (again) this year. And we still need some winter gloves for Lucas. I’m glad that boots can be re-used as they run $35-50 per pair…Lucas will use D’s first pair, even though they will be a tad big.  Thick socks will be the key, I suppose. Lucas’ hand is unbandaged now, and looks a bit gross with the scabbing, but he’s starting to realize that he has another hand again, and is slowly brining it  back into play.  The doc said that all will be well in time.  We are starting our upstairs bath project and I painted the trim and casing last night. Hopefully, we’ll get it all done this weekend.  In light of the current financial mess, I’ve decided that a nail gun is more beneficial than my IRA, so we will look at getting one of those-and hey, it’s Kiel’s birthday soon, so what great timing!  Over and out for now…..

Update: It hailed for 15 minutes at 1pm.  Joy.

So it Begins September 12, 2008

Walking into Costco the past few days has been an eye opening experience.  Tomorrow Alaskans will start to receive their $3200 payouts from the PFD/Energy Rebate. Ummm, can you say hi-def widescreen plasma TV, new computer, new surround sound home theater system, new portable sauna, new furniture, new….new…new!!!! All the TV’s are lined up right at the front door, (of course), blaring kids movies or sports shows to lure your eye.  We had to tear David away this afternoon because Chicken Little was as big as he was on the 60″ screen in front of him.  Plus, for the first year ever (up here) Costco has gone on this jersey knit clothing buy and so it looks like a mini-department store.  It was interesting to see the disparity of items offered at our two Anchorage locations. It just goes to show which side of town gets the really nice stuff.  We were at the Eastside location, (AKA: The Hood), yesterday and everything was normal except the TV’s and clothes, but the Dimond store today-WOW!!! Sauna’s, more clothes, smokers, etc.  Plus, the checkout girl said the Dimond people were nicer-which is entirely not true.  (Here’s a shout out to Richard, David, Brian, and the cute blond girl who is always super fast on the Eastside-I wouldn’t trade you for anything!)

Okay, Okay, so we are not buying a new TV, but we are already pre-spending some of that money.  We went today to beat the worse-than-Christmas crowds that will descend and pick clean both stores tomorrow.  I needed mayo. Oh, and bunk beds.  We found a super sweet deal on bunk beds and even though we will probably not use them for the next year, we felt it prudent to buy now.  This seems a bit crazy, right?  It’s not. Trust me.  We did the homework a year ago, and these beds are $200 less than anything comparable and all wood, and can separate into two separate beds if needed. So, we’ll store them.  “Super Deal!” as we say in this house. 

As far as the energy rebate portion goes, well, I’m sure there are people who will use it for that, especially in rural Alaska.  Even here in Anchorage, the local utility had the foresight to warn people of 22% rate increases coming in January.  The newspaper put out tax warnings too.  I’m sure we’ll still hear about people not having enough for heating bills and/or taxes in a few months. That free money is just too easy to spend. 

Well, you gotta spend a little to make up for the lame-o summer and upcoming winter; it is like a little reward for enduring life up here-even though we all choose to do that. We are fortunate in that we don’t need the money, but many do.  For us, it’s a perk, one that we try to use wisely.  To be more accountable, I’ll track our spending this year on a seperate ”Mad Money” page-then you can see how well we do, or don’t do.   And for the record, I was not for the Energy Rebate in this format, but then, I’m not going to give it back either.  Okay, Netfilx just sent another episode of Heroes which I must watch, so, hang on to your hats, I’m sure you’ll hear about all of this now that Sarah has put us center stage!

Little Red Coat August 31, 2008

We had a fabulous end-of-summer day today. We loaded up the boys and headed south for berries and mushrooms.  On the way, we saw a pod of Beluga whales,(even a few babies), the train, and the mountains in all of their early fall glory.  I packed Lucas, and Kiel helped David along our favorite mushroom/berry zone in Girdwood.  We’d been there about an hour when Kiel took the boys down the trail a bit while I scavenged for a few more berries.  We were within viewing distance of the car, but not really each other, though I could hear them.  I’d hit the motherlode spot in a little hallow and was trying to top off my container when I hear: “Chelsea!  Back to the car!  Back to the car now. Just saw a bear.” in the deepest most stern voice I’d ever heard Kiel use.  All I could think about was that I had the bearspray and he had the kids.  I made a bee-line for the car, and since there was no trail, got caught up for about 20 seconds in some downed tree debris. I’d armed the canister thinking that maybe the bear was on the trail and behind them and wanted to come out ready.  We arrived at the car at the same time.  Kiel said, “It was a grizzly, and it was coming strait toward you.”  With trembling hands, I buckled the baby in his seat and we headed out. 

Later, Kiel would tell me that he first heard the bear, then saw it about 40ft away from where they were. He grabbed the kids up in his arms, and headed back to the main trail.  He said he didn’t know where I was, but that once he got to the trail, he saw my red coat and that’s when he shouted.  We were not far apart at all, and I know that God kept us safe-because I almost didn’t wear that coat today as it’s heavier than my dark blue coat. I had a thought before we left the house that I’d be easier to spot if I was in red, knowing that we seperate a bit on these trips. So, I reluctantly took it instead. Thank you Lord, and thank you hubby for watching out for me.

Now, I’d bet that the bear would have gone off, as he did turn away when Kiel started back to the trail, but I’m really glad I didn’t find out.  I didn’t hear or see a thing other than lucious blueberries-which I’m sure we were both after.  With the crazy bear season we’ve been having up here this summer, I’m happy to not see them at all, and this little non-encounter will keep me more aware in the future.

We still had a great picnic after berry picking.  Later we took a trip to see the ducks at our local end-of-the-street pond, and found our first Water Tiger-a larval stage diving beetle that was immensely ferocious for it’s size.  Then headed home for homemade pizza and a good weight lifting workout this evening.  ‘All’s well that ends well’ they say. Today, I’d agree.

Whoa Nellie! August 12, 2008

Summer finally arrived in Anchorage this last week. We’ve waited, not so patiently, for those few brilliant rays to warm our blood before it thickened again for winter. This week’s sun has been a welcome treat, a friend come home from a long absence, not forgotten, but fonder for the time apart. It was 68 degrees today, under partly cloudy skies, and it was wonderful.

Personally, the lack of sunshine or blue, blue sky was not what I missed the most. More than anything, I missed the sight of the Chugach Mountains, our local peaks. For most of June and July they have been shrouded in low ceiling clouds…clouds slung out over foothills, grey and monotonous, with no life of their own to delight you. Clouds that refused to rise. Clouds that put their full weight on this city and would not move for days on end. Misery for this girl.

Every morning I’d rise and go to my front window to see my mountains, these simple, unadorned mountains that have always brought me life and happiness. Weeks would go by without seeing their peaks, their undulating valleys, their quite grace. When God decided to air out the grey blanket he’d cloaked us with, I’d feel relieved, sated, better. It was always too short. Even now, in this week of mostly sun, I look at them constantly. Are they still there? Are they the same ones that I fell in love with as a young girl? Yes, and yes, and a sigh of quiet relief slips from my lungs.

What I’ve learned this summer is that I could never live in Seattle, or the Oregon Coast. I don’t know how to fight that greyscale, how to rouse my heart when the sky comes down and doesn’t leave you room to breath. I coped by drinking more and more coffee as the dreary summer progressed. Home brew in the morning, then out for Americano’s in the afternoon. It’s the first time coffee has really been a drug for me-I needed that kick to keep me going. Unfortunately, as much as I love coffee, after a certain point, it stops being my friend and turns me into something resembling Kathleen Turner in the movie Serial Mom…mostly normal, but psychotic if manners, or courtesy are breached. (Yeah, I’ll admit my crazy side exists.) I figured this out about a week ago and laid off the afternoon foray, as much as it hurt.

What’s that saying though, “The teacher arrives when the student is ready.” And so the sun, and thunder and lightening came to my rescue. This last week has seen summer thunderstorms (rare for this town), big, heady, meaningful clouds, flash rains and the clearest skies afterwards. It’s been amazing. Really amazing. And to top it off, my friend Lisa (living in Illinois) sent me fresh homegrown sweet corn today-something that brings back memories of summer in Nebraska, and my childhood every time. Thanks babe-your thoughtfullness iced this week’s cake, making it even more delicious and lovely than it’s been. I owe you big time.

Camping: Eklutna: June 08 July 30, 2008

Baby cries, mom sighs
and mummy bag adds a third
Owl calls long and loud

Haiku. 5-7-5. How can I capture this moment? A snapshot of my night counted syllabically on fingertips….

That is what rumbled around my head from about 3-4:30 am while the boys slept peacefully all around me, and the owl made it’s second round of the morning through the campground. The kids with the gym whistle finally stopped at 11pm. The baby woke at 1am along with the owl. David had already made his way into my bag and Lucas followed. There is nothing like a howling baby in the dead of night, in a tent, at a crowded campground. Hmmmm. Good times.

To be fair, there were some tender moments between Lucas and I as he listened to the bird, then the airplane, and then a late night diesel engine rumbling by. Several times he looked up at me with a clear, intense gaze, while his fat cheek pressed against the warm sleeping bag. Occasionally, he’d reach out and touch my face, as if to see if he was really awake. A few minutes before he fell asleep, he sat part way up, looked close and deep into my eyes, spoke something profoundly intelligible (to him), leaned in for a kiss, sighed, and fell quietly to his dreams. That moment alone was worth the cold, the noisy owl and the snores coming from everyone but me.

Too C-c-cold for Words July 24, 2008

Well, I’m not crazy for complaining about the weather! Check this out….more later, when I warm up.
http://www.adn.com/life/story/473786.html

Spring! April 5, 2008

Ah springtime in Anchorage…a season announcing itself by it’s trademark scent rather than the greening of tress or blooming of flowers. Yes, on our daily walks to check the status of our local duck pond we’ve come upon that ever so lovely smell of spring…you know, the dog poo/early barbecue/dryer sheet/rotting leaves/ muddy smell that permeates the air for a few weeks during our beloved break-up. It’s been warm: low 40′s and cloudy that past week and the dutiful weathermen had been threatening snow any day. It arrived this morning, all wind driven and wet like and early Nebraska winter storm. It wont last, but it drives home the point that in Alaska, it’s not really spring unless it snows a few more times.

The boys and I have been traversing the dry road to the duck pond just about every day in the wagon. Lucas gets the biggest grin as soon I buckle him in, and if David needs to burn off some energy, I make him pull for awhile. I’ve taken to pulling them up the big hill on the other side of the pond to make a loop out of our trip. 65lbs of dead weight behind me makes me feel like a sled dog at a weight pull, but my legs and heart thank me for it at the end of the night. The downhill ride proves to be equally challenging as I have to run to control the wagon as the boys shriek with delight. I was cautious the first time; now, I run a bit faster and hope that I don’t wipe out on the gravel scree. It’s like their own cheap roller-coaster ride. Kiel started it, and I continue because it’s fun, a little dangerous, and the boys just love it.

Lucas is getting his feet wet in the walking arena. He takes 4-6 steps now before falling down or into your open arms. He has this thing where he wants to stand up by himself before he tries it. So, trying to get him to walk between Kiel and I is almost impossible. Yesterday he took off from the stair rail down the hall, which tells me that he’s getting ready for the big time. I’m holding to my earlier prediction that he’ll be walking by the end of this month. He is certainly a kid who knows his mind. One might say picky-but I wont put that on him-mostly because it would be attributed to me.

It’s been a long slog this week. The wagon rides have helped our end of winter cabin fever and I’ve decided to start a running program to get my head and body back into shape. I did watch The Thin Man which was surprisingly entertaining. I’d recommend it. Well, the baby is up from nap no.2 and it’s time to get back to the grind. Until next time…

PT (Personal Time) March 14, 2008

Today I had the rare and pleasurable experience of driving down the Seward highway for no other reason than to see the mountains and listen to music as loud as I desired. I usually travel with kids in the car, so it’s a nice break when I can turn up the volume and don’t have to have the same conversations over and over again:

“No, we are not going to Fred Meyers. We are going to Costco. Costco! yeah for Costco!”
“Stop kicking my seat. I’ve asked you three times already to stop kicking my seat. It’s hard for me to drive when you kick my seat.”
“It’s OK Lucas, we are almost home. You’re going to make it baby, just hold on a bit more.”

I ended up at Beluga Point, one of my favorite writing destinations. I love to sit and watch the tourists face the wind and snap pictures and try to find sheep and whales. Kate Bush was my musical companion as I reviewed last years poems and journal entries. I ended up revising a few lines and working on a short story that I started almost two years ago. Just like me, it’s all a work in progress it seems.

The biggest gift of the day was the drive home. Every mountain range in sight was out in full glory. The Talkeetna’s could be seen, still snow covered, in the northeast, the Alaska Range held up the southwest skyline with their tall and impenetrable peaks forged up from the sea. Redoubt stood alone with his lopped off top, while Denali and Foraker rose above them all to the north. The Chugach, our local range, stood on my right, looking a little weather beaten, like a well worn shirt, and across Cook Inlet, Susitna, wearing her snow white death shroud, lay serenely against the blue, blue sky.

Just another blessed trip. Alaska is synonymous with home for me; even on the worst day, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.

***Thanks Honey for the time off!****

Morning Sky February 4, 2008

Lucas and I looked out the window this morning as daddy left for work and there it was, the familiar blue steak above the mountains…as if God had taken his finger and decided to erase some of the night away. It’s a cold blue that outlined the eastern sky. A blue that promised the rising of the sun and washing away of winters grip. I remember walking to school at this time of year, seeing that pale streak widen as the mornings grew longer and knowing that we’d turned another seasonal corner. It was a familiar comfort. One of the reasons I returned to Alaska was because of these mountains and the skies that wrap around them. They have been a place of refuge, adventure, inspiration and even solace on days when when the world seemed to much for me. When I think of home, they are the first things that come to mind…the hectic scramble of Flattop, the ballpark of O’malley, the childlike trinangualr peak of Wolverine, Beerbelly’s dusty cap…they are home as much as anything else I’ve known. They keep me grounded, sane even, and I’ll be hard pressed to leave them again.

Sunnny Day February 4, 2008

It is a beautiful sunny day here. The mountains are bathed in the pink frosty light of this cold February day. I am always amazed at their glory. These mountains have always brought me back to a place of peace and contentment. Their mere presence a reminder of things steadfast, solid and calm. I took baby out for a walk in the backpack, our first outing like that together and walked my street. The air redenned our cheeks and helped me keep a brisk pace. So good to get out even for a few minutes and be apart of our little pocket of the world.