What do I miss about California?

People ask me this question all the time and I never really have an answer.  I love living in Alaska, and I realize it is not for everyone, but it is for me!  I liked it when it was cold, icy, and there was snow on the sidewalks.  I liked putting on my ice cleats to go out into the wind and snow, and then having to duck into a business just to get my feet warm again, because I wore the non-waterproof boots that day.  I liked that you didn't have to see the sun at all hours of the day in the winter.  That's my favorite part about winter in Alaska.  I am not a sun worshiper and nor have I ever been.  I am a long sleeve shirts and long shorts or pants in the summer kind of girl, I don't care what the temperature is!  I struggle with the daylight of the summer here, because I am a person who hates to waste the daylight (daytime hours), so my body is taking its time adapting and I knew it was going to be my biggest challenge when I moved here.  It has been.  But I don't hate it, I just prefer the dark and cold.

What do I miss about California?  I miss white nectarines.  I miss unlimited use internet for only $50 a month.  I miss having breakfast at O.D.'s after driving what felt like a hundred miles to get there (it was only technically 52 miles or so), just so I could have their hot chocolate and eat their yummy food.  I miss swimming in an outdoor pool at the wee hours of the morning and watching the moon set as I was doing my cool down laps on my back and seeing the stars and I felt like I was in outer space.  Nothing like waking up at 430 in the morning and going for an early morning swim!

I miss mini road trips to Santa Cruz just for dinner at Lillian's.  Yeah, there is a small theme, but it's not just about the food, it was about spending quality time with cool people.  I have met a lot of great people, but it takes me time to really warm up and get "close" so that I can enjoy those simple moments in life, so I miss those moments of late night drives with Grace, or Jessie, where I would be half asleep and offering to drive.  I miss late night bus rides.  Last bus here is usually around 9 or 10, so it's just not the same.

To be honest, I don't think about what I miss in California often, as there is so much Alaska has to offer.  How often in California, does someone catch a 300 lb. Halibut, and offer to give you some to take home?  How often do people invite you to go to a forest fair and when you get there, it is a fair in an actual forest where you really might see legitimate wild life?  Everyday, I look outside the windows of our office and can see a gorgeous sky and lots of trees.  When I look out and step onto the roof at work, I can see a great view of mountains to the east and to the south, and even in July, there is a bit of snow to be seen.

I feel so blessed to have the opportunities I have here in Alaska, and how things have come together.  I just got a raise at work, coming up on my one month in my flat and love not having to share the space with anyone.  I am blessed with good people in my life and the adventures I have had so far have been so wonderful.  What do I miss about California?  I miss some little things, but I don't dwell on those things and long to return any time soon.  I look forward to doing those things for a visit, but that is all I desire them to be, fun vacation things.  I do miss people, but thanks to technology, I am able to contact them in various ways.  I even write an occasional postcard, or letter.  Heh!  Kickin' it old school!

What I miss most....I miss a boy, but he doesn't even live in California anymore, so it doesn't even matter...

ej

To Girdwood and Back (pictures and unformatted)

 

Got a new place!

 Well, it didn't work out with my roomie on Baxter, but no ill feelings on either side.  We just weren't compatible and apparently, I am very allergic to her dog as I broke out all over my body in a rash whenever I missed my every other day vacuum session in my bedroom.  Since I was practically owning stock in Benedryl and so was she, sweet girl bought me a package to help me out, I decided to move out.  I found a place just down the street from where her condo was and so we can still hang out very easily.

I am happy to report I now live in a flat just half a mile from where I used to live and it's perfect.  It's super great!  It has a full sized fridge, washer and dryer (small, old, and super perfect), dishwasher, and a decent sized kitchen area.  It's a one room flat, so the living/bedroom combo space is small but it's exactly right for my needs.  I will post pics soon.  It's really great though and a good location.  The best part is, I live above a business which has been something I always thought would be cool, though in my mind, it was always a pizza place, or bakery and the setting was in New York City, haha!  I also managed to get my little home network setup all by myself.  Thought I'd have to call a boy for help, but nope, I did it!  They make it fairly idiot proof, thank goodness, and I even have a guest login.  Oh yeah, I am fancy like that.



Since I moved, I brought everything "kitchen" I owned with me from the condo.  I have three bowls, one hot chocolate mug, and an Asian soup spoon (courtesy of my old roomie).  I caught a fourth of July deal at Fred Meyers and bought four big cups for $1.97!  I also went down to Value Village (thrift store) and bought a small frying pan, small metal pot, a cooking spatula, a slotted cooking spoon, and a round baking pan, oh and a package of plasticware from Fred Meyers.  I felt all fancy as I got home.  Thank goodness I know how to find the deals!



Kitchen =)



Each night, as I enjoy my awesome dinner of Cap N Crunch with Crunch Berries, I remember what I had to do to get here, and what sacrifices I made, and it just makes me smile.  That, and I watch Spooks while I eat my Cap N Crunch with Crunch Berries, and I love me some Spooks!  I love me some Adam Carter and Zafa!  Haha!

FYI - deciding on a "rainy" day and on a work morning, to try one of the trails out to get to the bus stop that is about 3-4 miles away when you have no idea what the name of the trail you should be on, is not a bright idea.  I thought I was gonna have to send up a smoke signal and since I left my numbchucks at home, I also had nothing to defend myself against the bears and moose, except for my ninja skills!  It was nice to get to civilization and find a helpful bus driver to get me back on track!

ej

A little behind...

Man, the days fly by and I can hardly figure out what day is what, and when that thing that happened on that one day, and then that other thing with the thing and the other thing.  Does that makes sense?  Well, it should, but then again, it should.  Woooooo!!!!!  I'm in a whirlwind.

As predicted, the summer is proving to by the biggest challenge for me during this transition.  I may have mentioned in in prior posts, but it really is a challenge.  It's nice that after summer solstice, we are legitimately getting some dark hours here, which in return, I am getting better and longer sleep hours.  It's kind of crazy how I get so little done, despite the long hours of daylight we enjoy, and yet, always seem to be busy.  

For the last few weeks I've been struggling to keep up from being so tired and learning that dairy is definitely not my friend.  I spent one week feeling like I was at Death's door, only to discover that the foods I was eating to help me recover from a long sleepless night of praying to the porcelain gods, was only wreaking havoc on my system and sending me back to my very, for lack of a better word, grotesquely ungraceful genuflects at the throne of shame. 

Between that week of Death's company and spending time in my "cave" to re energize, I finally decided to be more social again and see more of my friends.  Being socially MIA has its advantages, like, not having to worry about catching a cab somewhere because you missed your bus to get you there, and having to ask your friend for a ride real quick because you left your wallet at home.  LOL!  Disadvantages though, leave you behind on the "haps" when a three day weekend is up and coming, and you have no idea what's going on on a Friday night.  It's worth it though, in the end, to have that personal time to cocoon and do what you need to do to keep your head clear and your mind right.

A few weeks ago though, my wonderful friend Rachna, came from California to visit for a few days.  Indeed, it was wonderful to see her, even though I didn't even make it out of the airport picking her up without making a stop to pay tribute to the porcelain airport gods.  Poor Rachna, had to endure me being sick during her very short stay with me here in Alaska, but I am glad she was able to see the beauty that this state has to offer.  She went on a day cruise out on the Kenai peninsula and had a blast.  On Tuesday, the day she left, she hung out with my friend Megan, her very own personal and free of charge tour guide!  So glad they got along so well and had fun touring Anchorage and the greater Anchorage area.  Rachna got to see more of Alaska in two days than I have in five months, but that's okay.  I live here, so there will be more time for that after I am done making my transition.  =)

She is so great and it makes me happy that she wants to come back again, but will remember to bring her husband along this time!  LOL!  I am still feeling the excitement from her trip here and the fun that we had in the short time we had.  Miss ya already, Rachna!  You're "unique!!!!"  =P

The job is going really well.  I am still learning, as I am about two months into my time here, but I am getting a good grasp on my responsibilities, and as always, that list grows each day.  I'm ready for it though, as it is mostly computer related and I have that down on lock!  If all continues to go well, I will be getting a raise in another month!  Woot!  I sure hope they still love me when the time comes! 

As soon as I get home, I will upload some pics from Rachna's visit!  Love that girl!!!  Anytime anyone wants to visit Alaska, look me up!  I love it here and it's been good to me so far!  So glad it's getting darker and soon it will be dark nearly all day and I can hardly wait.  I loved it in February when it was dark most of the day and there was snow and ice all around!

ej