First day on the new Job!!!

I started my new job today!  Ahem...you are now reading the blog of the Office Manager for a small subcontracting company in south Anchorage.  Yep, that's me!  The office is very laid back, t-shirts and jeans, snacks provided, a little fitness room, bathrooms that need my attention, and a few very cool dudes that are eager to have my computer skills put to work! 

I have my own desk, and a large corner of an open office!  It reminds me a lot of GDI, as all the office doors are open, the partners wear jeans, allegedly comb their hair, and are just cool to be around.  I got to listen to music all day long as I worked.  I did some of my favorite things!  I organized drawers full of supplies in a way that actually made sense!  Next time, Wade will go looking for triple A batteries in the drawer with batteries!  I also got to doctor up an Excel document that needed some attention!

Ahhh....to be working again!  I am so glad to be working there!  Sure, I missed my first bus this morning, but the day was awesome.  One of the many blessings that came with my nearly 3 months of being unemployed in Alaska, was the amount of time I have had to learn the bus system.  Despite missing the bus that would have allowed for an optimum commuting experience, I was able to nearly without fuss determine an alternate plan.  In fact, I had two plans to choose from.  I love transit!  Tomorrow, I take the bike and that will make my trip home more exciting!  More than that, I can even take my bike and have a lunch time adventure in south Anchorage!  The Dimond center is not even half a mile away!

They were so great!  They encouraged me to make my office space my own and told me if I needed anything, to just ask and they will go and buy it!  I am certain, I can make do with what we have, but it is cool just the same.  Off I got to get some decent sleep!  Good night, World!

ej

Finally left Anchorage, up past Eagle River!

Loving Alaska!  Finally made it out of Anchorage to outside Wasilla (yes, that is where Sarah Palin is from and I think lives).

On our way out of Anchorage

my camera doesn't do it justice

it's so friggin' gorgeous

Chelsea taking aim

Chris picking a target

side by side at "the range"

about half "the range" it was a whopping $2.50 to get a range this awesome.  Thrift store cookie tins and their lids!!!  So much fun!

It was starting to get late...closing in on 9 o'clock

I love the trees and the mountains in the background

working on my gun skills

lots of clouds lately.  I love it!

just posing here...

Gave a talk at Church

I was asked to give a talk at Church on Sunday for the YSA ward.  It was cool, but I was so nervous.  I am still pretty new to the Anchorage scene.  I have only  been officially in Anchorage proper since the beginning of the month and I technically attend the family ward, so you can imagine my surprise when I was asked to speak in a young single's ward.  Two reasons:  one, I am not technically a young single anymore, and two, my records are somewhere else.  Just in case anyone is interested, here is basically my talk.

Enduring to the End

What does it mean to endure to the end?  This is a broad topic, and in the interest in time, I plan to focus on a small aspect.  President Ucthdorf has mentioned on a number of occasions the war filled childhood he experienced as a refugee.  He has said that during this time of despondency, his family came to learn and know of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He says “This message made all the difference; it lifted us above our daily misery. Life was still thorny and the circumstances still horrible, but the gospel brought light, hope, and joy into our lives.”

As a convert, I have dedicated time to introspection of my life as it is, as it was and as it could have been.  I recall having three “tools” for coping with life without the gospel.  I called them “my gut,” the conviction of the idea about “light at the end of the tunnel,” and the “Jordan Side.”  Quickly, the “Jordan Side” I remember telling my friend in the 7^th grade went something like this “Vince, there is the saying that there are 3 sides to every experience.  The dark side, the bright side, and the Jordan side.”  It wasn’t just the bright side, since my logic based processor needed more than just an idea to see the good.  I always had to find more than the bright side, it had to serve a greater purpose to every experience, providing it was logical.  My “gut” I now call “the spirit.”  The convictions that there would be light at the end of the tunnel even though I couldn’t see it, I now call “hope.” And that Jordan side of things I call finding “Joy” in all things.

President Ucthdorf said “The plain and simple truths of the gospel warmed our hearts and enlightened our minds. They helped us look at ourselves and the world around us with different eyes and from an elevated viewpoint.” AS he spoke of joy, light, and hope, I’d like to spend a few moments that I have to center my comments on “HOPE” and finding our own way to see the world from that “elevated viewpoint.”

I remember challenging times in my life and working hard to convince myself that there would be light at the end of the tunnel, even though I couldn’t see it.  I wanted to see it.  I hoped to see it.  The “hope” that I would inevitably see or find that light, was my driving force.  When we lose hope, we lose desire to push onward towards the destination we have been seeking.  Without that intestinal fortitude to move forward in our temporal and spiritual lives, we will cease to engage in forward progress and in a sense cease to exist as the glorious children our Heavenly Father wants us to be.  I love this quote “Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. Its absence—when this desire of our heart is delayed—can make “the heart sick.”

President Uchtdorf also refers to hope as part of a three-legged stool and with Hope, faith, and Charity, we can have stability in our lives regardless of what surface we find ourselves upon.  We find examples in the scriptures with The Apostle Paul that scriptures were written to the end that we “might have hope.”  We can all have hope, as it is a wonderful gift of the Spirit.  With a hope that through the Atonement of our Savior, power of His Resurrection, we will also be resurrected and through faith in our Savior.   I would like to echo President Uchtdorf's words “we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope. Hope in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan of happiness leads to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet; it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls. ^{" -Amen.}

^ej

"Weclome to Alaska!"

2046 alaska standard time :)

And so it begins!  On Thursday evening I stayed home and enjoyed some time alone.  I watched "The Switch" and after it ended I felt sleepy like it was nearing my bedtime, but judging by the light coming through the windows I knew it was too early.  Or was it?

I checked my phone for messages and noticed that the time read as 2046 or 8:46 pm.  I looked at my phone, then looked out the window.  I looked at my phone, then out the window.  I walked to the front door and opened it, then looked at my phone.  I checked the time on the microwave, then on the stove.  Back to the front door, and looked at my phone.  Feeling out of sorts, and needing proof of it, I snapped a photo with my phone and sent it to my friend Grace (HI, GRACE!!!). 

2104 alaska standard time

 I just couldn't wrap my head around it!  LOL!  I mean, I knew that there was more light in the summer, but since there is still snow I didn't think that the extended daylight had begun so soon!!!  I was so excited, confused, and eager to share that I ran up to my room and decided to take another picture from my window.  The lights had come on by that time and I could still see pretty well.  In fact, I could see the mountains over the tops of the units across from my window.  It was after nine o'clock and still pretty light out.  As soon as I get a job and save up for a nice bike, I plan to be out on the trails and exploring the city by way of bicycle riding!!!

The weekend was quite nice.  It was General Conference and I was able to watch all the sessions!  Yay!  I also finished a book, and started and finished two others.  They were easy reads and fun.  Aunt Carolyn sent them to me shortly after arriving to Alaska.  Thanks, Aunt Carolyn!!!

My roommate is awesome by the way, and the friends I have made here are amazing!  I went to dinner with two girls I have made friends with and it was super fun.  We had Thai food, went to Baskin Robins, and talked until I couldn't stay awake any longer.  Good times, good times.  Here's to gaining lots of daylight!!!

ej

A Giant aHmong them

Quick note:  My cousin’s husband, Jimi, is retiring out of the Army and they have decided to return to Jimi’s home state, Maryland.  They plan to be leaving the state of Alaska by April 1^st.  I am sad to see them go.  I have felt so blessed to have been able to make the transition with family and their generosity.  I am very grateful for all they have done for me since I have made this move to Alaska.  I even like their dogs (or sons), Rascoe and Bear.

Tonight, I played volleyball with the Hmong Branch (a local congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  My roommate, Joanna, plays the organ for their branch during their sacrament meeting and has been inviting me to attend.  Since I have been spending the weekends in Anchorage to spend time with friends, and now that I am going to be moving into Anchorage by the end of the month, I have been trying to create a good network of friends here and in that effort finally agreed to go with here.  I wish I had taken pictures!

They were a fun bunch!  They played their own way.  Even for those that just stood there and only made contact with the ball because they were protecting their face received a shout “Good!!!”  or “Good try!”
It made me smile to see random little kids sprinting on and off the court between plays just to be mischievous.  They were so cute!

A few things of note…

First of all, when they were setting up the net, I thought they were testing it out before raising the net to the height we usually use.  Nope.  Not the case.  It really was set that low.  Secondly, the “Hmong Way” means that any number of people can be on either side of the court at any given time, and sometimes, there will be two people side by side (literally) occupying the said space and will not, nor are they required, to rotate to a new position after a sideout occurs.  This being said, they are also not harassed for not moving to play the ball if it requires them to move their feet from their given position.  They will simply stay in the spot for the span of 2 games, 5 games, all games, whatever.  Next, they have a “permanent setter,” which only means that the person will never rotate unless they choose to switch with someone, then that person becomes the “setter.”  I use the term “setter” very loosely.  Sometimes, there is a permanent server in a game and everyone else, less the “setter” rotates, but sometimes, they rotate too.  It all depends.  It’s the Hmong way.  Just have fun.  Laugh a lot.  Be competitive with what you got, but not really.    It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t.

With that all being said, it was a good time had by all and I would love to attend again at some other time.  I truly was a giant aHmong them.  LOL!  I stand a modest 5’8” and I was the tallest person there.  My arms held above my head, my fingertips cleared the net and as I stood at the net and faced the opposing teams “setter” I felt like a giant.  I would “stand ready” by bending my knees and resting my hands on my knees so that I wouldn’t appear to tower above him just because I could.  I literally looked and felt like a giant.  Not only was I almost a foot taller, but I am also large in stature.  Three of them together would almost equal one of me.  It was crazy awesome.

I have a few volleyball skills, but my goal wasn’t to smash the ball in their faces.  It wasn’t that kind of competitive fun.  Sure, my team lost the first three in a row, but everyone was laughing.  We promised to make a comeback.  We did, and just barely.  No matter how we changed our strategy, they almost always seemed to thwart our efforts though.  Or, in most cases, we thwarted our own efforts.  We were consistent that is for sure.  Remember that time we were winning 10-0 and then lost?  Yeah, me neither.  Hahaha!  Good times.

Now, I raise my small but wonderful glass of Silk’s Chocolate Soy milk as a night cap and say, “Here’s to being a giant aHmong them, and to my new Hmong friends that took me in without question.  Cheers!”

ej

I saw Moose!

"bullwinkle" though it would be more appropriate to call her "cow-winkle"

I saw my first moose today while riding on the bus.  It was exciting.  The only other "wildlife" I have seen have been bald eagles on tops of trees while going down the highway.  I was excited to see them, don't get me wrong, but it was such a distance.  Here I was sitting on the bus and out the window is this big ol' moose going at a tree.  It was crazy to see how strong that thing was.  I snapped a photo with my camera phone.  The range is terrible on my phone, so that gives you an idea of how close it was to the road.  To add to my excitement, while walking home tonight, I got pretty close to another moose by accident.  As soon as I realized there was a big moose staring at me, I promptly and cautiously crossed to the other side of the street and when I had crossed the road (thank goodness there weren't any cars at that moment), it stopped staring at me and started eating again.  I opted out of trying to shoot a photo of the moose for a number of reasons!  LOL!  I'm sure I'll see many more, but it was exciting to finally see one of these things up close and personal.  Now, I didn't look under their skirts, but I am pretty sure they were females.  They were pretty big and didn't have the antlers.

Is it Break Up, or just Fake Break Up?

yep, that's grass, ice, and some snow

Well, the last few days have been quite an adventure.  I saw my very first Alaskan grass and dirt that is actual soil, not that dirt they throw on toss on the road!  Haha!  Because of the warm temperatures (above 30), ice sculptures are melting, snow banks are melting, trees appear to getting "taller," I can see more and more sidewalk, and bus stop benches are appearing seemingly out of nowhere!  The sheet of ice along paths are so thin, I can see brown and green grass, and sometimes actually walk on concrete.  The crosswalks are getting "longer" and my ice "islands" are getting smaller.

I have two interviews this week.  Both sound like good opportunities, but we'll see how things go.  I have an offer at one organization, but they want me to work Sundays.  I told them I would not work Sundays, so they offered me a job of lesser pay, and no benefits.  I don't know that I feel good about that, so I am going to let the opportunity go by.  Tomorrow is an interview in South Anchorage and I am hoping the weather holds up.  It started to snow a bit today as I was heading to a bus stop, but it melted right away because it was pretty warm out.  All I need is warm enough weather for tomorrow's interview so I don't have to fight the wind and snow, but if I do, I will be prepared.  I love it when the temperature lingers at about 29-31 degrees.  It is just cold enough to wear a long sleeve and a sweatshirt, and just warm enough that if you're running around without your sweatshirt, you can be perfectly comfortable.

an accidental pic of myself on the bus LOL

The week was jammed packed with goodness.  On Thursday, I participated in a service activity at the Alaska Food Bank and had a blast.  We packaged frozen carrots to be distributed to families in need.  It felt good to do a service project like that.  Sure, I got to use a crowbar, and a large metal spike thingy and bash icy carrots with all my might, but that's not the only reason I had fun.  I got to meet some cool peeps, and the cabbie was super cool.  I shoulda got his number in case I ever need to take a cab again.  On Friday, it was ward game night with the YSA at the Institute of Religion building.  I played ping pong, shot pool, and played catch phrase.  I also got to mingle with some cool peeps and meet some new ones too!

Last week dancing at Lion Hotel

I stayed up way too late, and thought I may have jeopardized my chances of doing well on my back to back finals Saturday morning.  Apparently, I do really well under pressure and with lack of sleep.  I didn't study at all after passing my midterms, even though I intended to, but good intentions were all that they were.  Despite my failure to prepare properly, I did really, really well on my finals.  In fact, I received better marks on my finals over my mid-terms.  Go figure.  I still need to finish my science lab and then onto my other classes.  Go me!  Can't let school go by the wayside, since returning to school is why I came to Alaska in the first place.

After passing my finals, I got a call from my friends Christina and Diane.  They wanted to grab lunch so we headed to the grand opening of a Subway!  It was a blast!  Somehow, we managed to spend over two and a half hours at Subway!  I love spending time with people and time passes without you knowing.  That's when you know you're in good company.  =)  My new roomie to be invited me to play cards with some people, so on Saturday night we went to Randy's house.  Randy is a cool guy.  He works on the slope, so his work schedule is a little different.  He's not a slope worker, but a computer guy who works up on the slope.  He baked some halibut and we all chatted, played spades, and chatted some more.  Bottom line of the very fun evening...I didn't get to sleep until after four the next morning.  Good times!

This weekend should be fun too!  Besides having homework, I also have some volleyball to play on Friday, and a double date on Saturday night.  Yes, Nancy, he's LDS.  =)  It is nothing serious, but dates are always fun!  Even if they are not ideal, they always make for great stories!  It's a blind date on my end, but I am not concerned.  I plan to wear my green sweater and black pants.  I wore the same outfit dancing and was never wanting for a partner.  :)

ej

Update Past Due

another back yard shot

Here I am 35 days into my Alaskan adventure!  I have two jobs:  Residential Care Worker at a youth rehabilitation center (kind of like a group home, except they all suffer from some sort of substance abuse and follow the rules more LOL), and as Executive Assistant to the President of Charter College (sounds fancy huh).  I started my job as an EA on Wednesday.  In the land of casual, I happen to land one of the few jobs that actually require business dress!  So, since I have been in Alaska, I have worn more nice clothes and makeup than I have in the past 15 years combined!  LOL!!!  Go me!

A lady was getting a little long winded at church

I was accused of looking so "modern" at church last week!  It cracks me up, since I am the least fancy dresser I know!  Well, until I moved here!  I love that everything is so casual, but people here make me feel like I am a fancy dresser!  Go figure!

at the bus stop

I am learning my way around town and even gave someone directions, and another asked for information on a bus line.  I felt good informing them how to get somewhere and not sending them in the wrong direction.  I did that once!  Getting lost is the best way to learn your way around I have learned.  I took the wrong bus on purpose the other day to avoid a guy who was getting a little too friendly.  His name was "Styles from Minnesota" and had liquor on his breath, which is pretty standard at a bus stop. I've been offered alcohol at the bus stop more times in the last month than I have in the last year when out on the town!  Good thing I have good enough sense to say "no."  Haha! 
I am hoping to find my stride soon.  Now that I am working, and have my finals lined up, and hopefully get my science lab done, school will be done for the term and I will be ready for the next term.  I am really looking forward to the next term, as I will be close to getting into the meat of my degree.  Makes me feel that much closer to finishing and reaching my goal.  It's why I moved to Alaska, it's why I returned to school after all these years.  Let's get it done!

waiting for the bus

after a weekend of snow

fur rondy races, no driver LOL he rolled off the line

this was exciting to watch so close up

Joanna didn't know what cracklin oat bran was, they have it in Alaska!!!  Yummy!

Don't forget a pair of socks!

Well, I stayed the night in Anchorage last night to attend a dinner with some people I met at church.  I got a ride into town for Stake Conference.  Let me talk about that...

I had to arrive early for Stake Conference, since, unlike the Bay Area, the director of the choir was in need of breathing bodies to participate in the choir.  Since there are less people in Alaska, there are not as many willing people to sing in the choir.  If there are willing participants out in the Bush, they can't make the trip for it.  Therefore, she was begging for people to participate.  I attended the Beach Lake ward on Sunday, which is where the director attends and begged during Sunday School and Relief Society.  I decided, that despite my confidence as a choir participant, I enjoy singing and as long as I don't offend the Lord's ears I will do just fine!  So, I made arrangements to attend choir practice later that day, and to participate the following week at Stake Conference.

Stake Conference was here before I knew it and I was terribly nervous as Jimi drove me into town.  When I found a seat on stage, I realized there were microphones setup and one right next to me!!!  Yikes!  I became even more nervous, especially when the IT person said that the mics were very sensitive and were picking up the sound of the seats flipping up when we stood.  That meant that everyone in the building would hear me!  That completely terrified me.  I finally said a little prayer and felt calm for the first time that morning.  Here I was, not even nine o'clock and already traveled a roller coaster of emotions.  Finally, we began to go over the pieces we planned to sing for the conference.  We sang two preludes, a special number, and the closing song.  It was quite a fun experience, and later at dinner, my new friends shared with me that they thought the humble stake choir actually sounded nice this time!  Haha!  That was definitely a good feeling.  Especially, when I found out they actually broadcast stake conference to three Bush areas in the state!  That's over a thousand miles away from where we sat!!!  Had I known that last week, I don't know if I would have followed through with it!!!

Stake Conference was really good!  One of the speakers was the Branch president of one of the Bush District areas.  He hadn't attended (outside of the broadcasts) a stake conference in over ten years.  His talk and testimony were uplifting and sincere.  I really enjoyed listening he and his wife's testimonies of life and church in the Bush village/city of Kotzebue.  It also let me know that when I get out to The Bush to teach, there will be a place for me to maintain an active church life.  The gospel is the same everywhere and even here over 3000 miles from where I have lived for over a decade, the gospel of Jesus Christ lives, breathes, and grows.

One of the speakers quoted one of my favorite poems called "The Man in the Glass."  I remember my high school basketball coach giving each of us a framed copy of the poem and a compass.  I have kept both over the years, as well as a compass that Nancy (Hi, Nancy (= ) gave me some years back.  The compass has been a great symbol for me, both morally and mentally.

I had dinner with three individuals:  Taylor (male, 28ish), Diane (female, 26ish), and Christina (female, 26ish).  They all come very different walks of life.  Diane...born and raised in Alaska but in the area where she says they "wear a rifle across their backs" and the movie "Brother Bear" is not allowed to be played in schools because of its anti-hunting message.  However, I didn't get that from the movie, just a message to respect the hunt, but whatever, we won't get into that.  She teaches French at a local middle school.  Christina, born and raised on a Navajo reservation on the Arizona side and English as her second language.  She works as a physical therapist's assistant.  Really cool girl and we've decided a pathological liar, at least when it comes to the stories she tells about Taylor.  Ahhh, Taylor...the token man of the evening.  Born and raised in Utah and came to Alaska because Alaska chose him and not the other way around.  A speech therapist of only 9 months and served a Spanish speaking mission in Oregon.  Go, Ducks!!!  We had dinner, chatted, and watched a wonderfully Sunday appropriate film and then called it a night.  Good times.  After Taylor dropped me off at the Baxter condo, I spent some time chatting with my other new friend Joanna.  Nice girl and look forward to many an adventure with her.

Today, I have been busy studying, returning phone calls for jobs I can't interview for because I just accepted a temp job to last 2 months, and preparing for my midterm that I plan to take as soon as I finish this entry.  I also got to see a hot police officer at the Downtown Transit Center as he pulled a kid aside to "chat" by the police car.  I am not gonna lie, I was hoping he wanted to talk to me too!  =)

What a full day I have had!  As I close this entry, I would like to add one more thing.  Never, forget to take an extra pair of socks with you.  Just in case you decide to walk along a path, accidentally lose your footing, and step only inches off the said path, right into snow that has not been trodded on, therefore you sink halfway up your leg and snow goes into your boot, but since you brought your boots but forgot socks, now your foot is awfully cold.  Just sayin' is all...

ej