Hockey Clinic Last Week

Okay, so I attended a three day clinic last week.  Sheesh, it was awesome but totally brutal.  I've been skating pretty religiously for a month and a half, but it was not nearly enough.  I went out to the goalie clinic to try my skills out in the hardest position in hockey.  I ended up on my backside on more than one occasion and I was not alone who found themselves in that position.  Most important part of hockey is to always get back up.  I didn't know how much I would love people shooting pucks at me!  It was a rush to be able to stop a puck with my junk!  LOL!  I learned many valuable and important lessons during those three days.

Lesson One

Use the bathroom before putting on all your goalie gear.  As much effort as it is to get it all on, having to tinkle just before hitting the ice isn't like figure skaters that have to pull down their one piece leotard.  We're talking about many pounds of equipment that has to come off before you can even get to your skates, at which point you can throw on blade guards, and then, maybe, if you're lucky, make it down the hallway, hang a right, down another hallway, through a double door, turn left, then make a right, then another right, only to find three stalls in use, so you head towards the other section you discovered a day earlier, make a right, start stripping off your pelvic protector (female version of a guys jock), and your compression shorts at the same time, while  maneuvering in skates that add three or four inches to your height, so the toilet seat is a bit lower than usual, so your aim in getting yourself seated is a bit more of a challenge than you're used to, and then finally relieving yourself only to discover there's no toilet paper.  Yeah, that happens...not saying it happened to me, just sayin' is all.


Lesson Two


Wear your jock!  Listen, ladies, if the puck hits your junk, it will hurt.  Day One:  I didn't wear it and second drill in, I got nailed in the pelvic region.  It was no bueno!  Fortunately, in the actual scrimmage it was against girls in the clinic and they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and if they could stay on their feet long enough to shoot the puck, it never left the ground and came so slowly you had to wake up from the comatose state in which you had been in for the last 12 ladies who shot before her.

Lesson Three


Playing with boys is much more exciting as they actually shoot the puck with force and you get to make real saves and feel like a superstar!  Nothing more exciting than making a good stick save, or a glove save and then when you realize you really did catch it in your glove you give the glove a little shake and let it fall on the ice for all the people on and off the ice to see hit the floor.  Yep, it's all about the glory at that point!  The satisfaction of a good glove save and letting the boys (especially the boys) see that on your second day of hockey ever, you stopped that junk!  And the crowd goes wild!  Woo hoo!!!


Lesson Four


Never underestimate a girl that says she plays hockey, no matter what she looks like. That little "girl" you saw on the outside of the rink earlier, yeah, that's her over there, yup, that beast over there, she's no joke.  Leanne, my newest friend, may look all marshmallows in cocoa and snowflakes on a Christmas morning, but she's a Beast in the Crease.  She's gonna be skating, as I won the last goalie position in our division, but she's still a Beast and is gonna tear it up.   You become a different person when you put on your gear.  It's amazing!!!


Lesson Five


Goalies, don't get no breaks!  Yeah, skaters go on in shifts that change up every few minutes.  Goalies, they play the whole game.  I was pretty tired and by the end of the pick up game I stepped up to play in, I was worked over!  I hobbled, not skated off the ice, and my friend Giggles aka Wendy, helped me get my gear off!  I couldn't even get my chest protector up over my head!  Yeah, I loved it!  However, the goalie gear did stink up my apartment pretty good!  I need to invest in a fan!  Haha!

Lesson Six

Trying to find gear for a left handed goalie is no easy task!  I might be stuck playing right handed, but we'll see how things go.  I found a used blocker for a lefty, but of course, even used it was $80.  I think they did that just because they are harder to find, because it wasn't even as in good condition as some of the others and they were as low as $15 a piece used for a right handed player.  Blah!  So, I use borrowed equipment for now.  It smells lovely, but at least I am protected and that is what counts!


I left the clinic with plenty of bruises, scrapes, sore muscles and I wouldn't have had it any other way!  Made some new friends in the process!  The goalie side of the clinic was super great!  Since there are fewer of us, we get more attention and cover more material.  Because everyone wants to be a skater and score, they are not awesome enough, or crazy enough to go against the puck flying at you at high velocities!  It's on!  Bring on September and the start of my hockey season!


ej
 

Just whatevs...

oh how we as women are so easily swayed.
when day is as night and the night as day
the pain and agony that comes with love
we say "nay" tis brighter than stars above
days and nights are always as one
no, not one is greater or less till done
when it happens and love not realized
twas just attraction and now we agonize
this we experience all in a moment's Time
we say "yay" we say "nay" it's sublime
we hate it and love it, this we cannot lie
for all that has transpired we just ask why?
as the sun rises again upon a new day
the dawn air kisses our cheeks to play
agony is renewed once again in our minds
and safe shelter from it we seek to find
oh how we as women are so easily swayed
for yes, today is another day  ej

Whoa whoa whoa....hold the phone, I agreed to do what???

Well, hockey season is swiftly coming upon us and I have been working hard to get myself ready for the upcoming clinic that starts Saturday.  I have committed to play the goalie position for the season and I'm excited to get the ice time.  I hope my feet hold up!  They get some major cramp-age if the skates are no bueno!  I am happy to report that my forward skates have been holding up quite well, now that I have the right sized skate going!  My skating has been improving by leaps and bounds since Thursday's "new" skate size implementation.  My crossovers are coming along nicely, and my skating coach wants me to start working on my backward crossovers this week.  We'll see how it goes!  I am in so much control of my feet now, it's incredible.  Instead of spending so much energy trying to keep my feet together with the skate (my skates were a whole size too big), I know feel like my skate is just an extension of my foot and I can actually control my feet so much better, in fact, I can even control my right foot better too!  Who knew?

I've been told that the best skater on the ice is usually the goalie.  Though I am not a great skater yet, I plan to do my best to fulfill the role of goalie on whatever team I land on.  The best part is, I can still play forward when I play pond hockey, so really, it's the best of both worlds.  It's also half the price or free if I play goalie, and since it is a novice league, they provide all the specialty gear associated with Goalie, so all I will need to buy are the skates and a neck protector and stick.  Skates and sticks are cheap and easy to come by used, and I am sure I can find something affordable for a neck protector.  Everything else, will be issued to me and with grateful hearts.  I am all about being a team player and one of the teams was gonna be down a goalie and I had already expressed interest in trying the position out anyway, so I figured, I can go for it since it is my first season anyway, and I am a fan of learning everything I can.  The real kicker is the cheaper cost to play!  Haha!  I'm not gonna lie, that was a huge factor, besides the fact I am gonna look like a beast in the crease with my size and all that gear!  Hydration, hydration, hydration!!!  That's gonna be key too!  Just wait until I butterfly!!!!  Haha!  Well, maybe someday!

I've really enjoyed my early morning skates and the support of my friend Megan.  She's been great on her vacation, by taking me to the rink every morning and then to work.  She slept in the car while I skated from 630-745 every weekday morning (nearly), and then dropped me off at work.  How amazing is that?  Now, she is all vested in my "hockey career" that she has even offered her services to dress up in my soon to be goalie gear on winter days at the park, so I can practice shooting as a forward, and...she's excited about it!  Her only stipulation:  We get ice cream afterwards, because she likes ice cream after working out.  Skinny girls, I tell yeah!  Fun times ahead and I am stoked.  Can't wait till I get tired and sore from all that hockey playin'!  It's gonna be on!  As soon as I know what team I will be playing on, I will update you all and have pics!  Woot!  See ya on the ice!

ej

We almost smooshed a guy!

On the way to work, my friend and I decided to patronize the nearby Starbucks.  As she pulled into a parking stall she rammed into an open car door with the driver halfway out of his car.  He got a little scared by the impact as did we, but in the end both drivers walked away and even were adjacent patrons in the ordering line.  I was certain that I was going to be really late for work, or have to just walk the few blocks to the office while they got things resolved.  Nope.  I forget, I am not in California anymore.  They just asked if each other was okay and went on their merry way.  How often does that happen?  I mean, there were like two deep gouges in the side of his door from where the top of the hood and the top of the bumper had hit the door and in turn smashed her headlight in, and he didn't even get angry.  He just said, "That's fine."  It shocked me.  My friend said, "This is Alaska.  Dents happen."

ej

The Coolness...

I've been ice skating a lot the last few weeks.  As you know, I am always looking to challenge myself with some new type of hobby or activity.  Since I am in Alaska, and ice will be in great abundance here come late October/November, I decided it was high time I learned the great sport, Hockey.  There are women's leagues here in Anchorage and they are pretty affordable.  To get me started, I realized three things are going to have to happen:  One, I need to learn how to ice skate; two, I might need to hit up a clinic or two to actually learn how to play, as it is one thing to watch hockey and understand what is going on, but to put it on ice and do it yourself, a bit different; and of course three, get a massage table to afford the "habit."  So here is what I have done in preparation for the upcoming hockey season.

Step one:

I got myself a pair of used skates and other equipment.  (Thank goodness for meeting people who know about and love hockey, much cheaper that way =) ).  So, I bought a punch card, and now have an I.D. for UAA (that means free skating anytime I want at the UAA sports complex).  Skating is now one of the cheapest activities for me to do in Anchorage!  Haha!  So, I have been skating three to four mornings a week, and usually on Saturday afternoons.  I met a little old lady that gives lessons and she's now my "skating coach."  In casual conversation, I mentioned I had just purchased a little massage table and she suggested we swap lessons for massage.  How amazing is that???  As Scott would say "you must be livin' right."  That's how I felt when it all started working out like that!  So, I am learning to skate.  Woo hoo!  Thanks to my good friend, Megan, who offered to wake up early every weekday and drive me to the rink.  I can ride to UAA, but she is bent on supporting me, so I let her.  Besides, it's fun girl time driving around chatting in the mornings.  She even lets me toss my bike in the back of her car for when I get off work.  Good times!

Step two:

Cut a hole in the box...no wait, wrong step. 

Where was I???  Oh yeah, next step!  The league I want to play in is offering a three day clinic for only $50 for all three days!  Not just one day, isn't that pretty sweet?  Again, super cool!  that's in a few weeks, so I need to increase the training regiment so I can learn as much as I can during that clinic.  I don't want to waste my time, their time, or my dollars on clinics I will be so focused on sore muscles or lack of conditioning.  The longest I have been on the ice is 2 hours at one time.  I spent 3 hours on the ice one night, but that was including a half hour phone call while sitting on the benches and a potty break.  It's one thing to do drills by yourself, but another when you are doing specific drills with someone hollerin' at ya!  Believe me, when I have skated with my skating coach, I am so worked at the end of my half hour lesson!  I can almost do crossovers now without breaking my face, though, I can do crossovers counter clockwise for days on my roller blades, and cheat a little by going clockwise at the roller rink when the workers are not looking to work on my crossovers going the other direction.  I can definitely stop much better than I did two weeks ago.  Before, stopping involved the wall, or using my face as a brake.  I preferred the wall, but sometimes, it just wasn't fun.

Step three:

Yep, I got a massage table.  I found a great deal on craigslist and I couldn't be happier.  It's a small table, but I got it for a whopping good deal of only $25!!!  It's not quite as nice as my table in California, but for a price like that I am perfectly happy with it!  Now, I am in the process of getting clients together to make some cash flow.  It actually works out that it is slightly smaller as it fits very well in my apartment.  I am so pleased with how it worked out.  My friend even happened to be available on the day I was to meet with the lady to look at it and she took me in her car!  I love it!

It's been great to be out on the ice and to start from scratch.  I have to eat a lot of humble pie too!  I am used to sports being so easy for me.  I mean, I am sure I will pick up the hockey stuff easily, but being able to do all the different things my coach asks of me has been crazy cool.  I see little kids doing all these drills on one foot, and I am struggling on two feet to do the same drill but different.  Sure, they've been doing it longer, but still, it gets into your head some mornings!  I got this though!  It's gonna be amaze balls!  Here's to hockey and keeping all my teeth intact!

ej

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

My first ice skating lesson!!!

So, I had my first skating lesson.  The little old lady that helps me is super cool.  She's from Texas, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but I don't hold that against her.  Under her tutelage, I hope to become a strong enough skater to join a beginners hockey league.  I can go forward.  I can scooch backwards a bit.  I am actually getting faster going forward too, but I have a small problem.  I'm sure you already know.  Stopping.  Haha!  I haven't quite mastered how to stop without using my face or the boards.  She's trying to teach me how to do the one foot plow thing, and the two foot plow thing.  Apparently, my right foot is completely retarded.  My left foot isn't much better, but at least it does what I want it to do for the most part.  It's been way exciting getting out on the ice and seeing the small improvements.  I have been skating at UAA and it's been super great.  Not too many people, and the people out there are super cool and supportive.  They don't get crazy on me when I say "Watch out!  I can't steer!"  Every once in awhile, one of the figure skating coaches will remind me to bend my knees, or push my foot out and plow.  Even the old guy that does hockey skate drills gives me encouragement, so it's kind of fun.  My last time out he said in passing "You're getting it!"  Made me smile! 

I have been there enough times, they are starting to recognize my face I guess.  The girls that figure skate are fun to watch.  I enjoy watching them as I take a "foot break."  I also don't like to be in their way while they go through their routines.  It's public skate so I don't have to sit out, but I choose to so that I can take a break as well as enjoy watching the more graceful skaters do their thing.  Watching the skaters also gives me time to watch how they move so that I can apply some of what they're doing while I go out again.  Clearly, there are some differences between hockey skating and figure skating, but the basic principles are the same.  Balance.  They make it look easy, but they have been doing it a long time.  I watch the older gentleman while he does hockey drills and I try and do my own remedial version of them.   I even got the courage to skate across the rink through the middle without the safety of the walls.  I also find myself skating around further and further from the wall.

Towards the end of the session on Saturday when I was the only one on the ice, I made an effort to do a drill where I skated around certain points of the ice and did turns.  Each pass, I tried to make the pass tighter and tighter.  I'm sure that is where crossovers will come in handy.  I made one feeble attempt at a crossover, but I was clearly not ready for it yet.  It felt good to be moving on the ice like that and to be cutting in and out of my marks.  I almost felt confident!  Haha!

I worked up a decent sweat and enjoyed my walk back to the bus.  It was a beautiful day to be out and though I didn't see any wildlife other than a few bugs and one pretty cool bird (I need to learn what kind of birds they were), it was still very lovely.  Because of the rain the last few weeks, everything is green and more and more wildflowers are springing up everywhere!  I just love that I can walk places on these paved trails or unpaved and it's wooded and gorgeous!  Usually, you see plenty of moose out and it's always exciting to come across them, at a safe distance that is!

After my skating lesson on Friday night as I was prepping to head out to my bus, my friends Mark and Devin hit me up about going to see the Green Lantern.  I was down, so Mark came and picked me up from the rink.  It was fun to hang out with the boys.  It ended up being me and about seven boys!  Sheesh!  Lucky me right????  Haha!  Sadly, the only one of interest has a girlfriend.  Oh well...

Mark was a bit hungry and wanted to hit up someplace for food.  We ended up at Burger King...yeah, he likes fast food, but it was either that or McDonalds, so I voted for BK.  He drove us down to the Port and we ate and chatted until after two or three in the morning.  We saw it get dark, then start to get lighter.  Technically, the sun sets around eleven-ish, but it doesn't really get "dark" until around one or so, then around two or three, it starts getting light again, and the official sun rise is something around four-ish.  It still fascinates me how light it is at these hours of night.

This is what it looked like around midnight-ish, one o'clock when we arrived.

This is what the light was like around 245 - 3ish or so.  Pretty wicked right?  I think this is when it was starting to light up again.

Public Transit Short #0321-012685

As I boarded my transfer bus this morning, I crossed my fingers that I could get away with finishing my hot chocolate soy on the bus (not really supposed to have that on the bus, but some drivers are cool like that) and she was a driver I hadn't seen before.  She was a nice older lady and was cool.  I took my usual spot and settled in.  A guy about 25 or so boarded with a rockstar and a few little bags of pastries.  He sat down and started to munch on a donut.  The driver had been out of her seat helping an older gentleman get his bike on the rack.  She walked over to the young guy and said "No eating on my bus, unless you want to get a spanking."  He smiled and said "What if I want to get spanked?"  Then, without any hesitation she stood in the middle of the aisle with her arms gripping the overhead bars and said "Go ahead and eat then.  Then I'll beat your a$$."  Everyone, including he and his friend started busting up laughing.  I'm not gonna lie, I was laughing pretty hard too.  It was all done in good humor and was a good way to start the day!!!

ej

The Dress...

I don't really have any pics of me in it, but hopefully, I will wear it again soon and have a pic of it!!!

Cute Strapless Dress with sweater with brass buttons

Close up.  There is a scarf like thingy that hangs down the front.

I bought a dress...

So, I got paid on Friday and decided it was high time I buy a dress for Church on Sundays.  I have been wearing the same skirt and different tops every Sunday and it was high time to buy something lovely and summery for church!  I saw the dress and fell in love with it!  So, I bought it, wore it, and was sexy in it!  One of the best things I have worn in awhile.

It felt nice to be out of my usual skirt and in a nice comfortable dress.  I even attempted to actually style my hair for church!  Normally, I towel dry, throw some goop in it real quick, shake my head about a few times, do a few hair flips and call it good.  This time I did all those things and added a little straight ironing to one side of my bangs, did a few extra hair flips and added some finishing spray at the end.  Killed.  :)

Church was quite lovely.  I was a little tired due to the fact that I was up most of the night with what I have determined to be some mild food poisoning, but thank goodness for a great roommate!  I finally knocked on her door around 4 a.m. (daylight hours here lol) and asked if she would take me to the store.  Bless her heart, she went without me and brought me some pepto bismol and maalox and let me go at it.  Pepto was my friend and I was able to finally fall asleep!  I ended up going to the YSA ward (congregation) only since they start at 130 pm.  I am glad Taylor didn't mind swooping to pick me up last minute!  I took a cab three times last week, so I was fixin' to save a few bucks, especially since I just bought my cute dress.  I also didn't want to go on the bus in my new dress.  Not the first time wearing it at least!

My friend Mark also gave me a pair of hockey skates.  I plan to go out and start learning to skate soon, hopefully sometime this week!

ej

Sheesh!!!

So much fun being had, and no updates??? What am I on???  Oh, Life, that's right!

Last weekend was intense!  Whirlwind dating on Friday, a 31 and over Dance after Whirlwind dating, hung over aka dehydrated the next morning (so I didn't do any homework).  Saturday, besides being hungover, I cleaned up around my room, attended a baptism for my friend Stephanie, had lunch at Moose's tooth (amazing pizza), went to the mall with the girls, set up my TV in my room as well as my Xbox, went to a BBQ and Dance, then a late night at Villlage Inn, and some girl talk with Samira when I got home.  Sunday, more of the same, church, hangin' with Samira, made dinner for the sister missionaries and some friends, some Guitar hero World tour, some real guitar playing and singing, girl talk with Jessi, and finally sleep.

The past week was full of the same type of stuff!  Monday night was a late night, even though I just wanted to sleep.  Tuesday, I had dinner with Kevin (finally, now he is heading back to Cali), Makr, and Gloria at Humpy's.  Way yummy!  Ended up going to the Wood Shed with Mark to do some Karaoke.  That was a blast and we rocked the mic.  Haha!  A ltitle gangta's paradise!!!

The weekend starting now is busy too!  Today is the first day of summer and we are gonna enjoy it Alaska style!  The sun is out (a little to bright for my tastes) and it stays out a long time!  We are still gaining daylight and fixin' to get more and more!

I know some people complain about Alaska, but they are the ones that don't like to get out and do stuff.  I prefer the winter, but I like the cold and dark.  Break Up was good too.  I like watching the transition and sloshing around the streets.  I haven't driven a car since I sold it before I left Cali and don't miss it a bit!  Between the bus, bike, cabs, and the ocasional ride from friends, I am not having trouble getting along without one. 

My friends are awesome!  Alaska is awesome!   Housing is cheaper than the Bay Area and I am making more per hour, so that is awesome!  My room is awesome!  I could do without the dog though.  He keeps me from sleeping!  He also makes me itch! 

More to follow!  I am off to enjoy my first night of Summer in Alaska!!!

ej

Doing what I do in AK-49

Days are going by so quickly!  Last week was awesome!  First week of work, went on a date dancing on Friday, spent Saturday with my girls and watching Fast Five (hot cars!!!), and doing the Church thing on Sunday.  A full week indeed!  This week, I am back into the swing of things and adding the gym to the schedule!  I haven't been in two weeks, so it's time!  We are gonna start a running program soon and I am way excited about it.
I have a lot going on this week and all are exciting.  Having lunch with my friend, Chris today, with Robert tomorrow, dinner and a movie with Spencer on Friday, and pizza and a movie with Philip, Joanna, and Matt.  Phew!  Gym tonight and on Thursday with Diane, and a bike ride Saturday morning.  Homework, I hope to squeeze into the works somewhere in between, probably on the bus or while waiting for the bus.  I love the busy life!  I feel a good swim coming on!  The heater is working again at the pool from what I heard, so it's "back in the [saddle] again!"
I was asked to give the lesson for FHE for the YSA group in a few weeks on the Articles of Faith.  I'm not nervous, but I hope I do a good job.  I get so nervous when I have to do these types of things, which I know is quite normal, but I hope to appear like a non-crazy.  That's my goal.
In RS on Sunday, I was having a difficult time with some of the comments that were being shared.  Clearly, there are a lot of youngins in the group, and I felt strongly, that I should share some of what I have learned throughout the years.  Whether it was my own sense of being, or the Spirit moving me to share, I am not sure.  Sometimes, as it goes with emotions, that line was a little blurry, but I shared my insights with the group a few times to help stay on point.  After class was over, I was concerned I may have overstepped my bounds.  However, a few individuals approached me to let me know they shared my sentiments, but were not sure how or when to speak up and share.  I was happy to hear it as it relieved my concerns.  I have approached people before when I appreciated someone's insight because they were able to express something I felt but didn't know how to put into words.  I think that is part of what makes sharing insights so powerful.  At any rate, it was especially enlightening for me, as a result of the lesson, as I have put into action some of the things we talked about and it has been very fruitful!  More on that later.

ej

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