As my mother reminded me today, Halloween is actually tomorrow. But the parties were all this weekend and since I've been informed that I am too old to trick-or-treat, the celebration has pretty much come and gone. Juneau Halloween is just as fab as anywhere else...maybe more so because the small physical distance of downtown makes it easier to party hop. (We went to 3 different house parties and made it out to the bars last night.) I saw more people in Juneau this weekend than I have ever before (not including tourists)...where did all these people come from? Apparently, everyone goes out for Halloween. It was tons of fun and our favorite local watering hole had a costume contest. We didn't make it there in time to enter, but my friends and I were the sweetest treats of the night. (Literally, I was a cupcake and together, Neil and I were a baker's dozen. My friends Karla and Amber were cotton candy. As the pics will show, we all looked AWESOME.)
The small town aspect of Juneau also meant that my friends and I were recruited to be in the cast for the local independently-run movie theater's showing of Rocky Horror, something I definitely would not have done in a big city. The audience was a bunch of good participaters (I mean, hey, we knew half of them) and it was tons of fun. I think you'll agree that Neil and I pulled off a pretty good Brad and Janet. Pictures of all these festivities can be seen on facebook. If you want to hear some stories, that's great. I'm not posting them on the internet. However, if you call or email, I may divulge some of the details!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Today Is A Big Day-
Why? Well, I just renewed my TIME magazine subscription for 2 more years for only $25!! Yes, after getting a letter about it every week, I finally did it. Now, I am current until the end of February 2014. What if I don't make it until then? If you would like to become the beneficiary of my TIME magazine subscription, lemme know ;)
Are you wondering if my life has become sooooo boring that the above paragraph is all I have to write about? WELL, it hasn't...but I'm pretty tired today so I'm being lazy. Sara left Monday and between my several visitors and dogsitting, I only have to worry about myself for the first time in only a month. Well me and HALLOWEEN. It's right around the corner! I have been informed by my several friends here that I am too old to trick-or-treat. However, I visit the candy jar on Cathy's (our judicial assistant) desk about three times each day to eat the candy corn. I am also brainstorming the ultimate Juneau-appropriate costume and planning a pumpkin-carving party. Or 5...because pumpkins are fun! (Don't worry Mom, I promise no stitches this time!)
There is snow all over the mountains now and winter is right around the corner (today we got an email at work about winter closure policies). We also had 60 mph wind gusts with rain. Although 40 is still the high, it feels COLD! Everyone is just about ready for it to snow already so our ski slope can open. So yes, big things are right around the corner. Halloween, bald eagle fest (more on that in November) and SNOW!
Are you wondering if my life has become sooooo boring that the above paragraph is all I have to write about? WELL, it hasn't...but I'm pretty tired today so I'm being lazy. Sara left Monday and between my several visitors and dogsitting, I only have to worry about myself for the first time in only a month. Well me and HALLOWEEN. It's right around the corner! I have been informed by my several friends here that I am too old to trick-or-treat. However, I visit the candy jar on Cathy's (our judicial assistant) desk about three times each day to eat the candy corn. I am also brainstorming the ultimate Juneau-appropriate costume and planning a pumpkin-carving party. Or 5...because pumpkins are fun! (Don't worry Mom, I promise no stitches this time!)
There is snow all over the mountains now and winter is right around the corner (today we got an email at work about winter closure policies). We also had 60 mph wind gusts with rain. Although 40 is still the high, it feels COLD! Everyone is just about ready for it to snow already so our ski slope can open. So yes, big things are right around the corner. Halloween, bald eagle fest (more on that in November) and SNOW!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sara, Sitka, SO much fun!
As some of you may have gathered from my facebook postings, the lovely Sara has come to town and we have been all over the place. She's already learned to trust my judgment when I tell her, "believe me, it'll taste better if we just cook it ourselves." Tonight, we're doing our very own salmon bake and I've invited about 10 friends. Definitely a good time.
We spent the last two days in Sitka for Alaska Day, the annual celebration of the day that Russia transferred Alaska to the good ol' USA. Oh you didn't have that day off of work? Sad. We went to a parade, had handfulls of candy thrown at us, went to a pie fair, attended a reenactment done by the military (apparently the ones not in Iraq get to put on 1860s costumes and pretend to be Russian...not a bad deal), and explored the area (Whale park anyone?). We also checked out some Native American museums and learned a little more about the culture and/or how the Americans were SO much worse than the Russians. Go US!
We took the ferry both ways, which was an experience in itself. We mostly camped out on the floor in teh "recliner lounge," but we also had some amazing views of the inner passage on the way. My camera battery died partway through that trip, but Sara has put up some pics of our adventures in the last few days. Here's the links, enjoy!
We spent the last two days in Sitka for Alaska Day, the annual celebration of the day that Russia transferred Alaska to the good ol' USA. Oh you didn't have that day off of work? Sad. We went to a parade, had handfulls of candy thrown at us, went to a pie fair, attended a reenactment done by the military (apparently the ones not in Iraq get to put on 1860s costumes and pretend to be Russian...not a bad deal), and explored the area (Whale park anyone?). We also checked out some Native American museums and learned a little more about the culture and/or how the Americans were SO much worse than the Russians. Go US!
We took the ferry both ways, which was an experience in itself. We mostly camped out on the floor in teh "recliner lounge," but we also had some amazing views of the inner passage on the way. My camera battery died partway through that trip, but Sara has put up some pics of our adventures in the last few days. Here's the links, enjoy!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Where Have I Gone?
I've been dogsitting since last Friday and the place I'm living at has no wifi...it has old fashioned plug into the wall internet. In order to use said internet, you have to sit at a desk with an uncomfortable chair instead of on the couch with your laptop. Thus, I have reduced my non-work internet use (which was already at a minimum). Tonight, I'm hanging out at my house, baking a pie. Let me know how you think it turned out:
Friday, October 7, 2011
There are JEWS in Juneau!!
Today is the start of Yom Kippur. Since I assume most of the people reading this either grew up in Skokie or a place similarly teeming with Jews OR have a ton of Jewish friends so they know more about the kippur than Jesus, this fact is not news. For those of you who have escaped the tribal influence, Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, where we ask for forgiveness for our sins and ask to be written in the Book of Life for another year. We also fast (no eating, drinking, "intimacy" with a partner, showering or wearing fine clothes) to symbolically cleanse ourselves and to abstain (if we're asking for forgiveness for our sins, we should be able to, you know, not sin for a day...).
That said, in Alaska, this is not a widespread fact. There are Jews here, but not many. Going to temple tonight for the start of Yom Kippur meant I had to miss "Zombie walk" (darn!). I've also had to tell people over and over again that I 1) can't go out tonight (or won't be going out) and 2) won't be eating all day tomorrow. These two facts seem preposterous. The Jews here LOVE me (go figure). I've already been introduced to the "young men" of the temple. One of them looked just like my friend, Simon, which made me kind of sad that it wasn't Simon. I think this new character was a little confused because I had this super disappointed look on my face as I was shaking his hand. Oops!
Anyhow, three hours into fasting, I'm already thirsty so the fun has begun. When my caffeine migraine sets in tomorrow, then the REAL fun will begin. We'll see if I have any self-discipline (probably not)...
That said, in Alaska, this is not a widespread fact. There are Jews here, but not many. Going to temple tonight for the start of Yom Kippur meant I had to miss "Zombie walk" (darn!). I've also had to tell people over and over again that I 1) can't go out tonight (or won't be going out) and 2) won't be eating all day tomorrow. These two facts seem preposterous. The Jews here LOVE me (go figure). I've already been introduced to the "young men" of the temple. One of them looked just like my friend, Simon, which made me kind of sad that it wasn't Simon. I think this new character was a little confused because I had this super disappointed look on my face as I was shaking his hand. Oops!
Anyhow, three hours into fasting, I'm already thirsty so the fun has begun. When my caffeine migraine sets in tomorrow, then the REAL fun will begin. We'll see if I have any self-discipline (probably not)...
Monday, October 3, 2011
Back To Normal?
Well I have a new normal now because Beth is finally here and she's AWESOME! We've been sitting on the couch in pajamas together all night, having fun and laughing. It's amazing. Our kitchen is well-stocked and I can already tell that we are going to get along just peachy. She brought her snowboard too and I just bought my Eaglecrest (municipal ski slope) season pass so I hope to be on the mountain ALL the time. It's been fairly cold here recently (like 40s) and everyone says that winter is "coming soon" so I'm hoping we get some awesome snow.
Also, you should watch this video. I find it funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdqIpYhM6PE
So, the weekend was fab. I became a lawyer and I had friends in town. Marina and Joe had a great time (I think) except for when I dragged them all over the mountain. I picked hikes that I thought were easier (or at least not too difficult...except for the part where you climb up rocks), but I also forgot that I've been here for a while and my glutes are in great shape so I walk up hills like a mountain goat these days. It's not that easy when you've come from flat land. Overall, we did a ton of activities including a bon fire, a rope swing through the trees, hiking, playing in ice caves, visiting the brewery, eating lots of salmon in its various forms and otherwise exploring. They were also exposed to my driving. They heart Lester now. Who doesn't?! OH, Juneau is doing some renovations on the bridge near my house...which means that I had to learn how to 3-point turn in the narrow little road in front of my house. NOT fun, but I can do it now so I guess it'll have to do... The signs at the end of my road look terrifying, as if death is near...I'll take a picture sometime soon. I'll post some of these amazing ones from the weekend (and/or let Marina put up the much higher quality version).
Also, you should watch this video. I find it funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdqIpYhM6PE
So, the weekend was fab. I became a lawyer and I had friends in town. Marina and Joe had a great time (I think) except for when I dragged them all over the mountain. I picked hikes that I thought were easier (or at least not too difficult...except for the part where you climb up rocks), but I also forgot that I've been here for a while and my glutes are in great shape so I walk up hills like a mountain goat these days. It's not that easy when you've come from flat land. Overall, we did a ton of activities including a bon fire, a rope swing through the trees, hiking, playing in ice caves, visiting the brewery, eating lots of salmon in its various forms and otherwise exploring. They were also exposed to my driving. They heart Lester now. Who doesn't?! OH, Juneau is doing some renovations on the bridge near my house...which means that I had to learn how to 3-point turn in the narrow little road in front of my house. NOT fun, but I can do it now so I guess it'll have to do... The signs at the end of my road look terrifying, as if death is near...I'll take a picture sometime soon. I'll post some of these amazing ones from the weekend (and/or let Marina put up the much higher quality version).
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