I seen a glacier

Somehow, I brilliantly got my days and nights reversed.
Gah.
If only my Mom were here - she was always the QUEEN of making sure you didn't do that growing up.

i.e., "Why the *Mormon cuss* do I have to get up?! It's Christmas break!"

                "You don't want to get your days and nights reversed!"

If getting "my days and nights reversed" meant that I could, in exchange, get another few hours of sleep, I was more than happy to let that happen.

But she never really let me. And somehow I let that happen here. As an adult.

Brilliant.

We're coming back to Utah a month from this last Wednesday. 

Living here is an absolute dream and I know neither of us are quite ready to go. Of course, it's easy to think any place that you don't have to pay bills and make big decisions is a dream, but Alaska makes it extra easy. This place is beautiful and people pay thousands of dollars and save for  years just to come visit here for a week! And here we are; Aaron grew up here and I got to revel in it for a whole summer.

I hope we can come back to Alaska soon! I also hope we don't lose the important lessons we've gained up here - mainly, how to rely on each other, set traditions in our marriage and discover ourselves more as individuals. I've felt more like an actual "grown up" here than I have my entire life, which is a little ironic since we've been living in other people's houses and eating the food from their pantries. That's not exactly grade A adulthood like there, but close enough. 

So much space to think and grow has been unbelievably intoxicating and I hope we have the courage and ability to maintain that space when we get back to all things familiar in Utah.

Whittier and Portage Glacier

We went to Whittier last week! Whittier is basically what I call a "podunk town" - meaning, well, that it's a podunk little town. It's set in a tiny cove that you reach by driving through a 2 mile tunnel through an adjacent mountain. It got its start as a military base during WWII. Most of the inhabitants left after the war but a few stayed on to try and, well, do something - I'm not really sure what any of those people do out there.

Whittier has about 200 inhabitants and the entire length of the town is maybe half a mile.

No joke. 

Basically the most podunk town there is. 

There isn't any room for expansion since this tiny cove is completely surrounded by tall mountains - the only way in and out is through that 2 mile tunnel. The inhabitants all live in a single, tall apartment building and make their living tending to tourists that arrive via cruise ship.

Aaron and I got there a Saturday afternoon to go on a hike and see my first glacier.

The hike to Portage Glacier isn't a super publicized and famous hike. I actually thought it might be because it just wasn't very pretty or something.

Wow.

Was I wrong.

I don't know how many times Alaska is going to make me feel like I'm in Lord of the Rings, but it does it again and again and again!

It. was. gorgeous. After a steep climb up a mountain away leaving Whittier and the cruise ship tourists and podunk-ness behind, the view opened up before us so suddenly and spectacularly that I stopped mid-sentence and gasped. 

The-view-that-suddenly-opened-up-and-made-me-gasp. See the glacier?

We stepped into a bowl/valley surrounded by tall mountains that brushed the clouds with their peaks. Waterfalls poured from melting glaciers and the ground was coated with purple wildflowers. At the bottom of the bowl was a lake with Portage glacier on its opposite shore.

Best part - no one around.

GLACIERRRRR!

Ahhhhh...I was seriously exulting in where I was, which basically consists of my gasping, talking quickly and taking lots of pictures. Aaron finds it amusing.

Honestly, the only word to truly describe it was majestic. 

There are so many places like that here in Alaska! This place was astoundingly beautiful but still one of the lesser known areas! There are so many brilliant and breathtaking places to see that we could spend a lifetime exploring it...and we're planning on it.

Man. Awesome.

In sickness and in health

Aaron got sick with a nasty cold. It's adorable and sad: he feels so miserable but he's also kinda cute when he's loopy. For instance, while we were reading scriptures as a couple tonight he randomly slipped off his wedding ring, dipped it in his tea and dripped the drops into his mouth.

        Repeatedly.

Eventually I stopped reading and just looked at him, which is when he seemed to notice what he was doing.

"....I don't know why I'm doing this either," he said thickly through his cold.

Running

Aaron's getting up to par for his Cross Country season this fall. He runs every morning, works all day as a roofer, then runs again at night. 

The most amusing thing recently is that his boss, Matt Novakovich, longtime friend and running buddy; has been trying to recruit him for Spartan racing. It's an obstacle racing thing. Matt is actually good at it and is sponsored by Reebok; he even has a nickname "The Bear" and his own custom Reebok shoe that you can buy.

Spartan racing is basically running really hard while trying to do ridiculous obstacles and not fall in freezing water/mud. Footage of it is often accompanied by choirs singing dramatically in Latin and it shows many a face grimacing in pain. I think, personally, my favorite obstacle I've seen is when you have to run by two guys in leather skirts who try and knock you over with padded sticks.

Matt found out that he was randomly good at it after winning a Spartan race about a year ago. He's now professional and gets paid.

And apparently he thinks Aaron would be really good at it.

We're not sure which is funnier - that Spartan racing is an actual thing or the very real probability that Aaron would be good at it and could earn money.

So what do you think? Can you imagine Aaron being a "Spartan Warrior"?

I've also been running a lot more lately! I'm really excited because I'm up to about 8 miles! This is new and great for me; Aaron and I want to see if I could get signed up for some sort of race in the fall. Anywho, I love running with Aaron and I'm really proud of myself for getting my mileage up so high. I'm excited to see where we go with this!

...and now I'm tired of writing.

 Blech.

I'll spell check/edit this in the morning.

We will make such beautiful children.

~ Karen

(P.S. If you're reading, feel free to comment! Sometimes it feels like I'm just...writing?)

Read More

Some Prime 25 Alaskan Things

This post has been stewing in my head for 

ages

now, so I figured I'd finally get a move on it!

So, without further ado, presenting....

Karen's List of 25 Alaskan Things

Also known as "Things-I-Find-Funny-About-Alaska" or "Alaskan-Quirks" or "Things-I've-Seen-Here-That-Are-Distinctly-Alaskan". 

*Note - pictures from Google Images

1. Alaska Grown hoodies

These. Are. Everywhere

Alaskans are really really REALLY proud to be Alaskans. Alaska Grown is the symbol they put on produce that was, you guessed it, Alaskan grown. But, put it on a hoodie, and it becomes the most popular Alaskan and tourist paraphernalia in all the land. It's tradition to give an Alaskan kid one of these hoodies when they leave to go to college. Seriously though - all the Alaskans wear these.

 2. XtraTufs

You may not be able to handle this much Alaska-ness

I don't even know where to being with these boots. Basically, these rubber boots are the most hardcore, bad Alaskan thing you could own. I'm not sure why, but they love these. They wear them for all their gritty, outdoorsy things as well as for a fashion statement at the mall.

 

 3. Moose Crossing signs

They're everywhere

You really don't want to hit one with your car. I was biking and passed one the other day - thought it was a horse out of the corner of my eye; that's how big they are! If you hit their spindly legs you knock them right over. Then it's the hood of your car vs. this 1,000 pound beast.

4. Really, really big trucks...

When I heard Aaron and I were going to be driving Pop's F-150 with a custom muffler and lift, I thought it was going to be the most hilarious and pretentious thing ever.

Little did I know that I'd fit right in.

For Alaskans, the bigger the better...

I see these cars all the time. Ford F-150...

...and bigger with the F-250...

...and bigger with the F-350. These trucks are monstrous.

5. Relatively nice drivers (compared to Utah!)

"No, after you!"

6. North Face everything.

Need a good jacket? Northface. New running gear? Northface. New socks? Northface.

7. Hockey

Yup. Hockey hockey hockey. 

8. Roller skiing

I see these guys everywhere. They're huge on cross country skiing up here and this is how Alaskans train during the summer - with roller skiis.

9. Fish

I never liked fish. Then I moved away from Utah and discovered that not all fish tastes like rot. We eat fish all the time up here. Alaskans fish like crazy during the summer and stock up their freezers for the year with halibut and salmon. With luck, Aaron and I will be shipping some home for the school year.

10. Super duper conservative

Super Christian, super anti-gay marriage, super big guns, super low taxes, super trucks, super everything. 

They have bumper stickers like these.

And there's a "Jihadists, go back to the lower 48" spray painted on the pavement outside my favorite park. 

Hm.

11. Big guns. And they really don't want you to take them away.

Like really. Don't mess with their hunting guns. Or gun rights. They gotta shoot some moose and elk and stock it up in their freezer alongside their halibut. And they like Cabela's.

12. Bajillions of Christian churches

In Utah, there's a million and two The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapels on every corner. There's a plethora of steeples here, too; the New Grace and Korean Christian and Nazarene and more that is.

13. Snow tires for mountain bikes

These are a thing. They're HUGE!! Apparently these are good for the trails during the snow season, but apparently they are also good during the summer as well because the peeps still use them. 

14. Food = 3x as much.

Half a watermelon? $7. Apples? $2.99 a dozen. Bread? 3$ a loaf. I was nothing short of furious the first time I went shopping here. And be careful of the produce - remember, almost everything is shipped in. 

15. Oil. Oil taxes. It's a big deal and constant debate.

Oiloiloiloiloiloiloiloiloiloiloil. Touchy subject.

 16. High gas prices

Aaron and I were talking - it dipped below 4$ a gallon last week! 

17. The average speed limit...

 There's not much police up here on the hillside and people kind of just drive whatever speed they want.

18. Beautiful drives and the New Seward Highway

Gosh, their drives are astounding. Aaron and I frequent this highway, called the New Seward Highway. It's ranked one of America's most dangerous and beautiful drives. LOVE it. 

19. Bear spray

Bahaha this picture is SO Alaskan!!! Hunting, guns, scripture? Check!

 Bear spray. It kind of is what it sounds - you spray it on bears in desperate measures. But don't spray it on yourself like you do with bug repellent; it's powerful stuff.

20. Lots of tourists. And moose.

Lots and lots of tourists. And lots of tourists love the moose. And Alaskans find tourists amusing and sell them stuff.

 21. Native Alaskans

Apparently they do not appreciate being called Indians. And some, like Aaron's Alaska History grade school teacher, still have a thing or two to say to white people. 

21. Big dogs

Remember in The Proposal how the little yappy dog was taken by an eagle? Apparently that's a thing; it can actually happen. Anyways, a lot of people have dogs that they train and take hiking/biking/running/hunting. And they're big dogs, like retrievers, shepherds and huskies.

22. Personal planes

There are so many lakes here, peppered throughout the neighborhoods. Plenty are private, and plenty more have private planes by their docks. Did I mention that many Alaskans are crazy wealthy?

23. Alaskan Lingo

See these? They're called "snow machines", not "snow mobiles". 

Aaron uses plenty of bizarre Alaskan words that make me stop and ask, "Wait, what?"

Phrases like, "way out in the boonies", "permafrost", and "he's in the bush".

Read about some words here and here.

24. The whole "light at night" thing

THIS PICTURE IS MINE!

This is the contraption I set up the other night in a desperate attempt to make it dark in our bedroom when we cracked a window. The sun has been setting earlier and earlier since solstice, but it never ever gets dark enough to see the stars. 

And now, finally...

25. Alaska is gorgeous...

Look at my handsome husband!

...and we don't ever want to go!

~Karen

Read More

Catching a fish, ensnaring a bird

I actually don't always have tons of time to update the blog like I originally thought I would. But it's a GOOD thing - I work with adorable children all day and get paid to take them to amazing places! On the weekends, we go camping. It is so incredibly beautiful here. Forest lines the streets and I slow down to look at moose every now and then while driving - unless if they're crossing.

Then I stop.

But I love it so much. I have never been so happy before!

So, what have we been doing?

For starters, once upon a time (like 2 weeks ago) I caught a FISH.

It was terrifying.

It was our second time fishing at Jewel Lake; my second time fishing ever. My first time was a week before but we hadn't caught anything, much to my disappointment. 

This time didn't seem to be much different. We were out with Gavin, Aaron's 28 yr old uncle, and North his 3 yr old cousin. North was decked in fleece footie pajamas and Xtra Tufs, quivering with excitement in the boat and continually reminding us, "Let's catch five fish, ok guys?" 

However, despite North's persistent persuading the fish ("Fishies, let me catch you, I want to EAT you!")...

We caught nothing. 

We ate all of our doughnuts and cheese puffs. We watched the sky slowly creep with pink, indicating it was around 11:00 PM. Fish jumped around us tantalizingly, indiscreet with their tiny ripples...but nothing.

We decided to do one last cast and call it a day.

I watched my bobber float. I mused again about how fishing doesn't take hardly any skill on the fisherman's part...

...and watched the bobber slip under water.

I was completely cool and rational about having a fish on the line, meaning I started shrieking and jumping up and down on the row boat. Gavin and Aaron both started shouting instructions above my squeals. I was thrilled and reeled furiously.

The fish neared and I pulled it out of the water. I suddenly became terrified as a truth dawned on me:

I would have to put it in the boat.

Now might be a good time to mention that fish have always given me the heebie jeebies. I hate their alien, buggy eyes. I hate that they are always looking at you. I hate that they never blink. Their gaping mouth is gross. I've said before that if aliens came to Earth, I'm pretty sure they'd look like fish. Most of all, I've always hated the idea that fish might touch my feet while swimming in a lake. Yuck.

And now I was going to have to touch one. 

"Put it in, put it in quick!!" Aaron and Gav bellowed as the fish flailed in the air.

"I DON'T WANT IT IN THE BOAT!!!" I yelled and swung it away from me.

Aaron was the one who finally grabbed my line, yanked my fish off and plopped it in the bottom of the boat. I quickly drew my legs up to my seat and watched, wide eyed, as it jumped around.

The fish flopped in my direction.

I let out a piercing scream.

Like, really. A very, very loud scream.

Aaron grabbed it.

"Hold your fish!"

"I don't want to hold it!!!"

"You are going to kiss that fish! It's your first one ever!"

"Don't put that fish so close to me!!!"

After much coaxing, I hesitantly reached out and brushed the top of the fish with my finger.

Then wiped it on my jacket.

And very, very reluctantly kissed it while Aaron's held it.

"Wow, that's a super cool fish, Karen! Can I hold that fish?! Good job catching it!!" North's eager excitement and complete domination while holding the fish calmed me. Eventually I did hold it - with tense shoulders and clenched breath, that is.

We decided to fish a little more. Seagulls swirled overhead every now and then, but besides North tossing them the occasional cheese puff, we ignored them.

Aaron cast out. We watched the line soar just as a bird swooped down to meet it.

Suddenly Aaron froze. "I think I caught a bird."

Gavin thought he was joking.

Then Aaron's rod starting bucking and the bird plummeted.

Aaron reeled it in across the water. Gavin grappled the bird with his jacket and pulled it into the boat. North was very confused about why we'd caught the bird. After a little while and some bird pecks, Gavin finally plucked out the little hook. The bird, luckily, flew away.

We were all a little quiet after that. Later, a flock of geese flew overhead, and North called out sternly, "Aaron, don't catch those birds!!"

My fish. Aaron got me to hold it by the gills so he could get a picture.

I HATED it.

Here's the picture of my actual reaction to holding the fish that way:

I was about to cry.

Other things:

Biking Powerline Pass

Staying at a little cabin at Louis Cabin with the Dittmans and the Owens, Ashleen's cousins.

4 AM - I couldn't sleep; too many snorers.

The Zodiak (Gav's sea boat) started sinking on the ride home.

That was exciting.

Thomas's birthday party...

...and the newest passenger in Mr. Truck. Except he hangs from the review mirror.

We are definitely bringing him back to Utah.

~Karen

Read More