quick trip to town

Problem: Bridesmaid dresses take a long time to order.
Solution: Order as early as possible.

Problem: No David's bridal in the bush.
Solution: Go to town!

My lovely friend and former college roommate Laura is getting married in February, and has lovingly requested my presence as a bridesmaid. OF COURSE I agreed, and not just because San Diego sounds like a lovely escape from an Alaskan winter!

So I flew in Thursday, landed a bit after 1, and will be here till Sunday afternoon, depending on flights. In addition to running a list full of errands, I will also be enjoying several friends' company, as well as a few local eateries that I have missed while being away!

what makes the cold colder?

Its getting cold here. Expected, as its trudging through the middle of October. I love coming home to a warm home, maybe taking a nice hot shower, putting on comfy clothes, and grabbing a hot cup of tea. Wednesday was no exception to my desire to finish a good day’s work and relax in the usual comforts.

The first problem was apparent upon walking in my door. It was a bit chilly. As I later discovered, the building was out of heating oil. I remember noticing a slight chill in the air when I was home for lunch. Considering the building is not insulated for winter living, a bit of the “barely above freezing” weather we have started settling into my home.

So what does one do when its cold in their living environment? A few solutions come to mind, but the top one on my mind was a nice hot shower. So I turn on the shower water, and wait for it to warm up. Well, it warms up, but not near as warm as I like it to be. Especially not hot enough to take off the chill that is setting in. I hop in the shower, hoping that it would warm a little more. Wrong. It got cooler, and cooler, and cooler, till it was barely lukewarm. I sighed, shut off the shower, and headed out to make a hot cup of tea.

I turned the stove knob to “lite” and waited. Nothing happened. Its an old stove, so I try again. Still nothing. No smell of gas, no whooshing of gas going to the burner... the gas must be out.
What a great night to crank up the electric blanket, curl up, and go to sleep!

a week later

Well, I can't say this is the longest I have survived in the bush, as I spent a week and a half in the brooks range last summer. Give it another 5 days. That record will be gone. Unless I don't survive that long...

Speaking of survival, there has been a brown bear mulling around town recently. One of my neighbors informed me that they tend to cause trouble in the town right before they go into hibernation. One of my coworkers shot at it with a 22 (cause a 22 is going to take down a bear...) at around 11:30. Later in the night, some friends reported their trash being strewn around their yard. The dog started howling at around 3 in the morning, so they checked out the door, and it was in their yard. And to think that the only thing waking me up is my stupid heater rattling. I guess its better than a bear on my porch... Shh, don't tell my grandmother!! She would probably worry. Come to think of it, my mother might be pretty worried at this point as well. Don't worry, mom, I have a can of bear spray right outside my door.

Speaking of bear spray, have you ever read the instructions on the can? You are supposed to spray downwind. And after the situation is under control, you are supposed to immediately vacate the area, as other bears will be attracted to the dilluted spray. You are only out of range after two miles of running like a large dangerous mammal is chasing you. And you need to run directly upwind, as the wind is carrying the peppery fragrance the other way. This is all something *I* plan on taking into careful consideration when trying to fend off an angry bear. Or maybe I just need to get a gun.

Speaking of guns... sorry, I don't have anything to say about guns. Just following suit with the rest of this post.

a new chapter

Someday, a book may be written about me. Not saying that I think my life is any more significant than anyone elses, just saying that it could happen. In the event that it does happen, I believe september of 2010 will mark a new chapter in that book. Not just because I turned another year older. Though I am young to most people, I have had several birthdays. Not just because I moved. I didn't move till I left for college... but I have done quite a bit of moving since then.

This new page, this new adventure in my life, is marked by a different culture. I no longer have cell service. While I still have my cell phone, it functions as an alarm clock, not a constant connection to friends. I don't live close to a grocery store. Everything is flown in, about an hour long flight. I no longer drive to work. My commute involves walking about 100 yards. There is no pavement here. 4 wheelers on the local dirt paths are the favored mode of transportation. I am still in the US postal service, but my address is simply general delivery. No street number, no road name, just "general delivery"

Yes, I am still in the United States. Just living in the last frontier: the bush of Alaksa. And here is where the adventure begins.