just can't get enough...

Last week Bucko and I took a trip to Seattle/Spokane. It was a quick trip and we barely had time to sleep, so my apologies we did not get a chance to see you. Oh, how I love Washington state. I love Seattle, and it's quirky diverseness. There are so many places to see, and explore. Seattle feels like the city of endless possibilities.
 
After a quick night in Seattle, and a stroll through Pike Place, we rode the train to Spokane. I would take the train over the bus anytime! The seats are comfy (and they recline), you can kick out your legs, you can even get up and walk to a dining car or the bathroom. Bucko and I were so excited, the train hadn't even taken off before we broke our Pike Place treats and enjoyed what felt like a first class experience.

Then came Spokane, I love Spokane and all of the people who make it home. Nothing beats going home and seeing the all the people who have been apart of my life from near and from afar. I always feel so welcome and full of love. It is a familiar place, full of great opportunities and easy access to the "city life" or nature.

And then there is Alaska (sigh). I am in love with it and I just can't seem to get enough. I was worried I would have a hard time coming back to Alaska after having such a great time in Washington. But flying into Anchorage my heart swelled as I gazed out the window. The city lights sparkled in twilight. The golden full moon was glowed over the snow covered mountains and I felt peace and the sudden urge to fully go out and actively appreciate all of it's beauty. And Alaska's special beauty is something I do not think I will ever get tired of. I wish appreciating beauty was a paid profession:)

Since winter set in on Alaska, I've learned a few things about life up here that I'd like to share with you:

1. Walking to working in jeans when it below zero hurts, it burns everywhere that is not covered in at least 3 layers

2. Anything above zero is considered warm

3. If the sun is out the town looks like a winter wonderland, snow the covers everything, and it sparkles. Don't be fooled though, sun = below zero

4. Alaskan’s have snow plowing down to an art. They plow everything to the middle of the street then a snow blower and a dump truck follow and clear the center of the streets. I’ve never seen anything like it. Plowed streets rock!

5. People do not use their garages for cars. Garages are filled with stuff. Why someone would want to have to wait 20 minutes to start the car, and stand outside in -15 degree weather to chip ice of the windshield is beyond me.

5. Beware of moose. They can be found just about anywhere, your front yard, the side of the highway, or the Fred Meyer's parking long. I still get excited to see moose, you’d think I would be tired of it by now, but I’m not.  

Moose story: A few weeks ago, I walked to work (see 1). I work at a coffee shop about a mile from where I live. I’ve walked this many times and this day was not any different, aside from my concern for my face freezing off. My shift ended at noon, and I began my trek home. It was crisp and sunny (see 3). A lady had already stopped and asked if she could give me a ride. I declined. I was determined to make it on my own.

My pace quickened as I rounded the corner to the final stretch, excited to soon be warm. I’d made it about a quarter of the way down the street when I saw a calf down the way, munching on a tree. Calves are so cute, of course, but if there is a calf, a cow is sure to be close by and this can be deadly.  Mothers are very protective.

Time seemed to go by slowly at this point as thoughts raced through my mind as my frozen brain tried to make a decision. Should I detour? Walk all the way around the other block and hope the cow was not at the end of the road. But to be honest, I did not know if I would make it, going that much further and survive the stinging cold. I debated on calling anyone because I knew in the time it took for their car to warm up (see 5) I could walk around the block. I tried calling anyway.

Just as I was in the middle of my first call, a 4-Runner pulled up and a lady asked, “Are you stuck? Would you like a ride?” Yes, Yes! I wanted a ride so desperately. I hopped in and as we passed the calf, we saw the cow on the other side of the street. Whew, that was a close encounter!

The lady introduced herself and as I was getting out of the car she said thoughtfully, “Okay, today was a good day. I just saved a life." I am grateful for random acts of kindness.

moosin' around

The sunrise woke me up as its soft glow reflected over the small lake. My brain slowly started adjusting as I remembered where I was… at the homestead in Big Lake, Alaska. The thought of getting out of bed this particular morning was not easy.

This Sunday was special; Kaitlin and I were going to help Bruce butcher the moose he shot the previous week. Getting a moose is a an exciting event, so aside from my thoughts about how terrible butchering the moose was going to be, I was really excited for Bruce.

I took my sweet time eating breakfast, but eventually, Frances, Kaitlin’s grandma, caught on to us, or at least me (not sure about Kaitlin) avoiding the moose chopping action and said, “are you guys going to sit around all day or get to that moose?” We had no choice… off we went to the garage.

I drug my feet out to the garage; quite literally, I drug them through the golden leaves.

Seated at the table with knives in our hands and hindquarters hanging from the beams, Bruce gave a brief explanation of how to cut up the moose before he abandoned us. There was a bowl for the roasts, a bag for hamburger meat and another for sausage, and unwanted pieces would go to the dog mushers.

At first, I was unsure of how to slice and dice, but once we got going, it was great! We cut our way through the afternoon with Prairie Home Companion in the background. I was surprised how much I enjoyed myself. Putting time and energy into food that we would eventually be eating was really cool. And knowing no part would go to waste was even better.

Growing up, my parents always placed an importance on knowing what was in our food, where it came from, and not wasting it. Our backyard was always producing something exciting, whether it was fruits, vegetable or compost. My mom would make everything from scratch, and I can still hear my dad lecturing about reading the labels on food. It took me a few years to before I fully appreciated or understood what they were trying to convey. (I will confess, in elementary school I used to trade my homemade cookies for cheetos and oreos:)

So sitting in the Valda’s garage, cutting up moose meat reminded me of how easy it can be to separate ourselves from the source of our food or even the preparation of it. I like sitting down to eat and knowing I am eating food that is good for me, and I made a small contribution to the meal.

Alaska = AK = Audra Krislock

My last few weeks in Alaska were jam-packed. Work on the dock slowed down leaving more time for exploring. Kaitlin was determined to take me to Homer. And Kaitlin being the determined lady she is gets what she wants. We made two trips down!

Although, the two trips were very different, they both were a blast. We ate our way around town, trying all sorts of delicious food, meads and wines, played Frisbee on the beach and had a glorious time getting more than just our feet wet in the cold, salty ocean. The first trip the day ended with us being kicked out of a restaurant for sending the food back, but it ended up calming down as we drove into the glowing sunset and reminisced about the beautiful day.

The second trip down completely melted away any bitterness I may have been harboring. Gabe, Kaitlin and I took a boat across the inlet to the magical Halibut Cove. We ate at the only restaurant in the cove, the Saltry. It was beautiful. The meal we ordered was so tasty, we asked for a second! Our cheeks hurt from smiling over how happy we were.

The next weekend we made the long drive up to Fairbanks. What an awesome trip! The views were spectacular the entire way and the mountains are so grand and breathtaking. If you ever make the journey, I definitely recommend getting a chauffer so you have the freedom to safely stare in awe out the window. My favorite mountains were through Denali Park and the ones just before we got back to Anchorage.

On the way home from Fairbanks, we stopped by the homestead. This is where Kaitlin's grandmother lives, on a large amount of land just outside of Anchorage. The gorgeous log house sits right at the edge of a private lake and no neighbors can be found for what seems like miles. We fell asleep in the guest house as the stillness of nature surrounded us. Bruce woke us up early the next morning, upon our request so we would have time to paddle boat around the lake.

This summer was wonderful for the simple fact that I didn't do much aside from be completely present in the moment with what I was doing. The feeling is so liberating. Experiencing yourself exactly as you are, right now, with no reservations or concerns about the past or future is wonderful. I loved it. I love the laughter and the friendships, and the memories I will keep close by.

I have hardly had any time to sleep between work and adventures, but I have no complaints so far.

On the fish front, this year has been one of the best years for salmon that they have had in a long time. I think it's the highest run maybe in history, which means lots of work! Aside from dealing with fish at work, I've also been out fishing in Kaitlin's back yard a few times. Catching the fish definitely takes some skill, but it is fun watching the fish swim right up by your feet and jump inches from the pole.

Last week at work we spent over 24 hours straight off loading boats. It was so much fun! I like working hard until my body feels like it cannot do any more, then taking a hot shower and falling asleep. I enjoy working on the docks with the fisherman and the other fellows. I started out as the tally girl, but have bounced around trying to learn as much as possible. I've driven the fork lift, the truck (one of the crazy big ones) with a boat trailer, the skiff, and worked on the sorting tables. The work is hard with long hours but it doesn't seem to get to me. The work is intense and I get so focused that I often forget about the cold dusk or the slimy fish.

One of my favorite parts of working on the docks has been watching the midnight sunset over Kenai. It casts a magnificent glow over the mouth of the river and the snow covered Mt. Redoubt across the inlet. The sunsets are breath taking. As the sun sets in its beautiful way, I rotate just a little bit to watch the moonrise over Soldotna. A few weeks back when the full moon was up, it looked so close I wanted to reach out to see if I could touch it. Then within a few hours of almost darkness the sunrises and a fresh, new day begins.

None of what I am doing is anything close to what I could have dreamed of. I've tried wrapping my mind around my experience here, but haven't come close to finding words. I always thought it was cliche when people would tell me I was having the experience of a lifetime, that I would never forget. When a fisherman said that to me the other night, I realized he was right. Ever since the day I got here, I have felt at peace and full of joy. I think a part of it has been being willing to experience any opportunity that come my way, without expectations or reservations. Being open has allowed me enjoy being present in the moment I am in, with the incredible people I am with.