Christmas Party 2010

The Company hosts a very nice dinner and dance for Christmas. The first dress up event I've been to in a long time.

A few shots of the decor.

The party favors were these wonderful truffles. This picture is especially for my sister Patty.

These are shots of some of my co-workers and their spouses.

My friend Sandy getting down. Sandy has been such a huge blessing to me since I moved here. She is always looking out for me. She won't let me set at home and hibernate.

Sandy, me and Eric.

Sandy, Eric and Ken. Ken is Sandy's husband.

Laurel and her husband Chuck.

Me with Dorothy and Jake in the background.

Laurel and me. Laurel and I go to lunch quite a bit. She and Chuck have already told me they are going to take me snow machining after I get back from the Christmas holidays.

Jake and Ken.

Ross, Eric, Dorothy, Josh and me.

Eric, Dorothy and her husband, Josh.

Olya and her husband, Jake.

Olya and me. Olya is my Russian "daughter." She and I go shopping together. She helped me

bake for Thanksgiving and came over and helped me put up my Christmas tree.

Winter in Alaska

At last an update. Officially, Alaskan natives will tell you it isn't winter yet, but we've had snow on the ground since November 8th. I can't tell you the last time we were above freezing. We are not forecast to be above 20 for at least a week. There is nothing like driving on packed snow all the time. I've been wearing snowboots since the beginning of November. I'm guessing I won't don a pair of normal shoes for outdoor wear until at least April. I carry my work shoes with me and change after I get to the office. As you look at the pictures, notice that some of them are in the dark. These were taken on my way home from work. The sun isn't coming up until about 10 am and is going down about 3:45 pm.

Campbell Walking Trail is just about a 100 feet from my back door.



My backyard. The deck is actually my back door.




Mountain Ash. The berries start out green, change to a very pretty orange and then to this brilliant red. The birds and moose love to eat them.

Ice in the ocean. Picture taken at Earthquake Park about two weeks ago. There is much more now.

The first major snow of the season, on November 8th. Notice the Christmas lights. By the end of October just about everybody has their lights up and they turn them on. No one wants to be putting up lights when it gets really cold. In November, we had 20.5 inches of snow. A record for Anchorage. I'm told most of our snow will come in January and February.

My winter boots. Of course, I have to have matching wool socks.

Alaska State Fair

So I went to the Alaska State Fair over the weekend. It was pretty much like any state fair with animals, produce displays, sewing and handmade crafts and baked goods. There were shows, a midway and lots of food. But it struck me that while Alaska is the largest state in the Union area wise, it has a very small population. And it is not easy to travel from various locations within the state. All that to say, the fair was smaller scale than I was expecting.

Ski Alaska

Last week, my new friend Jennifer and I went to Girdwood, home of Aleyeska Ski Resort. The world's only ski resort where you can ski and see the ocean at the same time.

The entrance to the tram to the top, which actually just gets you to the chair lifts.

Me trying out the chair lift. Probably the closest you will ever see me on one. LOL

This is looking to the top of the mountain where the tram house is located. The mountain below is the north slope ski run. They average 650 inches of snow per year. Last year they had 950 inches.

The ocean view.

A view of Girdwood and the valley below.

Once we got to the tram house, we hiked further up the mountain. Another victory for me. Wouldn't have been possible a couple of years ago. In the picture below, you can see another chair lift for another one of the ski runs.

A picture of the some of the glaciers. Taken near the tram house.

Maybe I'll go back in the winter and take more pictures. : )

Moon and Stars

Tonight I saw the moon and stars for the first time since arriving in Anchorage.

THEY DO EXIST!!!

SCORE!!! After days of searching and night after night of driving....four in one evening. Katie and I were driving through Earthquake Park and spotted a mama with her two calves and down the road found the bull grazing along the side of the road.