Winter in Juneau (thus far)

So again, I'm slacking on my updates. SORRY.
I did get a job...I have been hired by Eaglecrest, the local Juneau ski area which is subsidized by the City of Juneau. Hired on as a bus driver, they soon discovered that I was able to operate the database which stores all the season pass holder's info etc. So for a while I would go between the desk and the frozen bus (which needed many repairs before it could carry skiiers---repairs I soon found out i was responsible for)Carhartt overalls one day, sweater and jeans the next.

One thing is for sure, despite the long hours, low (LOW) hourly wage, and stressful bus maintenance, being up on the mountain among others that love the snow and the sport is really nice. The weather has been gorgeous, and the snow fell pretty heavily in mid November, so it's a perfect combination. The people that work up there too are pretty great, everyone works hard and cares about the area like it was their home. This weekend was the first big opening, and I found that working in a small town's ski area is a unique and rewarding experience. So even though I'm broker than a joke (crazy that my jobs in high school paid me more)I get to be up on the hill, and as long as the buses run and the snow falls, I'm keeping my head up!

Juneau in the winter is amazing. The last week has been littered with one great outing and event after the other. I recently went digging with clams at a local beach during one of the lower tides of the year. At -3.3, we ventured out past Amalga Harbor in the dark with our rain gear and shovels, headlamps guiding our way.
The fruits of our labors yielded 2 five gallon buckets full of pink, butter, and cockle clams. The size of these things were amazing to me, fist size and wider pink clams, my eyes almost fell out of my head. Julie, Brian and I went home and the next night after a 24 hour soak in gunny sacks, cleaned and shucked the clams...pretty gross but nothing good company, and glasses of scotch couldn't cure. Brian, a great cook, fried us up the clam strips from the pink clams, they were still moving when they hit the fryer, and the strips were almost the size of slugs. MMMM.

This last Friday, Juneau had the largest Gallery walk of the year on the first Friday of the month. I saw old friends, met new ones, and had one of the best nights out on the town (still making my bedtime of midnight). Before all my best friends leave town for their Christmas adventures, it was so amazing to have a night at the bar where we all could sit and enjoy the music and each others company.

This will be my first Christmas away from my family, which terrifies me. I know that this was going to happen eventually, but as I hear more x-mas tunes, and see more lights, and families, I can't help but feel sad. I work Christmas Eve, and the day after Christmas, Eaglecrest is open and needing bus drivers. But as usual I will make the best of it and buckle down and focus on work, and snowboard my face off!

I'm still in limbo with finding a permanent set up in town. I applied to work as a bus driver in the interior of Alaska this summer, a different kind of tourism since this ski area job is also seasonal...still unsure about where I'm going, what I want, and really just digging in to who I am.

One thing I do know is I love playing bass so much, and in the last month I feel like I have such a stronger handle on the instrument. I've been writing songs and trying different styles and like swing and country. Picking with my buddies who all play bluegrass has helped me gain confidence and I feel like it's a great tool for learning. I'm so excited for Folk Festival in Juneau, and hope to be able to do the Alaska festival circuit this summer too.

Well, I have the next few days off, to sleep, play music, and take care of some business. More soon! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bus Gig to Fairbanks, AK

This last week I was asked if I would be available to drive a coach in need of an engine overhaul from Skagway to Fairbanks, AK. Me along side 7 other drivers ventured out into the cold Alaska autumn via the Yukon up the Alaska Highway to the interior.

The drive was long, coupled with the miles I just put in on my way back to Alaska, and the initial drive down through the Al-Can...I have been driving quite a bit.
We cruised over the hard pack snow on the empty highways, but I took comfort in knowing that with these heavy buses and our mechanic Mike, we would make it successfully.

I did get to Fairbanks and it was really nice seeing the change in the landscape from the last time i was there in June.
There was about 2 feet of snow on the ground, the sun was bright, and the temp hovered around 15-20 degrees. It reminded me of my childhood in Calgary: the dry snappy cold, the flat tundra and the sun reflecting off the snow.
My best pal Caleb hosted me and my road blurried head. We had a blast in his neighborhood right down from the University. A neighbor, and my good buddy Kliff Hopson, rock and roll drummer, and overall beacon of happiness and joy, opened his hot tub to us which felt AMAZING after tromping around outside in the cold all day.

I left Fairbanks after meeting new friends and reconnecting with interior jems I miss while living down in the Southeast.

I caught a flight back to Juneau and arrived right in time for Halloween to explode in town. Everyone looked good, and had a fun and safe night. I'm so tired, I feel like I haven't slept during the entire month of October...

Today I moved all my worldly belongings to my new (temporary) home in a lovely one bedroom apt on west 12th street in the federal flats of downtown Juneau. whew...

sore. tired. sleeping for a day or two.

Vacation!

I ventured out of Alaska down to San Francisco for a little relief from the stress of the summer, and to see killer Bluegrass and hang with pals.
The drive down from Skagway, AK to Seattle was pretty epic, vistas of orange and red alpine hillsides and towering mountains already dusted with snow.
Julie Jackson and I played "wildlife bingo" tallying the buffaloes, caribou, elk, bears, and moose along our drive through the Yukon, and down to British Columbia.


Arriving in Seattle I spent some quality time with the Chisholm Grandparents and really enjoyed seeing them on the West Coast and caught up on whats been happening in our lives for the last few years.

San Francisco started out wonderfully! I ended up sitting next to a woman, my age, who had worked on an organic local farm in Fairbanks for the whole summer. Turns out that I know the family who runs the farm! George is active in the Bluegrass community, and his partner Kristi and their gorgeous children came to the Solstice Fest in Cantwell, AK which I also attended this last summer. We chatted about Alaska, and her long summer (she was gone for 9 months) away from San Fransisco. She offered me a ride to my friend's home in the Park Presidio (which has no direct public transit) which I was so greatful. Her roommate showed me the Ocean Beach neighborhood and graciously dropped me off at the front door of Chase Christie and Kate Hamre's home.
The troops from all corners of Alaska poured in over the next two days: and among them those who have relocated to the lower 48. It was so great to see everyone, some I haven't seen since Folk Fest in Juneau, last spring.
We listened to amazing music, both in the living room/kitchen jam circles, and at the Hardly Strictly Music Festival.
The highlight for the actual festival was seeing Doc Watson play, as well as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings. The latter show was so amazing, and looking around at everyone's faces during their heartfelt songs---the crowd seemed to be memorized.
Special thanks to Jacob Groopman who saved our lives by sacrificing the suspension of his Saturn to haul the Juneau crew as well as those of us who couldn't snag a cab back to the Presidio. (He also provided me with great music to add to my I tunes which I have been literally obsessed with since I got home---thanks Jacob!)
The nights were long, we slept outside under the stars, and ate amazing breakfasts at Zazie, an epic restaurant near the Haight. I am so grateful to both Chase and Kate, and Jeff Kanzler---for feeding us, and putting up with a house full of crazy Bluegrassers and Rowdy Alaskans. It was a great time!

After the madness of the festival dies down, my dad picked me up in SF and we drive to Monterey Bay. He had meetings and appointments in Carmel, so I laid by the ocean, and drove through the fruitful Carmel Valley wine country stopping to admire the immense vineyards and organic fruit orchards. I cranked up the stereo in the rented 2009 Toyota Camry and zoomed around the scenic Carmel Valley roads in the 75 degree weather.
After work was done we drove the 17 mile road back north, admiring the foggy coastline and giant mansions which overlooked Pebble Beach golf course. It was dinner time, and we dined on 26 chubby fresh oysters on a half shell with ice cold Vodka sodas with lots of lemon.
The next day I departed San Francisco for Seattle.
Soon after I drove south with my mom and brother Markus to Portland for a final send off party with my maternal relatives. Markus is now in Thailand, and we wanted to have a goodbye gathering in the city we were born with our closest kinfolk. The day started with MY favorite past time: thrift store shopping with my Grandma Jo at the best second hand shop in Oregon, "Red White and Blue." I picked up two pairs of boots, a few tops, and some jewelry for pennies compared to what they would charge in Seattle, especially Juneau.
The party followed and later that night we all gathered at Pub 181 in Gresham, OR (the same place I spent my 21st Birthday). This place is the best neighborhood bar I have ever been to. My aunt and uncle are regulars and we played the loto line games and I threw back now fewer than 4 Bushmills neat, thanks to my cousin and Grampa Doug. I only got "a quarter fucked up." It was a great night, anytime I get to spend with my cousin Jamie, Aunt Mary Jane, Uncle Terry, and my beloved Grampa Doug and Grama Rona is a great time!!!! MISS YOU GUYS!

I wrapped up all my loose ends, spent some time with my best friends, "the Alexes" (Kattar and Sanchez respectively) and soon found myself packed and ready to drive to Prince Rupert British Columbia to the ferry back to Juneau, AK.

I said goodbye to brother Markus (for a whole year!!!!) and started my drive north. It was the most laid back drive I have ever had, I sang Bluegrass and listed to my music unapologetically. I found myself in Prince Rupert in less than 20 hours! Boarded the ferry with no problems and found my spot on the M/V Taku bound for Juneau!

I'm home now. I was offered a little job driving one of the tour buses from the summer up to Fairbanks, AK as Holland America needs 8 buses in the 'Banks by next week for training. That will be a fun trip, I have never done that drive before, and I'm hoping to see some of my interior friends. I will leave next Tuesday and get back just in time for Juneau Halloween festivities! YAY!

I will try and be more diligent about my goings on here in Juneau and other adventures that come my way! Here's to being back home :)

Bus Tired

I stood on the docks today surveying the throngs of sweatpants clad tourists, thinking to myself that these folks all kind of look the same. Maybe because some of the t-shirts and sweatshirts are sold in the same shops throughout Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau...and some may end up with the same swag...but really, I think that I'm just done with this job in general.
I knew when I came back to Juneau that it would be fun, yet challenging to go back to bus driving. This summer was the most difficult working in tourism simply becuase I knew that I was not going to leave town after it was all done. Juneau is my home now, and I felt myself feeling guilty about driving giant smokey buses around the narrow downtown streets where my friends and neighbors walked...looking up at the bus with sour looks on their faces. The job is easy, it can be so much fun, and ulitmatley it taught me how to really talk to every kind of person in the world. Yet around this time of year, all I want to do is look out my window and see nothing on the waterfront, just empty docks. I want to walk downtown to grab a coffee, and not have to swim through clusters of confused lookie-loos.
Tomorrow is our first "no ship" day since May. I plan on walking around town enjoying the space, and thinking of my return from San Francisco where the locals will be the commanding presence in Jtown.
It feels weird, and it hasn't completely set in that when I come back to Seattle, I'm just visiting. I will be stopping through town, and returning home to Juneau.
4 days of driving left. Then I'm off!!!...but only for a little bit.

Shootin' with Andrew Heist

Andrew arranged for an early Thursday morning shooting adventure out at the public range in Auke Bay. I had never fired a handgun, let alone any firearm.
It was fun.
Thanks Andrew. Looking forward to more shootin!

Fishing in Excursion Inlet 2009

I love fishing.
Despite the driving rain, 6' chop, and utter lack of giant halibut below our little chase boat, Julie Jackson, Dan Kirkwood, and I had a great time out on the water for the weekend north of Juneau about 3 hours by boat. It was so good to be out in the elements, no matter how raw or unforgiving the Southeast climate was.
I caught my first fish with the help of Chase boat captain, Bluegrass lover, overall amazing Kentuckian friend Mark. We stayed in a camp full of nice awesome people who gave us their time, fed us amazing food (ribs! cinnamon buns! home made rice pudding!) and offered us comfy beds in beautiful cabins to sleep after a tiring day out.
It was perfect. I caught 2 halibut and a rockfish, learned how to fillet it, and now i have a freezer full of yummy fish for the cold winter months.

WHERE DID SUMMER GO!?

Sorry friends, I have failed you. Between moving, hosting visiting family and friends, and my crazy 2 jobs this summer, I have neglected my blogging duties!

So I will try and get all of my great pics from the past two months of fishing, shooting, hanging out with lovelies such a Lynn Vollbrecht, my brothers, The Bluegrass crew, and local Juneau celebrity sightings like Carlos Boozer and Sean Tracey. It's been a hell of a summer, and I have had the best time.

Here we go....

Biking in Juneau

I love riding the GT commuter bike that Brooke so graciously lent me for the summer. It's been so nice to pump the 8 miles roundtrip to work on south Franklin, back to Douglas every day. Especially after being stuck behind the wheel of a bus for upwards of 12 hours.
This July, we have been super spoiled with the sunny weather. It broke to the 90's after the 4th, and since the sun breaks and breezy cloudy skies have been steadily moving towards the mid 60's and 70's.

Yesterday the rains came.

They came with a vengeance that made everyone in Juneau almost snap out of their heat drenched dream state. The 50 degree raw moisture permeated everything, and the wetness came down hard and steady.
Eventually when all the passengers were let off the coach, I returned the bus to the yard, and at around 9pm, it was time for me to get on home. The other drivers crowded into cars, jammed bikes into trunks, and waited around for the last city bus.
I yanked on my wet Marmot jacket, pulled my beanie down, put "Hard Times" by the Stanley Brothers on my ipod, and hopped on the old GT northwesterly to Douglas Island.

By the time I cleared Franklin Street I was head to two soaked. My glasses began to fog, and the speed limit on Egan drive jumped up to 40. Cars started whizzing by me splashing water all over me saturating my work pants, socks, shoes. I began to forget where the ugly potholes were as giant puddles pooled over them. I clumsily drove right into a series of deep lacerations in the new pavement, tipping me off balance. I felt my body bump against a passing pick up truck throwing me to the sidewalk side of the highway, the bike collapsing under me and to the left. I heard honking, screeching, and felt a cold hard wave of gutter water wash over me like a tsunami.

I pulled the bike over and within what seemed like a nano-second, found the sidewalk. I sat there until the shock wore off...3 miles from home. I crawled painfully back on the seat and slowly shifted down to cross over the Gastineau Channel bridge and began to climb the long graded hill to 5th street.

Today, I looked at a car to buy. If it wasn't for the rust, I would have paid cash for it immediately. My biking days are limited...Juneau summers can be fickle, we'll be lucky to get another good stretch of weather again until next year.

New Job!

well after the greatest 4th of July ever, I managed to meet the right lady. Heather Ridgway asked me to more or less, apply to the Juneau Arts and Humanities council for a new opening as a part time art instructor at the Cedar Park community center in West Juneau.

So excited and gleeful about this new opportunity! Heather is great and these kids are so much fun and so engaged in the projects so far!
It's a temporary post, but I already love working in the Juneau community and spending 3 hours of my day twice a week getting messy, painting, and watching children create! It's great!

July 4th.

July 3rd in Juneau Alaska is a pretty magical night. The law states that it's illegal to shoot fireworks on any day that's not July 4th, so the city decides to set off a gorgeous display the night of July 3rd, because it gets dark so late at night. The entire city comes to Douglas Island, or the Marine cruise ship docks downtown to watch the 15 minute display. Normally I feel ambivalent to fireworks, yet in Juneau its different. The surrounding mountains create a special kind of acoustic effect where the "boom" from the exploding fireworks is bone shakingly deep. It's unreal.

Above, me, Ally, Erin, Andrew and Jr. Kane all digest delicious prefireworks salmon, ceviche, and fruit salad before heading out on the town.

I met up with "the masters" (newly graduated Masters in Teaching students Emily Waters and Chris Bacehowski) to watch the display on the city docks at Marine Park downtown.

The next morning I somehow dragged myself of bed and into a kayak spray skirt decorated like the AK state flag (with petticoat!) and joined the Juneau power ladies to help Erin hold the banner for their kayak drill team spirit group in the July 4th Parade. Erin and I held the signage and marched through downtown as the ladies twirled their kayak paddles and danced through the throng of watching Juneauites. The entire town was out on the streets for the parade! It was great. I think I saw everyone I have ever met in town...unreal. Erin on the left, me on the right.

getting ready for the parade. The weather reached 90 degrees!!!


After the parade downtown, Erin, Andrew and I took bikes across the bridge to Douglas Island for the parade over there. We ate Polish Sausages, fry bread from local frybread genius Garfield, and settled down at Island Pub for a still and spicy bloody mary.

Later after snacks and drinks I joined a boat party which transitioned to a house party on Douglas...met a bunch of great people, and biked home after the longest, funnest, and more tiring day ever. whew! The Juneau love affair continues....

My "For Now" Home...

My chair. Scott and Brooke's living room. I watch the mountains and the cruise ships sail into the Gastineau Channel. NPR IS ALWAYS ON!


Vince and I head downtown after a brother sister slumber partay!
Me in front of the apartment....LOVE IT!

Dinner with Good Friends

Julie Jackson, Erin Hason, Me, and Andrew Heist.

Erin and Andrew, the anchors of my Alaska family, invited me over to their amazing home to eat freshly killed salmon, cauliflower puree, and a gorgeous salad with greens from their garden.
They also introduced me to Julie, Andrew's dispatch partner who is an awesome gal.

We drank good wine, laughed, and enjoyed the yummy spread.
Green and Blacks current and Hazelnut chocolate topped it all off. Great first week in Juneau...love these two. I would be utterly lost without them.

Training

Today I had the pleasure of venue training with my bus cohort from the original Princess Bellingham training team: Keegan Hartman. We drove the entire stretch of road in Juneau all the way to the Aldersheim Lodge boat dock. The Chilkat Mountains hovered brightly beneath the clouds. Fishing boats floated in the distance and a light salty breeze drifted through the open windows of a 1971 GM motorcoach as we zoomed down the bumpy road.

Such a series of great moments, we pulled over into a turnoff and hung out in the sunshine which had been so absent downtown only an hour previous. I love that it can be grey and rainy in one part of town, then 45 minutes later and 20 miles north you can be bathed in the warm clear SE Alaskan sunshine at Lena point.
I hadn't been this far down the road since Caleb's garden party in 2007, and I considered this a great little reaquaintence with the part of town I rarely get to spend time in.


my Jimmy. the steering is a bit tough, but it purrs and zooms like nothing else.

HAPPY ME. in my HAPA (Holland American Princess Alaska) uniform...well kind of. I tend to mix it up a bit.

8 days in the Interior of Alaska. In Pictures.

DAY 1. MONDAY
The Silver Fox (Eric Graves) hosted a little dinner for me that was the best salmon, moose, Malbec...and lots of fun and laughs! It was the best welcome present! It really meant so much to me. He opened up his beautiful big home in Ester, AK (just 10 miles outside Fairbanks) to me and my friend Caleb. It was a great night that I will always remember...even if i did have a few too many beers! Pictured above is Kliff "Kliffy" Hopson.

Ester, AK. Casa Mojito. The quaking Aspen trees. They are gorgeous when the wind and sun hit them just right.
DAY 2. TUESDAY
I wanted to get out of Fairbanks and get to the water. I went to Chena River and stuck my toes in and just enjoyed the beauty of my surroundings. This little adventure outside town was one of my favorite highlights of the trip :)

DAY 3. WEDNESDAY.
After a gorgeous drive down south through the parks highway to Denali National Park, I had the chance to stay in a great cabin at mile marker 230. Friends from the neighborhood came over and we played music, laughed, drank a bit.

Me, Weebee, Jeff, and Alissa at the cabin havin' fun!


DAY 4. THURSDAY.
Salty Gravy, quite possibly the best band ever, played a show at local pizza restaurant and bar, Panorama Pizza in nearby Carlo, AK. The pizza was sooooo gooooood, and the music was amazing. I love everyone in this band. From left to right: Silas Lowe, Weebee "Becky" Ashenbrenner, Lynn Macaloon, and Andy King. This night was crazy fun, and the Denali locals were gettin' rowdy!

DAYS 5&6. CANTWELL MUSIC FESTIVAL. CANTWELL, AK.
This music festival was sadly put to an end about 10 years ago, and this was the first year it was resurrected. I saw the most amazing musicians, dear friends from all reaches of the road in in the interior (Fairbanks, Anchorage, Cantwell, Ester, Denali, Girdwood, even San Francisco) and it was a dirty, fun filled, weekend to place words on it. Jeff Kanzler and his band put on a great show, Well Strung Bluegrass, Salty Gravy, and Cold Country not to mention countless other acts all played the stage. This was a weekend I will never forget...and probably never fully remember either. Above is Andy King, Silas Lowe, and Nate MacDonald jamming at the camping site.

Trouble makers. Todd Grebe, Nate May, Me, and Chase Christie.

Well Strung Bluegrass, formally known as Contra-band.
Stefan, Todd, Angela Oudean, and the one and only Gary Markely.


late Saturday night jam. Nate May, Andy King, and Nate Williamson.

the gorgeous Kate Hamre and myself happy in beautiful Cantwell, AK.

DAY 7. SUNDAY.
What a way to recover from excess is to pile more on! Jeff Kanzler takes me to 229 Parks in Denali. This restaurant is like nothing I have ever seen or experienced. There is a small neighborhood charm and almost a magic in the air. Laura Cole and her husband Land built and established this decadent eatery and tavern where you can get something small and casual like tamales or quiche...Kaladi Brother's coffee, or good Alaskan IPA...then you can get a 5 spice duck breast over a deliciously fresh green salad. Not pictured: raw Oysters that sparkled with freshness, and a walnut salad that is still haunting me. The meal ended with a creme brule that was hands down the best I've ever had, then finished up with a key lime tart that did something to my tongue I can't even explain. After eating so much great food in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco: this meal tops them. Go to 229. it's the best food in the state....or ever. seriously. After dinner we went back to Fairbanks and to Ester where Eric opened Casa Mojito for us, again! whew what a weekend!



DAY 8. MONDAY.
The trip ended perfectly with a playdate with the Bearfoot kids and friends. We went to the local Fairbanks watering hole Marlin, then back to their host's home for an amazing dinner of halibut, stirfry, and salad. Pictured above: Chase Christie, Kate Hamre, Me, and Angela Oudean.
Love these guys, it was a time! Best week I could have spent! I will miss them dearly, but until the next festival...those are never too far away!

The Beginning

I am a 24 year old lady: Born in Portland, Reared in Bothell, Washington; Calgary, Alberta; Woodinville Washington...schooled in Bellingham, Washington....and most recently lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

I can't explain what exactly motivated my decision to uproot my life as I had known it for the past year and move myself and my belongings back to Juneau, Alaska. It's something that is so difficult to put a finger on. I felt that a myriad of variables came together and it was the perfect time.

Well, I sit here now, in a gorgeous apartment in Douglas, Alaska across from the downtown boruough of the city. My friends graciously let me set up shop here for the next month until I find a new apartment. I recently took a week vacation to the interior of Alaska to see some friends and attend a music festival in Cantwell, AK. Needless to say it was epic.

Next week I begin my job as a driver-guide for Princess-Holland America here in town. I will drive buses and woo passengers. It's a draining job, but can be fun at times too. I'm excited to work with my hands and my body and talk to people away from the confines of a desk and a computer. After the season I hope to travel, my best friend is getting married and a bluegrass festival is calling my name in San Francisco.

This blog, I wanted to set up so my friends and family far away can see what I'm up to and look at my photos without having to set up "crack" book accounts as a friend calls them.

We'll see how this pans out :)