Storytelling

I am a Gemini and I do believe the description fits. Look up the traits of this astrological sign and you'll read..."communicator...inclined to media, arts, public speaking." Of course my past activities prove as much considering my four years competing in high school speech, drama and six years working radio. Well, the last year a half I don't feel I've really engaged those interests, aside from giving trainings and presentations for work (which I love doing). It certainly has felt like something was missing. Like most everyone, I dabble in new hobbies, explore new interests and hope to discover my niche. Without a "communication outlet" I've realized my enjoyable niche is something I took for granted.

I was reawakened last month by a new event called Arctic Entries. My co-worker Tara and her partner, James, started this storytelling presentation based on one they loved in Baltimore called Stoop Stories (the place where stories are swapped and shared). They pitched the idea to Cyrano's Playhouse in Anchorage and the local Storytellers Guild. It was a "go," and so the promotion began. She described the format and intent and I was hooked. It seemed like a hybrid or off-shoot of prior events with the Nome Arts Council.

7 storytellers share for 7 minutes a real story around the night's theme (and the $7 admission proceeds go to city homeless programs). The diversity offered through a variety of contributors makes for an interesting & homey evening. Naturally, the first Arctic Entries was given the theme, "First Times." A few weeks before the first telling Tara asked if I would be one of the 7! I began preparing, practicing, and reawakened the anxiety of public speaking but also its adrenaline. The task of timing your words carefully and creatively. Talking to myself for practice and running it over in my mind...it all felt so familiar. The door to my entry was reopened.

Cyrano's black box theatre sold out and the crowd was in a good mood last Saturday. Tara and James set the tone and music played. I had good friends there to support and attend the show. Stories were told about a first celebrity sighting, the first time camping surrounded by an incredibly large wolf pack, a first rafting trip, and the first time a young boy learned Alaska Natives hunt by magic.

The main characters of my story aren't even aware I spoke of them. :) I talked about being the first person to move far away from family, breaking trail. But through the first experiences had by my grandparents during trips to the Iditarod, family began to understand the connection to Alaska. I described their first time sleeping in an airport (yikes!), first time riding in a dog sled, and Gramp's first and only time mushing! How all that encouraged me to try my own first time mushing and winning a Rookie Race in Bethel. How being first, breaking trail is entirely doable with your supporters. It was grand to express. The audience laughed at the mere mention my grandparents traveled to Nome for the Iditarod (laughs on them!) and they applauded when I won my race. We connected through the sharing of life. It's especially cool since the Iditarod starts today and many great memories arrive this time of year.

I can't wait to help in some way with upcoming Arctic Entries as the event takes off! It's great to bump into your passion and find one another again...be it cooking, dance performance, watercolor or fly fishing. Don't let life's passions disappear for too long, and keep exploring what new hobbies pick up your pulse with fulfillment.

*Amy

Missing: Winter

It's February 23rd in Alaska. Do you know where your snow is? Not in Wasilla.That's grass. And that's our bonfire pit in the sunken snow area. And the snow that remains is rotten and gross. Well, the 30-40 degree weather that never seems to end is great for road conditions, and my spring jacket! I took my car out of its winter 4-wheel drive.

I won't even show an updated photo of our former perfect snowman, Paddy. It'd make you weep.

*Amy

PS-Andy hasn't plowed with his new 4-wheeler & plow since Jan. 17th.

Anniversary

We didn't just celebrate Cupid's holiday over the long weekend, we also celebrated an anniversary. Last year on Valentine's Day Andy proposed marriage. Yep, we've been engaged for a year now, which is rather long considering we still have 4 1/2 months to go. The year has also gone quickly, of course.

We celebrated the holiday and the proposal by going to the same place as last year--Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood! We didn't go there for sentimental reasons, but to scratch the skiing itch I've had for some time. I hadn't been downhill skiing for three years and Andy hadn't held a ski pole since 8th grade! We committed to the activity and was confused to arrive in Girdwood to RAIN. Yes, February 14th in Alaska and it was RAINING. What?! The temperature had risen to 40-degrees and the precipitation hit the Mountain. We decided to go for it as we had already driven to Girdwood and had a room reserved at the resort.

We suited up in our rental gear and went up the slightest "hill" to try out the feeling of skiing. We went up a "treadmill" in a kid-area. I was a little rusty but enjoyed the sensation. Andy went down the kid "hill" once and called it quits. To his credit, it was raining and he just had a bad vibe. He was content to hang out in the bar and WATCH Olympic skiing as I worked my way up to the chair lift and did some small runs near the Mountain's base. Now that is love.

I scratched my "itch" and felt the snow begin to slip under the rain. I was also drenched and called it good. The rest of the day was more normal as we got ready and enjoyed a phenomenal dinner at the famed Double Musky. This cajun steak house doesn't take reservations so when we arrived it was a two-hour wait. And it took the entire two hours. However, we spent that time enjoying each other's company at the bar and talking with some folks around us (including the multi-millionaire construction company owner who is building Nome's new hospital). We ate at the Double Musky the night before Andy proposed last year. It never disappoints!

The only picture we took in Girdwood was a less than impressive shot of a ski boot on Andy's foot. He skiied for all of 25 seconds but he wore the boots for a good part of the day! Despite the Comedy of Errors (which included the ski rental guy taking cash from us and not logging our equipment--probably a scam) it was nice to change the scenery and recognize the journey we've been on since Valentine's Day 2009!

*Amy

Snug-WOW!

How many ways can we wear Snuggies?

The Statue of Liberty:

A jumping Gumby:

Casually, like on TV:

Or, just chilling like snuggly villians:

Okay, so we didn't dial a 1-800 number and order these Snuggies, nor did we pluck one of the remaining sets at Wal*Mart during Christmas. We did receive them as a holiday gift from good friends who understand cold winters, and we're lucky enough that they included the free book light. In case you see the models above and wish to own a Snuggie sensation yourself, just beware that they run a little big.

But I'm not just a blogger, I'm wearer, and I may have my sage-green Snuggie on right now.

*Amy

Iceholes

"I like fishing; I really do," Andy said Saturday afternoon while baiting a hook with neon-pink shrimp. It's an activity, a passion, a lifestyle he doesn't get enough time to do. Since Christmas, though, his ability and tools to fish year-round grew with the acquisition of some key gear needed for ice-fishing. This winter past-time sure gets its digs when comedians and more "southern" folk poke fun at sitting on something frozen while trying to woo out a wiggly creature that you're most likely gonna throw right back down a tiny hole.These nay-sayers never had an "Eskimo" to sit in hours at a time. This ice "shack" takes Andy seconds to pop open. He set up our Finger Lake dream house and we commenced the "here, fishy fishy."

Tiny salmon and rainbow trout responded to our call.

No lunkers were had during this outing, but more sunlight and the right gear will surely bring the big one to the top of the ice hole.

Bundling up, the fresh air, fish slime and "roughing it" was a pretty good Saturday spent. It's also fun to see Andy hang in his "element."

*Amy

The Routine

Not much to say as of late because January has been the start of a hard-working year, so far. Andy works an average 11 hours per day (on midnights), which includes training a new recruit. My work has been a flurry of activity with the training we hosted last week for about 70 people from rural Alaska. They are part of our new AmeriCorps year. The orientation went very well and I'm enjoying calls and emails from around the state by questioning Members. This week has been full of report-making that makes the funding wheels spin.

Other than the full work days we drank away an afternoon at the annual Beer & Barley Wine Festival in Anchorage with Jodi and Graham. A week later they came out to Wasilla for a great night of sushi and visiting. We're also finding a long-forgotten gym routine. Andy's in a law enforcement fitness challenge. He weighed in, with a couple of other guys, at the beginning of the month and will check his weight and BMI in April. I'm taking to the treadmill while watching "Chuck" and other shows I'd normally catch at home, and I've also found a water aerobics instructor who is upbeat and gets me splashing.

Friends of ours, a Trooper couple, is having their second baby. The Simmons are the same age as us, and we were excited for them in June when we learned they're expecting. Anna and I went for pampering pedicures on Sunday as the guys watched that painful play-off game. Glad we went when we did because she's in delivery as I write! More than two weeks early. I'll probably meet the little girl tomorrow.

And that's how the first month of 2010 is shaping up!

*Amy

Why We Got the 4-Wheeler

Those winds earlier this week left the snowscape a bit tundra-like: worn, drifted and a bit like a frozen waves. Paddy's hat and scarf are safely secured inside. He's hanging on, but minus a limb!