Cheeseheads

Considering the Packers play in the Superbowl on Sunday and Andy leaves for the game in a day and half, you'd think this "Cheesehead" post is about football fans.

Andy had a short meeting to make in Wasilla this week and I wouldn't let the opportunity for 3 free airline bags pass us up. He kindly brought an empty cooler and checked my list at Sam's Club. Pretty easy....meat and cheese...a chance to bring home a cache of chilled items within a few hours. Well, Andy is a provider, and clearly hails from the Midwest, because these beauties are sitting in our fridge.

I must be from the Midwest too given my approval!

(I wonder how often I write about dairy here.)

Anyway, meet the gang:

1.35 lb Wisconsin Aged Cheddar Cheese,

1.75 lb Dubliner (one our FAVES & imported from Ireland),

1.76 lb Three Alarm colby jack cheese ("intense pepper flavor"),

.77 lb Gruyere (perfect for fondue),

and the heavyweight is a whooping 2.01 lbs of Jarlsberg.

I can tell we're maturing given our tastes and exploration in cheese varieties. Despite a bias for the Dubliner, my guess is the Three Alarm will come out on top. Maybe we'll make it a "cheesy" Valentine's Day this year and stare into each other's eye across the fondue pot!

All I know is I'm gonna need a lot of wine to do this collection justice.

As for the Cheeseheads? Well, they tend to find each other.

*Amy

Trust Me

I should have known to trust a Trooper, or better, my soon-to-be-husband. I learned that he really does know me. Last spring when he brought up the possibility of applying for a promotion to Sitka, I remember him saying, "you'll really like it there."

How could he say that?

I didn't know myself whether an entirely new climate, and part of Alaska (on an island!!) would appeal. I know the culture, means of living, sacrifice and enjoyment from arctic tundra AK, but the soggy Southeast?? What did he know of the community that would jive with my interests and approach to life, when he lived there only briefly in an intense "bubble?" (attending the Academy himself)

I greeted his assurance for my part in this move with skepticism, but with support for something important to his career and Southeast dream. Plus, I'm up for adventures. But I should have trusted him a little more from the start. He's right....I really like it here.

Of course I really loved Nome, otherwise I would not have stayed for just over 6 years. But gradually in my last year there the enjoyment and satisfaction started to diminish. I'd get more annoyed or less fulfilled by things than before. Though difficult, I knew it was time to change.

Wasilla was good in that Andy and I were together. I had Target and TREES (boy, I miss those beautiful birch trees), a new direction and friends in Anchorage with whom to do fun things. We planned and had our wedding there. As I start to process those nearly two years of commuting and living in the Valley, I think I was "dog paddling." Head above water, enjoying the view and company, but not necessarily growing in self or going any place. I had a lot of time out there on my own, not motivated to make the drive to Anchorage, and I didn't have a feeling of contentment. I usually wondered what more could I be doing, exploring...

When we'd go out to dinner, Andy and I would play the relocation game. What bids for Trooper Posts are open? What Posts would you ideally want to work at, live at? We hypothesized different scenarios all the time. As if we were anticipating what a crystal ball would reveal to us. The thought was scary, unknown, and there's a thrill to that as well. When Andy's job assignment in Wasilla changed and nearly guaranteed he wouldn't have to relocate...well, that was a relief, assured stability and was a bit of a let-down too. I'd keep dog-paddling.

Then he told me I'd like Sitka, as if he actually knew! He did. I've felt moments of simple contentment and happiness over and over again, which were rather rare for Wasilla, and which remind me of the early years in Nome. Yes, we're new and it's all rosy (like a newlywed and a honeymoon!). I'm sure in even a year we'll be less enchanted by certain things or see more sides to the community, but it's still good.

While walking about 40 minutes in the dusk to a Trooper's house Friday night (passing the Academy along the way where Andy was still working), I felt just right. Spontaneous contentment, fulfillment and enjoyment of that moment in time, the route. It's a good route we're on right now. I miss terribly specific parts, people and places of my last two homes, but I really like it in Sitka. Really like. And Andy won't even say "I told you so."

*Amy

Andy really enjoys Sitka too.

He took his cup o coffee outside yesterday to enjoy the peace and beauty of a sunny Saturday morning.

Promise Me

A Promise has been made (with a capital P) and I'm so excited because the handful of us who hang out with this blog will benefit. Andy is returning as a contributing writer! It's been set. Promised. He hasn't created a blog post for well over a year, although he contributes with photography or lending an ear as I type. Soon he'll be the writer again. Already I can't wait to read it. What brings about this Promise with G3? An unbelievable experience. He's going to Superbowl XLV in less than two weeks! Tom, Tony and Andy will gather in Arlington from Wisconsin, Nome and Sitka to join the Cheesehead nation in cheering on the Pack. They might tailgate. They will have a blast. Flights are made and a hotel booked. It's a done deal and he has to just get there and enjoy. And take pictures. And then write about it on the blog. He Promised.

There exists many Packers fans who say not so nice things and incite unnecessary nastiness. We Vikings fans know about this...they are meaner than we in the feud. But Andy's one of the good fans. He doesn't say stuff that's hurtful. He just enjoys the game of pigskin. I love him for that...and I know he's isn't this way just because he married the gal from over the western border. He's a good, respectable fan and for that I wish him a grand, grand time. Plus, the Black Eyed Peas perform the half-time show. I hope the guys wear cheese heads for the blog photos! Promises are good.

While the biggest NFL game of the season plays out in Texas, I'll be flying all day to Washington, D.C. My first time to the capital. A proposal I submitted to a national conference was accepted so I have the task of presenting for an hour. The nervousness and excitement brought on by this opportunity will subside after 4:30pm EST on 2/8. The talk is "Preventing Risk through Youth in Action."

Other than these preparations that's it for us. We've been out hiking and enjoying food and drinks with friends in Sitka. I was in Anchorage last week for work and spent some time with friends, and tonight is my first rehearsal for the community theatre play I've been cast in. It's as if we were Promised a purty good 2011!

*Amy

Andy teaches what creatures are edible along water, at Mosquito Cove.

On a whim, Amy takes a quick walk break on 1/11/11 at 1:11pm.

The Walk

Sitka's Twilight

Last weekend we started to hike a trail but turned around after a bit because dusk would be settling in and Andy didn't have his gun. This trail was closed for most of late summer/early fall for bear activity. The time was 3pm. So even though we're gaining daylight now the sun in Southeast still sets before the rest of Alaska (therefore our sunrise is earlier too).

This trail was neat because along the way we passed from the Tongass National Forest into Alaska State Park land (btw, all access is free here, no user fees). As usual we admired the immense spruce trees and other lush, vibrant vegetation in the woods or on the beach.

But then twilight I suppose is the time when my imagination begins to set in. Are there vampires or werewolves in this dank, fresh, green and wet rain-forest? Would I see Edward hiking Bella on his back to the tree tops? Would beasts in a pack run by together on the hint of a scent??No, we didn't turn around because twilight was starting and we were in unfamiliar territory. We left because this Twilight certainly belong to something else. We would return another time, in sunshine (like today or tomorrow) when the day is Breaking Dawn....

*Amy

btw, I just love that a light water-proof jacket & boots, a hat and light gloves is all that's needed in Jan. to play outside!

Wild Animals

We saw quite a few animals up in Nome around Christmas.

I got to see my former roomie, Tisuk, hop through snowdrifts.

The muskox herd grazed just in sight of Icyview pretty much all week! We watched them from the kitchen window. While on a couple expeditions to get a little closer, we always counted 23 of these prehistoric-looking beasts. These 3 had the company of a raven.And then you'd think the wild animal in this next picture is the super cool, computerized-moving dinosaur who showed up for Christmas...but maybe not...

Some make Cookies, Some Want Meat

Last month I shared about some holiday goodies I made up. Well, guys sometimes make different treats during the winter. Like Bou Burger.

Start with free-range Alaskan caribou meat.

Forget the Kitchen Aide mixer. A Cabelas meat grinder is needed for the task.It may be a two-person job.And then quality control may arrive on the scene.At the end is a freezer with over 20 pounds of healthy ground meat. Caribou tacos and other meaty meals were consumed throughout the Christmas week. This author helped with the bagging process.Just as we appreciate the hours and skills needed for hunting and then processing the animal, we also appreciate the hours upon hours Nikki spent in her Nome kitchen to produce this stunning holiday cookie tray.We were lucky, and fat, because "Gorn Brothers and families" were sent some authentic Wisconsin cheese and meat for holiday snacking! Thanks Aunt Barb and Uncle P for the staples in our diets. I hope Bucky "going under the knife" wasn't the losing affect on this weekend's Rose Bowl performance.

Man, we were spoiled with good eats.

*Amy

Our Christmas Story

A little under a week before Christmas Andy and Amy left their cheery, but snowless home in Southeast.

Their northern flight to Nome was delayed given a snowstorm. The pilot must have used Santa's GPS because the plane landed when not expected to. So Andy and Amy joined the G2 household for a week's time, and enjoyed holiday hospitality. The new snow was glorious and Amy went for a snowshoe hike with friends.The newlyweds helped take care of their niece and nephew part-time throughout the week. Lots of play and fun was had with the kiddos. Like super push-ups.Being good for Santa was on everyone's minds. Santa doesn't mind acting silly though.

Amy visited at KNOM and enjoying being back on the air. An evening "rock show" with buddy, Wes, turned into Moon songs preceding the exciting lunar eclipse. Andy chopped fire wood and fixed a truck with his brother. Together, Amy and Andy watched the sun rise and set on a clear winter solstice.

Joyful Christmas came to Nome, which turned very windy and chilling. Everyone attended or participated in Angie's organized Christmas pageant at Church. The niece was an angel, the nephew a king, the Auntie a singer and the Uncle a photographer. The Christmas story came to life in the cutest way.Then Santa delivered, presents shared, too much food eaten and happy memories made!What other tales will be told from this cold trip to Nome?