Homer Fashion Show

Homer has a neat art gallery that hosts a bunch of fun event like last year's Edible Arts new years (people made art out of food and then we ate it after voting in categories) and May's art burn beach party were artists burnt an item they created.

Last weekend they hosted their 30th Wearable Arts Fashion Show. Tons of creative peeps submitted a variety of clothing, jewelery and accessories that they made. I so wish I knew how to make something just to be apart of this wonderful community.

There was a call for models, half of them I knew. I could not dare being on the stage to "perform" and of course I wanted to snap some shots. It was so fun to see my friends sport these awesome designs. Many of them were very Homer and Alaskan themed.

The after party at our own small "night club" was a blast. I danced till 3am and was not drunk. As most of u know I don't dance and no metal or good techno was played, sadly....

Thank u Homer residents for keeping this place special! Click here for pix.

Homer October & Halloween 2013

Well I spent about 2.5 weeks in Homer in October and managed to cover a lot. Great sunsets and sunrises. I am still chasing the sun with my camera. Halloween was fun, pretty much a week-long party. It's my fav time and happy so many people dress up here. Wish it was halloween everyday so I can wear my high monster boots w/o strange looks :) oh well.

People said its been a warm fall, no snow yet! It's been rainy here which keeps it warm so I have not been outdoors much or hiking. I started yoga on Staurdays though so thats good and a real workout too. Lots of breathing stuff which i am not so good at.

Also started "working out" again at the circuit training and will go 2-3x a week. Oh and been drinking green smoothies with either kale or spinach, water and fruit. so yummy. Helps with energy and b/c it is blended u can better digest it. Super healthy and easy to do too!
  

The past 2 weeks been waking up at 6:33am (an hr before my alarm) even in the pitch black with stars out till 8ish...so weird but better than struggling to wake up!

Happy Halloween! Click here for pix.

NYC Rose blizzard 10-13

NYC came and went! After my brother's wedding, I headed back to nyc with the fam. Had a billion errands to run like visiting good old Apple store and got a new macbook air finally to replace my heavy 7 yr old lap top (thanks to dad's help).

Also had to go through more stuff to see what to do with them. I was sicken by how much stuff I still had and how I can't seem to emotionally detatch from some crap!  I ate like crazy: chinese, italian, sushi, indian etc; things we don't get in Homer. Saw friends, but I never get to see them all or have enough days to chill longer and for that I wish I could do more. But I got to see a "metal" show (Soulfly) which was super awesome timing for me as they are one of my fav bands.

I checked out the new REI store in Soho; the emptiest I ever seen an REI.  Basically my only shopping was practical stuff I needed tech and gear wise like a super duper headlamp so I can easily get to my truck in the mornings. It's already dark as I head to work :( super sad and still not adjusted to the crazy light/darkness in AK.

Good to spend time with the parents and of course my angel Honey! Sad thought occured that this might be the last time I see here as she is 14. But she is still kicking strong. I miss her badly but know she is in better hands with the parents.


I walked about 100 blocks in a day which took 2 hrs and 80 blocks the day before. I so miss walking. The best way to see a place and workout! Gosh, I wish nyc was closer to AK. The trip airport to airport took 17 hrs (including time zone change. And my two layovers were only 2 hrs each....

Click here for more city pix.

Brother's Wedding in PA

So my younger and only brother got married last weekend in Gettysburg, PA. Him and Tiffany have been together for years and live in Philly. I flew in to NYC and drove with my parents and cousins for 7 hrs! Should have been a 3.5 hr drive but tons of traffic and floods on the highways as it was raining nonstop. I could not believe how the rain created such issues, car crashes and so on.

The next day luckily no rain. It was cloudy but temperate. Very pretty fall colors. It was my first outdoor wedding, which I much prefer, but still had some Christian stuff to it. Everyone had a great time. I got to see some of my old friends and met alot of my brother's friends. We don't have much family in the US. But a cousin from Australia came with his wife. Also my little Honey attended and she was a hit as everyone can't help but love her.

I got to tour Gettysburg briefly. The Military NP was closed b/c of the shutdown but still ventured a bit around the park trails. It was also Gettysburg 150th anniversary. After two nights, we headed to Honesdale, PA where my parents have a house and most of my stuff is stored. So i to sort through it. I can't believe how much stuff I still have. I so try hard not to buy anything as it just sickens me how many things I have. Got rid of some stuff and some will be useful in AK and some will stay in NYC b/c I can't imagine wearing platforms in AK.

People keep asking me, will I ever return to NYC or how long will I stay in AK. All I can say for now is that I have been at my wonderful job for a full year and that along with the people in Homer and the spirit in AK will keep me there for at least another two years if not more. Even if I despise winter in AK, I really can't imagine living anywhere else. But never say never and I know that I can't plan out my life.

Click here for some Gettysburg and wedding pix.

Quick Fall

Seems like fall came and went already. We had sunnier days  this month than in August and not as much rain, I think. But the air is crisp. I had to start scraping frost off my windshield!  Sadly, I have not hiked much this month as I hoped. 

It's pretty funny I never imagined life would be so busy in Alaska. But in a way when you know half the town and most are creative and motivated beings, surrounded by so much beauty and space, it's easy to get lost in time. Not to mention working for a nonprofit that is all about community can keep one pretty pretty pretty busy :)

I learned what it was like to be a single mom for a week while caring for a friends two kids. Great kids but wow I missed my alone/free time. Not sure how a single parent work and care for their little one(s). The cat kept me up lots of nights so that was the worst of it. I also learned never have a schedule with kids, it won't stick.

We went across the bay and picked raspberries then late attending a naked goddess clothing exchange party. The best shopping ever. It's so odd how much free stuff there is here. Food from my farming friends, fish from people with boats, and all sorts of clothing and winter gear from friends and even strangers at times. And this town is hands down the best potlucks ever.

Click here for some colorful pix! Happy Fall!

Fishing and Burning Basket

Gosh it's been 2 weeks since my last post and I can hardly recall what I have been up to. I did start going to what we call the training room, a circuit training thing 2-3x a week an hour at a time. I despise workouts, never been a gym fan but this is not a gym. No machines, no pool, no come as you please. There's a few classes a week and you can't be late.

It goes by fast as you do various activities to work out different parts of your body for 30 seconds at a time. I hope to not only get in better shape, maybe get a little strong but to also get some energy as winter approaches. So far my abs are sore!

It's been rainy but still busy with events and bdays. We just had our 10th annual basket burning. "..experience of community interactive, impermanent art..." ""Follow the nose of your curiosity, the sparks of your imagination, and the desire of your hands to engage the natural world in a unique way, and deepen its mystery." 

I will be taking care of Kammi's two little ones for a full week. I suspect my next post will contain cute images of them :)

Click here for some boat trip/fish pix and huge ass basket burn on the bech.

Grace Ridge Hike Across the Bay

Jackie, her friend Megan and I set off at 9 am to drop off our gear and food at kayak beach yurt then the water taxi continued down to let us off at the South end of the Grace Ridge Hike. We hiked one way 8.9 miles, 3,100 feet up and down back to the yurt to camp the night. We started around 10:30 and got to the yurt at 7. We took our time, had lunch, rested in the meadows, picked and niblle on some wild low bush blue berries. Jackie had to be pulled away as she is a berry nut!

It was steep once you got near the top and a little muddy so i was mindful not to slip and fall back onto my friends. I was worried about my knee; it has been aching again this summer when i walk some times. Knee was fine but my heels burned and I was wearing the hiking boots I wore for a year all over the US...I borrowed one of Jackie's hiking poles, which I do not like to use b/c your hands are even less free for pix, but I am sure it helped.

The day was cloudy in Homer and started raining but it stopped and later in the afternoon we even saw patches of blue sky and some sun rays! I felt like i was on one of my out of country travels, which I use to do yearly and now its been almost 2 years since i left the US. There's so many great things to do in AK and even in Homer, but visually speaking this was the most epic for me. I would love to do this at least annually just  should get more in shape beforehand to avoid ache legs. Click here for pix.