Kaying, Paddle Board, Eagles in Meat Homer & Green Kodiak

Summer is here and I can;t keep up. Roads are full of cars now :( Before it got to crazy, I managed to go across the bay to kayak and visit Rick & Dorle. I needed the break after a crazy April work month.

 I slept in till 9:30 and did not think of woke as soon as I woke up! Before I was waking up at 5ish am but now I am more adjusted to our long daylight days. Still going to bed around midnight. Just too much to do.....

I also went paddle boarding in a new spot before Jim's worked picked up. I do enjoy it more than kayaking as it is more open and closer to nature. I even looked at prices but where the heck am I going to store that thing.

We had such a warm month and also a huge wildfires nearby going on 10 days now. 650 firefighters working on it and it's destroying a Wildlife Refuge Reserve. Click here if you wish to know more.

Memorial weekend I went to the King Crab Festival in beautiful Kodiak. Known for brown bears, fish and rain. Hope to go back in the fall via ferry!

Paddle board and eagles eating mystery meat on the beach pix click here.

Kayaking in Tutka Bay and barnacles eating underwater video clip, click here.

Emerald Green City of Alaska - Kodiak. Click here for crab festival and stunning new AK views. 

April Homer & Kenai 2014

April has come and gone. Sun sets at 10pm and rises before 7am. Sleeping schedule is messed up and with the awesome spring, there's just too much fun to be had out there.

But its also my super busy time at work with a huge on-air fundraiser on May 2, a wine tasting fundrasier event and then our annual 2 day music festival in July

 I joke to people that I can't wait till winter when things slow down. Even winter is busy but now it's just super nuts with more cars on the road, more events, more sun and I just don't know how to do it all.

I was in Kenai (2 hrs North) for our sister station's (KDLL) on-air drive. It's way different vibe up there, more red-necky, if you will. But I made the most of it and visited there two breweries.

Then I was in Anchorage for a few nights got an Alaska public radio development conference. It's nice to see friends and explore outside of Homer but it is also nice to be back home.

Click here for April Homer shots (moose, beach sun sets, tons of otters) 

Easter Paddle Boarding Fun & White King Fishing April 2014

On Easter, I went paddle boarding with Jim who got me into this new activity. It's only my second time but now its my new fav sport, more so than kayaking.

I feel more free and connected with the water even though I am so terrified of falling in to the beautiful cold ocean. You can see more since you are standing and really see in the water.

It's easier to get around and though maintaining a stable stance is a lil tough, it nice to be able to get down and rest when needed. I wish the board was not so expensive. Not like I have space for that.

And then other night  I caught another king, this time a white king, which is said to be the best of the best salmon you can get and not an every day experience. YAY.

Click here for sweet paddle board pix and here for a cool hiking trails by Anchorage and epic fishing pix.

Beach Weather and Slush Cup in Girdwood

Been walking more than skiing these days. Ski season is done and it was lame. But luckily there's an awesome beach here and lots of events. Went on an epic long beach walk, almost got stuck with the tides and found a bunch of crazy random crap to "surf" on :)

Sunsets about 9:15 now and rises around. Amazing how much we have gained in a month, and some days its 6 mins. Summer is just around the corner, you can already see more cars on the streets and boats in the water.

I also went up to Girdwood, cute like ski town, 4 hrs up. Its a nice scenic route that takes you up to Anchorage an beyond.  Last summer was my last drive up as I prefer to fly the 40 mins. Drive is beautiful just need the time and winter can be scary.

Girdwood hosted its 27th Slush Cup, wear people dress up and try to jump over a pool of water. Most people fail and sink, usually skis pop right off. There were some cute customs like Cave Woman and super heros.

Click here for some more beach and odd shots
And here for Slush Cup Girdwood.

AK in Texas!

My mom is turning 60 this May and wanted to go somewhere. I was headed to TX in March for AFP's fundraising conference so i told her to meet me there and I will take off a few days earlier.

We spent a few days Austin. Heard it is similar to Portland and it was with the hipsters and  slogans: "Keep Portland weird",  "Keep Austin weird". I thought why didn't I move here to a warmer portlandia? But I did not know about Austin in 2006. There were more bars on one block than in my town.
People everywhere drinkin in the day time, lots of happy hours (no happy hours in Alaska-it's against the law to promote drinking), live music blasting outside. Streets closed on weekends so people can walk on the street from bar to bar. Not even NYC is like this. But it was downtown and felt it was very touristy. Austin also had so much outdoor seating and awesome huge tree. So not use to the humidity and I got sun burnt on the first and only sunny day!

Then headed to San Antonio, no more sun and even got a bit of rain. Texas has been in a drought for years!  I only had one free night there to explore before the conference started. Then mom went back to NYC.

The fundraising conference had 3,000 people vs my town of 5,000. I was overwhelmed with nice people from the nonprofit sector and amazing workshops. So intense! I still need to process this information. At times, I was frustrated because I can only do much with my time in my department of one. Possibilities are endless if I had more help. Wanna never be bored? Work for a nonprofit :)

I saw the work (and meet the people connected to) so many amazing causes and feel proud to be a part of so much positivity in this world. Not everyone chooses to work for a nonprofit, but if you are passionate about a cause, I encoruage you to volunteer (even petitioning or sharing info on facebook etc. helps) or donate to that cause.
And yes, some of that money goes to pay the overworked/underpaid staff that are needed to make things happen and keep the lights on in the office to get the work done. Investigate orgs that align with your passion. Be part of something positive with an impact. We might not all have the luxury of time (I sure don't and I don't have kids), but when you prioritize your finances, you realize you probably can financially contribute.

 I am actually going to leave my savings and IRA to a few nonprofits. I am super excited about this since I don't have kiddos. I will become a major donor when I pass on and then get invited to all the major events hehe...

Ok enough on that, you get the picture. Click here for fun Austin pix. and here for nice San Antonio pix.

Winter Fishing and Boating

My friend, Jim, has a boat and is a water taxi guy. Actually met last year on my bday when he was my taxi driver to the yurt solo getaway weekend. He wanted to make a trip across the bay to a Seldovia to network as not many taxis go out there.

 The water got choppy so we did not make it to town, but we went to a more protected area to try fishing via trolling. My first time winter fishing. Two hours went by, the warm sun drained me through the window as I watched the rods to see it go down when we get a bite. I think i passed out for a few mins. it was so warm and cozy.

Jim yells "Fish on". We jumped up and ran out. What do we do now, I screamed. Grab the rod and jerk it to release it..... from the rigger. Did it and then the fish swam like nuts. Keep the pole up, line tight. let out some line if the fish starts to pull.

Oops, fish went under the boat. Oops he got tangled with the other line in the water. He was hooked on well so we did not loose him but we did not know that yet. Jim grabbed the net and i brought in the king salmon.

Boy what a rush. so exciting and so much involved before, during and after. we went back home and Jim filleted it on the boat in the harbor and we split our winnings. Everyone says king is the best and fresh king is divine. So lucky i am.

Weekend next, we made it to Seldovia in the snow. Had some beers at the one bar, talked to some locals which was actually good for me for my work as we reach out there. Tried fishing but was not pleasant with the cold and waves.

Click here for pix.

Film Jam & African Drummin

I went to my first film jam event and was not sure what to expect. Yes, lots of old school film clips. 3 running at the same time. Sometimes in their own space on the wall and sometimes bringing them together and overlapping.

Lots of clips: from a 70s school bus safety one to bears fighting, to seeing a fish hatch in a fish hatchery which seems they are always in a form of prison. that was hard to watch. no blood, but seeing their life in captitvity and crammed. very unnatural but that is how we are able to sustain the billions of mouths on this planet...

there was also yoga in art. An awesome yogi here mediated before us while sounds and color covered her. it was very trippy and cool. sounded a bit new age but still new cool to be in the room and see this first hand. I have pix and a video but its not the same.

There was also of course Kammi doing her LED hooping to West African live drumming. There's been an artist in residence here for 3 weeks offering free drumming workshops 3 nights a week that I have been able to attend. This was all thanks to our lovely art gallery one block away from my place!

Awe so much going on here and it's still "winter" time. I worry how crazy summer will get, work is already in full busy mode. Click here for pix and clips of the drumming and film jam