Solo Cabin Night Getaway

One of my winter goals was to go across the bay by myself and stay in a cabin or yurt. I wanted to see the other side in winter. I also want to try to do a few solo retreats each year. Get a way from busy town, busy events of all kinds, away from computer and facebook.

Thankfully the state cabins are available for rent in winter and my generous friend with a boat gave me a lift. We made sure the wind/water conditions were goo and tried to fish on the way there and back since we were out on the water. I am so lucky to have such great friends.

One thing I love about Alaska is the feeling of time and space. Being connected to nature, but being in town and with my "public" job, I am always surrounded by peeps; awesome peeps. And, I am a social butterfly still trying to learn the word NO.

The funny thing was even being away from those distractions on my own, I was still able to distract myself from reading and writing. Constantly counting the wood left to burn, checking the fire in the stove, checking the hours left of daylight, looking at the tide book. I hardly sat down. And every time I did, I had to get up within a minute. Oh that door is not full shut, where's the lighter, put in batteries in headlamp before it gets too dark...Boy living simply takes a lot of time up :) But this took me to my bare basics of living. I am so spoiled in my living lifestyle and this took me down a bit. 

I was well prepared with 5 gallons of water. I used about 80% of it to make tea to keep warm. Also had the right warm gear and wit. My adopted parents, Rick & Dorle, gave me firewood. That's it. I was not sure how much I would need though.

Luckily winter here is super mild this year. But across the bay in the woods, closer to those beautiful fat white mountains, it is colder. I got cold in a a few hours and was super worried about how long the wood would last. So I was conservative for hours. I did not realize it is best to heat up the cabin then use little wood to add on.

I learned a few things like make sure your pen works before packing it, and always bring cheese and crackers for snacks, bring the double the amount of heat and hand warmers (i should know this by now). It was a great test of myself, know how and gear.

Next time would love to go for a few days. I took about 200 pix and posted 8. Click here for ice on water, ice under water and other cool AK winter shots.

Homer Feb Ski and Sunsets

Its been a mild time in AK. My second winter here and I have not escaped yet for a warm vacation break during our dark winters. I was thinking to flee to Hawaii but I just did not feel a need to and now I am glad I did not.

Winters will always continue to be dark especially late December through mid Feb. and I dont think I will ever adjust to that. But it is not as cold as I had thought it would be. And now the sun is setting at 6;30 and I am going to work in daylight. Such a great feeling to wake up and see!

Feb. flew by and I am so screwed up b/c since January, its has felt like spring was around the corner. Last summer it was amazingly warm. I am so curious what this summer will bring us. 

Not much news to report otherwise. Have not gotten to do all the winter goals I had like ice fishing or ski during night of a full moon and still have yet to see the northern lights see I face south and I am in town, but can't have it all and that's what next winter is for :)

Click here for snow and AMAZING sunset pix.

the Housing Craze

I attended an open house last week of a newly constructed "house" that is meant for retreats, weddings, huge traveling groups, etc. At first many of us thought it was another huge summer house. We got a few of those as more and more people want to live here in summer only. (I did find conflicting articles online say it is this UT's fam house and them calling it a rental property.) Homer's also becoming a retirement community b/c of the tax incentives for the elderly and its beautiful location.

Here's how they describe it: "Homer’s most magical luxury rental property. This 17,000-square-foot home, is situated on 3.5 acres of oceanfront property overlooking the incomparable Kachemak Bay in the North Pacific Ocean. Eight luxurious bedroom suites, each with its own theme, can accommodate up to 30 overnight guests. Additional amenities include an indoor pool, massage room, Turkish bath, sauna, steam room, gourmet kitchen, formal dining table for twelve, library, three fireplaces, game room, theatre room, and a 3,000-foot wraparound deck complete with an outdoor fireplace & pizza oven, direct beach access, and a 2,000 square foot replica of Neverland itself."

Our town faces some huge issues from what I have read and observed. My age group is the least represented here as there are not many professional long term, year-round jobs. Mainly tourism, construction, oil slope workers, and your own your own business. So its super tough here and i worry about the long term issue of the few that are going to support the city while the majority benefit and don't pay in. Summer housing peeps make lots of money elsewhere and then come here raising the real estate prices for those who do live and work here year round can't afford to live somewhere descent or own their own land. It was not always this way...and yes I am simplifying and generalizing here and I am not an economist; its just my opinion based on what I've seen, heard and read :)

I feel this new place is a good example of what I describe above and what is happening to our country. The middle class is vanishing. It is sad to me that this place  is here and that most likely it will be empty more than full, except when someone can afford $3K a night to stay there. While I have friends here that can't get a job with their college degrees and they live in a tiny cabin w/o water and plumbing. 

Very curious to see what happens to this place in 5 years. They have properties across the bay and in Anchorage so I guess its a successful plan.....Click here for pix. I was super overwhelmed and we all just could not believe this is here. It's more than insane.... Not very Homer or Alaskan..

my own space

This year did not start so great with the flu and now two weeks w/ a sprained wrist, but its shaping up. Work-wise, I am off to Anchorage for a grant writing workshop which i am very excited about as it's been many years since grad school. And ironically, I got a grant to attend a huge fundraising conference in San Antonio in late March. I hardly write grants so getting accepted was awesome and I am looking forward to this conference as well as checking out San Antonio.

In other big news for the first time in 3 years I have my own place. I left PDX in Feb 2011 not knowing where I would end up. I traveled for almost a year. Moved to VT briefly and then came back to Alaska while bouncing around for a while. I met an interesting, caring and talented  couple and we've been roommates for almost a year. HeidiJo is a singer and pianist whose been focusing on her music and they headed to New Orleans after she released her first album. The music scene here is bluegrass/folk and she is jazzy blues.

They are down there for 3 months for all the music festivals and then who knows what will happen but they do hope to come back to make Homer, a summer residence. We were sharing two small apartments, so I signed the lease for the south facing one. And, I will have a neighbor vs a roomie. It was weird b/c I was in their shoes 3 years ago and I went through letting go of all my apt stuff and now I've acquired their apt stuff. I also thought holy shit, I am never leaving AK, I got too much stuff now :)

And, yes my expenses are now up which is a bummer as Homer is an expensive town to live in, but I've also been wanting some more alone time. This town is super busy year-round and so is my job. I hope to focus on my fun creative projects. It will be strange coming home to no one to talk to though..Oh and my apt kicks ass so I am very fortunate and can;t see myself anywhere else here...

Well we had summer for a week here. I did not need gloves, no jacket and even one day wore sandals without socks outside. Totally nuts and we all want snow and we have great cross country ski trails here. Its gotten cooler but we had some beautiful sunny days which makes it super hard to stay indoors m-f ;)

Click here for some Jan snow, beach sun and apt pix. 

Fire Dancing & Snowboarding in Girdwood 1-14

Opps I have not posted in a few weeks. Took me 3 weeks to get to my normal self when I got the flu just before xmas. At least i was better just in time for fire dancing show. They came down from Anchorage again to entertain us out in the cold snow in mid January before our heatwave. Great variety of acts, even a belly dancing one They were near fire so I guess that kept them warm.  But now we are 54 deg, sunny and I am chillin with sandals and a t-shirt. So crazy.....No more snow and no more cross country skiing :(

Last weekend, I went to a nonprofit workshop in Anchorage and some Homer friends were up there too. We headed to Girdwood which is known for their ski resort. My friends snowboard frequently, but I have not been since i broke my ankle in 2008. I broke it good getting off the ski lift (soberly) of all things. So I took it easy, friends helped me get of the ski lift and I was pretty happy that I tried again.

We went for my first night ski and my longest run. Towards the end, i was on one side then switched going down the other. Somehow lost control, fell backwards but my wrist hit the hard ice first. Immediate pain and swearing at myself followed. Iced it and took it easy; xrays in Homer show I was lucky. Also it was my left hand so that was good news for me. Still healing slowly but should be ok.

Here's a few shots of Girdwood mts and peeps and a puppy. And, click here for pix and video of some winter fire dancing.

December Shots and farewell 2013

Well December and 2013 is done. I am much better but not 100%. Been 2 weeks now! A cough lingers. Taking it easy, have not worked out in 2 weeks, no skiing, no late night weekends.

I am back at work and had a difficult time getting back to a normal sleep schedule and waking up before 8am in the darkness. But each day we gain a few mins of day light!

While the east coast got cold and got snow, the last few days is high 30s and rain. This translates to ice everywhere! We do not use salt. People describe driveways as glaciers!

If/when I get my own place, my driveway will be flat. The hilly ones are covered in ice and its scary to walk on, even with my awesome cleats! Oh and a garage would be so lovely. So many houses here do not have garages.

The whole town got sick except my roomies, so it's been quiet. A nice yet strange pace. We all hope for some snow and 20 deg weather to play outside. Been inside way too much. Here's an album of December randomness, some ocean and sun shots and my art project. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Sick Holiday

Since my fun Talkeetna excursion nothing major has occurred in small town Homer. I got to ski once and saw our local creative Nutcracker play with hoops and techno music! We have not gotten much snow, but we have icey roads with cold weather then rain and cold following.

Last weekend, I was asked to photo shoot the winter Burlesque show. I was nervous as I don;t usually shoot people or indoors. Two nights of fun and clever entertainment from a handful of girls and two guys. Most I know. I took about 600 good shots out of at least a thousand. Took tons of time to crop em and had fun playing with some photo tools I never use.

On the last night my friends had an ugly sweater party and i was able to attend both. And then at 4am my throat was sore. In a few hours full blown flu with achy back, headache, hot and cold, and a painful wet cough. One day I awoke from my nap in a pool of sweat completely drenched but I felt better.

Not until the 4th day I felt somewhat like myself but still not 100%. I missed a few days of work and cancelled xmas and been home for six days and counting. It was a sunny xmas day and I so wanted to ski or at least go out for a few mins but it was 15 def out!

I tried all sorts of new remedies like neti pot, which is an ancient method and odd experience of putting water down one nostril and coming out the other. Also swishing sesame oil in my mouth for 10 mins. And put Oregano, Thyme, and Peppermint oils on my feet. I know some people make be thinking Jes what a hippie.

Gonna take it easy even when better to ease into things which is not easy to do in this town. I've been wanting to sleep in before i got sick and now that's all I have been doing. Roomies and friends helped coming by with food and remedies. So I was not completely alone. But this nasty bug is making its way through town and most of my friends have it.

Thanks for all the well wishes and hope everyone else had a better holiday! Click here to view my 30 sec holiday photo slide.