Musiq Soulchild show

Big shows don't come all the way up here very often, but whenever they do, we go. Last weekend R&B singer Musiq Soulchild played a show downtown.

Andrew got in touch with the production company and was able to get us backstage to cover the show.

Here are some of the photos...

Happy Easter!

I know I'm completely late on the blog post, but I hope everyone had a great Easter.

I made Andrew color eggs with me on Easter morning. We only did 6 because my stomach hurts just thinking about eating a dozen hard boiled eggs. Anyway, we even put all of our names on them, including the cats.

Here's how they turned out:



And the ladies will enjoy this one, I learned a cooking lesson on Easter...

Tip from Betty Crocker: Don't try to save yourself time by cutting up potatoes early. They will turn gray.

Tip from Mom: Next time put them in water, dummy.

Still edible, but not so pretty. Lesson learned.

More moose photos

We spotted this guy at a park just outside of the University of Alaska campus. As always, Andrew grabbed his camera and ran out to get some pictures. He really got up close and personal this time.

Maybe a little too personal ... the mooose charged at Andrew when he got a little too close. But, Andrew went right back to taking photos, keeping a good distance.

Those crazy Russians ...

I know I've been slacking on my posts, I'll get back into the swing of things soon. I've been really focused on the blogs that help pay the bills, like I should, but this one is way more fun to write for (and, I don't have to check my spelling as much).

So, I found this article on CNN today - "U.S. jets escort Russian bombers off Alaska coast"

It all happened right here on Elmendorf Air Force Base, our little home away from home. It's crazy to me that things like this actually still happen.

Sometimes the house will shake when the fighter jets are out, the cats don't like it.

The Alaskan Bikini

Somehow, I just don't think they'd work in South Florida ...

Sunshine state? We get more ...

Well, just for now.

Posted Monday (3/17) on the Alaskology blog, part of the Anchorage Daily News.

According to this Web site, the hours of daylight in Muskegon, Mich., (our old hometown) today is 12 hours and 1 minute; in Seattle, it's 12 hours and 2 minutes; in Miami, Fla., it's 12 hours and 4 minutes.

Today, we're pretty much equal all over the country. But tomorrow, Alaska starts to leave the rest of the nation behind. Tomorrow, we'll gain nearly six minutes of daylight. A week from now, Anchorage will enjoy 40 minutes more daylight than it does today. In Miami, it's just 10 additional minutes; in Muskegon, 22 minutes; and in Seattle, 24 minutes.

But three months from now, near the summer solstice, Anchorage will have 7 hours and 18 minutes more daylight than it does today. In fact, in the middle of summer it never really seems to get dark. Between now and the longest day of the year, Miami will only gain another 1 hour and 41 minutes of daylight; Muskegon gets 3 hours and 22 minutes; and Seattle gains 3 hours and 56 minutes.

It's been beautiful outside lately, the sun has been shining all day, and it doesn't go down until after 8 pm. I can't wait for the summer when it will be sunny all day, and night.

It just caught my eye that the author wrote about Miami, and maybe Alaska should hold the title for "Sunshine State," at least for a few months...

Weekend recap

On Friday night we went to see "No Country for Old Men" up at the Beartooth Theaterpub. I really wanted to see this movie after all the Oscar nominations it was up for (I think it may have won one or two). I'm not sure what I was expecting, but there were way more gunshots than I expected.

The storyline could be compared to an old Western, but with a creepy twist - guy finds briefcase full of money at a drug-money desert shootout, psychopath is hired to collect the money, kills everyone who gets in his way, lots of chasing, shooting, all the good stuff.

It was a good movie, I would recommend it if you can handle all the shoot 'em up violence. We only had to pay $3 to see it, ate a couple slices of pizza and a piece of carrot cake - sounds like a good night to me!

On Saturday we headed out to the Alaska Zoo, right here in Anchorage. Compared to Miami's Metro Zoo, this place resembles a big petting zoo. Still, it was something to get out and see, and Andrew was almost taken down by a Musk Ox (read further).

Most of the animals at the zoo are native to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, but they also have a few more exotic animals. The weather was wonderful for a trip to the zoo. When I say wonderful, I mean it was just a bit warmer than completely arctic.

Take notice in the pictures of the Musk Ox (big, hairy buffalo-looking guy with horns). Andrew was close to the railing, snapping pictures of the ox. It didn't seem to even notice us when out of nowhere it charges in Andrew's direction. I'm happy the fence was there, but we still both went running in opposite directions when this guy started charging. It was definitely the highlight of the trip to the zoo, it's not everyday Andrew gets charged by a Musk Ox.

Well, just another wild and crazy weekend up here in Anchorage.

Here are the pictures Andrew took at the zoo ...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

If beer were a river and I were a duck,
I'd swim to the bottom and never come up!

But beer's not a river and I'm not a duck,
so let's drink this beer and get all messed* up!

(*Word substituted for the actual term used during my cheap beer drinking days back at UF, GO TEAM FUN!)

Nope, that's not a mug shot you're lookin' at

It's the Iditarod winner Lance Mackey! This is his second win and basically, he's a superstar up here. He arrived at the finish line in Nome, AK (1,000 miles away from Anchorage) at close to 3 in the morning today.

His winnings - $69,000, a new Dodge truck and some serious bragging rights.


Nome, AK (just a brisk swim away from Russia)

View Larger Map

More Alaskan wildlife

On Sunday we went out with plans to watch the Junior Olympic Competition kickoff, but sadly we missed it. Gladly, we took a walk in the park.

Kincaid park is beautiful. Families were out sledding with the kids and some cross-country skiers were all enjoying the sunny weather. During a break on a park bench, I looked up in the trees and spotted a bald eagle. Only in Alaska...

On our way home from the park we found a big bull moose hanging out in a neighborhood. Without hesitation, Andrew stopped the car, grabbed his camera and followed the moose through the neighborhood then into the woods. You can see in the pictures how giant this guy is. In one picture you can hardly see the truck behind him.

After a day full of great wildlife sightings we stopped for a treat at Coldstone then trekked back home to hang out with a couple of smaller (and tamer) creatures at the house.

Here are the photos...

Clinton Fearon concert 3/6/08

Last Thursday night Andrew and I went to the Clinton Fearon concert at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grille.

Clinton and his band put on a great reggae show, far away from where his music began. Clinton has been a big figure in the reggae industry, even before Bob Marley made it on the scene. (Andrew did his best to school me on the history of reggae. Basically, he's a pretty big deal...) Like many Jamaican artists, he had a simple message - peace, love and happiness.

Here are some pictures from the night...

Iditorad kickoff, downtown Anchorage

This past Saturday, Andrew and I went downtown to watch the kickoff of the Iditarod. As always, Andrew got some really great shots of the whole event.

We arrived downtown at around 10 a.m., the temperature reading from my car was 15 degrees. It was cooooold. It was probably the coldest I've ever been, but I'm sure I'll get to experience far worse in our next couple years up here.

Either way, we had fun watching all of the dog sleds take off on the beginning of their long, long trip. The Iditarod starts here and travels across the state, more than 1150 miles to Nome on the coast of the Bearing Sea. This year there are 97 teams competing to be first at the finish line. It takes most mushers 10 to 17 days to complete the trail.

The Iditarod is a huge deal up here in Anchorage. All of the hotels were full of people from across the country. I met one couple from California and another group from Utah. All of the major TV stations come out to cover it, even ESPN was here. Some teams have corporate sponsors, Target was promoting their team by passing out mittens (which I greatly appreciated, even put them on top of my gloves).

It doesn't happen very often that such a big event is going on in Anchorage. But, when they do, we'll be there and Andrew will have his camera.

Here are some pictures of the Iditarod kickoff ...

Our other (and smaller) addition to the family

Last night we picked up our other adopted cat from the vet, he needed to be spayed before we could bring him home.

We named him Willie (pronounced Wi-lee) after our favorite taxi cab driver in Jamaica. It's also a dance they do in the Jamaican clubs.

I think we should have named him Dennis. As in Dennis the Menace.

I feel like I've been babysitting a two year old ever since we picked him up. He never stops moving, always has something to say, wants to be in your face all the time, makes messes and doesn't respect his elders (Irie, our other cat).

The two cats are getting used to being in the same house. We haven't had any physical altercations yet, just some growls and hisses.

Minus all the trouble he causes, he's really cute and I crack up every time he attacks Andrew's feet. Andrew doesn't really like the toe biting, but it's funny to watch.

When he does decide to sleep, he completely passes out. Like he is right now on my lap as I type. I'd take a picture, but I'm enjoying the silence.

Here are some pictures of the little guy...

Irie the Cat

On Sunday we brought home a new member to the family - Irie the Cat.

He's your typical, lovey-dovey male cat. He always likes to be in the same room as us and loooves to snooze. The shelter told us he was only 9 months old, but Andrew and I think he's at least two. Either way, we brought him home, no more steel cage for this little guy.

Yesterday, I thought I completely spooked him with the vacuum cleaner and he spent all day under our bed. Nope, he was stuck under there. I didn't figure out he was actually stuck until I laid down to sleep and kept hearing tiny meows from under the bed. I don't think he'll pick under our bed as a hiding spot from now on.