teamEggers

A delayed take on Northern Exposure.

It’s not exactly like the show would lead you to believe. I’ve yet to see a moose wander down the road, and there are more t-shirts than flannels, no snow, and no log cabins. ….Though in all fairness, I am visiting the city in the summer.

We kind of split our trip into three parts:  city, mountains, and water.  So let’s start in the city, with a trip to farmer’s market.

It was more of a touristy kinda market than a farmers-buy-some-produce kinda market, fully equipped with an elvis impersonator.

I try to make it a point to grab a jar of honey wherever I’m at – Anchorage has a bunch of fireweed honey.

Rick tells us that everyone has two cars in Anchorage, the winter truck with studded tires that can rove over the snow, and then the summer car…

Speaking of odd transportation, Alaskans have the highest pilots per capita as well. 1 person in 64 has their license and 1 in 74 has their own plane.  Or at least my father in law tells me. Regardless, tons of sea planes.

Ann and Rick know us well, and made sure that we did the rounds of microbreweries in Anchorage. The beer was the first thing that reminded me that alaska is technically part of the sisterhood with oregon and washington in the pac northwest.

The Anchorage art museum was full of really interesting info about Alaska, as well as some both traditional and contemporary Alaskan art.

We jumped into a tour group, where the guide was so passionate and expressive, it was hard to not pay attention.

Contemporary take on the magpie…

…for comparison…

Anchorage:

Obligatory Selfie:

Alaska

Some things, briefly.

It used to be that I’d think of teamEggers while life was happening, couldn’t wait to get home and blog about it. What happened to that? Where did the intense desire to share life with you go? Again, I’ll work on that. I have high hopes for the summer.

In the meantime, you’ve missed out on a trip to victoria, (las vegas), chicago, and half of an anchorage trip. I’ve made awesome progress at work and have had some … growth opportunities… at home. Life occurs, whether you remember to record it or not, eh?

So here we are in Anchorage, visiting jon’s parents and experiencing Alaska’s land, air, and sea. It’s quite incredible country.

Did you know reindeer are real? I always thought they were fictional. So much for that.

I am a chronic party-pooper. I always think things will be terrible, but always enjoy myself while it’s happening. Now, I suppose you could say this was a good thing, but by the same token – why am I such a naysayer?  I don’t look like a downer.  If you met me on the street, you’d think “that girl’s kind of fun!” not “god, I can’t believe she’s so negative!”  And yet, here we are.

I have a point, I swear.

Nature? Pft. As we speak, I’m trying to drown my sorrows and my scratchy throat-itchy-sneezy-self with a bottle of Elk Cove. The ideal way to take in nature? Behind a pane of glass, window open, wine in hand. This was the perfect “lake view” cottage. Wine-fueled meditation.

For some reason, I don’t think this is what deepak had in mind. Thanks anyways, guru.

Among other things, the weekend had us flying over views that really make you consider the universe…

…oggling the braided rivers of Denali park…

…and generally rejoicing at my good fortune in life.  Deepak says that good luck is preparedness + being open to opportunities (yes, you’ll probably hear about this particular authour a few times in the future – he’s my latest obsession), so perhaps it’s not being fortunate, but rather having good partners in life that tell you what to do, even though you’re a party pooper and insist that everything will be terrible.

Denali has been the highlight of the yet-to-be-completed Alaska trip, and I was so opposed to going. To think, I might have missed out on these sheep! I’m sure there are some pretty obvious life lessons to be learned here, but instead of dwelling I’ll leave you with some pretty pictures.

Sesa’tube

Look moms, I’m famous!

Okay, this is ultra lame, but I’m ultralame. And if you’re here anyways, I have to assume it’s because you love it.

In other ultralame news, I won my first ribbon at toastmasters last night! woo.

Pinkerton

I wanted to share a quick picture with you – because no, I didn’t dye the *whole* thing pink.  That would just be preposterous.  :)

You can see it mostly from the back…

…and in the front only if I pull it forward a bit.  Aside from its hot-pinkness, it’s pretty subtle.

Clammin

We live in such a cool state.  For those of you that I’ve yet to convince to move here… if you can just get past the rain, I really think you should reconsider and join us. Ann & Rick – maybe you’ll do a year in the pac northwest?  eh?  eh?  yes?

Anyways.  Today’s adoration stems from the incredible food we’ve got going on up here.  No, not awesome chefs or the abundance of great restaurants, but actual food that grows locally and is only available in the area.

Like razor clams.

In Washington, you can go “recreational razor clamming“, and load up buckets with these little buggers (thanks to the Washington Goverment for the lovely photo)

photo c/o wdfw.wa.gov

…I mean, assuming you’d want to.  The easier way to get these little guys in your kitchen is to make friends with someone who likes being in nature more than me.  One of jon’s coworkers, Andy, gave him a bag full of them already shucked, cleaned, and filleted.

Talk about lucking out!

Jon doesn’t cook often, but when he does, it’s always wonderful.  I think we’re both waiting for me to make a bit more money so he can quit his job and be a house husband.  Maybe if he had his days free, he wouldd go clammin for me and cook these up again.  But never mind the cooking… look at the crazy head of hair on this guy!

Besides Washingtonians, razor clams are a tasty treat for dungeness crabs and birds – but I don’t think any of them think to fry them first in panko.  Really well done, jon.