Slacker...

Yes, I know, you don't have to tell me. I just found out I will be heading to Grand Rapids, Michigan to finish my internship. Random, but should be ok. Michigan isn't really a place I ever planned on visiting, but I do want see the lakes, maybe even surf if I can figure out how...I hear they get waves every once in awhile. Alaska has been alright, its still too cold out for me, but slowly the snow is melting and I think I saw some green leaves on a plant the other day. Maybe not. Either way, I will finish my 480 hours in Michigan than probably go back to Reno for the rest of the summer before heading back up here. If I can last one year in Nome, I can make it anywhere. I will also be able to pay off my loans and not be in debt for the rest of my life, hurray! I'd like to get some good backpacking in, as well as some races this summer, but mostly I want to be outside any way I can. I will try to get some new(er) photos up soon, so try not to pee your pants with excitement while you wait...

When its stormy outside...

...and there's not much else to do, my sister and i spent a good hour of our lives (that we will never get back) taking photos on my mac. enjoy the hotness as well as our extremely rare cyclops cat. we tried to get the dog in some pictures too but he just wasn't having any of it. oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, that is a bear skiing on my shirt. don't judge me.

alyeska photos

Nome - day 3

Well, here I am. Not quite up to the Arctic circle, but definitely the coldest place I have ever been to. Next week I will be flying to Kotzebue which technically is inside the Arctic circle, 13 miles above in fact. I miss the weather and the snowboarding in Tahoe, but I feel much happier being able to spend time with my parents, sister, and of course, my dog Kenai (that's him) Can't wait for the Iditarod, and I'm also excited to start work. Nervous, but I think I'm ready to do real paramedic stuff, haha. This is the ER where the ground ambulance takes the drunks so they don't die of hypothermia. The picture of the airport is NOT the one I flew into... although it isn't much bigger. Everyone that works for the air ambulance is desperate for some time off, so pretty soon I think I will go from resident couch potato and horrible reality tv-watcher to actual workaholic. Scary, I know.

Alyeska

I have been wanting to post all my photos of our Christmas in Alaska, so now I finally have a place to do it. We spent a whole week in a condo in Alyeska, and managed to get new powder every day we were there. It was definitely some of the best days riding I've ever had. Huge runs, no lines, and the whole Burke crew. It was also fun night riding under stadium lights. Of course, "night riding" starts at about 3pm when the sun sets. A friend of my dad's has worked ski patrol there forever, so we got hooked up with free passes for the duration of our break. Kyle hadn't been riding in 3 seasons or so, but of course it took him about two runs to start kicking my ass. Even cartwheeling down a run in neck-deep powder was fun with Kyle and my dad. (Ok, only did that once or twice) Kimberly started riding a season or two ago, but has never had a pass. Even though she hasn't been that much she rocked...even my mom went skiing and she has always been the more x-country type. Here's some pictures now...