I'm officially ...

A ski bum! I've dreamed about this day forever and ever = ) Seriously! Cheers to following dreams ... whatever they may be!

Sweet Solstice, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

In the bustle and haste of building a brand new life ... I overlooked a few major events in my blog.

First off, Merry Christmas! I hope everyone experienced a day filled with love, fun and happiness. And while I'm on the subject, Happy New Year's! (Christmas and New Year's just go so hand in hand).

Also, happy solstice. I always make a habit to note the solstice in my blog. In part because the solstice is a big deal in Alaska ... the return of sunlight is an event worth celebrating ... and in part because it provides a good marker for looking back and seeing how far I've come. This time last year I was fully immersed in running the Alaska Star and settling into my cozy little Chugach cabin. This time the year before I had recently started at Channel 2 News and was living with Joshua in our cute little house in Airport Heights (I still love that neighborhood). The year before ... I had just graduated and I was with my family in Argentina, at the start of what would become one of the greatest experiences of my life (to date). The year before that ... I was preparing to leave for five months to go to Guatemala and Honduras ... another phenomenal experience, and in someways the foundation for everything I hope and dream to do in this life.

Another event I overlooked in Novemeber ... the fourth birthday of this blog. It's kind of funny to think about how I started this blog on a whim back in 2005 ... on an icy and cold afternoon. I was sitting in the computer lab on campus and decided to try to figure out how to do it so that I would have a place to put my photos and thoughts when in Guatemala and Honduras. It's amazing how the things we truly love (like writing, traveling, photographing, staying in touch with friends) can take on a life of their own.

OK ... I think that's it on major celebrations ... until the Chinese New Year ... which I don't really celebrate, but since I failed to send out Christmas cards this year ... there's a good chance you all will be receiving Chinese New Year cards ; )

The final leg

The final leg of my journey, from Seattle to Jackson Hole, was smooth sailing. Not only were the roads double lane, but they were also dry and the full moon was out. After the snowstorms and back roads I plowed through during the previous 2,000 miles, I took not one mile of easy driving for granted.

The exception was the icy and notorious pass over the Tetons from Victor, Idaho, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which I traversed at night after a full day of driving. Grades on the pass reach 14 degrees and average 10 degrees ... for miles on end. Maybe it was because I was tired, or maybe it was because of the ice on the road, but it truly ranks as the most insane stretches of highway I've ever seen in the U.S. (I encountered a couple of Bolivian and Guatemalan roads that were more treacherous and precarious, but I wasn't driving, I was just riding in the bus).

At any rate, I made in the drive in two days. Sleeping in the back of my Subi in a Forest Service parking lot located along a beautiful river in Montana. When I arrived to the parking lot, the moonlight glistened off the rapids creating a scene of pure serenity.

Now I'm settling into life in Jackson Hole. I love my room mates and the location of my house. Teaching the kiddos to ski is both fun and challenging. I'm running and climbing whenever I get the chance. Still not much snow, but I hear that when it comes, it really comes. I'm thrilled to have a season pass and look forward to the many turns I have yet to make.

Signing out from Jackson Hole,

Amy and Zippy

The subi takes a rest

Pretty Montana mountains

Zippy chillin' in the space I carved out for him in the back of the car

My view of the open road

Thanksgiving with the fam

I spent a week over Thanksgiving with family in Seattle. My godparents, Ward and Wendy, live in north Seattle, and my bro, Brad, and his girlfriend, Meg, live in Tacoma. My parents flew in from Seattle, so the whole crew was present and accounted for. All in all, lots of good food and lots of relax time. Also, it should be noted that we managed to keep our games of Settlers of Catan civil. For those of you who don't know, Settlers of Catan is a highly addictive board game that tends to bring out one's competitive side. After Thanksgiving last year, we said, only half jokingly, that we needed to join SA ... Settlers Anonymous.

Meg

Ward and Wendy

Brad carving the turkey ... sporting a cute apron