January in Jackson

From my 3-year-old youngsters who I ski with every Saturday and my adaptive ski buddies (a program I volunteer for every Tuesday) to the best powder and bluebird days of the season ... the following is a montage of Jackson Hole in January.



To see or download the full-res photos click here.

Wintery BBQ at the lil' cabin

Thanks to everyone who made the drive out to the end of the road ... What a fun night! I didn't get photos of everyone ... and I edited out the "deer in a headlight" shots ... but I did manage to get some fun snapshots of a few of you ... slideshow is below, or link to the full size images by clicking here. Now on to moving ... two days and definitely counting!

One more margarita? Maybe a mojito?

Chillin' at the Columbia, a restaurant specializing in its namesake, after a full day of classes, discussion and all-too-honest self-examination (See more photos from Poynter and Florida below). Nothing like a bunch of journalism nuts and a few extra drinks for a fun night out ...

Poynter wrap up

On the last day of the Poynter seminar we presented each other with diplomas. Here are some photos from that afternoon of fellow students and teachers. To those of you from the seminar who are reading this ... I had a great week and I hope our paths cross again.

Brrr ... it's cold outside

Alaska is in the middle of a deep freeze ... days on end of minus 20 degrees in Anchorage ... and much, much colder in the interior. It's a great excuse to hole up inside ... get to all those random chores and read a book ... but when cabin fever sets in ... there's only one things to do ... call the neighbors, grab the cross country skis, bundle up and head outside. Once you get moving ... frosty cheeks and eyelashes can be kind of fun. In the picture I'm with friends Wendy and Scott.

Ski jouring

Yesterday I went ski jouring on the frozen over Eagle River with two of my neighbors. It was a hoot! Cross-country skiing is enough fun ... add the strength of a dog pulling you ... and its pure bliss.

The sunlight no longer hits the bottom of the valley (solstice is almost here), so my pictures turned out a little dark and grainy, but they still show the winter wonderland we got to travel through. Keep in mind, this is my backyard. We literally skied out our front doors.

Tomba and me

Paul with his two dogs

Richard

Summer grilling

Chet was in charge of the brats and turkey burgers
Megan and Joshua
Megan and Arbor
The delicious strawberry-rhubarb pie Megan made. The rhubarb came from the front yard.
Arbor... a dog with quite a (great) character!

Fire on the beach

An incredible night with incredible friends...

We arrived to the beach as the sun set over the Alaska Range (about 10 p.m.). Other beach-goers were flying a big kit.
While the sun set, the moon rose over the mountains on the Kenai Penninsula.
Megan and Chet.
Arbor.
All it took was a 10 minute drive to find this beauty, this solitude.
Megan and I.
I adore the moon.
Chet got the fire started.

We all got the fire roaring. We ate delicious samores.
The fire reflectd on Joshua's face as the moon kept watch.
Fire and moon

Good friends

There's nothing greater or better than good friends... except maybe getting to visit one! I just got back from a fabulous trip to NYC and Connecticut to visit my friend Joanna... the same chica that came to visit me in July at the end of my travels in Argentina and who I met at summer camp in 7th grade... some people really do just stick in your life... and for good reasons!

Joanna and I spent several days gallivanting around the big apple.... following the path of my great grandmother through Ellis Island, starring face to face with Monet masterpieces, eating exquisite Ethiopian, Indian and Asian Fusion cuisine, dancing to live music until early morning, attending an off-Broadway play, running in Central Park, orienting ourselves to the city from the top of the Empire State Building, loosing ourselves in the subway system, visiting with friends and being fully immersed in people who hail from all cultures and walks of life... oh how excited I was to order fresh squeezed orange juice off the street in Spanish!!!!

We then drove to Middletown, CT where Joanna lives. Exhausted from all our gallivanting, we settled into a relaxed pace. We spent a sunny afternoon walking/ running along the shore and we passed hours in a coffee shop listening to music. I found the New England architecture endlessly charming and very much enjoyed running and driving through nearby neighborhoods. Also, Joanna's friends are wonderful and I loved getting to know them.

All in all... not a shabby vacation!!!!