I love eaglecrest.

Now that I am proficient enough to skid and jerk and tumble my way down ptarmigan lift, I am privy to such beautiful beautiful scenery! It is the best. I went up again on Friday with Josh and Ian, and it was a joyful day. I was wearing my new helmet, and was glad of it for some of the falls I had. Spring Break is over and I am now accustomed to the good life, I don't know how on earth I am supposed to go back to working hard, honestly, how will I do it? Spring Break was a funny mix of things, maybe some day I will write more about it.

xo

a

Sunday Sunny Sunday

It was yet *another* gorgeous weekend here in Beautiful Juneau! I am so excited for spring, summer, and all the good things that are rapidly speeding towards me, but I'm also loving the cold fresh winds and the sporadic snow that comes in between all of this ridiculous sunshine. I am a very happy lady with the conditions we're enjoying right now. I went up to eagle crest this morning solo, that was a new experience.. but just like seeing a movie by yourself for the first time, it's all good once you do it. It was a super peaceful day, and the snow was supreme-o. I spent the day on hooter mostly, and worked my technique, trying to make turns at all times instead of reverting to slip sliding down. I feel way improved though, and so it's very satisfying with each new thing that comes together. Like not always falling getting off the lift now! hoo-ray.
The rest of the weekend has been glorious as well, and I've done mostly all the things I like to do, except I have gotten zip zero zilch homework done. As Tim Gunn from project runway would say, "That worries me". I have a lot of stuff to get done, and even though spring break is coming up, I just feel like there is about to be a homework/test/school swarm storm of scholastic-ness. I guess if I write a lab report, and check in with lab assign I will feel a little better, but really I think I fret about a differential equations test coming up on Friday... goo.... Well, anyway,
while I wasn't doing homework, on Friday night I got to leave work early and come get home to get ready for Gallery Walk. It didn't end up being much of a walk around for me, as I spent most of my time at the AK state museum looking at the Ceramic styling of one certain Jeremy Kane. The show is definitely worth checking out! It spoke especially to my Appalachian sensibilities and love of road trips and the like.. good times. After checking that out, we made our way to Douglas for the opening performance of "Battles of Fire and Water" featuring my oh so talented big brother. Corin was great, this show also worth checking out. I'll have more to say after I see it again I think, but I enjoyed it- and the story is a good one. We went out in a biggish way after this was done, and so on Saturday I enjoyed a good sleep in, before going to breakfast with Corin, Emily, Kirsa, and Ryan. We drove the scion out the road to eagle beach and beyond, and got some really good views, sun, and fresh air. We stopped at the shrine for a time and free styled some good songs to the bird choruses in "natures healing". That night I went to a lovely party at Johanna and Dave and Claire's new place, before checking out some Bluegrass at the Coast Guard bar. I called it an earlier night in anticipation of springing forward, (I love how long these days are!)and then slept until eaglecrest today... a circular tale of my weekend. maybe some more fun pictures to be added later if we find kirsa's camera cord. Now to attempt some homework..

xo

-a

The Sun Came Out on Saturday

And in what a glorious fashion. More Words to describe the day to follow, but some pictures for now. (My words are reserved for describing RC circuits currently).


xo


a

PS

But it still really sucks right now!


xo


a

The Bog or Swamp of Despair

Is kind of where I am right now. On the upside the day was mind blowing-ly beautiful. So was the sunset. I'll let you know when things look up. They often do after a nights sleep, so maybe tomorrow I'll have something better to say. And Hey, the sun is *actually* supposed to come out tomorrow!

xo


a

Second Week of School.

And I have now officially missed my first class of physics. Because I overslept. Because I don't remember my alarm going off. Good things for sisters who wake you as they leave so you don't miss geometry too, but you know what.... this is going to be a semester long rockblock of woe methinks.







xo


a

Ain't it a laugh

Okay Monday, You win!

I acknowledge your victory, straight up. So at this point you can totally lay off, I mean, you're only making yourself look bad. There's a big difference between helping the other guy back up and saying "good game", and stealing the mascots helmet and running into the end zone for more victory dancing, and you've clearly chosen the latter. What does this all mean? What it means is, despite all my resolutions to be the best student ever, and to be ever prepared- I am such a sleepy girl at school, with a complete absence of books or school materials. It's probably because of, not despite, my best intentions. But I have faith that I can still pull it all off... or just pull it all together.

I also forgot that Math and Science classes do not play around. There is no casual reading of the syllabus, and then an early dismissal of first day of class.. there is jumping straight into the heart of it. At 8am, at 9am, they're off and running. I have already been through Physics and Geometry, with Differential Equations still to come. I now have a few hours to play catch up, so I'll look into books, financial aid, and all that fun stuff.
I will say that for all my sleepiness, I had the best hot tub in the world last night, with cool rain falling onto the steamy tub, and a gorgeous view of night time Alaska, complete with swaying trees and gusty wind gusts. I also went cross country out by the glacier which was also awesome but deserves its own post since i took pictures. For now, I just wanted to acknowledge my initial defeat at the hands of the university.

xo

a

EagleCrest!!!

Taken by Josh's Iphone, how technology!

Friday was the last day of the working week in the last week before the weekend before school starts! If you follow me, what that really means is that it was a great day to take off work and go spend the day at EagleCrest. It was the perfect day for it, lots of snow kept falling, and though I don't know what kinds of snow are preferable for what kinds of winter sports, (being new to the game myself) I imagine that lots of it is usually a good thing! I bet that kind of thing is really subjective as well, but I digress.
After being assured by Josh that he was not too skilled at snowboarding, or that he would at least be patient with me, we made plans to get an early start on things, and Josh was a hero piloting his four wheel drive vehicle in possession of snow tires up the hill. I signed up for one of the afternoon classes, so that I could spend the morning getting my ass kicked by hooter. I recently bought the triple play learner's package,(found at www.skijuneau.com) and it is a pretty great deal! You get three days of rentals, lift tickets, and three lessons- all for a hundred bucks! It was truly an adventure, as green as I am to go face the horror and the humiliation of trying to get on the lift, and then to get off the lift, when you can barely get up with out falling. Having a friend along made it a blast though, and we had a great time falling down the mountain. I like to think if nothing else we brought a sense of style to mounting the lift. (If the term mounting the lift sounds strange, you can just imagine how much stranger it actually looked when we didn't just sit right into it like a pair of pros) I stuck to the tamer looking runs and toe edged my way down, while josh branched out a bit more. The conditions were lovely and it wasn't too crowded at all. Falls and all were fairly painless until I got a bit of speed up and caught my heel edge going backwards. There was a swift and sudden thumpity thump of me flying backwards, and catching a crack on the noggin. I took a moment getting up remembering my training from boxing (when you've taken a good enough hit to buckle you, you should always stay down or on a knee for a moment longer than you feel you need to) and just as I was thinking, oh this is silly- that wasn't too bad. I got a little shower of stars in the eyes, and then the taste of blood in the mouth.

There's the evidence of the blood!
It wasn't too bad of a fall in the end, I just bit my tongue, way back in the back- and it was a little blood happy. If you've ever been curious what trident blueberry pomegranate gum and blood mixed together tastes like, I'm the lady to ask. After that run Josh and I went into the lodge to warm up a little, and I went by the rental place to snag a helmet. You won't see me up there again this winter with out a helmet! I didn't not wear one on purpose, I just forgot. So then Josh went out to shred solo for a while, and I went back to less steep pastures for my lesson. This lesson was super awesome! I love the ski school people thus far. They are super friendly and encouraging, and I feel like I've made mega progress already. By the end of this lesson I was rocking the platter pull, and now feel like I have most of the basics in my head/body and know what I should be practicing. It was a little bit of a backwards day, but it was nice to end on a positive note (less falling). I was sore and exhausted by the end of the day, using muscles I'm not accustomed to using, but I am feeling super hooked. I have one more lesson left, and am looking forward to my next visit! Twas a great Friday day. Friday night is probably blog worthy too, but for now I must leave it.

On a side note, the picture of the blood in the snow came from my cell phone camera, and while writing this, I finally figured out how to use the blue tooth technology in phone and computer to send it here. SO exciting! Technology is magic! no wires!
I will always be impressed by stuff like that, and it opens up the world of using my cell phone pictures now!

until..? School starts Monday! Maybe this weekend will be a sneaky double blog.

xoxo

a

It's Christmas Eve!

Can you believe that? I almost can not! But I do. I guess. It just hit me the other day when thinking of what other Christmas errands that I still must attend to, that back in the little kid days, you always had a good buffer of time to warn you when Christmas was here- You start counting down at least a month away (or at least I did) but when you get all adult-y with adult-y things to do, it sneaks and creeps its way up on you! Wild! So here I am in Juneau, where all three Hughes-Skandijs will be staying to celebrate this year. We are embracing it, and creating traditions that are select things from the year before last when we were all here. It is nicer this time because the parents already have tickets to come visit in January, so that is not too long a time to wait, and in general I am filled with the holiday spirit and excitement this year. Deliciously smelly Christmas tree, check. Cranking the Christmas music, check. Being left at home all day long to drink endless pots of coffee and bake, check. So it is a merry time indeed. Dear Levi just got into town yesterday,and Clay some days before so I was up a bit too late celebrating last night and slept pretty hard today. That is probably what school breaks are for though. (In a sense).
I have mentally blogged so many updates since October that it is ridiculous! I need to actually translate that to my fingers and computer sometimes, but that is where it requires time for me to sit down and do it, instead of while I'm strolling, driving, etc. I also think I will go back and play catch up, especially when I've taken the time to take corresponding pictures, but if I never do- a bit of a summary of the last months: October and November had a bunch of really fun weekends including Halloween, which was awesome! Bluegrass at the Alaskan and I was Robin the boy wonder, so I got to swish about in a cape all night. In November, some visiting Ceramicists came to town as part of the 20/20 vision exhibit at the state museum, and did lots of cool demos at the school and hung out all week. The first Friday in November was tops, and I got so Excited about pottery! I can not wait to get into the studio in January and get my hands on some clay! It's going to be great fun I am sure. We went to Adrienne's Family house with josh for Thanksgiving, and it was very nice. We watched the simpson's movie at home and fell asleep on the couches, and you can't ask for more than that... Then, before you knew it, November turned into freak out time rushing into December, and Finals were SO Crunk! Talk about some high pressure studying. In the end, I came through it all, with two b's and a c. (and I passed seminar). At this point in my academic career, O.K is ok with me! GPA be damned. I'm sorry GPA. I'll try harder. But seriously, it was a very enjoyable semester, if stressful at times, with awesome subjects and awesome teachers, so i was pleased. Plus, I can't imagine it can get toooo much worse (I'm sure I'll regret saying that) so now graduating seems more doable than it did before. Next semester I'm going to have the same line up of teachers basically, so that'll be good- plus the super fun addition of Beginning Ceramics with J. Kane. Not way more to report than that, I've been enjoying the break, sleeping, cooking, etc. We have had nearly 2 weeks of sunshine it seems, followed by snow yesterday, and then BLAMMO Sunshine again today! It's unbeatable. I have been loving every bit of it, most especially at night when you can see the glorious stars night after night in a row. I have seen so many shooting stars in the last days, and I can not help feeling more than ever that I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful paradise. Starting with the very first day of break, (or maybe actually during the last day of finals) it has become a thing to fill a thermos with something warm (with warming qualities?) and go find a place to watch the sunset. I love making this a part of the day, and they have been spectacular. It reminded me of being on vacation in the Keys growing up, and how everyone would stop down there to watch the sunset. Why don't we always take a moment to watch the sun set and rise? We would all be better for it I'm sure. Good Lord don't i sound like a hippie right now. Ha. Speaking of which we are past solstice so now the days will start getting longer, hoorah! Anyway, one of the days that boni and I were watching the sunset, we saw jellyfish on the beach, eagles, seals who stayed and frolicked just off the shore, and... WHALES! So exciting. Planes flying over, boats in the distance.... honestly, what more could you want?
Anyway, this is turning into a marathon ramble, so maybe I better leave it for now. I should likely go shower my Beethoven-ian locks, which smell like smoke, thanks brady- and take a stroll on the flume. Maybe less disjointed more frequent posts over break? stay tuned.

xo

-a

this is why I don't goof off on school nights!

I'll tell you something- you could probably literally power a small city or a space ship right now, if you could just figure out how to harness the energy of how much I do *not* want to do my homework. I have a lot of homework, partly because that is how this semester rolls, and also partly because I goofed off last night and didn't get anything done that I normally would on a Tuesday night. I did enjoy a beer at squires with my sister, and I did enjoy hanging outside the ceramics room firing up the pizza kiln with boni, but neither one of these activities was at all useful to physics, linear, or calculus. On top of it all, my physics class and seminar class were canceled today, so i had lots of time to get on top of it all- but instead here i am trying to catch up, and hating every minute of it ( hate is a strong word, perhaps being mildly uncomfortable with it would be better) I feel like someone laced my coffee this morning with five year old style temper tantrum powder, (if there is such a thing), because I am consumed with how much I don't want to do what I have to do right now. If I would just do it, it would all be over.
So it goes. I guess.
I will just cross my fingers and trust that if i go for a run later, get some good sleep tonight, and a cup of coffee in the morning, that tomorrow I will be back on the happy student train.

xo

a

Have you ever

taken a sip of your coffee, and then thought- man that tastes a little rotty... i should have cleaned it out better before i poured the coffee in this morning. Yeah, me too. Just now. It is so nice outside right now, SO nice! I wish I was skipping through a meadow with the dogs, and not at school, not at work, not taking a calc test later... Oh well, guess I'll just have to be contented with the loveliness of the day.
wish me good vector parameterization thoughts.

xo



a

I have to say, it's been a good day

I am feeling awfully snuggly sitting here on a comfy couch in some jam jams after a lengthy dog petting/defurring/cuddling/being joyously screamed at session with two of my favorite dogs, Kita and Suka. I can't believe it is already past midnight, the day has gone by quickly, been full, and it's a pretty good Saturday all in all.
I got up at 10 this morning and went to try out a class at the new Yoga place that just opened in the Valley, Tap Root Yoga. It's a super sweet studio, and I actually really enjoyed the class. It was the perfect blend of centering yourself deep breath mental stuff mixed with challenging poses and good stretches. A perfect way to start the day! I went to the store and got juice and bacon and then went home to wake adro up and make breakfast. It was good and tasty. I've been making semi elaborate breakfasts recently... what can I say? It is the best meal of the day. We got our xtra tufs on and went to Auke rec with Josh and Sarah and the doggies. A good time was had by all, really beautiful out there, we had some stick chasing on the beach with the dogs, and I slipped and fell on some tree roots on a pretty steep incline. Ouch, not a biggie, but I anticipate a biggie bruise to match my instant skin abrasions. Then there was a swoosh and time seemed to go really fast, probably just from showering and the beach being so nice. There was a period of intense scheming on how to go camping tonight, but then in the end i freaked out about the lack of homework that I'd gotten done so far, as well as having a matinée to do tomorrow, and so instead we went to the Thai place for dinner with josh and Erik. I always stick to my same order (as it is so good) but today I branched out and got TWO new items. I highly recommend the deep fried tofu, as well as the shrimp in a blanket. How can you resist the name?! From Chan's we scooped up Sarah, lost adro, and went downtown to do the show. It was nice to have J and S sitting front and center, and in fact we had a full sold out house. With this kind of play, that is so much nicer for performing.. So the show was good, and afterwards we rejoined Adro at the blue door to sample Ali's latest baking successes. Much was the laughter had, and we got our house cat like people watching moment in for the day. Now I am back at the house, and marveling at how the day went, and dreaming of how good sleep is going to feel. Nothing to do tomorrow, but the final show at the theatre! How exciting, can't believe it's the last one. And then to physics homework, Calculus study for the test on monday, (eek!) and various other assignments. A hike, or extended walk will be in order as well I predict.
Basically, thank goodness I live like a king. Because it is nice!


xo



a

an open letter to my sister

Hanging out here, a lone Hughes-Skandijs in Juneau, (Kirsa and Corin are still on the lovely autumn-y east coast) I recently got the chance to read kirsa's newly updated blog- (link to it on the other side) and it got me laughing, as it normally does, but what I really wanted to say is Dag, girl is obsessed with physics! Which is surely, I guess, a goodly thing to be obsessed with. It affects us in so many ways- like take this morning for example, when I forgot to set an alarm, and Adrienne left me soundly slumbering in the house, and I missed physics class. That had a pronounced effect on the rest of my day. I felt frazzled, and like a screw up! No, but seriously.. that happened today, and then I has a semi allergic type reaction occuring on my face wherein my face started puffing, eyes getting swollen and the like, at which point I took Benedryl, terrible idea.. it left me drugged and sleepy for the rest of the day- But the real *event* of the morning, would be the 20 minutes I spent alone in the house looking for my car keys, thinking "This day has finally arrived, I have places to be and things to do, and I am trapped! Like an elderly! I will no longer be able to function with out a helper!" I did find them and made it to seminar only slightly late, and then to linear as well... Turned my homeworks in, apologized to work for not coming, tried to apologize/ get the scoop on what I missed in physics but the teacher was gone, so I called it a day and went off campus earlier than usual- and came home to do things I rarely do during the week, such as catch up on kirsa's blog. Being home doing nothing for a while has helped to calm my rattled nerves.
- On a different note, but also school-y subject, (as so many things are when one is student)
My mind is being BLOWN right now, in a good way, by the combination of classes I am taking. It just turned out through a series of events and life that I am taking these classes together, since I should be closer to graduating, and contemplated taking some of these earlier, and didn't get to, But thank goodness! I highly highly recommend should you ever get the chance, taking : Linear Algebra, Calculus III, and Physics, all at the same time. They mesh together so well it is just ridiculous... and having a familiarity with whatever concept the teacher is introducing most of the time, is like a constant sense of something being on the tip of your brain's tongue, except it's something you were just introduced to, so not entirely, but in a pleasant way! It's almost like some crazy conspiracy revealing itself to you about the entire universe, it makes you want to take your shirt off and run outside screaming "It's vectors man! It's all vectors!" Or components, or circular motion, whatever.. take your pick.
Of course the really hilarious thing about this, is that in this movie, (starring me, of course) the protagonist is not really clever/educated/experienced enough to figure out the conspiracy, so I mumble at bus stops about vectors, and write equations on chalkboards when I'm cleaning the school at night, but in the morning when a professor comes in and thinks , "Good lord! Did that cleaning lady write that? " they then think "She made all kinds of mistakes, she didn't even take the derivative right".
ha ha ha.
I'm late for the show now. thank goodness it's the last week.

xo


a

More Recently

It has been pleasantly autumn-y in Juneau. Today was a departure from that back towards the misty rainy end of things, and that was enjoyable too. I spent today working my way through a pot of coffee and a pile of homework. I took some time to make breakfast, pick up the house a little, and do the dishes. How Pleasant to have the house in some sort of order before the week begins anew.
And how easily pleased I am lately by just having the time to do such things. It makes me think that once this show (Government Inspector at Perseverance Theatre) is over, I will be quite quite happy, having a seeming abundance of time.. It ends next weekend, and I'm pretty excited for it. It's been fun, and it's a good group of people.. but I just need more time for homework, and for being at home, doing other things in general. I'm writing this using the wireless connection from the dressing rooms, which has been a godsend- for wasting time, for playing with Rosetta stone, and for doing homework on web assign- speaking of which, is due at 2am tonight. So I better get back to it.. just a break to write about the mundane events of my life in case anyone was jonesing for an update. Maybe I'll get a slow spot midway through the week and throw up some pictures... promises promises.

xo

a

More Breaking News from the Frontlines

I do love physics and all that... and me and calculus and vectors have been hanging out alot recently- especially since I have my first test on Tuesday- but dang all if it is not the most perfect day of being really satisfying-ly rainy and beautifully fall season outside, and would I not like anything better than to curl up and take some naps, do some reading, more naps, walks outside and puttering! But instead, I report from Egan Library where I am trying to shake the nappy feeling, and focus on my calculus. It is a b-i-tch my friends. It's a good faith effort for sure, but i really don't think it'll help my test grade if I don't suceed in my concentration soon.

We'll see how it goes.

xo
a

This Just In!

I love Physics!







more soon.


xo
a

Politik Headache

United States Politics is getting a bit wackadoo right now, to my sensibilities. And with Palin getting picked as VP, it seems everyone has their own 2 cents to toss into the mix, though I'm sure as it gets closer to elections, that nationally everyone has something to say. Truly though I feel, that perhaps Alaskan Theatre Enthusiasts, are *THE* worse people to listen to talk about politics.
Rage making really.

Ok, There. That's my two cents. Regardless of your politics, they will drive you nuts.

And I'll keep my own thoughts safely off the internet... for now.


xo

a

Change of opinion

So, This morning I was running a touch late for work, I had a unexpectedly late evening more so than I had planned for and ended up crashing on the couch after driving home from north Douglas. Since I'm staying about a homerun distance from the university I wasn't too worried about it.. But then I looked at the house as I was leaving, and lamented the advanced state of mess and chaos of dishes in the sink and papers and clothes strewn on the couch, especially when I remembered it was the day the house keeper came. So I left a note, apologizing for the mess- and thought to self, see- this is why I wouldn't have a house keeper, I would just feel bad for being messy, and then try to clean it up some myself before they came if I had the time.

BUT!

I came home in the middle of the day to take the dog for a walk during lunch, and when I smelled the good clean freshness, and saw how tidy and appealing everything looked in the house, I totally Changed my mind. House keepers are the way to go, all the way. It is so nice coming home to a clean house right now when I am feeling worn out with this cold and work. So nice.

Back in Juneau Town

I have not blogged in a dog's age. I am back in town from my month long vacation to California/West Virginia with a quick shot up to New York. It was great, the whole shebang, in various ways. It's also good to be back home in Juneau. I am house sitting a place on fritz cove right now that has a hot tub looking out on the beach, and a sweet old dog which means I get to make time for walks on the airport trail everyday. I am in rehearsals for a show that opens the 30th season of Perseverance in September, and I am back at work at Rainbow and starting a job at the University next week. Things will be undoubtedly busier then, but money is a necessity (as well as a pain in the ass) and hopefully things will remain good, fun, and dregs of summer-y.
More to come soon, including I think some episodic flash backs to my vacation including pics. In the mean time here are some photos of now. And everything is good and happy.
xo
a

Including such hits as...

Fixing my camera with the skandijs approach to technology! Just in time for my trip! Which I had been all bummed about not having a camera on! Sweetness.