Goodbye snow

Michael and I took the dogs to our favorite dog park this weekend. Everything is finally melting and Alaska looks like a whole new place!

We actually think that we like this park better when there is snow on the ground. Everything is super muddy now, and the dogs were a dirty mess when we left there!

MOOSE POOP!!!! Some people will actually collect moose scat, let it dry, package it in some sort of fashion, and then sell it! What some people will do to make a buck!

We were going to go hiking this day, but it became overcast and we did not think it would be a good idea to be stuck on a mountain and some freak storm blow in! That hike will be for another day...

Mosquitos when it's cold?

Screw the gym! I am now taking up hiking. Several of the people I have met up here are serious hikers and backpackers. Michael and I want to take a backpacking trip so I have decided that it is a good idea to hang out with seasoned Alaskan backpackers and hikers so I can learn all the "ins-and-outs" of this recreational activity. I've gone hiking or walking everyday this week! Whoop whoop! The dogs and I went hiking with the ladies group in Bicentennial Park in Anchorage on Tuesday. That was pretty cool and I met a lot more ladies. It actually looks like I may be taking over as organizer for this ladies group! hahaha! I think this is hysterical seeing that I'm just learning about Alaska and its outdoor pleasures! I'm forming my own adult sorority! hahaha! I'm pretty excited though, and all the girls I have met so far from this group have seemed pretty cool.

I went hiking with a different group on Wednesday. We went to Chugach State Park, but to a different trail head. We did 4.75 miles up and down a mountain! I am woman, hear me roar!!!!! I was really pumped and elated after doing that hike! I'm going to try to go hiking at least twice a week, so I can go on a big backpacking trip this summer or next. The people I went with on Wednesday were really cool and experienced. One guy has tried to climb Mt. McKinley 4 times and has made it to the top once. I was really impressed. Everyone in that group was so helpful and informative. It also made me feel really good that I was able to keep up with all of them. When I got there and met most of them for the first time ever, I knew that I was going to slow them down. They all had walking poles (which I am going to buy today), backpacks, the proper clothes, etc. I just had my little fanny/hip pack on! But I did have enough water to share with the organizer that didn't have her water! :) However, I kept up with them the whole time! I think we're going to try to do a hike every Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Oh, and I'm getting a little nervous about the mosquitoes...it was only 43 degrees F Wednesday, and there were a TON of mosquitoes out!! I even got bit a few times! WTF?!?!?! This is going to be an interesting summer!

Introducing SSgt Hodge!!!

Michael technically became a SSgt (E-6) on April 1, 2009!! However, in the Marine Corps, an officer has to do the swearing in ceremony. Turns out that there is only 1 officer in the entire state of Alaska and he has been out of town! So, yesterday, April 13th, 2009 Michael was finally able to swear in and now he can wear his "rocker"! I was the one that got to pin Michael! :) I didn't hurt him too badly!

Michael saying the oath.


Turns out that there are a handful of Marines in Alaska. There a few Marine recruiters, and then there are active duty Marines stationed at the Marine Corps Reserve Unit located between Elmendorf AFB and Ft Richardson Army Base. All the Marines in these photos, except Michael, are the Marines that are stationed at the Reserve Unit.

Michael is now a SSgt! Congratulations Michael! I'm so proud of him! :)

Neighbors and grilling out

If any of you have spoken with me on the phone, I'm sure I have talked about our super cool neighbors, Linnea and Calvin, on the one side of us. The above picture was taken this past weekend at their house. We obviously have had a few by the time this photo was taken. I'm not really sure what was going on with Michael...

I'm not going to lie, I have been super jealous of all my NC peeps because I know it's spring and getting warm and gorgeous outside. With that kind of weather, comes grilling out and having a beer on the porch. Well, we're finally getting into the 40's now which actually is not that bad! It's not that warm Carolina sun, but it's warm for up here! Anyways, since it is above freezing, we finally decided to relocate the grill from the garage to the porch. We had steaks for our first Alaskan grilled meal! Please notice that there is still snow on the ground, but you can see some grass! We're seeing things that we didn't even know existed in certain areas, like sidewalks and rocks! Who knew!!

Eklutna Lake

I took Michael up to Eklutna Lake, part of Chugach State Park, this past Easter. It's only about a 20-30 minute drive from our house so this was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This place is amazing! You can see that all the ice is starting to break up now. These photos do not do this place justice!

A lot of you ask us how the dogs like it up here. They LOVE it!! Just take a look at these photos!

Freedom and Michael wrestling for the stick.

Run dogs run!

We live here...crazy!

Some Crazy Good Views

This is the view from the Glen Alps Trailhead Parking Lot in south Anchorage. In the top photo, you can see downtown. The picture in the middle shows some mountains...I'm still working on the geography! The picture on the bottom shows the mudflats that people talk about acting as quicksand. If you step in it, you're a goner!

I've been up to this trailhead a few times with some of the ladies from my online friending meetup...yes, I said it, I'm making friends through the internet! I'm not ashamed of this fact...it's hard making girl friends after college or if you don't have a real job! This was the first time Michael was able to go up to this view point with me.

The dogs really liked it too! I also wanted to state for all the Prius haters out there that my Prius is the bomb and made it all the way up this mountain with no problems! Whoop whoop!

We live here!!!! :)

Goodbye 201 Nutfield

We FINALLY sold our house in NC!! As of today, April 1, 2009 at 10 AM, the house is not ours!!! Whoop, whoop!! This was a little sad since this was our first home! However, I'm really glad we sold it! This will be a HUGE relief on our wallets, as well as a lifted burden. It sucked being all the way across the world and having a house unoccupied. We did have a realty company handle the house selling, but still... We have a lot of great memories at 201 Nutfield! Great parties, fixing the house up, hoodlums, great times! Goodbye first home!