Confessions, Part II

I've been slightly preoccupied trying to figure out why I have been so obsessed with the Twilight series lately. I mean, it's not a fantastic book. It's not horrible, but it's just a silly romance novel. I thought I got over that phase when I was 13. The only thing I can come up with is that it makes me a little sad to think that I am never going to be the 'damsel in distress'. I'm not saying that I want to be helpless, but a little part of me can't help but wonder how my life would be different if I was someone else.

I obviously don't want to be a weak, romance novel character. But I've always wondered what it would be like to be someone that needs protecting. Or not even needs it, but inspires it. I am 5'10". I am taller than half the men I know. I've never known what it's like to have to literally look up to people. Even at my healthy weight, which I admittedly haven't seen in almost three years now, I am never going to be petite. I am not shy and I am not quiet. I'm grateful that my parents raised me to be independent and opinionated. But I think that everyone wants to be taken care of every once in awhile and I can't remember the last time anyone took care of me. At least, not as an adult. My friends and family are supportive and I am sure would be more than willing to help me out if I asked, but I doubt that I would ever ask. I'd probably hate myself if I did have to ask, to be honest. But it would be nice to have someone looking out for you sometimes. It would be nice to know that there is someone else out there that not only cares what happens to you but actually fights to make your life better.

Confessions, Part I

I went to see Twilight with my roommate a little over a week ago… and I didn’t hate it. Don’t judge me! Robert Pattinson is hot. It’s sick that he was born in, like 1986, but whatever – that’s still legal. Even worse - I got curious and got the first book. Long story short, I read the whole series, even the leaked Midnight Sun manuscript. I hope the fact that I am now reading The Kite Runner and I have The Memory Keepers Daughter waiting in the wings will keep people from thinking less of me.

Wolverine. Wowza.

Hugh Jackman is hot. Hot, hot, hot! I mean, what else can I saw? Who needs Harry Potter?!

Winter is coming!

Juneau has not had as much snow as most of the Midwest. At least not at sea level. I thought I'd be fine with that but snow is damn pretty and I think I would be happy with a little bit more snow in my life. I know, crazy talk from someone that has been complaining about winter for the last two months. But I went cross country skiing for the first time ever this weekend. It's not as easy as it looks. I think that I am going to stick with groomed trails for the rest of this winter. And the ponds are frozen so you can skate on them and the ski lodge is finally open and it's all just making me want more snow!

Mountains are always pretty, but there is just something about the snow that makes them breathtaking.

My neighborhood is the most awesome part of Juneau. It would be nice to live out the road right on the ocean, but I like being downtown where all the action is!

I love crisp, cold winter nights. Everything is so clear and fresh. And the stars and moon are amazing. Pretty soon the Northern Lights will start to appear (hopefully) and it will be worth it to get bundled up and leave my bed at 2am to go outside and enjoy the show.

I don't know why, but I just love this picture. I don't think there was any snow on the ground yet, but it was right before the first real snowfall and it was the first time I was outside and actually excited about winter. Getting around in snow is annoying, but it sure is beautiful!

Five dollars, my ass

I was walking past Subway the other day when I noticed a gigantic sign in the window that said: “$6 Footlongs!!” Wait, what? The stupid $5 footlong jingle has been stuck in my head for the last 27-years, how can it be six stupid dollars?! Oh, that’s right. I live in Alaska now. We get screwed on pretty much every deal you see advertised on tv, and yet I still have to watch the dumb commercials whenever Ugly Betty is on because Pizza Hut/Blockbuster/Target/TGIFridays commercials are national. I hate seeing Olive Garden or Toxic Hell (Taco Bell, duh) commercials at midnight when I know I am going to wake up with a hangover and pretty much anything looks delicious. We have one Subway and two McDonald’s and that is the extent of our chain restaurants. There is no Kmart, no Walgreens, no Burger King.

The lack of crappy fast food and stores loaded with products made in Taiwan is part of what I love about Alaska, but when we get screwed on shipping even though postage costs the same whether you mail it to Alabama or Alaska and we get screwed on subs and when I can’t make a run for the border at 2am, that’s when living here can kinda sucks.

Merry Friggin' Xmas

Holy crap! How did December sneak up on me so fast? I mean, I just moved up here – how can it be the end of the year already?! This Christmas will be the third time in my life that I have not celebrated with my family. Alaska Airlines enjoys a monopoly in Southeast Alaska and they pretty much double prices during the holidays. A flight to Chicago is not worth $1170 and I don’t have the frequent flier miles to cover a free flight this year. Well, I have the miles, but I am saving them for a bigger trip. I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal to stay in Juneau since most of my friends are usually here for the holidays but this year, with the exception of two or three people, it seems like just about everyone is going home. Assholes. At least I don’t have to deal with any airports in December.