Winter Wonderlands

Winter came in full force early this year (what little snow we do get generally comes after the new year).  For two days the snow fell, constantally. Leaving close to 2' of soft powder on the ground, not bad for shoveling (is light) but not too great for sleding or snowballs.

The shimmer of the snow, the shine of the icicles, and the over all brightness it brings once the storm is over can be breath taking.  And hard on your pictures if you are trying to capture it.  hope everyone out tsaking snow shots did as well as I did, what's more adventrous that a winter romp in the snow. Where even the adults turn back into kids.

Myself I spent more time trying to keep my camera dry and less worrying aobut how things came out.  Never a good way to shoot, and now with a few incedents of moisture problems seeking the right rain gear for my camera. So next time I can have fun and shoot.

things we miss part 2

So after blogging that I was going to take time on my trips to enjoy the world around me, I had to take another unplanned quick trip. This time I brought my camera though, and where as I didn't stop for pictures I did set it up for shooting out of the car when I wasn't driving.

And as always there were interesting things zooming by at an average of 70 miles per hour. Old barns and silos were my favorites. but there were pumpkin patches, corn fields being reaped, apple orchards, and all kinds of farm life. my mother even tried a shot with my camera as we passed St Stanislaus in Chicago (first polish American caloric church built in the US).

I still regret not stopping to take pictures and there were things I missed that I really wanted. The trip was so quick really left ones head spinning especially after having just cruised cross country not too long before. but I made the effort to enjoy and capture what I saw, which is what I think is really key.....don't just travel from point A to point B, enjoy the journey.

Seeing things we usually miss

I've come to realise that something in me, makes me notice things others never do. I also see the beauty in things others never can.

So when I drove cross country in about 50 hours without my camera, it was painful. I saw amazing things fly by my window that I had no hope of catching. I tried a few times with my cell phone and a borrowed camera but what I saw just didn't capture.

And it made me think about how travel has changed over the years. We now rush taking the quickest routes to get to our destination. But what of the older trips where getting there (and home) were half the excitement, the road trips carefully planned to visit interesting places and/or odd things, and getting out kicks on rt66.

We hurriedly pick up fast food when we do get off the road, but what of the little local places. trying the regional cuisine is still done in the cities we visit but what of those little out of the way places. ones that often has someone who really cooked all day to get your meal right, and recipes passed down for generations.

I've really come to realise as much of a observer i am, I am also a get to where i am going as quick as possible person. Especially when traveling alone, i won't stop unless it's necessary. And this is a habit i need to break. I need to stop going darn i missed something amazing and watching it fade away in the mirrors.

I need to take the time to stop and shoot the amazing things i see, visit interesting places, and try those little local restaurants. On trips and locally.

regeneration and nature

I've been watching the installments of Ken Burns: "National Parks America's Best Idea." And as I've loved many of the parks through pictures over the years, and at last count have visited at least 20 of them....there is much I never knew or understood. These men and women who had a deep love of the land, animals, and even the history of these great spots around us.

It is interesting to see other people in history who thrived in nature. I knew I wasn't odd in the fact nature invigorates me and excites me, but it is never really talked about anymore. Most people now days talk about the the cities and places they go, focusing on buildings and food and shops. But how often do you hear anymore about the bird, the squirrel, this flower, or that tree. I admit to it myself the awe of a skyscraper, yet I still manage to have a picture of a flower growing somewhere in that city, a mountain in the distance, or the squirrel begging at our feet.

The more I watch of this series the more I want to move to visit all those parks and places I've seen in pictures.

What about you?

Travel thoughts

Been spending a lot of time reviewing and editing photos from my big trip and contemplating what i will do next.

Big trips are never easy to do but worth the effort in finding deals. Look around at hotel prices, why stay in a icky hotel (read reviews, if several reviews all hit on the same problems changes are they are really and issue) when for the same price or a little more you can find a really nice one. Want to visiting a nice restaurant, those tips I've heard over and over are true. Eat lunch there or eat in the bar.....if you don't eat a lot splitting meals can work too. Airfare and rental cars have to be shopped carefully and seen if they are worth it. Pricing gas in the area is a great tool we have now, to help estimate the costs.

So now I need to decide where I want to go, get information, and pricing estimates together. So I can save and plan for whatever extras or new things I will need for that trip.

Big plans are always swimming around my head....but it always comes down to which trips can I afford and more often than not that day trip to the orchard or park can be just as exciting if not more.

the quick version

I always figured I'd fall in love by this time in my life, I just always though it would be a person and not a place....


South Central Alaska is amazing, even in the rain and fog of overcast days. The view even when it contained rundown old houses was breath taking, and the people were amazing.

Anchorage, well the Microtel tested even my standards and well they are pretty low. The end of the trip we drove up the Old Seward Highway (which as a warning ends kinda abruptly at an off ramp for the new Seward highway and can kinda get stuck). Saw the building boom different from the Kenai. Visited to tourist area shopping and seeing the earthquake movie, which is locally produced and well was a let down (it has promise but needs the work). Ate at the Glacier brewhouse, I didn't care for their brewed root beer (and skipped the real stuff since I was driving) but their fresh made soup was so good I regretted not ordering a bowl of it. Can see all the cook stations and there's a big fireplace in the middle, great place for a family or a few drinks with friends.

Girdwood, was a resort town and outside of some hiking and panning for gold one has nothing to do but relax. The views from everywhere from my room to the HOT tub were breath taking and wonderful. It's set up for easy walking or biking from the resort to town. Take the tram to the top of the mountain the round house museum and view re worth it. In town stop by the Jade shop to look at the amazing creations and the big hunk of jade in the workshop. Need something to eat, sadly I have to say skip the resort restaurants. But try Chair 7 for a relaxed family friendly meal or go local and try the silver tip bar.

Seward, I have to say was the low light of my trip. Socked in by fog and flooding/mud slide issues just a day after I left maybe they were just not at their best. The Harbor View was clean, friendly and convenient to both town and the boat harbor but nothing too special. The sea life center is a small glimpse into the animals of the area and well worth the visit, kind of place kids are fascinated in lots of stuff to touch. Exit glacier is quite a hike for most out of shape tourist, but worth every step up. The Kenai Fjords tour was a rough trip the water rough and fog everywhere. The staff were great, making sure I made it to the back of the boat where it was the least rocky and checking on those of us back there. Offering blankets and drinks. The food was passable lunch of wraps and a buffet of salmon and prime rib. Crab legs extra, which I skipped, but nothing was amazing except the views form the decks on Fox Island where you eat. Other restaurants of note are the Roadhouse at Windsong lodge, great views and good food. Had a Alaskan Raspberry wheat beer here that was amazing as was the food, save the key lime pie. And The Seabean, a homey coffee shop downtown. One of the few places open early, and family run. The owner took our order as his young daughter played. Quirky thing on way in and out is the highway narrows to a one lane bridge, controlled by a stoplight system. Real shocker for us not even sure I've seen a one lone bridge in years.

The trip to and from Homer as I seem to be ordering this a little randomly, was beautiful even in the rain. A glacial blue river flows on one side of the road or the other for most of the trip. And there isn't much of anything going southbound till Soldotna. There we visited the Loose moose where they had huge donuts and other baked goods. There is the biggest store we saw outside Anchorage here Fred Meyer, a really nice super walmart type place (nicer than walmart though). On our way north we stopped in Sterling at Suzie's Cafe in Sterling, a packed place that was really popular with the locals. Good food and the type of place I'd love to have breakfast. Another interesting thing is the coffee shacks (for lack of a better term) that are everywhere. Little things that remind me of the old drive up photo booths with service windows on both sides, selling coffee.

Homer is the fishing village an so much more. The have the Pratt Museum, a great place to learn about the region past and present. Islands and Oceans offering some history, some hands on labs, movies ,lectures, and activities. Their guided tide pooling and learning lab on volcanoes and glaciers were both amazing and free activities. The Wynn nature Center up above town offered guided or unguided hiking on maintained trails. There is a small usage fee either way and I have to say the guided one was worth it, out guide identified different plant species and told stories from growing up and living in the area. The Pratt also offers a historical harbor tour, starting at the Salty Dawg. History was only a short part of the tour, the rest was boat identification and fishing info (so may no appeal to everyone). Things to look at include the Salty Dawg, the Seafarer's Memorial, and Bishop's beach to name a few. Check out the farmers market for locally produced things like jelly, see the fresh produce, and try some food (there's often a band playing on Saturdays too). There are tons of outfitters and charters not to mention shops. Best deals are in the stores down town and not the spit, but never hurts to look. Food wise there are tons of choices for every one. Land's End Resort offers The Chart Room, which has great halibut, good local beer, and tasty chowder all with a view from the very end of the spit out into the water, if you're lucky the ferry will come by. Two sisters, a fun bakery with good soups and sandwiches. Not to mention sticky buns and other baked goods to kill for. Cosmic kitchen, we tried to go to the one in town and it was just stuffed. But tried the one on the Spit not as big a menu as the one in town but pretty good Mexican food. Boardwalk fish & chips, home of fish on a stick. And it's good, i also loved the calamari even ate the lemon slices they battered and fried with it. Duggan's Waterfront Pub offered a steak night, and where as it was no outback the food was good. Was also primarily a local crowd, my favorite part was the dog who laid down just outside the open back door waiting. Latitude 59, a coffee shop with lots of local art hanging and daily specials worth checking out. We were in a soup mood for most of the trip and they offered a spicy navy bean that I'd love another cup of. Fresh Sourdough Express, is a nice little restaurant. Their sandwiches were ok, but their milkshakes were the best(I'm a fan of a great raspberry milkshake and there guys have it). For crab lovers the do offer all you can eat crab at certain times (sadly I just wasn't hungry enough for the price).

The people were great, especially haveing family to show us around, seeing a few sites not normally on tourist maps. And the cherry on the top of homer was the amazing Majestic View B&B. The room was very homey, with an amazing view of the spit. The beds were comfortable with soft flannel sheets. And the breakfasts were amazing, I am not a breakfast person and I was hooked. I still crave stuffed french toast, fireweed jelly, smoked salmon, and all the other wonderful dishes. Maria and company really make you feel at home, she also has books and brochures on hand to help you plan things, as well as plenty of personal knowledge. And yes moose do really wonder through the backyard.

As with any trip there were some problems and draw backs, but all in all it is an amazing place and I still have so much more to see. It hurt me to leave Homer, but I looked forward to my other stops at that point. Getting on the plane home was truly hard to do, I feel in love with the town of Homer and had to leave it behind.

New Adventures and new beginnings

Tomorrow I turn 29, my last year of so called youth (according to some people) and the start of where I need to settle down and truly find a purpose in my life. hmmm.

I also set out on my trip of a life time, to finally see Alaska, and hopefully the first trip of many.

I do see this coming year as a time for change. I need to find a job where I can keep up and I can be healthy. I want to continue my determination to see experience new places and new things. To do my best to enjoy my life; pains remind me daily of things that could have been, and thankfully weren't.

I have my dreams and goals, most with revolve around my photography and travel. Good friends are important too.

I often tear myself apart over the things I've done wrong, and the things that have derailed my life. But it is all part of who I am and part or the decisions as I do continue on.

For now I focus on the beauty of Alaska, and later I come to decisions on which fork in the road to take in this adventure that is my life.

50 days

It seems like such a long amount of time, but it looms to closely for me at times.

Each trip/adventure I take seems to get more and more complicated in the planning. gone are my days of my jansport backpack crammed full and my Walkman ready to set off for anywhere. I miss those days and a simpler mindset out of bed hair up, t-shirt and jeans on (any will do everyhting goes with everything), wallet in back pocket, gym shoes on ,and hit the road. Somewhere I lost my tomboy and now have makeup and jewelry...other shoes....not t-shirt and jeans outfits (eek outfits).....cell phone....

It's all so complicated now...but still fun and exciting.

So many little details like making sure the house is clean before leaving, my mother dilled this into me saying that you don't want to come how to a mess. having someone to collect mail and news papers, a way to an from the airport, and everything else. A lot of which i didn't have to worry about on previous trips.

Packing has even become a challenge, needing to pack as lightly as possible to avoid extra charges at the airport. Also knowing you are likely to be bringing back more stuff then you left with. Alaska is not the ends of the Earth so to speak, I can buy things there but somethings you'd rather just know you have and you have the kind you like.

Debates start over what we need to bring. We only need one camera....do you really need that big one with all the extra stuff......a video camera would be nice but who is going to run it. We should all have backpacks and proper layers, but suddenly this old thing will work.

handy guides you've collected pile up, needing to be sorted through so the important information is with you on the trip. Like where the public restrooms are and which have running water.

Time ticks slowly

I always figured I'd be an excited mess and time would be moving so fast as my big trip approaches. But it is moving slowly and I still have so much to get done.

My camera gear needs the final touches, thank goodness for timing on Ritz camera closing stores. Gives me good deals on things I need, if they have it. Though bad part is now I will have to travel out further to find a shop.

Clothing has been a battle, those zip off pants sadly never worked. I found a different pair but my mind hasn't excepted that I've gone down a pant size and so ordering I get the old size. Good thing I invested in a cool belt, that is so me. Still need to figure out what to pack considering I don't over heat like I use to anymore. Not sure if it's the weight loss or problems with the cold I had this January, but I get cold easier.

Plans for day to day activities don't really exist, there is only one activity actually booked and set in stone the rest is play it by ear. I have a list a mile long of things, and the though that I'd be happy perched over looking the water with my camera for a day or two.

And after this last trip I'm really not looking forward to long hours in an airplane. If the average woman is not a size 6 and we have bigger hips than men, why are airplane seats so damned narrow. Also I sware seat belts are not a standard length. One I have plenty to spare and another I'm straining to get it clipped. And luggage fees, those are appearing more and more. No way I'm doing Alaska with a carry on, there are a lot of trips I could do but not this one. I've also learned with my new camera it's not as easy to tuck it into something else. Camera bag equals one carry on.

Good thing I still have time to sort all these things out.

New experiances and old

So I attended my first fan convention, which just the word fan makes me uneasy. Years of abuse on the front line kinda thing I guess. And yes I did spend a good amount of time saying this can be fixed and that can be fixed. The rest was as always behind my camera lens.

I met new people, and I will admit my goal of the day was not to meet most of the people there. Why because their online personalities scream to me to stay away, that in person they would be the fans I so avoid in the line of work. I felt close to melt down from the anxiety of the day on a few occasions and I did my best to hold myself together.

I did try some of the games and view what was to be viewed, just often from a distance while everyone else was grouped in the bleachers. I even, gulp, let myself be interviewed for placement on the fan site. There is a reason I keep behind the camera, but what is life with out some risks adventure less.

Think the worst part of all this for me was I hate being photographed and filmed, it never comes out good. And everywhere you turned inside someone was shooting. Having to sign a release to be let in the door was a big tip off, but it's still not fun. Out across the net there are likely bad images of me in the hands of people I'd never want them in. It is double edged cause yes I too have pictures of other people who are strangers, though other than sharing with friends and family my images are not likely to be out on the Internet.


My friends who were there it was great to see and those who weren't we missed.

Travel Advenures

It never fails planning to get togther with people never works out well. Someone always feels they need to be the leader and heard the others around, despite the fact it isn't needed. And someone always gets left out or left behind. Plans get let go cause they just can't work. I've never had a group trip where everyone was happy with the day to day events, but the memories after are still great.

Traveling to get there is always a and adventure. Like a 20 minute flight between cities where you go up just long enough the feel the turbulance and land. Or trying out the express spa during your layaway, moving through the terminal in the little fake flip flops to catch your flight.

You discover the quality of products you buy. Bags rip and discolor. Nikon makes a good camera, just don't trust the strap. Sunglasses break, jackets don't keep you warm, and things you fell in love with and bought are crap in the light of your room later.

I ran the Pike Place market area again, it's such an amazing place. The produce, seafood, flowers, and everything else.

No matter how many times you visit a place there is always more to see and explore. A corner you missed, or you have changed and what didn't apeel then does now.

Relearning everything

I broke down and bought myself a new camera...my last two met their end too soon and sadly at my own fault. So I went out shopped around and found what I felt was the best deal for my money, and investment into my photography future.

It's also a learning curve I never expected. I keep catching my self doing stupid things, based on my previous cameras:

- I will turn off my camera when I think I'm trying to focus it because me last camera had the focus controls where this one has it's on/off switch.

- I will take a picture then try to wind the film....the camera is digital. But My last two SLRs were film and that control for this camera is in a place my mind thinks wind the film.

My last digital was by all means a point and shoot with some advance features, and my SLRs were so basic I'm lucky they had light meters. So it is a real learning curve when the camera is smarter than I am. I have a long time to learn as far as I'm concerned this camera is an investment to my future and likely the last camera I will ever own.

I call it my new girl, and she has expensive tastes. Like any teenage girl there is the need for accessories. Extra battery and a camera bag check. Has two lenses nice. But the list for possibilities keeps going; more lenses, fancy filters (I have the basics), battery handles, remotes, tripods......makes ones head spin. Each new thing requires research into each version of the product. Which companies are of any quality, where you can find the best price, and do you really need it.

My mother calls photography an expensive hobby, but honestly it's more than that.  It always has been since I played with first camera at a young age...and kept on playing.

And oddly it can be simple or complex. One can make a camera out of a shoe box or buy millions in electronic equipment. And to each photographer finding the right equipment is a search, we can make do with anything but finding the right pieces makes all the difference.

photos from the Nikon website and don't necessarily represent what I own

The Plan

My adventure takes me to Alaska an amazing and diverse place and it's Kenai Peninsula:

Refereed to as Alaska's Playground, this area is well known for it's sport fishing. But it offers Mountains, oceans/beaches, and the wilderness between. There are Fjords, like the inside passage. Wildlife, like Denali. You can explore a glacier part of the day and a tide pool the rest.

From small towns and isolated areas to larger locations like Homer and Seward. You can enjoy being surrounded by nothing but nature in places assessable only by float plane or boat. Or explore art galleries and wineries between your fishing trip and your massage at the day spa. It really does have something to appeal to everyone. Camp Grounds, Lodges, B&Bs, cabins, value hotels, and even resorts the options are all there offering endless opportunity for planning the type of trip you want.

As much as I'd love to stay at a wilderness lodge accessible only by float plane, it didn't fit with my budget. So a variety of other lodging options awaits me sampling a bit of everything. Fishing isn't necessarily in my plans but the Glacier hikes, kayaking, dog sled tour, panning for gold, and wineries excite me. Hiking and tide pooling are my main planned activities, to tie into my photography. I hope to see a moose, an otter, a puffin, a whale, and a verity of flora & Fauna during my time there.I'm not taking the train trip between Anchorage and Seward though I'd love to. An flying around isn't in the budget, so a rental car and two main roads. I looked into the Marine Highway but it just didn't work for my plans, so between that and a few other places I want to go there is another trip in the future.

I write this my trip still a good distance into the future, and I'm really just starting to get excited.

Planning and research

I researched and planned a trip to Alaska for a decade, a little here a little there. As the trip became a reality I started trying to find more and more info. Often requesting things from websites, and often never receiving anything.

The best site I found was after most things for this trip were booked, save a hotel and activities. Alaska One was the best I came across, it provided me with a ton of information. It literally blew up my e-mail inbox with in 24 hours. I also received a phone call from one group and mail from others. It is amazing and everyone is helpful and excited to have you come to Alaska.

I had help from a travel agent that was irreplaceable in my planning. But for the rest of you who don't have that option try this site, it has stuff for every region of Alaska.

So far from the mailings I've received I have a list of six activities that I need to book soon and am really excited about. There is so much to do and see I hope I get to do a lot of them, but would not be opposed to a return trip.

Gearing Up

In the last few weeks I've finished most of my travel arrangements for my big trip and have started to gear up. The Amazon wish list and universal wish list have been great tools, they allow me not only to collect items I need (or am thinking about) from not only Amazon but also from all over the web. Allowing me to make one list and I can share it if I want.

I went out and ordered one of my wish list items, zip-off pants. These have been around for a while but in my size only recently and expensive. So when

Lands End came out with a line of Sun Life Zip-off Pants, knowing quality of their brand and add an affordable price I was in.

I started by looking at the sizing, as recently all my pants have the issue of moving south on their own (it's good, but it's bad as well). So I measured carefully and chose a size, and ordered 2 different colors. They arrived and I was so excited till I tried a pair on, everything fit great except one thing.....the zip-off part, it just fit (to point I could put the pants on but nothing else).

So I called customer service, afraid that if I went up a size the fit wouldn't work for me. And let me say this Lands End has one of the best customer services I have dealt with on a long time. She was polite, helpful, and spoke English which all service number should have. But she really worked to help me figure out me question, calling and getting the exact measurements of parts of the pants they don't list on their charts. So I could figure out if the next size would work for me. And I have to say I've asked questions of other companies on size and they mearly tell you to refer to their size charts and that is it.

Sadly these pants are moving quickly and at the time of my call only one color was available to me, so I got two of that color. Asked about back order but she said that option wasn't available at this time. I hope Lands End decided this is a good products and makes more. And I look forward to shopping with them in the future.

I continue my hunt for gear, shoes are a top thing (need to break them in before I go). But again I have an odd size and keep shopping around for the right pair. I love the Lands End trekkers line, but they don't have the Mary Jane ones I want in my size. So I keep hunting, hoping someone will have one in my size I like. In the end I often end up settling for a men's shoe just so I have something.

It's crazy how much I need to buy for this trip, but this is a big one in my life. And my shoes and clothes are all pretty old.. generally replaced only when they die because I have such trouble finding things. Ever think of clothes shopping as an adventure? For me it's mostly a frustration but slowly it's getting easier as I find brands that make it worth while shopping with them.

Snow storms and snow days

Snow hit the DC area Sunday and Monday. Shutting down darn near everything, the roads were untreated and unplowed in many areas. I made it home from work on Sunday night going 20 miles per hour in a whiteout. And in a normally hour trip to work, took two and a half. The roads were still not treated very well, and more people were out than needed to be (as most of the area was off). It is a little disturbing passing truck and other 4-wheel drive vehicles in the ditch, knowing you are only in a small 2-wheel drive car that is sliding around. It was an adventure in just getting from point A to point B. And I will forever remember that forklifts (at least regular ones opposed to all-terrain) do not operate well in the snow or slush.

Today, snow day 2 for my teacher mom and a day off for me. The call of the snow was too strong. We through on the bare minimum of gear with the though of her taking one run down our much coveted (by neighborhood kids) hill on a sled. We ended up out there for 45 minutes taking turns. It was like being a kid again with the only main difference being as a kid the cold never seemed to bother anyone. The fun in the snow was much more important.

My mother was enjoying it more than I was, the little purple sled is hers even. Serious and ever in teacher mode most days, it's amazing to see her let loose. I'd bet money her students would never believe she was capable of having fun.

For me sick forever ,I still had to get out and take a run or two. What harm could a little cold and wet really do, when laughter and fresh air are both supposed to be good. I'd have loved to be out longer and really go for a while, but warmth called. I took a few shots but it was more about the adventure of it all today. The shadows of the trees on the snow, icicles on the house & plants, and mom having a ball.

Getting Started

I start this blog with a particular trip in mind, one that is years in dreaming and still months away in planning. Hopefully between then and now I will find things to fill the time here.

In the last few years I've taken some great trips. From cross country to just around the corner. Adventures and photography moments both. And I've blogged and archived things but not all my friends could see them there. So I set off to document my future adventures here for them all to see.

Places have revealed their beauty to myself and my lens. Fishing Boats and a local festival in New Bedford, MA. The red desert and rock formations of Sedona, AZ. The waters around Seattle, WA. The farm lands of central NY. And the monuments and nature with in a day trip of Washington, DC.

I'm not of professional photographer but i have the desire, almost addiction to take that perfect picture, to capture that moment I see as special in the world. From a single bee landing on a flower to an entire landscape in front of me.

And here I will try to share some of that, along with the adventure and nutty antics that often surround getting those shots.