ALIENS AMONG US

On Friday we decided to run away down to Seward, AK. It's the end of the season. Boats have sailed south and been pulled out of the water. Restaurants and other businesses are closed until spring. We were going to hike to the glacier but it was about 37 degrees, with the additional unpleasantness of drizzle and a breeze (also the name of my '70s Sonny & Cher tribute band: Drizzle and Breeze).

So we went to the Sea Life Center. In addition to having wonderful sea lions and seal exhibits, tons of educational material, the Sea Life Center has an amazing rehabilitation program.

The highlights for us today were the octopus, who was crazy active, and the moon jellies. The latter mostly because the harbor had been full of jellyfish, and while my son found those "icky" and "looking like floating brains", the moon jellies are tidy, elegant little creatures. Their dark enclosure makes it look like they're circulating in space. All very cool.

HOT TIME SUMMER IN THE CITY

My husband has been telling me that we haven't had a good summer in Alaska in ten years. He moved here ten years ago, and that was a good summer - plenty of sun, some heat, some fish if I remember correctly - but since then they've been cloudy and dismal and cool. And we haven't gone fishing in a long time. Last year we broke the record for rainiest summer. That was a proud day. :/ Global warming seemed to have passed us by.

However, suddenly we are beset by hordes of mosquitoes

I am writing - from the linoleum floor of the downstairs bathroom - this in the heat. Like, the INTENSE heat. Our house faces south and its ugly face is splashed with windows, to make the very best of the paltry light and heat Alaska normally has to offer. Now it's like a convection oven, only instead of cookie pie we're cooking people.

As you do.

However, winter (It was still snowing in the middle of May) fled in a hurry, to be replaced by its bigger honey badger punk sister, summer, and now we're mobbed by mosquitoes and fainting from the heat while walking to the mailbox at ten in the morning. In reality, it's about 85 degrees. But that's like 595 degrees for Alaskans, because we do temperature like dogs do years. Also, we don't have air conditioning.

I'm ignoring the heat and the ungodly bug bites by writing, sneaking it in between 9 p.m. and midnight. And yes, it is still light the entire time. I'm reaching the tail end of Night Runner 2.0. I wrote Don't Bite the Messenger as a kind of wish fulfillment novella in the dark days of a rough winter saddled between two bad summers, when all I wanted was to get the hell out of Alaska. I would not surprised if Sydney and Mal end up at the North Pole by the time I'm done with this story.

So what are you all doing to beat the heat of summer? Are you plopping down in kiddie pools with sangria and books? Dipping into the darkness and icy A/C of movie theaters* Gorging on sriracha popsicles?




*I recommend The Croods. Slapstick family fun. Gorgeous animation. A little scary for smaller kids, particularly those raised on the geographical Ring of Fire and who have developed phobias thanks to earthquake and volcano drills.

A DAY AT THE ZOO

Today is gorgeous. It's over 60 degrees. No snow. No gale force winds. A perfect day for an outdoor activity, like chasing the five year-old all the hell over the zoo - which is full of hills and stairs and loose gravel - while wolverines and baby musk ox watch.

Actually, we couldn't find the wolverine, but that doesn't mean the wolverine wasn't watching us! (This is how I make zoo trips more exciting, by pretending I can see cut wires or tunnels burrowed under the enclosures that are empty. The kids love it, I tell you.)

We did get to see a few beasties on the move that we normally only find sleeping. Also, camels sound like wookies.

Prayer Bear (Grizzly)

Polar Bear, every day hustlin', hustlin'

Snow Leopard, moving with intent

Bactrian Camel, sounds like wookie

Happy Bear is Happy...also fatal (Grizzly)

ALASKA TIME: HIKING, GOLD PANNING, TAXIDERMY

Yesterday was my employer's summer picnic. Going outside this summer has been a dicey proposition since the weather has been less than agreeable. The day turned out just fine. The food and company were great and since we were in Alaska, it was of course beautiful.

 On the trail at Crow Creek Mine

Scouting hiding sites in case the ring wraiths came along.

Collecting my GOLD. Actually it was more like gold.

This taxidermied lynx head is So Happy To See You!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEKENDS IN THE WILD - GLACIER EDITION

Following a work week full of sluggish computer systems, long meetings in static conference rooms and the piped-in stench of hot tar (a large building was being roofed across the street), we took off for Seward (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska) on Friday evening.

The just sub-three hour drive was a bit rough on the already-tired four year old, despite the lakes and waterfalls and freaking gigantor moose we passed. Seriously, the moose on the Peninsula have been eating their Wheaties, and possibly other moose (who have also been eating their Wheaties).

Saturday was gorgeous and, rather than bury our heads in our laptops and iPhones or strap on the Wii controller, we did this:

 Rock-walking outside the Alaska Sea Life Center

 On the path to Exit Glacier

 The edge of Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier wash-out