walk, swim, ski...alaskan triathalon!!

okay so the distances were not nearly triathalon distances, but it's not too many days that i do all three activities in one day. took the dogs up to prospect heights, just for a change mostly as there wasn't going to be any big denali views. the views were nicer than expected though.

lucky for me this city has many miles of lit trails. after my swim (got in 30 laps) i drove over to russian jack for a loop of skiing. no moose encounters which was nice, no crazies either. i'm always happy to avoid the loonies out there. i wasn't the only one out skiing though, which is always nice. these trails are right in town which is great.

the snow was really sweet, despite my failings as a cross country skier, i had some lovely moments of great glide at times.

the loop we walked at prospect takes you up and up. saw this family with 2 young skiers on my way up...actually i passed the skiers walking on the way up. the kids seemed to be having fun, but the up was work. as you can see they were greatly rewarded in the end. the mom was still way behind me doing what i'd be doing, getting chicken and falling down. the boy was even tucked and booking. kids have so little fear. fun watching them fly past with big smiles. even better to see kids out enjoying the day and not sitting on computers or in front of a tv screen. the sledding hill at service was packed both times i drove past as well.

sleeping lady in the background...the trail i came back down is powerline trail, named for obvious reasons.

a few not to bad days at work. can't complain. cute babies for me. love getting paid for that stuff.

one co-worker apparently quit abruptly. he'd moved north like 6 months ago? anyway, i guess he emailed and said he was done and leaving...no two weeks notice or nothing. i was totally surprised. i knew he wasn't liking alaska much, but most people would still give notice. just heard that was how he left his last job to. odd. alaska is a place that isn't for everyone. hard for me to imagine everyone not loving it as much as i do, but i have been here long enough to see that this place either gets into your soul or on your nerves. love/hate. those that hate it can't wait to leave it. those who love it may leave it, but they will forever long for it.

people also tend to come to alaska for many reasons. it's a great place to get away from everything and everyone so one never really knows the true story. easy to come here to run from law, family, ex's.

have been trying to download all my music from the old laptop and put it on the other computers. took 7 discs and when i loaded them the 6th disc came up saying it was blank on both computers. grrr. so now i'll have to figure out what music was on that disc and try again. not tonight though. my computer skills make me hesitant to try such things. my co-worker told me to get a flash drive, but that didn't seen to be working for the music, maybe that is better for photo's or documents. i'm fearful of sync'ing my ipod as i've heard if you change computers it could wipe out your whole music library.

dog park above...below is a chocolate waterfall. supposedly a very large one from what the sign said. it's located at alaska wildberry products, a local store. i stopped in there the other day. have to get some stuff off in the mail soon. i'm late...as usual.

chatted with a few siblings this week, always fun.

happiness...there is so much to enjoy in life. it's hard for me also to imagine how people who have so much can be so unhappy. i'm not talking strictly wealth, just the basics under control. i don't really think happiness is luck. there are many who have been very unlucky, but still seem to just be able to rise above and remain positive. life is a series of choices and those decisions we make can lead us down a path towards increased happiness or not. i don't like to give advice, but sometimes you feel the need to lay down the truth. it's never your intention to cause hurt, but i'm sure it does. listening is good, but at some point it can be frustrating. you want to help, but have no power. you can't make decisions for others and invariably others make decisions that you just don't understand.

my feeling is that we all have things to learn, each unique to us. the no judging thing relates to this in my mind. since we don't have the ability to understand others life lessons we can't judge them the life they live. in the end you listen, give a little advice and hope people just find thier way.

life does need a shake up at times. it's in those times of great change that you learn the most of who you are and what you need to find your path and therefore your happiness. many people avoid those great opportunities of growth because they fear change, no matter how miserable thier lives are. to them, that misery is comfortable and known, change is frightening. it is scarey leaving behind things of comfort, whether it be a physical or philosophical things.

in my life i tend to steer clear of people who exude negativity. i'm not saying i run around glowing and laughing all the time, then you just look like an idiot, but negativity is like a bad germ. it spreads.

took the dogs out to n.bivouac trails the other day. liked the picture of rio above. days have been warm, in the 20's.

did work on my "to do" list so that is a start. i do have alot to get done this week. fear i'll wake a bit sore tomorrow, have been sore all week. that little fall torked up some of my muscles. keep moving i always say. once you stop, everything will go to pot. ouch...just got a leg cramp...should go load up with some water i think. probably a bit dry after all my activities today. i try to just load on water at work. my consumption of soda is always pretty low but i've been trying to cut out any at work as well as none in my day to day life. i just can't thing of anything about soda that is good. i do like a good root beer on occasion and if you know you haven't slept a cherry coke will help wake you up. do think it helps not drinking them often as then when you do they work better. usually there is some slice or 7-up on hand as well in case i get some stomach flu.

when i get that water i may have to pick up a couple oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies as well. made a few dozen of those tonight. quite tasty.

suspect my phone is coming to the end of its life. picked up some reading material at best buy the other day in an attempt to compare and contrast different phones. go with an iphone or one of the others, androids, blackberry...it's all confusing. i think i'm the last person alive with a phone that is just a phone.

wouldn't mind getting an actual video camera by the trip this summer. not that i'm any good at video, but if we get great whale sightings that is often the only way to really capture them. i really wish i had taken a video camera to churchill. those bears sparred for hours and i had just gotten a digital. it had video capabilities, but people have gotten me freaked about how much storage/battery video blows through. everytime i get more camera gear i am bummed i didn't have this or that on trips in the past. scanned a bunch of photo's from '94 and loaded them on facebook. i try to do that from time to time. may post a few of the better quality ones from my days in south dakota on here.

can't believe january is almost over. the years sail past.

my pogi cat. i think he's waiting for me to go to bed. snuggle time. good night.