It's Jen's Turn Now!

So I finally get to take the leap. I leave Colorado in four more days to join Matt--and I can't wait! The trucking company came to pick up our car today, and it finally felt real. I'm moving to Alaska! I'm excited to see the northern lights, I want to see the belugas in Cook Inlet, I can't wait to experience my first midnight sun, and I want to hike, run, snowshoe, and ski my uhhhhhhh . . . . . thighs off. I'm really looking to experiencing this unique place with Matt.

Matt says the sun is now setting at about 11 pm and rising just before 5 am. I (and the two cats) will arrive (if all goes as planned) at 1 am in Anchorage on Memorial Day. That means the sun will rise only 4 hours after I arrive! He also says the sun has been shining every day, but that the air is still crisp. No sweltering Colorado summer for us! I'm looking forward to standing on our porch with him, and . . . I was going to say watch a sunset, but it's more likely we'll see our neighbor pee in his yard because the sun is setting so late.

It's definitely been a move with many stages, after it's all said and done it will have taken about seven weeks total to get everything and everybody up there. It'll be nice to finally be an official resident of Alaska! Now if I could just get that job . . .

Matt's Move to Alaska

Matt has arrived in Anchorage!

With a cat, a Golden Retriever, and four large pieces of luggage to check, Matt patiently waited his turn in the Alaska Airlines baggage check line (boy did he ever have luggage to check!). The first class customer service rep, having no customers in line, motions for Matt to come over to him. As Matt moved forward the rep. realized he was towing a very large luggage cart behind him. "What, are you moving to Alaska?" he asked snidely. "Yes." was Matt's reply. And thus the adventure began!

The trip up went as good as could be expected given the all the varied pieces of luggage he was toting (Matt claims there was only minimally persistent meowing during the flight--but you should have heard the kid screaming on board!! Matt called just before takeoff from Seattle and I could barely hear him!!). But Jack, Hugo, and Matt all arrived happy and healthy around 11 pm on Wednesday April 29. The next day Matt signed the lease our our little place and moved his necessities and the animals in. He reports lots and lots of dust, which apparently is normal up there (I can't wait).

He's living a minimalists life for the next three weeks--only an air mattress and Crazy Creek chair for furniture (thankfully Joy, our landlord, lent him a table), and two pans to his name. He thought he would be able to keep in touch with sports via the XM radio he brought, only to find out XM only works in the lower 48. I'll bet he's really glad I made him pack the 2,000+ page Les Miserables! Tonight he reported his activities so far have consisted of: reading, reading, sleeping, sitting on the porch and brushing the pets, reading, walking jack, reading and eating. He's already finished a book! He says the sun is going down at about 10:30, but it stays light for a long time after the sun goes down. That is going to take some adjusting to!

The pictures are of the sunset over Cook Inlet from our deck, and then him and the boys (Hugo and Jack) in front of said sunset!!

This completes phase 1 of the move, phase 2 (the stuff) began last Monday and is scheduled to arrive in about three weeks. Phase 2, Jen's move, is hopefully going to happen Memorial Day.

We'll report more when there is more to report!