I Miss NY

There.  I said it.  I'm not sure if it's my life there that I'm missing, or if it's the city itself, or both.  Probably both.

I'm reading a book that takes place not just in NYC, but in Morningside Heights/the UWS, where I used to live.  It's filled with descriptions of corners and places in the park, most of which I used to see every day.

And it's snowing in NY right now.  Snowing!  Before it's even snowed here.  Which means that someday soon there will be Christmas displays in the windows downtown, and lights strung up in trees, and ice skating rinks.  And I know that those things will be here in Anchorage too.  But the part of Alaska that is amazing is not the city.  In Alaska you're left amazed by how beautiful the mountains and waters are, and by how wild everything is, even in the most urban areas.  In NY, you're left amazed by what's been built . . . by what's been made.  The city is so beautiful, and we (humans), we made it.  And yet . . . we didn't.  We built the buildings and the roads and the monuments, but there's something more than that.  There's something almost magical about how one small island can be so infinite.

Karaoke, a Texas Wedding, and a Double Rainbow (full on all the way across the sky)

Karaoke was awesome.  I'd never done karaoke in front of a bar before, but it was great.  And I learned that my friends and roommates have mad talent.  Exhibit A: Roommate #1 starts us off with the crowd pleasing "Baby Got Back."  Exhibit B: Roommate #2 busts out a totally legit singing voice.  If the law thing doesn't work out, I expect to see him in concert in a few years.  Exhibit C: friend and fellow U of Cer receives handshakes from the audience for his self-edited version of "99 Problems." After a little dancing in the bar's basement, we walked home, made some chicken fingers, and watched . . . you know I can't even remember what we watched.  I guess that means it was a good night.

The Texas wedding was a) a trip home, b) the marriage of one of my oldest friends (we've known each other since we were 11), and c) yet another opportunity for the Companion and me to bicker about who's the better dancer.  This means that I got to see my family, eat all of my favorite Texan foods, hang out with my middle school crew, and remain convinced that I'm always right about everything, especially when it comes to dancing.

Last but not least: the double rainbow (what does this mean?).  Full disclosure: the Anchorage double rainbow was not nearly as bright and vivid as that guy's double rainbow, but the single rainbow (pictured below (I stole this pic from a co-worker)) was one of the most amazing rainbows I've ever seen.

The rainbow was pretty perfect timing, too, because I'd been feeling a bit glum.  Not only are we very quickly losing daylight up here, but it has been cold and rainy to boot.  I have, however, made some bald eagle friends: a pair of them has been flying around outside my window pretty regularly. So patriotic.  I think I even saw one of them clutching a little American flag the other day.

Hey There, Stranger

It has, obviously, been quite some time since I've last written.  The Companion has come and gone and I am once again left to fend for myself (sort of).

Case in point:  I dropped the Companion off at the airport last night, and as I'm driving home, sobbing and listening to Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" (I wish this were a joke . . . ), a warning indicator lights up on my dash.  "What that CRAP, Subaru?  *sob*  You'd better turn that off right now!!  *sniffle*  WHY DON'T I HAVE ANY KLEENEX IN THIS CAR?!?!"  I manage to make it home without getting pulled over for erratic driving, and I find out that the warning light is for tire pressure.  This morning I call up Subaru to schedule a free inspection (it's "Car Care" month, conveniently).

Subaru Man: Yes we can schedule that.  How old is your car?
Me: It's new.
SM: Well then you really don't need an inspection, actually.
Me: HA, got you there, Mr. Subaru Man!!  My tire pressure light came on LAST NIGHT.  How do you like THAT?
SM: Um yeah that happens in the winter here.  Once it gets below a certain temperature you have to fill your tires a bit.  You can do it at any gas station.
Me: Oh.  Ummm . . . okthanksbye!

Awkward.

So I dealt with that after work today which ended up being fairly tedious (but not a good story, so we're going to move along).  Luckily I had half of a delicious homemade lasagne waiting for me at home, which leads me to . . . the Companion's visit.

First and foremost, we spent time doing non-Alaska-specific things, like going to the movies, being lazy, and eating.  The eating was really the best.  The Companion is a great cook, and we both love to eat, so I got to enjoy two weeks of pizzas, cookies, Mexican, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagne, and all of the wine and chit-chat that always accompanies our meals.

We also made time for a happy hour with an excellent view, a downtown dance club (where apparently we are indeed really lucky not to have been shot), and, for the finale, dinner at Double Musky (a local legend with amazing crab-stuffed halibut and fantastic wine) followed by a night at a ski lodge and a beautiful hike.

I'll see him again just next week, but it's hard not to feel that this is where the year apart begins.