Tuesday, July 31, 2007

driver's licenses and cell phones

When I moved from New York to Kentucky, I kept my NY driver's license for four years because I didn't want to give it up. (It's a NY thing) But alas, my last year in Kentucky I bought the sweet car infamously known as Kenny. So I had to get a Kentucky driver's license. Which basically meant I went to the DMV, handed them my NY license, they took my picture, and handed me a Kentucky driver's license. No problemo. Easy Squeezy.

Being here in Alaska, I want an Alaskan driver's license and plates. You would think Alaska would be a pretty easy place to get a license. But I've been to the DMV three times now. They've asked for everything short of a DNA sample and a binding contract giving them custody of any first born child I might ever have. I finally jumped through all the hoops and had to take the (computerized) written test. AND I FAILED!!! And the worst part is that when I went back up the the information desk and told the lady I failed (in front of a line full of people), she looked at me incredulously and exclaimed, "HOW?!?" I can't believe the DMV lady gave me grief for failing! So when I left I took one of the manuals to study. I of course, haven't studied it but am considering writing all sorts of subversive messages in it and sneaking it back on the rack.

p.s.-regarding my cell phone:
1) yes, saying i dropped my cell phone into a glacial crevasse would have sounded better than saying i dropped it in the toilet. unfortunately i didn't think of that at the time of my last posting. no, i wasn't using the cell phone at the time of said drop.
2) yes, it will still be the same phone number. I got that question a lot.
3) my cell phone provider today informed me they are revoking my cell phone insurance since this is my third cell phone in a year. I am too amused to be mad. I wanted to tell the lady that, statistically speaking, we'll probably be having this same conversation in about 4 months.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Highs and Lows

Yesterday Scott and I hiked 18 miles in the Chugach State Park. Woo hoo! And we both got stung by bees. Boo! I'm seriously allergic, never carry an Epipen, and didn't have a life-threatening reaction. Woo hoo! But we got our butts kicked by the trail and didn't summit the mountain we were trying to get to. Boo! Today I ran 20 miles to train for my marathon August 19. Woo hoo! And tonight I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. Boo! (That makes 3 phones in less than 1 year) I've got phone insurance. Woo hoo!

p.s. - if we've talked on the phone in the last 6 months, please send me your phone number!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Quotable quotes for $200

I love a good quote. Here's a few I came across while reading "Ultra-marathon Man: Confessions of an all night runner" by Dean Karnazes (which is a great read, by the way)...

"That which does not kill you makes you stronger." -Friedrich Nietzsche

"What counts in battle is what you do when the pain sets in." -John Short

"When you're going through hell, keep going." -Winston Churchill

"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough." -Joe Louis

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: 'WOW! What a ride!'" -Unknown

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Baird brother Alaskan adventure #1



Well folks, having my brother up here in Alaska has been a breath of fresh air. We are having a blast. Yesterday after I ran 15 miles for my upcoming marathon and my brother got evicted from his bedroom by the screwball ex-missionaries whom we share a house with (long story), we threw our gear in the back of my truck and headed south to Girdwood. We parked at the Crow Pass trailhead and hiked 4 miles to some old mine sites. After scouting out some potential mines to explore we started climbing. First we climbed up Barnes Mountain, with a vertical gain of about 800 feet. The first mine we found was a good one. My brother wisely pointed out that gold is often found in quartz. While the first mine only went back about 200 feet, the vein of quartz and gold apparently also went upward. We were able to climb up old ladders and hundred year old posts wedged into the shaft. These posts held beams which miners probably sat on while they dug for gold. The above photo is of Scott as we were leaving that mine to climb to the summit of Barnes. The second mine we found was also a good one, with several passages off the main path. The third and final mine we found was the one I mentioned several weeks ago. It was large, dark, and full of icy glacial water. My brother wasn't too keen on entering this one. So wearing nothing but my water shoes, a bathing suit, a winter hat, and a headlamp, I started wading into the icy water. Have you ever been in water so cold it actually hurts? Ya, I only made it about 5 feet and about thigh deep in the water before I turned back. Click on my flickr link on the right hand side of the blog to see photos.
Anyway, after about 4 hours we were pretty tired so we hiked back to the truck and set up camp. Over a tasty dinner of cheddar bratz, corn, and beefaroni, washed down with Long Board Ale, we relaxed and enjoyed a day well spent. You'll probably hear me say this a lot over the next 2 months but I freakin' love my brother. He is fun and smart and sarcastic. Plus I don't know anyone else crazy enough to go on these type of adventures!!

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." -Amelia Earhart

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

the fam-damily



The annual Baird family camping trip was a blast. Everyone was there except two brother-in-laws. You'd think with such a big group that 2 people wouldn't be missed. But Steve and Todd, it wasn't the same without you!! Even the return trip to Anchorage was great because A) my brother came back with me for the duration of the summer and B) I got to see Eddie and Brianne during my layover at the Seattle airport.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

S'mores!



Meet my neice, Madison. She is 3 years old and one of nine reasons why being an uncle ROCKS!! Before moving to Alaska in May, I drove home to Buffalo, NY in April to say goodbye to my family since I wouldn't see them again until November. My sister told me that afterwards, on their drive back to Pittsburgh, Madison gave a sob from the back seat and tearfully said, "Mom, I miss Uncle Rob already and I don't think I can make it 'till November." Geez! I'm not one to get teary-eyed but that one got me!!

Every summer the entire Baird clan (that's 22 and counting) comes together for our annual family camping trip in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The fam is pretty bummed that I'm all the way up here in Alaska and can't make it back for what I like the call "the best week of my entire year." What they don't know is that months ago I bought a plane ticket to Philadelphia where I will meet up with my sister Kristen and we'll drive up to the 'Dacks together. I CAN NOT WAIT to see the faces on my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews when I step out of the car. It will be a week of hiking, eating, canoeing, eating, swimming, eating, card games, bonding, enjoying God's beautiful creation, laughter, and yes, eating! While everything we do this week will be a blast; from the euchre and dart tournaments to the canoe trips and the hikes, my favorite moments will be at night around the campfire. The sun will have gone down, the busy-ness of the day will have settled, and the call of the loons will echo across the lake. And while laughing and reminiscing and telling stories that we've all told and heard a million times before, I'll have a neice or nephew or two snuggled in my lap, wrap my arms around them, and ask God for the millionth time why I was blessed with such an amazing, loving family.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

power napping on raven glacier



So yesterday I drove 30 miles southeast of Anchorage, near the town of Girdwood, and parked at the Crow Pass Trail head. I hiked up the historic Iditarod trail to Raven Glacier; right next to Crow Pass. I left the trail and hiked along the south side of the glacier, making sure to hug the wall since walking on a glacier isn't the smartest thing to do (those crevasses will getcha every time!). I found a rocky outcropping and ventured out onto it. The weather up until this point had been about 50 degrees and rainy. But suddenly the clouds parted and the sun was shining. I laid down on the rocks, closed my eyes, and just listened. Glaciers actually make a lot of noise. There was the sound of water gurgling under the glacier, the sound of rocks clattering down the valley walls, and deep pops and groans as tons and tons of ice unperceivably inched forward, grinding rock into silt. It was so peaceful that I actually ended up taking a 30 minute power nap. When I woke up, cloud cover had moved in, the temperature had dropped, and visibility was terrible. I headed back the way I came and had little difficulty retracing my route. Unfortunately one part of my route had been quite precarious due to a very steep scree field that caused mini-avalanches on my ascent. And since its always harder to climb down than up, I wasn't too keen on trying that route again. Also unfortunate was the ever thickening cloud cover which had reduced my visibility to about 50 feet. So there I was, stuck on a cliff, unable to see in any direction. What is the best course of action in a situation like this? Sit and wait. Instead of panicking I decided this was an ideal time to inventory the snacks in my pack and have a little picnic while I waited for the cloud cover to thin out. And to take the photo posted above. Sure enough, about 30 minutes later, I could see well enough to pick a less hazardous route down. I'm sure there's some significant life lessons to be gleaned from all of this. And I'm sure you, the reader, are smart enough to pick out those little nuggets of wisdom.

On the hike back to my truck I also found an abandoned gold mine. The entrance was hidden by a giant boulder. But by squeezing around it I was able to get in. It was filled with water but by the sound of distant running water I could tell the mine went pretty far back. I toyed with the idea of swimming through the mine with my keychain flashlight but I'll admit that swimming alone in an unfamiliar pitch black mine was a little too adventurous for me! Luckily my brother will be moving out here in about 2 weeks, so I know exactly where our first adventure will be!!