a year in photos

the holidays went off without a hitch and we were reminded once again just how lucky we are.

i wont be sad to move on to a new year, and ive never been one for resolutions.
i just hope that the world can somehow become a more peaceful place in 2009.

the photo collage above is a photo taken each month in 2008. start at the top in tropical january and take a ride to frigid december.
happy new year everyone!

the longest night

we've just spent a glorious weekend of playing, while catching the most amazing, albeit short-lived, light of the year.
we spent the weekend in girdwood because jeff had his company chrismas party there.
i'll spare you the details, but it involved an open bar and polka music.
we also got to ski, and this was the view at the top of alyeska during the shortest day.
not bad, eh?
looking down over the clouds, and then skiing into them was beautiful.
here's a little solstice light shining down on the top of chair 6.
and this, was the amazing sunset over turnagain arm at approximately 3:41 pmit is an unaltered, straight out of the camera shot.
click on it to appreciate how amazing the clouds are and check out and ice floating below.and this, is what a five year old who has put up with socializing parents, hotel room sleeping, a heated indoor pool, and 2 days of skiing one of the most amazing mountains in the USA looks like on the ride home.

happy solstice everyone!

smile

we're trapped!

well if this doesn't add to the feeling of claustrophobia that 5 hours and 30 minutes of daylight gives ya......

subzero saturday

if anyone has any helpful advice on shooting the moon, i'd appreciate it. i use a canon rebel xt eos and i don't really know what the hell i'm doing most of the time.

this was a spectacular moon setting over the northern peaks just as the sun was rising.
the picture doesn't even hint at what a sight it was.
i give myself an "A" for effort though, as i trudged through the snow at minus 5 to fool around with settings on the camera. too bad i didnt get a better shot. next time...
brrrrrr.

we've got a nice fire going in the wood stove and some art projects at the kitchen table.we have had quite a collection of pine grosbeaks here today. the males were especially pretty against the snow.
last evening j and i headed into los anchorage to see jesus christ superstar at the performing arts center. a real live date night!
it was a great show and ted nealy playing a 33 year old man was pretty impressive.

we also had a fabulous dinner at jens restaurant- truly, i ordered the equivalent of an orgasm on a plate. pan seared scallops from kodiak with fresh raspberries.
i know, it sounds weird, but really, to-die-for, gastronomically speaking.

grump (ing)

seems i'm in a blogging recession.

theres not much to say these busy, dark, cold days without sounding like all i know how to do is whine and moan.
its just this bleak time of year where we inch our way toward the solstice, that i feel zombie-like.
i make my way through the blue- gray days, watching the sun (although it hasn't appeared in weeks) move slowly and flatly over the horizon for a little over 5 hours each day before darkness settles in again.

lather, rinse, repeat.

even the happy light doesn't seem to be helping.

we had 3 days of amazing wind, with gusts to 70 mph. this is worse than the lack of daylight.
constant wind, i'm convinced, does something damaging to the psyche.

but now the wind has stopped and mounds of beautiful, light, fluffy snow has fallen, which always cheers me up.

i am heading out, skis strapped on, the ipod loaded, to the trails to work off some of the grump.

meanwhile, i've been dreaming of taking some photos using this method, known as through the viewfinder.
i just need to get my hands on one of these.

wordless wednesday

hmmmmmmmm...........