Cruising to Alaska 101

So let me tell you about cruising to Alaska. I'm a good person to tell you about such things because I just returned from an Alaskan cruise, and that makes me something of an expert in this day and age.

That would be beef medallion with almond croquettes. Ooh la la!

The first thing you need to know about cruising to Alaska is that you will be surrounded by food all the time. The buffet? Open 24 hours. Need some ice cream, pizza, or a hamburger? You can get any of those starting at 11:00 am and yes, its all-you-can-eat. What if you're like me and have a weakness for warm cookies? Never fear--the cafe is churning them out all day and they're just sitting there for you to take. And you can take AS MANY AS YOU WANT. You could even pile two or three on a plate of other pastries you just ordered from said cafe--mousse, fruit tarts, tortes, etc. Really. Make sure you're not too stuffed by dinnertime, because that meal will come in a variety of courses and you can order as much as you want. Two appetizers? Don't mind if I do! Don't forget that dinner menus will be fancy wicked awesome--beef tenderloin, lobster tail, wild mushroom cream soup, and that doesn't even include the desserts. OH. MY. WORD.

My dessert(s) from dinner one night

The second thing you need to know about cruising in Alaska is that no matter how many mornings you go to the "Health Club," you will still likely gain 5 lbs. or so...for the reasons listed above (i.e. cake, cookies, ice cream, hamburgers, pizza, etc.). The fact is that if you don't drink or gamble, eating will be your main form of entertainment all week long.

A view from The Promenade of wet, chilly, wonderful Ketchikan, AK!

The third thing you need to know about cruising to Alaska is that it will likely be cold at some point in your vacation or even for all of your vacation. Even if you cruise in the middle of the summer, you need to bring layers. I brought a coat and a variety of sweatshirts, sweaters, and jackets. And let me tell you--I was glad. Especially on the day Allie and I "promenaded" around Deck 7 (i.e. The Promenade) for a mile in cold and windy temperatures. BRISK! That's the word for it.

Our small, delightful, tour group in front of the Mendenhall Glacier.

The fourth thing you need to know about cruising to Alaska is that a lot of those EXCURSIONS they offer aren't going to be worth the crazy prices. However, if you can take an excursion that puts you in a small group of 13 people it will be a great escape from the THOUSANDS you're "living" with on the ship. And if that excursion actually gets you out in the real Alaska--outside of the kitschy shops and tourist traps and places hawking Sarah Palin ulu knives--and you can see the beauty and awesomeness of glaciers, forests, and huge mosquitoes? Then its worth it. And you'll be really glad you go. Even for $79.

Yeah. We're hot.

The last thing you need to know about cruising to Alaska is that it will be AWESOME. You'll get to see glaciers and whales and sea otters. You'll get to relax, read lots of great books, sit in hot tubs, watch lots of Matt Damon movies ("He is such an attractive man!"--Allie O.), try new foods and eat your heart out if you like that sort of thing. (I do.) Cruising to Alaska will be extra fabulous** if you go with your amazing parents and little sister. You'll have good times--eating, playing SkipBo, looking at Ice, keeping an eye out for the Milk & Cookies guy, and talking about life and all sorts of good things (Except the w-----g because that's an off-limits topic...). Really, its just going to be a grand ol' time.

Chillin' with my Homegirl, Sarah P.

So, you should do it. Go. Cruise. See Alaska. Eat more than you should. Buy a Sarah Palin bottle opener. Become good friends with Natasha at the ice cream counter. Work out in the "Health club" (Because you haven't lived until you keep your balance on a treadmill at 6 mph while your ship is a-rockin' and a-rollin' beneath your feet...). Take a hike through the Tongass National Forest. Find the Milk & Cookies guy. Shop in kitschy tourist shops. Try lobster tail. Hang out in the "No Kids Allowed" hot tub. Sleep in. Order shrimp cocktail with every meal. To sum up: Have a blast. Because really--you will.

And because I want to, a few more pictures!

Waving at the camera with a view of the Glacier in the background. This was just before I was attacked by a MASSIVE mosquito.

Wondering why the Milk & Cookies guy won't come back...

Allie and Mom in front of our cruise ship. Its HUUUUGE!

One of my favorite parts of the cruise--fresh cookies. Whenever I wanted them. Which was often.

Thanks to my awesome family for a great time!!

**The only thing that could make your cruise to Alaska even better would be if your truly stellar fiancee gets to come along for the week. I don't have a lot of experience in this area, so I'll leave it at that. I do know that if he doesn't come along, you'll probably miss him buckets. But you'll survive. {"Pat, Pat. You'll be fine."--Mariah S.}

Hey Howdy Hey! Its the 2010 Roundup!

Every year that I tackle this I can't help but feel the past 365 days flew by faster than a speeding rabbit in a creepy car commercial. But here we are again, speeding Sylvilagus audubonii aside, to run down the Top Ten most important/exciting/influential/awesome Events of my life in 2010.

1. Purchasing My Very Own Condo: I bought my very own place in 2010. I started the process in February and closed in April. I've been living here since the beginning of May and really just love it. I recognize this is a HUGE milestone in life, so it could rightly take up more than one space on the Top Ten List. But it won't.

2. Achieved National Board Certification: Working on National Boards made the 2009 Top Ten because it was such an overwhelming, time-consuming thing. But in 2010 I not only finished the process--I also passed. I am officially a National Board Certified Teacher as of November 2010, and if you don't know how awesome that is...I'm here to tell you that IT IS.

3. Two Weeks in the Big Apple: Two years ago I did two weeks on the East Coast--splitting my time between NYC and Charlottesville, VA. This year it was all NYC, all the time. I spent about a week at Columbia University at a Gilder Lehrman History seminar, and I spent the rest of the time touring one of my favorite cities in the world with Mariah and Greg. Good times were had.

4. Last Day at SHMS: I accepted a new position at the District Offices (starting Jan. 3rd!), so I had to say goodbye to my friends and students at SHMS. Its a truly bittersweet thing--I've been teaching there since I graduated from college, and like to think I was becoming something of an Institution in the Social Studies Department. But...onward and upward, right? New adventures await in 2011, and some doors closed in 2010.

5. Audra McDonald at Hale Center Theater-Orem: I can't deny that the opportunity to see Ms. Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade was one of the best moments of my year. She is electric and talented and really a wonder to see. I feel so lucky to have been in the audience for one night. A-mazing.

6. Second Job: In March I accepted a position at a local night school for GED candidates. I work one night a week, teaching high school-level US History to an eclectic group of learners. Its pretty good pay for a teacher, and it gives me opportunity to teach material I otherwise wouldn't. I still might complain--now and again--about working one night a week, but in reality I know its a great blessing to have such a great gig.

7. A New Ward: After moving into my condo, and after 5 years in the University 16th Ward, I moved my records to the Singles Ward in my area. It was a little scary at first, but the members of my new ward are AWESOME to the MAX. And I love it. My first calling--Ward Music Chair. What can I say? Its what I do. In every ward. Oh well--just happy to serve!

8. Year of the Cookie: Looking back I realized I spent a good number of hours/days this year seeking out and trying the best cookies I could find. My posts from NYC made this pretty clear (Oh Levain! How I love you!), and I also perused numerous bakers in the SLC area to find scrumptious baked delights. My local heart currently belongs to SmartCookie, but I'm always on the lookout to be swayed. It just hasn't happened yet.

9. MacBook: I bought my very own laptop this year. This past week, in fact! I feel so grown-up making such a big purchase. But more than that...I feel awesome. And my MacBook is really just SOOOO pretty!

10. The "27 in my 27th Year" List: I can't deny that my year has been rather caught up in working through the 27 goals I gave myself in February. A number of "updates" are actually long overdue (I'll get on those when I can!), and I am starting to realize that some will not be achieved by Feb. 22nd. However, I know my life was very much enriched this year in my pursuit of crossing things off this year-long "Bucket List." A few notable AWESOME things brought on by the list:

• Making new friends like Jen, Colette, James, and Skyler
• Taking a class and learning to Swing Dance
• Roadtrippin' to California with Greg and Caryn
• Running 5Ks, 10Ks, and one Half-Marathon
• Camping with the Fam

All in all--2010 wasn't the most THRILLING 365 days I've ever had. But I think the highs were pretty darn high, and the lows were few and far between. And really, you can't complain too much about a life like that.

Cookie Pic here.

Spreadin' the News

Just got back. Happy to report that New York City is still there. Not only is it still there, its hotter and humider (no, that's not a word. Until NOW!) than ever. I was melting 10 of the 14 days I was in the city, and it was pretty gross. We moved forward, though, and good times were still had. Recognizing that you, the reader, probably don't want a play-by-play of a fourteen-day trip, let's just hit the highlights, shall we?

1. Friends: I adore Mariah and her fiancee, Ryan. So much fun to chat and hang out with them. I also got to spend an afternoon with Jake G. He showed me around the Wall Street/Trinity Church area--and we had yummy Afghan food for lunch! And then Gregory B. came into town for the last week and I had another chum to join in NYC playtime. Good stuff!

2. Broadway: We saw Tony Award Winner, Douglas Hodge in the matinee of La Cage Aux Folles. Brilliant! He was wonderful and the show was a riot. I loved so much about it!! "If he loved me, he'd vacuum!" So great. That night we had box seats to a major Tony winner--Billy Elliot. I can't say enough how much I loved this show! Great music, amazing acting and dancing, wonderful story--maybe the perfect show. Love love love.

3. Breakfast: I had at least two A-Mazing breakfasts in the city. Community Food & Juice provided one of the best things I have ever eaten in a 7-Grain Waffle served with Lemon/Raspberry Cream sauce. I wanted to weep with joy when I was eating it, and that's not exaggerating by much. The next week we ventured to Greenwich for Creme Brulee French Toast at a place called Jane. Yum, Yum, and some more YUM.

4. Coney Island: I love this place. Shelling out $8 for the crazy wild roller coaster, Cyclone, was just the beginning of the happiness. A hotdog from Nathan's and a jaunt on the boardwalk were also wonderful. But nothing tops the pure delicious glee I found in watching the Side Show. A Contortionist, the Seal Boy, a well-endowed Sword swallower/Flame-eater, and of course--our host--a Carnie who literally hammered a nail into his own head. WOWZA!! Love love love.

5. Bakeries: Any followers of my Facebook status updates should be aware that I made a major effort to visit a plethora of bakeries in Manhattan. First prize goes to Levain on 74th and Amsterdam for the most luscious cookie EVER. Second prize goes to Amy's Bread for the best carrot cake I have ever eaten in my life. Also a good sticky bun. And butter cookie. Third prize to Jacques Torres for another brilliant chocolate-chip cookie. Honorable Mentions go to Crumbs (because you gotta love a huge Crumbs cupcake!!), Fat Witch Bakery, Magnolia (good brownie!!), and Bombolini. The final entry providing not only tasty Italian donuts, but tasty Italian eye candy as well. I should note--no pictures from the bakeries. I always intended to, but the goodies seemed to disappear into my belly too fast for me to remember the need for a photo shoot. Oh well!

6. Sights o' the City: I've done a lot of the "touristy" things before, but still managed to take in some awesome spots in the Big Apple. I especially loved the American Museum of Natural History (though their charge for special exhibits is ridiculous) and the big model blue whale. There were some great exhibits at the Met. And I really loved walking along Highline Park with a yummy coconut-almond ice cream shake from the Chelsea Markets.

So...there was a lot more that happened in my 14-day adventure to New York City, and a lot more amazing foods I got to eat. Heck, I didn't really say anything here about the Gilder Lehrman seminar at Columbia University that got me out to the city in the first place!! If you want to hear more about adventures, Reconstruction seminars, and/or great NYC food, feel free to ask*. I Love New York!!

*Obviously, I like to talk--especially about food.

Spring Break highlights

Made Funfetti Cookies with my nephew and shared them with friends and family.

Spent a lovely afternoon with the Barnett's--eating tasty food at Paradise Bakery & Cafe, shopping at DSW Shoes, and seeing the truly delightful How to Train Your Dragon. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. Have you seen it yet? Go!

Ran a ten-mile route around South Jordan. It took just over an hour and a half, but I'm not going to lie and say it was easy. Ai-yi-yi...

Enjoyed a lovely hour at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

Watched four wonderful sessions of General Conference with the family. I don't know that I could pick a favorite talk, but I found a lot of good counsel. There is much to be worked on! Onward and upward, right?

Made strawberry jam with my mom and sisters during the Priesthood session Saturday night. I now have 5 pints in my freezer. I hope it lasts until next strawberry season!

Introduced the family to Overnight French Toast. Its such a tasty recipe!

Did a little spring wardrobe shopping. White skirt. Good idea? Bad idea?

Received notification of my acceptance to the Gilder Lehrman Summer Seminar on Reconstruction at Columbia University. I'm so excited!!

SmartCookie. DE-LICIOUS!

Spontaneous viewing of Diary of a Wimpy Kid with j. We agreed that as adults, you can't go to that kind of a movie alone without looking like a creeper.

Watched Anne of Avonlea. Four hours long, and an ending that always makes it worth it.

Finished up my service project for Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program. Woohoo!

Started and completed a sewing project.

Re-read the good parts of Breaking Dawn--note that it didn't take too long.

Watched 3 hours of "The Best of 'I Love the...'" on VH1. Those shows kill me!

Visited with friends over a yummy BBQ meal on Monday night.

Got one step closer to "Going Green." More details to follow...

Slept in one final time before starting back to work this morning.

9 more weeks until Summer Break!