As I sit here finally blogging I'm anxiously looking around at the ceilings of our beautiful log cabin.  Why you ask?  A bat snuck in last night!!  And I lost it and it's nowhere to be found.  Talk about worst nightmare...a mouse with wings.  Just when I thought our intruders were over with.  I'm having a lazy morning and making breakfast and coffee when I open up the curtains.  I then see Aly running around chasing something like she does with bugs.  False.  I look up and a tiny bat is swooping around!  Great.  Scott is in Washington D.C. for work so I actually have to deal with this.  After a good scream I take Aly outside and think about what to do.  I ended up opening up all the windows while this bat is paralyzed with fear high up on our cabin wall.  20 minutes go by and he's not moving.  I go outside and when I come back in he's gone.  I haven't seen him since : (   In the last few months or so I haven't blogged life has been anything but boring.  In fact, we even discovered a mouse nest in our kitchen drawer!  So you can imagine how freaked out I am right now.  It's so funny that such small critters can scare me but life and it's big, hard decisions and situations I can handle.  I guess everyone has their fears right?  Well if I don't finish this blog...you'll know why. 

So I've officially left the Alaska SeaLife Center (at least as an employee) and have been working at Pet Emergency Treatment Center in Anchorage.  It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.  Sometimes when you want something really bad and you try really hard you realize it's not meant to be.   I had been looking around knowing that I couldn't do HR anymore and had to work with animals again and this job popped up.  I went into the interview with no expectations.  I couldn't believe they even gave me an interview with my lack of clinical experience to be honest.  But everything happens for a reason and here I am.  I absolutely LOVE my job.  It's so satisfying having a job your excited about and looking forward to going to.  And the best part about it (besides working hands on with animals everyday and my awesome co-workers) is that I'm learning, everyday.  I would never be able to settle for a job where I'm not challenged or put out of my comfort zone.  I get bored way too easily.  Though an emergency setting can be difficult to learn in since you need to know right then and right now it's great because your forced to try your best and learn.  And you know how they say you learn from your mistakes?  Well, I can tell you I've made mistakes and will never make the same mistake again.  Another great thing about the clinic is the veterinary staff.  I've never met vets that are so willing to teach and actually seem to love to share their knowledge.  

So to be honest between all the driving and work it's been hard to have much of a life.  Even with three days off every week.  The SeaLife Center's rehab team asked me to be one of the "otter moms" and help with a stranded otter pup that came in.  For any of you Alaska folks you can see her in the I.Sea.U. from upstairs.  I've really enjoyed working with her and having a chance to learn more about marine life.  I've also been busy helping out the AWCC in their gift store.  It's been fun to be back.

Scott and I will soon be moving out of our Moose Pass cabin to live full-time back in the dry cabins in Portage.  But I'm happy to report we will be upgrading to a 2 bedroom cabin with catchable water.  So I'll actually be able to shower in rain water : )  I don't think I'd be able to make in the little cabin we used to have with Alyeska getting bigger.  It's hard to believe she's 9 months already!  

Thinking back on our summer I'm wondering where the time went.  Between a new job, volunteering, and summer visitors Scott and I have kept busy.  We had my Grandma and Grandpa Schneck vist, Scott's family, a couple of his good friends, my two best friends Chels and Em, and Jonathan and his gf. We even have a couple of Scott's good girlfriends coming at the end of the month!  It's been really great sharing our place and seeing people from home.  It's definitely sad when they leave.  I think they best part about having visitors besides getting to see loved ones is taking the time to "vacation" with them and remember why we live where we do and appreciate it.  Something I've really realized between going back to the dry cabins and having visitors is how much I've grown and changed in the last couple of years.  Scott and I don't need much and I love that.  And our reality is our life in Alaska.  Though I know this isn't home forever, it's home for right now.  And I hope we can continue simple living into our next adventure. 

Below is a video and some pics of Scott, Aly, and I enjoying the AK sun.  Sure missing that now that it's so rainy!!  The lovely hammock was a bday gift Scott.  It's so simple and easy to set up!  Highly suggest for anyone whether they want to relax in their yard or go camping.  All you need is a couple of good trees. 

Below are pics of the most amazing volunteer opportunity I've had the pleasure of doing.  I was able to go on one of the ASLC vessels to Chiswell Island to help set up video monitoring equipment for their longtime research project on Stellar Sea Lions.  Who would've thought I would willingly go into the wild to a rookery location.  Though it wasn't the time of year for them to go to the island there were a couple big wild bulls hanging out observing us as we worked.  Looking back it seems like a dream remembering going out on the vessel in a mustang suit and jumping and grabbing onto the edge of the island rock to get on.  And to think, that is a normal experience for some of the staff there!   So much respect for my past co-workers working on this project, especially research associates John Maniscalco (who can climb like a mountain goat on those slippery rocks!) and Pam Parker who have worked on this project since it started in 1999.  Something I'll always be proud to be a part of is the ASLC staff.  They do amazing research and good for the wild counterparts in their facility. 

Can you see the heads of the bulls in the picture above?!

One thing about the commute that I always appreciate is my little co-pilot Aly.  She's been car training since she was 6 weeks old and has claimed the passenger seat as her own. 

 Grandma and grandpa Schneck came to visit us at the AWCC.  If it weren't for them I wouldn't be where I am.  I remember sitting on the futon in my dorm applying for the AWCC after they told me all about it.  It was so special actually being able to walk them around and take them in with the critters.  If only it were later in the season when we had the two muskox calves and moose!  Below is a pic of us in front of the epic view of the Turnagain Arm where grammy and I's favorite drive in the world runs along.  They also took Scott and I to Seven Glaciers restaurant in Girdwood at the Alyeska Resort.  I had never been and it was so much fun getting to ride up the tram to the top of the mountain to the restaurant.  Miss you guys and I can't wait for you to come back to visit!!

 Something I absolutely love about Alaska is going to the outdoor concerts.  It seems like no matter how busy we get we always make time to let loose and have some fun at the Moose's Tooth.  Below are some pics of when Erin, Beth, Jeremy, Scott, and I went to see MGMT (one of my favorite groups!) over the summer.  

Cliff and Kathy (Scott's parents) having some Aly fun in the back seat of my jeep as we head to Homer for the night : )  They sure did spoil her.  She even knew to go over to Kathy when she was naughty haha.

 While Scott's family was here we were able to go on the train to Talkeetna.

A HUGE perk about the dry cabins is that we're not right on the highway and we have a river we can walk to.  Aly doesn't get to go off the leash being an independent husky but she does get some freedom at the river.  A handful of hot dog pieces and some water and she's great.  Here she is sitting down after a dip waiting for a treat.  Though she isn't quite brave enough to swim out on her own I've been working on it by swimming with her in the swimming hole near our Moose Pass place.  She sure does love the water.  

 Drying off after a dip in the river.  We need to soak up the sun all we can before winter!!

Scott has a high school friend who will be teaching in the bush in AK this year.  We took him to Portage Glacier to have some fun before he headed out.

Something I've learned about AK is EVERYONE has a dog.  Which means lots of dog sitting opportunities.  Earl (Autumn and Kevin's dog) got to spend a weekend with us in Moose Pass.  Yikes!  Aly was so jealous...she thought he was there to stay.  By far the most loyal obedient dog I've ever known. 

He loved the swimming hole!

Em and Chels's visit went by way too fast.  It was so great having them here and I'm so happy they could make the long trip.  Thanks Em and Chels for visiting!!!  I had a blast.  Below are pics from a glacier cruise we did in Seward while they were here.  It was some rough water and I've never seen so many people get car sick but it was a fun trip none the less.  We saw lots of wildlife and we were able to go to            glacier. 

We went to visit the ASLC.  Here is Chels with one of the octopus. 

Girl's trip to Homer!!  BEAUTIFUL weather and we camped on the beach at the spit.  It was us three and some of the AWCC and ASLC staff were able to join.  Em built a great fire and we even made it to the Salty Dawg to make a dollar that night.  The Salty Dawg is a little bar that has become popular for it's walls which are completely covered in dollar bills decorated by people that have visited.  Scott and his family have one on the wall that they made his first summer 4 years ago! 

Chels, Scott, and I went to the Kenai Princess Lodge for dinner one of her last nights. 

 Someone had a 25th birthday in September!  We had a night of grilling Copper river salmon and enjoying the nice weather.  We also did an ice hike on Exit glacier.  Pics to come!  I couldn't believe we did it.  The hike in was gorgeous and I had never ice hiked before.  We used cramp-ons to walk on the glacier and saw so many cool crevaces and blue color on the ice.  I was real nervous the first couple steps but soon forgot as we ventured and explored.  

I got Aly a little MN Vikings jersey so she'd be ready for football sunday's with Scott.

Erin and Sarah have puppies as well so we have lots of play dates.  Here the rug rats are playing a three way tug-a-war.  

 Erin training with the pups!

 Aly on a fall day at the dry cabins.  I absolutely love fall.  Though it's short in AK we've had a pretty good one this year!

Some veggies from the garden!  Though I haven't been in Moose Pass much and haven't had the time I would like for it, I was able to grow some really good snap peas, broccoli, and carrots : )  Not too shabby for my first garden. 

Happy Easter!!!  

I hope you all had a blessed holiday, I know we certainly enjoyed ours.  Scott and I went into Seward for church and then took the pup to the beach to run wild and free.  She sure did enjoy chasing all the birds.  Scott also made some fresh shrimp he got from a guy in Whittier yesterday for East supper.  YUM!

I'm FINALLY sitting down and writing a new blog.  You guys need to get on me for slacking!!!  It's been a pretty hectic last few months.  Between moving in our new place and settling into a new job I've had my ups and downs.  Starting a new job can always be a challenge, especially with the learning curve.  Though it's been difficult transitioning from an outside animal husbandry job to an inside office job in HR, I'm learning a lot of new skills I know are useful.  Now that we're getting closer to spring its the time of year to hold interviews and find our interns for the summer.  That has been both fun and hectic.  I've never interviewed someone before so it's a bit strange to be on the other end.  I have to say, some of these applicants are crazy impressive.  I definitely didn't have interviewing skills like some of them when I was applying to internships.  Going through the process has made me really excited to meet the group of interns.  My favorite aspect of the new job is my main responsibility, managing the internship program.  I think I'll enjoy it that much more once the interns arrive, which crazily enough is in just TWO weeks!!  Another new skill I'm getting into with this new position is grant writing.  I was able to go to a free seminar held at the library by the Seward Community Foundation and it was great!  I'm excited at the opportunity to try my hand at this sort of writing.  Finally, I've been able to participate in scuba diving class at the SeaLife Center and have now finished all the pool sessions.  Up next are open water dives!  I'm no longer volunteering in the mammal department and have instead started volunteering in the vet services department and more recently eider laboratory.  It's been fun getting a new experience and learning new information.  I've really appreciated learning all about what the SeaLife Center has to offer.  Especially all the research!  Check out our website www.alaskasealife.org to find more information on our eider research and other cool things we're doing at the center.

Over the holidays I was able to go on a trip to Mexico with Scott and his family.  It was a blast!  I hadn't been there since my mission trips back in high school.  O how I missed queso ruffles.  I had a really great time and can't tell you how nice it was to get some sun and warmth.  While on vacation we were able to take a trip to the Mangroves which was pretty amazing.  So beautiful.  Besides our bus driver Jose I think the most interesting part was the very long and bumpy road.  It was an adventure : )  We also had lots of beach time, games, and relaxation.  All in all it was a great time with great company.  Thanks to the Michaelis family for letting me be a part of it!  My last night there was new years eve and we all went to dinner and then walked the streets of the down town area of playa del carmen.  Sarah, Eric, Scott, and I ended up walking in the crazy crowded roads looking for something to do because all the clubs/bars were so expensive!  We ended up in front of the main strip of clubs and at midnight the club we were in front of set off a bunch of sparks!  It wasn't times square but one of the most memorable new years I've ever had.

Moose I saw on the side of the highway the day we left!

Scott and his mom

My favorite part of the boat ride was seeing the wild dolphins swimming

Woo!  Patty and I 

Sarah and Eric on NYE

Speaking of the Michaelis' we also just recently did a long weekend in Vegas!  I had never been so it was a pretty exciting trip to see all the sights and sounds.  Did I strike it rich?  Well, no.  I actually won the most money on the quarter slots!  I did learn to play black jack and roulette so that was fun.  But darn that wheel of fortune ; )

Ceiling at the Bellagio

Scott with his childhood hero Emmit Smith

We stayed at Caesar's palace

Something very new in the last few months has been our new addition to the family!  Alyeska, Aly for short, named after the Aleut word Alyeska meaning "great land" and where Alaska got it's name from.  She's a siberian husky and we got her in Nikiski, AK.  Her parents are hobby sled dogs so we're very excited to get her training in skijoring.  She, like Rufus, is very smart and we just love her.  It's been so long you'll be able to see her transition in these pics from itty bitty to quite the big girl.

Walk on the lake in Moose Pass

Very first picture on her ride to her new home!!

Our regular co-pilot.  Since we both commute 45 min everyday Aly is car training

She actually fell asleep this way....or Scott's slipper knocked her out. 

Ready to play frisbee with Uncle Aaron!

Much has happened since I last blogged so I think it'll be easier to post all my pics from the last couple of months and go from there!

One of my last days at the AWCC.. showing off Bert the reindeer at the winter expo in Anchorage

One of the local radio stations donated a ton of pumpkins for our bison!

He can cook!  A keeper ; ) 

Kara, Scott and I went to the ceremonial start of the Iditarod

Kara and I! 

Crazy lynx fur hat

The big fur auction

So these next few pics are the animals I watched for 3 weeks house sitting in Seward, I got pretty attached. Mr. Whitesocks!

Tank

Lucy

Wiley and Sierra 

Aly enjoying the Resurrection Bay in Seward.  We've been spoiled rotten with the weather lately

Ok if there's one thing that's changed since I last blogged it's my appreciation for birds.  I've never been a big bird person, in fact, they kind of scare me.  But I always make a point to try and put myself out of my comfort zone so I've helped catch Adonis our eagle and since then have done a puffin encounter at the ASLC (I recommend to everyone btw, you get to hand feed them!!)  as well as starting to volunteer in the eider department and from that am starting to actually really like/appreciate them!  This little guy is from Bird TLC, a bird teaching and learning center in Anchorage.  He was so dang cute, I didn't know owls could be that tiny full grown!