back, fools

So I once read somewhere a quote that someone had found from a link to a blog about an article about a book, which said you should never explain or apologize for not blogging lately, cause nobody really cares, and if they do they are annoyed that you wrote that.  Or something like that…  So because of the wise words of some random person that somebody heard about and told someone I knew or something, I have no explanation for not blogging.  I just confused the crap out of myself though…

Anyway, life in Anchorage has been pretty good.  It is nice to get settled in and have a new city start feeling like home.  Mostly.  The fall here was absolutely amazing!  The colors were beautiful and the weather was awesome.  Notice I said “was”.  Yes, fall is gone already.  We have had two fairly heavy snowfalls already and I just have this gut feeling that there will probably be a little more before the year is done.  I just kind of have this knack for predicting weather.  Must be genetic or something.  Check out the progression of Alaska over the last month or so:

That is just crazy.  I am enjoying it though.  It is something new.  And ski season starts up soon!  I am heading out to the annual Anchorage “ski swap” this weekend to try and find a good deal on some used skis.  I am pumped!

In other news, the job is going great.  I really love working with youth.  All the youth at Trinity are awesome, and soon I will get to add another aspect to my job – substitute teaching in area schools.  I feel like it is just a really cool idea to help build relationships with students, teachers, and other youth staff.  It is such an unbelievable blessing that I get to work with youth full time.  Wow.  

I’ve been playing my guitar a lot more lately.  I play in the band at church and I have also been jamming out on my own more.  I started taking lessons again at the beginning of September and I have learned a ton and really improved quickly.  It is really amazing how much faster I progress when I have someone teaching me techniques instead of just trying to figure out specific songs on my own.  I know that during the few months that I took lessons back in 2003, I progressed more than in the 2 years before that and probably the 5 years since.  I feel the same way this time.  I am starting to understand music in a much deeper sense and finding ways to incorporate basic scales better and jazz things up a little.  It’s really fun.

I’ve started playing in an adult city soccer league (indoor) and I am discovering once again that I am completely out of shape.  After our first game, I was huffing and puffing and wheezing a little and I got the hiccups for about 11 hours.  That was weird…  I have met some new folks (including another Fightin Texas Aggie, whoop) and I enjoy competing even at a sport I pretty much suck at.  

Anchorage life is pretty good.  It is kind of hard sometimes to try and keep my heart into what I am doing where I am when my mind wanders to people I miss far away.  But I really truly believe this is where I am meant to be right now.  And that is awesome.  

I’ve got a fun announcement coming up here in the very near future.  So check back soon.

Oh, and my fun thought of the day.  I bet that unless you are from Alaska, I am your westernmost friend.  Just let that sink in.

As always, visits are welcome.  And encouraged.  That’s right, I am inviting you – yes, you, blog reader – to come to Anchorage.  World class skiing and snowboarding, northern lights viewing, and more in the winter.  Unparalleled outdoor activities in the summer (hiking, fishing, World Beard Championships, etc.).  So come one, come all, come to Alaska.  You’ll love it here.  Okay, I am officially a huge nerd.  Peace.