Iditarod Musher James Volek at the Finish Line

​I first met James Volek in the summer of 2012 in downtown Juneau.  He caught my eye because he was wearing a snazzy suit and loafers, and I thought to myself, "What is this jewelry salesman doing in a rogue place like the Viking Bar?"  I had to know more. 

C: "So... what do you do for a living?"

J: "I pick up dog poop."​

C: "Pardon?"​

J: "I pick up poop and mush dogs on the glacier."​

​This was intriguing to me.  I had just returned from an epic dog sled tour with Sebastian Schnuelle's Blue Kennels.  I was obsessed with the dog mushing sport, having served four months earlier as an official Iditarod volunteer in Nome.  Not only did I have Iditarod Fever; it was in my blood.

The topic of "Iditarod" naturally came up in our bar room conversation.  James - in his humble yet assured way - said, "Yeah, I'll be in it next year."  I was in awe.  It's not every day you randomly meet a brilliant athlete from a sport of which you are so fond.  I didn't quite believe this suit-clad fella when he admitted he would be an Iditarod contender.  I doubted James' statement until he showed me the two tattered Post-It notes in his wallet, each scribbled with the names of Iditarod checkpoints and the number of miles in between. Then it occurred to me: this Dude is the real deal.

When I saw those Post-It notes, I just knew.  One day, Mountain Man James would finish the Last Great Race on Earth.  And his long-awaited and much deserved moment came when he crossed the Iditarod Finish Line in Nome in the wee-hours of March 17, 2013.  I was so blessed to see my friend's ambitious goal come to fruition.  Congrats, James!  We are all so proud of you!

All smiles.​

James and his legit fur ruff.​

Signing the Final Checkers Report, making the finish official.​

James with his very proud Mom and Aunt.

James with his mentor, four-time Iditarod champion, Martin Buser.

This, folks, is how you properly welcome a friend across the finish line!  I pulled out the St. Pauli Girl dress and topped it off, Alaska-style, with ermine earrings.  

2012 in Review: Alaska Adventures Galore - PART TWO!

Hello there!  If you haven't checked out Part One of my 2012 Alaska Adventures, please mosey on over to see a recap of January - June 2012.  (Pssst, click the "Part One" link above...)  Here's the second installment of my video and photo synopsis of 2012's adventures.  This blog features some of my experiences from July - December 2012.  Enjoy - and know that you, too, can have these awesome adventures if you just put your mind to it!

​Cleared for landing - Juneau, Alaska.

Somewhere in Southeast Alaska (near Juneau).​

Fourth of July Trip to Haines, Alaska

All aboard the Alaska Marine Highway!​

With my buddies, Ben and George.  ​

Pilot approved!

Mom's First Trip to Alaska

No trip to Juneau is complete without a stop at Tracy's Crab Shack.  She's got the best legs in town!​

Commercial fishing near the Shrine of St. Therese.​

​Whale watching with Captain Larry of Orca Enterprises.

Tracy Arm Cruise with Adventure Bound Alaska

BIG splash!

Soulful eyes.​

Quenching my thirst like a real Alaskan.

Mom and I at the Sawyer Glacier.

I love all the action in this sunset shot: cruise ship, fly fisherman, and purse seiner fishing boat.

Summer 2012 was a busy cruise ship season for Juneau.

Seen in downtown Juneau.

​Jumping for joy because I got to take this Cessna 182 from Anchorage to Palmer and back!

Icefield and Dog Sled Tour with Coastal Helicopters


Kodiak Island and a Washed Up Whale

​Saw huge bear tracks up and down the beach near the rotting whale, but the majestic Kodiak Brown Bear was elusive.

Pillar Mountain on Kodiak Island

​And When Back in Juneau...

For ONE SINGLE DAY in 2012, Juneau saw temperatures in the low 80s.  Sonny Bunny was beyond miserable, as was half of Juneau.​

One of the last cruise ships in town for the season.​

2012 was a terrific year because of new friendships shaped and old friendships reconnected.  2012 showed me I am blessed beyond measure!

2012 in Review: Alaska Adventures Galore - PART ONE!

It’s already the third month of a new year, but I find myself still writing 2012 on letters, checks, and postcards.  Perhaps it’s because I’ve just been too busy to notice that little detail.  Or maybe – just maybe – I’m still recovering from all the whirl-wind adventures of 2012. 

At the start of last year, I made the steadfast resolution to make the most of Alaska.  For me, this meant meeting new people, learning new things, deepening my relationship with myself and God, and attempting a new adventure each day. 

2012 was the year to discover that Alaska is both a fairly SMALL state and also a BIG state. We all know Alaska is HUGE (bigger than Texas), so there's countless adventures in every nook and cranny of the state.  And Alaska's small because it's actually easy to get involved in the community and acclimated to the culture.  Making friends up here is a breeze as long as you keep an open mind and show folks just how excited you are about living and playing in the Last Frontier. 

Close friendships with real Alaskans can make all the difference in whether or not you love living here.  In fact, my love affair with Alaska has been spectacular first and foremost because of all the terrific people I have met.  So to the folks who made 2012 so awesome, here's a big THANK YOU for impacting my life, in more ways than one.

Here is a recap of the top adventures, fun introductions, and all around take-your-breath-away moments of my 2012. Because there were so many spectacular experiences, I am sectioning this recap into two parts.  This blog is a synopsis of January - June 2012.  Enjoy!

Above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue.

Donning ski goggles for my first snowmachine ride in Alaska.

Charlie's Angels on the frozen Chukchi Sea.

Scaling an iceberg at the Mendenhall Glacier.

​Running with the Reindeer, alongside Wonder Woman.

Celebrating survival!  Post-reindeer-run at Humpy's in downtown Anchorage.

And then there was IDITAROD 2012!

​Iditarod 2012 Winner, Dallas Seavey.

No, I did not wet my pants.  This is the "after-shot" from the splash action video ​above!

End of season fun at Eaglecrest Ski Area.

Rogue drivers beware in Homer!​

Kayaking at Echo Cove near Juneau.​

Finding little treasures while tide pooling at Shaman Island off the northern coast of Douglas Island where I live.​

​No wildlife were harmed in the making of this photo.

Rainbow over Juneau - a common sight.

Carmen's Birthday Shindig

December 21, 2012, was an important day.  Yeah, I know what you’re thinking.  Mayan apocalypse.  Doomsday of all doomsdays.  The End of the World.  But it was also the 30th birthday of my best friend, partner in crime, confidant, and sidekick, Carmen.

It’s a challenge living so far away from a great friend like Carmen, but fortunately, I was in Alabama for her big day.  We celebrated in style with a 1920s themed “Murder at the Juice Joint” Murder Mystery Party.  I'm blessed beyond measure to have a friend like Carmen in my life. 

Happy birthday, Carmen!

Carmen (left) and me (right) in the third grade.  Notice the pink glasses and poodle bangs - all the rage in the 1990s.

Carmen and me at her 30th birthday bash.  There were no pink glasses or poodle bangs in sight.

Mobsters and flappers.

Our crew.

Believe it or not, but we're actually a pretty normal bunch.

Here's a GIF of one of the evening's more memorable moments.  The camera captured a normal group shot, then I tried to show off my trademark cheerleader heel stretch, then subsequently fell backwards out of frame, which was followed by the next shot capturing everyone else's surprised expressions.  EPIC.