Special Edition: Family Birthdays!

Lots of family birthdays in July!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Jorts love runs in the family.

Happy Birthday, Alissa!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

BRB, you guys.

Celebrating 'merica. Back next week.

Cemeteries and Al Green

I've been sitting on this topic for a week- since I read/looked at this Buzzfeed article and watched a new PBS special about African American funeral traditions called Homegoings. I took both as inspiration and a sign. (A sign that I'm a total weirdo.)

One of my favorite words is macabre. Working in an art-among-other-things museum, I hear a lot of good (read: bad) descriptions for art pieces. If you say "That painting/sculpture/photo is so macabre..." you'll either sound like a genius or an idiot. I like to take the risk.

He's whispering, "Don't you think those waves are rather macabre?"

But my favorite macabre art galleries are cemeteries. Weird, I know, but just go with me for a minute. They are like really peaceful gardens, most of the visitors just happen to be dead. I don't usually find myself spending my free time wandering through a cemetery, but if I do I can't help but get sucked into the history. Especially in cemeteries with really old or interesting (or both) headstones. Sure, it's a little creepy, but that's part of what I like about it.

When my parents were visiting a few years ago, we went to the Eklutna Historical Park. One of the main features of the park is the cemetery. After the Russians came to Alaska, the Dena'ina (Alaskans native to the Anchorage-area) began to covert to Russian Orthodoxy, and with the conversion came new burial traditions. Instead of cremating their dead, they built spirit houses. (You can read more about it here. Side note - Aaron Leggett happens to be one of my coworkers.) The spirit houses are great - brightly colored, intricate, and many have features to represent the person buried there. What a fabulous way to honor your dead.

This week's hot jam is Let's Stay Together by Al Green. It's a well known-ish fact that I intend to use the lyrics to I Swear as my wedding vows. But Let's Stay Together is a close second.  I mean, it was added to the Library of Congress in 2010 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." If it's good enough for the LOC, it's good enough for me. (Fun fact: I applied for a job at the Library of Congress when I graduated from college with the sole intention of National Treasure-ing that place.)

Life Stories and Loggins (and Messina)

I think back when I wrote about biographies I mentioned how nosy I am. I LOVE knowing stuff about people: gossip, what they had for lunch, why their favorite color is green, etc.  I want to know everyone’s life story, but even better is MAKING UP everyone’s life stories. Okay, maybe not everyone, but definitely strangers.

For example: I’ve lived in my apartment for almost 4 years(!) and I’ve never met my upstairs neighbor. We use the same stairs, he walks past my apartment multiple times a day, and we’ve never crossed paths. I call him Stompy McElephant Feet. Based on a few facts I’ve observed over the years, I’ve developed his backstory: He’s a single (ladies...), mid- to late-30s video game aficionado who works somewhere near our building, possibly the auto parts store around the corner. He likes to come home for lunch and get pizza delivered. When he’s not playing video games in his gaming chair, he’s doing jumping jacks and juggling bowling balls. He is not very good at juggling.

One of my favorite games to play at a restaurant is, “Is it a date?” The rules are simple:

1)      Pick out a couple

2)      Decide if they are on a date

a.       How many dates have they been on?

b.      How is it going?

c.       Is one more interested than the other?

d.      How are their food choices?

e.      Odds of ordering dessert

It’s a great game to play if YOU are on a date too.

This week’s hot jam is Danny’s Song by Loggins and Messina.Man, this is song is so...heartfelt. I've loved this song for a long time, but, full disclosure, I was inspired by The Voice last week. (Sorry I'm not sorry.) Kenny Loggins wrote this song as a gift for his brother when his son was born. Ah-dorable. (I hope he also got him something else though, I mean, the song is amazing, but not totally useful for a new parent...)

Cabins and Creedence Clearwater Revival

This weekend a bunch of my friends are going to a tiny cabin on a lake. (I am not going because I have to work. Boo.) Alaska is great for a number of reasons, one being the Public Use Cabin System. There are cabins dotted all over Alaska that you can rent through the state for cheap. They are rustic (and even that might be a little generous) woodstoves, bunk beds, no running water, that sort of thing. Some of them are remote even by Alaska standards  (floatplane, boat, or snowmachine access only), others are right off the road and handicap accessible. It's a great deal.

I've stayed in a lot of cabins since moving to Alaska and I consider myself a cabin connoisseur. If I'm going to stay in cabin for more than just a few days, these are some things I'm looking for:

1) Coziness

This is not a cabin:

It's a large home built in a cabin style. This is not what I'm looking for in a cabin. I want something that is maybe just a little too small. Something that encourages everyone to sit together around the fire. Furniture should be overstuffed and a little worn. Lots of snuggily fabrics. Slippers. You get the picture.

This is what I'm looking for.

2) Fireplace/Woodstove - Speaking of cozy, right? I don't care if it's just for looks or for heating, but there should be some source of fire. How else will you make s'mores and pie iron pizzas?

3) Porch - With rocking chairs, since I'm making a wish list.

4) Clawfoot tub - Okay this is not a necessity, there is one in Trapper John's cabin in Talkeetna and I'm obsessed.

5) Hammocks - Not a necessity either, but definitely an added bonus. Want to rock in something, but don't want to sit up? Then a hammock is for you. I like having rock options

The more the merrier?

This week's hot jam is Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Don't ask me why, but I love Vietnam era anti-war songs and Fortunate Son is no exception. Way to stick to The Man with rock 'n roll, CCR. I particularly like this version because it features John Fogerty and BRUCE EFFING SPRINGSTEEN. It's oddly patriotic, don't ya think?

Writer's Block and J.Cole

I've been feeling a bit (okay, a lot) of writer's block lately. Not because everything is terrible, but rather because lots of things are great! It FINALLY feels like summer here in AK- the leaves are on the trees, the grass is growing, and the snow pile in my yard has finally melted. The mosquitos are out, but at least they are still slow and stupid. I stepped on my glasses the other day (Boo) but that forced me to finally go to the eye doctor, so now I have new contacts AND glasses (Yay!) The new Arrested Development episodes are up, and last week was the first bluegrass festival of the season (where it was sunny and warm. Mostly.)  Long list short, things are good (minus the writer's block). I hope to be back soon with regular favorite thing writing.

Coolest kid at the party

One thing I'm not feeling blocked about is J.Cole. He's back with a hot new jam - Power Trip. LOVING IT, you guys.Slow jam + Rap. YES. And a twist ending!

Hey. GUESS WHAT.

Tomorrow is my birthday! I'm going to be 27.

Fact: I used to be 5.

On the eve of my 27th year, I'm thankful for the following things:

1) Birthday dinners

2) Swimming pools (specifically the pool at the Aleyska Resort where I will be on Saturday night)

3) Getting a day off work for my birthday

4) Sunshine

Late night sunsets