Christmas in Juneau

picnic shelter on shore of Auke Bay

This Christmas was certainly not like any other - in the past, if we didn't spend Christmas Day at "home", we traveled to Detroit, Dallas or Louisville to spend the holiday with whatever family was available.  There was always some child to share the day with, but not this year.  While I certainly regret not being able to spend the day with family, we did skype/talk to everyone, and enjoyed a quiet morning.  On Christmas Eve day, we went to a local production of  "A Christmas Carol", which was amazingly good!  The theater was quite small, but a 2 p.m. Christmas Eve performance was sold out.  The production followed the popular movie, but was given the "Readers Digest" treatment (trimming where needed, but not affecting the story).  The actors, including the children, were very well-rehearsed and the show was completely entertaining.  Scrooge himself was so similar to George C. Scott that we had to look twice - which we did, because we were in the third row!  After the play, we returned home until church, and later that evening, we visited for a brief time with some people we had met who so graciously invited us to their house.  After some wine and a slice of homemade banana cream pie (chocolate cream for Bill), we went home and watched the Midnight Mass from Rome.  Christmas Eve was rainy, but Christmas Day dawned cloudy and dry so we decided to walk off that aforesaid pie.

view across to unnamed islands

We are lucky to live in the area surrounding the Auke Lake Recreation Area, which includes many picnic shelters, some with massive fireplaces and a paved trail that winds around the towering Sitka Spruce right along the ocean.  We walked to a place called Point Louisa, which is a spit of land in Favorite Channel.  I'm using the correct words for places since I hear them all the time but have no idea where or what they are, so I'm learning with you!  The weather, up to that point, was calm with just a break in the clouds.  As we walked to the (literal) end of Point Louisa, the wind on one side was very strong and biting, with white-capped waves.  On the other side of the Point, things were calm, with little wind and no need for caps or mittens as we walked.  I was wearing my

looking across Favorite Channel

Packer sweatshirt in anticipation of the game (which for us started at 4:15 p.m. - a great time to watch a football game!) and some others who were "out and about" mentioned it (some thought it was Oregon colors!).  We shared the scenery with photographers, dog-walkers and some others with children who we think were meeting for a Christmas Day family outing.  As we walked, we heard an Alaskan drummer (similar to American Indian drums) beating the drum and chanting.  The sound rose over the water and made for a very reflective moment  - secular Christmas is fun and we did miss the annual reading of gift tags (some of you know what I'm referring to!) and seeing Jonah and Alana open their gifts, and the making of dozens (and dozens) of cookies.  And we certainly look forward to the next time that we are all together (thank goodness for skype!) in person.  However, we were reminded that Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus' birth - and God gave us here in Juneau a wonderfully scenic way to remember.

panoramic view towards Indian Point

Tide is in!

our deck is 3rd from the right, on the second floor

Our condo is awesome - we live on "stilts" over the tidal basin, part of Auke Bay.  Twice a day the tide comes in and, if high enough, goes under our stilts so it looks like we live IN the ocean!  There are two high tides and two low tides per day, and the time always changes.  When the tide is "out", or low, the tidal basin is hard and people have walked their dogs in the basin. 

View at high tide - 10:36 a.m. on 12/22

The tide numbers don't indicate the depth of the water, but how high over sea level the water will go, but the water is probably 10-12 feet deep at high tide.  The water will go well under our deck and against the barrier in the parking lot.  We are expecting high tides on December 24 and 25, as indicated in the photo (19.6 ft at 12:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve). 

the tide book opened to December

Today, the high tide is 18.6 feet and is already covering the tree trunk that I use under my deck as a benchmark.  If the water covers the trunk, I know that it is as high as I've seen it.  In late October, just before we arrived, the high tide was 20.6 feet.  With a bit of wind like we have today, I can assume that the water was pushed somewhat into the parking lot.  It has not been that high since then. During high tides, the water is full of activity.  We have harlequin ducks, ravens, seagulls, the eagles, and, today, harbor seals are swimming around.  I hear in the summer, it is even busier, and more beautiful.  The photo of our condo (above) was taken in the summer and you can see the beautiful green foliage.  While there have been whales in Auke Bay, the bay that drains into our tidal basin, they don't get this far.   The book is a free publication of the yearly tide tables, meant for fishing and hiking.

I love my "leg lamp" lights!

There are many warnings on the hiking trails to pay attention to tides because when they come in, they come in fast (from low tide to high is about 4-6 hours) and you may be stranded, with no way back except to swim (not recommended!). 

When I open my patio door, I can hear the birds, listen to the waves and feel like I am in paradise - only colder and darker!

It ain't the North Pole, but it's close!

After the initial shock of missing "black Friday" shopping this year, I think I can say that I like this lower-key holiday season.  It's kind of interesting that people I talk to who have lived in the lower 48 (as they call the "contiguous" U.S.) talk nostalgically of the shopping opportunities that they left behind to move to the Land of Santa Claus.  Really, when you think about it, what can't you buy at Walmart?  And, if Fred Meyer has a coupon, you can buy it there cheaper.  No need to "price check".  Granted, that sweater you have your eye on only comes in blue and you had better pick up the XL when you have a chance - almost all the advertisements have the words "limited to stock on hand" for almost all sale items.  However, Freddies (as we "locals" call it!) offers a 10% discount on Tuesdays in December for those 55+, and I have taken advantage of that (even though you actually have to ASK for it - how loudly can you say "I am OLD - give me my discount!").  I do miss Walgreens - I thought a fun game show would be to give someone $100 on Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. and challenge them to purchase a complete "Christmas" in one hour.  You could do it - complete with presents, food, even wine at some stores!   We Meier's actually had to do it one time many years ago, when Millie was ill and there wasn't going to be a Christmas - until she "rallied" and Grandpa Ed sent us to Walgreens for all the fixins' of a fine Christmas dinner!   Alas, there isn't a Walgreens and I'm getting a bit tired of the Walmart.  I have shopped (shhh - don't tell the grandkids!) online and had the gifts shipped (for free!) to Milwaukee where Uncle Brian will transport them to Louisville.  Ad's come with the Sunday paper - five sheets for Freddie alone!  One for toys, one for groceries, one for electronics, one for "fine" jewelry and one for seasonal specials.  The local Walmart ad comes in Thursday's paper, and that is it!  There is a Radio Shack and a Joanne Fabrics in the Nugget Mall along with a Hallmark Cards and an Alaskan Outfitter (like an REI).  Since this is all we have here in Juneau, it is plenty.  My Pastor's wife used to live in St. Louis when her husband was in the seminary and she said she misses Kohl's.  Of course, you can find anything you'd ever want online, but you can't try on the jeans or see if your shirt sleeves are long enough or if the brown curtain panels are really brown, not taupe.  Of course, shopping isn't all one can do around Christmas time.  Bill and I bought our tree from the Juneau High School Swim Team ( a fundraiser) for $40 and we went to the beautiful Chapel By the Lake (at Univ. of Alaska - Southeast) for a community choir Christmas Concert.  On Christmas Eve afternoon, we have tickets for a performance of "A Christmas Carol" that has gotten terrific reviews in the paper ("Scrooge" was flown in from Anchorage!) and we were invited to share a "cup" of Christmas Cheer on Christmas Eve with someone we met last weekend at the Juneau Electric Christmas Party (the Meier's didn't hit the hay until 2 A.M.!).  That is what the holiday is about - new friends and familiar Christmas tree ornaments, skyping with family just before the Packer game, and sharing my vast selection of cookies with neighbors (I'll leave them with the morning paper!)

Out the road

Some questions answered ...

Today's snowy view

Here are the answers to your most burning questions regarding Alaska, Juneau specifically.  Is it dark there all the time? No, not in Juneau.  For example, on December 31, 2011, the sun will rise at 8:46 a.m. and set at 3:13 p.m.  The shortest day of daylight is on the "winter solstice" of December 22 with sunrise at 8:52 a.m. and sunset at 3:04 p.m. The longest day in Juneau is in June, and is sometimes referred to as the "Midnight Sun". There are 18 hours and 18 minutes of daylight that day, and the sun never really "sets" -- it just dips below the horizon, where its glow keeps illuminating the sky until it reappears the next morning just a few hours later.  When Bill was in Juneau over the 4th of July, the fireworks weren't fired off until well after midnight.  Sometimes in the winter, because it can be cloudy more often than sunny, it seems like it is dark all day.  For instance, today is snowy and the mountain and ferry dock are obscured, but it is still "light" out and still beautiful.  However, if you go to Barrow, on the north coast of Alaska, it is dark all the time in December.  In fact, they don't even record a sunrise/sunset from November 20 (sunrise at 1:05 p.m, sunset at 1:20 p.m.) through January 24 (sunrise 1:07 p.m., sunset 2:11 p.m.).  One of the reasons why I don't live in Barrow.  Is it always cold/snowy/rainy in Juneau?  Short answer - yes, it can be all three on any day in Fall/Winter.  Summer on the other hand is beautiful with temperatures in the 60's & 70's, with some rain but nothing all day.  I'm wondering about thunder storms, though.  I will miss them if we don't have them.  I'll have to check on  that!  Snowfall averages 94" a year, with 26" of that coming (on average) in December.  However, as far as temperature goes, the day time high is always above 0 degrees, with an average in Dec-Feb of 29.  Now, if you see Fairbanks weather, it can be below 0 for a daytime high well into March.  In fact, just within the last few weeks, the high for 10 days straight in Fairbanks did not get above minus 10 degrees, with lows about 30 below.  Again, don't want to live in Fairbanks.  Mail service - cell phone service?  The U.S.P.S. delivers everyday, with the standard time being about 4-5 days for a letter to be received from the "lower 48".   I've found out that some online sites (Amazon, for instance) still will ship free with minimum purchase and my things arrived within five-seven days of ordering.  I switched all my magazine subscriptions to my new address and did not have to pay a "surcharge" although my weekly Entertainment Weekly magazine does not come until Wednesday the week following (I used to get it on Fridays).  My other magazines have arrived without problems.  Cell phone service is available (we currently use ATT) but have a problem with getting enough coverage going around the mountains.  Sometimes it just takes turning 180 degrees - 4 bars!!  What are  "Xtra Tuffs"?  What?  This wasn't a burning question?   Sometimes called "Alaskan Nikes" Xtra Tuffs are a brand-name knee-high rubber boot that everyone wears due to the wet weather.  They are khaki green with a brown sole. Seriously - people where them with everything and wear them all day.  Bill now has a pair ($79 on sale at Fred Meyer's).  I'm still waiting for a pair in basic black....  (they only come in green - no kidding). 

The last two weeks have been emotionally challenging.  I hesitated for the last few days to try to explain myself since I don't want to have anyone "read between the lines".  Today, however, is a bright, sunny day and I want everyone to know that things here in Juneau are good.  Last week, after the buzz of the move wore off, I found myself in a strange (but beautiful) place both physically and emotionally.  I missed my house, I missed my kids/friends/family, I missed having that feeling that everything was familiar.  I started questioning whether we had done the right thing.  Those of you who know me best realize that this is a foreign thought - I've always known that this move was the "right thing" (right?).  However, I started thinking that maybe I had read all the "signs" incorrectly - was this really what we should have done?  Did we ignore other messages about our future?  I was a bit weepy at times.  Then, this week, we watched something on television that touched me - it was a story about a guy who walked the entire width of Alaska, showing the incredible natural beauty of the state.  At the end, he used a quote from Mark Twain:
 
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

 This is what we have done - sailed away.  However, it is not "from" something but "to" something else.  Is there failure if we return to "port"?  I don't think so - we all need to try something outside of our comfort zone.  Go and sail away from your "safe harbor".  While difficult, it will be worth it.  Believe me.
 

Working in Juneau

I have been fortunate to have been able to make major occupational changes in my life. Many of these changes occurred out of the necessity to earn a living; providing yourself and family food and shelter are highly motivational factors. My background in Industrial Maintenance led me to the Field Service Technician Position. Employers are often seeking people to travel to exotic locations such as East Chicago or Detroit. If you possess the skill to sleep in a rental car, you may have an edge over the other person competing for your job. When we began researching jobs in Alaska, it became a completely different experience. There are very few manufacturing plants in Alaska. The questions became, how far can my knowledge of mechanical and electrical carry into other totally unknown occupations? We had two very difficult hurdles to overcome: We wanted to live in Juneau and I needed to have a good paying job. Searching for jobs in Alaska is easy, in Juneau their are usually one or two jobs on the internet to apply for. I found the one job I felt I could apply for: Working as a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning???) technician.  It was perhaps not that I had the best skills for the job, but that I (we) really wanted to move to Juneau. Apparently most people don't, go figure. I have been in the job since May. I service many of the buildings in downtown as they are controlled by our systems. It has not been an easy transition as it often involves working on things I have never seen before in my life. My days are often spent in noisy rooms hidden in rooftops or mezzanines of large buildings behind doors that are stenciled with the words "Mechanical Room Authorized Personnel Only". I am now the "authorized personnel" they speak of. In these rooms reside things called boilers, chillers, huge noisy fans and lots of moving air. What controls these devices is my domain. Hidden in these rooms is a control panel with a computer designed to make all these devices work in harmony to keep people comfortable. When they are not comfortable, my cell phone rings. Every day is usually a new experience and I tuck those away to make future jobs easier. Some days are physical when I am installing wiring or controls. Other days involve work at the laptop trying to figure out why one area control will not talk to another. Why can't we all just get along? Well so much for what I do. We are where we want to be and yes it does rain a little. (posted by Bill)