Trying something new.....

Alright, so I've never tried blogging before.  I figure its a good way for me to keep in contact with all of you, my adoring fans! :-P  I had enough people telling me I had to make one that the idea stayed lodged within my skull and I actually followed through!  I won't make any promises concerning this blog and how often I update anything.  If you find that there are things missing that you'd like to see or hear about, tell me and I will do what I can.  Anywho, on to something you actually want to hear about.

Alaska.  Its huge.  And can't decide what it wants its weather to be like.  And beautiful.  The pictures above are views from the east and west sides of campus.  The flora is so very green and vibrant and I find myself amazed at the variety of life Alaska is home to. 

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  This wonderful trip up here started with some awesome fun time in San Francisco with my mom and pops and Artur.  We spent two days there, and saw just about everything there is to see (way too many hills for my liking).  Our hotel was right in the most perfect spot, tween downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge.  We could walk or bus to anyplace in town we wanted to.  We basically went nonstop the whole time.  It was so much fun to explore the city with my folks and my artur-love.  I know we could have happily spent another few days there, but my plane ride was calling!

Artur and I left from SFO with many hugs and a few tears (I won't say from whom) and flew off on a mostly deserted plane to Anchorage, AK.  The plane easily would have fit 150 people, but only had around 30.  The joy of being able to stretch out and not kick someone was great.  If only those damn seats would have reclined more than the half inch they do, it would have been perfect.  After landing, we had a ten hour layover (blargh) before moving on to Fairbanks.  I never want to stay overnight in an airport again.  They've individualized all the seats, so laying down comfortably was nigh on impossible.  We made it through with fitful napping and hours of playing Civ IV.  We arrived to the airport below, Fairbanks International

So freakin small!  There's one door for arrivals and one for departures, and most of the planes were little puddle jumpers. 


We rented a car, we settled in and explored the town a little.  For one used to Southern California, the place is so spread out it barely feels like a town at all.  Everything is so quaint.  I'm loving every bit of it.  The Chena River and the campus are my favorite parts of it.  UAF is nicely nestled in the middle of a forest on a hillside overlooking everything.  Whoever designed the campus did a great job with strategic tree removal for amazing views.  There are so many trees, and the place is overflowing with flowers vainly struggling for every last bit of the summer light.  The colors are so vibrant and my senses reel every time I take a moment to absorb it all.  Here I am in the middle of a university, and it smells like nature.  I mean, wow.  Its all so clean and fresh.  No matter how high you climb, there is no smog to block your view!  you simply can't beat that.

Not all is peaches and cream.  My dorm leaves something to be desired, as its lower three floor is male dumb drunk jock central.  I've already lost count of how many times I've heard variations of the word penis shouted at all hours.  The showers are just plain scary looking.  I am never going to touch that floor or walls with bare skin.  But, school starts soon and I won't be in my dorm hardly at all and I'm just going to make the best of it.  I don't have much choice ;)

I've written more than I meant to for the first go-round, so I'll call it a day.  If you're looking for more pictures, go to my facebook page, or Artur's while he is here with me, as we will both be regularly posting them up there.  Adios, til next time!