Alaska Diary Day 3 - Tuesday May 8 2007

Bright and early, at 6 am, we arrived in our first Port, Ketchikan. Ketchikan, for those of you who are unlearned in the ways of fish, Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. It was neat to stop and look outside and be in the midst of the mountains. It is so beautiful here. There is something about this place that feels so comfortable and feels so much like home. I haven't experienced this before in my life. My soul fits here perfectly. I'm not sure what that means. But I guess time will tell.

Once we got off of the boat (and was forced to take a picture with a large eagle mascot . . . more on this later) we had about 45 minutes of great shopping time before our next scheduled event. Yes, Mom and I stocked up on souvenirs – Alaskan finger puppets, ulu knives, plush seals. Stores here open when the cruise ships dock, so these stores were open at 6 am. Isn’t that wild?

Mom and I were sad when it was time to go to our first excursion, as that meant we had to stop supporting the local Ketchikan economy, but it was worth it. We purchased tickets to see the Great American Lumberjack show. It was so much fun! 4 lumberjacks competed in lots of competitions such as log rolling, log climbing, sawing, stuff like that. It was done really well and was pretty funny. I enjoiyed it lots. I don't know, but there is definitly something about men in flannel cutting things that is pretty sexy. Plus popcorn and coffee were only $1 each! The cheapest thing I saw all trip.
We were on the "American" side of the bleachers and had to cheer for the Americans team against the Canadians. But it was all in good fun so we cheered with all that we had. Everytime our team got a point somebody in the audience got a wood chip to hold onto in order to count points. Below is a picture of me holding one of the wood chips.


After the lumberjack show, we had about 45 minutes until our next excursion. All of us girls were anxious that this wouldn't be nearly enough time to shop, which it wasn't. It was a flurry of activity as we ran through the town. Janessa was so good to me - there was a specific store that I wanted to find so that I could buy a soapstone carving (I had a coupon . . . big surprise!) We finally found it, and I am so glad we did. Not only because now I have a stellar (and cheap) soapstone carving, but because this little store was in this great little corner of Ketchikan that I wouldn't have been able to see if we didn't search this out. It was the original part of the town. Great boardwalk over this little river, beautiful old buildings. Awesome! What's funny about every Alaskan port we stopped at is that there were always numerous ladies on the side of the roads dressed like old school prostitutes. Brothels were big business back in the Gold Rush days, so there were a number of brothels-turned-museums (or turned restaurants) which the street prostitute ladies tried to get you to come inside for a tour. It's pretty random to see so many women with money stuffed in their boobies just hanging out outside.

No, I am not including a picture of them.

Once I found my precious soapstone carving, Jan and I were literally running so that we would be at our next excursion in time. We chose to take the Ketchikan bus tour. It was very interesting and very informative. We got to drive through the town, and went to Totem Bright, a collection of totem poles in the area. We had a great tour guide who told us lots about the totem poles and their meanings. Definitely very interesting. And, of course, a gift shop!

We were on the bus again by noon, because we had to make port the next day by 6 am. We boarded the ship, and spent the rest of the night going to shows, eating great food, and basically hanging out.

Alaska Day 2 - Monday May 7, 2007

This cruise ship is crazy. It is sooo big! There are 3000 people on board: 2000 passengers and 1000 workers. There are 2 pools, a kiddie pool, 4 hot tubs, 9 restaurants, somewhere around 9 bars, a dance club, a basketball court, shuffleboard, 3 ping pong tables, a spa, a 24 hour weight room, a fitness room, a casino, a shopping arcade, blah blah blah. It's pretty crazy. There are 12 decks! It's fun to explore everything. My dad especially likes to explore the casino. Oh, yeah, and there is a large theatre which has a different show each night.

We had to do a “safety drill” where we had to practice grouping together for the lifeboats. Sort of fun, but really cold outside! There is a picture below.

What is very obvious here is that we are white. ALL of the servants, waiters, stewards, are from third world countries. Talking to them, we find out that some of them have been away from their families for months, even years. All of the white people are either passengers, crew members, or have more prestigious jobs such as hosts or entertainers.

This whole day we are simply traveling to our first port. The boat got soooo shaky that I, and some of the rest of us, got serious motion sickness. It's pretty funny, you walk down a hallway and suddenly find that you are touching the left side of the hallway, then a few seconds later you find yourself touching the right side of the hallway. That's how much the boat is rocking back and forth today. I took some motion sickness pills and my mom gave me these motion sickness arm bands which apparently work even though it seems a bit voodoo-ish. Cool!

Today we saw a hypnotist. She did a show in the theatre. It was pretty funny. I'm not sure what to think about this hypnotism thing, but it is a funny thing to watch. There was this one guy who was hilarious. He was from Arkansas and was totally a riot. I wish I would have been allowed to film the show, because it was that good. We stayed for the second show, too, and our friend Barb went up to be hypnotized. She did well too, and once it was over she said that she felt super rested. Cool.




Here are lots of pictures of the ship (notice how the pool is empty 'cause it's way too freaking cold!):

Alaska Diary Day 1 - Sunday May 6

Who doesn't like waking up at 4 am? Really?


Our plane left at 6:30 am, so i had to wake up at 4 to get ready and get to the airport on time. The day before wasn't the best. I was getting over bronchitis, scrambling to get ready, got called to a meeting, and developed a crazy headache. all was fixed with a phone call to my lovely mommy who made me feel better.

anyway, my dad was so excited that he pretty much raced the buick to the airport. i've never seen a buick go that fast. we raced to the airport, checked in, went through security with surprisingly little problems considering i'm on lots of black lists due to my political activities (or at least, I like to think that Stephen Harper fears me). Got some coffee, flew in the tiniest plane seats you've ever seen, slept lots, drooled on Jan's shoulder, and landed in Vancouver.

We had about 6 hours until we were allowed on our cruise ship. Lucky for us my Uncle Dan, his partner, and his son came to pick us up and show us around Vancouver. It was good to get to know Christopher a bit as we are cousins but have never really seen each other since we live so far away. We drove around a bit, then stopped at the pier for some fun times!

It is pretty random to see small boats selling dead fish right off of the dock. I love that idea. I totally would have purchased some fish, shrimp, and sting rays if I didn't think they would rot in our cruise ship stateroom.

After the pier, we went to eat lunch at a pub. We were the first ones there, it was 11 am their time (but 1 pm our time so we were pretty hungry). My mom wasn't hungry, so she just had some booze. Way to booze it up at 11 am, mommy!

I had the best burger ever. We were on the coast so I wanted something fishy but not too expensive and decided on the "Cracked Black Pepper Tuna Burger." It was one of the best things ever. A tuna steak rolled in full black peppercorns, and lots of lemon juice. Rocking! Everybody else thought I was crazy to eat that, but it was honestly really good.

Then we headed over to Stanley Park. I had no idea how gorgeous it is! What the heck? I was thinking something akin to Assiniboia Park in the ‘Peg or Central Park in NYC, but this is really a bona fida park in the city. It was HUGE and had so much stuff in it! Beautiful trees, great views of the city, even an aquarium. I had no idea. I am so thankful for those civic leaders who decide to keep parkspace for citizens. Take a lesson, Sam Katz. Public spaces are very important.

Finally, it was time to go to the cruise ship. Vancouver is the CRAZIEST city to drive in. so many one ways, so much traffic, so confusing! I am glad I wasn't driving.

We made our way to Canada Docks, said goodbye to our gracious hosts, went through customs, did all of the paperwork, and headed onto the ships. It was so fast! And so easy! We boarded the ship, and found our stateroom. Now we are pretty cheap, so we got the cheapest staterooms available. Which means that they are tiny and on the inside so they have no windows. I felt a little claustrophobic the first few hours but then after that it was no problem at all.

We spent the rest of the night exploring the boat, eating, and trying to settle down from our excitement. Our trip has started!

I'm baaaaacccckkkk

Hey all!

No, I was not in the cruise ship that ran aground in Alaska, although we saw the cruise ship the day before it hit and made fun of it 'cause our ship was so much bigger. :-)

I'm compiling a diary of Alaska and will post soon, but in the meantime enjoy this stellar blog:

Shopping for Jesus

whoops

Hey! Sorry for the lack of updates! I've just spent a stellar week in Alaska, and will be in Calgary for a week - see you after May long!
Bre

Deadly Frying Pans

Beware, my friends.

You are What you eat

Isn't that devestating? Even my cooking utensils are out to get me. Now not only do I have to worry about deadly spiders, greenhouse gases, my nalgene bottle, hazardous rays from the sun, microwave radiation, pesticides, sugar, vinyl siding, salt, and people stealing my kidneys (thanks for that email forward, mom), now I have to buy a whole new freaking set of pots and pans.

Major award!

So this weekend I won a major award. No, it’s not quite the “soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.” But it does include a 6 month membership to the Y. Yes, the award of health. And great legs. Can’t get much better than that. I didn't win because I am smart, or pretty, but because some nice lady pulled my name out of a paper bag.

I like that lady.

Anyway.

I’ve decided to conduct a potentially revolutionary experiment this summer. I have decided to enjoy myself these next few sunny months. I know that sounds strange. But this year has been so full of obligations and so full of busyness relating to things which I am not interested in. It occurred to me the other day that perhaps God could be glorified by me doing things which I think fun, enjoyable, and feel passionate about.

I’ve realized that there are many things which I am involved in, lots of them which I am sort of confused exactly how I got involved in in the first place. Projects and groups which I really don’t have a strong interest or passion in, but are good things, things which are important, which need to be done, but nobody else seems willing to do. Can you say Messiah complex? I can.
Anyway, the summer of 2007 will be one in which I will focus on enjoying myself, in encouraging the development of my own gifts and interests, into saying yes to activities and involvements which I feel a strong affinity to and to which I believe fit my passions. And, most importantly, to leave time out for simple enjoyment. To take the kids to the park, to go on a mission to find the absolute best burger in Winnipeg, to not schedule every minute of my life (at first I think I will have to schedule in non-scheduling times, which I think sounds ludicrous, but give me some leeway here, I’m a beginner).

Basically, it could turn out to be an exercise in selfishness. Or a realization of what life and true worship is really looks like. The way I figure it, this gives me much more time and flexibility to be with friends, to put people before activities, to enjoy the blessings of this season, and to reconnect with an area of my spirituality which I have been ignoring.

I’ll keep you updated. Official start date is may 1st.

Yes, before you ask - I’ll still be attending work. I have to eat, you know.

Bre

oh, yeah. note to Matt Verhoog: Bite me.

happy 100th post!

This is officially my 100th blog post. Sweet! If I had one cent for each post, I would have a dollar and get to buy that Tea Horton Tea biscuit I've always wanted.

In celebration and to mark this momentous occasion, check out this Sale-Mart Ad.

Later, skaters.
bre

addendum

found this quote yesterday, thought it was very appropriate in regards to the last post.


"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow." -Mary Anne Radmacher


This type of courage is the type I think I sometimes lack. to pick myself up once i fall and to be willing to try life again.

But today I will try.

Later!
Bre

i fear i am losing credibility

Easter is cool.

Life is a funny beast.

i'm not quite sure how those two sentences are related, either.

back to the point: how many fresh starts can someone actually make? Is there a limit? is there a time where it just seems too silly to pick yourself up and try again?

I desire to declare another fresh start. Today. To let go of the past, to look forward to Christ and all which he has in store for me. To live with reckless abandonment, with dangerous wonder, and with RISK. To tell Satan to screw off with his negativity, with his alluring distractions, to grab hold of Christ's garments and REFUSE to let go.

Sounds dramatic.
And familiar, as I have said this before and always seem to end up in the exact same place.

It occurs to me that the Christian life is nothing but fresh starts. That we are told to pick up our cross and to follow Christ every day is significant - implying that this decision needs literally be made daily. The cross must be picked up everyday in a mindful and intentional manner. In the same way we are told to not look back on past mistakes or past sin, as we are cleansed from them and they have no hold on us anymore. I very much believe these two are related.

That being said, fresh starts are still hard to accomplish.

I have a hard time picking up my cross daily. For lots of different reasons - sometimes it is because there are more interesting things which seem to be calling me. Sometimes this whole Christian thing is too confusing or painful. Many times it is because I do not feel worthy or good enough to try this thing again today, as I have failed at it so many, many, many, MANY times. And sometimes it is because I simply don't want to.

But today is a new day. And I have decided to pick up my cross today. I don't know what tomorrow will bring - or even this afternoon or evening. I may fall, or drop it. In fact, you can count on it. But. I am convinced that the most important thing is what is happening at this very moment. That is all I can control right now. And right now, my eyes are upward, and my stance is firm. I will follow Christ. We'll see where he takes me.

It's been 3 days and I haven't seen any spiders. I leave my can of raid out in the open as a warning to all who dare to enter. It seems to be working.

I wish I could be inspired and write something very meaningful today, but life is too exhausting to have deep thoughts. Here is the best I can come up with:

I wonder why my oats are "steel cut."
I look really good in that dress.
I am eating way too much sugar again.
Sometimes I waiver in my belief of free will vs. determinism - desiring to unite the two into one small nice irrational package of "guided free choice" but am forced to see the flaw in that union, yet struggle with how much our rational minds can really understand the true workings of god and salvation.
Spam is "maps" spelled backwards.


Did you know that your province is has an official sweatshop free purchasing policy? It can be read about here.

Bre