Merry Christmas to All . . .

And to all, a beautiful sunrise (with the moon still shining bright):

I Jumped In A Lake

Hi, Everyone!

Today I did it.  (I being Steve).  I jumped into a frozen lake.

For those of you who haven't been following, I decided to raise money for the Special Olympics - Alaska.  In exchange, they would cut a hole in a frozen lake for me (and 800 of my closest Alaska friends) to jump into.

Well, thanks to all your generosity, I raised over $500!  So this morning I bundled up, even despite the really really cold weather, and headed out to the event!

Here are some pictures of the site:

And here's the hole cut in the lake!

When it came to be my time, I prepped myself and jumped in!   My body, Michigan jersey, and all!  

It really wasn't that bad.  The water temperature inside the lake was warmer than outside the lake -- as could be expected.  So the water didn't feel too bad.  It WAS really cold once I stepped outside of the lake.  But then I ran (as you can see) down this little stretch and there were 3 hot tubs waiting.  Ahhhhhhhh . . . .  It was delightful.

Anyway, thanks again for all your help with raising money.  It really means a lot on how much you all supported this effort and it was a lot of fun to have a true Alaska adventure (jumping in a lake!).

Skiing Down The Hill!

Hi, Everyone:

Yesterday we decided to try downhill skiing.   Tammy had been numerous times before as a child.  But for some reason Steve was adverse to winter sports growing up, so he'd never really been.  His brother once tried to teach him snowboarding, but that resulted in a disastrous crash with a 6-year old at the bottom of the hill (after Steve spent 2 hours trying to even get up on the board), so that was the end.

Anyway, we decided to take a lesson and give skiing another go.  There are two primary places people ski in Anchorage: (1) hilltop and (2) Alyeska.  Hilltop is a lot like the "mountains" in Michigan; it's basically an oversized hill.  But the advantages to Hilltop are that it is great for learning and that it is located in Anchorage.  The other option, Alyeska, is the ski resort "in town."  It is approximately 45 minutes away, but it is absolutely beautiful.  It has some bunny hill/learner options, but it is mostly known for its north face of the mountain.  The highest chair lift goes to 2800 feet.  After that, it's basically helicopter access.

Needless to say, we decided to stick with Hilltop for the day.  We had an excellent instructor, and by the end of the few hours, Steve could actually make it down to the bottom of the hill without falling.

By the way, next Saturday is Steve's chance to jump into a frozen lake.  Unfortunately, he's still a few dollars short of his goal.  That means no pictures as of now!  If you were thinking of giving, please do so now.  It's for an amazing cause (Special Olympics).

You can give here (as well as see pictures and videos from past years):  http://www.firstgiving.com/stevenhurvitz

Thank you all for your support so far.  It's been amazing and we're almost there!!!!!

Until next time!
Steve

Gone Off The Deep End

Hi, Everyone:

I (Steve) hate to use every medium available to publicize this, but it is something of a last minute decision for a really great cause, so I wanted to put the notice in here.

I've signed up to do the "Polar Plunge" to raise money for Special Olympics (http://www.specialolympicsalaska.org/).  Basically, what this means is that I agree to jump in a frozen, frozen lake here in Alaska in exchange for the opportunity to raise money for the organization.   For those who were on my tamarack alaska trip, it is a re-creation of my $50 and a steak dinner deal.

If you want to donate, the link is here: http://www.firstgiving.com/stevenhurvitz

You can check out video of last year's plunge here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DHePm6wqOY&feature=player_embedded

Anyway, I'd really appreciate anything you might be willing to give.  In order to encourage you all to donate, Tammy and I have come up with this deal.

I have set a goal of $300.  If that goal is met, Tammy will take lots of pictures of me freezing both in and out of the water.  These pictures will get posted on the blog and facebook for all of your enjoyment.  If the goal is not reached, however, we do not promise pictures.  In fact, we probably won't put up the pictures as a protest.

So basically there's your stick and carrot.

In all seriousness, please give.  I know there are a ton of requests like this every day, and I know that these days funds are a bit tight all around.  But anything you can give ($10, $20, $50, whatever), is a HUGE help to both me (to make this worthwhile) and the Special Olympics.

Once again, the link is: http://www.firstgiving.com/stevenhurvitz

Thanks!

Best,
Steve

P.S. Added carrot:  If you donate and come visit at some point, I'll buy you a beer.  Danny, I'll buy you an ice cream.  :)

Moose (A bit too closely) Spotted

Steve went cross-country skiing this morning.  He decided to go on the trail that is about 1/4 mile from our house.  He made it about 2 miles on the trail, and almost (literally) ran into a mama moose and her calf.  They were standing in the river eating berries off of the trees.

This is not a great situation.  You really don't want to be that close to moose, especially a mama and her calf.  So Steve carefully popped off his skis and slowly backed away.  The moose watched him, not doing anything but staring and chewing, until Steve was a good 30 feet away.  At that point, the moose crossed the trail and walked to the other side.  Steve put on his skis, and bolted the heck out of there.

2 more moose spotted, but this time a bit too close for comfort.

Thanksgiving and Cross-Country Skiing

Hi, Everyone!

It's been an exciting holiday season here in Alaska.  On Thursday evening, we went to Justice Fabe's house for dinner.  It's an annual tradition for the clerks in town to go over there and bring a food item.  Justice Fabe, in turn, makes duck and turkey.  Although we didn't get to sample the meat, it looked amazing.  And all of the sides were delicious. 

We brought three items.  First, we brought margarine rice.  This is an Indenbaum (Steve's Mom's side) family recipe consisting of rice, margarine, mushrooms, and onion soup mix.  Not a whole lot more to it.  But it is delicious.

We also brought a salad.  In our haste, we forgot dressing.  But Justice Fabe whipped one up, and it was even better than the store-bought version we were going to provide.

But the best thing we brought was a pear-cranberry sauce.  Tammy found the recipe here: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/pear-honey-cranberry-sauce/Detail.aspx  You all should try it.  Even though it is not Thanksgiving anymore, this is worth making any time.  It was amazingly delicious.  Hooray for Tammy's recipe-finding skills!

Then we decided to fill this weekend with cross-country skiing (and studying, don't worry Mrs. Ram!).  We started out on Saturday with Henry, Rebecca, Aesha, Tiffany, and Jon (Tiffany's fiance).  We went to a new location called Russian Jack.

As a forewarning before we show you pictures, know that Steve did not have any pants to use for this sport, so he had to buy new ones.  He bought the special nordic kind.  He looks ridiculous.  But here are the pictures:

Then today Tammy stayed home to study while Steve went with Tiffany and Jon out to Eagle River again.  This time he brought his camera, so he can show you all how beautiful Alaska's winter wonderland is.

The snow is staying on the ground and ski season has begun.  After a few weeks of gross "what do we do?" weather, we're back on track with outdoor activities!  Hooray!

Hope you're all staying warm where you are (including John and Lindsey who are stuck in AZ, which means we get to hang out with their dog and cat one night longer).  Happy holidays and let us know when you're coming to visit.  If you're into skiing, now is the time to come: http://www.alyeskaresort.com/

Talk to y'all soon!

Ice Skates = Means of Transportation

Hi, Everyone:

Sorry again for the delay in updating.  Last night we had a bit of rain, which resulted in the roads looking like ice rinks.  As you may remember, Anchorage does not believe in salting its roads for a variety of reasons (including that they then become moose popsicles).  But this also means that after a rainstorm, the roads literally look like ice rinks.  Needless to say, we drove approx. 15 mph, and Tammy's studded tires came in great use.  Who knew that ice skates would make for a necessary means of transportation to get to work?!

Life here has been a bit exciting.  Last week, Steve traveled to Homer to watch the installation ceremony for a new Youth Court.  A point of explanation:

Youth Court:  Alaska has this amazing system for dealing with troubled youth.  Basically, for teens who are caught doing minor offenses (small shoplifting, drinking underage, etc.) they have the option of being "sentenced" by the youth court.  The court is composed entirely of teenagers; the judges, defense lawyers, and prosecutors all are approx. the defendant's age.  No adults are allowed in the room except for the parents of the defendant, and one lawyer-person who oversees the proceedings to make sure everything is fair.  The judges then sentence the defendant to different forms of punishment: community service, essay writing, making videos or projects about what they did wrong, etc.  It's a really cool system.

Anyway, Steve and his co-clerk friends got to explore Homer a bit too.  Here we are on the spit:

Then on Saturday, we went to buy cross country skis in Anchorage.  We ended up spending a good deal of money at REI (bye-bye pay check!), but we are super-excited to start skiing.  We decided to take the skis out for a spin at Eagle River on Sunday (you may remember Eagle River as where we first saw snow while hiking).  There was a TON of falling on our parts (our rears are pretty sore), but it was a ton of fun.  We're really excited to make this a regular activity.  We also bought super-fun nordic ski clothes, so we'll put pictures of that up as soon as we have them.

UPDATE: we just found out that Anchorage Public Schools cancelled school tomorrow due to icy road conditions.  This sounds like good news; BUT, it turns out Tammy has to work tomorrow crazy hours because when school is out, her program is in full force.  We're keeping warm!

Until next time, have a happy thanksgiving!

Alaska Humor

Hi, All:

Sorry we haven't posted in a while, but Steve went home this past weekend and nothing too exciting has been going on (aside from the temperature dropping to 10 degrees and the amount of sunlight per day being reduced to about 7 hours).

Because we don't have much to say, we'll keep this post short.  But, in light of Sarah Palin's new reality show on TLC where she showcases Alaska, we thought we would put up some funny, real questions tourists have asked when they arrived.  For the full list, check out: http://www.alaskaheritage.com/FAQ/DumbFAQ.htm

(1) What currency do you use?
(2) Do you live in an igloo?
(3) Is the whale watching on a bus?
(4) Can I have the city tour of Alaska?
(5) At the Talkeetna moose dropping festival: "how high do they drop the moose from?"
(6) On a whalewatching tour: "when do we get to see the hunchbacks?"
(7) What sort of dye is used to give the glaciers that blue color?
(8) How long have you been a Native?
(9) Where do they take the animals from Denali National Park when the park closes for the winter?
(10) What's the difference between a glacier and an island?

Also, because Steve is a lawyer, here are wacky Alaska laws!  (Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/197095/top_20_silliest_laws_in_alaska.html?cat=17 -- none of these have been verified!)

(1) It is illegal to view a moose from an airplane
(2) While shooting bears is legal, it is illegal to wake a bear to take a picture of it
(3) It is illegal to push a living moose out of an airplane
(4) It is an offense to feed alcohol to a moose
(5) It is against the law to break any law
(6) Owners of flamingos may not let their pets into barber shops
(7) Persons may not allow attractive nuisances to exist
(8) It is illegal to throw a grenade in the street
(9) State policy says that emergencies are to be kept to a minimum
(10) Moose are not allow to consumate in the streets

That's all for now!  We'll try to update with a more exciting post soon!

Moose Spotted

Hello!  I am a moose.  I decided to take a walk this afternoon, and ended up plopping down for some relaxation in Steve and Tammy's neighbor's yard.  Yup, I stepped over this fence.  Isn't that awesome.

Anyway, I chilled on this lawn for about 3 hours and made it so Tammy could not enter her apartment.  Fun times, right?  And, oh yeah, I also ate that pumpkin in the right hand corner.  That's why Alaskans can't have pumpkins or salt on their streets; because I'll eat it.

So, anyway, that's my story.  My moose friend was chilling in Steve and Tammy's backyard for a few hours as well, but then decided to leave so Tammy could get her camera.  Pretty courteous of him/her, huh?

And, yes, I am that large in real life.  I look much more like a horse than a deer.  This is why if you smash into me, you will be dead too.

I'm sure I'll be back in the neighborhood since I liked this plot of grass so much (and maybe the neighbor will continue leaving tasty treats in his front yard).  See ya soon!

Love,
Mooses Sr.  (or Mrs. Mooses; we have no idea if this is a female or male moose).

Fly Like an Eagle

This past weekend, we went to the delightful town of Talkeetna.  This is a small community on the edge of Denali State Park.  It is also where many climbers go before scaling Mt. McKinley (Denali).

We decided to go "flightseeing."  This means we got into an 8-passenger plane, and flew in between the mountains for an hour.  The day was perfect, the skies were clear, and we got incredible views of the mountains, including Denali.  Rather than going into a long description, we thought we would just load up on pictures here.  If you want more details, let us know!

Two Quick Notes:

First, for anyone interested in a more day-to-day account of what life in Alaska is like, check out our Alaska-best friends' blog:  http://myyearinalaska.blogspot.com/.  Lindsey and John are really cool.  John is Steve's co-clerk (he went to UM law!) and Lindsey is a teacher, so the match fits perfectly!  Hooray!

Second, for anyone out there who may have an "Alaska Supreme Court" google alert set up, we just wanted to say hello!

We're heading to Talkeetna this weekend for a relaxing break.  Next weekend we're going to see the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra providd the score for 2 silent-Halloween films.  Then, on November 6, we're driving to Fairbanks to (1) visit the clerks there, (2) go curling, (3) visit Justice Winfree, and (4) GO SEE MICHIGAN BEAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-FAIRBANKS HOCKEY TEAM!

Pictures, updates, and a host of funny Alaska laws and tourist questions to come.  Until then, keep on (ice road) truckin'!

Life in Alaska

Hi, All:

We hope you're having a nice week.  We've been hearing some murmurs from the lower-48 that people want to know what it is like living in Alaska.  (P.S. Isn't it weird that Alaskan's call it the "lower-48" even though Hawaii is technically lower as well?).  We hear that while you're enjoying the pictures, you also want to know what it is like to live in the frozen north.  So we thought we would answer some frequently asked questions we receive:

How Dark Is It?
Currently, the sun rises at around 9a.  It then sets around 6:32p.  Every day we lose about 6 minutes of sunlight. So it is definitely pitch black when we both wake up and drive to work.  But as we head toward December, it will keep getting worse.  Ultimately, we'll have about 5 hours of sunlight.  But then as the summer comes we'll have plenty of light!  And in the winter there are lights along a lot of the trails, so it shouldn't get too bad.

How Do You Stay Happy In The Dark?
Believe it or not, we have actually bought a thing called a SAD-Lamp.  This lamp gives off blue light, which helps keep people happy.  Hooray for happiness!

How Cold Is It?
Tammy's parents were just in town and we think they explained it the best.  It's currently the equivalent of Thanksgiving temperatures if we were in Boston or Michigan.  It's definitely getting colder, but we're not at the worst yet.  We should be getting our first permanent snow any day now, and once that lands we'll have permanent snow on the ground pretty much every day until April.

Do Reindeer Hot Dogs Have Reindeer In Them?
The answer to this depends on your definition of "in them."  Technically, the answer is yes.  And they are really easy to get.  You can go to any hot dog cart along the downtown streets in the summer and get one no problem.  That said, the hot dogs are only about 1% reindeer.  The rest if a combination of fun, other meats . . . just like any other hot dog.

Are Studded Tires Cool?
When Tammy bought her new car, she managed to do some awesome negotiating and got the dealership to throw in a free pair of studded tires.  These tires help cars drive around the roads during the winter, when ice and snow are pretty big threats to the road.  One of the fun facts we've learned is that, unlike Michigan, Alaska cannot salt its roads to get rid of the ice.  Why not?  The moose come out and start licking it if salt is put down.  So Alaskans have to use gravel as a means to provide traction in the winter.  This means the ice is still on the ground, so studded tires (which basically look like tires with nails put in them) are used to help give a little added traction.

Moose?!  On the road?!  Really?
Oh yes.  Moose are a huge threat to Alaskans in the winter.  Ordinarily, moose will have to walk through really deep snow in the winter.  They have really long, awkward legs, and so walking through this snow is quite the pain.  So the moose seek out the easiest path they can find . . . which often means the cleared roads.  Therefore, moose walking along a highway is a huge problem in Alaska and every year many people hit them.  And, as you may have seem in Mythbusters, moose are beasts.  They are like 600+ pounds, and your car is going straight at it. Plus, in Alaska, we hear that it is against the law to brake if you are about to hit a moose (assuming you cannot stop fully before hitting it).  This means many car accidents from moose.

Is Alaska Like The TV Show Northern Exposure?
In Anchorage, no.  Absolutely not.  Anchorage is a pretty decently sized city.  That said, 2 hours north of Anchorage is a town called "Talkeetna."  It is believed that this city was the motivation for Northern Exposure.  So, there you go.

What's Your Favorite Thing You Have Eaten So Far?
Tammy cooked a delicious vegetarian Shepard's pie.  It was amazing.  Otherwise, the halibut in Alaska is really delicious -- whether fried as fish and chips or in a sandwich.

Can You See Russia From Your Apartment?
No.  As funny of a joke that was on SNL, it is in no way, shape, or form possible to see Russia from Anchorage (or Wasilla).  The northern lights, on the other hand, are totally viewable!



If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments and we'll answer them in our next post!  Until then, keep warm :)

Eklutna Lake!

Good afternoon!

Welcome back.  Life in Alaska is beginning to slow down; the snow has almost hit us and every day we are now facing 20-30 degree weather.  However, for those of you interested in politics, the senatorial race is heating up and we highly recommend you check out some online papers if you want to see awesome political antics.

Anyway, last weekend we decided to take advantage of one of the last nice weekends before winter and went for a hike around a lake near Anchorage.  We went with a few of Steve's co-clerks, and it could not have been more gorgeous.

After a few hours, we decided to take a lunch break along the lake.  The views were simply amazing.

It is beautiful here; you all should come visit!  We'll take you hiking.  And we'll make sure to bring our bear spray as well.

I know some of you have been asking about our day-to-day lives in Alaska.  You want to know what our jobs are like, how it is different living here versus the lower-48, and if we can see Russia from our apartment.  We promise that in our next post we'll minimize pictures and increase text about living in Alaska, including a discussion of how the state PAYS Alaskans, instead of having them pay the state via taxes, through a cool program called the Permanent Fund Dividend.  We'll also talk about why we purchased a SAD-Lamp (and what it is), the big new movie being filmed here, and the Alaskan obsession with Costco.  Stay tuned!

Thankful

Every morning when we walk out of our apartment, we still can't believe that this is what we get to see.

One month in and this has already proven itself to be the experience of a lifetime.  Feeling really thankful this evening.

Views from an Office

Hi, Everyone!

Steve here.  I'm off to work, but before I go I wanted to post a few pictures.  We've been having some incredibly clear weather here, and as a result the mountain ranges have been beautiful.  My office has some pretty nice views (it faces a building, but you can see the ocean in one panel of the 3-panel window).  But my boss's office is incredible.  I think it's the best view in the entire city.  It overlooks all of the water, and has a view of almost all of the mountain ranges along the ocean in Anchorage.  (It should be noted that all of these pictures were taken around 9a, right when the sun was rising . . .)

There's that termination dust again!

Those are called the Alaska range.  I forgot to take a picture of Sleeping Lady.  Next time :)

On a clear day, you can also see Mt. McKinley in the distance.

Or even a cool double-rainbow.

But the best part of the office, and the easiest to view from any office in our chambers, is as follows:

Have a great weekend everyone.  And in light of the upcoming sibling rivalry game, GO BLUE!