Life in PA and a much needed ramble...

Much like I started my last random post, I'll say that I'm not even sure how many people, if any, still check this for updates periodically but I thought about this the other day and realized that I miss posting. I also just got done Skyping with Kasie back in Port Heiden and it has me thinking back on my time. I really enjoyed writing and posting about what was going on with my life while in Alaska and it was nice to be able to almost vent and relive what I'd been doing. I stopped since I've been back in PA because I really don't have anything near as exciting to talk about. No whale watching on the shores of the Bering Sea. No moose or caribou or bears roaming around or being shot, etc. Life in PA is fairly quiet most of the time. The only excited with wildlife we encounter is with deer. Each night I take Macy outside and for a long while since I'd been home, I was able to not put Macy on a leash (She doesn't use a leash throughout the day anymore) even when it got dark. Well, since it's gotten cooler out, the deer have been making their way closer and closer to the backyard. They are venturing out of the field and into the yard to eat the acorns or fight the deer decoy we have under the apple trees in the back. The one night we went out and Macy spotted the deer for the first time..... needless to say, they took one look at each other and they were both off into the field. Pitch dark and I was basically in my PJ's, standing there panicked because I didn't know if Macy would come back but she was a good little puppy and came right back after some calling. Thank goodness! From then on, once it gets dark out Macy is on her leash! 

We're both pretty well adjusted to being back in PA. I'm lucky that I have a wonderful family because the family that I have and being around for all of our family gatherings, Sunday football dinners or just little outings with them make me know that I'm supposed to be close to home. I guess my friends help with that a little bit too. ;) I've been able to see my friends regularly, go to haunted houses and concerts and football games, etc. All of the things that I missed while being so far away.... it's nice to not miss out on things here at home. 

With that being said, I can also say that there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Alaska. Most days I end up talking about my time there for some reason or another and a lot of days I end up thinking that I wish I was back there. I miss the way of life that I had up there. It was so simple. Other than school, getting to the Post Office or store before they closed or crossing a river and watching the tide, there was no real need to be anywhere on time. If we wanted to go out on the Hondas but got distracted looking at caribou for 20 minutes before we actually started to suit up, that was okay. I even just miss being able to go out and explore... take a honda ride out to the beach and ride around, take a walk and admire the beautiful scenery or go on the snow machines. Even just hop on the Honda for a weekly trip down to the store to get that bottle of soda that I'd been craving for so long. I miss all of that. I love being able to go out and explore new things or just enjoy the things that I already love. Right now I'd give just about anything to be able to take a Honda ride on the beaches of Port Heiden.... running parallel between the Bering Sea and the bluffs while the Bald Eagles soar above us and the foxes are running around. Or while the whales are out swimming with the seals under an amazing orange, yellow and red painted sky. I've gotten the taste of what that life is like and it's so hard to not be able to do anymore. It's a battle that I struggle with often. I know there's a reason for it all but I wish so much that Alaska and PA could be closer to one another. I am so happy at home with my family and friends but I so badly miss Alaska and the family and friends that I made up there, so much. I miss that way of life. It's gotten to the point that I almost cannot even watch the shows on the Discovery channel because they make me miss that beautiful state so much. After talking to Kasie, it makes me realize how much more thankful I am for the friends and family I've made up there and how lucky I got to spend all of that time with great, great people in both villages I lived in and all the people I met in between. 

It's hard to believe that this January will make two years since I made my first trip up to Alaska for what I thought would be a quick three months. Never would I have thought that that decision would impact my life the way it has. This was probably a cheesy post to most of you, if there's anyone that is still reading this, but it's just these thoughts I have running through my head that I wanted to share.... :)

One of my favorite views even after traveling to Alaska will always be my backyard.....

Jade and Macy are also adjusting to life in the same house. Macy had an easy time adjusting... she loves Jade and thinks they're friends - she just wishes Jade would play more. Jade on the other hand does not enjoy Macy's energetic self most of the time! 

This crazy pup has gained quite a bit of weight since we've been in PA. Some people think she just filled out due to turning one. I think it's because of all the treats she gets here. :)

Until the next random post comes along....

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place.... like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and at this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."