Hello! It’s been a while since I last posted. I hope you all know how to find your way back to my poor, neglected blog.

I’ve been otherwise occupied by the baby boom in Fairbanks (so many newborn sessions!), and by my membership and leadership in various entrepreneur clubs in town. I’ve also rekindled my love-hate relationship with long distance running. We’re on good terms right now, but as I integrate more speed work, those sentiments might change. We’ll see if this summer I can push beyond the 10 mile wall I’ve never been able to push through.

Our vacation to Oklahoma and California is long over, but not long forgotten. I will never in my life forget how Woods vomited all over Isaac during our connecting flight from Dallas to Los Angeles. Twice. We arrived to LAX, and headed over to Venice Beach with a half dressed baby (that’ll teach us to forget backup clothes), and an incredibly cranky toddler. I distinctly remember a very bored Margot slipping out of her seat belt and into the narrow airplane aisle, refusing to sit back down because she wanted to do Yoga instead. Why am I harping on the travel, and not the destination? Maybe because during our 10 day vacation, we spent approximately 24 total hours en route to our destinations. Living in Alaska has its downfalls; the distance from the lower 48 is #1 on the list of grievances. 

I will say one thing – revisiting these warm, vibrant Los Angeles travel photos brings me right back to my happy place. Sunshine on my face, the white noise of the crashing waves nearby, the smell of salt and Mediterranean food in the air, the perpetual hustle of street performers advising you that you have money and you should give it to them — Southern California; I can’t believe I let 10 years pass by without seeing you! Never again will I let that happen. California: I had completely forgotten how delicious your food is, how warm your days are, and how beautiful your people are. I love and miss you. 

Venice Beach. Margot’s first warm-weathered beach experience. The poor Alaskan kid tried to build a snowman with the sand. It was so darling to see my beautifully sheltered child experience an entirely different climate than she’s used to. She’s a beach person, it turns out. I can foresee the UCSB college applications in our future, already.

Then again, she really wants to be a cat. I don’t know of any University of California schools that offer that major. She might be out of luck. 

Confession: of all the times I’d been to Venice, California, I had never seen the canals! Shame on me. I’m not a proper Californian. We finally got around to it, and boooy were those some beautiful homes on the waterfront. The temptation to hop a fence, and assume the identity of one of these rich people was overwhelming.

Our time in Venice was short — we headed to Bakersfield the same day we arrived from OKC. Day after day we ate our way into day food comas (Mexican, Basque and Chinese food galore!). I hardly recognized my hometown; I was surprised by the solar panel boom, wasn’t sure how to conserve water beyond my normal usage, and didn’t exactly remember how to get from downtown Bako to the NW side (it’s been ten years, people!). I somehow expected the city to slip into a post-apocalyptic downward spiral, but the gang violence, tribal warfare, and robotic armies hadn’t taken a hold of the city like I imagined they would. I’ve seen too many movies, I know that now.

It was good to visit family and friends, the warm weather, Trader Joe’s, and Williams Sonoma. I’ll be back in 9 years or less, I promise!