Alaska.  The Last Frontier. Yeah, whatever! 

I've been here most of my life...going on 34 years now, with the exception of the 3 years I spent in Southern California going to (and barely passing) college.  After deciding that the smog, traffic, crime, and "school" wasn't for me, I came back to Alaska with the intent of finishing college at U.A.A. and then flying off into the wild, blue yonder of "who-knows-where" to live my life...anywhere but in Alaska.  Well, none of that worked out the way it was supposed to, of course, because life isnt' that simple.  I went to U.A.A. for  few semesters fully intending on finishing my degree in Journalism, but I became frustrated when I learned that most of my credits from my 3 years in California didn't transfer to Alaska.  I felt like I'd have to start all over - and I hated it the first time - I would only hate it more the second. 

In the meantime, I got a job at a law firm in a huge, beautiful, 17-story building in mid-town Anchorage.  I was the legal receptionist, and I loved the job.  I got to dress up everyday, rub elbows with several of Anchorage's hoity-toity political figures, and learn a lot about the legal field.  That's when I met Tim (also known as THE REASON I STILL LIVE HERE!), the paralegal/investigator for the firm.  He was not my type at all...I was in the midst of my "wild child" phase since I was anything but wild back in high school.  I was dating a guy who did some male stripping on the side...something, to this day, I am not proud of. 

Anyway, long story short, Tim and I became friends...work buddies...platonic lunch partners...confidants.  Little did I know, he was hoping for more.  I was too busy dealing with my stripper-boyfriend-drama to notice.  Finally, one night I invited him over for dinner.  I made spaghetti, he brought wine, and the rest is history.  From that moment on, we were in love.  He was (still is) everything I thought a good man should be.  He was funny, honest, considerate, a gentleman, a hard worker, and I just knew he was "the one."  And he liked my cooking...a big plus for any girl, right?  Of course, dating a co-worker was not looked highly upon at the law firm where we worked, so after no longer being able to keep our romance a secret, I found another job. We became engaged about 9 months after our first date (sappiest engagement story ever...I'll save it for another time).  We were engaged for a year and a half before we tied the knot in the single-most-beautiful wedding in the history of mankind.  No really!  It was! 

So, now that we've been married almost 19 years and have two boys (16 years old and 12 years old), a lovely home (that we've completely outgrown), five cats (yes, we're a little crazy), a huge Malamute, and Tim's job with the State of Alaska that he's had almost 20 years, I'm STUCK in this cold, dark, frozen chunk of ice they call "The Last Frontier." 

We WILL move out of here one day...you just watch.  It will NOT, by any means, be MY "Last Frontier."