My first day

I had an excellent first day at the ADN. I think I'm going to learn a lot and really enjoy this position. The woman I'm replacing retires Friday, so I get to train with her all week. I feel very lucky to learn from someone who is so patient, kind and completly on top of things -- including detailed, step-by-step instuctions on, well, everything in case I forget anything after she leaves.

It's strange being on the other side of the wall from the news world, but all the same I feel connected to making something I believe in.

Woot: There's an expresso bar in the building's main lobby. (A building that looks strangely similiar to the Tri-City Herald as Brian Everstine pointed out a while back.)

new look

I redesigned my blog for a cleaner, more streamlined look. I still have some tweaking to do and I will probably (definately) mess with the fonts. The new flag features a photo of the sun setting over hills by the Snake River south of Pullman, Wash. Some of you might remember a day of cliff jumping and river swimming with the Evergreen crew. Here's another picture from that day:

back to the daily grind

I was welcomed back into the McClatchy family today. I accepted a job as layout coordinator for the Anchorage Daily News. In short, I will be doing ad check-off and dummying the paper -- setting up ad stacks and calculating news hole. If you don't work at a newspaper, I apologize because I'm sure that description meant nothing. I'm very excited to start my new pursuit Monday.

Quick Mount ReDoubt update: Still on watch and still on orange aviation alert levels.

Mother nature making some noise

In response to Nick's question: Yes, it was my first earthquake that we felt on Saturday. Unless you count trembles I slept through in Idaho last year.

Now it looks like we might have some more active geology this week. Everyone is rumbling about Mount Redoubt and the likelihood it could erupt in the coming days. If the wind is strong enough, Alaska residents might experience falling ash, in addition to rumbles rain, daytime darkness, thunderstorms and power outages.

I'm keeping my camera charged and my water pitcher in the fridge full. And for my mother's benefit, yes, we have flashlights and a disaster plan.

Shake, shake, shakedown

This morning, Josh was ironing his shirt and I was online when everything began to tremble, the furniture rattled and the walls and floor shook. "Are we having an earthquake?" I asked. It was over in about 30 seconds. Nothing fell or broke. I'm monitoring the local news stations and Web sites, but no one has reported it yet.

Bare trees and slush

After almost three weeks of sub-zero temperatures it has warmed up to the low 30s. Not only does the 40-degree difference feel like a heat wave, but it's wreaking havoc on the ground. Puddles on ice had me flat on my butt in a puddle in the parking lot when taking out the trash this morning.

All the Alaskans are walking around it T-shirts like it's springtime. I saw a guy yesterday wearing a wool coat with shorts.

A trip to the Animal Conservation Center and Portage Glacier

The Old Seward Scenic Highway.

Davin and his cell phone camera.

Portage Glacier.