Blogging in an Airplane

My two week Family Christmas Blow Out in Salt Lake City was fantastic. I loved being home, and hanging out with my mom eating holiday chocolates and fantasizing about girlish dreams. I was so happy to spend time with my dad, who is continually happy to give and give and give. He always lives his life with the true meaning of Christmas. I loved just being with my sisters. I feel lucky to have two women that look like me, laugh like me, but don't live like me. The three of us are alike, but completely different. There was never any competition with them growing up. We are always just happy to have each other. My niece and nephews were the true delight. I could spend hours just watching them and laughing with them. They are perfect. Meredith and Aaron were two saviors, of course. We ate each other up, and I wish we could have spent more time together.

Me. On the way to Detroit.

I was supposed to fly away to New York City late tonight to meet up with Jeff for an east coast adventure together. Due to the massive blizzard, my flight was cancelled. Thanks to some fast thinking on my mom's part, I am now on a plane to Detroit to meet up with Jeff, and together we'll drive to New York. I'm not looking forward to the long drive, but I can't wait to be with Jeff. I miss him.

In knitting news-

I darned a hole in my dad's sweater, and that was definitely a challenge. I like to pretend like I know everything about knitting, but this was tricky. It was a hole along a seam, and I didn't want to just seam it again, because it gathered too much. I did a little bit of grafting, and it's a good thing the hole was in the armpit, because my handiwork is not too pretty. I'll post pics soon.

Other than that, I did not get much done. I think I'll finish the mustard socks throughout the travels.

I'll try to keep up on the blog over the exciting days to come, but if not, there will be lots to tell soon enough.

Happy Week After Christmas!

xo

Jumping Sled Dogs

Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 5th Grade - Quinhagak, Alaska

This made me cheer and laugh out loud in my parents' basement. I will watch this over and over and over...

Happy Christmas Eve Eve Eve xo

Lazy Days of Winter

What a lovely little winter break I've had here in Salt Lake. Last week was full of getting pampered at the spa with my mom and sisters, hanging out with my perfect niece and nephews, and embracing the lovely lazy life in my parents' basement.
After hours of working on my blaze sweater, I realized I had done too many cables! So I frogged half of it, and now I'm bored with finishing it.

 I've just been hastily tossing it aside. I hope I can get in the knitting groove with a good movie. 

 I am embracing the Christmas spirit, though. Mom and I enjoyed the lights at Temple Square. I think it'd been years since I'd been downtown at Christmas.

And lookey! I'm blondER! 

I think I'll keep stitching, now. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is calling my name.

Happy Sunday!
xo

Singing Fools

Jeff and I are a part of the Juneau Holiday Pops Choir. We had our first performance yesterday, and it was the perfect way to feel the Christmas spirit. 

I am lucky enough to have a solo, singing "Winter Wonderland." It's completely out of my range, but I pretend like I know what I'm doing.

Now for some yoga before our final performance this afternoon.

Happy Snowy Sunday!

Need a Little Christmas

Since Jeff and I are going down south for Christmas, we wanted to be sure to have a little festive Juneau time. 

Last night, we invited over a few friends, and Jeff whipped up an amazing Moroccan meatball tagine.

Some heavenly chocolate mousse.

Jeff's so good with details. He put it all together, and I just had to show up. The food and company were perfect.

...and even the animals were a hit!

xo

Alli

Wonderful Life

Southeast Alaska Decembers only give about six hours of sunlight a day. Being a town of friendly-happy-hippy-types, we try to find a way to keep our spirits up through the darkness. It is the time of year we take advantage of a little bit of local culture.

Perseverance Theatre is the Capital City's highlight. Currently "This Wonderful Life" is running, and it is a perfect holiday play. It's a one man show, starring Juneau's own Ed Christian. Ed is a Perseverance veteran. and one of Juneau's star actors.

In "This Wonderful Life" Ed plays a man who is thoroughly obsessed with the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." So obsessed, in fact, that he performs the entire movie. 

The movie was released in 1946, and is all about George Bailey. George Bailey is a small town man, who doesn't realize his own impact on the lives around him. One Christmas Eve, George is faced with financial ruin, and an angel saves him from taking his own life. The angel then shows George what his life would have been like, had he never been born. George sees that his little town would be run by a tyrant, his mother and wife would be lonely spinsters, his friends would be embittered, and the world would simply lack warmth.

Ed Christian seamlessly embodies Jimmy Stuart's portrayal of  George Bailey, and sparkles as he also becomes all of the supporting roles. It is so delightful to watch such a talented actor take on all of the roles, and equally delightful to be reminded of such a great story with a timeless message.

  

One of my best friends from childhood (her blog & her mother's blog), had a family Christmas tradition where they would watch "It's a Wonderful Life", and then afterward name a person in their own lives who was a "George Bailey." This is someone who literally made them who they are. Who touched their lives so deeply, the mere existence of their chosen "George Bailey" was crucial in the shaping of their character. (I only know about this tradition, because one year, my father was recognized as a "George Bailey")

Watching the play, "This Wonderful Life" made me ponder my own "George Bailey." I couldn't think of just one "George Bailey" in my life, so I made a list this morning. My first thought was (of course) my parents, but that seems too obvious. Like, DUH, of course I wouldn't be who I am without them. Although, they would be my number 1. :)

Here is my list of

"Alli's 2010 George Baileys":

*Julie Archer: My childhood music mentor. She gave me confidence in my singing voice. She taught me to sing in a choir, and was one of the first people to believe that I actually had a strong voice. She didn't look at me as an awkward teenager. She was able to see potential, and believed in me. I owe her my life as a performer.

*Tom Waldron: My high school choir teacher. He took music very seriously. To him, choral music was not easy, and discipline and practice were essential in choral music study. I was never afraid when Mr. Waldron was in charge. He was the first to show me that practice makes perfect.

*Liz Lavoie: My manager at the Red Onion in Skagway. Liz is inherently good. She doesn't fake it. It genuinely comes naturally. She is not quick to judge, and always gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. She taught me to understand everyone's needs, and see that forgiveness reigns. She truly loves, and sees the good in the world.

*Meredith Hinckley Schmidt: HELLO! My best friend. This is probably obvious too, but from the moment we laughed together, we were hooked. My friendship with her, is the most successful relationship I've ever had. She supports me. I support her. It's impossible for me to imagine my life without her.

I could go on and on to include more, and I believe that we are all who we are because of each other. I hope to continue to appreciate all the good people in my life during Christmas. 

Happy Wednesday!

xo 

Knitting Currents

 I am reveling in the lazy days of winter. I spent my weekend hours knitting with Dexter and Mad Men. I was so dissappointed to reach the end of my Saturday with no more Netflix to fill my Sunday.

Luckily I took the day to focus on documenting my latest wip's.


The Mustard Socks. 

 The Mustard Socks are the first of (hopefully many) socks. I am just stuck on the mitered toe! I can't get the hang of short rows, but I am determined to make them classic. I hate using short-cuts. I love thinking of women knitting socks during World War I, wishing I could make a contribution like that to my freedom. Ah, well. I'm happy to be free to knit.


The Midnight Blue Cowl

 The Midnight Blue Cowl sweater is such a piece of cake. Stockinette stitch over and over and over and over. Can't share much, because it's a Christmas gift....but I am definitely pleased with the easy peasy pattern.


Blaze Cardigan

I couldn't wait until after Christmas to start the Blaze Cardigan. I'm so in love. I love to wear cardigans, and I can't believe that I haven't been knitting them for the past six years. This is the first of many.

As I have been tossing my blog into the world, I came across another fellow Southeast knitter named Allison (I already have a knit-name twin in Skagway: Alaskan Purl). And she lives right here in Juneau! Her blog is knitosaurus, and she calls herself "Alligator." I have to admit, I'm a little pissed I didn't think of it first. I am so giddy about a name triplet,  I think we need an Allisons' Knits Trio Spectacular!

New Blog

If you're looking for me, head over to the new spot:
  The Knitting Narwhal.

See you there!

Well, Well, Welcome

Come on into my new little spot! I feel so much more focused and happy and full of joy here. I have known for a while now what my blog focus would be, and late last night the title of my blog came to me. I'm bursting with anticipation, and can't wait for this journey.

I was going to get a local graphic designer to create a blog header, but Jeff was like, "No way! Let me do it!" I'm so happy with how it turned out, and can't wait for even more design elements.

The Knitting Narwhal is my new little baby, and I am excited to share a little more of my world with you.

xo
alli

New Voice

ATTENTION ALL READERS:

As I'm devouring my perfect lil E-course, I am suddenly inspired to create an entire new blog. She doesn't mention this in the course, but I've thought about it for a while, and now I'm not afraid.  I have been toying over having my real, name in the domain, and I don't think it's a good idea. I know you're freaking out, because you might have to copy the new domain name (still undetermined), so you can follow me anew. But trust me, the blog will be better than this one. :)

So far, I've determined that I want to focus my new blog on my performing in Juneau, knitting, and humor.

So, what do YOU think I should call my new blog?