Every time I see “AK” (in reference to Alaska), for a split second I think it means me. So I’ve been substituting my name for every instance of “AK” in this thread, and having some giggles over the results. Like:
I figure my “southeast part” is my left leg. And really, it’s a nice leg and all, but come on-- my right one’s just as nice.
I’ll go to bed now.
I don’t live in Alaska but one of these days I will, damnit!
However, my ex-fiance has lived there for 11 years. I make it a point to visit him at least once or twice a year and have really come to love the place. If there is a better place on earth to live, I have yet to find it.
I have been to a public beach near Anchorage but the water was freezing so I didn’t swim. I seen a lot of wind surfers in the Cook Inlet, but they were all wearing wetsuits. I have gone canoeing in lakes near Eagle River and further north. There is a pretty popular lake with a beach in Wasilla that I have also been to. The water is a lot warmer in the lakes. Glacier rivers are FREEZING!
I saw one of the most amazing light shows a year ago last February. Even though they are common, that particular year was extraordinarily beautiful to the extent that the local news even made a big deal about it. We watched them from my friend’s house about 50 miles north of Anchorage so there was no light pollution. They looked like big green, red, blue, orange, yellow, and even purple curtains blowing in the wind. I also thought they had a static sound.
I recently read someplace that you can still homestead in Alaska. Can’t remember the cite though so I can’t say for sure.
No polar bears down south, but one year two black bears had to be captured and moved out of downtown Anchorage. There were been more than a few times we had moose in the yard.
Speaking only from my own experience, I have always thought that the male to female ratio depended on geographic location. Anchorage seems pretty much 50-50, but I’ve been to a few small towns that I swear I was the only female around, or at least one of the very few. – Not that I am complaining, mind you.
I was there for the beginning of the Iditarod in 2000. I was able to hang out at the start area in Wasilla and will vouch for great care these dogs receive.
My question for the Alaskan Guy? Next time you are in Seward would you look and see if you can find my sunglasses? I had a brand new pair and lost them somewhere near the piers. They are black Vuarnets. Lemme know if you find them. Thanks.
Oh, and I am jealous that I’m not Alaskan - YET.
[quote]
However, you have to be living in Alaska for two years before you become eligible, and you’d better believe they check your bona-fides. Fraud- yes, it happens- is punished by the loss of ALL future “dividends”, AND having to repay the previous five years’ worth.
um no thats backwards. (paraphrased from state of ak site)
subject to a 5000.fine. and lose eligibility for the next 5 years(divi’s) in addition you could be convicted of unsworn falsification (another 5K fine) also you must pay back every dividend you ever recieved.
[quote]
Yes, I’ve heard wolves howling. In fact, just two nights ago or so, I heard a coyote yipping about a half mile from here. I’ve seen 'er in the distance as I’ve tied the horses out to graze, but no closer than that. No movie can prepare you to feel what it’s like to be a day’s ride up in the mountains, and hear a wolf bark up on the ridgeline… or to hear a branch snap and a snuffle-snort fifty feet up the trail. “Survivor”, my ass. 
MAN i wish there were wolves down here…
[quote]
There’s also a nesting pair of Bald Eagles less than 200 feet from where I’m typing this. The nest is several years old and probably eight feet in diameter. I find feathers all the time- wing feathers can be 18" long- but I can’t legally keep 'em.
I can keep 'em. being i am american indian and all…
So the whole Alaska Men thing is a myth!? You’re not a bunch of rugged single men awaiting my arrival to twine you around my little finger? And I DON’T have to be into outdoor sports bigtime to snag one of you!?
Damn Cosmo. Helen Gurley Brown must PAY for this!
-uuhh thats what i meant, North-Westerly direction.
-never read the book.
Born 12:55 am in Kodiak, Sydney Marie, 5lb 13oz. Mother is recuperating and has vowed to never do this again.
Famous last words. . . .
Oh, and CONGRATS to you and sis!
It also looks as if it would be just a bit south of Glasgow, Scotland. Sorry to pick on you on the geography thing, xanakis. It’s a big state. I think a lot of folks don’t realise just how big.
yes indeed, alaska has more coastline than the entire lower contiguous states. IMHO lotta folks dont realize just how beautiful AK is.(hi Audry K! 
)
What happened to Cody Koch, the “Alaskan Assassin?” He was found dead of mysterious circumstances a couple of years ago near a bar in Michigan, but I never heard what was supposed to have happened to him.
Big? If you count the Panhandle- down where Juneau is, and what “real” Alaskans call “Occupied Canada”- and the Aleutian Chain, Alaska is longer then the entire continental United States is wide.
As Tony said, we have some thirty thousand miles of coastline, and some of the world’s highest tides: plus or minus thirty some odd feet as I recall.
We have two thirds of all the freshwater lakes, almost all of the glaciers, the highest mountain, AND we’re the Northernmost, Westernmost AND Easternmost State in the US. (The A-chain crosses the International Date Line. )
We could cut Alaska in half and make Texas the third largest State.
Put it this way, that place in all the newspapers? ANWR? That’s better than eight hundred miles from where I sit, across no less than two seperate mountain ranges, three hundred some odd miles from the nearest road (that’s connected with anything else) and an overall area roughly the size of… Michigan? (And the area they want to explore is smaller than the acreage of the JFK Airport’s parking lot.)
Polar bears have wandered into some Alaskan villages, such as Barrow, but down here it’s way too warm for 'em. In my area, black bears are semi-common, and it’s not unheard of for a brown (Grizzly or Kodiak brown bear) to show up. In fact, just two summers ago, a crewman on a seismic survey was attacked and killed, in an area only about thirty miles from where I sit.
And Cyn, no, you don’t have to be into outdoor sports… but it sure can’t hurt. The people up here that are least affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (the lack-of-daylight thing) are the ones that are the most active- snowmachiners, skiers (cross-country and downhill) skaters and hockey players, ski-jorers, dogsledders, you name it.
here’s a pic of the [northern lights](nothern lights)
of course a pic doesn’t do them justice.