The Bar and Chill

On Jan. 3rd, 2009, the USPS commemorated the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood by officially issuing a stamp.  The stamp features a photograph taken by Jeff Schultz of a dog musher near Rainy Pass in the Alaska range.  The Postal Service felt that this photo captured the spirit and beauty of Alaska, while noting that the first mail deliveries were via dog team.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (with Attu a 3 month old Husky), Dianne Horbochuk of the USPS and Jeff Schultz Photographer unveil the Alaska Stamp during the First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony

When discussing the “behind the scenes” of how he got this photo, Jeff Schultz mentioned that he has photographed the Iditarod for 20 years, and was out on the trails for over 15 hours the day this photo was taken.  He also identified the musher as Dee Dee Jonrowe.   Schultz quickly backpedaled, and stated that he was not supposed to disclose the identity of the musher, due to Postal Service regulations.  It seems that unless a specific individual is being commemorated (posthumously), images on stamps are supposed to represent “everyman”, and are anonymous.  It seems fitting that Jonrowe was photographed, as she is one of the legends of mushing.  In 2008, Dee Dee competed in her 27th Iditarod, after surviving breast cancer and a car accident that killed her grandmother and critically injured her and her husband. Jonrowe is one of only a handful of women among the 100 Iditarod competitors. She was featured in the Discovery Channel series Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod, which followed her through last year’s race.  So, you’ve read it here first!  The stamp is available at post offices nationwide, so get out and get yours today, and send a bit of Alaska on all your mail.

Mark and Denise with Maria-Elena Ball

Mexico in Alaska on Old Seward in Anchorage is a terrific family-friendly (don’t plan on getting plastered on margaritas) Mexican restaurant that we go to once or twice a week (sometimes more). The food is authentic Mexican, so you won’t find your standard hamburger and cheddar cheese here, but you will find great food prepared as it is south of the border. The owner, Maria-Elena Ball, has been here more than 36 years serving great food with well-deserved pride and outstanding hospitality. She makes us feel like family and we love it.

You can also find a couple of her products at places like the Natural Pantry and New Sagaya. In years past, Alaska Airlines used her food on some of their flights.

It’s a great place with great folks running the show. Two forks up!

Hobo Jim, Alaska’s Official State Balladeer, was in rare form as he wowed the crowd with Christmas Carols and his original Alaskan songs.  Santa even got in on the act (along with some UPS groupies)!  If you haven’t experienced him live, he will be playing a New Year’s Eve show at Eddies Sports Bar  (info at: www.eddiessportsbar.com).  He also plays a family-oriented show at the Wild Berry Theater during the Summer (great event for visitors).  Info about Jim can be found at:  http://www.hobojim.com/

On January 3, 2009 the “Light of the North- Celebration of the Alaska Statehood Act”, will be held in Downtown Anchorage.  The event starts at 4:00pm including entertainers (Hobo Jim will be performing), exhibits and a lighting of the torch ceremony. Evening event includes festivities, bonfires and fireworks, go towww.alaskaturns50.com for further details.

I don’t want to sound like a commercial for New Sagaya’s Market, but they have a great deal on king crab for shipping to the lower-48. Last year we sent king crab to our family in Pennsylvania for Christmas and it was a big hit.

They have 5-pounds of king crab overnighted via UPS for $144. They have 5-pounds of golden crab for $119. For our Captains, they have gift baskets with halibut, salmon and crab for $250 or so.

I think it is a great holiday gift for family in the lower-48.  10th and M Seafoods also has seafood gift packages available, but unfortunately they ship via FedEx, so of course, we are going with the UPS shipping

Forget the cold, come enjoy some great local music tonight by Alaska’s State Balladeer, Hobo Jim.

A one man band who sings about all aspects of Alaska life.  No cover charge.

Eddie’s Sports Bar, probably downstairs.  8pm Thursday night.

Eddie’s is located at 6300 Old Seward Highway, just south of the Peanut Farm on the West side of Old Seward.

Hope to see many of you there.

UPS Christmas Turkey coupons are placed in crewmember V-files in other domiciles but mailed to those living in Anchorage.  Those folks wishing to donate their coupons this year will need to bring them to the crew room where a box will be set up over the next couple of days.  If the box is not present, they may be put in Elizabeth (Beth) Walker’s V - file (MD-11 F/O).

Coupons will be donated to Bean’s Cafe in downtown Anchorage and/or The Salvation Army to help in their efforts to feed and shelter so many in need within our community.

Thanks in advance to all…

Don’t miss the ice sculptures going up in Town Square Park December 26-28, 2008. Watch ice carvers as they make spectacular creations out of special “blue diamond” ice. The finished sculptures will be on display in Town Square until March 2009.

 The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them.

In the years that followed, many of the Steps ignored the conventional wisdom (”Don’t quit your day job!”), and although not all of the current members of the Steps are former Capitol Hill staffers, taken together the performers have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.

Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded 28 albums, including their latest, Camaign and Suffering . They’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard 4 times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials.