By the Way...

I don't bother to announce myself at the start of every post by now, but I think it's pretty easy to tell (especially for our regular readers) when it's me, Mike, as opposed to Katie, writing.

Anyhow, one thing we've both alluded to, but I'll make factual now: I'm in Alaska at the moment, working for an ocean science and mapping firm called TerraSond. They're based in Palmer, about an hour northeast of Anchorage, on the Matanuska River (in what's known as the Mat-Su valley, for the Matanuska and Susitna rivers). I flew up a week ago from Rhode Island, and I've been living at the company house, a tiny little cottage with eight beds in it, and while I'm in Palmer, will carry on so.

Yes, it is tough to feel sleepy when the sun's up until after 10 PM, and it barely gets dark.

There is a deeper debate going on between me and Kate right now, as to how viable a living this will be, me living a continent away for a month at a time while she's caring for our young baby. It's a serious set of circumstances, with work so scarce these days. TerraSond is a fine company and it may be we'll move to Alaska--but we're making no decisions anytime soon. At the lowest of levels, I'm glad to be making an income to support her and little EJ. Beyond that, I'm glad that I'm working with a good science company where I can do a lot of learning, about seafloor mapping and many other things besides. But I don't enjoy missing my little bengal, and I don't like leaving her alone, either.

She joked (lovingly, of course) over the phone about how Jasper tends to throw up when we're away. It seems that the memory of rejection and homelessness is that present for him. Katie obviously has a better intellectual grasp of what's going on, of why and how long I'll be gone, but there's one big thing in common: we miss each other, and we get anxious. (She more than I, especially since I'm the one in Alaska, and on the water.)

However, the lighter conclusion to this little update: as time and equipment allow (had some compatibility issues), I'm posting digital photos of the people I work with, my favorite local spots, and the mind-blowing natural surroundings up here. If you're on facebook and you're a digital friend of mine, you can see 'em.