Gearing up for the Polar Night

Hi Friends,

I hope this blog finds you well and warm.  I've been watching the news as the "Cold Arctic Blast" hit the Lower 48.  I heard NYC even got a little snow!  I hope all of my Illinois friends are doing ok after the storms that blew through over the weekend.

Things around here are great, even though the days are very short and cold.  Jose is working a ton, and Amaury is filling his days with giggles, rolling over and learning to crawl!  He loves to visit his friends at the hospital and the library.

Jose decided to walk home from the hospital the other day.  This is what he encountered!  

(P.S. I take a taxi in this weather - or stay home!)

Tomorrow, the sun will set for what is called the Polar Night, and we won't see the sun until late January.  As I understand, there will be twilight but also a time of total darkness.  Many have asked how I will deal with the darkness.  Well - Light!  I turn on all the lights in the house (which are full spectrum, so much brighter than the average lamplight).  I also make sure I spend time with friends, visit Jose for lunch a few days a week, work out and diffuse essential oils.  Amaury and I like to have dance parties too.  Barrow friends - you are welcome to join us :)  There is always something going on in Barrow, and we make sure we are a part of it!

Snowy Owl

Hello friends!

This is somewhat an unofficial update, so it will be a short one.

So I was slouching around the house today and noticed that it was snowing.  I know, I know... It's snowing in the Arctic, how unusual!  It was somewhat blustery out, and Pam informed me that it was a mere 32F.

I decided to open the window to feel the fresh breeze and look at the sideways snowflakes.  Pam has always said that I'm a dreamer...  But back to the story.  After like 5 to 15 minutes of looking and letting my thoughts wander, a tricked out pickup was coming toward the house.  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something.  At first I wanted to believe it was a plastic bag floating about, which made no sense, as it would have to defy the laws of physics to travel perpendicular to blustering snowy wind.

I fixated my gaze on a certain light pole and after a few seconds I saw white wings!  My heart started to beat faster as I knew this could only be one animal.  I called Pam excitedly, "BABY!  Come quick!"  After a quick update, she encouraged me to get the camera and try to snap some pics.  As I started to get ready, "it's flying away!"  I was truly pissed!  My first encounter with a Snowy Owl, and I managed to miss seeing it in flight.  Pam encouraged me to gear up anyway and told me which direction the Snowy took.  It wasn't even one block away!

I tried to battle the elements and keep the camera still.  It was too far and too dark.  I tried to walk towards the majestic snowy.  I knew that trying to sneak up on something with telescopic vision and a remarkable sense of hearing would be futile.  I walked straight at it and let it decide how close it would let me get.  Looking through my telescopic lens, I saw it's eyes fixed on me, and it spread it's wings and gracefully and soared away...  Back home I went.

We were looking out of the same window once more, and unbelievably I had a second chance.  It was there once again!  Pam pointed the way and I geared up.  This time 2 blocks away.  I got a few pics and was able to just stand under the light pole to stare and admire until my fingers went numb.

Excuse me....what's THAT up in the sky?!

I've been asking everyone I know here the same two questions. 

1. Have you ever seen a polar bear? 
2. Can you see the Aurora Borealis in Barrow? 

Last night one of our questions was answered and our dreams of seeing this incredible natural wonder realized.

Earlier in the day, Amaury and I went story time at the library.  I've been asking many of my new mom friends about how and when to catch the Aurora.  It typically happens between 10pm-2am.  It has to be a clear night.  It's best seen away from the lights of the city.  Jose had heard from a colleague that there had been an Aurora the last 2 nights.  She was asked to call us immediately if and when she sees the lights.

Jose got home from work around 5:30pm.  The following day is a holiday (Inuit Day) here in Alaska, so we decided to take an evening trip to the AC supermarket to stock up on some goodies for our day off together.  We were going keep an eye out that evening and make ourselves stay up past 8:30pm (well, for me anyway!)

As we stepped out of the taxi at our home with hands full of groceries....Jose looks at me and says, "Baby, look UP!"

And there it was!

It started out very faint, but we could definitely see the green hue.  As it began to fade, we headed inside (hands still full of groceries and an infant snuggled inside Jose's jacket).

We started to settle in and begin another lookout, when Jose says, "I see purple!"  This is when it got really bright.  We put Amaury to bed and suited up to walk outside our house (with baby monitor in hand!)  Here's a glimpse of what we saw.  Jose did an awesome job of capturing the lights.  It was really difficult given the bright lights of the town as well as the negative wind chill!  Also, thanks to our friends for texting us to make sure we knew it was happening! 

It was magical. 

Earth to Matilda

So everything with us here in Barrow is going pretty well.  However, this last week seemed like we were getting a few curve balls thrown at us.  All 3 of us ended up getting a horrible stomach bug at different times.  I guess it's better than all of us at the same time, right?  We are on the mend now, thank goodness!

Then our computer died.  I had a feeling this was coming because our little laptop is getting up there in age.  Luckily, I backed everything up before we left Vegas, so I'm not worried.  Our new computer is on it's way! (and more pictures up on the blog once we get everything set up.)

Jose and I both celebrated our birthdays in October.  But our celebrations were nothing compared to a 1 year old bday party we attended last week.  The food alone covered every square inch of the long tables for over 100 people.  I told Amaury not to get any ideas for his first birthday party. 

Check out our ride to the party!

Should I just hop in the back?

Whoa

Yes, those are crabs

Enter the birthday girl

All the family gathers together

This is where they put the kids when they pass out

Our little Pirate on Halloween!

Some progress on the Australia front - Jose was able to have his interview via videoconference at the library here in town!  This was something we've been looking forward to (and stressing about) for months now.  We originally thought we would have him fly to Fairbanks or Anchorage for this interview exam, but it ended up working out right here in Barrow!  Somehow all the people involved were able to calculate the time difference between here and Brisbane.....after the daylight savings time weekend too!

And let's talk about daylight "savings."  I know it technically ended for almost everyone in the lower 48 - and Alaska.  It doesn't mean much for folks in the Artic Slope.  Daylight is disappearing by 20-30 minutes everyday.  Today the sun rose at 10am and set at 3:30pm.  I hope I'm ready for the polar night.  Jose says, "November 18th, lights out!" 

Who wants to come visit?????