Farewell Pics (and awesome new boots)

40 Acres and a Mule

Time is going by too slowly for me. Trevor booked me a flight for May 8th so I've got a ways to go before I depart for Alaska. Since I last updated, Trevor has been quite busy. He found us a house, furniture, supplies, and lots of other things. I'm very proud of him. I feel as if we're living in the old days where the man traveled off to set up homestead and then sent for the wife. Okay...maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but it's cool nonetheless. I trust his sense of style, but it is scary not knowing what everything looks like. Trevor doesn't have a digital camera or Internet access at the time, so I have seen nothing. Trevor isn't the most detailed/descriptive person either so I'm wrought with anticipation.

Today Trevor got a lesson in how NOT to drive in the snow. Early this morning he got stuck in deep snow and had to get a co-worker to pick him up. Later, another co-worker had to pull him out. It's not easy getting used to a new terrain. Side Note: Alaskans have to plug in their vehicles just so they won't freeze at night.

Last week, Trevor informed me that he walked outside and his nose hairs immediately froze. The next day he walked outside with his hair still wet. I think you know what happened next.

So far, Trevor is absolutely loving Alaska. His job seems to be great and the scenery is so beautiful that it can take your breath away. Meanwhile, the only mountain I see is the Red Mountain Expressway. Until next time...

Forward March!

Well, the day for Trevor to leave finally came. Yesterday morning at about 4:00am, I took him to the airport. It was really difficult for me to see him embark on the adventure that was supposed to be "ours," but I'll get to join him in less than two months. Needless to say, I can't wait.

His flight was over 14 hours in duration. He went from here, to Atlanta, Seattle, Anchorage, and finally to Fairbanks. I remember him calling late at night--they are three hours behind us. Today, a coworker picked him up and took him to Ft. Greeley where he will be working. Trevor told me that the fort has a ATVs, boats, snowmobiles, tennis courts, a gym, and basketball courts, etc. So it looks like there will be plenty of fun things for us to do. Apparently the mountain range is very close to the town and is a beautiful sight.

As far as the weather goes, yes it is very cold. There's a lot of snow and many of the streams are frozen. However, according to Trevor, the cold is a different kind of cold than we know here in Alabama. From what I gathered, it's a more pleasant cold...if there is such a thing. In the interior of Alaska, it is a dryer cold as opposed to the humid cold we know.

Anyway, so Trevor made it okay and I'm very jealous that he's having all the fun without me. Meanwhile, I'm stuck clerking and going to school! It's okay though, school will be out before I know it.

The Trip of a Lifetime

I'm Amy, and my husband is Trevor. We both went to the University of Alabama together and recently married on September 3, 2008. He's a civil engineer, and I'm a third year law student. One week ago today, we found out that Trevor got a job in Alaska.

So how did we arrive at the decision to go to Alaska? Well a couple months back, Trevor was laid off. The economy has been very bad for building and he was the last engineer hired. It seems that many of my friends have been laid off in the ailing economy--mostly because we are recent college graduates. Naturally, we were devastated...we had only been married four months. However, whenever one door closes, God opens another door.

Trevor had the opportunity to interview with a company with offices all over the Nation. They had an opening in Lexington, Kentucky, and Delta Junction, Alaska. If we took the Alaska job, we would be there anywhere from 8 months to 2 years working on a government project and would return to Alabama to continue working with Kaya Associates since it's based out of Huntsville. After thinking for a while, we decided that the opportunity to live in Alaska was too good to pass up. We are young and haven't any children...why not take the trip of a lifetime! It'll be something we'll never forget.

As far as law school, I only have two classes left. The dean has offered to work with me online so that I may still take the bar in February 2010. I'll just have to fly home to take exams. The bad part is that Trevor is leaving ONE WEEK FROM TODAY for Alaska, and I'll be here until the first of May so that I may finish up the semester. I don't know what I'm going to do without him for two months. I'm a law clerk at a defense firm in Birmingham which will keep me pretty busy...I love to research. It's going to be strange not having a job in Alaska...I'll definitely be studying for the bar and developing some much needed hobbies.

On a lighter note, we are super-excited, but nervous and scared. It is definitely going to be a huge shock for us, be we are confident that that we'll have a great time and have many stories to tell our children one day ( I know, I know....just go with it).

After we found out that Trevor got the job, we went shopping for thermals, snow-boots, jackets, sweaters, gloves....you name it! Where we will be living only has a population of about 800 and is at the end of the Alaskan Highway...it's the wilderness--moose, dall sheep, bears, etc. Needless to say, there will not be a lot of shopping, unless we drive to Fairbanks 90 miles away. Therefore, we've been doing a lot of shopping online and hitting up winter sales. We've got some good stuff so far, but who knew thermals were so expensive!? One paid of Ice Breakers thermals can run you $180...which is fine if you are a biker and only need them a couple times a week. However, we will both need quite a few pairs. Anyway, so far I've learned that dressing for Alaska is not cheap.

Over the next week, I'll be helping Trevor pack and likely be crying my eyes out. It's okay though, because he has the daunting task of finding a place for us to live--I can't believe I'm trusting him with this! Ha. Hopefully by the time I get up there, everything will be settled. Do they still sell electric blankets?