Sharry Miller

Passions

I remember it so well. The surge of adrenaline that doesn't fade until after you collapse into bed. The excitement that spikes and spikes again higher. The pure joy of being surrounded by friends who all share your passion, and who, just for a night or two, are all riding the same high you are. You're all manic and silly and loud and alive! I feel the rush again as I watch my daughter ride... Read more →

Building Self-Esteem

"You're going to write a blog post about this now, aren't you?" It was really more of a statement than a question, and she said it with an assumption of rightness rather than resignation. Rowan simply assumed that her attending the local TBA theater camp for the sixth year was important enough that I had to write about it. I just smiled and gave some noncommittal answer. The conversation made me think, however. Rowan's assumption... Read more →

Salmon Seining 101

About a year ago, I wrote a post I called Longlining 101 to explain how we longline for halibut and sablefish. This past weekend, for the first time in what seems like forever, I got out on our boat, Kingfisher, for a day of pink salmon seining. I took loads of photos, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to give you a little primer on seining, if you're interested. Pink salmon Let's see, where... Read more →

Smile When You Say That

An older couple was walking along the bike path, looking out towards the bay. Perhaps they were watching for seals or sea lions, and there was a good chance they’d see some since dozens congregate during the summer in the vicinity of the Solomon Gulch hatchery when salmon are returning. When I was about 75 feet or so behind them, I called out, “Coming up behind you.” Both of them jumped and moved quickly to... Read more →

Internet Friends

"Meeting someone on line is not knowing someone." ~Officer Baczuk, April 16, 2013~ The Valdez Police Department and Valdez City Schools have been offering a five week course in internet safety for middle and high school students. Rowan's attended the first two so far, and last Tuesday I decided I'd hang out for the class and see what the instructor, Valdez Police Officer Baczuk, had to say. His main message was that using the internet... Read more →

Antique Hobbies

I've always thought that my family would be a perfect candidate for one of the reality TV shows PBS was doing a few years ago. You know, 1940s House, 1800s House, or whatever they were. I don't remember the specific time frame (I don't think I ever actually saw the show, just the ads), but there was one where the family had to go out in the "wilderness," build a cabin, and live for a... Read more →

Sno-Go Frustration

Watching Thane and his buddy Mike ride their Skidoo snowmobiles is like watching expert ballroom dancers sweep across the floor. They dance across the snow, swooping up and down hills, carving across steep slopes with an ease that belies the fact that they are in total control of 500-pound machines with 160 horses under the cowling. There is a joy to their movements that can only come with hundreds, thousands of hours of practice. I,... Read more →

The Language of Flowers

Mom loaned me a book while we were in Hawaii. Now to be perfectly honest, it was one I'd told her I wanted to borrow, and indeed had given it to her for Christmas because I wanted to read it, but that's beside the point. She finished it while we were in Hawaii and loaned it to me. Oh, yes, it was The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. The main character is an orphan... Read more →

Success, Denial

We're all in denial here at our house in Captain Cook. We have to fly home tomorrow morning, and we're not ready to leave. Usually, by the time it's time to go home, I'm ready - if nothing else so that the travel part is over. Not a chance today. If I could have someone send me a few things from home, I'd be set for months, if not longer. Alas, we can't fight the... Read more →

Snorkeling with Captain Cook

Okay, okay, we weren't really snorkeling with Captain Cook, after all, he has been dead for over 200 years. We did, however, snorkel at the only British-owned piece of land in America: the monument erected to mark the place where Cook was killed by native Hawaiians. This spot on the other side of Kealakekua Bay from where we're staying is the most amazing place I've ever snorkeled. The array of fish is vast in both... Read more →