Alaska! It's very big. And very cold.

Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area (over twice the size of Texas) - it is larger than all but 18 countries! It is larger than the combined area of the 22 smallest states. Okay, you get the picture - it's big. It is also the least densely populated state (1 person per square mile!) - though its population is larger than that of Vermont and Wyoming. The name "Alaska" means "the mainland", or "the great land". Alaska is commonly referred to as "The Last Frontier." Fun fact: Alaska has been labelled the least religious state in the country (though it has the largest Quaker population...fascinating).

Alaska produces 20% of domestically produced oil. It's capital, Juneau, is not accessible by road - only by ferry. Weird. (Anchorage is the city with the highest population - actually, they're called boroughs). Another form of transportation is...by dogsled. DOGSLED. It's actually listed. I now feel compelled to mention the Iditarod Sled Dog Race - a highly competitive race that takes place on the first Saturday of every March (the next most popular event is the World Hummingbird Festival...hmmm). This is mostly because BALTO was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Balto! What a good movie.

Alaska is home to many active volcanoes (they don't tell you this in the Royal Caribbean handouts...). It has more than 3 MILLION lakes?! And, of course, lots of glaciers! Alaska contains half of the world's glaciers. 65% of Alaskan land is owned by the U.S. government as public. Summer temperatures can reach 90 degrees Farenheit! Tan, anyone? Well, that's in the interior of Alaska. The extreme north of Alaska averages 34 degress Farenheit. IN JULY. Remember that time I was supposed to go to Greece? Bummer. Fun fact: the lowest recorded temperature in Alaska is NEGATIVE 80 DEGREES FARENHEIT. And yet it has one of the highest cost-of-living in the country - that just doesn't seem fair. Especially considering there is no sales or income tax...and a $5 billion budget surplus...

Really fun fact: Alaska is the only state in which possession of one ounce or less of marijuana in one's home is completely legal under state law. Who knew?

Famous Alaskans include, of course, Sarah Palin, Jewel (again, who knew?), Curt Schilling....scratch that, famous Alaskans ARE Sarah Palin, Jewel, and Curt Schilling.

However, let's not forget a television show that made Alaska famous (semi-famous?): "Northern Exposure." John Cullum was a favorite from that show - I had the pleasure of working with John on THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS earlier this year. My job is perfectly illustrated by the following anecdote:

John Cullum: "Molly, could you go grab my bag? It's black and it says, uhh, 'Northern Exposure' on it..."

I now know more about Alaska than I have ever known about any state I've actually lived in. And so, probably, do you.

Pre-Departure

I am leaving in 3 days! I will be spending some time in Seattle and San Francisco before I cruise out from Seattle. I will be on the Celebrity Infinity from July 16th to August 27th. MAIL (hint, hint):

Molly Gachignard

Infinity

P.O. Box 019073

Miami, FL 33101-9073

Fun Facts:

• The Celebrity Infinity holds 2,046 people and is 965 feet long
• It first set sail in March of 2001 (the same year Joel Grey was a guest entertainer!)
• The Infinity is one of 11 ships in the Celebrity fleet
• July & August are 7-night cruises to Seattle, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, the Alaskan Inside Passage, and Victoria, British Columbia

I'm filling in on a 6-week vacation contract, so there is essentially no rehearsal. I have received the sheet music (mostly lead sheets/band charts) and some click tracks for the 4 production shows I'll be playing: iBroadway, Boogie Wonderland, Celebrate the World, and Live @ Sky. I'll have one rehearsal my first day on the ship and then I'll perform with the band that night! They have all been playing together for months now, so hopefully I'll be able to fit right in. It's a LOT of music to learn in a short time, but it's good practice.

I won't have internet in my cabin, but there are some Wi-Fi spots on board and in the various ports. I'm not sure about the phone situation either. I'll post more info when I'm in Seattle in a few short days!