I’m The Social Media Mama living in Alaska.
You can find out more about me on my personal blog Mediaegg.com and on the Social Media Mama blog and on the Social Media Social Good blog and on my other blog(s).
And check out my newly rebranded company:
Help me achieve my goal of turning Tok, Alaska into the Social Media Capital of the World!
I’ll be blogging, podcasting and videoblogging from Tok.
Join me on my adventures!
And when the weather warms up (May through September), I hope you’ll stop by when you’re driving along the Alaska Highway!
(BTW, no, we cannot see Russia from our back yard).
26 responses so far ↓
Travis & Teniah Howell // January 9, 2009 at 11:00 pm |
I stumbled across your Tok blog when reading the ADN today and there was a link. We are fellow Tokites and have been here for about 2 years (minus a few months in Valdez). Thought we would say hello since Tok can be rather lonely in the winter when everyone hunkers down.
I (Travis) work over at the State Forestry office and Teniah works over at the Tok Clinic and also does EMS.
I am guessing from your blog that your husband is the new Tetlin refuge manager? I work with a lot of the people over at the refuge with my job and they mentioned that the new manager was coming from Anchorage.
My wife blogs in case you want to check out our Tok adventures:
http://www.howellsinalaska.blogspot.com/
Take care.
Travis Howell
Maggie (Moran) Hayden // January 10, 2009 at 3:35 pm |
Hey Aliza, heard your bit on NPR this morning … I knew I recognized the name — it’s been awhile since we worked together and I’m no longer in the ad biz myself. But Tok? I hope you’re enjoying the experience. Sounds crazy!! Stay warm.
Maggie
(former copy director, Walsh Sheppard Flynn)
Aliza Sherman // January 10, 2009 at 5:14 pm |
So far, I really am liking it. My husband was so worried about me being a “city girl” and all. He doesn’t realize that I thrive in small spaces – http://www.rvgirl.com (I used to live in an RV). Small communities are like those small spaces – cozy most of the time but occasionally you do bump your head on things!
G Mah // January 10, 2009 at 4:58 pm |
FYI: The Drudge Report has a link to NPR and your Life at -78
Aliens In Tok // January 10, 2009 at 8:26 pm |
Hello, Media Mama, welcome to Tok. Your first impressions of our little community are entertaining, for sure. You know, I have always referred to our little Alaskan hamlet as “The Cultural Center of The Universe”, and lately , with the extraterrestrials visiting and all, maybe we have reached critical mass. Go with it; here’s your 15 minutes of fame- you go, Girl !!!
Aliza Sherman // January 10, 2009 at 8:36 pm |
Thanks, Alien!
Yes, wouldn’t you know the week after I arrive, so do the aliens. At first, I thought it might be the pumpkin our friends were trying to blow up on New Years. Happy to be here and settle in. It’s going to be a long, cold winter but it sure is warm inside.
Cogito Argentum // January 10, 2009 at 9:30 pm |
We’ve got you covered in Spanish
Los OVNI's en Tok // January 11, 2009 at 5:55 am |
Feliz Ano Nuevo de Los OVNI’s en Tok….
Nuesrta nave espacial se ha quebrado en Tok, y vamos a estar aqui un buen tiempo. Ni modo….
Terry Wolf // January 11, 2009 at 2:16 pm |
Thoughts from Bellville, OH
Hi! I found your blog while exploring a PBS news piece on your recent -80F experience. My thoughts will be on a brief blog piece Tuesday, 1/13.
We have about 6″ of snow on the ground and temps mostly in the mid 20s these days.
I hope to stay in touch. I am fascinated by the far north, but, at my 68 years, I am glad I am sharing your experiences from afar.
kobolila // January 12, 2009 at 1:30 pm |
Hello There!
I came across your page looking for info on Bunny Boots, which I now have on order. I live in the Eastern US where it does not generally get as cold as where you are. Although, next time you are on Wunderground check out the zip code 01089 – it will be colder by us friday than by you
Isn’t it interesting how small the world has become with the internet?
Ross Graham // January 12, 2009 at 1:58 pm |
Found your page today from the Drudge Report article about life at -78 degrees.
Just visited my daughter living in Humboldt, Saskatchewan over the Christmas holidays. Was only -30 there, and that was overnight. I thoroughly love cold weather, Minnesota taught me that, and I’m eager to keep reading about your adventures up there in Tok!
Erik // January 13, 2009 at 3:09 am |
Hey,
I have been reading your site for a few days now and I just made the connection..
You are also RV Girl!
I loved that site and am happy to see you online again.
I have passed through Tok many times, including once at -45.
susan // January 13, 2009 at 6:41 pm |
really enjoying your blog! Found it on Drudge Report
Tessa Hill // January 13, 2009 at 7:30 pm |
Hey, I found my Spot promo codes info if you’d like it. I tried to input it on the Spot page, but it is not going. Please email me directly if you’d like it: hillfamily55@earthlink.net
Take care,
Tessa in TX
manda.j // January 14, 2009 at 3:10 am |
Tanacross – it’s labor day weekend and memorial day weekend; us car people go up to tok for those weekends to auto cross and do some wheel to wheel racing. i can send you more info as we get closer and heck feel free to come watch! it’s fun stuff for sure. tok is awesome in summer
David // January 19, 2009 at 12:54 pm |
I saw your blog on our local news in ks. Good luck and stay warm. I would love your location (during the warm months only!)
Diego Gonzalez Joven // February 9, 2009 at 5:46 am |
Hello Aliza.
Carrie Beeman gave me your site today and I like it.
In a few weeks my friend who is blind, his guide dog and I will Cycle from Anchorage to Cancun Mexico. Once we reach Cancun, I am going to swim across the Gulf of Mexico to Key West FL.
We are doing this to raise awareness about climate change, collecting funds for UNICEF and to prove to people that IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING…. Ill keep reading your blog for interesting news about Tok…
Thank you.
Diego Gonzalez Joven
http://www.whatsyourimpossible.com
Billy // February 11, 2009 at 10:46 pm |
Tok Lodge Saturday Feb. 14
Karoke Contest
Money prizes 1st 2nd 3rd
starting at 9pm
welcome to Tok,alaska
Sheri Williams // February 24, 2009 at 8:29 pm |
My husband and I took our Greek friend to Tok in July 2008. John has sent your link to her, so maybe you’ll hear from Greece. We visited the outdoor museum where they have the Santa Bus, giant moskito, etc. It’s a toasty 25 degrees here in Juneau. Stay warm.
erly // March 10, 2009 at 4:58 pm |
Oh my goodness… I just found your site somehow, and I was surprised to find something interesting about Tok. I passed through about 12 years ago (I was 10) on a road trip to visit family in Seward. We stayed at the RV park. All I can remember from it is a bakery, grocery store, a salon, and planting boxes with GIANT cabbages.
I’ll driving up again this summer in my newly acquired 1975 Toyota Chinook (cheaper than rent!) for the first time since.
Keep up the blog – I wish there were similar blogs for small towns here in Washington that I love… to help me feel a little more connected.
Eric // April 28, 2009 at 6:58 am |
Aliza: Nice job. Haveing lived in Tok from 1960 to present and southeast Alaska (1953-59) before that, a “noobs”, impressions are very interesting. Keep up the reporting.
mike stilwell // June 18, 2009 at 3:45 am |
just found your blog tonight. love it. i was in the air force, stationed in tok, in the mid 60’s. loved it. it sounds like things have changed hugely since then. there was gilliam’s store, tok lodge, the place on the corner (i can’t think of the name) and little else. us customs was there. i was one of 15 to 17 military guys at the alaska communications system/rca building behind the customs office. from google map pictures it looks like the microwave tower is still there. .. anyway, it’s good to find your blog..hope you enjoy tok for years as much as i did for 15 months.
alaskabound // July 31, 2009 at 3:10 am |
Hi Aliza, my name is Esther Sutherland, and my husband and I and our 4 small children will be moving to Fairbanks in October. I was born, raised, married and everything since then in Eastern North Carolina, and have NO idea what we are getting into. Since you have been in the interior for a little while, I thought you might have tips for helping some southern folk survive in the area. For instance, there are differing schools of thought on whether we should buy clothing, boots, etc here in the lower 48, or whether we should wait, b/c we dont know what we are doing and are liable to buy the wrong thing. Any thoughts? Thanks….
Aliza Sherman // July 31, 2009 at 4:22 am |
I used to live in Charlotte and also lived in Virginia and Florida so am familiar with the weather in the SE.
I think definitely wait until you get to Fairbanks to buy clothes. October might be chilly and might even snow but you’ll be fine. Waiting until you get here guarantees getting the right stuff. Otherwise, if you get a good sale, sporting goods stores that sell nice down coats, down vests, insulated gloves, a good hat that covers your ears will do. I wear snow boots I got at Target for milder cold and snow. I wear the coat and down vest I bought at Sierra Trading Post.
I don’t yet own bunny boots although they are all the rage in Tok.
I’m sure some of my Fairbanks readers will give you more lowdown on what to expect! Fairbanks is a great town from what I’ve seen so far. Good luck with your move!
Billy Givens Jr // October 21, 2009 at 8:37 pm |
the wife and I are getting settle in on stardust way here in Tok been here in Tok for 3 yrs love it in winter real quite, live long and prosper
Aliens In Tok // October 22, 2009 at 12:55 am |
What, Billy, got a new trailer?
Agnes and Darren are your new neighbors down at the Red Fox end of the street.