I'm working!

It warmed up enough to snow yesterday.
That turned into freezing rain this morning, delaying training until 10:00 AM.
Schools are closed. The side of the highway is lined with cars that simply couldn't hold on. You'd think that people would learn to drive on ice up here. But they still like to maintain speeds of 65 or 70. Smart.
I spoke with a woman yesterday who said that Alaskans need to pay attention to the weather in Siberia to know what's coming their way. Siberia! I guess that makes sense. I'm just glad I decided to stick with Anchorage and not go even farther into the state. I'm just fine without -76 degrees in my life. I also like being ahead of the Lower 48 in weather patterns. I just want to know who gets to start everything. If you watch us, we watch Siberia, Siberia watches Russia, where does it end?
She also discussed global warming. Cruise ships have been able to dock in Barrow, AK. That is as far North as you can go. And polar bears seem to be in trouble because there's no glaciers for frolicking over the summer months. Therefore, they've started mating with grizzly bears. That's evolution for you. I offer you plaudits polar bears; keep the species going in some form, even if it means mating with those filthy grizzlies! And it keeps hunters entertained.
She also introduced me to Full Circle Farms. They offer fresh produce via mail every two weeks. This is more than welcome on this frozen tundra where food is expensive. Five dollar foot longs are six dollar foot longs up here. It doesn't have the same ring.
Last night I learned a little West Coast Swing as taught by a couple. The woman gave me a dissertation rather than teach me the steps. And kept referring to the Lindy Hop, which I don't know. Neither activity helped me learn to dance better. Her boyfriend/husband actually danced with me, and offered tips. For some reason that worked.
Upon returning to the apartment, I found Ray with bags of meat covering half the kitchen floor and Bill pulling the cookies he just baked from the oven. I love walking into the apartment. There's always something going on.
It turns out that they have 220 pounds of meat in their freezers. Ray's method of weighing involves first weighing himself, then weighing himself with the meat and figuring the difference. It's genius. Though he did this with 4 pounds of meat that would've easily fit on the bathroom scale alone. The contents of the freezer include antelope (which is thawing as we speak), moose, elk, various goat parts (including a bloody goat skull), and Boca Burgers that have been in the freezer for at least 3 years. I took pictures of the goat skull and ate a Boca Burger. I'm surviving both so far.
On the work side of things, I started training on Monday.
It's good. It's organized. It's everything I hoped it would be.
I hope they can keep up this charade.
Actually, Nine Star has been around for more than 30 years and they have a pretty good history. It is an ideal company for me, and finding one like it in the Lower 48 would be awesome. Now I know what I want. So far. I've still got six months to go.
On Friday, we have a scavenger hunt by bus to find our partner organizations. They've given all kinds of resources to keep us healthy and alive during our time here. Not to mention help getting food stamps and various other benefits. Like a phone that's five dollars a month with 1200 state-wide minutes and unlimited text. It doesn't do me any good, but it's still available. Alaska takes care of it's people. In fact they pay them to be here. Look at the republican state go!
Unfortunately, I don't plan on staying long enough for them to pay me to be here, but it's nice to know that they would.
Well, it's still dark out, but it's nearly 9:00 AM and I still have to walk a mile over icy sidewalks. Downhill right now. Then uphill. Oh Alaska.