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.

Dissection

Southern living is life in soft focus.
Move to Alaska and suddenly everything is much more harsh and much more real.
Or maybe it's just the weather. I don't really feel like stepping outside anymore, it takes too much work. All those clothes. Boots. Hat. Scarf. Gloves.
It stayed above 0 for most of the day today. I think it got to 1 degree! And the sun came up a bit earlier than yesterday.
I have an official checking account now. In Alaska. Back to Wells Fargo.
I will learn patience in Alaska. Mostly because there's a lot of waiting. It will be warm...in a few months. There will be things to do...when it warms up.
Luckily the people here are amazing. Susan's fiance's friend invited me to her niece's fourth birthday at Chuckie Cheese. It was incredible. And she dances!
Afterwards, Ray and I ventured off into the world of middle-aged couples and their kids. My apologies parents, but if I have kids someday, I hope I have other things to talk about. I did learn that Lutheran women can cook. Apparently it's a requirement.
More importantly, I laughed harder than I have for quite some time during a game of Balderdash. I can't believe that in 2 days I've met so many amazing people that I am excited to spend time with. The long winter is an excuse to create more activities, and follow through with them. Additionally, Bill and Ray have taken really good care of me. They feed me, chauffeur me, entertain me, and bathe me. I mean, they let me use their shower. How lucky can I get?
The true highlight of the day though, and I'm so excited this happened, was cutting the fat off moose ribs. And tomorrow, we'll eat them. How yummy.
I'm still holding out for cleaning a bear this spring. Or maybe I'll just got shoot one myself...
Ah, Alaska

Alaska turns 50!

I had to thaw out to start shivering.
I may be going into convulsions right now.
It is currently 10:32 AM. I just got back from an hour walk in -9 degrees.
The sun still appears to be rising. And it is somewhat light out. When my goosebumps are gone, and my hair thaws (it turns out that when my breath hits my hair, it freezes) I may have to go enjoy it.
When I left at 9:15 AM the sun was rising on my left and a big beautiful full moon was setting on my right. It just ducked below the horizon.
Luckily drivers are pedestrian friendly. I think they feel sorry for the stupid people that decide to walk.
There are also several bikers. Being that ice genearlly scares me, and I have much less blanace when wheels are involved, I don't think I'll be jumping on a bicycle any time soon.
I'm staying with Ray, who believes that decorating should involve as many dead things as possible. Especially if they're large dead things. There are skull and antler sets in the living room, a bear hide covering the love seat and another on the deep chest freezer and a moose antler on top of that. He and his roommate have adopted two plants since I visited last November.
On the bright side, they killed a moose recently and still have deer left over in the freezer. This means I'll get as much dead animal as I can stand (deer meat does make an excellent addition to pasta sauce). In summer, I anticipate some bear. Yum! This may mean that I'll gain the 8 pounds that I lost somewhere between Mississippi and Alaska.
My goal right now is to learn the bus system. Somehow, walking everywhere when it's the coldest winter people can remember doesn't seem very pleasant right now, although Ray has offered the use of his car...
Walking in the dark is nice though. The world is very private and very quiet. The shadows on the mountains are absolutely beautiful.
We went to a ska concert last night. Which meant I got to dance. And meet a ridiculous number of people. I think I remember 5 names out of 30. That's a good start.
On that note, Alaska has been a state for 50 years. I'll be in the middle of all kinds of celebrations!
Walking around Alaska does feel a lot like walking around Japan. Not quite sure why yet, but I've got time to figure that out.
So. I'm in Alaska. Weird.