Hi folks,
Allow me to clarify something I said in my last email. My fingers just
don't listen sometimes and type what they want. When I stated Anchorage was
like New Orleans, I meant that it is a city surrounded by barriers to growth
with limited land left to build on. That, combined with the constantly growing
population of Alaska due to folks moving to the promised land like us, will make
property values continue to climb (I hope).
So, I recently heard from a friend that spring is happening down New
Orleans way. We had a kind of teaser recently when the temps climbed all the
way up to the mid 20's to right at 30 degrees (above zero). This allowed me to
realize that we have not had icicles like you see in most pictures of cold
places. They appeared one day after a warm spell such as described above making
me aware that they have not been there. What was happening is the warmer temp
combined with the sun was melting the snow on the roofs allowing the dripping
water to form long beautiful stalactite type formations (or is it
stalagmites?). We had to be careful for a while there to make sure none landed
on us. The good news (good?) is that it has cooled off again-back down to 12
below yesterday and 8 below today so the icicles have disappeared-just don't ask
me where they went, they just are not there anymore. The days are a lot longer
now lasting over 15 hours. Tuesday, even though it was around 2 below zero when
I got off of work at 5pm, the sun was shining and there was no wind. One of my
fellow workers told me some folks were fishing on the ice just outside of town
over the weekend. I drove out to front street on my 4 wheeler and rode out onto
the sound heading east looking for the holes. Before I knew it I was a couple
of miles out on the ice with just my jeans on my legs, riding a 4 wheeler by
myself. I stopped, figuring that might not be the most prudent of actions,
turned around and came back to town. See, we Sammartino's do got some
smarts.........? Yesterday was back to the norm. Below zero temps with the wind
in the 20-25 mph range with sandblasting snow-not snowing, just blowing what was
already there. I did not dally on the way home, I hustled home and huddled in
the warmth like the wimp I am (and proud of it!). I have to say though that
Monday and Tuesday were just beautiful and gave me the urge to get out and
ride. I am happy about this as I was getting a little concerned about the lack
of desire to freeze my a-- off (actually it's still my face that gives me fits).
There was maybe a hint of spring to come that we saw Sunday on our 4wheeler
ride. Coming through the airport on the way back I saw two small grey birds just
over the airstrip. Now the only birds still here during the winter are the
ravens who are all over and make a multitude of sounds including some that sound
human, and the ptarmigan which is a small game bird that turns brown in the
summer and snow white in winter. Now they could have been ptarmigan but they
were not white. So it could be the beginning of the migration although I do not
believe they would be that dumb. The ravens are really an intelligent bird, but
I sometimes have my doubts when I see one perched on top of a snow mound,
hunkered down in the blowing snow looking just miserable. (Heck, what does that
say about my intelligence as I stand there looking at the dumb bird?)
Cathy and her friend Frank, who by the way is not Inupiat, he and his
mother are Yupik which is a tribe who's region is south of here, have been
hanging out almost everyday. I think I mentioned they got a moose while Patty
and I were in Anchorage and Monday they went out the back of town to hunt
ptarmigan. Well, they got a caribou instead. Now Cathy has not been doing the
shooting as we just reached a year here on the 16th. (That's right, that now
makes us official Alaskans.) She is planning on getting her hunting and fishing
license this weekend-total $39.00 for both, including everything except
waterfowl ($5.00), brown/grizzly bear ($25.00), musk ox ($25.00 for a
female-$500.00 for a male), or king salmon ($10.00). So to those of you who are
hunters and fishermen out there, eat your heart out. We get to fish and hunt for
next to nothing in the best state in the country to do both, not to mention the
scenery. Oh, and no, we have no plans to hunt bear or musk ox except maybe with
a camera (providing they are not hunting us-gotta think about that around here
ya know). While Patty and I were in Anchorage we picked up a rifle for Cathy, a
Remington model 7 youth bolt action 7mm-08 with a 3x9 Burris scope and she
cannot wait to get her first caribou. Supposedly there is an Eskimo
ritual concerning the first caribou taken by an individual. Frank will help her
with it-I'm just not sure what it is though, or if she's pulling my leg. I'll
let you know. I hope the weather cooperates this weekend as I would like to get
out there too.
I did not get to Anchorage this week as planned due to the fact that the
Alaska Air jets were booked up. See, the jet that comes here two to three times
a day also stops in Nome on each flight. Nome is where the finish line of the
Iditarod is so......those darned touristy types took all the seats. No matter,
I really did not want to go. I guess I'm kinda codependent on my wife and I
don't like to travel alone. Especially when I have to smash a perfect stranger
in the seat or seats next to me. At least when I came back from Anchorage last
week I sat next to a guy with handcuffs and leg chains on, so smashing him did
not weigh on my conscious as much.
Just had the urge to type some more. Hope things are well with you all.
Carlo
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Last updated:
08/29/05