Warm Weather Gear for Alaska

Duluth Trading Company is selling a line of warm weather gear with an Alaska sales pitch. The only nuance they missed was the fact that in Alaska the term is snow machine, snow-go, and at times we just refer to them as sleds. However, we never call them snowmobiles. When we hear that term, we know the person is from the mid-west states of the lower 48.

Duluth Trading Company’s products might seem a bit on the pricey side but the items that we have purchased stand up to the real life wear-and-tear of these Alaskans.

Stay warm and dry my friends, and never underestimate Mother Nature especially in Alaska as the cold can be unforgiving.

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Merry Christmas

Christmas time brings out the nostalgia in most of us as we reflect on the year and wonder what memories are worth sharing in the annual letter to friends and family. In our changed times we make ourselves overly busy, we obsessively communicate via the www, the interwebs, the social, and writing a letter seems as arduous as chiseling away at a slab of marble to find inside the Venus de Milo. However, as each Christmas season draws near we want to reach out to you and share a little bit of the holiday cheer and a lot of love with those we love.

For us 2017 brought many gifts to our doorstep and a few gifts that we had to venture forth to find. The gift of travel is one that we cherish. First on the list is traveling back home to Fairbanks to spend time with our people, all of whom we are proud of beyond measure. Next on the list is being able to travel abroad, exploring new landscapes and re-learning that no matter what latitude we live at, humans share a common thread. We share the same joys of life and shed the same salty tears.

Another gift is that of time. Time is precious. Time is measured, and each amount is a treasure. During the long winter nights when the droning tick of the clock seems endless, we find joy in the glow of the firelight and a warm cup of something tasty. Each tick, each moment, a blessing surely can be found. Seek and you shall find. Ask and you shall receive. Knock and it will be answered.

If what you seek you will find, we will seek joy. If you ask so shall you receive, we will ask for peace. And if we could, we would knock at your door for an overdue visit.

May the light of the brightest star guide you to your destination.

All our love to you and yours this holiday season and into the coming year.

Josh & Julia

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Long Winter's Kip

Time for a long winter’s kip in the warm glow of the afternoon sunlight. Time for some much-needed rest away from the j-o-b, and time spent at home where my heart dwells. Time to reflect, refresh, and receive hugs from our sons and our girls.

May the quickly approaching holiday be filled with light and love. May joy be all that you see.

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Shinrin-Yoku

The Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku - forest bathing, taking in the forest atmosphere as a form of medicine and healing which comes from simply being in the forest.

A few days ago during our brief but spectacular show of sunlight, I spent some time forest bathing. And I must say I am a healthier person for my time spent among nature. I feel revived and ready to take on whatever is dished my way.

It is a curious thing however, that something that was a natural part of my childhood now is a practice and has a name. Where did that child go that intuitively knew time exploring among the trees was time well spent? It might be high time to rethink my career choice and get out from behind this computer.

Hope your Monday starts and ends well my friends.

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Motivational Team

The last push of the semester is a hard sell to my motivational team.  

Me, myself, and I are really struggling to pull it together.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

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Open Door

The negative events of the past do not define me. The positive light shining in through future's open door is who I am.

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Good Question

Where Are You Depositing Your Misery

"You must answer this question. Not from your mind or even your heart.

You must let your body speak and tell you the tale of where you’ve packed away the untold stories and the words left painfully unspoken.

You must release the image that you can sweep it neatly under the rug.

That hopeful bright-eyed belief that ignoring it will make it retreat and go away… it is not truth and it will not change until you know from the depth of your being that your misery does not belong inside you.

It cannot be ignored. It will not be brushed aside. You must muster all your courage and with all your strength and might, look it square in the eye and grieve all that has transpired.

Then and only then can you give it a sweet kiss goodbye and let it go into the ether and out of your precious body.

And begin to fill that space with only things that bring delight."

Found at Tasra.Me - Where Are You Depositing Your Misery

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Growing Roots & Wings

Growing roots is good for the soul, and growing wings to soar is even better.  

Time to do both.

Happy Friday my friends near and far, old and new.  

Share the love with those you love.

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Antarctica Episode III ~ Gett'en-er-done

Hey Momma!

Sorry I've been rather incommunicado, we've been pretty busy out here this year. Since our normal generator and power system maintenance guy wants to retire, he's training the field techs this year and next which leaves our new guy, Tim, and I to dig the vaults. Further, we measured almost six feet of snow accumulation over this last year, almost as much snow as the last two years combined! To excavate one of our sensor vaults this year means moving somewhere between 5 and 6 cubic yards of snow. Lots of tiring work, but we're almost done with that part. We have one vault left to lift to the surface and then we need to do sensor calibrations, re-run the power cable, replace the coax radio cables, re-flag everything, and generally get the site ready for another 11 months.

While digging out the first few vaults, the weather was pretty poor: windy and low visibility. I think the wind speed peaked at about 25 mph out here in less-wind bight. I got disoriented working in one of the holes and looked the wrong direction when I popped up to check visibility. I couldn't see camp or even a single flag! Then I turned around and felt silly but slightly justified because I could barely see BOB. Pulling the power cable from under the snow was eerie on the snow machining, heading out into the white void. Good thing I brought my GPS!

We went in to town last weekend for a big Thanksgiving meal and the galley staff really out do themselves every year! On the snow-machine ride in, we saw the tracks of what looks like a penguin scooting on his belly toward Erebus. He must have crossed our road about 10 hours before we crossed his but it was still cool!

Congratulations on the bathroom and the tally! I bet it's a huge relief to finally start getting the bathroom finished. Where is that chunk of change going to take you guys this time?

Anyways, it's about time to start making dinner. I think it's shrimp curry night! We may not have much "cheese and wine", as you say, but we do have plenty of chocolate and wine!

Love ya!
Drew

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Earthquake ~ 3.9

Just in time to start the day.  

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Long Winter Nights

We decided it was high time these coins stop lazing around and get to work. Our 5-gallon jug was not quite full but heavy enough that it was time to roll these shiny gems and put their value to work earning interest for that next big trip.

There were some surprises in the jug, little gems of memories.

The numismatic person that is a part of me was very thankful that my past self left this note for my future self.  Just keep rolling those coins, no need to look at the year or the mint.  Roll on.

The work and time spent rolling the coins has been well worth the gain. It's amazing just how quickly the coins add up to dollars.

Time to start planning that next adventure.  Where should we go next?

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Chocolate Chip Cookie

Chocolate chip cookie... rock. This cookie is a dental bill waiting to happen.  

What cool rock finds do you have in your collection?

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