Back on Line Woo Hoo

Well finally, I am back on line. The internet was out for three weeks. Due to weather conditions and the "ice free" harbor in Homer icing up, they couldn't send a boat over. Talk about serious withdrawals....lol. Thanks to everyone that sent emails asking what was up... and a special thanks to Gordon. He used to live in AK and was worried after not seeing me. He called the Soldotna Highway Patrol and they checked on me. I appreciate the concern.

Check out the new slide show!! Pics from the last three weeks.

So let's see. what adventures have I had? I had a great trip over to the mail shack on Xmas day. The weather was perfect. Had several boxes and lots of mail. One box was for Spike - a scratching post, catnip, and a comb. He was in cat heaven. Here is a pic of one of his favorite indoor hang outs.











Boy talk about a change in weather. The wind started whipping through here Monday night 12/25. By the morning, it was snowing so hard, you couldn’t see anything. Stayed this way all day. Probably dropped 6 inches. Then by late afternoon the temp went up and everything started melting. Snow was thumping off the roof. Really neat the way it curves off the roof before falling. Wind died down. Around 10:30, after I got off the phone with Jeremiah, I started hearing a beep like a travel alarm beep. The temp alarm for the heat box under the house was going off. It was down to 39. Bulb was out.

This heat lamp keeps the incoming water from freezing up. I have to climb over a railing, drop down about 6 feet and crawl under the house. Of course there weren't any heat lamps up here so I had to go down to the laundry room to get one. Picked up a 250 watt (the only ones down there), came back up, managed to get under the house without killing myself and discovered I needed a screwdriver to get into the lamp housing. (Jon, that little tidbit needs to be added to the caretaker instruction manual!!). Went back and got a screwdriver, changed the bulb. When I checked the thermometer in the house it had shot up to over 100 degrees. Far to0 hot. So back to the laundry room, grabbed some 100 watt regular light bulbs, another 6 foot drop and crawl under the house. Lots of fun in seriously high winds and of course 11 at night and dealing with about 18" of virgin snow. At least it would cushion me if I fell.

Now understand there isn't any ladder or anything and I am 5'3. Once down, decking is about chest high for me. I had to haul myself up and heave myself over..Only got a couple of bruises.

While I was out the weather changed again and it started to thunder and lightning. No rain but the temp started rising.

(Found out why Spike loves it under the house - it is all dirt and is a perfect private litter box...lol.)

A warm front came through and lingered for three or four days. Everything was melting and falling off the roofs. Had a lot of paths to unblock. Spent a lot of time on the dock shoveling snow pack. hard work but at least I am developing some muscle and losing the flab. The days were beautiful and sunny. By warm I mean around 40 degrees..lol. Actually feels warmer around 32. It becomes a damp cold at 40.

So what did I do with my time without the internet you may ask? Especially since I spend a LOT of time online...I started working on the projects I brought over. Embroidery, Jeremiah's bday gift, reading, played some gamecube, lots of work outdoors. Did some snowshoeing, cleaned the skis, watched way too much TV.

I just finished the John Sandford Prey series and ordered the four I didn't have (did that after I got back on line). They should be here in a week or so. Also finished the James Patterson/Alex Cross books. I just started the Kathy Riechs/Temperance Brennen books. These are the books that the Fox series Bones is based on. They are pretty good but the character on TV is vastly different than the books so if you read them and watch the series expect differences.

Had some new birds show up - A flock of Red Polls with some Pine Siskins. They stayed for a few days. Huge flock of at least 50 birds. A flock of white winged Scoters are hanging around the cover.

By 12/29, we had high winds and it was snowing pretty heavy again. Got about 7 inches overnight.

Baked some bread. Used the bread machine here for some of it but it didn't really rise like it should so went back to the over bread. Turned out wonderfully. I added Parmesan, garlic and rosemary. Smelled great.










1/3 - I got about 10 inches of snow here and according to the weather report, it was a blizzard. I would believe that - very high winds and no visibility. This is the back of the Crows Nest Cabin. Tutka Bay is in the background.












1/4 One of the baby otters stayed on the dock most of the day. He is getting very big and I think Mom is tired of carrying him. She kept bringing him food and occasionally would get up with him. I also saw a new baby this week. Once in the cove behind the lodge and then on the dock. Mom picked him up by the scruff and dove in the water when she saw me coming down the dock.

Leif, the internet guy, is supposed to come out on the 9th, weather permitting. He is also bringing my groceries when he comes. This isn't going to happen. The weather dips down to zero and below in Homer and boats can't get out of the harbor. Was in the teens over here. not much snow though. After about three or four days of really really cold weather the water froze up coming into the house. EEK!!! Talked to Jon and started a heater in the pump room. After a couple of hours water started. Yeah!!!.If it had been one of the underground pipes, I would have had to haul water up here until the pipes unfroze. I had already brought some up just in case.

1/14 - had an earthquake!!!! There was an 8.2 in the Korel Islands around 7:30 PM. I was on the phone with Jeremiah and a bunch of roof snow fell off. The whole lodge house shook pretty hard. I didn't realize it was an earthquake until the weather alarm went off. We were under a Tsunami watch for a couple of hours. If you don't know where the Korel Islands are, get a map and look above the last island of Japan. They are part of Russia.

We had a good amount of rain this week as well. Melted a lot of the snow pac. Make it easier to shovel off the dock.

1/18 - WOO HOO - Leif and Eric made it over. Internet is fixed and groceries delivered. I had plenty of food. Just nothing fresh. Eric checked out the dock. It has two broken hinges. He is not sure when he will be able to get back out to fix it.

Started snowing a couple of days ago. Pretty heavy. I measured 18 inches two days ago on top of what was already here. I keep part of the deck railing clear so I can measure. It is snowing pretty heavy right now. It was a sunny beautiful day this morning but now it is gray. Spike is outside. He totally loves it out there. He doesn't care if it is raining, snowy,windy, cold as hell. He is kind of like the post office motto..lol.

I saw 7, yes 7, blue herons perched on a rock ledge behind the lodge. Wish I could have taken a pick to share but my digital is too small. Oh how I wish I had the new Nikon D80 or D70 with an AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4D IF-ED II. SWEET!!

SNL - Digital Short - A Special Christmas Box *Uncensored *

This is THE funniest thing Saturday Night Live has produced in years.

12/25/06

Well Happy Holidays and all that Jazz. My first xmas in Alaska. Today was a lovely day. Sunny, light wind, around 30 degrees. Perfect day for rowing, so that is what I did. First time by myself since I have been here. Had quite a bit of mail waiting for me. The rowing part isn't difficult, but my back will be feeling it tomorrow. The difficulty is pulling the boat back up on the beach and turning it over. My arms are pretty much wrecked by the time I get back. I tied it up and let the tide bring it on up. Was finally able to pull it all the way up and flip it over. Whew.

The eagles were out and soaring overhead and a large sea otter followed me for a while. Never saw the harbor seal.

Rowing was fun. Nice and peaceful. Only one close call with a rock..lol.

I was going to post some pics I took but the upload program on blogger isn't working today. I will get those on later.

Went out yesterday to fill the bird feeder and one of the nuthatches had managed to get itself in the birdfeeder. He really wanted that last seed...He got out okay after I turned it upside down.

The kingfishers are back or at least one of them is. They shouldn't be here this time of year but have seen one the last two days, including today.

If you haven't looked already, there are two new slide shows posted.

Haven't read too much news lately..got burned out, but never fear my witty commentary and rapier like wit will return soon.

But here are some "things" to ponder all heard on TV this past week:

A study in England on women's weight has concluded that women will be more likely to seek help if the labels in Size 12 and up clothing included an 800 number to an obesity hotline. US manufacturer's are thinking about doing the same thing.

Now people, since when is size 12 obese? or Overweight? All of the women shown in the news clip were no where near size 12. They were all closer to 18, 20 and 24. And which size 12? Petite, misses, Juniors, women's? for you guys out there, women's clothing sizes are a nightmare. I have worn size 12's and I most certainly wasn't obese, nor close to it. Size 12 is the most common size in America. Not zero, 1, or 2 as most media would have you believe. And it isn't obese.


And on the same topic, sort of, have you SEEN the commercial for nutrisystem? Some chick waxing eloquant on all of the weight she has lost stuffing her face with chocolate - Claims to be a size two. If she is a size two, I am the queen mother.

Medical Commercials

I have a real issue with the commericals for Valtrax (genital herpes). They show these pictures of beautiful people who want to have sex. the tag line for Valtrex is Want to reduce the risk of spreading Genital Herpes? Well guess what, DON'T HAVE SEX!!!!!. They have the actors saying they didn't know it could be spread when an outbreak wasn't evident. This isn't new information but the way it is packaged on these commercials will lead people to think it is okay to take Valtrex and have sex.

And how about the one for Rhumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Enbral? An actor says " I didn't know RA could cause joint damage" WHAT? What does she think RA does? Stupid commercial.


Funny heard on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show this week: Presidents news conference held in Indian Treaty Room and you know we can trust what is said in the indian treaty room.

12/19/06

Just a quickie today. It snowed for about 5 days and as of the 18th there is 13 inches of snow. The 18th was a gorgous wind and snow free day with sun. Spent a good amt of time snow blowing the deck area around the main lodge house and blowing off the floating deck.

I am working on a new slide show which I will post either tonight or tomorrow so please see those pics.

Was woken up bright and early this morning (not so bright as the sun wasn't up yet) by a wrong number (someone telling me my ups package would be delivered by 9:45...thanks Sandra) and then Jeremiah IMing me over and over right after the phone stopped ringing. Since my oldest daughter has been sick and was in the hospital, I thought maybe it was my ex husband or her husband calling with news. So I decided to just stay up. My daughter is fine btw way. Just some pregnancy related thing.

Saw the mama sea otter with her baby out of the water and on the dock. and then the bottom fell out. Winds were whipping through here most of the day. I estimated them at least 20 mph and the snow fall was extremely heavy. Lost power in the middle of it, so had fun hooking generators up. Very glad I got the deck and path cleared of snow yesterday.

Electricity was only out about an hour. Not bad.

Spike actually went out twice during the high winds. Cat is turning in to a true wilderness snow kitty. I have pics of him going through the 13 inch snow yesterday. They will be on the new slide show.

Went back out around a quarter to 4 to put everything up and do the evening rounds. Figured another 3 to 4 inches fell today. I walked out into an uncleared portion of the main deck and sank into snow up to my knees. That is 19 inches of snow.

According to the weather advisory, we can expect 4 - 8 inches tonight and tomorrow. I can feel another turn with the snow blower coming on.

Well way more tomorrow. I have pics, some news news, comments on some really stupid advertising etc. So stay tuned.

Like my snowflakes?

12/15/06

What a beautiful day today. Bright and sunny, about 20 degrees, no wind. Over all we got about 6 inches of snow and more is in the forecast starting tomorrow. Spent the day doing outside chores, pumping diesel, feeding the ducks and birds, shoveling some snow, burning trash.

The sharp shinned hawk was at the feeder this morning. I found feathers on the railing so he must have nailed one of the nuthatches. I saw him going after a Stellar's Jay which is way too big for him. He must be pretty hungry.

I dumped the organics behind the boat house yesterday afternoon and the gulls and crows were having a feast today. When I feed the ducks today, the only place to throw food had ice on it. It was pretty funny watching them slip and slide on the ice. Finally they got smart and flew over instead of trying to walk over.



Saw river otter tracks under the main deck and on the dock.













Looked like they were having party judging by the condition of the snow on the dock.

The coyote has been pretty active. His tracks were all over the beach in the snow. Haven't seen him in the flesh yet. Yesterday the two great blue herons that winter here flew overhead. They sound like something being strangled.


This frozen jelly fish was on the beach today.









And this sunflower star was hanging on the dock. He, she, it (not sure) has been down there a lot. Kind of a crappy pic but I had to lean over the edge of the deck at an angle to get it.











Spike has been having his usual conference with the birds and squirrels today. I see his tracks everywhere and saw him under the lodge house when I was outside. It has been to cold the last few days to leave the window open so I just crack open the outer door so he can get in the mud room. When I hear him bitching, I get up and let him in. He has been outside all day today. At least I don't have to clean the litter box as much..lol

Well the headlines are pretty much the same today. More of the same BS. So today's news is gonna be the odd stuff.

From the BBC

They are gonna do WHAT?

EU hardens tone on enlargement - sounds like an advert for viagra http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6181845.stm

From the "And if you believe this, I have a bridge to sell' files

Tenor blames 'low blood sugar' - for those of you that follow opera, and who doesn't, The lead tenor walked out of a performance of Aida at La Scala, citing a crappy audience after being booed. Turns out he didn't eat a snickers before the performance - Ah, the drama!!http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6181845.stm

From the "people just don't have a sense of humor anymore" files

AOL News

Nazi Gingerbread Men Moved to New Town - sugar and spice and everything nice apparently doesn't apply here - http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/nazi-gingerbread-men-moved-to-new-town/n20061215073209990005?cid=842


From the "What the hell?" files:

AOL News

Man Runs Over Deer With 7 Legs - A generic freak but the venison was finger licking good and tenderized by the car - You HAVE to check out the pics especially number three and read the caption - can we say Deliverence? I think the real generic freak was the guy who hit the deer. http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/man-runs-over-deer-with-seven-legs/20061214121209990001?cid=2359

From the " Have You SEEN the show folks?" files:

Multiple news outlets

The Golden Globe nominees were announced yesterday. How in the world did Heros get a best drama nomination? Did the nominating committee actually watch the show? It is the worst thing on TV this season and there is a lot of really bad TV. The plot sucks, the dialogue sucks, that chick with the split personality really sucks and who cares about that stupid cheerleader.

I also don't think much of either Lost or Grey's Anatomy. One has just devolved into complete ridiculousness and the other is a prime time advertisement for indescriminate sex and adultery. Bring back the original cast of ER for christ's sake. But hey, I know how to change the channel.