Although we didn't make it on the commercial (look for UAF student in front of the -43 degrees tempurature sign) we still love Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. WE DID IT!!!
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| Bumper to Bumper Wasilla, Alaska (907) 373-7166 |
The winter days are getting noticably longer. South Central is gaining about 5 minutes a day. During this latest cold snap, being clear & cold, the sunsets have been magnificant.
I put a red arrow pointing to the FishTaxi. We all gathered in the Valdez HS gym for this shot of the whole gang. Photo compliments of the City of Valdez. They gave us all copies with our checks and printed a poster size which we all signed. Quite the deal. 
Back home in the valley of the horses. Looks like spring around here compared to Valdez; snow wise.
Soon my horse (van) will be as good as new and ready to ride!
I clipped a calf moose following close behind the cow who darted out in front of me at Milepost 50 of the Richardson Hwy on my way down to Valdez.
It was dark & snowing. I was going about 40-45mph. When all of a sudden there they were, about 30ft in front of me, crossing the road.
Moose collisions are not only breaking vehicles this year they are breaking records. With the deep snow in the mountains they are hanging low in the valleys. More moose on the roads, train tracks & neighborhoods causes more chance of encounters. Most not friendly.
As I braked and turned into a slid to the left, hoping to miss the calf, when my right front collided with its right rear haunch. The impact knocked it off its feet sending its rear onto my hood. Then bounced off towards the right snowbank and luckily not into my windshield & front seat.
My mechanic in Valdez punched out the dent (my hood opens!) and duct-taped the plastic blinker cover back on but wasn't able to fix the electrical problem. No tail lights! So I scooted back to the Mat-Su Valley during the day light & have an appointment at Bumper to Bumper tomorrow to see if they can find the short. Also lost the plastic blinker cover somewhere so I am checking junk yards. Must have needed MORE duct-tape!
On the way back I saw a lone cow moose at 50 Mile with no calf. I feel so bad.
Be careful out there and don't over run your headlights like I did. No matter what the speed limit or road conditions the moose are out there. Closer than you think.
Workers climbing the snowbank to get to the roof.
Big loaders blow the snow out of the way.
Old street signs are made into cutters to cut the snow into blocks.
The saws laying against the snowbank on the left are nifty snow cutters, too. The scoops pick up the blocks of snow.
We push the scoops full of snow to a snow shoot. This is to miss having to move the snow twice off an already shoveled roof. The snow slides easy on the plastic as long as the loaders can keep up with removal.
Nice spawning Kenai Sockeye caught & released by a Jimmie Jack fishing guide. Almost looks fake.
Something fun to do in the deep, dark winter is play BINGO! Especially if you win like I did tonight! There are smoking & non-smoking rooms. You can still smoke at BINGO, the bars, in cabs & owner's choice restaurants in the valley. Thurs-Sunday nights with late-nights Friday & Saturday. I like that they start at 6:30 and I'm home by 9:30. And tonight about $150 ahead!
Located at 6445 E. Blue Lupine Rd. in Wasilla.
December 20th on the Upper Kenai bridge.
Took these pictures driving back to the valley from the Kenai Pennisula. In between storms that almost closed the highway. Lots of snow so far this winter. Nothing compared to Valdez though. 
This boxboy said he wasn't fazed by the below zero weather. Took his coat off to go outside. Over 30 years in Alaska and I still get excited & grab my camera when I see a moose.
Moose means "Twig Eater" in native tongue. Makes sense because thats what they eat. In the winter (-17 degrees today) they subsist on spruce tips.
It's been like an early Christmas for me around here unpacking the "Totes of My Life" one more time. Now I know why I've been hauling them around & and paying storage fees.
My set of five fish cups that I just love! Unbreakable Sterling China Made in the good ol' U.S. of A. East Liverpool, Ohio to be exact. I found them at a garage sale in Fairbanks about 20 years ago.
My teapot I got at Sagaya's back when it was a little store in Spenard about that same time. Its not even broke in yet.
Care for a spot of tea?
Musher's lingo for giddy-up and go is "Hike!" Not "Mush!" like I always thought. Snapped this picture out my rolled down window driving down KGB. One shot and I got it. All this snow makes for happy sled dogs. Not so happy people. One guy at the bar last night rolled his truck. Got a ride with somebody else and they rolled. He was back at the bar today alive to tell about it. His truck was still in the ditch when I drove by. Maybe he should take up mushing. Or hiking.
Weather permitted bbqing New York Steaks my first night! 
Not only did I learn how to make pizzas I learned how to make the pizza boxes!Landed myself a cooking job at the Knik Bar & Grill in the Knik (pronounced Ka-Nik) Historic District today. Located at Mile 13.5 of the scenic Knik-Goose Bay Road. A popular route to interior Alaska before Anchorage was even on the map. Dog-mushing is the word out there & the first 15 miles of Knik Road are now designated as the Joe Redington Sr. Memorial Trail in memory of the Father of the Iditarod Sled Dog race.
Went on quite a few interviews around the valley and was actually picked to be hired for a couple (one was cooking at an old folks home & another was cooking in a bagel shop) but held out for this job. It was a bold move in this economy I know. But, with the money I saved all summer I could afford to be a bit choosy.
This is the back door to the nice commercial kitchen. Friday night is steak night and I will be grilling on that grill outside. (Weather Permitting!)
