Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Winter in Anchorage - Dec 8, 2010
Hello!
It's been too long since I've posted. I apologize. Work is still crazy. Our motto seems to be "It'll get better".
The first snow was just after Halloween. We have a foot or so now. Just enough for everything to be covered. Snow is infinitely better than ice. We all cringe when the temp gets to 32 degrees or warmer. It happens rarely, thankfully, because when it does the snow melts and freezes when the temp drops again. That gives us a bunch of ice. You can drive on snow. Driving on ice is next to impossible.
Someone needs to write a guide for Alaska transplants. Things I've learned (either thru advice or personal experience): ~Baby steps will get you over slick pavement in most any shoe. ~When driving in snowy conditions you are pretty much guaranteed to slide. Give plenty of following space for braking. Turn the wheel the direction you want to go when sliding. ~Don't let your gas tank get below one-fourth to one-half of a tank. If there is any water in it, it will freeze and that is bad. ~Keep Kleenex on you at all times. Something will run as you move from warm to cold to warm again. ~Hold onto you car with two hands and one foot firmly planted while moving you other foot into you car. Falling is embarrassing. Falling and sliding under you car is worse. ~Carry a small can of de-icer with you in case your car door freezes closed. ~Scarves work as ear warmers and face coverings if needed. ~What they call "sanding" up here is really "gravelling" and you will eventually need a new windshield. ~Not all bears hibernate. And the awake ones tend to be grumpy. ~Static Guard spray isn't the best smelling, but is a necessity. ~Lotion is also a necessity. ~Have one really good, warm, dry pair of snow boots. ~It's only cold if you don't dress for it. ~Walk (the dog if you have one) everyday. It will make you feel better.
I'm sure there are more. That's all I can think of right now. I do have to say that I'm much more in the Christmas spirit this year than last. Being so far from friends and family I have to plan ahead to account for shipping time. Plus decorating and doing holiday things knowing family and friends are doing the same things just a ways away gives me comfort. I'm not flying home for Christmas and I actually have a couple invites for Christmas up here. Not sure if I'll accept any of them. On Christmas Eve I am going to a friend's house. I found a cranberry turkey crock-pot recipe that I'm making. She's making dessert and we are going to sit around eating and watching movies for the day.
Take care!
Sandra
It's been too long since I've posted. I apologize. Work is still crazy. Our motto seems to be "It'll get better".
The first snow was just after Halloween. We have a foot or so now. Just enough for everything to be covered. Snow is infinitely better than ice. We all cringe when the temp gets to 32 degrees or warmer. It happens rarely, thankfully, because when it does the snow melts and freezes when the temp drops again. That gives us a bunch of ice. You can drive on snow. Driving on ice is next to impossible.
Someone needs to write a guide for Alaska transplants. Things I've learned (either thru advice or personal experience): ~Baby steps will get you over slick pavement in most any shoe. ~When driving in snowy conditions you are pretty much guaranteed to slide. Give plenty of following space for braking. Turn the wheel the direction you want to go when sliding. ~Don't let your gas tank get below one-fourth to one-half of a tank. If there is any water in it, it will freeze and that is bad. ~Keep Kleenex on you at all times. Something will run as you move from warm to cold to warm again. ~Hold onto you car with two hands and one foot firmly planted while moving you other foot into you car. Falling is embarrassing. Falling and sliding under you car is worse. ~Carry a small can of de-icer with you in case your car door freezes closed. ~Scarves work as ear warmers and face coverings if needed. ~What they call "sanding" up here is really "gravelling" and you will eventually need a new windshield. ~Not all bears hibernate. And the awake ones tend to be grumpy. ~Static Guard spray isn't the best smelling, but is a necessity. ~Lotion is also a necessity. ~Have one really good, warm, dry pair of snow boots. ~It's only cold if you don't dress for it. ~Walk (the dog if you have one) everyday. It will make you feel better.
I'm sure there are more. That's all I can think of right now. I do have to say that I'm much more in the Christmas spirit this year than last. Being so far from friends and family I have to plan ahead to account for shipping time. Plus decorating and doing holiday things knowing family and friends are doing the same things just a ways away gives me comfort. I'm not flying home for Christmas and I actually have a couple invites for Christmas up here. Not sure if I'll accept any of them. On Christmas Eve I am going to a friend's house. I found a cranberry turkey crock-pot recipe that I'm making. She's making dessert and we are going to sit around eating and watching movies for the day.
Take care!
Sandra
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