Traveling Times . . .

Or where have you gone on your travels around the United States? 

A friend sent this to me several months ago and I have not had time to post this.

Put an X by the states you have been to.  I’m told the average is 8; how do you match up?

Should you chose to play, here's what you do:

Copy my post.

Paste the copy in the body of the note.  Delete my Xs and add your own.

Just for fun, put an O beside the states where you have lived.

Airports don't count as you must have traveled to the area!

Alabama - XO
Alaska - XO
Arizona - X
Arkansas - X
California - X
Colorado - XO
Connecticut - X
Delaware - X
Florida - X
Georgia - XO
Hawaii - X
Idaho - X
Illinois - X
Indiana - X
Iowa - X
Kansas - X
Kentucky - XO
Louisiana - XO
Maine -
Maryland - X
Massachusetts - X
Michigan - X
Minnesota - X
Mississippi - X
Missouri - X
Montana - X
Nebraska - X
Nevada - X
New Hampshire -
New Jersey - X
New Mexico - X
New York - X
North Carolina - X
North Dakota - X
Ohio - X
Oklahoma - X
Oregon - X
Pennsylvania - X
Rhode Island -
South Carolina - X
South Dakota - X
Tennessee - X
Texas - XO
Utah - XO
Vermont -
Virginia - X
West Virginia - X
Wisconsin - X
Wyoming - X
Washington – X

Washington D.C. - X

Ice

Bah Humbug

December 26 is a downer for many people.

The decorations are still up, but do you sometimes feel whats the point?

Christmas is over.

The children have done their thing with the presents which probably are unbroken and mostly appreciated, but their allure as surprises in brightly wrapped packages is gone.  The guilt-free indulgences that happened in the last several weeks leading up to Christmas with chocolates and Chex mix is now giving way to nagging worries about love handles.

Call it the post-Christmas letdown, the result of spending a month immersed in the holiday, then having it end abruptly.  Although the holiday season doesn't end until New Year's Day, Christmas is the big holiday, the pinnacle of the season, the focus of planning and preparation.  The hours of decorating, cooking, and preparing for the big holiday gathering are shattered in the few short minutes of opening gifts, eating a great meal and if you are lucky . . . family or friends spending a few hours with you after the festivities.

Because Christmas is so important, feeling the letdown is common.  But getting over it can be tricky.  That reality comes crashing in the morning of Dec. 26.  There's something anticlimactic about a Christmas tree with no presents under it, about leftovers from a big holiday meal, about stacks of Christmas CDs that somehow don't sound as good as they did Dec. 24.

And for many people . . . there are the bills.

I always feel let down to some degree right after Christmas, whether or not I had a good holiday.  If I had a good Christmas, I want the feelings to go on, but if my Christmas sucked, I feel down because there's no hope left for recovering the holiday for that year and it's another long year before I get another chance.  I feel bad to see the colorful lights being taken down and neighborhoods being returned to their former drab darkness.  One of the nice things about Anchorage is the lights tend to be left on until March when the Iditarod Sled Dog race finishes and the last musher crosses safely under the burled archway in Nome.  It gives us a much needed mood lift during the long hours of darkness seeing the trees and buildings lit up in the various colors and themes.

Keeping busy after the holidays is another way to lose those holiday blues as well as taking some time out for yourself.  You have been busy doing for everyone else it is now time to take a mini-break to decompress and smile.

I hope everyone had a great day yesterday and that the time spent with family and friends will continue that feeling long into the new year.

Enjoy the rest of the holidays and laugh out loud so the smiles will set the mood.

Ice

Merry Christmas Sparky!

Thanks to AMC cable channel it was nice that they are playing Christmas Vacation over and over again today.  I awoke early and was able to watch it in the quiet of my man cave . . . no laundry going at this early hour.

The days this week leading up to this morning were filled with all of the necessary items that make up “that perfect family Christmas” that Clark Griswold so earnestly tried to bring together.

My family was probably no different from his as everyone scrambled with busy lives, work, doctors appointments, and the waiting for when those that had been out of town returned home for the holiday’s . . . then add to the mix our family dysfunction and the stage was set.

"I don't know what to say, except its Christmas and we're all in misery. (Ellen Griswold)" - Christmas Vacation

Dog barking, kids screaming and running around like chickens with their head cut off (if you’ve lived in the South and watched your grandmother do this before the holiday meal, you know what I’m talking about.) the only thing missing is the shiny glint from the big meat cleaver knife but we taught our children well so they don’t play with knives.

Slowly as the week wore on and the fighting subsided everyone came together for a wonderful time.  Last evening my brother in law Mike, my father in law Charlie were dropped off at the local VFW post for a holiday drink and to enjoy some much needed “man time” together.

It was closed . . . so we went down the street to a nice little place called the Old Cabin Tavern which is within walking distance from the house.  It is nice there are a couple of pubs close by where you can stop in for a quick drink and walk home so no worries with driving.

We spent several hours laughing and finding out what has been going on with their trips the last few weeks.  Charlie went to Tennessee and Georgia for a month and Mike after coming off his three month work rotation at the end of the earth on Shemya Island came home and with several friends headed for a few days in Las Vegas for nice weather, no wind and a few laughs.

As he was on the way to the house my son Michael called to find out where everyone was and then joined us for several hours.  Stories were flying and things going well when Charlie made a comment as my son was taking a big swig of beer when all of a sudden I see a huge plume spray of beer coming straight at me.  I found myself covered as Michael choked on his beer as he started laughing at Charlie’s comment.  A few napkins later and the trip to the men’s room I was almost like new except for the beer smell, lol.

We wandered home later to get everything ready for Santa to make his way to our house and quietly just after one in the morning everyone was snugly in bed for a good night’s sleep.

. . . And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse. (Clark W. Griswold)" - Christmas Vacation

Deb and I awoke at 6 am with a call from our daughter Kelly from Iraq who had spent an enjoyable Christmas Day with her troops.  Her mates in the barracks decorated after lights out so they would wake up to a holiday theme decor.  They then took everything down so they did not receive and ‘gig’s’ (demerits) for spreading holiday joy.

We then spent the next three and a half hours waiting for everyone else to wake up on Christmas morning.  We discussed the differences between our childhood and our grandkids in how it seemed all of our children every year woke up late Christmas morning.  There is a no hurry attitude with them as they slowly make their way into the living room.

I think part of the changes is due to the kids today get things throughout the year so it does not ‘seem’ as special as our youth.  When we were young there were generally four times a year that you got something . . . and two of those were clothes.  You received new clothes for Easter and back to school time as there were not many thrift stores or second hand places back then.  It was the dark ages for those of you my age and we were poor walking uphill each way to school.  The others were Christmas and your birthday.

Finally around ten o’clock in the morning as the first light of the day was starting to show over the mountains there was movement in the house.  I started breakfast making bacon, reindeer sausage, ham, and cinnamon rolls.  Deb put together a nice casserole with eggs, mushrooms, onion, sausage, bacon bits, and cheese.

Charlie came upstairs hungry looking for something to eat so we all sat down for breakfast.  It turned out great and as everyone was eating there was a call from Georgia from my sister and family.  My momma had been brought up from Jacksonville Beach to spend the holidays so we were able to talk with everyone including nephews, cousins or anyone else within ear shot of the speakerphone.

As with each years preparations the long exhaustion of shopping, getting things together, cooked and served it was over ever so quickly.

Tons of work and almost in an instant it was over and the kids headed out to other grandparents houses or other places to spend time.

Deb settled back down for a much needed nap as well as Gus who has continuously barked from all of the excitement of the week also laid down on his back, legs up snoring away. 

Things quieted down to a whisper with the only noise being made by “Hammy”, Diane’s hamster (who was brought over so he would not be alone this morning) who was running inside his wheel which made a slight squeaking sound as he sped the wheel around and around.

I hope everyone has great holiday time sharing with family and friends.

Merry Christmas everyone . . . “I did it.”

(last line from Christmas Vacation by Clark W. Griswold)

Ice

Icewind’s a little ‘crabby’ this year

Sorry this is not another tasty treat from my Alaska Road Kill Recipe book but one you should really like.

Here’s a little holiday recipe to serve your houseguests who drop by.  If you are lucky and no one comes by feel free to enjoy these with your favorite beverage . . . it leaves more for you to enjoy while kicking back on the sofa.

Crab Nachos

2 packages Hollandaise sauce (made as directed on the package – with milk, not water)

1 pound lump crab meat

4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

4 tablespoons green onion, chopped

4 pieces bacon, well cooked & chopped

4 teaspoons pickled jalapenos, chopped (for that little extra bite)

1 package shredded cheddar

1 package shredded Monterrey Jack

Tostitos Scoops

Prepare Hollandaise sauce according to package directions; reserve.

Preheat broiler.

Mix crab meat, cilantro, onion, bacon, cheese, and jalapenos in a bowl.  Add hollandaise sauce.  Generously spoon mixture into Tostitos Scoops and place under broiler until bubbly.

***The mixture is BETTER when made one day ahead and refrigerated (tightly covered).

Do not fill Scoops until right before broiling . . . they will become soggy.

Enjoy the Holidays!

Ice

“Cousin Eddie” and the Christmas Season

We’ve made it to Christmas week and with it watching the traditional holiday movies we sit through every year.  My brother loves “It’s a Wonderful Life” while my sister likes “Miracle on 34^th Street”.  My favorite is “National Lampoon Christmas Vacation”.  I find it hard to believe that it has been out 20 years now and it still brings us laughter year after year.

This is the classic tale of a man trying to have a ‘good old’ family Christmas with his "good old" family.  The quiet dream of every man, I think, is to have that perfect holiday.  Too bad like the movie it never quite turns out that way.

There's a reason the "Cousin Eddie" character in Christmas Vacation resonates with so many.  We've all got a Cousin Eddie, or two, in our extended families.  Some of us . . . are Cousin Eddie.

Probably many of our families weren't designed for a televised Christmas special as our dysfunction would be awkward on TV.  Who knows with the current crop of “Reality TV” shows it may be just what everyone wants to view between meals.

The problem usually lies in the fact that most of us have at least one Eddie. You know who he or she is . . . Eddie is the relative that just missed the bus.  The one you know is a couple sandwiches short of a picnic.  He (or sometimes she) has a heart as big as the great outdoors.  So big in fact that it covers his eyes to the whole world.

He will ruin plans, destroy the house, upset the sleeping arrangements, eat the left over ham you wanted for breakfast, and just about everything else you can imagine.  Eddie is the X-factor in most holiday gatherings.  He’s just so deliciously white trash.  Eddie’s “dress clothes” . . . the white sweater with a black dickey . . . with the dickey very obviously showing through the sweater, just the right amount of tacky thrown in.

He might not be here yet arriving just before Christmas day or could be sitting in your living room at this very moment.  Sucking back eggnog or your beer and picking his teeth with an ornament hook.  Eddie is what makes most people never want to have a Christmas ever again . . . especially if the RV is parked in the front yard.

But that is what makes family complete, a Holiday season complete as well.  That may be one of the reasons I moved thousands of miles away from family to the vast white wasteland . . . I am probably the ‘Eddie’ in my family, lol.

Happy Holidays everyone . . . let the festivities begin and the light shine upon your family.

Ice

Going Green . . . sometimes has its drawbacks.

I saw this story which I found interesting.

 

The world is in a huge “going green” movement right now making efforts to use recycled materials or designing new building and structures with energy efficient fixtures or systems.  Many seek a LEED certification giving the owners a tax break or other incentives to invest in our future.

 

One of the changes in an everyday product is finding unexpected results.  Was it a lack of testing in appropriate conditions or possibly a rush to get the product in the marketplace.

What I’m talking about is the traffic signal light that you see everyday.  The electrical versions have been around since the 1920’s with the first gas type lights being used in Britain in 1868.

With the changing times and everyone talking about energy there have been changes with traffic lights going to a more energy efficient LED light bulb.  It may use less energy which is a good thing but with the new type bulb it also produces less heat than the older conventional incandescent bulb.  What snowy cold weather states are reporting that have changed out to this LED signal is that snow builds up in and on the lights because there is not enough heat to help melt the snow off the signal. 

It seems the inefficiency of the old bulb heated the fixture enough to melt any snow that landed or was blown onto the signal. 

Accidents are happening as well as confusion from those traveling through them because they cannot tell which direction has the right of way.  I’m sure a redesign is in the works but it leaves one wondering why it was not tested in a harsh environment before being installed in many areas. 

Sometimes trying to build a better mousetrap defeats what has worked wonderfully for many years.  It is like the old dance many of us face everyday . . . two steps forward, one step back.

We eventually will get there but not without a few mishaps along the way.

Ice

Finally the snow came . . .

And so did the ditch divers who cannot drive worth a crap.

The front came through and with it a nice steady snowfall covering the frost on everything the last two weeks and as those who make their way to work in the darkness forgot some of the tenants of safe driving. 

The main on is slow down lest you end up in the ditch or overturned with that unique view upside down sliding to a scary stop hoping someone else doesn’t hit you.  Another is turn of cruise control on icy roads as they can make you veer off the highway when the tires hit uneven ice on the road making the false sense of slowing down when it just spins those tires until you hit the brake spinning you out of control.

After the front stalled over Anchorage it produced some nice fluffy large snowflakes which was pretty to watch once the light of day came but caused major traffic tie ups along the Glenn Highway which was closed for several hours due to out of control vehicles.  It was a long commute for those heading to Eagle River and the Valley. 

It was a coffee kind of day for many people who had time on their hands as they could go nowhere.  Fighting that crave is a waste of time.  It's like trying to control the amount of coffee people drink.  There are always those coffee shacks which cut prices to get you to drop by for a hot latte.  About the only way to slow it down or stop it is to price it like Alaska tomatoes and no one will be able to afford it.

Air cargo traffic at the airport here in Anchorage has slipped a little this year as the economy has tanked all over the country.  Overseas cargo flights are down as Alaska has the fourth largest cargo airport in the world.  Items get shipped in from everywhere . . . Russia, China, you name it coming or going it makes a fuel stop here . . . remember Obama’s stops here last month.

I know we're 1,400 miles from the Lower 48, but why are food and gas prices so high?  I think it's an excuse from retailers to gouge us.  If Target and Wal-Mart can give us 30 days worth of prescription medication for $4 then why can't a grocery store give us a lousy tomato at a decent price?

I must be ranting a little as we approach Solstice with the cold dark nights freezing my brain.  Time for a glass of Beringer’s before I head off to dream land so I can be fresh to watch the idiots in the ditch tomorrow morning on my way to work.  They say we may receive as much as 15 inches before morning but hey . . . its winter in the northland so what else should we expect.

Ice