Icewind's Ramblings

Shook Me All Night Long . . . Actually it was only for about 16 seconds, but it was traumatic all the same. It woke me up around 2:30 in the morning because the bathroom door next to my bed was rattling. I instantly assumed that a mentally challenged individual or possibly my son coming home late and a little ‘tipsy’ was attempting a home invasion, and was perplexed by our sliding glass door. Then I quickly realized that the bedroom door was also shaking, as was the sliding closet door, and my bed. It was an earthquake! Not my first or severest as we were here during the 7.9 several years ago but it rattled me into being awake and wondering how long it might last or how close the epicenter was from my house. I woke up wife who merely muttered "hhhhumph, what is it?" and rolled over never gaining consciousness to realize what was happening. My “Wonder Dog” Levi slept through the whole thing. Big help he would have been but getting older leaves Levi more...

Blood of Heroes Ice

It’s almost that time again when the chill is back in the air and you know the first snowfall is just around the corner. You know it’s true because the fireweed has come and gone with the six week countdown till winter has begun. We’ve been in Alaska a few years now and I have said several times I will not go another winter without a remote car starter. For those of you not from Alaska or similar cold-weather state, something that has become a popular car accessory over the last couple of years is a remote starter. It’s similar to a key fob that what you’d use to unlock the doors, except that it also starts your car. It’s nice for -30F days so that you can hit the button and, 10 minutes later when you leave from work, your car or rig is toasty with most of the ice/snow on the windshield melted. We use a block heater installed in the vehicles to combat the Frigid Alaskan extreme cold weather. This is a must have of all Alaskans who park overnight outside. The mantr...

"You can be spiritual and still enjoy life in all its delicious detail." Ice