Icewind's Ramblings

We are finally cooling down to normal temperatures for this time of year. The weather patterns now have started moving again and we are getting a snowfall or two every three days it seems. There were the early dustings but them we seemed to return to an ‘indian summer’ weather pattern. As we continue to lose our daylight the ability to heat the daytime also continues to drop off and colder weather is here. We had about six inches and then another 4-6” in the next round or two. Its ‘plug-in’ time again when the temperature drops below 20 degrees so our vehicles start easier and pollution is less with the warm engine. Some people tend to think that there are no cars in Alaska because it's too cold for an internal combustion engine to work. If an Alaskan wants to travel, he must either use a dogsled, or carve a car-shaped, Flintstone-like vehicle out of ice. There have been a few of these over the years . . . which have improved and with a l...

Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular? Ice

Fallen Heroes To commemorate a fallen warrior, an inverted weapon and bayonet -- a tool of war and an instrument of peace -- was placed in the ground to symbolically mark the spot where our friend had fallen. A pair of polished jungle boots, fully laced, was placed at the base of the weapon to symbolize our brother's place on Earth, that he had fallen while standing up for liberty in the same manner as patriots of past wars who made the same supreme sacrifice. Finally, the helmet was placed atop the weapon to protect our brother and friend. He would suffer no longer the pain of war. What have you done for your Country? All Gave Some . . . Some gave All We will always Remember. Ice

In this place I fondly call the ‘far north’ today was one of those very lucky days that don’t come around very often. I awoke and saw the light dusting of snow on my deck as I poured my first cup of coffee. Winter is finally settling in here in Alaska so it was still dark outside. A Sunday morning like many others where the newspaper is out by the street in the box but I really did not want to go outside quite yet to read about many things I’m not really interested in. I showered and noticed my wife had fallen asleep on the couch probably watching the snowfall outside the sliding glass of the front deck. It is Veterans Day but many will observe it tomorrow so they can take time off from work. It seems somewhat funny to me now as I think about how things have changed over the years. Later in the morning I phoned several friends and asked what they will be doing on Monday. They all said the same thing: working. Me, too I thought as I was going to take time off but I...