Icewind's Ramblings

Attitude is everything . . . How else can you explain how I finished a stressful day at work with a smile on my face? Ice

One of my favorite CD’s is George Winston’s “December” album . Another is “Winter into Spring”. After our snowfall last week it seems to finally beginning to make the turn as we continue our journey into full light. Today is May Eve, a mid-spring cross-quarter day. Tomorrow, May Day is another one, while May 6th is mathematically midway between the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. To most of us it is mid-spring but some people consider it the first day of summer. Of course there are many people who don’t think about it at all. It feels more like mid-spring to me. Maybe more like in the old John Denver song, “Late winter, early spring . . . when everyone goes to Mexico ”. I can close my eyes and almost feel the sun on me and sense the rhythm of the guitar strumming. Most of the leaves here in Anchorage are not fully out on the trees but the buds are starting to magically appear on the trees. The flowering trees and shrubs are only now a thought but will be...

I started writing this post just after Christmas when one of my presents from my new son in law and daughter decided that I needed a survival kit to make sure I was ready for any emergency on these long . . . cold . . . dark winter nights that we have in Alaska during the winter months. It was put into my working folder until now since I have not been writing much lately. I had no idea I really needed anything like this but I have heard of people who prepare for any road emergency by having in the trunk of their rig a few survival items. Blankets, food, flashlight, matches and a lighter are some of the more common items found in the northlands of the Arctic . Others may be sleeping bags, bunny boots, heavy gloves, and the assorted food items that would not freeze or could be eaten without fire or warmth. It turns out my daughter and her husband decided I needed something a little different now that some things have recently changed for me. I do not need a survival kit...