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| Four time winner Lance Mackey |
Yeah I know what you are saying, "But Gryph you live in Alaska what do you expect?"
Well I expect snow alright but this year it is fucking ridiculous!
In fact for awhile it was literally reduced to a one lane road, with eight foot snow drifts crowding us together. We actually had to dodge into each others driveways to let other cars drive past so that we could work our way out of the neighborhoods and onto the well plowed main roads beyond.
Anyhow, just in case you think I am whining, the other day my daughter came in all excited because one of the main roads leading to our neighborhood was closed off due to the roof of a local church collapsing.
Here is a picture I took of the remains of the church the other day as I drove home.
I actually attended the Sunday School program at this church after I was
Anyhow that building has survived decades of snowfalls, but simply could not make it through this winter in one piece.
I am not letting it get to me though. I mean spring has to come sometime, right?
Right?
You must have taken our snow, because we haven't had that much here in Colorado (hoping for a snow-filled march in the mountains).
ReplyDeleteToday in Boulder it was in the 50s. The bees were buzzing around the crocuses.
Stay warm!
Well, you all got the snow we never did here on the East Coast. We've had less than 2 inches all winter, and have had so many 60 + degree days this winter that the daffodils, crocuses, and weeds have already sprung. The cherry blossoms in DC are set to bloom around the 24th.
ReplyDeleteWay O/T but on tonight's episode of the Cleveland Show on Fox, Roberta, the promiscuous teen daughter quits as Student Council Sarah Palin style, complete with glasses, red blazer, and updo. She says she hates all the stupid meetings and work involved, he, he....
I lived in Maine 13 years and we had to shovel our roofs to prevent cave-ins from happening.
ReplyDeleteSend some of that snow our way! :) My hubby keeps talking about moving to Alaska after he gets out of the navy
ReplyDeleteGryphen said . ..
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry did anybody actually SEE Jesus roll that rock back and leave the tomb? No I will not just shut up and eat my graham cracker!"
Hahahahaha!!!
Don't they shovel roofs there? Seems like they'd have a roof committee the way churches/everything else does here. Except me; I built with 16/12 roof on the north side and metal all the way down to the ground, and only 6' 12/12, metal, on the south side so snow can't build up on it. That's cause I got old and lazy, but that church oughta just call problem-solver-Sarah; she likes to do the Lord's will.......she could get up a shoveling crew.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Fbks we always shoveled our snow when it got to be more than 6", don't they shovel snow off of roofs in Anchor Town, especially the wet heavy kind? Looks like an awful lot of snow on that little white house, is that yours Gryphen..get busy!! LOL
DeleteNo not my house.
DeleteI have a nice sloped roof, but it is still built up fairly high. I expect when the temperature starts to warm up that we will have quite the mini-avalanche on our hands.
Strange - we usually get a lot more snow than we did this year - it's been unusually warm with hardly any snow - the ground is just barely covered due to 3" snow ministorm, but last week lots of bare patches, and almost spring like balmy temps. A few days of very cold - but none less than 0. Normally, snowbanks up past tops of my windows, driveway more like a cave with no visibility unless you pull far enough out! Kind of eerie, actually. Knock on wood, I'm sure now that I've said that we're going to have a 3' snow dump and two weeks of 30 below! Still got March to get through and sometimes April can be wicked - not often, but not unknown! Wow, never had snow like the pic, however, thank you know who! Not surprised you were agitating way back then - but, Church? You must have been a lively little boy!
ReplyDeleteYep. You got all of ours. 50's and bare ground. Only was able to ski for about 1 hour this winter. Absolutely sucks.
ReplyDeleteSouthern Oregon missed most of its snow this season too and trees are budding out everywhere. Q?: In the picture of what may be your home, is that all deep snow or snow on bushes? Have to say the icicles on the top window look very beautiful but must make it pretty frosty inside. Can't imagine how folks survive a regular AK winter much less one that rates as the coldest ever. Wishes for warmth in all your homes.
ReplyDeleteWHO puts a flat roof on anything in Alaska? Seems like asking for trouble.
ReplyDeleteYou got our snow here in Mass, too. We got the first plowable snow since November last Thursday. It should be gone this Thursday when temps hit 62. I can't wait to put the top down!
ReplyDeleteJoe Miller has his wife endorse Ron Paul!
ReplyDeletewww.thestatecolumn.com/articles/2012/03/04/will-joe-miller-endorse-ron-paul-in-alaska/
No surprise- see the recent Joe Miller posts on his website.
"Organizational affiliations preclude Mr. Miller from making public his support for any presidential candidate. However, his biography follows the public endorsement and following statement issued by Mrs. Miller alone:"
DeleteIs that one of the supposedly independent non partisan PACs?
Wow! I love snow...both falling and piled up in deep pristine drifts. But yours is a bit much. Have to admire your Alaskan intrepitude for putting up with it so long. Must keep you fit digging out your driveway. ...Has Wasilla gotten that much snow as well? If so I guess the Palins must have their own snow plow to clear the road into their off-beat compound. Great photos of the Iditarod! Now that's the true Alaskan classic winter race, men and dogs and sleds instead of men and snow machines. Go Alaska!
ReplyDeleteWe have had an amazing amount of snow here in Juneau this winter too, but we haven't had the damage you had up north. I have felt very bad for the communities that have suffered so much...Cordova, etc. For us, it's just meant possibly the best skiing ever!
ReplyDeleteHmmm....seems to me that I remember an Iditord that needed snow truck in to start the race in Anchorage...maybe back in the early '70's - am I dating myself yet?
ReplyDeleteGood thing that there is no climate change going on this year what with the snow in Alaska, the tornado activity in Tornado Alley, the warmth in usually cold places, and the rest of it :)
I'm not trying to be funny, but the weather is very scary this year, no matter one's beliefs!
Climate change is a science, not a belief. It's impact varies from year to year but the overall trend is well defined by science.
DeleteAdditional history/description of the Iditarod at Stonekettle
http://www.stonekettle.com/
It surely is "The last great race"
Beautiful pictures.... and kinda scary too! Stay safe, G and all others in snowy climes. Down here in Va it's chilly and rainy
ReplyDeleteHere in So Cal it was in the high 80's today. Sooo glad to have a flip-flops and shorts day!
ReplyDeleteI suppose not everyone will get a laugh out of this like I did, but someone posting a comment at Alaska Daily News said if you look closely at that flattened church roof you can see the faint outline of a foot.
ReplyDeleteThis snow is way too much for me. I gave up shoveling snow from my driveway. The snow in back is higher than my windows. The moose climbs on the porch because it can't go thru the trees.
ReplyDeleteA shrike is hunting the chickadees at my bird feeders because the snow's so deep it can't get to the voles.
If we have a normal meltoff, all the water is going to overwhelm the municipality when it floods streets before can get into stormwater drains.
Thanks for listening.
Incredible pictures!
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who feels badly for these dogs that have to run this race? I know.....it is tradition......just the same.
Juneau had a week stretch of 48-50* in early February. It confused my tulips! Then we had another cold snap, tulips froze, and its snowing again... Please go away old man winter!!
ReplyDeleteI love the snow, but that is ridiculous! Stay safe all (including my relatives up there!)
ReplyDeleteIt is nice though to read about blizzards after swimming in the "pond"- they are finally figuring out that she's not running and they may get stuck with Romney, who will lose. They've reached the point of discussing how many guns and pounds of supplies they are going to need since Obama will bring an end to the country. They're really losing it.
O/T Is everyone aware that Romney (Bain Capital) owns Clear Channel which is Lumbalz station? There has been considerable concern about the station being a conservative station, perhaps giving Romney unfair greater coverage than his opponents in the Repub campaign.
ReplyDeleteThe station also broadcasts Savage, Beck, Hannity etc. etc. Surely, this bodes well for Obama if Romney finally lands the nomination. That his company promotes such behavior as Limpbalz after this week's kerfuffle ought to be worth some more helpful talking points for the democrats.
Gryphen,
ReplyDeleteOK, nobody in the lower 48 EVER gets to bitch about winter again. EVER. You Alaskans are one tough bunch to be able to withstand that shit. IF we get weather that's even close to that here in the Southern Rockies, it's over in a couple of days and then it warms back up. Y'all are freezing your jiggly bits off for months on end. AND you've got so damn much snow that you can't even FIND your jiggly bits when they do fall off.
Your post made be so cold I'm gonna' have to warm myself up with a nice gin and tonic. I think I feel a touch of malaria coming on. It's this damn warm climate, doncha' know.
Gee Gryphen, that looks like New Jersey last year!!
ReplyDeleteKudos to your daughter for her "wicked" sense of humor - love it!!
It's 85 degrees here in Southern California, which is why I love the winters here, but I grew up in very cold and snowy country, Minnesota, so I know all about snow and ungodly cold -40 degree windchill and cars plugged in to keep them warm.
ReplyDeleteShoveling show off our driveway and sidewalks was not something that we relished, but you HAD to do it, or it only got worse, and icy. It left you with aching backs and shoulders and no sooner had you gotten it done, than a new batch landed.
I always enjoyed a first snowfall, especially at night when things would get really, really quiet. The sky would be clear and full of stars, the air crisp, but not too cold. I'd sit outside, all bundled up with a warm drink, and listen to the quiet.
However, dealing with it the next day...yech. Slushy streets, dirty snow, scraping windshields, cold fannies on colder seats, slippery sidewalks, massive layers of clothing and footwear...I don't miss THOSE things. But there really isn't anything more beautiful than the first blanketing of a new snow.
It's been a very warm and unrainy season for us, which is an indication of weather changes here as well. Winter in Southern Cal can be very rainy, and by our standards, get quite chilly, but not this year. Trust me, I am NOT complaining, it's been just gorgeous and sunny and warm and that really contributes to people's dispositions in a good way.
Gryphen, I hope that there is something snow related that you've found enjoyable to parttake in, otherwise, it really is a lot of hard work to get around outside. Roaring fires and thick blankets and hot drinks on the sofa, inside where it's warm and safe, are not a bad substitute.
I spent most of my life in Southern California. Born in Cleveland, Ohio..I was six years old when my parents and grandparents decided they were through with cold and sno, so away went to L.A.
DeleteCome the first Christmas, I was devastated there was no snow! So as time went by, I moved to Alaska when I was 57 years old. Had fun with all the snow I wanted..didn't mind shoveling....EXCEPT THIS YEAR! LOL!!
Aaarrrrggghhhh.... Been there - done that... I remember in one storm a few years ago, I got NINE FEET of that white death falling from the skies... Took me and a bunch of folks almost eight days to dig me a path out of my driveway.... Then it got ugly.. Four years ago I left that spot in Colorado and will NEVER go back.... I left the snow blower with the house...
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, Gryph. Here in the Kenai/Nikiski area we had enough of the white stuff as well. If you go to this link I pasted below, you will see the house I rent between Kenai town and Nikiski.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't put a roof over the front deck/porch, so....
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy104/Ardiva/Feb27-2012003sm.jpg
It has been mild in Texas this year.You know you are always welcome to stay with us till you need to go home.The fleas and bugs are going to be awful this summer!
ReplyDeleteA NEW TRAILOR for Game Change, MUCH more of the movie is revealed:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hbogo.com/#movies/video&assetID=GOROSTGP35099?videoMode=embeddedVideo?showSpecialFeatures=false/
586,000 square miles. Less than 700,00 people. That's why I live in Alaska. There are many places I like to travel and warmer climate to spend some vacation time in, but I like to come home to a place where there is space to roam, and lots of it! We have weather that many find unpleasant, but there are many places that are unpleasant to me because of the unbearable level of humanity that is crowded into such a small area. I just was in Seattle for the weekend last week and I was reminded of how precious our space is here in Alaska. That's why I moved here and that's why I live here. I can always travel to other places but I like to come home to Alaska. I don't know if there are any other skiers here, but I've gotten my money's worth on my season pass at Alyeska this winter!
ReplyDeleteI'm envious. The only snow we have had was back in October. What a change from last year for us.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Indiana, spring is about a month and a half early and is it ever a doozy. Be very careful what you wish for, a severe melt off could flood rivers and streams are fuck up things even more in Alaska than they already are.
ReplyDeleteWow that's amazing. So exotic though! I've never seen a single snowflake in my life here in Southern Australia!
ReplyDeleteIt is snowing right now here in VA. I would just like to ask Pat Robertson his opinion on who is to blame for the roof of that church caving in? Hang in there Gryphen, just like scara lying on a daily basis, the snow will surely melt, two things you can always count on.
ReplyDeleteWow Gryphen I will never complain about being cold again. I have always wanted to visit Alaska but I will definately come when its a lot warmer than it is now. I live in the Caribbean and would you believe I have a blanket most nights (I know, I must be mad). Stay safe and was warm as you can
ReplyDeleteNo, you are not mad, you just need a blanket to keep warm.
DeleteHow does one get "kicked out" of an Episcopal church??? Ours is so liberal, I think half of the congregation doesn't even profess to be sure of the existence of God.
ReplyDeleteMy parents told me that the snow in Anchorage in 1954/1955 was a record-setter and that a lot of babies were born then. Including me. Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteThose were the days when the bars far outnumbered the churches and I grew up playing music with my family band in them. In fact, where the Best Western in Wasilla is located - used to be a bar called Hallea Lodge - way before the Palin compound went up. Played there many times.
If the media EVER talk to the locals, especially the Alaskan old timers, they would get the true Alaska REALITY show. But, nope, it's all fluff and bullshit as usual.
In the meantime, G, I assume you have a shovel and a snowblower but no where to put all the fluffy stuff, right? Good luck when break up comes! Got a boat?