In case you were wondering

The volcano has not exploded, or rather erupted. It is still rumbling, and letting off steam now so we are still at "ORANGE" and on "WATCH." I have face masks for everyone if we need to go outside and plenty of boxes left to unpack so we will be fine. Oh and I found my food storage. I feel prepared.

We are currently at 8 1/2 hours of daylight. The official navy sunrise/sunset times for today were 8:58 AM and 5:31 PM. We have gained about 3 hours of daylight since we got here!

The temperature is in the high teens to low twenties most days. It snows a little bit just about everyday but so far no big dumps of snow all at once.

The roads always have snow on them. It is too cold for salt to work so they dump gravel on top of the snow for traction and pack it down. Gee and they wonder why they have a problem when all this stuff melts. I tell you, as a New Yorker I am proud to say we are the only ones who know how to deal with snow. 200" a year and always bare roads.

Things are doing better with Professor Umbridge. It is at least tolerable and we are just counting down and jumping through hoops until May.

Sarah Palin is still governor and yes the locals born and bred here talk like her.

We ate Alaska Salmon caught by our landlords and left in our freezer for us. It was tasty. We think there is Halibut too.

I have decided to keep the yellow kitchen and dining room. It is almost all together. I have curtains to hang and a desk to put in and then I will unveil all the fun I have been having.

Carter and JaDee go to the "Freeze-O-Ree" scout camp out this weekend. Yeah, I know, it doesn't sound like fun to me either. But this is Alaska and they are guys. Whatever.

And tomorrow I think I am getting my gym membership. I just got home from talking Champ for a run. If you think the hills in Perry are bad, whoa Nellie, our hills have hills here! Got a great workout until the last hill coming down. Totally biffed it. Flat on my can. Knocked the wind out of me. Shock headache up my spine. And I would still be lying there trying not to puke but I got caught in the headlights of an oncoming car and thought I better move. I had about a quarter of a mile to go to get home and I limped along. And froze. You have to keep moving and I wouldn't call what I was doing "moving." More like lurching. Anyway, I am off to warm my poor bones.

If you have a donut pillow, you might think about sending it.