Welcome December

Can you believe it is already December? Where has the time gone.  I will attempt to catch you up on the happenings in Alaska.

First, while my interview with Flint Hills Refinery went very well, I did not get the job.  Guessing it just wasn't meant to be, so I will keep on going to work everyday at NPHS.  My plan is after Christmas to begin the process of becoming Alaskan ccertified just in case something should come along in my field.

We spent Thanksgiving with Pastor Billy, Aubrey, their family, the Pastor's from Jubilee Worship Center in Fairbanks, and a couple from our church.  The food was great and the fellowship was even better - even though our Dallas Cowboys did not win.  Everyone there with the exception of two people are Cowboys fans.  I will post a video and pictures later. Following the game, we came home and I went to bed at 8 p.m. and slept till 11:30 p.m.  Why?  I went to my first ever Black Friday Shopping.  It wasn't all it's cracked up to be, but nevertheless Monifa (a friend from church) and I had a good, cold time.  Bought a few things at Old Navy and at the Exchange.  Monifa is in the Army, so I got to shop at the Exchange. I got home around 6:30 a.m., took a shower and went to work with Richard.  I finally called it quits around 9 that night. 

Richard has been a real Saturday trooper.  He endures bazaar's, Saturday strolls around Fred Meyer, and fireworks.  We have been to several bazaars and have watched fireworks two weeks in a row.  Guess since they can't have fireworks in July, they make up for it in the winter. 

We have our tickets to fly home for Christmas.  We will leave here the night of the 19th, arrive in OKC the morning of the 20th.  We will fly back to Alaska the evening of the 29th.  I am so excited.  Richard - well I think he would have been just as happy to stay here, especially with the cost of tickets. One thing we plan to do is eat at all our favorite spots.  Mom may not have to do much cooking. lol  Sonic is on the top of my list and I think Olive Garden is on Richards and perhaps Wongs, Mazzio's, White Dog, Pedro's.......

We have found a boarding place for Charlie. It is called Holy Dog and is up in the "hills".  He will not be very happy with us, but it will be better for him than us trying to find someone to stay with or keep him.
I bought him a snow suit along with some different booties.  He doesn't like that either.  He wants to be outside, but doesn't like the cold.  One afternoon I let him in the front and all of a sudden he took off.  There was a black fox running across the road.  I didn't even know there were black foxes.  (I may have already mentioned this in  my previous post.)

Christmas is in full swing here.  Lights are beginning to show up, bazaars are every weekend, fireworks, and the North Pole Ice Park opened yesterday.  We will go later and check out all the ice sculptures.  I will be sure to post lots of pictures.

Yesterday, we were able to watch the Clinton vs. Anadarko State Championship game on Dish Network.  Now how crazy is that.  It was fun to watch the game and see alot of familiar faces. Way to Go Big Reds.

The weather...well it is getting colder.  Today it is 35 below.  We haven't seen any snow in about 2 weeks, which is ok with me.  They are predicting a possible 40 below later this week.  I know I say this all the time, but it really doesn't seem as cold as the thermometer says.  There is no wind and it is dry.  You wear lots of layers and don't linger out too long.  Walking to and from the car/school/church/store is really not that bad - yet.  Our church has a policy that on Sunday Morning if the temperature is 40 below we have no Sunday School, but no matter the temp we will have morning worship.  All evening activities at the church are cancelled if at 5 p.m. the temp is 30 below.  I'm sure we are about to see those times.  I will say the one thing that does get cold is my face and though this may sound GROSS when you walk out, you can feel your nose hair freeze.

We are learning the art of car parking and leaving your car running when you go to the store.  We both plug in at work but at home we have a heated (lol 60 degrees) garage so my car doesn't get plugged in at night.  Richard has his on a timer that comes on at 3 a.m. and off at 7 a.m.  He is going to have to set it for two different times now that it has gotten colder.  He didn't start it this morning before church and this afternoon it won't start.  It is currently plugged in so hopefully it will start later today.  Oh wait...he is out there now and I heard it start. I have convinced him I need tires.  I have some problems with slipping and getting started and he didn't believe me until he drove my car a few times.  I really want an auto start, but I'm afraid tires will have to come first.

One problem we are having is our windows in the house freezing.  They tell us this is normal, but it is very weird.  Richard was opening the windows and scraping, but the maintenance man told us yesterday it is a waste of time and only makes it worse.  Richard is glad there is no more scraping.  I can only begin to imagine the mess when they begin to thaw out in the spring. The screens are on the inside and the windows are on the outside and they crank to open.  Reminds me of the first mobile home I lived in.

On the 15th we will be attending the Military Ball.  This could be interesting. They told us that since we are not military we don't have to dress real formal, just a nice dress and suit for Richard.  I will let you know how it turns out.

Seems  like we have many activities happening between now and the time we leave but that will be a good thing.

We still have not seen a moose or any real cool northern lights.  They tell us the lights are happening, but it is usually at 2 or 3 a.m. and for some reason Richard doesn't want to wake up to check them out.

Oh, I did get a Happy Light.  Can't tell if it is making me happy or not, but I do like the light that it produces.

Well I believe that is about all that is happening.  Sorry I haven't been very good at keeping this BLOG up on a weekly basis, but I will try to do better.  Until next time.  Have a blessed week and stay safe. See many of you in 18 days.

Love to all.....Blessings during this Christmas season and remember Jesus is the reason we celebrate.

Sally