ARIZONA TO ALASKA

Where ever that globe hangs I will read.
I doubt the foxes will be so tame. "Shiny Side up" eh.

We're getting ready for the girls; I have explained good manners to my girls. We shall see.

When you say there are a 'few rocks that stick up that have to be cleared' are we talking just Ballyhoo? Or Mount Makushin too? I have a vision of men with jack hammers desperately chiselling off chunks of Unalaska to allow the towed and battered, almost submerged, beached then resurrected Christmas tree shaped drilling rig safe and viable passage to the East.

For recycling.

They will need calm waters to perform the loading operation. In fact they might need all locals to take a deep breath and hold it in. No eagles flapping about. No doors slammed. Don't even think about chewing gum. Unless it's to help stop the warehouse door flapping.

Still.

Very still.

Not a twitch.

This will be no time to be retrieving your weather station off the duplex roof Pudden Head. Not that the eagles are going to let you have it back anyway.

No. I think most of the town will be out to observe proceedings once the semisubmergeblightable stuff gets under way. All the potential exists for one final, resoundingly humiliating, MAHOOSIVE cock up on behalf of Shell and it's partners.

Be there or be square.

Everyone will want to be able to recall exactly what they were doing when Shell accidentally planted a seemingly permanent giant Christmas tree in the middle of Captains Bay.

Upside down.


I've not quite finished with winter here myself. On Monday we had some of the coldest wind chill temperatures I think I have ever experienced. It was blowing big snow storms across all of northern Europe and Betti and I found ourselves going from bright sunshine into the darkest wall of a snowstorm during a late afternoon excursion. Suddenly visibility was cut down to just a few yards. It was very strange snow, very light and powdery – it never really wetted the windshield, it was more like finding yourself caught inside a salty hourglass egg timer. But with the added special effects of a whirlwind, just for good measure.

It was an inopportune moment for my nose to start running, but I had a box of Kleenex handy and dealt with it. Only then did I realise that I was experiencing a significantly gushing nose bleed. It's all in the timing you know.

I was thankfully only a few minutes from my friends house but she got a shock to see me salt seasoned, shivering and blood soaked at her front door. I'd got a cake with me so she let me in.


I read today that Microsoft are setting up a new European HQ in Cambridge and they have sent out a helpful 44 page guide to their American staff who are relocating to the UK. It covers the obvious – don't take your gun – to the culturally awkward stuff that all bright young things will need to get their heads around on arrival, such as knowing what a 'chippy' is, and what a pub is for. What it fails to mention is that if a British colleague suggests 'why don't we all take a punt for a Chinese one night' they are referring to riding in a shallow river boat as a form of transport in Cambridge before enjoying a meal of South East Asian origin.

They are most definitely not suggesting the taking of a foreign hostage in return of a ransom.


PS
If your vacation plans include sink holey Illinois would you mind wearing some 1980's style Dynasty size shoulder pads? I heard it's the new and improved 'wedge' device for all golfers. Thanks.

I just watched your latest...The Blizzard. Was that Gnu-guy with the van (open door, shoveling)? Whoever, I am sure he is cursing the day he applied for a job on Unalaska. I can't help wondering if this is a ramp-up in bad weather for the Aleutians, or is this a more-or-less "normal" event?

UK, so glad your white-out/nose-bleed episode ended with your safe arrival at your friend's house. You have the proper attitude, that's for sure: "The baked goods must arrive safely!" Over here it would be the beer or the pizza. But you and Betti do not have the high clearance and four-wheel drive capability that Joe has, nor do you have the "we can handle anything" wiper blades to keep your windshield free of snow. Just be glad Betti's door doesn't stick in the open position!

I joke about it but I am concerned about the increasing intensity of weather events around the world. Maybe we will all resort to domed cities; doesn't help those whose communities are doomed by the rising oceans, whether it is the (New) Jersey Shores, or the Seychelles. I would like to think we are going to fix this, but I don't think it is any longer possible...and on that cheerful note, I will leave you.

Stay safe everyone. Go Zags!

That last post about the snow was crazy -- need ot check the video. Seems you're always moving into winter as we are over it and into Spring!

What about your weather station?

When I first logged on to wunderground this morning, I was met with several interesting choices of articles to read; one was pretty much a warning about being ready when the big earthquake and tsunami occurs like the one off Japan in March of 2011...same scenario here, the second I found interesting is the sad state of forecasting in the U.S. vs the European modeling equipment, sitting snuggly in the U.K.

The earthquake/tsunami article was based on a recently completed report detailing our "readiness", or lack thereof, to be prepared on an individual level. The Cascadia Fault Zone is 60 miles off my doorstep, the highest spot on this sand spit of a peninsula is maybe 13 ft, and there is one road in/out of the peninsula. The estimate is we will have approximately 15 minutes

Something to think about, but I knew that when I moved here 14 years ago. Life is full of trade-offs. The reality of the Japanese tsunami videos has made it more of a reality...will it hit before I pass on or will I be OK?

Osdianna: I saw that tease on having 37 or so items in your house if you are really prepared for a disaster. We could dedicate our whole life waiting for disaster - I'm too old to worry about it now. Maybe a big red "X" on the roof - for a direct hit would be best. Some one is just trying to scare us. As Valerie Harper said when asked about her terminal cancer - we're all terminal. She has a point you know.

So let's just go and enjoy the beautiful day today and hope and pray all is right with the world. The whole thing is in Hands greater than ours.

Excited about our new Pope and how he may affect the future for those of us who subscribe to Catholicism. Who knows - maybe I could be a priest!!! :)

PS: And while I am waiting for my priesthood call, I will be watching the Louisville Cardinals play for the Big East basketball championship tonight in Madison Square Garden. I hate to see the season come to an end. It is what gets us through the winter(s).

Let us not forget that WU is now part of TWC empire. They make their money scaring people to death so they'll watch The Weather Channel rather than political blather or the Home Shopping Network.

Besides, WU/TWC is small potatoes compared to George Noory or any other of the "they're coming to get us" crowd. Even as I type, alien forces allied with the Illuminati and the Forces of (pick one) are watching, checking my keystrokes to be sure I'm not the one who has unlocked the secret of the bacteria tsunami they're ready to..... See? It could go on forever!

Hope all's going well with Joe's moving process. Those kitties of his may think the end of the world's come before this all is over!

Shoreacres, you are so right about those kitties and how they might feel when they reach Osdianna. Even Joe might think it is the end of the world! Sure wish I could help him.

I used to listen to George Noory and the kooks who would call him at night. I can't buy into that stuff somehow.

Sorry you didn't get to see any of that game. It was unreal. We more or less gave up when they were down (I think a total of 16) but then they started to claw back. FranKY was wearing her "good luck hairpiece" and we think that is the only thing that could have done it. Some kind of happy boys! But then I feel bad for the losers. They all try so darn hard.

Looks like a most beautiful day in Dutch, according to Ylee's Dutch Harbor cam on his blog.

I hope you can enjoy it a little, Joe!