Archive for January, 2009
Weekend Site-Seeing
One of our caretaking traditions is the pursuit something academic. In the past, we’ve read an astronomy textbook and many history books. Our current subject is Great Ideas in Classical Physics and Einstein’s Relativity and the Quantum Revolution. It’s taught by Steven Pollock, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder. This is a [...]
Power
Shelly asks about our light sources and power. We have switched electric lights, believe it or not. There are a pair above the kitchen sink and one under the loft in the living area. Compact fluorescent bulbs in both. In the summer, when the lodge will be open, large diesel generators will provide power, so [...]
The Call of the Wild
Anna asks what brought me to Alaska. Actually, she asks if I’ve written about that somewhere, but it’s my blog, and I’m taking liberties. The short answer is: A whim. At the beginning of 1990, I had decided not to return to Ramapo-Anchorage Camp in Rhinebeck, NY, and was looking for a new adventure. A [...]
The Bathroom
Kat asked about the bathroom situation and whether I minded addressing it. Nope, don’t mind in the least. If all you’ve ever known is indoor plumbing, it’s a curious thing. I’ve probably spent as much of my adult life without indoor plumbing as with it. Can you believe that? We’ll call this the “full” bathroom. [...]
Home Sweet Home
Shelly asked about our accommodations. We are staying in the staff lounge, which we now refer to as our cabin. This was the first building to go up last summer, and it was where the staff ate, hung out, got warm, watched movies, played cards. There is no trim yet, and the flooring is temporary. [...]
Stitching for Literacy Update
The Monday “What have you done lately?” accountability post, where I announce my Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy program promotion goal for the week and fess up on last week’s goal. My goal last week was to contact TNNA manufacturers and distributors, reminding them of the upcoming Bookmark Challenge, and asking them to participate. [...]
On Shaky Ground
Ken Dietrich informs me our Saturday morning 5.7-magnitude earthquake made national news. The USGS says the epicenter was 161 miles southwest of Anchorage. We’re almost directly south of Anchorage, about 100 miles. I felt a couple of small shakes early in the morning while I was in bed in the loft. Then we felt the [...]
Hats
Quick! Someone call the Coast Guard and get them out here fast. I don’t think we have enough hats! Oh, wait. Mike says he’s got more stashed in the cabin where he stayed last fall. Whew!
Snow
Remember how sunny it was the day we arrived? That’s gone. This is what it’s like today. It’s still fairly warm (we brought a thermometer, but it hasn’t made it outside yet), but it snowed much of the day, heavy wet snow. Everything is white and beautiful. When we arrived, Kevin began plowing with the [...]
Packing for the Bush
The question I hear most at this stage is, “How do you pack for an extended trip to the Bush?” For starters, this is a fairly short excursion. We’re talking about six weeks. In the past, we’ve had to pack for six to eight months. There’s a little more pressure to be thorough for longer [...]
