What Alaskans REALLY Do!

People that we speak to in the Lower 48 (sometimes even family members, even though they will remain nameless), often think we are living the dream here in Alaska. See for yourself what we REALLY do!

Amazing Aurora!

Wow! What an amazing show of the Northern Lights tonight! Mike and I spent about 45 minutes outside in relatively warm February weather (2 below zero) to capture these photos. The Aurora was literally dancing through the sky. Each second created new shapes and colors. Mike took all the photos, as I was in my pajamas and a coat trying to keep warm!

Snow Machining or Homework? (Uh, that's a tough one!)

Throwing caution to the wind (and a few other things), Mike and I gave into the temptation of riding snow machines.

At precisely 10:47 a.m., my friend, Mena, sent a message to me over Facebook inquiring about our interest in riding "sleds" today. Before I said anything to Mike, I thought of the mountain of homework that I needed to start today. I thought of that 2000 word essay that is due in two weeks. I thought of all the chapters I needed to read in my "Essentials of Effective Principals" book. I thought of the laundry piling up in the bin. I thought of the litter boxes that needed scooping. I thought that surely one of our cats needed a bath. I even thought of the health insurance deductible. Then, I remembered that the life insurance is paid and in full effect.

Well, once I thought through it, I realized that if I denied Michael Calvin the privilege of riding snow machines today, I would probably never hear the end of it. So, I put all of the aforementioned barriers out of my mind and turned to my husband and said, "Honey, Mena wants to know if we want to go riding today. Would you like to go?"

Mike went into deep thought. You know that area of the brain that processes details and questions and weighs all the pro's and con's of a proposal? Yeah, that deep part of the gray matter that keeps one from making poor decisions and possibly harming one's body to the point of needing dental records for identification.

In less than a nano-second, Mike blurted out, "Heck, yeah! Let's go!" Apparently, that deep part of the brain that helps one make a good decision was not fulling functioning at 10:49 a.m.

So, Mike and I got on all of our cold weather gear and headed over to Mena's house. Mena's husband, Aaron, had the snow machines warmed up and ready to go. Cautiously, I mounted my sled and lightly pushed on the gas fearing that I would be catapulted forward into the back of another sled. Fortunately, I don't have a lead thumb and I eased forward with no trouble.

Mike, with a wide smile and a crazed look, boarded his machine and we were off!

Our snow machines took us along the road, over to the oil pipeline, through the woods and over to Chena Lakes. We zipped across the frozen lake at ungodly speeds. Okay, I was only doing 15 mph while everyone else left me in their snow dust. Personally, I was thinking, "Hmmm....I'm not going to be the one who ends up in the emergency room. Everyone look at me! I'm the PICTURE of safety!"

After an hour or so of zipping around the lake and on the flood control area, the party came to an end and we headed back to Mena's house. Other than one wrong turn by Mike and myself, and almost getting lost just before dark and possible freezing to death because we didn't know where we were, the ride back was uneventful.

A big thank you to Mena and Aarron for inviting us to go along with you and allowing us to have such a good time!

My sled is the pretty red one!

Mike throwing caution to the wind.

Kristie had lots of fun!

Kristie and Mena

Kristie creeps by at 10 mph....

Mena, Dave and Aaron

2012 Yukon Quest

At the “top of the world”, in the Yukon and Alaska wilderness of northwestern North America, an epic winter sports event takes place every February, the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. It covers 1,000 miles between Whitehorse, Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska during the depths of the Arctic winter.

Mike and I waited on the frozen river to watch them pass after their start in Fairbanks.