Holidays in review

Between the ducks, housesitting and getting engaged, December was a whirlwind of activity. Add in the Polar Dip, a Winter Solstice party, hosting Christmas dinner, New Year's at the P-Bar and it's no wonder I failed to keep up on the blog.

But, I'm back and back to Internet connectivity so I can recap all the great events in sunny Sitka during December 2007. See photos of all these events.

• Robin made it to Sitka after a long-haul, 20-some day trip to Florida. Unfortunately, his luggage returned before he did. This meant that I had to haul out to the airport (it's 5 minutes away!) and retrieve his 87-pound bag (literally!).


• "What was in that 87-pound bag?" you might ask. Well, it was a pile of stuff for me! Including a, well, uh, a very sparkly Christmas sweater from Robin's mom. (It's the thought that counts, right?)


• "What wasn't in that 87-pound bag?" you might also ask. Well, the engagement ring for one, along with the rest of the wedding ring set. (Yep, we really are engaged!)


• Robin, Louie and I witnessed the annual Polar Dip. It was hysterical, to say the least. Where else but in Alaska would you find 100+ people eager to jump into water that you don't even jump into during summer?


• Louie deserted me as my best friend and claimed a new best friend. Robin went to herd the ducks and left out a bunch of leftover ham on the counter. (Louie was sick for days.)


• We left Louie and the ducks to go to the next housesitting assignment, complete with another unique mixture of pets.
  


• Pepper, the dog, has short-term memory problems. Each time she looks out the window and sees the Jeep, she starts barking ... until she remembers it's mine. Then she stops. But starts again when she looks out the window and sees the Jeep. Then she stops. But starts again when.... Reportedly, Pepper doesn't really like men so we were really good friends ... until Robin bribed her with some turkey and bread.


• Button, the cat, likes to sleep in this one room all day or on your lap if you let her.


• Lightning, not a very speedy cat, is friendly but likes to pee on things.
  


• We celebrated New Year's at -- where else -- the P-Bar, complete with hats and champagne.