Groundhog Day all over again

This winter has seemed like Groundhog Day, the movie. Snow. Snow. More snow. January was a new record snow month for Kodiak, with 48.6 inches of the stuff, snowballing the old record of 40.4 inches. Total snowfall to date this winter is 85 inches (normal is 34 inches).

So far, 4 boats moored in the harbor have sunk because the owners didn't go and shovel them off.

Robin has been on the snowplow all month, with hardly a day off. So far this winter, he has used:

• 492 gallons of gas
• 105 gallons of diesel
• 60,000 pounds of sand and traction chips
• 1,500 pounds of ice melt (that's 30, 50-lb boxes he himself has spread)

We head to sunny Florida this weekend, weather permitting, for a brief break from the snow.

30 Year Anniversary

Robin celebrated his 30 year anniversary with the Department of the Interior. (He started a seasonal job there while still in high school.)

We had a surprise party for him with cake (the decorator accidentally put the blue goose upside-down and a co-worker started cutting into it before I could take the picture) and entertainment (a slideshow I put together covering all 30 years). Thanks to all who submitted photos and quotes! It was great and he was very surprised and happy.

View the .wmv, complete with music (it's worth the download wait, but probably only works on a PC).

Download the PDF.

Remembering Mike Voshell

My brother-in-law, Mike Voshell, passed away on Sunday after a brief (but long), brutal battle with leukemia. He was only 62.

Please send condolences to Theresa, Allison and Josie.

I've known Mike since I was 6 years old! He was the first person to give me a motorcycle ride. He dutifully served in Vietnam and served as the local fire chief for more than 27 years.

Winter weather

We've been hit with some snow, wind, rain, snow, rain, wind and some more snow.

Did I mention we've had some snow? Not as bad as Cordova, the place with about 18 feet of snow, avalanches and collapsing roofs ... where National Guard went to help dig them out.)

• In Kodiak, the heavy wet snow caused some boats to sink in the harbor. (Listen to the local radio station report.)
  

• Several deep puddles in the road, more like ponds, really, made for very hazardous conditions. Local officials finally closed the road when puddle depth reached 3 feet. Yikes. The airport was also closed for several days. (See the local paper.)
  

Quote of the day

"How do you know when Santa's birthday is?"

Robin's response when I said, "Saturday is Janet's birthday."

Note: Robin just met with a hearing aid specialist last week ... I think this clinches the deal.

Computer error message of the day...

Received when Robin tried to check his work (i.e. government) e-mail:

"The requested service is temporarily unavailable. It is either overloaded or under maintenance. Please try later."

Kodiak Shuffle

Snow. Slush. Rain. Ice. Snow. Rain. Ice.

Waaahc, waaahc, waaahc. Everyone walks around like penguins shuffled across the ice. Through the gravel strewn across the top.

Only our friend Jimmy wasn't so lucky ... he slipped on one tiny spot of ice on a grassy yard. Sloooop! Down he went and tore his quadriceps tendon off his kneecap. Ouch! He had surgery Friday and went home from the hospital today.

A long, slow recovery is in store.