Iceholes

"I like fishing; I really do," Andy said Saturday afternoon while baiting a hook with neon-pink shrimp. It's an activity, a passion, a lifestyle he doesn't get enough time to do. Since Christmas, though, his ability and tools to fish year-round grew with the acquisition of some key gear needed for ice-fishing. This winter past-time sure gets its digs when comedians and more "southern" folk poke fun at sitting on something frozen while trying to woo out a wiggly creature that you're most likely gonna throw right back down a tiny hole.These nay-sayers never had an "Eskimo" to sit in hours at a time. This ice "shack" takes Andy seconds to pop open. He set up our Finger Lake dream house and we commenced the "here, fishy fishy."

Tiny salmon and rainbow trout responded to our call.

No lunkers were had during this outing, but more sunlight and the right gear will surely bring the big one to the top of the ice hole.

Bundling up, the fresh air, fish slime and "roughing it" was a pretty good Saturday spent. It's also fun to see Andy hang in his "element."

*Amy

The Routine

Not much to say as of late because January has been the start of a hard-working year, so far. Andy works an average 11 hours per day (on midnights), which includes training a new recruit. My work has been a flurry of activity with the training we hosted last week for about 70 people from rural Alaska. They are part of our new AmeriCorps year. The orientation went very well and I'm enjoying calls and emails from around the state by questioning Members. This week has been full of report-making that makes the funding wheels spin.

Other than the full work days we drank away an afternoon at the annual Beer & Barley Wine Festival in Anchorage with Jodi and Graham. A week later they came out to Wasilla for a great night of sushi and visiting. We're also finding a long-forgotten gym routine. Andy's in a law enforcement fitness challenge. He weighed in, with a couple of other guys, at the beginning of the month and will check his weight and BMI in April. I'm taking to the treadmill while watching "Chuck" and other shows I'd normally catch at home, and I've also found a water aerobics instructor who is upbeat and gets me splashing.

Friends of ours, a Trooper couple, is having their second baby. The Simmons are the same age as us, and we were excited for them in June when we learned they're expecting. Anna and I went for pampering pedicures on Sunday as the guys watched that painful play-off game. Glad we went when we did because she's in delivery as I write! More than two weeks early. I'll probably meet the little girl tomorrow.

And that's how the first month of 2010 is shaping up!

*Amy

Why We Got the 4-Wheeler

Those winds earlier this week left the snowscape a bit tundra-like: worn, drifted and a bit like a frozen waves. Paddy's hat and scarf are safely secured inside. He's hanging on, but minus a limb!

Mile High City

We're well on our way into the New Year and Mother Nature has been blasting 60 mph winds at us for days on end. Makes me wish I was back where I was a week ago...Denver!

I flew to Colorado on New Year's Eve (leaving Andy to work) and was swept into a world of hospitality, fun and friendship with my friends, Megan & Zach. It's high time I've visited their Denver world and what tipped the scales was the wedding of my cousin, Coleman Flaherty.

I spent time in their lovely 1912-built home, felt bright sunshine and went out for New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day they brought me into the Mountains. I enjoy downhill skiing but not to their Mountain level, so I must admit that we played it safe....by ice skating at Keystone! Not just ice skating, though, but gliding around North America's largest frozen pond for skating! It had a hockey rink on it, and a cute Christmas tree with Christmas music playing.

Alaskans engage in crazy outdoor sports so I definitely appreciated the ice road races we caught happening at a Mountain town. I think this clip captures the craziness, spirit and machinery!

Just check out the studs, or spikes, they use on these vehicles!

Megan brought me to Red Rocks Amphitheater (SO cool!), some of her favorite city spots, Boulder for shopping, as well as a fantastic and impressive tour of Denver's Performing Arts Complex (*contented sigh*). In exchange, I brought her as my date to Coleman's wedding!

He's 10 days older than me and moved to Colorado a year and half ago. He and Carie had a very nice event and finally met their son, Jackson. This little two-year old just had to join the ceremony!

I hadn't seen Coleman in a long time and his sister, Claire, in an even longer time. She came up from Texas and Uncle Jay from MN. Some of my Flaherty cousins!This is my lovely date. We found some old WestLaw books to play with (copyright 1931).Most of all in seeing a new city I spent quality time with far away family, and connected with dear friends. Zach and Megan treated me like family. I can't wait to bring Andy to Denver; I picture a loud concert at Red Rocks....

*Amy

Paddy the Fatty

Over Christmas weekend we made a snowman. Conditions were warm, the snow stuck and we rolled around and more importantly, laughed a lot.

Paddy the Fatty took on a shape of his own during the creation process and he ended up with a nice beer belly/gut. That pretty much decided which direction he faces.

That's when Paddy asked (thru a real cole mouth) for his Native Guinness. Andy couldn't deny and decided to join Paddy in a cool beverage.

We hope he "sticks around" for awhile, tho I don't know what Paddy will do to celebrate New Year's Eve. Andy starts work at the stroke of midnight and Amy is in Denver for a long weekend!

Happy New Year!

Light & Power

It's funny, or would it be ironic?, that last weekend was the darkest of the year (daylight hour-wise) and we experienced a couple decent power outages. Already we were facing 5 1/2 hrs. of sunlight, but then the Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) decided to make matters a little darker.

Last Saturday we just stayed in bed for the lack of electricity and heat. And then my friend, Beth, came up from Soldotna and stayed with us that night. We went out to eat and it was over chips and salsa that the power failed...again. Beth, the ever ready & handy person, offered her headlamp to our waiter who used it to continue business in the dark. Our drinks were over the rocks, Mexican food over candlelight, and the scene was, well, quite fun and comfy!

The day before Winter Solstice Beth and I decided to live out the day hours with some snowshoeing near Lake Lucille. The powder was thick and we earned the awesome hot tub soak afterward.

MEA was nice enough to save another power failure for the afternoon of Christmas Day. I think it was our little present to quiet down and focus on stillness. Or not. Good news is we're gaining daylight again!

*Amy

A Snowy Merry Christmas!

In honor of the Midwest's current blizzards, I'll share our share of snow from last week. The effect of hoar-frost coverings and a heavy blanket of snow was stunning, but driving on the roads was stellar too... just in the opposite direction.The grill got piled on and most of our trees bent over from the weight of frost and snow.Camo-Man has some really tall trees in his yard.

As the snowflakes may come down, think of them as the blessings in our lives and as the snow piles, it's the cumulation of a lovely holiday season. As quickly as this season arrives and passes, so too will the snow, so enjoy! All the beautiful layers of snow shown in this blog suddenly blew away and melted just before Christmas. Dive in and play while you can. Christmas only comes once a year.

Merriest of Merry!

Love, A&A