2 feet of snow dumped on us

 

that happened right after i moved here...so like 20 years ago. i recall everyone expressing how unusual it was to get that much snow in 24 hours so that made me feel good. i am 20 years older though so shoveling all that snow was a bit more of a process. the driveway was shorter at the rental on pussywillow too. 

not sure how i made it into the driveway after working all night with that 2 feet of snow. just plowed in.  the snow came up to the door so i had to just step into the abyss of snow in my tennis shoes and scrubs and walk inside. 

snow like that you must dig out in shifts. at least that is how i've always done it.  South Dakota got huge drifts all the time the two winters i lived there so life in Anchorage is pretty good that way. the side roads are still pretty bad but they have plowed out the main roads. 

i always laugh at these times as often the folks who complain the loudest about the roads not being plowed quick enough are the same ones that vote for GOP because they fear us becoming a Socialist nation...which is exactly the sort of nations that get their snow plowed fast. irony and common sense are not things these people are very familiar with though. 

yesterday i made it out to the dog park and today i headed to North Bivouac.  i had no idea how the trailhead parking lot would look but surprise, it was plowed. gotta love Anchorage!  they plow the trailheads before the side streets. :-) perfect.  i can manage the side streets for a bit. 

thankfully, i had wisely tossed in my snow shoes. probably should have tossed in my bigger back country snow shoes. the trails were not tromped down at all so i was breaking trail with the dogs.  i did not get all that far really. probably less than two miles out and back.  tomorrow i will try again.  on the weekend i suspect the bikers will hit the trails and tromp it down.  i could see cars headed up there as i headed home. 

it's a work out snowshoeing in that deep of snow for me, but it felt great and it was so beautiful and relaxing. 

there is another dog missing out there.  never saw that dog. 

my dogs loved being out there. Ivy Rose was like a train moving through the snow. Sunny Boy, of course, was bouncing up and down.  youth. they have packed down a bit of the snow in the yard already. lots of snow has been brought in through the dog door of course. 

the Element was in  deep. i finally got it out from all the snow, though there is still quite a bit on the roof still. maybe we will drive that one tomorrow. i've started it both days and today i drove it back and forth a bit. 

my work was all picu this stretch. i had the same patients for 5 nights and the last night i got a different vent. they had intubated two more babies that day so we needed to spread out the work load. 

got paid so i'll try and finish out the gift cards and hopefully get a few small packages out. then just get the local gifts ready.  do some painting. 

have done the intermittent fasting. of course, i guess i am a "dirty faster" i understand.  that is because i am not as strict as i'm supposed to be. i don't feel like i have tons to lose, but it has cut off much of the snacking. i allow myself a broth at work in the wee hours.  that has no sugar and only 70 calories so i'm good with that cheat.  one day i ate one jello pack as i had diarrhea that day so i suspect i was very low on calories.  i never was able to abide by rules. i've never been a good dieter.  mostly, i just eat less and exercise more. 

so on my work days i fast from 0200-2pm when i wake up, when i don't work i try for 10:30pm-10:30 am. 12 hours around those times. that of course, means that on my first night back i get extra eating time ( though at work i don't really take too much advantage of it). on my last night i end up with a shorter period of time to eat. it's close enough. never weighed myself so the only way i'll see progress is by how the clothes fit. 

the basketball player is back from being held in russia. the gop is of course, bitching and whining.  they now claim to care about Whelan.  he couldn't be released in this deal.  of course, they claim he's in for spying and she was in for a small amount of marijuana possession.  the guy that they traded for her had done half his sentence here. weapons. a bad guy for sure. he was met by a spy that was associated with people from trumps campaign. plenty out there that want Bout dead.  we shall see what his fate becomes. does he return to the arms sales.  

even trump was on twitter or social media disparaging Biden for getting Griner and not Whelan...as Whelans brother pointed out this is odd since it's the first and only time trump has even mentioned his brother.  his brother was taken by russia in 2018, when trump was potus, trump never mentioned him in all his years in office and did nothing to help him...so his brother had no kind words in reply to trumps comments. 

whelan is a citizen of ireland, britain, us, and canada...none of them have done much it seems to get him back.  he was discharged from the marines for charges of larceny.  so he's not squeaky. 

Butina, she was the spy, guess she was the one who met him when he was released to russian custody...she was gloating on russian tv about the deal. she was an "unregistered foreign agent" (spy) who infiltrated teh NRA and the GOP. she's a gun advocate in russia so no surprise that she would have connections with bout i guess. 

in other news, surprise, surprise, sinema has switched to independent.  she often, with manchin has been a thorn in the progress of the dems.  she is not popular in her state. they are saying she couldn't win a dem primary so will instead threaten to muck up with a 3rd party candidate. not sure she will be popular enough to make that happen.  two more years and we shall find out i guess.

67 journalists and media staff were killed in 2022...sad report. we do need these people to get out there and find and report the truth.  it's been a tougher job of late because these crazy conspiracy outlets that claim to be news but are really nothing more than hate pushers. 

anemones closed up in sand at low tide. 

a few of Tusker in here. lost him almost a year ago. i think about him every day...more these past few weeks because of that terrible anniversary. will try to focus on all the joyous times with him and not on those last days, but it is tough this week. 

this place was one of our favorite places.  he loved deep creek too and chasing all those bald eagles. we got lucky that none of them ever turned on him. 

we lost the tennis ball within a few minutes today...no wonder with all that deep snow. 

i watched a bit of the royal Harry show with his spouse. i think overall, it's a couple who have had all the advantages anyone could ask for. i don't wish ill of them but i couldn't see giving them my time so i switched it off, watched something else in stead.  now i just started this Wednesday show. 

have only watched one episode. 

ivy is behind me fast asleep.  that snow plowing was probably exhausting for her, but she still loves to get out there and play.  such a sweet, happy girl. 

doubt i wore out Sunny Boy.  i did start to trim his hair...gotta look good for his Santa photo's. 

memorial in Homer.  

not sure how this new charger works.  you just set it on top of the charger? bought one on shutterfly with the critters photos. may need to charge it up first? 

i'll never totally get the hang of all the gadgets i guess. 

more than others i'm sure. 

i'll get some snacks and then head to bed soon. i have worked out a lot these past few days with this deep snow. 

this very bright sea star was a sweet find. so pretty hiding under that rock. 

so many stars and they take on personalities by how they land.  

the light comes through the piers. this is on the spit. 

Sunny got the hang of the low tide and playing on the rocks very quickly. he's a fan of Homer now as well. 

Ivy got to show him the ropes out there. his personality is his own as is hers. each pup lives on in your heart as they are so unique and so uniquely loved. 

muscles mixed with barnacles below

tiny stars. 

well, snack time and i'll head to bed.  

thankful for A. a plowed trailhead...thanks! B. untouched trail to play on. thats more and more rare. C. the beauty of all this fresh snow.