Season of the eagle

It certainly has been a looong time since our last entry. We have been here in Kodiak, with 2 trips to Anchorage squeezed in by Nancy. But, now Andy is in Hawaii for a couple of months. (Please don't feel sorry for him, he gets paid to be there).

With all kidding aside, Andy is in Hawaii for work and unfortunately little, if any, R and R. So little R and R that I will not be visiting him while he is there. They will be doing a lot of readiness drills and training. I'm not sure why they do this in such a beautiful place like Hawaii but, I guess they have to do it somewhere.

Winter is here and sometimes I feel like I live in Alaska and sometimes I feel like I am back in Atlanta. I feel like I am in Alaska when the mailbox lock is frozen and the mailman pulls out his handy mini blow torch to melt the ice. When the temperature hovers at 34 and it rains instead of snows and every bit of energy you had to go to the gym is zapped out of you; that's when I feel like I am back in Atlanta (or the Southeast). Speaking of the Southeast, or even the East Coast, I know at times, this year you have felt that you live in Alaska. My advice, enjoy it, it's alot prettier than rain.

The Holidays came and went and although we terribly missed our friends and family we managed to enojoy ourselves. One of the highlights of the season was Andy's company (boat) Christmas party. They had a White Elephant gift exchange, which had everyone is tears with laughter. The most exchanged or stolen gift was a 36 pack of Charmin toilet paper. My friend Kendra's husband thought of this brilliant idea. As you know, things are expensive up here in Alaska.

Christmas Eve we had friends over and celebrated with a bottle of Dom Perignon. Christmas Day we went on a 4 wheeler ride through snow filled trails. We wrapped up Christmas with dinner at our neighbors house with a feast of Alaskan King Crab Legs, Ham, Turkey, and scallops. New Years Eve was great too. We went to the "bar" on base where our friend's band was playing; their name is the Allutian Noise Pollution. What impressed me most about NYE was the designated driver program they had which was headed by The Commanding Medical Officer on Base and he was one of the drivers. (Lead by example).

Eagles, eagles and more eagles. January is crab season and it ends whenever the quota (set by the fishing police) has been met. I have also unofically named it Eagle Season. There are TONS and TONS of eagles hanging around the fishing docks. You can find them on tops of buildings, in trees and just about anywhere there is a perch. I have learned that eagles do not turn into their beautiful selves until they are 4. Posted are pictures of the "young" eagles as well as the mature ones. The young eagles look shaggy and kind of brown and tan. I know these aren't the best pictures but, I am working on it.

Also pictured on the blog are pictures of my neighbors dog, Kenai, who joins us everyday for our walk up the mountain. Flat Stanley is also posted on here too. He is visiting here from Midlothian, VA. I am sending him back to my friends 9 year old to present Stanley and his adventures in Alaska to his class at school.

Just realized the time and I must log off now and head to the gym before I get the energy sucked out of me to go.

Let me know if you want postcards from Alaska, I enjoy sending them.

Peace, love and low interest rates.

Nancy and Andy

The Water has a way with........

Happy last month of 2010. I still blows my mind that we are living in Alaska, well technically an island off of Alaska. It is cold but, still not unbearable. We did get snow accumulation last week of a whopping 2 inches. But, here lies the problem.....When the snow melts, it quickly freezes when the sun goes down. That is all a recipe for dangerous icy conditions especially on the roads and sidewalks.

We had a traditional Lower 48 Thanksgiving, thank goodness. Our friends Melissa and Steve Johnson (he is a fellow Coastie) has us over with another couple. I hear Eskimo Icecream is made with Whale Blubber and that Bear meat is very oily.


Andy is still in beautiful San Diego until the end of this week. He managed to get the weekend off from training and made it to the world famous San Diego Zoo. Just like everyone that has ever been to the zoo, he too was extremely impressed with the "campus." He is even going to try and go back for a second visit before he leaves. Currently active members of the US Military are allowed free admission into the zoo!!!!!!!

On to not so good news but, it's not the end of the world. As my good friend Tom Higgason says, "the water has a thing for sunglasses and cell phones." Well, I left my Carbon Footprint in the Gulf of Alaska via losing my cell phone in her very large and cold pool. Please follow along in the next paragraph as I tell my story.

The Johnson's (mentioned earlier), myself and our 3 dogs decided to go to the beach b/c the temperature was pushing the high 30's and the sun was shinning. I spotted a fallen tree that had extended itself out into the Gulf. "Wouldn't it be a great picture of me out there on the tree?" Well, I am guessing the phone slid out of my pocket as I was scooting myself further on down the tree. Make it known that Melissa told me not to go any further and I did. (Pictures provided).

I know it might sound like I think it is funny but, I am totally mad and even madder that I didn't listen to Melissa. If you do not have my new 907 area code phone number please email me at nancmcd@gmail.com and I will send it to you. On the lighter side, Hogan is quite the athlete; he had to jump from the ground/water and land on the log just like a gymnast landing on a balance beam. Poor Brandy's attempt was not as successful or graceful.

The other pictures are of some pretty scenery (of course).

Be safe during the Holidays.

Much love

Andy and Nancy

Still on the Rock

Gosh, it has almost been a month since our last post. Unfortunately that does not mean we have been blinded by a winter storm. I know, I know, be careful what you wish for and don't rush mother nature because it will be here before you know it.

In our last post I failed to mention that one of Andy's favorite bands, The Lonesome River Band, actually came to Kodiak for a performance. As some of you may know, they are an awesome group of Bluegrass, singers, songwriters and musicians. Andy was beside himself to attend their show and we even got pictures with them. I think it made him a little homesick for Nashville. But, nothing beats Mike Pruitt and The Waste Management Band on a Saturday night at the Full Moon Saloon in Nashville (or playing at our wedding).

As some of you Facebook Friends know, me and my girl friends enjoyed ourselves at Ladies Night at Kodiak's True Value, yes, the True Value Hardware Store. When we got there at 6:45pm (for a 7:00pm opening) the line had already formed at least 70 people deep. I know this b/c the first 50 ladies got free gift bags and we did not. For those men that are reading this do not be jealous, Andy was there but, attached to my ear via cell phone and was presented a VERY nice Milwaukee drill when I returned home.

Another interesting fact about our island is the Lauch Facility that we have here. Ironically it is named "Kodiak Lauch Facilty." It does exactly what you think it would, it launches rockets/missles into space. By no means am I a rocket scientist but, I did witness the launch along with my friend Melissa and other Kodiak residents. I know that it released 6 satellites 400 miles above the Earth, then firing a liquid-fueled thruster to boost its orbit another 300 miles higher. I have provided pictures of the launch but, if you want further information you can go to www.spaceflightnow.minotaur/stps26.status.html I also applaud the people that thought to bring their RV's and tailgate to witness this monumental event : )

Andy is leaving the rock tomorrow for a 10 day class in Gods Country aka. San Diego, California. He has never been and all I can tell him is not to come back with a lower 48 attitude (ha ha). Truthfully I am jealous that he will be around a mall, buildings that are more than 3 stories, temperatures above 40 degrees and staples (groceries) that don't expire 5 days after you buy them. Living here on the island one MUST be aware of expiration dates on EVERYTHING and I even mean beef jerkey!

Today while Andy and his buddies were 4 wheeling they saw mama bear and 3 baby cubs. She squared off with Andy, who was in front of the line, and then decided to take her kids and retreat into the woods. One of the guys even said they still had their white rings around their necks. But, they were very fat and appeared to be making their beds for a long sleep. We are waiting on pictures from the guy who was last in the line.

Well that's about all the excitement I can report in one posting. We want to let everyone know that we are thinking about them and miss them.

Be safe out there on the roads traveling for the Holidays.

Andy and Nancy

Stuck on the rock

The snow has begun to fall and the roads have begun to terrorize us with the dreaded black ice. We haven't had any accumulation except for in the higher elevations which is just a few steps up the mountain trail behind our house. I have attached a picture of a HUGE(and fresh) bear track we found in the snow while 4 Wheeling yesterday. We were relieved when we saw his tracks go off into the thicket.

Congratulations go out to Andy for making it though his 6 long, grueling and stressful weeks of his Chief's Call to Indoctrination (initiation). The USCG had an awesome formal dinner ceremony Friday night to finalize and introduce all 18 of them. Wives and significant other's were also honored and were a part of their pinning ceremony.

We have quickly lived and learned that there are 2 seasons in Alaska; Winter and construction. To follow suite with this, our friendly Ferry that takes us on and off the island is being repaired until the middle of December. (It is a short 10.5 hour boat ride). So our only form of transportation now is via airplane and if the weather doesn't cooperate that day, we are all "stuck on the rock." Anyone feeling claustrophobic?

The wind is something else I feel like I should mention. Andy and I continue to hear daily seasoned veterans of Kodiak say "that wind is nothing compaired to what is to come." I think the day we hear "now THAT is wind" we will both want to dial 911 and ask for help off the groud. Andy saw a neighbor chasing a UPS box down the street today he had just received. Every Wednesday at 2pm we do have a Tsunami alarm sound and if you have never heard it, it will make your heart skip a beat.

Last week I was at the gym and out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy with an ECU shirt on! I walked up to him and told him I noticed his shirt and that was my school. He said he went to ECU too and was from Washington, NC and was a Coastie and worked on base at the Air Station. What a small world. No I did not know him, he was at most 23 or 24 years old.

I have included several pictures of the snow and then one picture of my friend Jessica that I thought was a great shot.

Andy and I hope that everyone is doing well and staying warm. We really miss our friends and family in the lower 48. Oh and I last thing, gas is now up to 3.95 a gallon!!!

#1 Question

HOW COLD IS IT?

Some/most days I think Fall has come and gone and then around 2:00pm, if the sun is shinning just right, I can walk outside without a coat on for a minute or two. This only happens provided you are not in the shade, the wind is not blowing and you are constantly moving around (in the sun of course). It is not too terribly cold YET but, our downstairs heat has not been turned off in several weeks. For those of you who are curious we have boiler heat/steam.

Andy is at work so I will do my best to describe this heating phenonom, as I understand it. We have a boiler room inbetween our house and the next door neighbors. Diesel fuel heats up our boiler (water) and that provides steam to our baseboard heaters and to whatever else needs to be headed. I do know that we do not have a hot water heater tank thing. But, we do not physically see the steam coming out of the base boards; well yet anyway. I sure hope I explained this right!!

The sun is starting to rise around 8:30 - 9:00 and I have borrowed a picture from my friend Melissa of the sunrise. The sun is definitely starting to set a lot earlier now. In fact, I just looked out the window and it is pretty darn dark and it is 7:45!!! Back during it's peak, the sun was setting/going down around 11. Kodiak is located pretty far south compaired to the places that have the 3 months of total light and dark.

Andy continues to have not enough hours in the day to get all of his boat work and Chief's initiation stuff done but, is able to pull himself away and get home at a decent hour. His leadership skills have definitely helped me master the art of 4 Wheeling. We have been able to go at least once a weekend for several hours at a time. I HAD to include a picture of Andy and his 4 Wheeler stuck in the mud!

I have posted 2 pictures of a pond up on top of Old Woman's Mountain to show the color conrast of Summer and Fall. Another picture is of a rainbow in the neighborhood. I have been told that rainbows happen ALL the time but, I will not take them for granted. Also, a picture of Hogan looking like a mountain goat.

We hope everyone is happy, healthy and wise. If anyone wants a break from the rat race, learn how to live a slow paced life or simply be cold, drop us a line or just ring our doorbell, we'll leave the light on for you.

Season of Studs

Studded tires that is. October 1st was the first (official) day that motorist of Kodiak could put their studded tires on their vehicles. We currently do not own a pair of studded tires and hope that our 4 wheel drive Tundra, Sylvia will get us through winter.

Since we arrived on July 3rd, the snow has melted off the higher elevated mountains and is starting to reappear. It is really cool to watch the lower/closer mountains change colors just like trees do in the lower 48. Andy and I noticed the other day that it looked like someone had poured caramel sauce on top of the mountains and we are watching it slowly drip down day by day.

So we took the 4 wheelers out last week and had a great time. Andy was very patient with me and was a very good teacher. On our island there are more ATV trails that paved driveable roads. I can't wait to see what I have been missing. By request, I have included a picture of me, my bike and my new helmet. Action photos will come next post.

The bears continue to be out and about and have proven to not be scared of humans. My friend Kendra had one in her back yard on Saturday to only be shot in the butt with rubber bulletts by Military Police. His butt must not have been stinging to badly because he returned Tuesday to her front yard this time.

I hope everyone is doing well. I am trying to make a conscious effort of posting more often. We definitely do miss our friends and family back in the lower 48.

Bears, toys, and chiefs

Hello to everyone,

Summer has officially ended and some days I think we have jumped right into winter without ever seeing Fall. Last Saturday I was talking to The Seawell's (Andy's sister and bro in law) who had just left the UVA game and were in their car with the airconditioner on full blast b/c they were so bloody hot and I was in our back yard with winter gloves on, ski jacket, hood up and wool socks throwing ball with Hogan. When asked what temperature it was I soon found out that it was a whopping 44 degress!!!!

The next day I took the dogs up the mountain behind our house for a hike. I soon found out what Gale Force Winds feel like. I felt like one of those Weather Channel reporters covering a hurricane on the East Coast. Being the exercise freak that I am I insited that the dogs and I trek on. I finally decided to turn around when Brandy, our 63 pound lab, kept blowing into me. The walk down was just as hard as the walk up. I tried to find a way to capture the wind force with a photo but, my brain was too cold to be creative.

Now that Andy has been home for a couple of weeks he has decided to dive right in to the Alaskan culture including buying some new toys. Yesterday Andy came home with two (2) Four Wheelers and I quote "I got a really good deal on them." I think he wanted to spend the night in the garage with them last night but, decided our pillow top mattress would give him less of a back ache when he woke up in the morning.

Adding to the excitement of the 4 Wheeler Andy also saw/encountered his first Kodiak bear. He and a buddy went fishing a week or so back and had to "Give up the River to the Bear." Bears are actually very smart! This praticular bear was waiting for fishermen to catch their salmon and then he (the bear) would approach the people and make them cut their line, losing their fish to the bear, but, allowing the people to walk, rather run away. So rather than chancing this Andy and his buddy "gave up the river to the bear."

On top off all this excitment Andy, is also going through initiation. Andy has been a Chief for a year and a half but, was never "initiated" into The Chief's fraternity (not the real word but, he is not around for me to ask him) do to being at small boat station in Nashville. There will be a formal swearing in ceremony once all 20 Chief's on the Kodiak base have passed their tests/pledging. So one word to describe Andy right now is "busy."

I will leave you with pictures of Andy's bear and our new 4 Wheelers. I will try to not take so long in between posts next time.

Stay tuned for snow report 2010!!!

Andy and Nancy