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!!!