Surviving Alaska 101 part c

The season we are enjoying right now is called break-up. Snow starts to melt and form a gross dull grey-brown coating, the streets become muck, and the old grass from last year starts to peak through along with it's putrid smell. Ahhh the smell of old rotten things mixing together to form a concoction of old trash, animal feces and rotten greenage. I call it break-up stew. As you can imagine, this is not exactly my favorite time of year...although the positive thing about this time of year is the anticipation we all have of brighter things.

In the summer (aka construction season): Party all day and night because you can't sleep when the sun is shining through your window at midnight! People emerge from their hibernation and bust out their tank tops, shorts, sandals, and bikes in April - when the snow is not yet melted and it is still 30-40 degrees outside. Summer here is very green and we feel it is getting really hot at 65 degrees. 60 degrees and up happens about (maybe) 2 months of the year. Everything is outside. We are all outside. We do not go inside until it starts raining cats and dogs late August. Then we get ready for winter.

In the winter: Get out your skiis, sleds, snowshoes, snowmachines, and all your snow gear because sitting inside the house all winter will give you cabin fever. If you start to feel depressed, shine some light on your face. The darkest days of the year are in the winter here. Some people have to utilize a SAD light or light therapy to generate some energy. Many people take a much needed vacation to sunnier places for some relief.

Right now, my relief is spelled C-R-U-I-S-E! That is what my husband and I plan to do this August - when the rain season hits Alaska. Cruise on out to Mexico. Adios Amigos!