I'm off to watch the baby mammoth.

Quick Weather Query

What is the proper meteorologist term for the weather anomaly of snowing and raining at the same time?

Snaining?

Rowing?

Just wondering.

Oh; I forgot to mention that I also spied a small mosquito!

AUUUGGGGHHHHH! (I HATE mosquitoes!)

Solitude

One of the things I've always been most fearful of is being alone. I never thought that would be an issue in an urban situation. I live in Alaska, yet I also live in a neighborhood that is situated along a very busy road. The fact that we are also located at the intersection of this busy road and one of two entrances to an "exclusive" community complete with a neighborhood association is a subject that causes much thought for me.

There are RULES! Great!

You can't park you vehicle on the side of the street; your motorcycle in the drive-way unless it's summer,(what's that in Alaska; about two months?!)or your RV/travel trailer. If your fence blows down due to 80+ mile an hour winds; they expect you to at least remove the frozen to-the-ground-debris and stack inside your remaining fence-line so as not to offend the other home-owners. If you don't, the neighborhood hooligans will toss them unceremoniously into aforementioned busy road for shits-n-giggles. Having no fence on the corner of this corner lot means less privacy and more traffic noise from the much traveled road and a considerable increase in traffic noise. Have I mentioned that everyone who uses this road seems to have a four wheel drive TRUCK with a HEMI, that sounds like a semi with a souped-up exhaust system, a boom-bass stereo, and an amplified jake-brake system? Kinda brings a whole new light to that "Life is a Hi-way" thang! Yet; you can very well host a moose in your side-yard, and there have been bears sighted in the walking path just below our house. Those things are cool, and what one might expect in this neck of the woods.

Neat! Fun!

Did I mention that I spend a lot of time alone? Right! All of this traffic noise bugs the crap out of me! Not what I would have thought Alaska would hold for an Outside Greenhorn like me! (Outside=Not in/from Alaska)

Living in an urban environment such as Anchorage/Eagle River, I never would have imagined the difficulty in forming friendships. Not so. I know virtually no-one on my street. Great! I still get the "Where are you frum" query when going about my everyday activities. I've lived here over a year; after residing in Valdez, Alaska for two years. I actually loved living in Valdez; Anchorage-not so much. I may as well live off Copper and Wyoming in Albuquerque!

In all of my life, I've never felt so isolated. My kids are far away; my friends are far away; K. works shift work: I think my pets are growing tired of my constant prater.

Can't say that I blame them: so am I.

Come on Spring!

Wow; Already!

I can't believe that a year has passed so quickly: I seriously never thought that I'd make it a week!

Thank you all for letting me share some of my thoughts here, and for the honor of getting to know a bit about you.

Update!

As most of you know, that little volcano about a hundred miles from here has been having a bit of a temper-tantrum lately. If you'd like to see a live web cam view, you can check it out here.
I mean; had I known this bit of information, I might have been a little more reluctant (i.e vocal) about moving here. Tsunamis and earthquakes are one thing, but multi-orgasmic, pyroclastic mounds this numerous in near proximity of home is too close for comfort; IMO. The ash fall has passed us by so far, so we're fine; but if it will ease your worried minds, just make checks payable to:

Kkryno's Volcano Relief Fund
I'm-So-Happy-Ville, AK. 99577*

I'm sure it's tax-deductible, and you'll be helping me maintain my mind*numbing supply of martinis and onion dip; batteries, filter masks, and panti-hose too! You can also purchase for your very own for a limited time (spoken in Billy Mays-ease!!!) this AMAZING JAR OF GENUINE ALASKAN VOLCANO DUST! Share in a bit of Authentic Alaskana, all for three easy payments of $19.95!!! Supplies are endless, so buy NOW! Of course I'd have to drive to Talkeetna to get it, but I'd do it for you; and I'll wave hello to Sarah on my way through Wasilla. Unless she's out on a speaking engagement in the Lower 48 (again!)

(Ever notice that Billy Mays' initials are B.M.???!!!11) EEEEWWWW!

Alaska Airlines is flying again, so if I get nervous about Redoubt again; I'm sure for a phenomenal fee, they will be happy to cart my generous butt out of here.

We'll see.

All is well, so far. :)

*I am just kidding; ya know!


(I found the photo of this lovely little meltdown here.)

Wow! Two in one day!

I don't post on a regular or even a semi-regular basis. That said; I know what I want for my birthday. You kids have three whole months...Just kidding!

Well sort of!

Behold!

The Amazing Chile Grill!

I've been in the kitchen again (go figure!) and have had a craving that started weeks and weeks ago. I've decided to attempt my version of these little (okay BIG) bites of Heaven. My goodness! Inspired by Linda, and Greg; I finally had to give in!

So, unfortunately; this apparatus was really designed for jalapenos. I had a major hankerin' for some Hatch green chiles, but the only thing available were some very mild Anaheims; must make due with what's around! No matter; the smell while these were roasting was teh awesome! Anything with cheese and bacon has my number!

The list of ingredients I used are as follows:

Bacon--2 strips; chopped.
Red Onion--2 or 3 slices; diced.
Garlic--1 or 2 cloves; minced.
1 lb. Cream Cheese--room temperature.
White and Yellow Sharp Cheddar--1 Cup, heaping; grated. (guard carefully, for some reason, this ingredient seems to disappear into thin air around here!)
Plain yogurt--4 Tablespoons.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Green Chiles--6 large and firm; seeded.
More Bacon (yeah!)--6 slices.

Saute the chopped bacon, onions, garlic and a couple of sprinkles each of salt and pepper until bacon is crisp and the onions are transparent. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and dab off excess grease. Set aside until a bit later (Keep a look-out for cheese stealer; he likes bacon, too! A quick smack on the offending hand usually sends him packing, but be diligent!)

In a medium sized bowl, moosh-up the cream cheese fairly well; then add the cheddars, saute mix, and more salt and pepper. Moosh some more (moosh being the best word I can come up with to describe what to do to this stuff!) Remove to a pastry bag or a zipping sandwich bag with an 1/8 corner trimmed off to allow you to squirt the mixture into the chiles until full. Fun, huh?!

Wrap in bacon, securing the slices with a toothpick and place in the chile stand. If you don't have one, you can improvise with some heavy-duty aluminum foil and a large bread pan.

Bake at 350* F. until cheese is toasted on top, and the bacon is done to your liking.(my bacon could have used some crisping. K. suggests nucro-waving the strips a bit before wrapping them around the chiles and then popping them in the oven. I say good idea!)

Eat 'em up; yum!


OT: Huzzah!!! Spring Equinox!!!!