Saturday, November 26, 2005
Black Friday
As most of you know Black Friday is the day after Thanksgivings and that is the day that most retailers go into the black for the year. Most stores offer a limited number of fantastic bargains on that Friday and Saturday. Some even specify that the offer is good only until 9 or 10 in the morning. For “hot items” (there are no “hot” items anywhere in Alaska) people have been known to queue up in the wee hours of the morning and then make a mad dash into the stores to get their grubby little hands (mittens here in Alaska) on the choice items. Think Cabbage Patch Dolls! Shoppers have been known to “case the joints” days in advance just like the bank robbers of yore. The stores have cased out the pigeons as well. Having salted the handful of “bargain items” into the deepest most recesses in their establishments. Knowing that anyone lucky enough to locate the item, let alone to clutch it in their hands, will be unable to leave the store for hours and hours. Shoppers anonymous trapped in a store for hours and hours. Will they be able to resist temptation? What do you think! They will shop until they drop. Well up here in Alaska things are a tad different. First of all one must get up when it is pitch black and plug in the car two hours before one can drive. One can’t be too vigilant for the police will be prowling in the early morning hours just waiting to ticket any cars caught emitting foul black smoke from their tailpipes. Up here improper warm-ups are illegal. While the block heater is doing its thing, the shopper(s) is busy downing several cups of black coffee. And then the rush is on. Think goldrush! Think Oklahoma sooners. These shoppers don’t intend to be foiled. Of course when they do make it to the malls as some of them do, it is still pitch black outside. When they do make it the furtherest recesses of the stores, it is still black outside. When they leave the stores probably empty handed, it is still black outside. When they get back to their homes and slip back into bed, it is still black outside. You get the picture. Black Friday!
As most of you know Black Friday is the day after Thanksgivings and that is the day that most retailers go into the black for the year. Most stores offer a limited number of fantastic bargains on that Friday and Saturday. Some even specify that the offer is good only until 9 or 10 in the morning. For “hot items” (there are no “hot” items anywhere in Alaska) people have been known to queue up in the wee hours of the morning and then make a mad dash into the stores to get their grubby little hands (mittens here in Alaska) on the choice items. Think Cabbage Patch Dolls! Shoppers have been known to “case the joints” days in advance just like the bank robbers of yore. The stores have cased out the pigeons as well. Having salted the handful of “bargain items” into the deepest most recesses in their establishments. Knowing that anyone lucky enough to locate the item, let alone to clutch it in their hands, will be unable to leave the store for hours and hours. Shoppers anonymous trapped in a store for hours and hours. Will they be able to resist temptation? What do you think! They will shop until they drop. Well up here in Alaska things are a tad different. First of all one must get up when it is pitch black and plug in the car two hours before one can drive. One can’t be too vigilant for the police will be prowling in the early morning hours just waiting to ticket any cars caught emitting foul black smoke from their tailpipes. Up here improper warm-ups are illegal. While the block heater is doing its thing, the shopper(s) is busy downing several cups of black coffee. And then the rush is on. Think goldrush! Think Oklahoma sooners. These shoppers don’t intend to be foiled. Of course when they do make it to the malls as some of them do, it is still pitch black outside. When they do make it the furtherest recesses of the stores, it is still black outside. When they leave the stores probably empty handed, it is still black outside. When they get back to their homes and slip back into bed, it is still black outside. You get the picture. Black Friday!
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Leftovers!
It was a gray morning. Snow falling softly but steadily. 10 inches over the last 36 hours and a total of 16 on the ground. The snow plows have been busy both yesterday and today. According to the Anchorage Daily News the forecast for today is snow and “leftover flurries” tonight. Leftover turkey and dressing I understand but “leftover flurries?” If it keeps on snowing we may have to don snowshoes if we are to make it to the Fisons for Thanksgiving dinner. Another unusual term I have heard here is “avalanching.” Southernisms just don’t seem that bad anymore.
It was a gray morning. Snow falling softly but steadily. 10 inches over the last 36 hours and a total of 16 on the ground. The snow plows have been busy both yesterday and today. According to the Anchorage Daily News the forecast for today is snow and “leftover flurries” tonight. Leftover turkey and dressing I understand but “leftover flurries?” If it keeps on snowing we may have to don snowshoes if we are to make it to the Fisons for Thanksgiving dinner. Another unusual term I have heard here is “avalanching.” Southernisms just don’t seem that bad anymore.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Not half bad!
The temperature here is not half bad. Everything depends on how one dresses. With enough layers one can be warm as toast. Underneath my pants I have on a pair of patagonia longjohns purchased at REI and guaranteed to wick away any body moisture. Over my T-shirt I have a Pendelton shirt and a heavy duty Field and Stream shirt over that. Next I have a down jacket that makes me look like the Pillsbury doughboy on steroids. For my feet I have an extra pair of socks and foot warmers attached to them. With my felt-lined snow boots on I feel—well quite comfortable. Of course, that is for inside wear. That is the part that is not half bad
By the way Sunday morning it was 23 degrees here and 26 in Portales.
