Open Thread – Termination Dust
It’s been here for over a week, but I’ve been trying to ignore it. Termination dust. That’s the name for the snow that settles on the very tops of the mountains, and then slowly, steadily, it inches its way down past the reddened tundra, down past tree line, to civilization, and blam. Winter is here.
It’s October, so it could happen any time now. As a matter of fact, as I write this, there is a light drizzle pattering against the windows, getting louder and softer as the wind blows in gusts. If the temperature goes down much more, we could wake up to whiteness. Frankly, I’m just not ready. The studded snow tires sit in plastic bags. I went out tonight and forgot to bring a jacket. The mind desperately clings to summer, despite the steady advance of the white stuff.
Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for just one more week…
Happy winter, AKM. My one year in Alaska, I flew into Fairbanks on, I think, the 10th of October, and they had just had something like six feet of snow. The summers are wonderful, but the winters are long.
Thanks to those pups who gave me advice on how I should register to vote. You reinforced my normal tendency to honesty as the easiest approach, so I will register as a Democrat. Really, the only plausible reason for me to register as a Republican would be if I wanted to run for some office, and there is no way I could maintain that fiction for the duration of an electoral campaign.
So I will just be my own ornery (but now minority) self.
AKM… for those of us that will not be getting any snow…
I sure hope you have your camera ready so you can share with us.
And we pray that Eagle had enough time to prepare.
In the last two weeks we have gone from no snow to heavy snow on the Mendenhall Towers and surrounding mountains. Winter is definitely showing it’s hand and is moving down the mountains closer to us at or near sea level.
Since Juneau got an early first frost this year and will experience heavy frost tonight, it will be interesting to see how early the snow comes and stays…. Hopefully it will not be another record or near record year!
If it is, boy does the snow blower come in handy!
For those of you who miss the snow or want to experience winter — I will be offering personalized tours…. Visiting mudpups were great fun so winter guests will get similar — although more limited — tours!
I posted this at The Washington Post.
Never before have i seen such a disgusting sight,on TV and websites.
Cheering from Republicans when Chicago lost the games.
Hate in your Country was never more evident then it was today.
Shame on Republicans. Shame on America for letting them get away with this.
FOX is ruining your Country.Your President is tryin to get respect back for America and you CHEER when America loses the Olympics.
OK sorry for venting my anger .Fell better now.
Racism is alive and well.
Feel
moseyon – “Shame on America for letting them get away with this” Any suggestions for how not to “let” this happen will be welcome. I doubt there are very many Americans cheering along with these crazies. In fact, it only isolates the right wing even more.
AKM – haven’t heard this term, but we had our first termination dust this week too. I would have thought you’d have yours a lot before we did here in Vermont. But it won’t come down into the valley to stay for 6 weeks anyway. I’m with you on this one. Don’t really want winter to be here, and especially don’t want to pay for heating.
Lemonfair :
I guess as an outsider looking in.
I was angry and venting.Sorry I know most of Americans don’t feel this way.
I guess the ballot box is the only way.
Sorry again, I know mudflaters don’t feel this way.
I have a feeling that seeing such anti-American behavior is really going to wake up reasonable Americans.
Since the MSM is hell-bent on publicizing everything the hatriots do, this could well be a turning point.
Let explain something.
I love golf and next week The President Cup is on a lively
contest between America and the rest of the world excluding Europe
Aussie Greg Norman is captain for the rest of the world. { I am Aussie}
We win some we lose some but I enjoy it .
I don’t want these idiots coming in and spoiling it.
Because your President is a black man and also a black man is the best golfer in the world Tiger Woods.
I agree 100% moseyon. Seeing Americans react like that made my stomach turn. Made me absolutely sick. What kind of country has this become ? Yes, and hopefully, it is ONLY a very small pack of right-wing crazies, but I can’t help but feel it might go deeper than that.
The one and only reason they were cheering was because they considered it a loss for President Obama; NOT for Chicago; NOT for the USA — a loss for President Obama. Something they think they can rub in his face. It had nothing to do with the Olympics, it was one thing and one thing only – racism !
On a side note, on the front page of my NY Daily News this morning, there is an article stating Todd has resigned from his North Slope job for BP Oil.
Is he anticipating sponging off SP’s millions now; or maybe anticipating a big fat check in the divorce settlement ?
Meg Stapeltingue has also emerged from hiding – here’s a quote:
“Todd loved his union job on the Slope and hopes to return,” Meghan Stapleton, Sarah Palin’s personal spokeswoman, said in an e-mail Friday. “For now, he is spending time with his family.”
Well, it’s about time SOMEONE spent time with the family.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/10/03/2009-10-03_todd_palin_resigns_from_oil_job_.html
Moseyon, I too felt appalled as I watched images of Americans cheering the loss of the olympics. I do know that it is only a small minority of Americans doing this, nevertheless it was stomach churning. Hopefully these right wing bigots will now be seen for what they are.
(As an aside…..I was born and lived in Oz for thirteen years!)
Moseyon…I saw the pictures of the repubs cheering, clapping, and all smiles when the announcement was made that Chicago USA lost the bid for the Olympics. I was so ticked off and just plain angry. The group was called Prosperity for America…which should be renamed Prosperity for Republican Americans.
I was ashamed of them. Whether you are an Obama supporter or not, you should support your country. These are the people who are the first to call others unpatriotic. I think their actions showed us who the real unpatriotic folks are. Cheering against your own country does not look good to other Americans or to other countries.
I saw the article on Huffington Post. I will say that the comment section was filling up fast and furious with people denouncing their actions. There were over 270 pages and 16000 comments.
NY Dem, you know you can’t believe a word out of Meg S! Of course someone should stay with the kids, but she’s got an extended family, so she and Todd could farm them out, like she did when one kid had “mono” for 5 months (yeah, right).
Oh, yah – Todd loves his job (according to Megamouth), Todd loves his country and didn’t join the AIP to secede from it (according to his wife), and Todd loves being married to Sarah (according to his wife, again also too). How come Todd never says any of those things?
A thoughtful article from Joe Scarborough on the huffpo regarding the olympics. At least he appears to have some degree of common sense.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-scarborough/thank-you-mr-president_b_308022.html
Irishgirl;
I flew into Dublin a few years back. I started crying. because This was where my family orignated from.
I loved Ireland it was the highlight of my Europian tour.
i
I absolutely love the beauty of a fresh fallen snow, and the muffled quietness it brings with it. The only problem is we live on Long Island. Due to infrequency, and snow amounts, there is never enough money put aside for proper snow removal. A couple of inches turns into a nightmare of auto accidents. Within a day or two the snow is either gone, or has turned to a lovely shade of gray.
My stepson is a first year NECI in Vermont. I cannot wait to see, and hear what he has to say about real snow. : )
I couldn’t believe every shade of green.Greens I’de never seen before
We drove out of the Wicklow Mountains and came across the Ancient Town of St.Kevin .[My sons name is Kevin but he was't called after that place]
more tears LOL.
Someone on another site said that Todd was probably let go from his work on the slopes, I agree, at least maybe someone will/may be with the kids, I also , too, am not looking forward to the winter(paying the heat bills)-my ex-husband moved to florida several years ago-and hasn’t paid child support since april of this year, so I have to work really hard to support my college aged children-until this jerk decides to man-up and help out with this children)
I wear my flip flops as long as possible, then I’ll go right to boots…I haven’t posted for awhile, extremely busy (a good thing to be busy-self employed massage therapist in ny) and have been very nauseated by what I see going on by a few crazies in this country, there appears to be a backlash against all the “domestic terrorism” , a site called velvet revolution as well as other groups are taking action…this to me is good news that we can say, enough of this hatred against our President and our country…get over it you lost and we do have a black man in the white house…well, check out “velvet revolution” if haven’t already
Have a great day everyone and let’s hope for a mild winter everywhere….
I love the winter also, too. I realize that here in Boston, we do not get the severe conditions that Alaskans receive but I love hockey and skiing. I like being able to get warm by adding a layer which is much easier than trying to get cool in the summer. I love the smell of fireplaces and the cool, still and quiet evenings.
We are however spoiled here in New England with four equally long seasons that always seem to come at just about the right time. We are not near winter yet. The autumn has just begun here and I must admit that it is my favorite season of all. Beautiful foliage, warm days and crisp nights, the smell of leaves burning, county fairs and of course our biggest holiday here near Salem, Halloween.
But I digress. Has SHE been up to anything since yesterday?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
18 Frank LI NY Says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 AM
I absolutely love the beauty of a fresh fallen snow, and the muffled quietness it brings with it.
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I do to …i love winter but like 21 lynnrockets i don’t have to live with it all the time and i do sympathise with people that have a hard time with heating and getting around but i do love walking my dogs in a winter wonderland.
I have to agree with lynnrockets that autumn on the East Coast was the best.
NYC goes nuts at Christmas, and when they take the big star down at 57th and 5th in January, the letdown is so hard, you need to go somewhere warm or you’ll go nuts.
Spring is beautiful there, too, but the summer is too hot and humid to bear, for me at least.
The first time I went to Boston, a friend invited me to go with her husband and his dad (both pilots) and her to fly in their plane to Boston for dinner so they could have lobster. This was in late April and Boston had had a late storm with 3′ of snow. Even though it was raining, she and I fell asleep on the way back.
I should add that when I interviewed for the job in NYC, a friend told me to take an umbrella. In the summer. I didn’t even OWN an umbrella and luckily was able to find one at a store in Malibu. I still have it and haven’t used it once since moving back to CA. I have a small one in the car, but pretty much don’t use that one either. We are humidity challenged here, aka a desert.
Revealed: millions spent by lobby firms fighting Obama health reforms
Six lobbyists for every member of Congress as healthcare industry heaps cash on politicians to water down legislation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/lobbyists-millions-obama-healthcare-reform
Article – and comments – from the UK.
I’m always torn about winter coming. I love the Autumn in CT and hate to see it go. It’s my favorite season. Sometimes we get a nice long Fall, and then Slamm-o! Winter comes with a fury. Bitter cold, blizzards, ice storms…. However, I love the smell of snow coming, the hush of the land when it’s coated first thing in the morning, before the plows and the boots and the shovels come out. Snow in the middle of the night is one of my favorite things to behold.
My only real complaints about snow and winter here are heating costs (I keep my house at 63 or so), driving to work, and ……well, that’s really it. I would not want it to come in the beginning of October, however, and Alaska would not be for me for that reason. I’m sure the beauty of it all is powerful there, but the length of it is just too much.
To help me deal with the complete freak out in NYC post 9/11, I would go to my cousin’s house in CT (on the train, with my cats). We had so much fun, and his kids loved my cats. I think his kids and my cats saved my sanity.
This cousin grew up on an island in the Mediterranean, but went to college in New Brunswick, Canada for 9 months of snow. I don’t know how he did it.
My sister, cats and I went to Montreal, VT, Boston and to visit this cousin in Oct of ’01. The trees were in their full glory, and when we were on this trip we ended up going into Afghanistan.
The Canadian papers did a better job than the US papers. The Canadians are a class act. I can only hope the US pendulum of crazy is going to turn back and we can be more like the wonderful people of Canada.
We used to live on the North Shore in MA, now in Western MA. When we moved out here, my Dad said “We don’t need no stinking snow blower!” After the first snow fall of over one foot of wet snow and trying to clear two driveways, we got a snow blower. We’ve had one ever since.
Can’t imagine 6 feet of snow. Last year wasn’t bad, the year before we had 4 feet on the ground from November to April. Yuck.
So here’s to us all having a mild winter, except may it hail, sleet and snow on the fringe Repubs.
Actually, I love the snow during the Holidays. It brings back so many memories when young. It was like living in a Norman Rockwell setting, snow-covered farmland, little brooks for skating, sledding. Remember the cold tingly feeling melt away after coming inside a warm (thankful) house, and then hot chocolate. But, I didn’t have to pay for the heating bills then. Nothing like memories.
When holidays are over however, I could do without the long drawn-out winter. Actually New Brunswick only gets maybe 5 months of snow. March snows are usually small squalls that blow through.
Interesting thoughts from Steve Schmidt. It occurs to me he was Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Could forward thinking repubs possibly be going in a new direction?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/schmidt-the-gop-holistica_n_307817.html
Bill Maher was good last night. Did a piece on what simple sarah’s book title should have been based on other best selling book titles. I liked “The Power Of Positively not Thinking” the most.
AKM, it’s supposed to be 80F here in the desert today. When you get tired of the snow and cold, I have an extra bedroom and bath, gorgeous view of the Sierras with stunning sunrises (front door) and sunsets (back deck), and of course, the herd of rare desert moose. We also have gorgeous night skies studded with a plethora of diamonds every night.
I’m with you AKM regarding the snow. Hoping for one more week too. Although, most of us Alaskans know winter is coming, we get reticent about preparation. I am so glad I just bought a (used) Subaru Forester this week (a birthday present to myself). Studded tires to be placed on it sometime next week. Locate the ice scrapers, broom, and extension cord for plugging in the block heater. Dig out the mittens, gloves, scarves, down jacket, boots…
Typically there are approximately 200 fender benders and/or vehicles in the ditches on the first day of new snow (Anchorage), so its good to plan on not driving if possible. Despite all of this, when the snow arrives, I always feel so refreshed and happy. I do love winter. And the darkness doesn’t bother me at all.
Well, after growing up with windy blizzards and below 0 winters in ND, then dealing with 15′ deep snow in CO high country, now in MO with mild winters, but ice storms, I can honestly say I’m not into winters, lol.
So here they say the woolly worm’s color is a prediction of the type of winter coming. I’ve seen 3, all the same color, the head area is about 1/4″ dark brown, the tail a little bit longer dark, the main body is about 3/4″ med. brown. So as far as I can figure it out, going into and coming out of this winter will be rough, but most will be mild. hmmm, will have to see if it applies.
I can’t help but think of Eagle and the native communities.
Also on Bill Maher: They are rushing Sarah’s book into print “as soon as it can be translated into English”.
29 rebekkah Says: October 3rd, 2009 at 6:04 AM
Five months feels like nine months if you are from an island in the Mediterranean!
My freshman year in college was an El Nino year in No Cal. It rained from Oct to the end of May. I thought I had screwed up by picking that university, but the following years were drought, so I was able to make it through. In So Cal, we are lucky to get 15″ of rain, but most comes in Jan, Feb, Mar. Then the hills are green, there is snow on the mountains, and people can surf AND ski on the same day.
Regarding Conservatives cheering that we lost the Olympics to another country. It made me sick to my stomach. These are people who want President Obama to fail at all costs. Makes you wonder what else they would cheer about……I hate to even verbalize what I am thinking, but you get the point.
I live in Salt Lake and this area is still benefiting from the Winter 2002 Olympic games. Tourism……world class training facilitites that draw coaches and athletes from all over the world, improved infrastructure, publicity. They all bring money to this city. SLC isn’t feeling a major crunch from the recession and all that money that comes in from all over the world helps.
A few days ago, we had our first snow in the mountains, so I was up in Park City at the Olympic (ski jumping) Park. Almost every visitor I encountered was from another country coming to see where the 2002 Olympics were held. They visit year round…not just ski season.
And Conservatives cheer that all this money will be going to another country?
Unbelievable. They have really crossed the line and they need to be called out.
And here in Nebraska, we have a saying that if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes because it will change. Looking forward to getting the sweaters out again! Snow and blizzards not so much, except at Christmas, after everybody has gotten where they were going to. Diagram THAT sentence, Sarah!
Oops, changed my name. Sorry.
The only way we are going to change Washington politics is to shame them into it, and that is going to take help from the rest of the world. If enough people from other countries and their government officials call us out over the state of our health care system and the 6 to 1 health care lobbyist to each representative PAYING them off, maybe something will change.
I wish the MSM from around the world would start asking questions about health care and the racist crap against our POTUS.
Also too, do those Conservatives NOT realize that there are plenty of Republican corporations and business owners in Chicago who wanted the Olympics in their city so they would benefit from all the visitors, money, publicity,etc. Duh?
OK, have some ‘splainin’ to do. I wrote a comment about the weather in Nebraska– if you don’t like it, wait 5 minutes and it will change. Anyway, transposed my name and am now in moderation purgatory, but the name change comment above makes no sense without context. Like this comment makes sense. Oh well. It’s hard being me sometimes.
On another topic, I was traveling this week and finally found MSBNC tucked between 800 Fox channels and there was Shannyn, and then there was AKM!! Felt really stupid jumping up and down in my motel room and yelling hi at the TeeVee, but there you have it!
Fingers, toes and eyes all crossed hoping for a few more – dare I say – weeks – before snow. My transition from the lazy grasshopper to well prepared ant has not yet concluded!
Funny comments at HuffPo regarding Palin shopping for a deal with a cosmetic line.
One said, Beef flavored lipstick for you or your pitbull.
I actually think she should be a spokesperson for EPT. Find out early, then wait 8 months to tell people that your daughter….errr….you are preggo.
Does anyone here in So. CA know of any dog parks up in the mountains? I’m determined to introduce my puppies to snow this year.
I love Winter!
My question to all you conservative senators out there is….do you ever see yourselves on the tee vee….don’t you have wives, chilldren & grandchildren…don’t you ever embarrass yourselves…you sure embarrass the rest of us. Just like of Joe’s what’s his name wife said…who is that moron yelling at the President….oops it was her husband.
So true about the Republican’s Olympics reaction. How can they celebrate? Don’t they factor in the profit, money, for businesses, where it trickles down into the national economy. Hires lots of workers, increases the tax ratio, all good economic stuff.
President Obama was doing the US a favor; as well as keeping a promise to his state constituents in remembering them, “progressing” Illinois. Unlike a Governor you all probably know. She deserted her people for a bowl of pottage. ($$$)
This is good. The man arrested for trying to blackmail Letterman is described as Rogue. Hmmm… Blackmailer=rougue. Palin+Going Rogue=fill in the blank.
CBS News producer Joe Halderman–who was arrested outside the network’s West 57th Street offices Thursday in the alleged scheme to blackmail David Letterman–as a rogue and a womanizer, a lover of literature, a “smart fratboy,” a swashbuckling journalist and an occasional barroom brawle
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/robert-joe-halderman-lett_n_308247.html
Blackmailer=Rogue—-sorry.
A week or two ago I saw a news report that said there was concern the oil deliveries would not arrive in time again this year. Ant more information on this?
Typically there are approximately 200 fender benders and/or vehicles in the ditches on the first day of new snow (Anchorage), so its good to plan on not driving if possible.
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Wow.. You’re not kidding either.. Everytime I’ve been in Anchorage and there has been even a little snow it looks like a demolition derby going on. I grew up in Denver where it snows far more than Anchorage and I never saw cars just flying off the road left and right.. Upside down, backwards. It’s like a bunch of 7 year olds cut loose on the streets. I was headed there from Valdez once last winter and there were some 240 cars off the road between Chugiak and Muldoon. I mean how do you explain the complete lack of driving skills associated with that city?
I guess Anchorage isn’t much better in the summer though. You can rarely drive more than 6 blocks without coming across a Tbone or a rear end collision. I’m amazed anyone can get insurance in that city
So people in the media, including Dan Rather, who knew Halderman are ‘shocked’ that he did this extortion deal with Letterman. Odd. Oh he’s also referred to as a rogue, lol. Apparently he was bankrupt and desperate.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-02/blackmailing-letterman/
“Stunned colleagues Friday described veteran CBS News producer Joe Halderman—who was arrested outside the network’s West 57th Street offices Thursday in the alleged scheme to blackmail David Letterman—as a rogue and a womanizer, a lover of literature, a “smart frat boy,” a swashbuckling journalist, and an occasional barroom brawler who distinguished himself in dangerous war zones and occasionally displayed a certain reckless streak.”
This is what McCain said about Scarah’s book, lol. Oh boy.
“The part I”m looking forward to most is the part where it energised our campaign and her selection put us ahead in the polls. The part I am looking forward to least is some of the disagreements that took place within the campaign,” he told NBC.
They moved up publication of Sarah Palins’ book, now her supporters only have two months to learn to read.
(read that on another blog)
After living thirty-three years in the Pacific Northwest, most of that in northern Idaho, all the reminiscences of Fall and first snows, mixed with an overcast sky and drizzly rain here this morning, make me a bit homesick for the distinct changes of season that occur further north. Here in southern AZ, we were stirred into the anticipation of Fall when the highs dropped to the mid-nineties and the lows slipped into the sixties for a couple weeks. Then we spent this week with triple-digit highs and lows back up into the seventies again. {weary sigh} With the humidity of the monsoon gone and being as acclimated as we are by this time of year, 100°+ temps are no big deal, but still, it’s sure nice when they go away.
Then yesterday morning I awoke early, shivering and with my teeth chattering! My initial still-sleepy flash-thought, “What’s happening to my body?!?,” quickly passed, and I became aware there was a light breeze coming in the open window and the thermometer was showing 60°. Is this for real or another tease? We don’t know yet, but October does bring the promise of a fifteen degree drop in temps, the biggest change of any single month. After twenty-five years in the desert, I’m now watching for the true and trustworthy sign that Fall has pushed Summer aside – the desert’s own subtle equivalent of Termination Dust – when the ants resume working the Day Shift.
Here in CA we only need rain to start the fender benders. Because it rains so little the oil from cars is on the street. When we get a little moisture it creates a really slick surface. Might as well be ice. I learned to drive in my Mom’s 64 Malibu and that car would spin it wheels with any water.
#44 BBHounds — do a google search “CA dog parks”. Lot’s of lists turn up. I’ve found that you need to look at several to find all the parks for were you are going. You can also get a long rope with a clip and then just drive up to the snow and let them romp. I have a 100′ line and found a 15′ leash someplace like Big Lots. It comes in handy when we are out and about but I don’t want her to run off. She is an mini Aussie and will herd anything that moves. We have deer by the house and she has run off into the oak forest to give chase on a few occasions.
I also love seeing the white stuff – once in awhile, especially around the holidays. I’m a native Vermonter who spent 3+ years in Anchorage, plus other places that had snow, but now we are in Kentucky and rarely see any. We had unreal cold and ice storms in January that devastated the area as bad as the last tornado that went through. We were NINE days without power and I hope to never experience that again.
The best part of a fresh snowfall for me is to see all the animal and bird prints and being amazed at how they survive such rugged weather. Don’t forget to feed the birds!
As for accidents in Anchorage and other areas where there are military bases/posts – you have many people who have never driven in snow then they get there and whammy…..
Polly – how about writing something about plugging in your vehicles for all those who haven’t a clue what you are referring to. I remember the *hitching posts* outside each set of Army housing at Ft. Richardson – thank goodness they had them!
Yep. Termination dust and small town politics. Scary.
Brrrr!!!! I’m cold already, lol.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=183962&provider=top
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Americans, you might want to check on their sweaters and shovels — the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a cold winter for many of you.
“The venerable almanac’s 2010 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, says numbing cold will predominate in the country’s midsection, from the Rocky Mountains in the West to the Appalachians in the East.
Managing Editor Sandi Duncan says it’s going to be an “ice cold sandwich.”
“We feel the middle part of the country’s really going to be cold — very, very cold, very, very frigid, with a lot of snow,” she said. “On the East and West coasts, it’s going to be a little milder. Not to say it’s going to be a mild short winter, but it’ll be milder compared to the middle of the country.”
I was born and raised in New Orleans. I moved to Colorado as a young adult and lived there for 3 years. I was awestruck by the changing autumn leaves, it is beautiful! Winters are cold and rainy just about everywhere in the lower 48, so I didn’t have a problem with the cold months. As a matter of fact, it was fun to have snow on the ground during the holidays. I must say that the rocky mountain spring season gave me the blues. Spring conditions (i.e. warm days, soft rain, etc.) come early in New Orleans and are very mild, by comparison, spring season in Colorado is long, very cold and snowy. I would go into a deep depression during springtime and I could not shake it. I eventually relocated to Northern California and have lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years. I guess I am a lightweight when it comes to snow!
What does it say about Alaska?
@A fan from CA
Thanks, I can’t believe I didn’t think of using a line. I have one, I just need to get a couple more.
It’s snowing in the lower 48 right now.
http://www.accuweather.com/news-story.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&article=1
LOL, since this thread seems to be about New Brunswick weather at least as much as about Alaska weather, I will just say that we are in no great danger of snowfall that “sticks” before the end of October. And most of it is gone by the end of April. I count our winters as only about 5 months, which is still too long!
But for now, it is a beautiful warm fall day and I am enjoying outside with my cats on the deck.
I agree with the dreary springtime in CO, mostly snowy/rainy, cool, overcast, then one day early June pow, all of a sudden it’s summer. It seems like there is no spring season.
Oh yes, time to get those “happy lights out” here in Alaska also too!
Actually Southeast Alaska (Juneau) is more like the banana belt – our winters are pretty mild compared to the rest of the country.
Weather outlook for Albuquerque, NM…
Warm and sunny with hundreds of HOT AIR BALLOONS!!!
Gorgeous turquoise skies with fluffy white clouds too.
The Internation Balloon Fiesta kicked off this morning with the mass ascension of approximately 600 balloons from all over the world. If you have never made this event, you should put it on your calendar for next year. It really is something to see.
Also, too…our winters are quite mild. I love the weather here with 320 days of sun.
62 the problem child Says:
But for now, it is a beautiful warm fall day and I am enjoying outside with my cats on the deck.
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that is true…our fall weather has been beautiful (just some rain here and there )
I just noticed that on Regina’s blog they have started a little
Photo-Shopping Contest ( with animation ) and have been retouching
the Front Cover of the Rogue book.
Too bad someone can’t call a Press Conference and say ” STOP that “!!…or call up some Fleabag Attorney and threaten to Sue someone.
Regina’s might be one of the early ones to get in on it but I am sure there will be MANY more ‘ modifications ‘ of this book cover down the road.
Since certain Conservatives were quite eager to cheer when Chicago was turned down yesterday… in reference to the Photo-Shopping I say in response with that American Olympic Spirit…. ” Let The Games Begin!!” All to you $arah.
Honesty– Wonkette is all over the book cover, with blingies even. They had a contest.
http://wonkette.com/411426/look-at-all-of-the-funny-sarah-palin-book-cover-blingees#more-411426
If you haven’t been over to Wonkette to view the winner(s) of the Sarah P book cover blingee contest, you must visit. Hilarious.
One changed book title to, Going Rogue, Also.
Another one: Going Diva
# 48 re the fuel barges. keep checking anonymous bloggers site to right on the menu bar->
there will be a post up re the fuel barges or lack thereof.
LilyBart:
“They moved up publication of Sarah Palins’ book, now her supporters only have two months to learn to read.”
Nah, they don’t have to bother. Just as Sarah had her ghost writer, they’ll have their ghost reader-Faux News will tell them all they need to know from that trashy novel.
I have entered Regina’s competition. The blingee thing is a hoot. I have never done it before….and it shows!
I just had a thought about the 400 page tome. Imagine, if you will, the world’s longest stickman movie at the edge of the pages.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA I used to do this with old Reader’s Digest books I found in the attic when I was a kid.. they were good and long and I could get the stickman up out of bed, make toast, walk the cat and get hit by a car in 250 pages. Imagining 400 pages of this boggles the mind!!!
From Newsweek, regarding Schmidt’s recent comments about Palin.
UPDATE, 1:43 p.m.: Meg Stapleton, Palin’s spokeswoman, responds via e-mail: “The Governor will write about all of this in her book. There will be plenty of time to talk about it then.”
Is she throwing him under the bus? If so, I bet he has some really good stories to tell. He has actually been pretty restrained until now.
Also, Meg refers to Palin as “the Governor”….is that title appropriate if she didn’t even finish one term. Even if she can use the title, Governor, wouldn’t it more appropriate to say, Gov Palin? We don’t call President Clinton, “The President”, so why is Meg referring to Palin as “the Governor”. “The governor” would refer to the present governor, wouldn’t it? Doesn’t Alaska have a new governor since Palin quit.
Besides, I thought Palin didnt’ need titles?
I never heard the term, Termination Dust. I like having the four Seasons. Autumn is still my favorite. I enjoy the winter, especially the snow, because of the sense of peace it seems to give. Most of all, I love snow for Xmas!!
But the nice thing about CO front range is that the snow melts within days of falling, I always liked that, all it took was for the storm to pass and the sun
come out. We’d like to move back to CO. But I’ll sure miss MO trees, greenery and long garden season.
BTW, I transplanted two small tomato plants into pots a few weeks ago, they came up late in the season from seeds the birds had carried to odd places, lol, and today I’m going to transplant one or two bell pepper plants into pots to bring in this winter. We have large south facing windows that bring in lots of warm sun all winter. I’ve never tried this but thought what the heck, give it a shot. The tomatoes may get a bit big, but we’ll see what happens. I read all you have to do is give them a few shakes when flowering to pollinate.
We haven’t had frost yet. I’m still harvesting tomatoes, bell peppers and cucs, kinda sick of cucs, lol. I bought the as seen on TV Valadia wizard chopper to make fast work of cutting for freezing.
I just wanted to mention the transplanting thing in case anyone else would like to try it. I’m going to try some mixed lettuce inside too.
And do the freezing thing for bell and jalapeno peppers, reg.onions and green onions, no blanching needed, even if you have to buy them, they’re cheaper now than come January. We use lot of bells in stir fry, so I just chunk cut all those and I had the luxury of letting the green stay on the plant till they became the beautiful more expensive red color. I’ve had onions go bad before getting used, so I’m going to start cutting and freezing big store bought bags, we didn’t grow onions this year.
This guy’s you tube videos inspired me. Oops, you tube is down for maintenance, here is his web site. Wow, what a neat guy, he gardens and harvests on a BIG scale. If you have some time watch some of his videos, they’re great. He has a cool bayou accent too, lol.
http://www.thebayougardener.com/vegetable-garden-videos.htm
Hrre in far southeastern Arizona, we’re also having the regional equivalent of termination dust today: our first winter rain. Our summer rainstorms, which the Navajos call “Male Rain” are brief, intense, and heavy, with thunder, lightning and arroyo flooding. “Female Rains”, which come in winter, are light, gentle, and sometimes can last all day. Perfect weather for walking, then coming home and drinking hot tea. Rain is so uncommon here that it is really treasured.
I always dreaded the first snowfall of winter in Alaska. It was like EVERYONE panicked and forgot how to drive in it. (And it wasn’t just the newcomers either!) And although everyone knew it was coming, no one had their snow tires on. After about two or three days, thogh, it all calmed down.
Welcome autumn, however we find it!
Frank LI NY Says:
The only problem is we live on Long Island.
A couple of inches turns into a nightmare of auto accidents.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I was born and raised on LI and, when I moved to western NY 11 years ago, my friends thought I was crazy for moving to the ‘frozen north’. However, we deal with it SOOO much better here that 10 inches of snow has less of an impact than 2 inches on LI.
I live 4 miles from Lake Ontario so I’ve become quite familiar with the term “lake effect”. I get really irritated when the official snowfall total for Rochester (measured 13 MILES from the lake!) is half of what I get in my yard! A few years ago my suburb got 160-180 inches for the season…and my school district didn’t call any snow days, which completely floored all of my LI friends! I’m one of those odd people who’s actually a little sad when the last of the snow piles at the end of my driveway melt in the spring!
Goalie in NM – My nephew and his wife moved to Albequerque a few years ago when their daughter was about 3. She got a little confused when she first heard about Balloon Fiesta and started calling it “Balloon-iesta”. The name stuck and has become a family tradition!
Gryphen had the audio tapes from Media Matters where Beskster and limbaugh were laughing once Chicago was no longer in the running yesterday. I am sure that the Beskster will not be reliving or reminding his listeners of the role HIS Church ( and Mitt Romney ) played in the ’02′ Salt lake Games.
( replay the tape Glenn ) ” Crooks & Liars ” has a post up as a reminder.
—————————-
Olympic Flashback: ’02 Salt Lake Games Tainted By Scandal, Bribery and Glenn Beck’s Church
Lost down the memory hole was the shame and scandal that tainted the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Eventually led by Republican Mitt Romney and his cronies, the 2002 games were plagued by fundraising woes, bribery scandals — and the committee was also heavily infiltrated by Glenn Beck’s Mormon Church:
http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/olympic-flashback-2002-salt-lake-game
#57 Say No to Palin….
Thanks for the Farmer’s Almanac bad news: Wisconsin gets to be the ‘ filling
in the ice sandwich’…UGH. The first frost inland from Lake MIchigan a couple
days ago is my ‘terminiation dust’.
Although the Almanac was somewhat off last year, I am glad of the prediction.
Trying to not turn on the heat till November 1st, I am freezing in the 55 degree
house. So the prediction will inspire holding out a little longer in hope of
toughening up for the long haul.
I am one of the ones who suffer most from the darkness, so once the snow falls
and the daylight bounces around on it, I am okay.
Also, MDs here on the supplement bandwagon, 35 years after Adele Davis,
and recommend anyone living about the latitude of about Chicago to take
50K mg of Vitamin D Sept-April or May.
About the Olympic bid…. ( for those conservative Nut-baggers )
Lynnrockets pointed out yesterday on his blog that is was president Bush that had signed and addressed a letter last year encouraging and asking the Olympic Committee to consider Chicago .( the letter is posted on the blog )
Bush said all kinds of nice things about Chicago in this letter. So President Obama was merely following up on something that Bush did FIRST.
Therefore… when Limbaugh/Beck starts crying and rejoicing on the air it all started with Bush. It was Bush’s Plan and it failed. That’s the facts… based on their way of thinking. Bush FAILED to get the Olympics …. all of the groundwork and Committees were already set up when Obama took over.
{ Of course in rational REALITY thinking… it was neither of their’s fault. There is a LOT more that goes into it } Thinking like THEM though… it’s Bush’s fault.
One of Lynnrockets quotes ( about the Rogue book )was also mentioned in
“The New Yorker ” magazine as was previously mentioned by ‘ nswfm CA ‘ earlier. { link to The New Yorker in the comments section }
http://lynnrockets.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/lynnrockets-vs-republicans/#comments
That’s an interesting term: “termination dust.” So up there you go directly from summer to winter? Down here in Florida it’s the opposite. We go from winter directly to summer. If you can really call it winter. The last time we got “snow” was like in 1989 I think. Right now it’s 86.
Getting back to the topic of termination dust in Alaska, and how it compares with the onset of fall and winter in the lower 48….
I’m surprised that so far, here on the Oregon coast, most of our trees are still quite green, and very few have lost very few leaves. The nights have gotten quite a bit colder than just a month ago, but apparently not to the point where it’s frosty, else we would see those tree leaf changes.
Quite often November can be very pleasant out here, warm up into the 70s, then around Thanksgiving fall ends with a sudden leaf-fall that clogs all the storm drains in town all at once, and we have to rake up the birch and cherry tree leaves before they get soggy.
@80 InterestedPerson – Where are you in WI ?
In the old days, Buffalo sure got whalloped with snow but it hasn’t been as bad, the past years. We still get hit with our share and, like Leenie17 says, we can deal with a foot or two and not bat an eye. Back in the 70s I remember drifts that would have us stuck in our homes until we could dig out , only after having to take the outward swinging outer door off the hinges!
This thread reminded me that it was almost 3 years ago that we got hit with a MAJOR ice storm that left many of us with no electricity or heat for 2 weeks. We lost a huge number of our old trees that Buffalo is noted for. Very sad. Our area was a disaster area for quite awhile. It’s not unusual for us to have snow by Halloween so my internal clock is already gearing up. Have already made my first big pot of stew. I’m ready !
It’s a beautiful Fall day here in Upstate NY..up into the 70′s but it won’t last long. Most of the leaves have changed and are starting to fall. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I’m not a hot weather person and the Fall feels like a welcome relief from summer heat. I can’t imagine living without the four seasons, or snow for Christmas. We usually get about 130 inches, but the Tug Hill Plateau near where I gets about 300 inches. People come from all over the NE to ski and snowmobile there.
We have the distinction of being the snowiest city in the US (maybe they never counted Alaska before?) .
I just took the first apple pie of the season out of the oven. MMMMmmmmmMM! Home made crust and everything! I almost wish it was chilly out today, instead of warm and rainy, but I’ll take it. Still haven’t turned the heat on!
The problem child: Guess we are in the same corner of North America. I think you mentioned once where you live. I’m south of there – 60 miles, so you know what I mean. Glad to know a Mudpup so close. Have lived up your way until recently.
Funny how Alaska seems to make me feel at home. Same kind of weather, lots of moose, lots of open uninhabited land, sand dunes on the coast, rocky coasts, except for the Alaskan high peaks.
#84 BuffaloGal
My sister lives in the Buffalo area & I rememeber the blizzard of 1977. They live in Hamburg & the ice storm was incredible. We used to always go back at Christmas & one year they hadn’t any snow….Christmas morning we woke up to the first snow of the year. It was great!
Periodically I check NASA camera shots of Mt. Redoubt to see how the dome is doing.
I was amused and somewhat surprised several weeks ago when the top the mountain was white with frozen mist.
Then again it is a “white capped” mountain. For a flatlander from the south it is interesting. between the NASA shots and your to watch such a vastly different kind of seasonal changing.
Wow, snow! Something we don’t see much of here in NC (except in the mountains). The leaves are just beginning to turn (we had lots of rain, so it will be slow this year). Will be in the mid- to high 70s all next week, low 50s, and we probably won’t have our first hard frost until the end of the month or early Nov. Next month I’ll plant pansies, those wonderful fragile-looking little flowers that can freeze and still come back perky! I’ve actually had them live from late fall until July in past years.
Lived in Buffalo in the late 40s, early 50s as a southern transplant kid. And we walked to school in 3 ft snowdrifts, I swear to the Great Spaghetti Monster! It’s true, it’s true! Schools did NOT close, no matter–and since it was parochial school, we were expected to be at Mass, too!
#90Grandma68
I grew up in Chapel Hill in the 50′s & early 60′s & we had snow about once a year. The schools all closed & we spent the day playing in the snow. I don’t remember it snowing very often at all then. Fall in NC was really something.
Honesty in Gov, Leah Burton of God’s Own Party (previously Theopalinism) was also quoted in The New Yorker:
“Remember how I have been warning that she was going to be free to roll around the country like a loose cannon? Well, that time has come upon us, just in time for the 2010 campaign stumping.”—God’s Own Party?
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/
Didn’t she come forward against that idiot $P tried to appoint as Attorney General, WAR?
Congratulations and keep up the expose’, bloggers !
messed up the link above:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/09/bytes-sarah-palin-a-pail-of-water-from-a-shallow-well.html
Nothing like the first snow of the season. It has a certain “smell’ to it that is hard to explain. I love to sit on the front porch during that first snow – it’s dark; the snow is gently wafting to the ground, sticking to the fallen leaves; and then I take several deep breaths. The smell is clean, crisp, almost like the snow is cleansing the air as it falls.
Nothing like it.
Way back when I was a spry 19 yr old, I volunteered to help with the fall Hot Air Balloon Festival in Crested Butte, CO. I got a free balloon ride for my early morning efforts. What fun.
I lived on the outskirts of Crested Butte, elev. 8900′ for 3 yrs, talk about short lived and awesome summers, but they were nothing close to what Alaska has with it’s extra sunlight. In the winter snow buried windows as it slid off roofs, if you didn’t keep them dug out you’d look at a wall of snow all winter, ugh talk about dark and dreary, I did that one year thinking it was good for insulating. I hated it.
All that deep snow also created high walled walkways and eventually slippery walk over humps, ya know, it gets hard to throw snow over head height. Seriously, it’s hard on your back to keep up with hundreds of inches of snow, that’s when a sauna comes in handy.
And goodness, it takes forever to melt! People would drive very long 1 x 2 measuring sticks into the snow, marked in feet, just to watch it go lower and lower until finally, ah green grass! Oh yuck, mud season is not pretty and gets old real fast. One winter we had a record 24′ of snow, the town ran out of places to put it. I tried to find pics for a visual but didn’t have much luck online. Mine a buried somewhere in a box. And nope, I never want to shovel snow like that again, no way!
But, ah, the fond memories, lol.
Does anyone else think that the publishers may be playin with public response? in order to quench those very queries in publication? eh?