Sorry I've been such a blog slacker lately.
More on 32 below...
Forgot to mention that 32 below felt a lot more humid than I had expected. You know, from what I understand, Alaska winters are only "tolerable" because as a norm, they experience more of a "dry" cold than what we are used to in the southern states. The moisture in the air is what makes your skin feel like it is peeling off the bone. I guess, we had more moisture in the air that day than usual.
Later that night....
Chuck was tossing some cans outside (*yeah, we just toss them out the backdoor and call it recycling) and I told him to knock it off. I said, I said, "Hey Chuck, when you can actually SEE the air coming into the room when you open the door, it is time to STOP opening the door." Seriously. I could literally see the cold air creeping along the floor, like some kind of monster, swiftly making its way through the entire living room.
*We really don't just leave the cans outside. Occasionally, when we get a big pile, we crush them and put them in a bag for recycling. We can't just throw them in the trash since we don't have garbage pickup (and since we want to recycle them) and we have to burn all of our trash. Cans don't burn. In our defense, the cans are frequently buried under a layers of snow and not easily seen by guests. No? Not a good defense you say?
As of late....
For the last two days the preschoolers and I have been going outside for 30 minutes for playtime. Temperatures have been above 0, but not by much. They handle it better than I do, as they are constantly moving and just generally more tolerant of such low temperatures. I mean suffering through wind chapped cheeks is not that big of a deal when you can roll around in thick powder-like snow right? I try to keep moving by walking a couple of laps around the playground, jumping in place, or towing the kids around on the sleds, but I find that it is difficult to move at all with so many layers on. Taking off my gloves every 2 minutes in order to replace a fallen mitten or hat, or zip a coat, doesn't help either. Life is so much easier when you are a kid.
Packages....
I am feeling quite bad about complaining to Mom about not having our Christmas decorations because she went to the expense of sending us a huge box full of doody dads (glitter, construction paper, glue, stickers, wrapping paper, tape, and so much more) We had already gone almost completely through all of our crafts so we really needed it. It was SUCH a nice box. Sweet Mama.
Sister ALSO sent us about 8 crocheted crosses for our tree so it wouldn't be bare. They remind me of the crocheted snowflakes my Grandmother made that are tucked away in a tupperware container in the in-laws basement in Georgia. She knew they would. Sweet sister.
My cousins Angie and Matt, and their kids also sent Butter Rum a box full of fun things to play with. It was such a nice surprise. They included a picture of the kids, and it was shocking to see how much they've grown (especially Meri-Grace) in such a short time. Angie's always been the thoughtful type.
Big Mama has been loading us up with boxes too. Butter Rums's official Christmas box hasn't even arrived yet and we've got a pile of wrapped gifts just waiting for me and Chuck to tear into. She also sent us all some pre-Christmas gifts that included Christmas pajamas (for all of us), several DVD's (that were MUCH appreciated 'cause the Rocky series, is getting SO old), Christmas candies, chipmunks named Alvin and Brittney, and a lot more. I couldn't skype Big Mama while we opened the gifts but I do have a quote from the horses mouth, for the record...."That Big Mama. She sure knows how to do it."
I am just so grateful for our family. I hate we put them in a position to feel so sorry for us, but hey, I guess I still haven't learned to receive without associating guilt with it. I am honestly SO ready to be on the giving end of things. We do what we can, but it never seems like enough. While it is nice that folks still consider us the "kids" or the "babies" of the family, I don't like being so much trouble for everyone. I absolutely HATE the thought of so many of them going to the post office and paying the large sums to ship stuff ALL the way up here to Alaska. I look at the postage paid mark each time. It causes my shoulders to knot up.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Frigid Temps and Sweet Packages
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I know what you mean about feeling guilty, but I don't think you're much trouble for anyone. If they didn't want to mail things to Alaska, they wouldn't. You clearly have a family who adores you guys, and wants you to be happy.
ReplyDeletePreschoolers out in 1 degree temps for 30 minutes at a time? Yeah, I'd die. Reading your widget gives me anxiety. I had written a blog complaining about the 20 degree temps here but decided to not publish it when I saw your -32. You win. ;)
You have a Wonderful Family :)
ReplyDeleteAw Katie! Publish away! That kind of cold hurt me too before I came here! Still does actually. I understand. 20 IS cold!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miz Liz. I do.
stop feeling so guilty
ReplyDeleteHayley...receive without quilt! They want to do it and enjoy doing it. love you.
Thanks Celeste. What I know about receiving without guilt, I learned from you. Love you too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, no guilt about the gift receiving. Just gracious thank-you's (which you never fail to do anyway). And also, no disclaimers about the cans being thrown into the back yard. You kinda do what you can in sub-zero temperatures. Some people throw their cans ever-which-a-way. Even in regular human temperatures. Sometimes even maybe in LA-type temperatures. Not sayin ME or anything. I'm just randomly thinkin about stuff.
ReplyDeleteHey be sure and rinse out those cans before you throw 'em out there. There could be critters. I know most of 'em are hibernatin', but the ones that aren't must be pretty dang tough. So watch out, cuz some of 'em may like Coca-Cola and such.
Sister. You are laughing OUT LOUD funny. Serious. 'CAUSE I am laughing out loud. right now.
ReplyDeleteThat thing you said about the critters who aren't hibernating being tough was a really good point and one I had not considered. Are you some kind of scientist or something?
AND thanks for not considering me an embarrassment to the family for throwing out cans, because you KNOW Ma gave me a what for about it. Chuck was even a little bit embarrassed. It doesn't embarrass him when he's tossing them out there. Only when I tell people about it.
Thanks, sister. I think about stuff in different ways than most people. I have deeeeeeeeeeeeeep thoughts. I mean REAL deep. I can only imagine the Robo-Critter that would come blasting through those cans in search of Coca-Cola. It would have to be thousands of years old, covered in metal plating and animal skins, be completely silent (even while blasting through cans), and have super eery glowing eyes. The toughest critter to roam anywhere. You wouldn't have thought of that, huh? You're welcome.
ReplyDelete