December 5, 2012 – Wednesday

21 degrees

Pentoga Road

I made the mistake of turning on my computer Tuesday afternoon. I shouldn’t have. Somewhere in this foggy brain of mine, I’d forgotten that Alaska state and local projects required in my class, were due by last night. My email inbox was flooded with large and (often) cumbersome works submitted at the last minute by my undergraduate kiddies. Reading and evaluating has been my life since.

Tuesday dawned cold and very windy. After Sargie departed for work, I left for my daily walk. The most amazing discovery of the day was, despite several days of warm and wet weather, Indian Lake had skimmed over during the night and other than the one place being kept open by high winds, was encased in a thin coating of ice. I assumed it would be several days before the lake would, once again, be cold enough to freeze. It’s there now.

Returning home, I enjoyed a cup of hot tea, then made a jig for cutting and assembling five more ermine boxes. As I later told Sargie, she could just call me Tommy Ford, assembly line manufacturer of ermine boxes.

I needed some more hinges and rattraps. Sargie had a pair of pants she wanted returned in town. I decided to make the trip.

While at the hardware store, I once again walked by the Clam, a one-man portable ice fishing shelter. I’ve wanted one for three years now… but should I purchase or not… that was the question.

All I can say is, “Merry Christmas to me,

                            Merry Christmas to meee,

                            Merry Christmas, Tommy P,

                            Merry Christmas to meeeeeee!”

I purchased.

I built a wooden ice shack several years ago, but it is so difficult to maneuver when by myself and I soon got tired of jacking it up onto blocks when slush and overflow appeared on the lake. The Clam is a heavy framed tent that folds upon itself into a small plastic jet sled and can be pulled on top of the snow and taken home when one is done fishing for the day.

I was going to assemble it yesterday afternoon, but I made the mistake of checking my email. Since, it’s been nonstop reading and grading. The box containing the Clam is sitting in the dining room calling my name. Assembly will happen today… I hope.

Last night was spent trying to assess projects, coughing and wheezing, sniffling, and being fairly miserable. After reading all afternoon, I almost wished my eyes could/would fall out of my head. I didn’t want to play professor anymore.

Sargie had to close and it was almost 9 before she arrived home. Even then, conversation was nil as I continued to read and grade. Finally, I closed the computer and said the rest would wait until today.

Sargie suggested my symptoms might be allergies from the wood in the stove and offered a generic, over the counter, allergy pill. I took it and noticed an hour later my cold-like symptoms had completely disappeared. I swallowed another last night before going to bed and awakened this morning after a good night’s sleep, cough and sniffle-free. I dislike pills of any kind, but I’ll try starting today without taking any. If the coughs begin, I’ll take another.

Today will be spent much like yesterday, walking first, then spending time in front of the computer grading and looking at final projects. The final exam of the class will be posted a week from today and after that, other than entering final grades, it’ll be  a done deal for the semester.

Hopefully, I’ll have time to assemble the Clam. I’m anxious to play with it, even if it is in the front dining room. As Luke said, I can drill a hole in the floor and pretend I’m fishing. I’m not sure what kind of fish are swimming in the basement underneath. There better be none!

Sargie is meeting three longtime friends for a holiday meal tonight in Iron Mountain. She’s not seen them in quite a while and I’m glad they can all get together to get caught up on life.

I’m waiting for some ermine lure to arrive in the mail. It should be here today. I’ll probably set traps after should the postman bring it.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to read final projects and there’s a load of two of laundry to be done.

So, it’s looking like a busy day. I’m not surprised. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…