It takes some careful planning to make sure last summer's strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries last through the winter months. 

January 8, 2014 – Wednesday

-18 degrees/partly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Okay, I’m beginning to suffer from cabin fever. I ventured out for a couple of hours yesterday to play with Brutus, bring in wood, and fill the bird feeders, but none of those alleviated the itchy feet syndrome from which I’m suffering. I want to do something, anything, that involves physical activity. I'm tired of thinking deep thoughts. I need to do a hands-on activity; sweat, get some sore muscles. 

I thought about taking a walk yesterday, but at the time, I had on the wrong boots, the wrong jacket, I couldn’t find my mittens, the wind was blowing too hard, and for whatever reason, I simply wasn’t in the mood. What’s up with that? I’ve become sissified? Too delicate for mere fifteen below zero weather? I’m sensitive? Give me a break. It's time for that man who's planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail in another year to emerge out of the winter blahs. 

Page Two

I noticed the freezer in the garage wasn’t keeping its contents as cold as usual. In fact, the ice cream was soft. With temperatures in the -20 to -30 range, how could a freezer in an unheated garage fail to keep everything frozen?

I did some research and found the answer. In very cold weather, the Freon gas used to keep temperatures below freezing turns to liquid and is ineffective. I read about all kinds of remedies, placing a heater or light bulb by the compressor, etc., but since it’s still on the negative side of zero in the garage, I opted for the most direct remedy; that of placing the ice cream outside in a snow bank and propping the freezer door open. So far, so good.

The days are becoming noticeably longer. That’s a positive. Ronjo the Oil Man called yesterday asking how the level was in the tank downstairs. I was happy to report that there is still over ¾’s remaining. The last time he brought oil was last April and said he’d see me again this coming April. I like Ronjo, a really nice man, but every time he comes to visit, it costs money. I’m glad I’ll only be seeing him once this year.

Page Three

In talking with the Dean and her assistant, I got this semester’s classes straightened out and will be ready for nonstop academic action beginning next Monday. My undergrad class is huge, over thirty. The overflow graduate class is small and that’s okay… there’ll be much less reading.

I wonder how long I’ll get to teach. I was promised these classes when initially retiring at age 60 to make up for the half a retirement that I couldn’t begin drawing until age 62, which occurs this coming June. After that, it’s a semester-by-semester proposition, depending on the needs in the School of Education. If there is a professor who needs a class to make a fulltime schedule, he could be assigned the ones I’m teaching… and that’s as it should be. I just feel I’ve kind of carved out my own little niche in teaching about modern day Alaska and hope I’ll be able to continue. If not, that’s fine. I’ve certainly been treated very well by the University of Alaska – Southeast.

Why am I even thinking these deep thoughts this morning? I must be suffering from the onslaught of cabin fever. When one is cooped up and by himself for too many hours a day, he begins to think much too deeply and ask questions. The trouble occurs when he begins to provide the answers to his own questions without talking to anyone else. It can produce a very skewed outlook on one’s own life and world around him. I found that out when I lived alone in the arctic.

Page Four

I watched a B movie, a sci-fi thing yesterday afternoon. You know the chances of a flick with the title of “One Hundred Below Zero” being nominated for an Academy Award are pretty slim to nil.

Sargie arrived home last night bearing a gift... a huge vacuum to hang on the wall in the garage or barn. Along with her sister Holly’s help, she’d ordered it before Christmas, but UPS managed to lose it along the way. After a re-order, it finally arrived at Holly’s. I’m looking forward to using it and was so excited that I lay in bed at 3 AM this morning mentally figuring how I can mount it on the wall in my shop, but still utilize it for cleaning the vehicles. The design is going to require some deep thought.

Sargie had to close last night and wasn’t home until late only to return early as she opened today. Thankfully, she gets a reprieve beginning on Friday when she joins the Milligan Sisters for an elongated girl’s weekend at a resort in Wisconsin. I’m happy for her. After all the long hours she puts in at the Vision Center, the girl deserves some girly-girl R&R.

It’s time to take a stroll down the road. My destination is both local lakes to see if anyone is fishing. I’m making plans to go this weekend while Sargie is playing girly-girl. It’s time to get some meat on the table.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

The dog days of deep winter. Brutus, assuming his usual alert position, ready to leap to my service at any time.