Adios Meeshell and Esteban!

Well, that's it. Steve and Michelle are gone and the Girdwood posse begins to dwindle. The town simply won't be the same.

For those of you up before noon make sure and wave as the little TAB trundles out of town. Anyways, Vaya con Dios Amigos, I don't want to get all mushy like Dan does but have a safe trip and hopefully our paths will cross again...

BIG debt

The owner of this van is going to owe these two muddy, cold, wet tire changers some beers when he gets back.

Please note there is snow, rain, slush and mud on the ground on which they are diligently working to repair this tire.

Happy Birthday Willi Shrinx!

Here we see Willi Shrinx at the tender age of 5, he was small for his age even then and already exhibited a need for attention. Ya gotta love the little guy though, so all together now, three cheers for the birthday boy!

For he's a jolly good fellow...

Pizza Party !

There will also be cake....but not any muffins.

Johnny G's Photos

Today, at work I processed Johnny G's photos and took a little vacation in my mind.

1973 Ford 250 for SALE!

Alas, Dan has decided to sell off this sweet old piece of Americana for the giveaway price of $4,500. She's only got 43,000 miles on her, 4-wheel drive works like a champ and the plow up front is great for pushing Japanese made vehicles off the road. Call 907-230-4071 for more details, and honestly folks, if this truck doesn't sell, I say the terrorists have already won.

DANGER!

I obviously made a critical error when charging up Vern's battery, luckily the large accumulations of snow and incorporated dog doo absorbed most of the radioactivity. Watch out for mutant ninja dirtbags at the hippie petting zoo this weekend.

Wanted to set the record straight on the whole battery charging discussion from last night so no one else gets seriously maimed and disfigured. I am constantly amazed by how much I don't know. Read the important safety information below and remember as always, safety first!!

-Steve-








A standard 12-volt, lead-acid battery is made up of six cells connected in series. Each cell produces approximately two volts. The cells are filled with an electrolyte. An electrolyte is an ionized bath -- in this case, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) diluted with water -- that generates an electrical current when called upon. Each cell also contains plates (grids of active material), which are both positive and negative. Typically, the positive plates contain lead dioxide (PbO2), while the negative plates are composed of straight lead (Pb). The charge of a conventional 12-volt automotive battery is actually 12.6 volts. This can vary slightly, depending on the concentration of the electrolyte in solution. Ideally, for optimum battery performance, the sulfuric acid/water bath should have a specific gravity of 1.265 at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Specific gravity refers to the weight of a solution, with water having a reference rating of 1.000. The electrolyte in an automotive battery is therefore just slightly over one-and-a-quarter times the weight of regular water.

If below freezing, insure that the electrolyte is NOT frozen in the dead battery. If frozen, do NOT jump or boost the battery if the case is cracked or until the battery has been full thawed out, recharged, tested. When the electrolyte freezes, it expands which can damage the plates or plate separators, which can cause the plates to warp and short out. When the battery is frozen, the best solution is to substitute a fully charged battery for frozen one or tow the vehicle to a heated garage. With any completely dead battery, cell reversal can occur. The electrolyte in a dead battery will freeze at approximately 20°F (-6.7°C). If the battery has been sitting for several weeks and frozen, then the battery has probably sulfated as well. If the battery has been sitting for hours or a few days then the problem is either an excessive parasitic load like leaving the headlights on or a faulty charging system.

Snowmachine , Dude.

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Originally uploaded by Mark Yezbick.

Our favorite mountain host and resident Bad Ass, outside of the beer garden.

Shot from the hip as I snowboarded into the sunshine.

Severe Ass Kicking Results in Upset

This just in: A major upset in the world of competitive Cribbage occurred last night when P. Dude slaughtered Tiffany Kelly in a furious bout of card playing. Early in the evening it looked as though Mrs. Kelly would walk away the winner as usual until a genius bit of discarding launched her competitor into the lead. Try as she might, Tiffany was just no match for the brilliant card play of P. Dude. When Tiffany's weeping ended, and P. Dude's throat was horse from his unsportsman-like trash talking, both competitors dined on baked Ziti. P. Dude insisted on being served first since he was the undisputed champion and zen master cribbage player of the evening.

Anomaly party

I hope everyone has had a chance to see the bore tides of the last few days...because they have been good. If the weather is on tommorow evening, Tiffany and I are going out to Bird Point to have a beer and watch the Tide come in. The low tide in Anchorage will be a -.7 and should result in a good wave. If my calculations are correct (which is really not that often) the bore should be running by the point at about 5: 40 pm. Would you like to come and have a beer with us? Spread the word with the "A" list please.

For Sale or Rent

One bedroom efficiency with commanding view of the Brooks Range, the Tobuk River and Iniakuk Lake. Running water available in the spring, air conditioning in the winter. Available immediately for sale or rent, cash only, no contracts or paperwork.

Contact seller by whistling at the Northern Lights.

I've seen some things

Today was my first day back in the classroom...and it was bloody. This may sound like I am alluding to some sort of war between the students and myself, but this is not the case at all. The students were wonderful...but one bled a lot. At about 10:30 in the morning, just as I was finishing the last few drops of my delicious chai I heard my surname shouted across the classroom. I turned my head to see a student with the worst bloody nose I have ever seen. Blood was flowing down his hands and arms landing in thick, crimson splashes all over the floor. My first thoughts were of some sort of hemorrhage. It was a terrible finish to a great chai.

Honestly...there are monsters

Well, I'm sure that you've all heard John, Angela, and Tiffany's fluffy accounts of our Brooks Range adventures...but it is time the truth be told. There are monsters up there. Extremely John wants to keep a lid on it as he is heavily invested in Brooks Range tourism...but people need to know...Ice Monsters...They are Big...Scary....and have giant Teeth. They make that Hoth Ice Beast look like a teddy bear.

Room for Let

DSC_1271.jpg
Originally uploaded by Mark Yezbick.

Vicky and I built a snow fort to accommodate her sisters coming in tonight. It has two benches and a fresh air quality that just can't be beat. The sentry has a carrot for a nose.