Back in Alaska

After two weeks on the East Coast I am back in Alaska and am glad that I missed the "coldest two weeks in Anchorage ever" according to some of my friends here. I hear some days there was a high of minus ten. Yes that was the high. It was not uncommon for it to be minus 25 in the morning.

Not much playing outside has been done here while I've been gone. It's nice to know I have not missed anything, although I feel for the people who remained here during the holidays. I'm just hoping that Laura, who I convinced to move here in September, is not hating me right now.

I spent two relaxing weeks at the home that I grew up in where my mom lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It's always nice to spend time there because I have so many friends and family members that I never see. They all live within a few mile radius of my childhood home.

I spent my days eating good homemade food as well as pizza, italian hoagies, pierogies, and all the other delicious food that I cannot find in Anchorage. I also finished three books while I was there. I even got to do some skiing. But most days I relaxed. It's nice to wake up knowing that I have no responsibility or agenda for the day.

I got to see all of my friends kids (there are so many of them now) and played like I have never played before. From dance party with Megan's three girls, to "tickle bug" with my nephew Tony, to a game of "knock you over" with my best friends 2 year old Brady (in which he rams into me with his head and tries to knock me over repeatedly). I am quite convinced that raising kids is a lot harder than ice climbing or any of the stuff I do here. Exhausting really.

After a day of traveling by plane with a bad cold, I'm back in Alaska and sniffling, sneezing, coughing, but getting ready to get back into the game. It's warm today. Nearly 20 degrees. There is a thick layer of frost on everything. The snow is packed down on the trails. I hear the ice is thicker than ever. It's good to be back.