OK, so maybe I'm slacking in my posting. But I have been REALLY busy! So, for a quick update over the past month. I'm working a TON of overtime because we're closing in on the end of the year. Now is the time when everyone realizes that their out of pocket is met, or their deductible is met, or whatever. So now they want all sorts of stuff done. It's only going to get worse from here. I did manage to get some pictures of the lake, with the snowy mountains behind the autumn leaves. I hope you enjoy them! Tonight was the first night that I saw the northern lights...aka Aurora Borealis. I didn't see them last year, so it has been a couple of years. They were pretty good tonight, too. There was 1 band, and it was green. They danced across the sky right in front of my house. After (over) 10 years of living here, I still don't get tired of all that Alaska has to offer. I still get excited over seeing the northern lights, and of seeing moose in the neighborhood. I still love to watch bald eagles soaring through the sky, and ravens absolutely fascinate me. They are very smart birds, and very mathematical. I saw one gut a seagull one time. It had caught a seagull and landed on the ledge outside of one of my windows at work. It was pretty interesting. It laid out all the organs in a neat and straight line before feasting. Then the other ravens found him and he grabbed the seagull and flew like the wind. Everyone else at work seemed to be grossed out. But I found it fascinating. Why would he lay all the organs in a row? Why not just dig in? Anyway, back to the northern lights... I love to watch them because they start to come down so they look like big curtains across the sky. Sometimes they're dim, and then they get really active. They get bright...tonight they almost got to be a yellow color...and they start to "dance" across the sky. They start moving around...kind-of like "the wave" at sporting events or something. Anyway, it's hard to explain, but AWESOME to watch! I would have gotten a picture, but it's really hard to get good ones. The thing about the northern lights is they come out when it's dark, clear, and freaking cold! So I can't stay outside too long to watch them because I end up looking like I'm having a seizure because I'm shivering so badly. Anyway, I thought I would share this moment with you since it's the first for the season. I have my friends the Kincades to thank for calling me and letting me know that they were out. We have a "network" of people to call when there is a sighting because everyone loves to watch them. Winter is not the best time to come to Alaska, but the northern lights are cool to watch! I guess it's a catch-22? I'm also posting pictures of my friends' daughters, Lilli and Brenna. They are my buddies who I love a lot. So if I ever mention either one of them, then you'll know who I'm talking about. I'll try to keep everyone updated about what's going on up here in the winter time. I can tell you that it was below 10 degrees when I went to work this morning, and it was below 10 degrees again this evening when I went outside to watch the northern lights. It's pretty cold for this time of year. No more snow, though. It all blew away. We had a big windstorm that woke me up a couple weeks ago. It also knocked down a tree in my boss's driveway. He had to use a chainsaw to clear it before he could go anywhere. It was pretty powerful. Anyway, it blew the snow away. Now it's just cold...and dark. I wish it would snow again. Then the snow can reflect the light and brighten things up considerably. Oh, well!!!!