Fairbanks Work Day

This post is out of order, but I want to share the fact that I'm not always traveling for fun. Some times I can have my fun right here in Fairbanks with a new pair of workgloves and a power tool. I discovered a long time ago, that it is a lot more fun to actually be part of the construction (or destruction) than it is to be making lunch or running to the store for forgotten items, etc. When we built our first log cabin, I got pretty good at running the radial arm saw. I've never like the table saw because of my vision of cutting off digits (and I need those to do math). Now, I'm a product of my own independence. I can haul away junk, separate boards and straighten nails with the best of 'em.

Here are some things that Alaskan women should be able to do:
make curtains using a hot glue gun
pee in the woods without getting shoes or pants wet
run a chain saw
repair an air mattress with duct tape
make a raincoat from a trash bag
pull studs out of a snow tire
cook salmon at least 40 different ways
ski or at least catch your balance when falling on ice
shop on-line or order clothes from a catalog
change a diaper while the child is lying on your lap
chop wood so that it fits into a wood stove
pitch a tent in the rain

The other photo that I needed to post was our "solid waste transfer center" otherwise known as the dump. Anyone savvy enough to root around for necessaries in the "recycle area" (see pic) is referred to as a dumpster diver. At one point, our local government was going to outlaw the popular sport of dumpster diving for, so called, safety reasons. An eye witness (thanks, John) to the local government meeting said that about 150 people showed up to testify. The testimonials were given by people who were mainly garbed in "found" items, including feathers in their sweat rimmed hats and assorted, inappropriate t-shirts. I agreed with the woman who said, "It aught to be against the law NOT to recycle". Nuff said. The law didn't change. And if you need a hubcap and an old refrigerator to make a salmon smoker, you know where to go.