Oh we know...you're as psyched as we are :-)

LOL! Yay only 4 more days until we go home! It's been a very long 9 months and we're ready to go back and see some friendly, familar faces. We've got our schedule pretty jammed tight but we're totally willing to go out of our way to meet up with ya if you're around and want to make it happen. Just let us know! Oh and there's an awesome get together up in Derry, NH for whoever is around this Saturday evening so if you're interested get in touch with me and I'll drop ya the details!

Last week I got shipped North to Fairbanks for work and when I got off the plane there was already a couple inches of snow on the ground. I was a litte disheartened, but knew my trip back home to the comfortable autumn New England weather would brighten my spirits....which brings me to, WHY THE HELL IS IT SNOWING BACK HOME! AAAHHHH!!!! Well atleast we end our 2 week vacation down in sunny Florida for my sister's wedding, can't wait!

Anywho, Jay and I made the most of our weekend and carved pumpkins, tossed together some costumes and went to a sexy hot Burlesque show (actually it was more funny then sexy) and now we're home just countin down the days. Hope to see you soon!!

 Fairbanks. Mind you it's 8:30 in the morning...ugh. Sun doesn't come up until around 10am up there right now.

 Sun down is around 6 pm. Granted it's 8 hours of daylight, but that's a far cry from 24 hours like we were getting in the summer.

When this river freezes it opens up a whole world of snow machine, skiing and snow shoeing activities. Pretty cool. Plus the main access is right behind a bar with great beer and awesome food. You know I love that.



Awesomely enough neither of us good officially pinpoint what we were, so we were definitely Team Rando

2 and a half weeks until we go home!!

Wet and wild that's the way, uh huh uh huh, we like it. Surprised the Maguires this weekend by popping in to help with the progress on the HOPEful abode. It rained the whole time but we still had a drunken good time. 

This is first level; the second floor will go in next season. Sick views from on top though.

They're so cute. I'd tell them to "get a room" but they're still building them... :-)

Welcome to Everett Patrick Wuoti from Prudhoe Bay

 Well the middle Wuoti brother, Brian and his wife Katy sent me a text yesterday that Katy was going in for an emergency C-section and they were going to deliver their first baby.  Knowing they were not due until December 6th (my birthday) my anxiety grew as I said a prayer and called Amanda with the news.  A few hours later Everett Patrick Wuoti was in the world and doing well, the new parents were exhausted and also doing well and the family was relieved.  "Rett" was brought to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH to spend the next few weeks "to finish cooking" while Katy had to stay in Brattleboro, VT before she could be discharged.  this truly was a gift and a blessing and we can't wait to meet the little guy in a few weeks.

 Certainly less surprising than the news from my Brother was that I was in Deadhorse, AK (70 degrees north latitude) working for Exxon.  This is where all the Oil in Alaska comes from and then is pumped down the pipeline.  This winter is looking like it is going to be the biggest exploratory / production year since the 1970's.
  It was below zero with 10-20mph winds (good thing I had arctic gear).  I did not get to see any Polar Bear, Caribou or Musk Oxen.  I did see a handful of foxes.  Most of the folks up here work 2 weeks on and then have 2 weeks off.  I was only here for one night so I did not get the "full experience" nor did I see air temps of -60 degrees.  However, I feel it will not be my last trip to that part of the world.   The work conditions are tuff, the hours long, but the days off and the BIG paychecks are very enticing.  Most of the guys I had working for me do not live in Alaska, they fly up here to work every 2 weeks.  Even the truck driver I had hired was from Maine and has been coming up here for 10 years.

 This vehicle is used to "pack down" the ice roads.

 Man Camp.  I was actually in a really nice place.  Cable TV, WiFi, Gym, Housekeeper, Cook with a fully stocked kitchen and fridge that had a "help yourself to anything" policy.

This last pic Amanda took on Tuesday on our ride home from Anchorage as the full moon rose over the Chugach Mountains.

Talkeetna - where the road ends and life begins.

 After a morning of chores and errands, we hit the road north to Talkeetna.  Our plan was to go to the West Rib for a pint of Ice Axe Ale (9.2%) and a plate of Satan's Revenge Wings.

The West Rib is named after a climbing route up Denali.  The walls of the pub are covered in climbers paraphernalia and graffiti.  In 2008; after a week on the Kahiltna Glacier where nighttime temps where minus 30 degrees, avalanches, crevasses  and a flight on a 5 person plane  (I was convinced I was not getting out alive),  Brendan and I flew back to Talkeetna and I had a burger and a pint here that was the best food or drink I have ever tasted.  I have so much respect for that mountain and for folks who climb it.

 Denali Brewing Company

 Fairview Inn - bluegrass, cheap drinks, rowdy crowd.  Notice the boots on the wall near the curtains.  they are an prosthetic legs.

 I have never seen a Pine Tree that changes color.

We were having so much fun we decided that we should not drive the 50 miles back home so we got a room and had a few more drinks.  Knowing we had to rush home early since the dog would have been left in the house all night...we got up early and had a special treat with the sun rising turning Denali pink.  

Wuoti Clan

We got such a great surprise today at the post office.  Uncle Dann and Aunt Annette sent us some premium jelly.  Dann had a wicked good letter (typed of coarse) in the package too.  thanks so much we love you

Kotzebue, AK

 Kotzebue is 40 miles north of the Arctic Circle and the sun was shinning.  I had another job for the AK Air National Guard and got a chance to explore this area of northwest Alaska.  Kotz is located on the bearing straight and looks across toward Russia which is 200 miles away.

 this is the view from the hotel

 the hotel restaurant had these 20,000 year old wooly mammoth tusks.

 this artistic basket is made from birch bark

 there is a huge caribou heard in this area and everyone it town had just completed their harvest.

 Look at that price of gas!  we rented a 1991 Ford 350 that was a complete piece of shit (limited turning and no stopping) it cost $140 a day plus tax.  Really?   it was also for sale for $4,200.  If i lived here i'd just walk, the town is only 1 miles long.

 Check out that beautiful coat.  Seal, Wolf, Wolverine, Caribou.