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The Daily Doings of Steph

O.K. - this is somewhat profane and insults both republicans and democrats and their constituencies. But it is really funny - in a surprisingly charming way. And what makes it completely hilarious is that it’s spot on.

Read: Red State Update »

Now, for a brief break from the Ice Classic, here’s a great video of a Pleo at Seaworld. Roll ahead to the two minute mark and watch the Dolphins and Pleo.

Read: Pleo and the Dolphins!!!!! »

Today is cold and gray - not conducive to a massive ice-out event. The ice is still in and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. I now think that Mother’s Day: Sunday May 11, might be the day.

I know that Frankie is sure that she’s been robbed. Carol is positive that Peter and I have been out there in a row boat keeping the ice from going out. And Liam and Riley are probably totally bummed. They even made a site visit to gauge the ice status before entering the contest.

But, this has been a very cold spring - with a freak two foot blizzard thrown in just for fun. If the ice does go out on May 11th, it will be the latest date ever in the history of the contest.

BJ, Lani, and Riley bit the dust today.

Read: Not Much Progress »

Oooh - today was warm and windy. As a result, 1/3 of the Lagoon ice, all from the east end, is gone. Peter thinks that tomorrow or Friday are highly probable ice-out days.

Fortunately for me, we seem to have made it through today, May 7th, with the ice still intact. I would have had a gigantic payout if the ice had gone out today.

Read: It’s Getting Closer… »

Well, it’s May 6th and the Lagoon is still very much iced in. However, the ice has now started the rotting process. So maybe it will go out prior to June.

Nicole, Sean, Sandra, and Gordon have all bitten the dust.

I have to say, I hope the ice doesn’t go out tomorrow. I’d have a huge payout - 5 people selected May 7th!!!!

This picture was taken last night. You can see that the ice is beginning to look a bit chewy.

And here are the current standings.

Read: May 6th and the Ice is Still Here »

Here it is Sunday May 4th and it certainly does not feel like spring. Today’s high was a mere 49 degrees and to be honest, it didn’t even seem that warm.

As far as the Ice Classic goes, the Ski Boy and I inspected the ice today. Initially, we didn’t think it was going anywhere for at least a week. However, we then noticed the huge open lead in the southeast corner of the lagoon. I think the melt-off from last week’s freak two foot blizzard led to heavy creek flow into the Lagoon. If that lead grows, it could force the ice out sooner rather than later. Who knows?????

Here are the guesses - tabulated and sorted by date. Ted, Cory, and Jeri Ann are all out of luck. And I don’t think Nicole will be celebrating ice out with her Cinco De Mayo margarita tomorrow.

Read: Ice Classic Update »

The entry deadline for the 7th Annual Westchester Lagoon Ice Classic has passed. All the entries are in and now we’re waiting for the ice to go out!!!!!

The prognostications range from Ted’s May 1st (ain’t gonna happen) to Elliot’s May 13th (is that his Grandpa’s birthday?). Susannah guessed May 17th but that one came in after the deadline.

I’ll set up a table with names and dates - hopefully by tomorrow.

Here are three pictures taken last night. As one can see, there’s no way the ice is gonna out today - unless there is some sort of cataclysmic event. All three pics are of Tyge and Peter. All three were so nifty that I couldn’t pick just one!

Peter and Tyge I.

Peter and Tyge II.

Peter and Tyge III.

Read: The Entries are In! »

Here it is the last day of April and it’s snowing to beat the band. Question: Exactly what does the phrase “beat the band” mean???

Anyhoo, it’s 36 degrees - just warm enough so the snow won’t stick. Unlike Friday’s 2 foot dump at 32 degrees. But the flakes sure are big!!!!!

Wonder what impact this will have on the 7th Annual Westchester Lagoon Ice Classic…

Entries close at midnight tonight!!!!!!

Read: It’s Snowing - AGAIN!!!!! »

Via Very Short List, a BBC video promoting the Beeb’s video streaming. It is hilarious. It certainly gives March of the Penguins a run for their money.

Read: The BBC’s Flying Penguins »

Yesterday, Anchorage was flat out buried in a huge snow storm. It was the 3rd snowiest day ever recorded in Anchorage. As Weather Service described in their recap:

THE HISTORIC STORM THAT AFFECTED THE ANCHORAGE AREA ON APRIL 25-26 2008 BEGAN AS LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS. SNOW BEGAN TO MIX WITH RAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND CHANGED OVER TO ALL SNOW AROUND 9AM ON THE FRIDAY THE 25TH. THE HEAVIEST SNOW FELL BETWEEN 3PM AND 6PM AT A RATE OF ALMOST 2 INCHES AN HOUR. SNOWFALL TOTALS WERE UNIFORM ACROSS ANCHORAGE AS THE HILLSIDE RECEIVED AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT AS LOWER ELEVATION LOCATIONS.

I can attest to the 2 inches per hour rate in the afternoon. Digging Henry out at 5:00 PM yesterday was a major excavation. I then had to do it all over again an hour later. I have never seen it snow that hard. Evidently, a large Gulf of Alaska cold front moved in and then stalled over Anchorage. And at the end of April for God’s sake. It was mind blowing. I know everyone thinks that Alaska is the land of snow and cold - and we are. But not on April 25th. By the date, we’re moving into what passes for Spring.

This was Perfect Storm II - a worthy follow up to Perfect Storm I - the famous St. Patrick’s Day snow storm of 2002.

THE ONE DAY SNOWFALL EVENT ON APRIL 25TH (FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT)
WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST ON RECORD. THE CURRENT LIST OF ONE DAY SNOWFALL
TOTALS IS LISTED BELOW.

DATE SNOWFALL
1. 03-17-2002 22.0 INCHES
2. 12-29-1955 15.6 ”
3. 04-25-2008 15.5 ”
4. 12-04-1998 15.1 ”
5. 03-18-1976 14.3 ”

More goodies from the Weather Service recap:

AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ON SAND LAKE ROAD THE SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTAL IS NOW 109.1 INCHES. THIS MAKES THE WINTER OF 2007-2008 THE 6TH SNOWIEST ON RECORD FOR ANCHORAGE. LISTED BELOW IS THE CURRENT LIST OF TOP 10 SNOWIEST WINTERS IN ANCHORAGE SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1915.

YEAR SNOWFALL
1. 1954 - 1955 132.8 INCHES
2. 1955 - 1956 128.8 ”
3. 1994 - 1995 121.5 ”
4. 2003 - 2004 111.5 ”
5. 1948 - 1949 111.0 ”
6. 2007 - 2008 109.1 ”
7. 1989 - 1990 102.6 ”
8. 1991 - 1992 99.5 ”
9. 1965 - 1966 94.5 ”
10. 1958 - 1959 94.5 ”

Yesterday’s 15.6 inches vaulted us high up into the top ten of all time! We had 18 inches at our house. And at Judy’s house way up on the Hillside, they had 30 inches. And it was still snowing up there this morning.

Henry II was definitely challenged by the snowfall. I’d had his studded winter tires swapped out two weeks ago - that’s what one does in mid-April. So, yesterday afternoon, we were tooling around on his summer racing slicks in 18 inches of very wet snow. Actually, the tires weren’t the real problem. Clearance was the issue. Henry II is a low slung model - high centering was a real problem. Fortunately, we didn’t get stuck until last night - in our own driveway.

Poor Tygey also had high centering issues. The snow was up and over his gunnels. I had to tramp out a path this morning in the back yard so he could attend to his business.

Below are several pics and another video!!!!

Our snowed under Salmon.

Tyge last night at the Lagoon. One thing that everyone is commenting on - it is so bizarre to have this much snow and still have it be light at 9:00 PM at night. Unheard of!

Rudy - our reindeer windsock. I’d been giving Peter a hard time earlier in the week - we’re way past Easter and our Christmas windsock is still flapping in the breeze. Well, yesterday’s weather was very appropriate for Rudy.

Henry snowed in at work. The snow on top of him had accumulated in just one hour.

I dug out a friend’s car.

Self portrait of Tyge and me last night.

A now for our feature video short. The Ski Boy in action!!!! We’d just come home from dinner at Sack’s. I tried to get Henry II into the driveway. But he got so high centered that he basically plowed up his own snow berm in front the car and we ground to halt. The Ski Boy, ever the gallant gentleman, shoveled out the berm and then after much pushing, more shoveling, getting stuck twice, more pushing and more hoveling, Henry II finally blasted through the driveway to the garage. Huzzahs all around!!!!!!

Read: The Perfect Storm II »