1/3/'09, Fairbanks, Alaska, 2:46 a.m.~

If I don't get out of here soon, I'm gonna start walking to Louisiana!  I can't take much more of this, this....this COLD!!

Kat Hammer here.   A cold Kat, but here I be. 

Where I live, the current temperature is -47 BELOW zero!  The projected high is -35 to -45 BELOW!!  I am NOT used to these extreme temperatures; so much for global warming, 'cause it ain't happenin' here!

I wouldn't be surprised if there were some polar bears waitin' outside!  They probably would want to come inside 'cause it's too cold outside!! 

No kiddin'!!

Supposed to be like this all week, according to NOAA.  I check NOAA every day to see if there's any hope for a warm up; but no go.  Still cold, cold, COLD, ALL week!! 

I am more than ready to pack up, get my gear, and WALK back to Louisiana!  My Cajun blood can't take any more of this cold weather much longer!!

Frank won't let me; he said I wouldn't last five minutes.  I'd freeze to death, sure as certain!  I'd probably would, but I'm more than ready to get out of this deep freeze!!

Case in point:  I'm sittin' here in bed, wrapped up in three blankets, plus I have three shirts on, AND my long johns underneath!  And I'm STILL cold!!  I have the two cats (Aurora and Raspy) lyin' 'cross my feet, but I think of the temperature outside, and I instantly turn into a block of ice!!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

I've been here nearin' two years now (will be two years in May), and you'd think I'd be used to it.  No way!!  I don't do cold weather, especially when it's THIS cold!  This cold here in Alaska ain't worth it; it ain't made for man OR beast!

It's so cold here Frank has to plug the car in every night, just so it can run in the morning, before he goes to work.  He has to; otherwise, the cold would kill the engjne, lock'er up, and then what would Frank do in order to get to his job??  Not good!

He then comes in, puts his cold hands on my back when I least expect it, and then I come unglued!  He knows better than to do that!  If he does that one more time, I'm goin' to knock him into the middle of next year!!  When he wakes up, it will be 2010, not 2009!!

I am still tryin' to figure out why Frank moved me out here in the boonies instead of lettin' me stay in Louisiana. 

Oh, I remember.  Katrina.  Katrina was the reason why I left Louisiana in the first place.  Now I'm here; might as well make the best of it!  I still don't like it, however!

What I wouldn't give for temperatures above zero!  Even 3 degrees would sound nice, compared to what it is now!  Crazy, but it's true !!

If it ever gets to three degrees above, I think I'll break out the shorts, the sunscreen, and play outside! 

It's beyond ludicrous!!

Well, on to other things, but here the weather IS the news....

Junior is now one month old today.  He is a beautiful little peanut; bald like daddy.  Looks just like him, too.  Pure spittin' image!  He is a very good baby:  hardly ever cries unless needin' a change or fed; I couldn't have asked for a more perfect son! 

Am taking him on Monday for his one month checkup at the doc's; hopefully doc will pronounce him  healthy.  I've been praying like crazy that he is; there's already one sick family member in this family (me!); we don't need another one, in particular, my child!  I don't think my heart could take it!!

I heard from Mattaq Eegeesiak, my friend from Barrow.  He is coping the best he can without his sister, Sikik.  Sikik, as you know, died back in October, of the MS that wrecked her body.  She was only in her middle forties.  Too, too young.  How I miss her!  He said this past Christmas, Thanskgiving, New Year's was the lonliest he'd ever experienced; he didn't do anything but stay indoors and cry.  His sister's death tore him up bad!

Christmas here was good:  I got Frank a car heater; he loves it, says it is a ncessity 'round these parts.  No kiddin'!!  He's getting a lot of good use out of it!  He got me Raspy, our newest kitten, in addition to a king-sized electric blanket, which I greatly appreciate, especially now!  I wrap myself in it, and I forget I'm even cold!  It's niiiiiiiiiiiiice!!

Thanksgiving found us at our friend Jose's.  Jose' works for Frank; he's the co-owner of the Jeep dealership they have.  We had turkey and all the trimmin's, as well as some tacos and dip (Salsa); hey, we have to eat somethin' hot to warm up 'roun' here!!  We then came home, watched football.  Dallas Cowboys won; we were glad, but since then, they went downhill fast.  I am so disappointed in the Boys; they seriously need an owner change!!  They need to be called the CowGIRLS!!

Heard from Louie Sandusky in (balmy) Tennessee; they're doing good.  She calls me just 'bout every Saturday like clockwork, wouldn't be surprised if I hear from her sometime today.  She says her kids from out of state are visitin' for Christmas/New Year's break, and they had a wonderful Christmas; the kids made out like bandits.  She said she got what she wanted:  no kids sick or in the hospital.  That was her gift. 

Well, I am going to bundle up some more, and go back to bed.  It's toooo early for me to be up; it's not even four o'clock in the mornin' here!  (We're three hours behind.)  I will write in here again soon, probably like Monday, after I take junior to the doctor's.  As I said, I hope/pray doc gives us a good report regarding our baby!  Just say a prayer for us; we would greatly appreciate it!

God bless and talk to you again soon!

And please send us some warmer temperatures!!!!

~Love, your frozen friend in the far north, Kat Hammer.  :/