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What a joy it is to live in Interior Alaska this time of year … when the first few blocks in the car is like riding on a buckboard and when the dogs are all brought inside because it’s too nippy for them outside in their kennels. Our vehicles are crying about the weather but the three brutes are thrilled to death it’s 50 below. They’re bouncing off the walls in joyous abandonment. To them, this is like a vacation in Hawaii.

I can’t go to the bathroom without all three wanting to join me. When I’m in the tub, I have to be alert or they might jump in. I think it’s the Hawaii delusion.

They carry my shoes and socks around the house. They romp and wrestle. And they hang around the kitchen and lick their chops like I’m Rachael Ray and I just might drop something on the floor.

This is how bad it is: Last Saturday morning Troy and I were lounging in bed and chatting quietly. The Chesapeakes covered the floor like three thick, stinking, snoring throw rugs. Troy and I were having one of those rambling conversations and he talked about attending some event. I asked if was in Fairbanks. Troy said, “No it was here.” Plop. Plop. Plop. At the “here,” all three dogs jolted awake and leaped onto the bed.

I’ll be glad when it warms up, the “three dog nights” come to an end and things get back to normal. OK, let’s be honest here. I have to admit I like them in the house.

Really, this cold snap hasn’t been that bad. Certainly not like in the “old days” when it was surely a lot colder and there was certainly more ice fog. I can remember creeping around Fairbanks in ice fog so thick you could see only a few feet ahead of your car, let alone see stoplights or street signs. After a while you’d get so disoriented you wouldn’t have any idea where you were and would pray for something, anything, to give you a clue.

Our pickup whined and cried through the 1989 cold spell, and one morning I opened the door and the handle snapped off in my hand. Fan belts were more fragile back then, and tires were more square and flattened more readily. And if you didn’t have oval plastic frost shields taped to the inside of your car windows, you didn’t have a chance of seeing beyond the inside of your rig.

And all that was bliss compared to what the old-timers suffered. They came up with ingenious ways to handle the cold. Grace Ford, who homesteaded in North Pole and is now deceased, told me once about sticking candles to dashboards to keep windows free of frost. There was no antifreeze, so every night radiators had to be drained and batteries unhooked and brought inside. People used stovepipes, kerosene chick incubators, weed eaters and even small fires underneath vehicles to warm them up.

All in all, we’re pretty spoiled.               Fuel

It’s really nice of Alaska legislators to consider giving us a bit of a financial boost to help ease the tremendous assault high fuel costs have had on our family budgets.

Until last week, I didn’t give it much more than a “that’s great” thought, but a recent conversation with a couple of fellows from Anchorage was enlightening. The two, in Fairbanks for a meeting, were complaining about their huge $200-a-month gas bills. When they were told about our incredibly huge fuel bills, they were surprised — they’d forgotten that we don’t have natural gas in the Interior.

People in some of the villages pay close to $8 for a gallon of gasoline, and you know what we pay here. In the villages, fuel oil can sell for $6 a gallon. I know people here who truly don’t know how they are going to survive. For some, it’s becoming a choice of food or keeping warm.

Maybe this money should be dispersed a little more fairly. The people in Anchorage, because they have the luxury of natural gas and warmer climes, just aren’t suffering as much as some of the rest of us. Maybe legislators who are pushing this through should take this into consideration. Maybe, however, trying to be fair and equitable would cause too many insurmountable problems. It surely would bring a ton of complaints from the bigger city to the south.

Eielson High spaghetti

Here is your chance to get out of cooking. Just convince your spouse that you need to support the Ben Eielson High School drill team.

The drill team spaghetti feed will be Tuesday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. or whenever they run out of chow.

This traditional event takes place every year when the Eielson Ravens take on the North Pole Patriots.

“We know that this is a large rivalry and that a lot of parents, students and family members come out to watch the competition. So to help all of those dedicated fans, both Ravens and Patriots, we offer a dinner meal,” said Greg Corbett.

Corbett said that this is an “all you can eat deal.” Cost is $4 per person and $15 for a family of four or more. Besides spaghetti, they will have salad, garlic bread and drinks.

You be the judge

Years ago, I judged a few of the Science Fairs at Denali Elementary. I can’t tell you how much fun it was. I was amazed at the quality and effort that the students put into their projects.

If you want to judge a similar event, here’s your chance. Badger Road Elementary is recruiting judges for their science fair. Judging will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 27, and food is provided.

“It is a fun and rewarding way to spend a morning,” Michelle Daml said. You can reach her at 488-0134 ext. 260 or e-mail her at mdaml@northstar.k12.ak.us.

Hawkeye’s birthday party

North Pole Library will throw a birthday bash for Hawkeye the turtle Friday, and organizers promise it will be a great time with turtle snacks and a turtle craft. Here are regular library events:

Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m. — Preschool Storytime: stories, fingerplays and songs for 3- to 5-year-olds. Registration is not required.

Fridays, 11:15 a.m. — Parents & Twos: a storytime for 2-year-olds and a parent or caregiver. Registration required. Call the library at 488-6101.

NPHS blood drive

Did you know that North Pole High School is No. 1 for a school its size in the High School Challenge Blood Drive? The challenge is through the Alaska Blood Bank and it is a big event at the school with a lot of support.

The next drive will take place Valentine’s Day (Thursday) at the school, and they hope to win this event also.  For more information call Jim Alonzo at 488-3761 ext. 9264 or e-mail him at jalonzo@northstar.k12.ak.us.

Follow the instructions

The following are instructions that actually appeared on item packaging:

On a hairdryer : Do not use while sleeping. (Gee, that's the only time I have to work on my hair!)

On a bag of sweets: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside. (The shoplifter special.)

On packaging for an iron: Do not iron clothes on body. (But wouldn’t that save more time?)

On a sleep medicine: Warning: may cause drowsiness. (One would hope!)