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To: lodwick; Aquamarine; Libertina; Mama_Bear; daisyscarlett; Billie; dansangel; humblegunner; Flyer; ..
But - but - it is a balmy 11 below zero now!
Unheard of!!
LOL

At this time in 1965, right after Christmas, we had had weeks of no warmer than 40 below zero - mostly 50 below.
The base coal supply for the steam heat was getting critically low, and they actually were planning to evacuate all the dependents to Seattle and group the men in as few barracks as they could to conserve what was on hand.

Can you imagine how heartbroken we were when the temperatures broke and 'soared'??
We were dying to go to the Lower 48 and a degree of 'normalcy!'

One 'must' to get in the Lower 48 was fresh milk. What we had in stores was milk from which the water had been extracted - shipped - and Alaska water added to it. Never tasted 'right.'

That fall, too, we had a three-month period when not one fresh vegetable of any kind was in the commissary - - depressingly barren section.

I also hungered for current news of any kind. Our tv programs were tapes 3 weeks after they played in the lower 48 - sent to Juneau - then Anchorage - and then Fairbanks.

Never got news analysis programs, nor did the Fairbanks paper report any world/Lower 48 news - just local issues like the Police Report - "Mrs. Jackson on 9th Avenue had a moose loose in her yard yesterday." Important stuff..:)))

100 posted on 12/21/2002 4:03:59 PM PST by LadyX
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To: LadyX
I had some friends who worked on the Alaskan Pipeline. I had the opportunity to go but chose not to make the trip. Lots of money to be made, but our girls yelling "Daddy's Home!" every night after work was more important.

Heard lots of stories about the frigid conditions up there by the crews.

Also had another co-worker who worked a season in Antartica. Now there was some chilling tales he told.

103 posted on 12/21/2002 4:16:27 PM PST by Diver Dave
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To: LadyX
That fall, too, we had a three-month period when not one fresh vegetable of any kind was in the commissary - - depressingly barren section.

Sounds hellish.. but somehow I bet that you made the best of things
and had fun despite all the privations.. and unimaginable cold..

(Hey, I'm in Houston, snow is something made up by greeting card companies.)

105 posted on 12/21/2002 4:52:01 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: LadyX
If I decide to visit Alaska, I assume you are advising I go in July? I can't imagine it being dark for such a big part of the day.
110 posted on 12/21/2002 6:31:44 PM PST by JustAmy
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