And here is an ad for a dentist-dude, next to our apartment.  Being interior Alaska, this thing lasted for months.  (The building he's located in went up remarkably quickly.  I remember being a little upset, when they cut down all the trees in that lot.  -I mean, it's not often that one has a little forest next door--right in the middle of a city. . . .)

      I have been meaning to get up a picture of this up for about four years.  (My---how time flies--when you're "having fun." :P I despise graduate school.  :P :P :P :P ) This is going to be hard to believe, but in the [Alaskan] Interior, there are these spiders--that remain mobile for a while, even while it is (slightly) below freezing.  (!!) (Wow, "snow spiders." :) )

      Sorry---I know, the above picture sucks.  :) I have GOT to get a better camera. . . .  :P

      I honestly don't remember why I took the following picture---the Tanana Flats, obscured by a low-lying mist.  On a clear day, one can see over a hundred miles (!)--over "The Flats," to the Alaskan Range climbing up the horizon.  It is a familiar and comforting (and sometimes gorgeous and breathtaking) sight that invariably greets me, coming to and leaving from work. . . .

      I (and quite a few other people) find this next one--absolutely HYSTERICAL.  For some time, now--whenever a member of our research group goes on a trip--we leave a mannikin of them in their chair---ostensibly to let people know that someone still occupies that office (Space is at a premium in the G.I. (Geophysical Institute), and can go quite quickly.  (. . .)).   For an example of this, you can click here.  :) Well, this "tradition" has most certainly . . . escalated over the years.  Check out what I left in my advisor's office:

      One time, I left a giant Pikachu with his (my advisor's) ubiquitous pipe in hand.  :) I REALLY regret not having a picture of that (I suppose I could just do a "mock up" of that---I mean, I still have the Pickachu, and Antonius still has the same office. . . .  -Nah. :) ) to put up.  -But this one definitely tops that one.  :) This snowman led to quite a story, as we shall see. . . .  :)

On to more Alaska pics.