Christmas At The Hole In The Wall

It "tis" the season once again, wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. We were having a discussion pertaining to Christmas during dinner. It was mentioned that the Poopah should make a plan, I did not realize that it was my area of responsibility to plan Christmas. I always thought Santa took care of that. So in the last five minutes, I have formulated a plan!

All indications are that everyone from out of town will be in town, although Anchor point is not considered a town, it is the village by the river. For those that do not plan to be in town, please let me know so I cannot plan on you.

This is the plan, if anyone has a conflict let me know as soon as possible. If you have other concepts or ideas, please let them be known as I do not like dictatorships but I am in charge! Everyone is so busy with visiting other families, Christmas morning traditions, etc. thought it best if we choose one of two times.

Day and Time: Christmas Eve
Dinner At the Gazebo: 5:00 or 6:00 PM
Menu:
Chili (Two Recipes)*
Hot Dogs
Chili Hot Dogs w/Cheese
Chili Burgers w/Cheese
Guacamole / Chips
Pie
Fudge
Coffee, Alcohol, Hot Chocolate
Paper Plates
Paper Bowls
Plastic Silverware
Napkins
(Main Courses Can Be Made And Brought Into Camp ~ Heated up On Fire Pit)
Please Let Me Know What You Will Be Bringing So We do Not Overload On One Item

DECORATING:
Would like to decorate the area, lights, Christmas tree. We can start on this the week prior to Christmas ~ will need some help and finish up on Christmas Eve Day.

MUSIC:
We need some good Christmas sounds on a CD to play during dinner with a good speaker system. The bowl has a good ice covering and I will keep it plowed out to a smooth finish.
So, we also need some good dancing music, both oldies and whatever the teens like to dance to. If you have never danced in the snow and ice, you have never danced, you can do some fancy steps!
The Moose Clan is responsible for the music and set up.

ENTERTAINMENT
Our last entertainment was so fantastic, if anyone wants to put together some live stage shows, that would be tremendous. I understand we have a celebrated vocalist that should be able to boom out some good Christmas carols!

GIFT EXCHANGE
In an attempt to cut down Christmas cost for everyone since the family is so large, I thought perhaps we will do a "gift exchange". There will be two categories, adults and juveniles.
Adults: 18 to 65
Juveniles: 17 to 0
If the two groups do not come out even, we may have to move someone up or down to the next group.
Terry and I will put all the names together of those that plan on attending and draw the names. We will notify each of the family the names that they have drawn.
Gifts may not exceed $10.00

ALTERNATIVE CHOICE GIFT EXCHANGE
Will have a drawing of Clans, one Clan will exchange a gift to another Clan and we will draw the same way. Since it is a family (clan) gift it can exceed the $10.00 limit.

Let me know which way you prefer so we can let everyone know.

One other option that we can explore dependent on how you feel, some members will not be able to attend on Christmas Eve due to other family obligations or traditional home Christmas morning celebrations. For instance,it would be great if Tad and Sarah could attend, not knowing but I would assume they would like to have Christmas at home. Erica's family does a Christmas Eve celebration as well.
The other option is that we have just a normal "fire pit" gathering on Christmas Eve and then have our Christmas Party on the 26th, that way everyone is not traveling the same day and we may have a little daylight to work with for dinner.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

I have also heard that there may be a surprise "guest" showing up on Christmas Eve, so if we change the date, I need to let them know.

Come on now, give me your input before I have to make a decision!

P.S. How about a Hole In The Wall Christmas Caroling Ride Around Anchor Point, that would be fun! Might get free drinks at the ARI!

Talk to Me Folks

Low Pressure Front

Looks like Anchorage is going to get wet, again! Snapped this picture just prior to sunset this evening from the beach at Anchor Point. I thought, I could sense a low pressure area moving into the area. Good Luck Anchorage, it is moving fast up Cook Inlet.

Two Serious Warnings

WARNING
After a large meal (a Thanksgiving feast can easily exceed 4,000 calories), cardiac output of blood is increased and diverted to the intestinal circulation to aid digestion, which can take as long as six hours, leaving other organs, including the heart and brain, relatively deprived. The work involved in all this shunting around of blood might be the equivalent of vigorous sex or moderate exercise.

DOPPLER RADAR
This is what the Doppler Radar looked like at 8:09 pm, November 23, 2010
Green is Moderate to Heavy
Yellow is HEAVY
Coming your way Anchorage, it just passed us by and we just had the outer band.

A Real Cowboy In The Hole In The Wall

"Dancing Stan"

Congratulations to a clan of the HITWRA for a new, fresh baby girl!

Karter Marie Covault

Born to a great couple of people for parents and has three

of the best siblings she could have for teachers =).

Looking forward to meeting her.

Alaska Department Enviromental Control

The HITWWRAWRA has been served a notice by the Alaska Department of Environmental Control that the waters from Upper and Lower Kroc Pond is not safe for drinking, swimming, boating or any fish taken from these waters may be contaminated. Any future use should be curtailed until such time a proper filtering and circulation device can be installed and approved by their engineers. According to their water analysis, the water contains a high count of kroc and duck fecal matter and a variety of other minor contaminants draining into the system from a structure labeled "Duck House". Evidently, they think we are raising ducks in the "Duck House", come spring I will get pictures of the flocks of ducks that visit the ponds on their seasonal migration to show them that it is not our fault the wild ducks are crapping in our lakes.

Control