The price of beauty

It's a sunny, clear day, the kind that makes you want to do more with your time on this Earth. But for February in Alaska, it's a tease.

The nicer the day, the less clouds to insulate the valley. Thus, beautiful equals cold enough that putting your head in the frezer is warm by comparison. That is no exaggeration.

But even at -30, a little sunshine is good for the mind. It reminds me that spring isn't far off and 6 p.m. might once again be considered an afternoon hour instead of nighttime.

Now, when I say "spring," I mean what I used to think was winter. I fully expect there to be snow on the ground until May, but soon there will be enough warmth and daylight for a newbie like me to enjoy Alaska a little more. It's been six months since I left Florida, and I'm hardly experienced with the Fairbanks area or winter activities.

Sportswriter Matias was good enough to hook me up with the list serv of the Nordic cross-counry ski club, but I won't have a sturdy enough schedule to take lessons until our newest copy editor comes in late March.

Until I get off my lazy bum and do something about it, I guess I'll just have to be content with scaring my family with pictures like this:

"Peace, love, dope!" -- Terrence Mann