Some questions answered ...

Today's snowy view

Here are the answers to your most burning questions regarding Alaska, Juneau specifically.  Is it dark there all the time? No, not in Juneau.  For example, on December 31, 2011, the sun will rise at 8:46 a.m. and set at 3:13 p.m.  The shortest day of daylight is on the "winter solstice" of December 22 with sunrise at 8:52 a.m. and sunset at 3:04 p.m. The longest day in Juneau is in June, and is sometimes referred to as the "Midnight Sun". There are 18 hours and 18 minutes of daylight that day, and the sun never really "sets" -- it just dips below the horizon, where its glow keeps illuminating the sky until it reappears the next morning just a few hours later.  When Bill was in Juneau over the 4th of July, the fireworks weren't fired off until well after midnight.  Sometimes in the winter, because it can be cloudy more often than sunny, it seems like it is dark all day.  For instance, today is snowy and the mountain and ferry dock are obscured, but it is still "light" out and still beautiful.  However, if you go to Barrow, on the north coast of Alaska, it is dark all the time in December.  In fact, they don't even record a sunrise/sunset from November 20 (sunrise at 1:05 p.m, sunset at 1:20 p.m.) through January 24 (sunrise 1:07 p.m., sunset 2:11 p.m.).  One of the reasons why I don't live in Barrow.  Is it always cold/snowy/rainy in Juneau?  Short answer - yes, it can be all three on any day in Fall/Winter.  Summer on the other hand is beautiful with temperatures in the 60's & 70's, with some rain but nothing all day.  I'm wondering about thunder storms, though.  I will miss them if we don't have them.  I'll have to check on  that!  Snowfall averages 94" a year, with 26" of that coming (on average) in December.  However, as far as temperature goes, the day time high is always above 0 degrees, with an average in Dec-Feb of 29.  Now, if you see Fairbanks weather, it can be below 0 for a daytime high well into March.  In fact, just within the last few weeks, the high for 10 days straight in Fairbanks did not get above minus 10 degrees, with lows about 30 below.  Again, don't want to live in Fairbanks.  Mail service - cell phone service?  The U.S.P.S. delivers everyday, with the standard time being about 4-5 days for a letter to be received from the "lower 48".   I've found out that some online sites (Amazon, for instance) still will ship free with minimum purchase and my things arrived within five-seven days of ordering.  I switched all my magazine subscriptions to my new address and did not have to pay a "surcharge" although my weekly Entertainment Weekly magazine does not come until Wednesday the week following (I used to get it on Fridays).  My other magazines have arrived without problems.  Cell phone service is available (we currently use ATT) but have a problem with getting enough coverage going around the mountains.  Sometimes it just takes turning 180 degrees - 4 bars!!  What are  "Xtra Tuffs"?  What?  This wasn't a burning question?   Sometimes called "Alaskan Nikes" Xtra Tuffs are a brand-name knee-high rubber boot that everyone wears due to the wet weather.  They are khaki green with a brown sole. Seriously - people where them with everything and wear them all day.  Bill now has a pair ($79 on sale at Fred Meyer's).  I'm still waiting for a pair in basic black....  (they only come in green - no kidding).