Today it was hot here. Tomorrow, according to the official weather report, it will be “Smokin’ Hot.”

I realize temperatures reaching 73 degrees might not seem hot to those of you in the Lower 48. I know that because I’ve heard about your triple digit temperatures constantly for weeks. It’s been annoying.

Annoying because here in Alaska we have not had a great summer. After record-breaking cold and snowfall this winter we have also had a miserable summer. (It’s almost like the deployment Gods are out to get me.) Recently it was reported that this was setting up to be the coldest July on record.

Frick on a stick. I’m from Florida. The whole point of summer is to get an unhealthy tan. I can’t do that if I have to wear a sweatshirt all day long.

It’s been cold. Gray. Rainy. Miserable. The all day sun we look forward to each summer has been more like all day clouds. The sun hasn’t shown in so long even the black people look white.

But now…it’s all changing.

We went on a hike today to Thunderbird Falls.

We let the kids play at Eklutna Lake.

Look! No shirts!! It was too HOT!

For today, we loved Alaska.

It’s finally summer here. I even drank a beer on the deck in the middle of the afternoon. I had to leave the sliding screen open because the stupid dog insists on being in the same room with me. (Unless someone in anther room has food.) It’s too hot for her (as Grandpa Paul would say, “She’s wearing a fur coat!”) and she kept panting and irritating me. If the door was open she’d stay inside where it’s cooler. So I left the door open and probably let in a million mosquitos.

The heat is making me neurotic.

More neurotic.

I’m sure I’ll be back to complaining about Alaska next week. Until then I’ll be on the back deck with a beer in my hand. In a Speedo so I can tan my cheeks.