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It’s so good to be back after a long break! Being gone from Alaska any amount of time sure makes you appreciate it. I wasn’t even too upset when the temps dipped to negative 40 just a day after arriving home. It was good to fire up the woodstove and hunker down. Trying to stay awake past 6 p.m. is proving a chore, but I’m making progress. Thank goodness for strong coffee and cats that like to tear the place to ribbons after dark! I’ve got a new squirt gun that is helping though. When things get too bad, I just turn it around and squirt myself in the face.

I’m even glad to see our outhouse. I must admit I got pretty used to running water, but I was turning sissy, so it’s good to be back to reality. (Just between you and me, I won’t turn down a Jacuzzi tub, dishwasher, washing machine, garden hose, pool, etc. if it’s offered to me next year when we build our new house. I may turn sissy but I’m not an idiot.)

So what’s happening in Delta …

Festival of Lights coming up

It’s a little early, but the town is making plans for the annual February celebration that lulls us out of our warm homes and into the frigid air for things like a lighted parade, ice carving demonstration, fireworks and — let’s not forget — the Polar Bear Plunge. Since we’re not exactly adjacent to the ocean, the volunteer fire department sets up a nice pool of cold water for three lucky vote-getters to plunge into, much to the delight of a local crowd sufficiently warmed by coats, hats and boots. This is where chuckling at someone else’s misfortune is not only allowed, you can place bets on it.

If you missed the Delta Wind’s editorial last week, there’s a pile of people that have been nominated for the three prestigious “plunger” slots. Out of Fort Greely, Lt. Col. McClinton and Col. Besch have been nominated. Local pastors have also been targeted for the plunge, including Pastor Dave Becker, Pastor Bear, Howard Echo-Hawk, Chaplain Cepeda from Fort Greely, Paul Anderson, Butch Palermo, Father Martinek and Cliff Henry. In addition, Patsy Ewing from the Clearwater Lodge, Thomas Pyatt from Sawmill Creek Lodge and Phil Sobers from the Big D have their names in the hat. To vote for your favorite friend or enemy, or to nominate someone else entirely, simply vote and pledge money at the cans that are located throughout the area at local businesses.

The Delta Chamber of Commerce counts on these votes and pledges not only to create excitement at a time of year when, frankly, there’s nothing better to do, but also to fund the fireworks show that we all enjoy.

The Delta Wind has offered to match the funds from the top three vote-getters. So get out there, put down some cash and vote!

The festival takes place Feb. 16. I’ll update the standings in my next column.

Light up the Night Parade and Galleria and Trade Fair

The Chamber is now accepting applications for entries in the lighted parade the night of the festival and booth space in the Galleria and Trade Fair that takes place that same day in the high school gym. You can find entry forms on the Delta News Web at www.deltanewsweb.com in the January archives, or call the Chamber at 907-895-5068. E-mail: deltacc@alaska.net.

Psycho-Hypnosis Show coming to Clearwater Lodge

Just in time for the throes of winter, a psycho-hypnosis show is coming to town. If below-zero temperatures and frozen car batteries aren’t enough, you can volunteer to get on a stage, get hypnotized and become entertainment for a large group of people who paid good money to get in but knew better than to volunteer to “go under.” If you’ve ever seen these shows at the fair, they’re a hoot. Rich Guzzi, the host of the show, is from New York, and according to his Web site, his show “has it all … comedy, drama, characters, role-playing, and self-awareness.”

I’d like to see if he could get my husband to pick up his clothes.

The show is Monday at 7 p.m. at the Clearwater Lodge. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Not for children. Call 895-5152 for more information.

Brookelyn Bellinger lives in Big Delta and is the author of “The Frozen Toe Guide To Real Alaskan Livin’.” Send news, events, or comments to brookelynbellinger@hotmail.com, or visit her Web site: www.brookelynbellinger.com.