Our first volcano ashfall

If you haven't heard yet, Mt. Redoubt located 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, erupted on March 16 and continues to be active. Yesterday, it exploded 5 times and today, so far six times. We were unaffected by ashfall until now. Ash is falling right now in South Anchorage. Check out this great photo from a friend of ours:

Thomas' flight tonight was cancelled. In case you're interested, apparently we're supposed to:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use goggles and war eyeglasses instead of contact lenses.
• Use a dust mask or hold a damp cloth over your face to help with breathing.
• Stay indoors until the ash has settled unless there is a danger of the roof collapsing.
• Close doors, windows, and all ventilation in the house (chimney vents, furnaces, air conditioners, fans, and other vents.
• Avoid running car or truck engines. Driving can stir up volcanic ash that can clog engines, damage moving parts, and stall vehicles.
• Bag up all electronics.

I guess this is just part of our Alaskan experience. Yesterday, a huge moose ran across the highway.