Yep - there she goes! Our Governor, Sara Palin, former Wasilla Prom Queen (I think if I remember the Gov. election correctly) and Mayor is the expected Vice Presidential Republican Candidate for 2008. Who would have thought someone so anti-business and currently under investigation for firing a state official (ADN article) would be the best choice. I honestly commend her for how far she has gone and the potential she has for breaking barriers, but I wonder what would happen if she actually gets to VP. This election for me will be one of the most interesting in years.
(BTW - Wasilla is known here as part of the Valley. Expect Valley Girl jokes soon!)
So much for keeping politics out of the blog!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Gardening Dangers
While Alaska has no poisonous snakes, spiders or other bugs, apparently we do have something that is buggish and I am allergic. Thursday night, while picking raspberries (we now have 6 quarts in the freezer for the winter with more to come), I was bitten right in the corner of my eye by something - I have no idea what. By Friday morning, my right eye was almost swollen shut from the swelling underneath it. I looked like I was carrying 1/2 of a baseball under the skin on my face.
Of course I still went to work but when 8:00am arrived, I called my physician to see if I could get in. Hooray - they worked me in at 11:00am. Upon arriving at the Doctor's office, they checked my normal vitals, vision, etc. and proceeded to say "That really looks annoying. Take Benadryl, put ice packs on it and it should go away in 3 - 7 days. And by the way, it will probably be bruised once the swelling is gone." Perfect! Just what I need! At least there won't be any pictures taken if I can help it over the next 2 weeks which was a feat this weekend because we had a birthday party (my brother's) and the fair to attend!
Now, 3 and 1/2 days later, I appears it is going to take more like 7 days before it goes away. Robert assures me it isn't as big as it was Friday but I can't tell when looking in the mirror.
From now on I am wearing bug spray!
Of course I still went to work but when 8:00am arrived, I called my physician to see if I could get in. Hooray - they worked me in at 11:00am. Upon arriving at the Doctor's office, they checked my normal vitals, vision, etc. and proceeded to say "That really looks annoying. Take Benadryl, put ice packs on it and it should go away in 3 - 7 days. And by the way, it will probably be bruised once the swelling is gone." Perfect! Just what I need! At least there won't be any pictures taken if I can help it over the next 2 weeks which was a feat this weekend because we had a birthday party (my brother's) and the fair to attend!
Now, 3 and 1/2 days later, I appears it is going to take more like 7 days before it goes away. Robert assures me it isn't as big as it was Friday but I can't tell when looking in the mirror.
From now on I am wearing bug spray!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Q: What is 95?
A: The number of pounds of fish we have in the freezer for the summer of 2008!
Friday we spent the day cruising around Resurrection and Aialik Bays looking for wildlife. Regardless of the continued crappy 2008 Alaska rain and fog, we did see Sea Otters, Dall's Porpoises surfing with our boat, Sea Lions, Aialik Glacier calving, Humpback Whales, Eagles eating salmon, Puffins, a host of other birds, and a small drama where a seal was laying on a iceberg and three Orcas were hunting for it. The seal survived yesterday (even though he kept rolling off of his little piece of ice) and the Orcas moved farther down the coast. Depending on how bad the pictures are due to rain on the lenses, I'll post some in the next couple of days. I truly enjoy looking for the animals!
Saturday, we went Silver Salmon and Halibut fishing in the Gulf of Alaska. It actually turned out to be a warm,dry day requiring only 2 layers of clothing instead of my customary 4. Robert and I both limited out on Halibut - 2 each, Silver Salmon - 3 each and Rockfish, aka Sea Bass, - 8 each. That equates to 12 lbs of Rockfish, 19.5 lbs of Halibut and 26 3/4 lbs of Salmon. I lost count of how many pink salmon I caught because now that we are connoisseurs, we really don't like that color! LOL!! Plus, we didn't need another 20 lbs of fish.
One of the most interesting parts of the day happened when a school of Dall's Porpoises (looking like miniature Orcas) decided to swim through our lines not once, not twice but three separate times. They were playing with us causing the Captain to worry one of us would snag one and loose the fishing pole. Luckily only one gentleman snagged a Dall and lost his hook. Dall's are right up there with watching Otters when it comes to animals that just appear to enjoy life.
All of these fish are fighters though and wear your butt out. OK - the halibut really isn't - they are just like pulling up a mattress off of the bottom of the ocean though. Regardless, it is a challenge sitting here typing today because my arms are SO tired!
Of course, all of this means...
FRESH halibut tonight and FRESH salmon tomorrow!!!
Friday we spent the day cruising around Resurrection and Aialik Bays looking for wildlife. Regardless of the continued crappy 2008 Alaska rain and fog, we did see Sea Otters, Dall's Porpoises surfing with our boat, Sea Lions, Aialik Glacier calving, Humpback Whales, Eagles eating salmon, Puffins, a host of other birds, and a small drama where a seal was laying on a iceberg and three Orcas were hunting for it. The seal survived yesterday (even though he kept rolling off of his little piece of ice) and the Orcas moved farther down the coast. Depending on how bad the pictures are due to rain on the lenses, I'll post some in the next couple of days. I truly enjoy looking for the animals!
Saturday, we went Silver Salmon and Halibut fishing in the Gulf of Alaska. It actually turned out to be a warm,dry day requiring only 2 layers of clothing instead of my customary 4. Robert and I both limited out on Halibut - 2 each, Silver Salmon - 3 each and Rockfish, aka Sea Bass, - 8 each. That equates to 12 lbs of Rockfish, 19.5 lbs of Halibut and 26 3/4 lbs of Salmon. I lost count of how many pink salmon I caught because now that we are connoisseurs, we really don't like that color! LOL!! Plus, we didn't need another 20 lbs of fish.
One of the most interesting parts of the day happened when a school of Dall's Porpoises (looking like miniature Orcas) decided to swim through our lines not once, not twice but three separate times. They were playing with us causing the Captain to worry one of us would snag one and loose the fishing pole. Luckily only one gentleman snagged a Dall and lost his hook. Dall's are right up there with watching Otters when it comes to animals that just appear to enjoy life.
All of these fish are fighters though and wear your butt out. OK - the halibut really isn't - they are just like pulling up a mattress off of the bottom of the ocean though. Regardless, it is a challenge sitting here typing today because my arms are SO tired!
Of course, all of this means...
FRESH halibut tonight and FRESH salmon tomorrow!!!
Saturday, August 09, 2008
What a Wonderful Surprise Care Package
Yesterday when checking the mail, we had a package from my Sister. It was a very carefully wrapped fruit box. Upon opening it at home (luckily before dinner), we found 6 home grown, hand picked, perfectly ripe tomatoes. Thanks so much to Ginger for sending!
Boy are they tasty!!!
Too bad Robert will only get one or two - but that's the risk you take when you go hunting and leave the fresh tomatoes at the house!
Boy are they tasty!!!
Too bad Robert will only get one or two - but that's the risk you take when you go hunting and leave the fresh tomatoes at the house!
Friday, August 08, 2008
First Raspberries and tomatoes of the Year
Summer harvest is underway! We picked 4 (yes four) raspberries last night and 2 cherry tomatoes this morning. It dawned clear and cool (42) this morning which is a nice change from cloudy and drizzle.
Bow season for moose starts on Sunday. While Robert isn't a bow hunter, he is going out with a compadre who is. We spent last night getting him packed and ready to go. I think the expectation is to scout on Saturday and then pick one off on Sunday. Of course this means Squirt and I get to spend some quality time together!
Our State Legislature last night passed a resource rebate for every person eligible for the PFD (Permanent Fund Dividend) this year. Luckily, Robert and I fall into that category!
Bow season for moose starts on Sunday. While Robert isn't a bow hunter, he is going out with a compadre who is. We spent last night getting him packed and ready to go. I think the expectation is to scout on Saturday and then pick one off on Sunday. Of course this means Squirt and I get to spend some quality time together!
Our State Legislature last night passed a resource rebate for every person eligible for the PFD (Permanent Fund Dividend) this year. Luckily, Robert and I fall into that category!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Another Alaskan First!
In almost 2 years of living here, we finally had a thunderstorm, a true rainstorm and HAIL. I was just sure that never happened here. Of course now the temps are in the 50's but it was nice to once again have thunder and lightning. Too bad it didn't happen at night!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Time to Squirrel Away Nuts!
Or in our case - fish! Yesterday we were fishing out of Willow, AK and caught 4 very pretty silver salmon - limiting out for that area. Another 14 lbs for the freezer! Total fish stored so far - 37 lbs. And in 2 weeks we go to Seward to fish for both halibut and silver salmon again.
Next weekend, Robert is going moose hunting. Hopefully this year, they get one to share!
On the political front here...our newspaper continues to read like a soap opera right now. After starting last year with a big corruption investigation over some legislative members taking bribes from a corporation, we now have one of our longest serving senators (over 40 years?) being indicted for not reporting what are probably considered gifts from a corporation whose former CEO was part of the above mentioned investigation. Plus, our Governor (elected in part to clean up all of the corruption) is now under investigation for abuse of office power and to top it off, the State Legislature just past a bill that competes directly with the major oil producers. (OK - that last item isn't so much part of the soap opera. It just sets the stage for an interesting couple of years to see how it plays out.)
Never a dull moment here!
Next weekend, Robert is going moose hunting. Hopefully this year, they get one to share!
On the political front here...our newspaper continues to read like a soap opera right now. After starting last year with a big corruption investigation over some legislative members taking bribes from a corporation, we now have one of our longest serving senators (over 40 years?) being indicted for not reporting what are probably considered gifts from a corporation whose former CEO was part of the above mentioned investigation. Plus, our Governor (elected in part to clean up all of the corruption) is now under investigation for abuse of office power and to top it off, the State Legislature just past a bill that competes directly with the major oil producers. (OK - that last item isn't so much part of the soap opera. It just sets the stage for an interesting couple of years to see how it plays out.)
Never a dull moment here!
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