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<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0' gd:etag='W/"DkIER3s6fyp7ImA9WhRUGE0."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173</id><updated>2012-01-28T17:35:06.517-09:00</updated><category term='teamwork'/><category term='Motorcycle'/><category term='NASCAR'/><category term='KLM'/><category term='Diarrhea'/><category term='Buzzwinkle'/><category term='Debates'/><category term='Oprah'/><category term='Volcano'/><category term='Nitty Gritty Dirt Band'/><category term='Homer'/><category term='Dogs'/><category term='Earhart'/><category term='Alarm Clock'/><category term='Mount Redoubt'/><category term='Oil Spill'/><category term='Nome'/><category term='Beer'/><category term='Israel'/><category term='Comedy'/><category term='Poop'/><category term='Actor'/><category term='Integrity'/><category term='Richard Pryor'/><category term='Risky Business'/><category term='Obedience'/><category term='Crash'/><category term='home remedy'/><category term='Hell'/><category term='Jaws'/><category term='Selawik'/><category term='Calm'/><category term='Tony Robbins'/><category term='Tow Kiting'/><category term='Halloween'/><category term='Atlanta'/><category term='Logan's Run'/><category term='Amazing Race'/><category term='Almost Famous'/><category term='Humor'/><category term='Solstice'/><category term='Hubby'/><category term='Permanent Fund'/><category term='Youth'/><category term='Mushers'/><category term='Crap'/><category term='Grandkids'/><category term='Paul Newman'/><category term='Kotzebue'/><category term='Holidays'/><category term='weather'/><category term='Gaming'/><category term='Charlie Vandegaw'/><category term='T. 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term='Moyes'/><category term='Safety'/><category term='KTVA 11'/><category term='Enema'/><category term='Twitter'/><category term='Reality'/><category term='Traffic'/><category term='McCain'/><category term='Clark W. Griswold'/><category term='Ricky Bobby'/><category term='Lonesome Dove'/><category term='Lost'/><category term='David Letterman'/><category term='Northern Lights'/><category term='Family'/><category term='Coast Guard'/><category term='Birds'/><category term='Cell Phone'/><category term='Talladega'/><category term='KTUU 2'/><category term='Eagles'/><category term='Ear Hair'/><category term='Thanks'/><category term='marriage'/><category term='Security'/><category term='Nike'/><category term='Kenai'/><category term='Point Lay'/><category term='America'/><category term='Attitude'/><category term='Ron Jeremy'/><category term='Politics'/><category term='Recession'/><category term='Seattle'/><category term='Big Brother'/><category term='Bailout'/><category term='Rain'/><category term='Auto Racing'/><category term='Food'/><category term='Caribou'/><category term='Mushing'/><category term='Aurora Borealis'/><category term='Alaskan Amber'/><category term='Writing'/><category term='Hot Tub'/><category term='Toilet'/><category term='Brain Fart'/><category term='Blogger.com'/><category term='Horizon Sun'/><category term='Religion'/><category term='Osama'/><category term='Kipnuk'/><category term='Bill Clinton'/><category term='Olympics'/><category term='women'/><category term='Seward'/><category term='Television. Relationships'/><category term='Gus McCrea'/><category term='Target'/><category term='Music'/><category term='Kodiak Island'/><category term='Jack Nicholson'/><category term='Attic'/><category term='Snowman'/><category term='Art'/><category term='Bligh Reef'/><category term='Alligator'/><category term='Larry King'/><category term='Cancun'/><category term='Kelly Preston'/><category term='Blogging'/><category term='Red Paperclip'/><category term='Preparation H'/><category term='Christian Bale'/><category term='Neil Young'/><category term='Survivor'/><category term='Hang Gliding'/><category term='Robert Duvall'/><category term='Driving'/><category term='Jay Leno'/><category term='Ass'/><category term='Auto Bailout'/><category term='Haiti'/><category term='Survivor: Gabon'/><category term='Stupidity'/><category term='Senator'/><category term='Fall'/><category term='snow'/><category term='Training'/><category term='Feather'/><category term='NASA'/><category term='Grillin''/><category term='Texting'/><category term='Moose'/><category term='Character'/><category term='Sarah Palin'/><category term='Ice'/><title>Icewind's Ramblings</title><subtitle type='html'>Icewind’s Ramblings takes a look at the oddities in life through humor, stories, and observations on the human condition. It can cover almost anything and is seen through the eyes of a Southerner who now lives in Alaska experiencing life from a “Northern Exposure”. Laughter and a smile is the best medicine for the long dark winter nights in this wonderful world.
Southern by Birth, Alaskan by the Grace of God.
I enjoy flying, fishing, &amp; camping.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default?redirect=false&v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default?start-index=26&max-results=25&redirect=false&v=2'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>1007</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry gd:etag='W/"C0EDQnc5eSp7ImA9WhRUFkk."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-6423695673695847641</id><published>2012-01-26T20:21:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-26T20:21:13.921-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-26T20:21:13.921-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Honor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Flying'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='weather'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Coast Guard'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Military'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Kodiak Island'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Arctic'/><title>Alaska Coast Guard Rescue</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Highlights from Anchorage Daily News of Coast Guard Video of the rescue of 4 people whose boat had grounded on rocks and this rescue helicopter crew hoisted them from the ice in Portage Bay.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is another great example of the selflessness of our military going above to keep us safe.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We have had temperatures well below zero for almost a month now so this rescue had to be in some pretty extreme conditions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35725543?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div><a href="http://vimeo.com/35725543">Air Station Kodiak rescues 4 from Kimberly</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4779589">anchoragedailynews</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is our Alaska Coast Guard at work, there are men and women in all branches of the military who give of themselves each and everyday so we may be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Keep them in your prayers and when you see these great people in or out of uniform, give them your thanks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We salute you for all that you do, for your professionalism and honor in performing your mission.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-6423695673695847641?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/6423695673695847641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=6423695673695847641' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6423695673695847641?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6423695673695847641?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/alaska-coast-guard-rescue.html' title='Alaska Coast Guard Rescue'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"Ak4GQH4_fSp7ImA9WhRUFEs."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-8689270912826440097</id><published>2012-01-24T20:22:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-24T20:22:01.045-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-24T20:22:01.045-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Bailout'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Clueless'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Economy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Politics'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Elections'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Recession'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='teamwork'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Obama'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Deliverance'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Military'/><title>State of the Union . . . WTF?</title><content type='html'><div class="MsoNormal">It was an interesting State of the Union speech tonight . . .<br />
Wrap things in the American Flag, throw in our great military men &amp; women, and add some things about unity and greatness . . . we must be doing pretty damn good right now.<br />
<br />
I'll probably blog about it but let's see . . . 3 years of promises, out of control spending on borrowed dollars, massive unemployment . . . <br />
<br />
I thought it was a fairly confrontational speech going after the partisan other side.&nbsp; It made a direct reference to Mitt Romney’s 15% taxes and used the charisma of his speaking abilities to ask American for a second chance.&nbsp; It seemed like he was saying I have for the most part pissed away the last three years but hey look, the economy might be in a small rebound so give it another look.&nbsp; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am sure the young will get all worked up in the same vein that John Kennedy’s speaking did for a nation so many years ago.&nbsp; The problem is that time period is long gone and the world is so much different now.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The shovel ready projects that were supposed to kick start the economy did not do it except on a small scale.&nbsp; The “Cash for Clunkers” did nothing except take better built vehicles off to the scrap heaps and put more foreign made cars on the roads of America.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">America's political parties have grown more polarized. &nbsp;The “good old boys” in Washington are not playing well together on many fronts and those that want to downsize government are stopped in their tracks with ever expanding social programs.&nbsp; Democrats have moved somewhat to the left; Republicans have shifted many steps to the right as the data shows from political scientists who have analyzed congressional votes, issues positions and polling data.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I liked the contradiction of: “We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly one hundred years, and my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy.”&nbsp; This comes on the rejection of the pipeline across the U.S. which would have created thousands of jobs, helped the economy for many areas of the country.&nbsp; The same can be said about Alaska’s oil and gas and the massive amounts still in the ground here and just off shore.&nbsp; This administration talks a good game but has not moved forward in relieving our energy crisis in this country.&nbsp; Gas prices in Alaska where we have all this natural resource is still hovering around $ 4 a gallon for unleaded and almost $ 7 in many of the villages I travel too around the state.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He ended the speech as it started . . . the military and its mission.&nbsp; They stay focused on the task and let the differences between people and personalities fall to the wayside while they accomplish the goal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Honorable thoughts but it comes at a time when we were promised so much more but turned into another lackluster follow through on what was promised but never delivered.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many things sounded so good but that is just a credit to his oration skills, what the reality is the each of us is a failing economy, mortgage market in ruins, banks bailed out with our money (and no one going to jail in either of those debacles), a dwindling retirement program and a society lost without the true leadership from all party affiliations.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I want to believe that things are getting better but wrapping it up in the American Flag and our selfless military is just another smoke and mirrors to reality.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My rating on the speech . . . it sounded good, made us feel good about some things (military), made more promises yet to be delivered and sounded like more of the same big spending what we don’t have, more give away programs keeping people from getting off their ass and working at anything to bring in a paycheck and made not real effort for non partisan politics.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It sounded all right but like my silent farts . . . once you look around once you get a whiff you go, “what that hell is that?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-8689270912826440097?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/8689270912826440097/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=8689270912826440097' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8689270912826440097?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8689270912826440097?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/state-of-union-wtf.html' title='State of the Union . . . WTF?'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DUYBQ3s5fSp7ImA9WhRUEkQ."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-3433761612835902753</id><published>2012-01-22T20:39:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-22T20:39:12.525-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-22T20:39:12.525-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><title>Attitude . . . I am still depositing.</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">A little story for you to ponder. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, she was provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room . . . just wait." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged . . . it's how I arrange my mind. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I already decided to love it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away . . . just for this time in my life. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Old age is like a bank account. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>You withdraw from what you've put in . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am still depositing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-3433761612835902753?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/3433761612835902753/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=3433761612835902753' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3433761612835902753?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3433761612835902753?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/attitude-i-am-still-depositing.html' title='Attitude . . . I am still depositing.'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DkQCRHYyfip7ImA9WhRUEEk."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-4264838276254334520</id><published>2012-01-19T22:26:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-19T22:26:05.896-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-19T22:26:05.896-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaskan Amber'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Facebook'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Comedy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>Newspaper Headlines . . . You can’t make this shit up!</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Funny headlines from the newspapers that make you go what the heck . . . and then the laughter sets in bringing that little smile to your face.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4156/headao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4156/headao.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You wonder if the editors get burned out in looking at story after story and miss something or if they catch it and decide to let this or that one slip by to give the readers a little chuckle or find that little gem waiting inside the paper.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/268/armyvehicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/268/armyvehicle.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes the obvious really does not make much sense when it is put this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It makes you want to ask, Duh dummy, I know that.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8422/fishneedwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8422/fishneedwater.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In our lives we see and hear many things that make us want to say, I should write this stuff down because you cannot make this shit up . . . well I think you could but the reality of things is sometimes funnier or more absurd than one might imagine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-4264838276254334520?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/4264838276254334520/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=4264838276254334520' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4264838276254334520?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4264838276254334520?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/newspaper-headlines-you-cant-make-this.html' title='Newspaper Headlines . . . You can’t make this shit up!'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"CEYFR344eSp7ImA9WhRVGUk."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-6784128115875973578</id><published>2012-01-18T18:01:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-18T18:01:56.031-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-18T18:01:56.031-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><title>Life Observation # 148 . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">If you can't be kind . . . </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">at least have the decency to be vague.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-6784128115875973578?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/6784128115875973578/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=6784128115875973578' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6784128115875973578?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6784128115875973578?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-observation-148.html' title='Life Observation # 148 . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DUEBRXs8cSp7ImA9WhRVFE4."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-4776769997526536817</id><published>2012-01-12T21:54:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-12T21:54:14.579-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-12T21:54:14.579-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><title>Life Observation # 147</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Life Observation # 147&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A man's home is his castle . . . </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">in a manor of speaking.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-4776769997526536817?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/4776769997526536817/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=4776769997526536817' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4776769997526536817?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4776769997526536817?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-observation-147.html' title='Life Observation # 147'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"AkUBSX49fSp7ImA9WhRVE0k."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-829843110087183172</id><published>2012-01-11T21:04:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-11T21:04:18.065-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-11T21:04:18.065-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Motorcycle'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Animal Planet'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaskan Amber'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='teamwork'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Survivor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Birds'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>Harley? Nah!!</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">On the farm lived a chicken and a horse, both of whom loved to play together. One day the two were playing, when the horse fell into a bog and began to sink. Scared for his life, the horse whinnied for the chicken to go get the farmer for help!<br />
<br />
Off the chicken ran, back to the farm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Arriving at the farm, he searched and searched for the farmer, but to no avail, for he had gone to town with the only tractor.<br />
<br />
Running around, the chicken spied the farmer's new Harley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Finding the keys in the ignition, the chicken sped off with a length of rope hoping he still had time to save his friend's life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Back at the bog, the horse was surprised, but happy, to see the chicken arrive on the shiny Harley, and he managed to get a hold of the loop of rope the chicken tossed to him. After tying the other end to the rear bumper of the farmer's bike, the chicken then drove slowly forward and, with the aid of the powerful bike, rescued the horse! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Happy and proud, the chicken rode the Harley back to the farmhouse, and the farmer was none the wiser when he returned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The friendship between the two animals was cemented: Best Buddies, Best Pals.<br />
<br />
A few weeks later, the chicken fell into a mud pit, and soon, he too, began to sink and cried out to the horse to save his life! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The horse thought a moment, walked over, and straddled the large puddle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Looking underneath, he told the chicken to grab his hangy-down thing and he would then lift him out of the pit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The chicken got a good grip, and the horse pulled him up and out, saving his life.<br />
<br />
The moral of the story? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Yep, there's a moral!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">"When you're Hung like a Horse;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">you don't need a Harley to Pick up Chicks!"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="background-color: white; color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-829843110087183172?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/829843110087183172/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=829843110087183172' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/829843110087183172?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/829843110087183172?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/harley-nah.html' title='Harley? Nah!!'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"CEIESH4zeSp7ImA9WhRVEUo."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-5088378849923604639</id><published>2012-01-09T20:15:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-09T20:15:09.081-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-09T20:15:09.081-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wind'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Moon'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='weather'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='snow'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Beringer'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Arctic'/><title>Calm before the Storm . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Waking up this morning after a weekend of constant snowfall it was piled high as one would expect but overnight it was crystal clear with stars shining and an awesome full moon hanging above the horizon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The moon large on the western sky as I drove to work with temperatures dropping from 14 degrees last evening to about minus seven this morning.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My rig struggled to get warm by the time I made my short drive to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I had used my auto-start about 10 minutes before leaving home but with the cold temps it takes it a few miles to feel warm inside my auto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Work was a typical Monday with meetings, working through the logistical problems with getting material shipped to remote villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As the day wore on I needed to go to our shipping yard to look at a conex (big metal shipping container) that I was preparing to ship to my project in Larsen Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Today was clear, calm, and cold staying about minus 4 by mid afternoon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was the calm before the next storm expected to start arriving again after midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The approaching storm is expected to be bigger than the one just leaving and another is queued up out to see close to Japan and Hawaii heading this way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I finished my work at the yard and climbed the hill going back toward 5<sup>th</sup> Avenue heading east towards the Chugach Mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The setting sun was just starting to have the glow on the snow cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It would start with a bright orange and slowly start fading in intensity and hue going to a really beautiful pink color before fading into the grays before darkness sets in.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I drove the full moon was again rising over the Chugach making its way back into the afternoon sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>During this time of year the moon sets for a few hours making the path of its arc just below the visible horizon and after about 6 to 7 hours will rise again for it long night ride across the heavens.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s rising and setting brings with it a much large moon than normally seen in the summer months when it is farther away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is interesting to see for those brief couple of months the moon rising shortly before the sun sets in the western sky all within about a 20 minute period as one appears and the other vanishes from view.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Shortly or later tonight the clouds will roll in, temperatures will rise slightly and the winds will pick up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Blizzard conditions will again hit many areas of south central Alaska bringing more snow and possible wind damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It has been a tough winter already this season with another 3-4 months to go before we start to enjoy the beauty of springtime.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Much of the Lower 48 has not had the normal snowfall and many places that should have had plenty already are still barren with fall like temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There have been a few storms but this year seems to have given way to some of the bad Midwest storms in years past.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A beautiful day ends here, a nice glass of Beringer as I write this post and the expectations of a noisy night with the wind howling outside my windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>All in all not a bad day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-5088378849923604639?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/5088378849923604639/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=5088378849923604639' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5088378849923604639?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5088378849923604639?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/calm-before-storm.html' title='Calm before the Storm . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DUYGQ34zfCp7ImA9WhRVEEs."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-3872839045285605113</id><published>2012-01-08T14:58:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-08T14:58:42.084-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-08T14:58:42.084-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter driving'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='snow'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Driving'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><title>It’s Snowing and other odd thoughts</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">This morning before the late time of sunrise cast its bit of light across the city in the darkness all that was seen were the snowflakes coming down reflected in either the vehicle headlights or the street light glow of an eerie orange tint on the landscape. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was pretty quite outside with no one wandering around as I drove for coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The slow steady drive to meet friends saw only several vehicles out and about on this Sunday morning.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The city’s squads of snowplows were out in force along with the many private companies clearing out parking lots and driveways along my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The snow had been falling all night long in small flakes but had accumulated over 8 inches with it continuing to bring about 2” an hour.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I lived in Park City Utah on days like this you could feel the excitement in the air; we woke up to fresh snow on the ground and avalanche bombs shaking the house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The ski patrol shot off mortar shells onto the side of the mountains to bring the excess snow down in controlled avalanches to keep anyone from triggering one on themselves or other skiers or outdoor enthusiast who may have been on snowmachines in the outback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I thought those days would never come again with heavy snow over short periods of time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The darkness of morning turned into a gray wash of shades between a dark gray to a soft white as the visibility varied along my drive home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The evergreen trees were laden heavy with snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The winter wonderland described in many books was before me as I made my way around Cheney Lake a moose was walking around the edge of the lake eating the small branches off of the willow trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Content with no intrusions snow had covered almost all of the animals back with several inches of snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Only around the head had the moose made any attempt to brush the snow away.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">While I was away our snowplow guy had cleared the driveway and pushed the extra snow that had build up and the snow since he came by had built up another two inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is a good day to kick back, enjoy the snowfall and catch up on those things that may have gotten put off during the busy week.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-3872839045285605113?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/3872839045285605113/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=3872839045285605113' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3872839045285605113?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3872839045285605113?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-snowing-and-other-odd-thoughts.html' title='It’s Snowing and other odd thoughts'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"CUYNQHs-eSp7ImA9WhRWGE8."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-8008397854693538695</id><published>2012-01-05T19:13:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-05T19:13:11.551-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-05T19:13:11.551-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaskan Amber'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Amazing Race'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>Submarine Races off the Alaskan Coast last summer</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">We’ve had cold temperatures below zero for a couple weeks now and it is slowly warming up (to about 5 degrees) as we are getting some snow this afternoon and tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is nice to see the flakes floating around as day turned to nightfall giving things a soft glow from the street lights.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am glad this is a short week as everyone at work seems to not be into things or it is taking a little longer to get into the rhythm of the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>To think back to an event in warmer times I thought I would share this with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is some pretty awesome pictures from last fall @ the 2011 World Submarine racing Championships in the Gulf of Alaska.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s pretty neat if you like submarines and with all of the water activities here during the summer months it seemed like a natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As Jimmy Buffett says, “This one is for all of us with a little pirate in them.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/623/watersubmarineraces.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, what did you really expect to see . . . it’s a submarine race . . . </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now how about a little smile . . . </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-8008397854693538695?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/8008397854693538695/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=8008397854693538695' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8008397854693538695?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8008397854693538695?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/submarine-races-off-alaskan-coast-last.html' title='Submarine Races off the Alaskan Coast last summer'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"A08MQHg6fip7ImA9WhRWF04."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-5376304960298705625</id><published>2012-01-04T20:04:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-04T20:04:41.616-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-04T20:04:41.616-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blogging'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><title>Life Observation # 146 It's a Good Day When . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">All the voices in your head decide to play on the same team.<br />
<br />
This is a joke we've all heard before and it's funny, it really is . . . <br />
<br />
However, with most humor, the reason it is funny . . . is because it's true.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When people see me and I’m smiling . . . I just think funny things to uplift my </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">day!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-5376304960298705625?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/5376304960298705625/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=5376304960298705625' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5376304960298705625?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5376304960298705625?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-observation-146-its-good-day-when.html' title='Life Observation # 146 It's a Good Day When . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"C0QHRX09eSp7ImA9WhRWFkg."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-265101216174992743</id><published>2012-01-03T19:28:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-03T19:28:54.361-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-03T19:28:54.361-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Writing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Comedy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Family'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Clueless'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Beer'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Facebook'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blogging'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='relationships'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blog'/><title>Ice's 10 rules of dating my daughters . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">I ran across this older post on my gaming board, The Amazon Basin and it gave me a chuckle on parenting and children coming of age and dating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I thought I would post on my blog so others may gain insight into their own experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This was written in 2006 and brought with it several events that have run full circle now in my family’s life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Enjoy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">As my youngest daughter has grown up and started dating it has become apparent that I needed to break out the rules again for dating my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Before the holidays I had a strange thing that happened and wanted to share it with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">On one of the weekends before the Thanksgiving holiday some little girls stopped by the house to sell some gift wrapping paper for a school project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This happens every year and talking with the neighbors kids was nice seeing how they were doing and what was happening in their school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One of the young girls asked me if we could get the car that parked at the edge of our property to move it a little as it blocked the trail the kids use across the property as a shortcut to walk to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They walk in the snow in below zero temperatures uphill both ways so it was not a problem for them to ask.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">I stated that I believed the vehicle belonged to the house on the other side of the road and up on the hill. (I figured they were parking there since with the snowfall it was easier than going up the hill).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I had not seen this vehicle so I did not know who it belonged to but figured it must be the neighbors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">The following week one of my neighbors saw me outside putting up lights for the holidays and stopped to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I had not met this neighbor yet so I thought he was stopping to invite me to a neighborhood meeting about upcoming snow plowing and maintenance of our road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">The conversation started out with him saying, “If it was me and the situations were reversed I would want you to stop and talk to me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now when a conversation starts off that way you are not really sure where it is going to go from that point so I am intrigued and also apprehensive at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He goes on to tell me that several nights ago he was walking his dog pretty late in the evening and as he walks up the road there is a small car parked at the end of my property next to the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My mind jumps back to the conversation with the little girls and I want to say that it is probably the neighbor’s vehicle across from us on the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">I was jolted back to the reality of his conversation when he starts telling me that as he was walking his dog the vehicle pulled up and parked and a “boy” had gotten out and walked toward my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As he walked by the front of the house he could now see the “boy” climbing into my daughter’s bedroom window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">He wanted to let me know and return the favor if I should ever see something going on at his house a couple houses away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We chatted for a couple more minutes then it was time to find out what the hell was going on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Needless to say it was time again to post my rules for dating my girls.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;"><br />
<br />
Rule One: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>If you pull into my driveway and honk, you'd better be delivering a package . . . because you're not picking anything up. <br />
<br />
Rule Two: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off my daughter's body, I will remove them. <br />
<br />
Rule Three: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys your age to wear their trousers so loose that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open-minded about this issue, so I will propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric stapler and fasten your trousers securely in place. <br />
<br />
Rule Four: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, having sex without using a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate: when it comes to sex with my daughter, I am the barrier and I am the one who will do the killing. <br />
<br />
Rule Five: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It is generally understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only answer I need from you on this subject is "Early." <br />
<br />
Rule Six: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I have no doubt that you are a popular fellow with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry. <br />
<br />
Rule Seven: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you stand in my front hallway waiting for my daughter to appear, even if more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the proposed Gravina Island Bridge (Alaska’s Bridge to Nowhere). Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful like changing the oil in my truck or shoveling my driveway? <br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Rule Eight: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp; </span>The following locations are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her throat. Movies with strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies which feature chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks' homes are better. <br />
<br />
Rule Nine: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a pot bellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless God of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I have a shovel and two and a half acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me. <br />
<br />
Rule Ten: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Be afraid. Be very afraid. The voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, and then return to your car. There is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Thanksgiving, Christmas, and her birthday are the only exceptions.<br />
<br />
<br />
These are the rules I propose if you want to date my daughter. I do not bend, I will not waiver . . . <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">Oh yeah,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">About the climbing into the bedroom window . . .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;;">I’ll just save that for another story.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan;">Ice</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-265101216174992743?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/265101216174992743/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=265101216174992743' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/265101216174992743?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/265101216174992743?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/ices-10-rules-of-dating-my-daughters.html' title='Ice's 10 rules of dating my daughters . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"Ak4EQH48eSp7ImA9WhRWFUs."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-5482019588178595751</id><published>2012-01-02T20:35:00.006-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-02T20:35:01.071-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-02T20:35:01.071-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Writing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Debates'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blogging'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Economy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Politics'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Elections'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><title>Election thoughts</title><content type='html'><div class="MsoNormal">America is all about celebrating our freedoms and differences.&nbsp; I believe the American people are getting wiser. &nbsp;I hope so anyway, and I'm sure that there are those that would beg to differ, and that's ok, too.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Here's the thing that you have to realize during this election process. &nbsp;Any candidate for the Presidency must raise a shitload of money in order to get the job. &nbsp;That's just a fact.&nbsp; It has been that way for many years now and probably will not change anytime soon even with the revisions in elections laws.<br />
<br />
Another fact this is often missed by the public is that the candidate owes these people for contributing enough to get him or her elected.<br />
<br />
I would like a list of donors from each candidate before the elections are done. &nbsp;I think that would actually be a better way to tell who to vote for.&nbsp; It shows more of the people and special interest groups and how much they are willing to pay to have a certain side in office.<br />
<br />
Those are the people that the potential President is going to be working for. You cannot accumulate that much money and not owe somebody. &nbsp;I'd just like to know who they owe.<br />
<br />
Seriously, this whole shindig is getting damned ridiculous.<br />
<br />
None of the potential candidates out there has a clue about you or me. &nbsp;None of them has had to worry about money in their lives, not lately anyways. &nbsp;None of them has ever had to decide between food, electricity and possibly which bill is put off paying until the next paycheck comes in.<br />
<br />
These people don't even think twice about spending . . . taking your money and then spending it on something else entirely. &nbsp;It matters not to them how you are going to come up with the money for this free health care. &nbsp;It matters not to them that the price of food has doubled in the last year or that gas and energy prices are through the roof.<br />
<br />
These people that we are about to be elected . . . no matter who they are . . . regardless of party affiliation are so out of touch with the American people, that they might as well be in another galaxy altogether.<br />
<br />
Somebody in the chain is greedy . . . that much I know, as well. &nbsp;Why does it cost so much for the candidates to have their debates on television. &nbsp;In this day and age . . . with technology what it is that stuff should be way cheaper? &nbsp;But it's not.<br />
<br />
That's not to say you shouldn't vote. &nbsp;You should, by all means. &nbsp;I just don't expect it to make a real difference for a few more years. &nbsp;We have to keep voting for new folks during the mid term elections, and eventually we'll weed out all the old faces.&nbsp; Hopefully some new faces with new ideas will come forward to serve and lead us out of this mess we are in now.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-5482019588178595751?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/5482019588178595751/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=5482019588178595751' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5482019588178595751?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5482019588178595751?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/election-thoughts.html' title='Election thoughts'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"Dk8HRn0-cSp7ImA9WhRWFUs."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-5559803789578554746</id><published>2012-01-02T19:27:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-02T19:27:17.359-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-02T19:27:17.359-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Writing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brain Fart'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Gaming'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blogging'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blog'/><title>Sometimes . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Well, damn. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I accidentally hit "enter" right after I typed the dang title to this thing and so some of you are just going to hit a blank spot until I get it done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the meantime, I think I've lost the thought of what I was going to say and I'm hoping that by typing it will come to me . . . nope . . . damn.<br />
<br />
Yeah, pretty much, I just don't feel like blogging tonight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I think I will fix some dinner, kick back and play about an hour of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_II:_Wings_of_Liberty">Starcraft 2</a> and watch Hawaii Five-0.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Maybe it will come to me then.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-5559803789578554746?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/5559803789578554746/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=5559803789578554746' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5559803789578554746?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/5559803789578554746?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/sometimes.html' title='Sometimes . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"CUIFRX45cSp7ImA9WhRWFEU."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-1438664711545873023</id><published>2012-01-01T20:51:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2012-01-01T20:51:54.029-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2012-01-01T20:51:54.029-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Holidays'/><title>Illusion</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Yeah, I know . . . just the right time of year. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was sitting here today trying to figure out what my first post of 2012 was going to be and this theme kept coming back to me as the day wore on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What is it you ask? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It struck me, though, that it's all an illusion. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The people we are surrounded by . . . all of that . . . it's all an illusion. Not real. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What is real is that we are all utterly and completely alone with no one to rely upon but ourselves. And, strangely enough, that's the only truth that matters. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All the rest . . . are just mirrors to perfect the illusion . . . the illusion of being connected.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Welcome to the New Year; may you seek the things that interest you, find your way through this maze called life and at the end of the day find joy.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-1438664711545873023?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/1438664711545873023/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=1438664711545873023' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/1438664711545873023?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/1438664711545873023?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/illusion.html' title='Illusion'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"CkcAQHg8fCp7ImA9WhRWE0o."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-6602276082815791657</id><published>2011-12-31T13:20:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-31T13:20:41.674-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-31T13:20:41.674-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>New Year’s Celebrations Be Prepared for it!</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Only a person in Alaska would think of this!<br />
<br />
From the city of Anchorage where drunk driving used to be considered a sport in our time, comes this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a bar in Anchorage, Alaska.<br />
<br />
After last call the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated <br />
that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>After what seemed an eternity in which he tried his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car and fall into it. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.<br />
<br />
Finally, he started the car, switched the wipers on and off . . . it was a fine, <br />
lightly snowing night . . . flicked the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patrons' vehicles left.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
At last, when his was the only car left in the parking lot, he pulled out <br />
and drove slowly down the road.<br />
<br />
The police officer, having waited patiently all this time, now started up <br />
his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and <br />
administered a Breathalyzer test. To his amazement, the Breathalyzer <br />
indicated no evidence that the man had consumed any alcohol at all!<br />
<br />
Dumbfounded, the officer said, "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the <br />
police station. This Breathalyzer equipment must be broken."<br />
<br />
"I doubt it," said the truly proud Alaskan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;"Tonight I'm the designated decoy."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As you head out tonight to party and celebrate the New Year please drink responsibly, use a designated driver or decoy or use the many taxi’s available to take you home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The new law for even being detained for DUI is a mandatory 3 day stay in jail, not the way to start the New Year.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have fun, be safe, and if you take the kids out to the Fire &amp; Ice Fireworks display in Town Park remember to dress them warm as it is expected to be around zero to minus 5 degrees by then.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Happy New Year everyone!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-6602276082815791657?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/6602276082815791657/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=6602276082815791657' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6602276082815791657?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/6602276082815791657?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-celebrations-be-prepared-for.html' title='New Year’s Celebrations Be Prepared for it!'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DEUDRX89eyp7ImA9WhRWE0w."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-4202835687078942487</id><published>2011-12-30T22:24:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-30T22:24:34.163-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-30T22:24:34.163-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Economy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Politics'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Recession'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Hope'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Facebook'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Television'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='relationships'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alarm Clock'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blog'/><title>Reflections on 2011</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">This morning I was watching Today Show and they did a really good piece looking back at this past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It covered almost any topic you can think of from world events, economy, sports, celebrities, deaths, and it was beautifully done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I came away with several thoughts about the video and also about my own year in review.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The most striking thing that jumped out at me was how much chaos and trouble there is all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The many conflicts going on in so many different regions and how they never seem to be resolved and continue year after year.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The natural disasters that happened this past year seem almost unprecedented with the numerous earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and droughts to affect so many countries and people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One could almost think the ‘end of times’ was marching quickly and everyone needs to take a look at their lives and how they are living it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is an interesting ‘what if’ thought process when you look at what the Bible says and see these things coming to fruition in our time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our world’s economy finally broke down to showcase to the world and it leaders that man’s greed has to be dealt with to keep the banking and housing markets stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I found it interesting that with all of the big companies pulling off massive fraud schemes that no one has really gone to jail for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Bernie Madoff but that was a totally different situation as it highlighted many people hoping to get “something for nothing” and when all was said and done Bernie and his crew took it and never looked back at the people they swindled the money from.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the sports world we lost many things . . . Trust being one of the biggest ones with the scandals at Penn State and the past findings of steroid use among many players in several sports among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is a sad situation where our national past times can be wrecked by the actions and lack of action by people within the different sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Children are not safe anymore trying to play the games of our youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sportsmanship seems to be a word that looses some of its awe and wonder as kids today look at the ‘money &amp; prestige’ that comes with playing sports and not for the love of the game like when we were children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We lost a few this year, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, Al Davis, Harmon Killebrew, and one of my favorite golfer’s Seve Ballesterous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A few weeks ago we lost Indycar driver Dan Wheldon in an unfortunate crash that possibly could have been prevented.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">2011 was another crazy year for celebrities with the Schwarzenegger love child coming to light after all these years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We had the Bieber baby scandal or was it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Everyone seemed to enjoy Charlie Sheen’s meltdown which started out entertaining and moved quickly past ridicules to just sad how someone with a hit television show could get so full of oneself and throw it all way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Popular singer Amy Winehouse pulled a Janis Joplin and left the party early and the Michael Jackson death trial of his doctor Conrad Murray came to its logical conclusion with his conviction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He showed no remorse for his actions in facilitating Jackson’s repeated requests for more drugs. And how could we not end the celebrity look back without saying Kim who?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There were too many to list of those who have gone on ahead but some of the ones that have been around during my life and gave us pleasure over the years with their craft were in no particular order; Liz Taylor, Peter Falk, Harry Morgan, James Arness, and Andy Rooney along with those previously mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Like many of us I lost several friends this year who will linger in our hearts and memories of the great times we had.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For a lot of people the year 2011 will not be remembered as a particularly good year as the economy has hit many with hard times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Work whether finding it or keeping it has been difficult all over this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You tend to work harder for those lucky to have jobs and for those looking there is not much out there until the economy gets better. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For me it was a year of transition as my family is scattered all over the country with my children out finding their way in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am proud of them all as they seem to be coming into their own with the decisions they are making and the paths they are taking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have come out of a long relationship so finding my way has been quite different from what seemed so normal and expected.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can hope for everyone out there that the New Year brings with it a positive, productive year with many blessings and joys that may not have come with this last one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Our hopeful confidence is that there is more to life than meets the eye, that there is a purpose to our existence, and that history is unfolding to its’ glorious conclusion.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">May 2012 wash away the aches and pains of 2011 and with the winds of change bring forth a renewed spirit to each and every one of us and the lines upon my face are from a lifetime of smiles.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God Bless everyone and lets all have a great year!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-4202835687078942487?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/4202835687078942487/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=4202835687078942487' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4202835687078942487?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4202835687078942487?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/reflections-on-2011.html' title='Reflections on 2011'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"A0cMQHYyfSp7ImA9WhRWEEk."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-3591400921180539686</id><published>2011-12-27T20:11:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-27T20:11:21.895-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-27T20:11:21.895-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Family'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Bah Humbug'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Holidays'/><title>"The Power of Positive Thinking"</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">I wanted to get my three daughters a little something for Christmas to put some positive thoughts to events over the last couple of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In Anchorage we had a nice large Barnes and Nobel bookstore that has a coffee shop and a nice sitting area to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It can be found with quite a few people hanging out and enjoying a good book or a cup of java.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I love coffee so decided I would stop for a cup while I was trying to do my Christmas shopping.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wanted to send my daughters a positive book that has always given me food for thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is called <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/norman_vincent_peale.html">"The Power of Positive Thinking"</a> by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My thoughts were everyone can always use that little lift from a positive attitude and sharing that feeling with others around you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being the good father I wanted to boost these young women's spirit and help them get through the tough times away from family many miles away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My thought process was I wanted to spout all this positive stuff how they can continue to grow and mature as women coming into their own when I walk up to one of the clerks standing behind a counter.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I'm smiling my best Southern smile and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yep. Merry Fricken Christmas is what I felt from her, so much for a father trying to give support and wisdom.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I gave up on that idea and went in another direction. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can only say that one negative person can bring down a room full of positive people if you let them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-3591400921180539686?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/3591400921180539686/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=3591400921180539686' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3591400921180539686?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/3591400921180539686?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-of-positive-thinking.html' title='"The Power of Positive Thinking"'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DUUESXw7eip7ImA9WhRXF0U."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-8421988097229214739</id><published>2011-12-24T19:26:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-24T19:26:48.202-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-24T19:26:48.202-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Honor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Veterans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Almost Famous'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Christmas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Holidays'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Hope'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Thanks'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blogging'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Day Light'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Military'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Blog'/><title>Christmas Truce</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I had posted this in 2007 and thought it appropriate to re-post again this year and with FaceBook now in the forefront it can go around once again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In our troubling times that we live today and the uncertainties that face many peoples and nations, I am reminded of an earlier time in a place called “No Man’s Land” during World War I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>During that time an act of humanity happened that went beyond rank and reason . . . and so . . . <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce">Christmas Truce</a> . . . </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">* The truce began on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve" title="Christmas Eve">Christmas Eve</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_24" title="December 24">December 24</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914" title="1914">1914</a>, when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army" title="German Army">German troops</a> began decorating the area around their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_warfare" title="Trench warfare">trenches</a> in the region of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypres" title="Ypres">Ypres</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a>, for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas">Christmas</a>. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carol" title="Christmas carol">Christmas carols</a>, most notably <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night_%28song%29" title="Silent Night (song)">Stille Nacht</a></i> (<i>Silent Night</i>). The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army">British troops</a> in the trenches across from them responded by singing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a> carols.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_man%27s_land" title="No man's land">No Man's Land</a>" where small gifts were exchanged — <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky" title="Whisky">whisky</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam" title="Jam">jam</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar" title="Cigar">cigars</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate" title="Chocolate">chocolate</a>, and the like. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">artillery</a> in the region fell silent that night. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_23" title="Psalm 23">23rd Psalm</a>:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Christmas Truce Letter</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_7" title="November 7">November 7</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>, singer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_de_Burgh" title="Chris de Burgh">Chris de Burgh</a> paid £14,400 at Bonhams auction house for an original 10 page letter from an unknown British soldier that records events and incidents with the Germans on that night describing "the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent".</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The letter begins:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This will be the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent or likely to spend: since about tea time yesterday I don't think theres been a shot fired on either side up to now. Last night turned a very clear frost moonlight night, so soon after dusk we had some decent fires going and had a few carols and songs. The Germans commenced by placing lights all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to us—wishing us a Happy Christmas etc. They also gave us a few songs etc. so we had quite a social party. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Several of them can speak English very well so we had a few conversations. Some of our chaps went to over to their lines. I think theyve all come back bar one from 'E' Co. They no doubt kept him as a souvenir. In spite of our fires etc. it was terribly cold and a job to sleep between look out duties, which are two hours in every six.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">First thing this morning it was very foggy. So we stood to arms a little longer than usual. A few of us that were lucky could go to Holy Communion early this morning. It was celebrated in a ruined farm about 500 yds behind us. I unfortunately couldn't go. There must be something in the spirit of Christmas as to day we are all on top of our trenches running about. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whereas other days we have to keep our heads well down. We had breakfast about 8.0 which went down alright especially some cocoa we made. We also had some of the post this morning. I had a parcel from B. G's Lace Dept containing a sweater, smokes, under clothes etc. We also had a card from the Queen, which I am sending back to you to look after please. After breakfast we had a game of football at the back of our trenches! We've had a few Germans over to see us this morning. They also sent a party over to bury a sniper we shot in the week. He was about a 100 yds from our trench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A few of our fellows went out and helped to bury him.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">About 10.30 we had a short church parade the morning service etc. held in the trench. How we did sing. 'O come all ye faithful. And While shepherds watched their flocks by night' were the hymns we had. At present we are cooking our Christmas Dinner! so will finish this letter later.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dinner is over! and well we enjoyed it. Our dinner party started off with fried bacon and dip-bread: followed by hot Xmas Pudding. I had a mascot in my piece. Next item on the menu was muscatels and almonds, oranges, bananas, chocolate etc followed by cocoa and smokes. You can guess we thought of the dinners at home. Just before dinner I had the pleasure of shaking hands with several Germans: a party of them came 1/2way over to us so several of us went out to them. I exchanged one of my balaclavas for a hat. I've also got a button off one of their tunics. We also exchanged smokes etc. and had a decent chat. They say they won't fire tomorrow if we don't so I suppose we shall get a bit of a holiday—perhaps. After exchanging autographs and them wishing us a Happy New Year we departed and came back and had our dinner.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We can hardly believe that we've been firing at them for the last week or two—it all seems so strange. At present its freezing hard and everything is covered with ice…</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The letter ends:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There are plenty of huge shell holes in front of our trenches, also pieces of shrapnel to be found. I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we've enjoyed? our Christmas. Hoping you spend a happy time also George Boy as well. How we thought of England during the day. Kind regards to all the neighbours. With much love from Boy.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Men!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: cyan;">Ice</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* Wikipedia – Christmas Truce</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-8421988097229214739?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/8421988097229214739/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=8421988097229214739' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8421988097229214739?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/8421988097229214739?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-truce.html' title='Christmas Truce'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"D0cNQH05fyp7ImA9WhRXFk0."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-1037481952699712232</id><published>2011-12-22T16:51:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-22T16:51:31.327-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-22T16:51:31.327-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Comedy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wind'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='snow'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>Snowing again here in Anchorage</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">It started snowing heavily today giving us a fresh coating of beautiful white snow for the Holidays making sure we will have the story book “White Christmas”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It seems like it is nearly waist high and is continues to fall all afternoon and probably all night long. <br />
<br />
The temperature continues to drop and could be below zero tonight and the north wind is howling once again blowing snow all over the place and drifting in those nooks and crannies. <br />
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My ex-wife has done nothing but look through the living room window most of the day . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><br />
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if it gets much worse, I may have to let her in.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-1037481952699712232?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/1037481952699712232/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=1037481952699712232' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/1037481952699712232?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/1037481952699712232?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/snowing-again-here-in-anchorage.html' title='Snowing again here in Anchorage'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"Dk4CQHo9fip7ImA9WhRXFEg."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-141787568358456997</id><published>2011-12-20T23:09:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-20T23:09:21.466-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-20T23:09:21.466-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska Airlines'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Nome'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Flying'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Winter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Bush Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Kotzebue'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Era Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Selawik'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wind'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='snow'/><title>Flying Wild Alaska – A day in my life</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Traveling around Alaska with my job I have the pleasure/pain of flying all over the state in various aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Most days I have an early morning departure from the main Anchorage airport, Ted Stevens International Airport flying Alaska Airlines from my base in Anchorage to one of several ‘hub’ airports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It has been from the southern end of the Alaska in Ketchikan, Sitka, or Juneau to the “island”; Kodiak or out to the delta area of western Alaska to Bethel or Dillingham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>For my trips farther north it has been to Fairbanks, Barrow or Kotzebue in the arctic regions of the state.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once I arrive in a hub airport I go over to one of several smaller carriers which are the typical “bush” plane operations which may use both float planes and more conventional small aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Some carriers use turbine engine planes which carry more passengers or more cargo depending on the pilot’s mission for that particular flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Most days the pilot will make multiple flights either bringing people in and out with whatever cargo they have or they fill the plane with cargo of all sorts to take into the villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Cargo can range from the necessities of food, medicine, and parts to fix things to supplies for building things or items for the local ‘store’, items like diapers, food, clothing, and much, much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have seen everything including the kitchen sink being flown into the villages.</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Discovery Channel has a program running now called <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/flying-wild-alaska/">“FlyingWild Alaska”</a> which follows the Tweto family who own Era Aviation and the pilots who fly for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is entertaining and gives a unique look at life in rural Alaska. Check it out on your cable on the Discovery Channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>My work allows me to fly with many of the ‘bush’ pilots that fly in &amp; out of these small remote villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Some are featured on the show and yesterday I had two flights from Kotzebue with one of them, Sarah Fraher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yes she is a female pilot and well qualified flying in all sorts of weather.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">My day started out driving to the airport in medium snowfall leaving my house at 4 in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Anchorage was rather pretty with the lights all over the place as I drove through downtown on the way to the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Town Park aglow in lights with the falling snow was quite the sight.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Alaska Air left on time for Kotzebue and as we climbed to altitude the pilot came on briefly to give us the weather in Kotz and what was expected when we arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Other than that it was a pretty quiet flight up allowing those who wanted to sleep to have that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our approach to land had us flying out over Norton Sound landing to the East on runway 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Making the approach over the water you cannot see any lights or objects until you are making the touchdown, then it is a blur of blowing snow as the 737 jet reverses engines to stop the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Very few landings in Alaska are what would typically be found elsewhere (Lower 48) as the runways are narrow and shorter than most so many flights will use the engine reverse thrust mode after landing to quickly slow the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Many people here refer to them as “carrier” landings since it seems like with the quick stop it is similar to the cable landings on an aircraft carrier.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There were seven people from my company flying to Selawik to look at several projects going on or in the design stage for a future project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We headed from the terminal across the parking lot to the Era flight operations to check in for our flight to the native village of Selawik.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our pilot this morning was Sarah and we were flying in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_208_Caravan">Cessna 208B Caravan</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was blowing snow and about 18 degrees outside with the wind blowing about 25 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was dark (this area of Alaska only has about an hour and a half of daylight this time of year) and the flight over to Selawik was uneventful as we were loaded with eight on board and also the left side of the airplane’s seats were removed and was filled floor to ceiling with boxes for the store in Selawik which had not received any freight in over two weeks due to weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sarah and other bush pilots would ferry 5 or 6 more flights of cargo this day before we were to be picked up at 5:30 pm for our flight back to Kotzebue and the Alaska Air flight back to Anchorage.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We landed and were met by one of our water plant operators who drove one of us who recently had hip surgery just over a mile to the water plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The rest of us walked in the early morning snowfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We decided to walk across the river instead of climbing up and over the “Rainbow Bridge” which crosses from the airport area to the main village.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Walking across fresh snow and the blowing drifts were much like being on sand dunes except here at times you may sink up to your knees or more in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It can make for a tiring walk and quickly show you how out of shape you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Between trips to the airport and to inspect various areas where the different projects were being worked on I would guess I had walked about 5 miles in the somewhat deep snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was a good workout for sure.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The village was lit up nicely in several places with Christmas lights and a few trees could be seen in some of the houses which was nice to see in what one would think of a far away place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We broke into several groups where the design team started doing their work in the water plant, the construction group we inspected the work that had been accomplished before the holiday break and also attended meetings with the City and the Tribal administrations giving them updates on work completed, what was coming right after the new year and also future projects that had recently been funded scheduled for next summer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We came out of the City meeting around 12:40 pm just in time to “see the sun rise” and by the time we returned from looking at the utilidor project on the island the sun was setting about an hour later.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a busy day but everyone worked well in achieving all our goals for the day and we headed to the airport but the snowfall had increased and the wind was blowing about 45 to 50 knots feeling like little darts hitting you in the face as you walked towards the wind.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The runway had about 4 inches of fresh snow when the plane landed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was Sarah returning with a plane full of cargo and she told us our plane had turned back due to weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If we wanted to get out of the village tonight to have our baggage ready to load once the freight was off loaded so she could get back into the air as quickly as possible as the runway almost had too much snow without it being plowed to take off again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She used a short field technique to get the plane airborne quickly and out of the dense snow on the runway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The snowplow could not keep up with it between the flights that had come and gone bringing in much needed supplies to the village.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The hour flight back to Kotzebue was a rough bumpy ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The conditions were deteriorating and Sarah was concerned that icing would build up on the wings as she kept turning the landing lights on and off every few minutes to check to see what was building up on the wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As we approached the airport there were several planes flying toward the same point and as the blinking strobe lights in the darkness danced about it looked like we may all meet or cross paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I knew everyone was talking with each other on the radio and were all lining up for their landing approach but several of the people with me were not sure what was going on and you could see heads bobbing back and forth as they tried to look at the strobe lights on the other aircraft and figure out exactly where they were in the darkness in relation to our position.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All of the aircraft made their approaches and landed safely but there was laughter and story telling as each tried to explain what they thought was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Concern for some, a pretty light show for others and a couple people oblivious to it all trying to grab a quick nap since it had and was continuing to be a long day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There was no time to grab a meal before our Alaska Air flight landed so it was another no meal night for the return home to Anchorage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This was also a “Combi” flight which is a 737 with cargo pods up front with only the rear half of the cabin for passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This meant no first class upgrades for anyone of us so a pack of pretzels and coffee or cola was all that was on the dinner menu tonight.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The flight home has a stop over in Nome from Kotzebue so there is the delay sitting there while they off load passengers and then swap cargo pods and then board the new people going to Anchorage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We landed about 11:45 pm in another heavy snowfall making the walk from the plane to the terminal building both cold and interesting as everyone walked across the tarmac from the rear of the plane steps to the building.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Total effort for the day = leave the house at 4 am</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two Alaska Airlines 737 Combi flights</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two Era Cessna 208B flights</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two ATV rides in the village</div><div class="MsoNormal">½ of a Quizznos sandwich (gave the other half to one who left her food on a seat in Kotzebue)</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 – bottles of water</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 – bottle of Coca Cola</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 – Nutty Bar</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 – snack bags of pretzels</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anchorage – Kotzebue – Selawik – Kotzebue – Nome Anchorage</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arrive Anchorage = 11:45 pm</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arrive home after slow ride in beautiful snowfall = 12: 35 am</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Total work day = 20 hours 35 minutes</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Are we having fun yet?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-141787568358456997?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/141787568358456997/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=141787568358456997' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/141787568358456997?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/141787568358456997?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/flying-wild-alaska-day-in-my-life.html' title='Flying Wild Alaska – A day in my life'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DkAHRXk5cSp7ImA9WhRXEUU."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-4143415959627192591</id><published>2011-12-17T20:05:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-17T20:05:34.729-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-17T20:05:34.729-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Comedy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Clueless'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='men'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='women'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Lost'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brain Fart'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Facebook'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><title>Women’s English for Dummies (Men)</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Translation guide for the clueless</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Women's English <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>=<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Men’s Understanding of Women’s English</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>=<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No<br />
No <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Yes<br />
Maybe <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No<br />
We need <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I want . . . <br />
I am sorry <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You'll be sorry<br />
We need to talk <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You're in trouble.<br />
Sure, go ahead <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You'd better not.<br />
Do what you want <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You will pay for this later.<br />
I am not upset <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Of course I am upset, you moron!<br />
You're certainly attentive tonight <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>= <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Is sex all you ever think about?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope that helped!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-4143415959627192591?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/4143415959627192591/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=4143415959627192591' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4143415959627192591?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4143415959627192591?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/womens-english-for-dummies-men.html' title='Women’s English for Dummies (Men)'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"DUEAQXg-cCp7ImA9WhRQGUw."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-243767406812360802</id><published>2011-12-14T17:54:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-14T17:54:00.658-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-14T17:54:00.658-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wife'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Husband'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Clueless'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='relationships'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='marriage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Humor'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Funny'/><title>Random Thought . . . Ideal Marriage</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Ideal Marriage if there is such a thing could have been the first one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-243767406812360802?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/243767406812360802/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=243767406812360802' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/243767406812360802?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/243767406812360802?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/random-thought-ideal-marriage.html' title='Random Thought . . . Ideal Marriage'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"A04NRHk6eyp7ImA9WhRQGE4."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-4493218731940373444</id><published>2011-12-13T20:19:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-13T20:19:55.713-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-13T20:19:55.713-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Mayo'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Integrity'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Christmas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Facebook'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Stress'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Coffee'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><title>The Mayonnaise Jar & Coffee</title><content type='html'><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">It does not matter what time of year it is but when things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember the mayonnaise jar . . . and the coffee.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>He then asked the students if the jar was full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>They agreed that it was.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>He then asked the students again if the jar was full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>They agreed it was.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>He asked once more if the jar was full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The students responded with a unanimous "yes."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty pace between the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The students laughed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions . . . things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The professor smiled. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Happy Holidays everyone . . . Good to the last drop!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-4493218731940373444?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/4493218731940373444/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=4493218731940373444' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4493218731940373444?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/4493218731940373444?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/mayonnaise-jar-coffee.html' title='The Mayonnaise Jar & Coffee'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry gd:etag='W/"AkANRn49eSp7ImA9WhRQF0k."'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18753173.post-7049215597622361653</id><published>2011-12-12T18:59:00.000-09:00</published><updated>2011-12-12T18:59:57.061-09:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app='http://www.w3.org/2007/app'>2011-12-12T18:59:57.061-09:00</app:edited><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Character'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Anchorage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Debates'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Attitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Observations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Integrity'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Alaska'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Politics'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ramblings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='America'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Communication'/><title>Politics . . . One wonders this . . .</title><content type='html'><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
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<div class="MsoNormal">Does life in Washington actually resemble an endless<br />
round of Crossfire?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Or does it just seem that way from the boonies of Alaska?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Life is not Crossfire . . . I can only hope a really good candidate comes to the forefront before election time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Ice</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/18753173-7049215597622361653?l=icewindsramblings.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/feeds/7049215597622361653/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=18753173&postID=7049215597622361653' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/7049215597622361653?v=2'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/18753173/posts/default/7049215597622361653?v=2'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://icewindsramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/politics-one-wonders-this.html' title='Politics . . . One wonders this . . .'/><author><name>Icewind</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/13137983665713615913</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='29' src='http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2585/icewind8uq.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>

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