Icewind's Ramblings

Are there Seeing Eye humans for blind dogs? I guess it would be appropriate to say that Levi, my golden retriever is my best bud and companion. He is underfoot any time I am home moving from room to room as I do and plopping down under me or right beside me until I make the next move in the house. He enjoys our Saturday mornings together going to breakfast and our weekly chores. We wander around first to Village Inn then either the bank or Costco. Next, are the trips to Home Depot or possibly the local pet stores where he can go inside with me as I find his food or treats. Levi doesn’t like it when I go to get Pig’s food or shavings hoping to spend the time outside for a little run. I say little . . . not long . . . as Levi is not one to expound too much energy these days. Levi is almost 12 years old and used to weigh about 120 pounds. Yes that’s right one hundred plus twenty pounds . . . sort of a ‘large’ dog. My vet last year told me he was in pretty g...

I wanted to post this last week but things got crazy here and I missed the opportunity to do it on the anniversary so for that I am sorry. I did not forget it just was not possible so I wanted to get this one posted before too long a time had passed. Music has always been a great part of my life and in my younger years was lucky enough to see in person . . . LIVE . . . many of the great bands from the 60’s and 70’s. It was something to see The Beatles at Atlanta Stadium one night then driving all night long to Houston Texas to see them play again the next day long before there were Interstate Highways to make a smooth quick journey. Watching Led Zeppelin at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in May then driving to Tampa to see them again in September. There were many from that era and the music has always guided many of us through life . . . the ‘Parrothead’ in me continues to thrive as I wear daily my “Island” shirts even in the frozen arctic of Alaska. I sti...

Or How I Froze My Ass off for one of the Presidential Hopefuls. It's cold in Alaska this Super Tuesday! Really cold. The thermometer explains it all. With temperatures of 40 to 60 below zero across large swaths of interior Alaska expected today, it could cause some less-committed voters and caucus-goers to stay home today and not exercise their right to choose our next President. Some people may feel like why go through all the hassle for Barack, Hillary, John, Mike, Mitt, or Ron when it’s so cozy and warm by the fireplace inside? The outside thermometer is currently reading 22 degrees below zero as I write this at my house this evening. Today was Super Tuesday. Alaska moved our primary this year to this political day filling the map from the ‘left coast’ sea to shining sea so you'd think there would be a lot more excitement. It didn’t seem so at first this morning when I left home. After all, in the past, Alaska 's primary usually occurred after the ...

Not for me. As I have stated before I am not a big fan of football anymore after suffering many losing season’s watching the Atlanta Falcons who never seemed to show up for the games each week proclaiming we just couldn’t get our heads into the game. It sort of put me off knowing these guys only work a few weeks each year spending the majority of the time at home or on the golf course. They would start a light training routine about a month before camp each year to loose weight and get back into shape. I was invited to a Super Bowl Party this weekend at a friend’s house so it was with both feelings of I could care less if I went on one hand vs. the possibility of seeing a good game, spending time with friends, and the hype each year of the commercials that are debuted during the telecast. I had hoped for a good game and it turned out to be a great game with the score reflecting the extraordinary talents of both teams. I probably rooted for New England only for th...