Icewind's Ramblings

I could not resist this one as I have not had much time this week but saw this on the GOC’s Blog and thought I would report it to everyone. The economy is in the toilet and everyone is scrambling around to find a way to turn things around but I think we have our work cut out for us this time. Possibly the smartest president this country has ever had can't tell the difference between a window and a door. Hope? Change? Where is that door? It looks like President Obama hasn't gotten acquainted to his White House surroundings. On the way back to the Oval Office Tuesday, the President approached a paned window, instead of the actual door . . . located a few feet to his right. He was probably thinking about world problems or how many more billions of dollars are going to be given away in our new programs. Maybe it was what kind of dog he is getting for his daughters. Doors didn't open automatically for ...

It’s been a long couple of weeks with the hospital and work. It snowed here today with about 6” to 8” falling during the day but it has slowed some tonight with just a light dusting since about eight pm. I’m not into writing tonight so I thought I would just post something that soothes the soul . . . enjoy. Good night and God Bless. Ice

Well they (the government) has given the auto industry a few billon dollars now and so far I haven’t seen any real change here in Alaska . The new administration has put out a few new requirements on auto makers to force them to make more fuel efficient vehicles which should have happened ten to fifteen years ago. It may be that they are wasting spending our money on goofy or totally useless things. It used to only be car commercials that went into the absurd. We have all of those Cal Worthington Ford Commercials here and on the West Coast which over the years has always been over the top or just plain annoying. Now it seems every commercial has that not so subtle message they are trying to drill into your brain. You know what message. You are not only making a life altering decision when you purchase your car, but you are also stating to the world (indirectly bragging) your individualism with your choice. Your life will not only be richer and better no...

It was another long day here as splitting our time between work, the hospital, and a small bit of time home grabbing a quick shower, let Gus outside and a few hours of sleep has made us burn the candle at both ends. The weekend seemed to bring with it some welcome news to possibly getting a handle on my daughter’s illness and a course of action to bring her onto the road back to being healthy. The early part of this week she looked like she was feeling better and looked like a major positive change in her color, her outlook and just seemed to be feeling better but things took another turn yesterday and it now feels like we are doing some sick dance with two steps forward and five steps back. Its tiring trying to keep all of the balls in the air right now but it must be done so we move forward. The thing everyone now seems to admit (reluctantly) is they are now real sure what is wrong with her and they are looking to possibly farm her out (Medivac) to the Mayo Clini...

I’m not sure if it’s just me or does anyone else do this? I consider myself an observer of people and things I encounter during my daily routines and travels and on the more interesting ones I sometimes report them back for your amusement. It may also just be that I have too much imagination for my own good. Anchorage is sometimes like a gold mine finding strange oddities in this arctic northland. Some of it could be considered comedy material or slices of life in sometimes strange or ordinary places about town! All you really have to do is walk the street for a few minutes and then let your imagination run wild. Outside a downtown cafe, I saw a homeless man sitting at a table. He had a toothpick in his mouth and one hand rubbing his belly. On the table in front of him was a single, tiny, baby shoe. I was somewhat odd but it made me laugh. Now look, I'm not saying I wanted there to be a missing baby, but if I'd turned the corner and there ...

The five most important words a parent can say: "I'm so proud of you." I was sitting in the hospital room this afternoon with my daughter (who’s not had a fun weekend) and we were talking and looking outside the two large windows that look west from the hospital towards midtown and downtown. We both were reminded how small Anchorage still is as her window is above the tree level outside giving us a nice vantage point. We can see on the horizon ‘Sleeping Lady’ mountain range in the setting sunlight. The clear skies all day are giving way to clouds rolling in from the southwest. We count the buildings rising above the treetops in our line of sight and can only count 12 high-rise buildings in the distance. There is the Sheraton Hotel sitting slightly east of several other building making up the downtown area which consists of the Captain Cook Hotel, Westmark Hotel, Conoco Phillips building, our new Dena’ina Convention Center, ARCO building, a...