Icewind's Ramblings

This week Alaska is having strong winds that usually are more into springtime but as we have had crazy weather all winter it seems the ‘big blow’ has come early.  Monday had winds over 75 mph and one house in the valley had the whole roof ripped off and as it broke up it scattered pieces over a two block area.  In Palmer several airplanes had been blown off their tie downs and tumbled over and over across the airport. For a coworker and me, we left at 0 dark thirty to catch a plane headed for Kodiak so we could catch another smaller plane to take us across the island to the village of Old Harbor to do a little recon of an upcoming project we are starting soon.  The project on paper had several areas where we have questions on how and what we will be able to do so it was decided to go there and see first hand what will be involved and to take pictures of the area where we will build a new village water storage tank and water treatment plant. The takeoff out of Anchorage was q

It’s a Dogs Life . . . They must think it very strange that most humans only sleep once a day, but for 7 to 10 hours at a time. Over the holidays being home during the day I had the chance to watch my dog go about his day continually taking naps after playing or getting into something. Gus would charge out the doggy door and chase the birds or squirrels then come in and nap for a bit. Next he wanted to play ball so we threw it for ten minutes then a quick drink of water and another nap. He would try to find something to get into . . . trash, toilet paper, underwear, or the grandkids toys left out to chew on and after a while, yep another nap. If my wife watched television or decided to take a midday nap he would be at her side . . . both on their backs snoring lightly. Gus is still a young dog and likes to play but one problem is a short attention span as he gets distracted quickly as you throw the ball after several times retrieving it the next throw as he passes an

With the ongoing problems with people trying to do harm to our country there is a way that these ‘enemy combatants’ . . . yes we are still at ‘war’ after the attack on our country on 9/11 . . . could be handled that is workable for almost everyone. Trying to solve the world’s problems with style takes thinking outside the box.  This administration has been trying to figure out what to do with the Gitmo detainees.  Do we close the facility or continue to keep them in Gitmo? De we set them free to wander off to parts unknown to continue their mission?  What about sending them back to their home country to be revitalized into their organized cells?  Do we let them loose inside America to wreak havoc on our soil again? How do we get our heads around this so that it makes sense and can be monitored to ensure our safety?  This might work and can be done with technology that is already used . . . just modified somewhat in scope and magnitude.  Each detainee gets a pacemaker with a m

I haven’t written an Observation in the New Year so from the past holiday period this little diddy . . . If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, maybe you just don't understand the situation. Ice