Icewind's Ramblings

Like most people at this time of year it seems like everyone takes a few minutes to think about and review the past year.  I do that now and again but try not to write those “year end reviews” that some people enjoy sending out each year which embellishes all the great things that have happened to them or their family members. Hopefully this will not be that type of review though there may be some exaggeration of a few things since I tend not to really want to go to those things which may have been negative for me this year. As 2012 started in January there was much work going on with me traveling out to many remote Alaskan villages where the company I worked built clinics, water & sewer plants as well as other needed infrastructure so needed in the bush.  Many Natives still do not have indoor plumbing or clean water and I was fortunate to help provide that in several villages. The time of my separation and divorce brought me to a period for the first time in...

It has been a little strange for me that since my heart attack that my being able to sit down and write just seemed to be stalled.  There was much to say and many notes to gain topics from which to write but it has been hard for me to sit down at the computer to write it down. I have tried many times in these last few weeks where I would sit and start and just as quickly stop not able to make my fingers hit the key strokes like they have so many times before.  It is strange in some ways as I could sit and write things on a notepad but could not bring myself to transfer the words from paper to word process.  I have wondered why that has been that way or what did not motivate me to sit and write during this time I have been in a state of convalesce since my hospital stay. It has only been two days now that I can seem to sit here and contemplate this state and start to put things down on what I would like to say again.  I have been editing my book getting it r...

When we were on vacation last summer we came across this while wandering around. Enjoy! Ice

It is such a needless tragedy on so many levels of American society and politics. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this tragedy and the effects it will have on this country in our efforts to secure our children’s safety and well being. "More than any time in recent history, America 's destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek, nor did we provoke, an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect, nor did we invite, a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. 26 people were killed a couple of hours ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut .  20 children from the school were killed and 6 adults in this needless act of violence.  Police were alerted after having been notified, they ran into the building to help get people out and protect others still inside and in harms way.  Ran into the building to help...

The True Sound I saw this post on one of my buddies from high school, Dewitt Law and wanted to share it for this holiday season. I am not a shopper by any means having only visited the Anchorage Malls less than 8 times in my over 10 years in Alaska.  I have no idea where this happened but it is pretty neat and reminds me of the days of old in Atlanta where everyone gathered on the streets below the skywalk at Rich’s department store on Thanksgiving evening to sing carols and await the lighting of the great tree.  It we were good kids we were able to ride the Pink Pig and get a treat from our parents. A much simpler time that mostly has been long forgotten with our own children as technology has overtaken us in our daily lives. Please watch and enjoy! Happy Holidays everyone. Ice

I was in the hospital for a few days this week after suffering a heart attack. When I was in recovery at the hospital on Monday afternoon there was an earthquake here which lasted about a minute and 15 seconds and shook the hospital pretty good knocking out two elevators at the time. Once I returned home this afternoon and walked in all the rooms of my house noticed that several pictures and a few other items had been knocked off the shelves.  No damage just strange seeing things out of place, it was like someone had been in here knocking over things and leaving. Just a random thought. I will write more on the hospital adventure shortly but wanted to put this down tonight. Ice

The record high temperature in Alaska was set in 1951 in Fort Yukon at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  This was the only time in history when being a weatherman in Alaska was NOT the easiest job in the world. Most Alaskan weathermen were fired that day because they didn't have a word to describe the temperature. The current official state motto of Alaska is "North to the future".   The unofficial state motto in wintertime is "South to somewhere warm!" Ice

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing ingredient -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when a turkey is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try: 8 - 15 lb. turkey 1 cup melted butter 1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good) 1 cup un-popped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST) Salt/pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the front of the oven, not the back. After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room . . . it's done. And, you thought I didn't know how to cook... Happy Thanksgiving Everybody! Ice

Everyone is always trying to figure out the meaning of Life so I thought I would put this together to help explain why we do some of the things we do to get by each day, month, and year. Life explained from the front porch . . . On the first day, God created the dog and said, “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past.  For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.” The dog said, “That’s a long time to be barking.  How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?” So God saw it was good On the second day, God created the monkey and said, “Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh.  For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.” The monkey said, “Monkey tricks for twenty years?  That’s a pretty long time to perform.  How about I give you back ten like the dog did?” And God, again saw it was good On the third day, God created the cow and said, “You must go ...

I had the pleasure of hearing this several times many years ago in Atlanta during concerts by John Denver.   It was relevant back then and continues today with the world on the brink of unthinkable horror to each other. As you approach the holiday season please be mindful of those who serve and those who are less fortunate than ourselves, enjoy the holiday season.   In this holiday season . . . I give you “The Box”   Once upon a time in the land of hushabye Around about the wondrous days of yore They came across a sort of Box Bound up with chains and locked with locks And labeled “Kindly do not touch, its War!” Decree was issued round about All with a flourish and a shout And a gaily colored mascot tripping lightly on before Don’t fiddle with this deadly box or break the chains or pick the locks And please, don’t ever play about with War Well, the children understood Children happen to be good They were just as good around the time of ...

Over the last several months I have been letting my blog fall by the wayside as other endeavors have had my attention.   I think Life happens to all of us and at times we go through periods where we take a break from some part(s) of our lives while speeding up other parts. There have been many changes for me over the last year and with it there have been many times I have not felt like writing anything that I wanted to post to this blog but during that time I have continued to write working on other projects.   Some were personal in nature and will probably never be shared whiles others were a shared specifically as I saw fit depending on what was happening with me at the time. As many of you know over the last year and a half I had changes in my life with my marriage of 25 years and with my children which brought about some things which at my first thought I may not have realized or was able to think about during that time.   The divorce was bittersweet for ...

Life Observation # 160 . . .    Trust is the invisible bond that holds all of human interaction together. Without it, we are all alone and dysfunctional.   Ice

(This was written for my blog Icewind’s Ramblings on 9/11/2006 on the fifth anniversary of that terrible day in our country)   I re-read it again this morning and thought I would re-post it again with a couple of minor changes. In my generation, which was a generation ago, the question was repeatedly asked, "Where were you when President Kennedy was shot?" For my generation, there are too many questions with fewer answers. The United States changed directions and suddenly we were in a war called Viet Nam and the loss of this country’s young men’s innocence.   Tragedies and calamities abounded in our collective memories.   But as with the saying “time heals all wounds” and we proceeded for many years along a course with unclear direction.   Within this generation the final innocence was taken on September 11, 2001, but seems to have been somewhat faded now as the one question that will be asked again and again is, "Where were you on 9/11?" At this time ...

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Soren Kierkegaard My emotional baggage is in storage most of the time. I'm not afraid of it, but I don't think it helps me to be dragging it out and laboring over it all the time. It's a part of who I am but it doesn't define me. I do the defining. Working towards being the person I want to be when I finally get things right is what I focus on . . . not the baggage that might have gotten me off track. I look ahead, not back. I travel light. Ice

I had a great weekend with my friend Mark Evans in town after his long motorcycle ride from Texas to Alaska.   He made it all the way up past the Arctic Circle and on to Deadhorse in Prudhoe Bay at the top of the world a feat many people will never experience.   Congratulations Mark, driving a vehicle is tough enough but doing it on a motorcycle is a feat in itself! We met up on Wednesday and I took him to see Sarah Palin’s house on the lake and drove up about an hour where we enjoyed lunch in “Beautiful Downtown Talkeetna”. We wandered the streets and airport seeing the crazy sights and listening to all the sounds of a busy tourist season.   We drove back to the cabin he was staying in Wasilla where we enjoyed sitting on the porch of a two room cabin built in 1931.   Totally rustic with a gas lamp and outhouse we sat on the porch for hours talking and getting to know one another after communicating on FB for several years. Sipping from bottles of Jack & Crow...

A little different than Joni Mitchell’s but it what I’m in the mood for. I love the beat and need the uplift tonight after a week of losing another friend. Enjoy! Ice

“I can see myself it's a golden sunrise Young boy open up your eyes It's supposed to be your day. Now off you go horizon bound And you won't stop until you've found Your own kind of way. And the wind will whip your tousled hair, The sun, the rain, the sweet despair, Great tales of love and strife. And somewhere on your path to glory You will write your story of a life.” (Harry Chapin) It seems like this happens more and more these days as I received the call yesterday afternoon that one of my good friends and co-workers had died of a heart attack.   We worked on multiple projects together over the last three years and traveled around Alaska with the shared goal of building water treatment plants and clinics making life better for the communities and villages we worked in. I know this last winter had taken a toll on him with his family but things were working it self out getting back to an even keel.   We talked Friday and now in another instant he...

“Why are farts funny?” Most of my life has been spent researching this phenomenon and reporting the various circumstances for its embellishment.   My nickname has long stuck with me and I am sure over the years it has set off a few people . . .   some with disgust (from the smell) others with laughter (from the sounds) leaving some in pure astonishment (jumping up and cutting one while in the air).   Well, I’ve thought about this and I think I know why farts are funny.   I do believe it’s the surprise factor.   In comedy, a joke is funny because the punch line is unexpected.   A fart is like a smelly little punch line. This theory is confirmed by the fact that the funniest farts are the ones that are the least expected.   For example, a fart is funnier if it comes from someone who doesn’t usually fart or when the fart sneaks up on you in an inappropriate location (Nordstrom’s, church, job interview, etc.).   Another that I have discovered a...

Thank you by Dido Ice

I was going through some old boxes looking for something when I was sidetracked by a piece of paper I found.   As many of you know I used to have a dog Levi who was my constant companion and friend who went on many adventures with me or just sat at my feet while working at my desk or watching television.   I sure miss him but found something that gave me a chuckle and reminded me how much of my buddy Levi was. This was simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you. How to Clean a Toilet Put both lids of the toilet up then add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this. Flush the toilet three or four times. T...

Life is what it is, and you have the immense good fortune of being here, right now, to live it. Have a great weekend everyone! Ice

A vision without action is a daydream. - Japanese Proverb. Sometimes it is great that my late night gremlins stay at bay and allow a relaxed beautiful experience to take over my mind and in the after thought sound sleep sneaks in for just a little while. Ice

I didn’t sleep again last night so tonight I will be playing this piece several times I am sure as it takes me to a place where my mind will stop racing in the wind and allow me to a calm place. Here are two pieces of the same John Denver song, the first as originally performed with Mike Taylor as complimenting guitars.   It is just part of a suite of songs called “Season Suite” by John Denver, Mike Taylor & Dick Kniss consisting of: Summer Fall Winter Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes to Mexico) Spring They are all beautiful music pieces & were released on the Rocky Mountain High album. Please take the time to listen to both versions as it will be a rewarding experience and we need those in these times . . . The next is the Lee Holdridge version with full orchestral arrangement performed both in a stage setting and also in the Rocky Mountains close to the Maroon Bells in Colorado just outside Aspen. It is a very beautiful piece with three ballerinas...

As I sit here this morning it has been several days now since I heard about Lance’s passing and like many people we are trying to make sense of it all. It is strange how news of such an event can take the wind out of your sails and gives us another reminder of how fragile life is.   Today would have been Lance’s fifty fifth birthday. When I first moved to Alaska Lance was one of the first people I met when I started working.   He dropped by my office to talk with my boss about several projects we were doing and his company was providing the insulation.   We chatted for a bit and then Lance wanted to take us out to lunch to get to know me more since I had just arrived. We talked and shared stories about ourselves, some good & bad and I realized that I liked his attitude and how much he embraced the “give a guy a chance” in life.   He said we all need ‘second chances’ and he was grateful that after problems in his own life someone was willing to give him a br...