Icewind's Ramblings

Alaska likes to do things quiet differently during the seasons of the year and during our “springtime” in the northland there is an event that is locally called ‘The Arctic Man’ . Officially billed each year as “The Arctic Man Sno & Go Classic” this crazy event in its twenty second year is a combination of downhill skiing and snowmobile racing, a wacky team sport in the wilds of Alaska . It is a week long event where over 13,000 adventurers head out in motorhomes, campers, and rigs (trucks) pulling snowmachines to a narrow gorge in the Hoodoo mountains approximately 200 miles from Anchorage. The Arctic Man takes place each year close to mile 196 of the Richardson Highway , near Summit Lake , Alaska , and this years is the second week of April. Despite the sometimes extreme cold weather there is a party you have to see to believe. The Arctic Man is a race for teams of two skilled competitors that tests the strength of an athlete and the horsepower of a snowmobi...

He who laughs last, thinks slowest. I’m glad to see the weekend as it’s been a busy week. It was so busy I did not realize that it was Friday the 13 th until almost the end of my workday. So much for superstitions today. Ice

Ideas are for the weak! Real thinkers have Observations. Over the last several days I have observed many ‘out there’ things in this world around us. Another talk show host was called for his comments on the air that took away the ‘moment’ for some women athletes. It’s about time that a penalty is paid for mistreating our fellow man (or woman). Now what do we do about all of the rappers and comedians who dish others without anyone calling them out on their words or lyrics? Several weeks ago I had jury duty and I saw a man with huge ears in the elevator. I mean he had really huge ears. It reminded me of Dumbo when I was a child and I wondered if he could fly. I saw one full-grown man pinch another full-grown man in the butt. The former winked and the latter giggled with pleasure. I did not know what to think of that other than its more fodder for the debate on same sex marriages and benefits. A young man was singing to himself while walking a...

I have a sick friend who is part of a gaming Community I play with and over the past several years her condition has gone through the ups and downs of long term diseases . . . the highs of being more healthy for a short period and the lows of many hospital visits or stays. It is extremely hard on her and her family as the medical community in our country many times fails those who contribute the most to that system. The countless paperwork and phone calls to hear some lame excuse about what ‘form’ is needed or some other doctors written statement before the needed medicine or treatment is carried out. It sickens me sometimes that we treat each other this way . . . people suffer and our system of medicine lacks the help it is supposed to give that most of us pay for each month. Luckily in our gaming Community there is support and people who care . . . not just in the virtual world but in our real lives too. This Community is about Friendship and Love . . . because...

The Masters Golf Championship The only thing worse than a quitter, is the man who is afraid to start. This is Easter weekend and there are so many traditions and events that usually occur this time of year. One is the kid’s faces waking up on Easter morning and seeing things that brighten their uncomplicated day. Another is The Masters , the special golf tournament founded by Bobby Jones that brings together the world’s best golfers for a trying week of mental exercise played out on one of the world’s most beautiful and trying golf courses. Bobby Jones once said, "Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears." I enjoy the game . . . I’m not that good but I do enjoy the time outdoors. It has some great things to teach you about yourself that I always find interesting . . . how people score themselves . . . how different people approach taking that shot from 130 yards out from the green . . . the ...

A while back a friend of mine sent me a picture that I wanted to save until today. It is such a remarkable picture when your mind opens up and “sees” exactly what the mountains and lake is showing you . . . This is probably the greatest ‘holiday’ of the year for people of Christian faith and I will pass along blessings to all for Easter. I pray that everyone has a wonderful and love-filled day. Hopefully with family if possible but for many . . . that is not possible so be mindful of our loved ones in other places . . . and if in harms way, safe. May all of us be mindful of what Easter truly means - the almost unfathomable blessing that God has granted us through the resurrection of His Son. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written . . . "Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, Where is your sting?...

Here is Alaska ’s version of Global warming with a wink to Coca Cola and their beautiful ads. . . Ice * Picture from GrouchyOldCripple.com Denny's site from Atlanta

We are thawing now snow is melting! Yesterday I went for a bite to eat at lunch at a local Quizno’s and for me it was a late lunch since I was quite busy and could not leave until after 2:30pm long after the ‘normal’ lunch hour. It was quiet inside as there was only one other customer eating when I walked up to order my sandwich. The ‘sandwich maker’ behind the counter was training another person and was pleasant as he asked me what I wanted by saying, “Ok Colonel Sanders what’ll you have?” I was taken back by this comment a little at first as I realized he was talking about my goatee. I have had a beard for many years and shaved it off last summer. Over this winter I grew a goatee to head off the winter’s cold and did not think about the way it looked until his comment. Luckily I didn’t smell like fried chicken. It has been that way the last few weeks as I was offered a ‘free cup’ of coffee last weekend at a local McDonalds. The lady waiting to take my ...

With the recent pet food recalls and the horrible incident with poison being found in over 50 brands of wet dog and cat food it is sad so many animals were lost with many still sick. In my house I have a ‘large’ golden retriever named Levi. Now Levi is my dog and follows me around everywhere. We have our time together on Saturday mornings when he goes with me to meet friends and business associates for breakfast. We will ride around completing the ‘chores’ for the day and spend the time together enjoying each others company. Usually by noon Levi is ready to head home for his morning nap and quiet time. Levi is over 10 years old now and is not the nimble dog that he was in his youth. He has gained weight and his face has turned grey like mine. His step is a little slower now and he has trouble climbing into my rig to go with me but he is always the faithful one lying patiently in front of the sliding glass door on my balcony looking for me to return home. He waits...

Hotheaded Naked Ice Borers In its April, 2007 issue Defenders Magazine announced that Dr. Aprile Rooz, a noted wildlife biologist, had found a fascinating new Arctic species: the hotheaded naked ice borer. These bizarre creatures were each about half a foot long, very light, and had a bony plate attached to their head that could become burning hot, allowing them to bore tunnels through ice at high speeds. They used this ability to hunt penguins. Packs of them would melt the ice beneath a penguin causing it to sink into the slush, at which point the borers would surround the hapless creature and consume it. Dr. Rooz discovered the borers by chance as a result of their predatory nature. While studying a group of penguins on Arctic sea ice, she noticed one frightened member of the group rapidly sinking into the ice. When she pulled the hapless creature out of the fast-growing slush pool that surrounded it, she found a host of small creatures attached to it. These creatures turned...

It is a mistake to allow any mechanical object to realize that you are in a hurry. Ice

My friend Scott and I when to lunch at Golden Coral, which seems to be the new ‘in’ place to go for lunch or dinner since opening recently. Just as I am about to leave, I decide a trip to the little boys room is in order. For those that know me, I know big surprise. When I finish spilling my water, I go to pull on the little handle to do the flush thing, surprise . . . it has one of the auto flush heads on it and before I know what is happening, it fires off. Well wouldn't you fre$%&*@ know it; Golden Coral has the super flush model enabled. What seems like five gallons of water comes crashing down into the half gallon basin of the urinal. Lucky for me I have catlike reflexes and I was able jump back in time to miss the initial deluge that came sloshing out on the floor. Unlucky for me I didn't jump back far enough and the water/pee combination that hit the floor splashed over my shoes. How it didn't get on my pants is still beyond me. I hope that this is...

Just competing in the Iditarod, everyone is a winner! After almost two and a half weeks of mushing by some of the strongest competitors on earth; canines along with the men and women who completed this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race came to a close during another cold dark night when Dr. Ellen Halverson, a native of North Dakota now living in Wasilla, Alaska, crossed the finish line in Nome at 2:56 local time this morning, making her total time on the trail 16 days, 11 hours and 56 minutes. An award is given to the last person to complete the race each year - - in recognition that the Iditarod is a grueling test of mental and physical endurance over the 1,100 mile trail. The last finisher is presented with a “red lantern” that has hung at the finish line in Nome since the start of the race. From Iditarod History it was said, “During the days of Alaska sled dog freighting and mail carrying, dog drivers relied on a series of roadhouses between their village dest...

And what ever happened to “Peep Etiquette” now that computers are taking over? As any loyal WalMart (that’s the only Big Box Store here in Alaska ) shopper has probably noticed recently, Easter is right around the corner. Along with the coming of this entirely religious holiday also comes the perennial holiday favorite, the Peep . I knew all along since my childhood and my upbringing that there was a Jesus connection between Peeps and Easter but I did not realize what it was until I traveled to this eastern Pennsylvania town. Years ago I was driving to an auto race in Nazareth Pennsylvania and by chance discovered another town not far away called Bethlehem . Not one to let things go unnoticed I realized that this Nazareth and Bethlehem might not be in anyone's Holy Land; they're in Pennsylvania 's rolling Lehigh Valley . The area was filled with biblical references and quaint little houses dot the landscape. It was not long before I made a di...

"The mind keeps vacillating between a hot past (can be anger, bitterness, regret, etc.) and a cold future (stemming from anxiety, frustration or fear). As a result, we lose touch with the present. The Art of Living is about the moment called NOW " I have some friends in the lower 48 who are going through some rough times right now. My prayers and thoughts are with them as they continue battling health issues. I can say that all of your friends in The Amazon Basin are keeping you both in our thoughts and prayers. Draw from our strength as you need and feel the love from all of those you have touched in the past. Our hearts are with your family now. Ice

The last few weeks have been quite hectic for me and my family with so many things being prepared for events that have been in the works, some for months now. One was the wedding ceremony for my youngest daughter. I had the unique pleasure of performing the wedding ceremony and vows which is one of the many great things about living in Alaska . I guess it started when Alaska was still a territory and there were not many judges or preachers to complete the ceremonies so they allow residents to fill out the paperwork and perform the task. It is pretty neat to be able to give your daughter’s hand in marriage and also perform the vows with them. The family has also been in the process of preparing for family members who are in the process of relocating from Utah to arrive. There are the usual things like making sure there is enough sleeping space for everyone and the possible temporary storage of the items brought north. There are so many things going on with many t...

It has been over two weeks now since the start of this year’s Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race began and it continues to test the strength and resolve of the competitors, both human and canine. The race started in Anchorage on March 3 rd with the ceremonial start downtown and running through the trails normally used in summer for hiking and bicycling. It wound it course through the parks and neighborhoods on a beautifully crisp cloudless day. It was a fun day for both the competitors and spectators setting the way for the “Official” start in Willow Sunday afternoon. The starting field this year consisted of 83 competitors who are as varied in nature as any before. Some are full time mushers while others “work” in various industries ranging student to farmers to teacher to retired postal worker. A mix of men and women who had a dream and went for it braving harsh conditions on the trail and understanding the inner Zen-like quality within themselves to push forward. ...

If you love what you do you'll never work another day in your life. Congratulations Lance Mackey, 2007 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion! Ice Photos by Al Grillo with AP

The first musher passed under the burled archway in Nome Alaska tonight winning the Iditarod XXXV Trail Sled Dog Race. Lance Mackey made his way into town and ran alongside his team down Front Street finishing the 1,100 mile race in 9 days, 8 minutes, and 41 seconds since leaving Anchorage . Photo by Bob Hallinen with the Anchorage Daily News Hundreds of fan lined the way cheering the dogs and Mackey as the sun was setting over the Bering Sea . Mackey lit up this historic, old gold-mining town as he feasted on the thrill of Iditarod victory. He had stopped just outside of town several times as he was greeted by fans out on the sea ice as helicopters circled overhead. The dogs anxious to finish their run were jubilantly barking and ready to complete the last half mile into town. Lance with his fists into the air, pointing to the lucky number 13 bib on his chest, and waving or giving ‘high fives’ to the large crowd. There was also that scruffy smile on the tired...

Day 10 of the 2007 “Last Great Race on Earth” has all the magic of NASCAR, the sportsmanship of the NBA, the ‘class’ of The Masters, and the grit of human spirit and excellence not found in many sports. The true ‘stars’ of this Iditarod are the dogs . . . they love to run . . . and run. They have the heart of champions each and every one no matter where they stand in the order of things. They battle . . . each other . . . the elements . . . the terrain . . . and when the day or night is done . . . they rest soundly in the contentment of a job well done. The amazing race of the Iditarod is that these dogs at the end of a long day’s trail are happy and look ready to continue even after the toughest conditions on earth. Photo by Bob Hallinen Anchorage Daily News Even the human competitors have a toughness not seen in other sports. Most Sunday’s for a few hours there are those who drive a car for 500 miles on a mostly round track, some with high banked walls a...