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...

I used to give almost every homeless guy or gal I saw a dollar. Then it occurred to me one day that if I keep giving every homeless person I see a dollar, I will need to start asking everyone for a dollar myself. Anchorage has a fairly large homeless community. Even during the winter months there are those out on the street corners ‘pan handling’ at the traffic lights or in front of the malls or stores around town. The weather does not seem to matter much as they wear clothing needed to keep them warm from frostbite. The bunny boots, insulated bibs, and the layered garments worn by most of the homeless would work well up on the arctic slope of Prudhoe Bay or Barrow. I was involved with building a new Brother Francis Shelter several years ago and it turned out really nice. Hydronic heating in the floors and nice showers with great quality equipment and fixtures made the place a comfortable temporary home. I thought it was much better than it could have been bui...

I’ve had this post in my ready folder for a long time now as I had written this last winter during a break from bidding work and slid off for a quiet weekend. It never made it to a post but since I do not have time to write tonight with all of the activities at the hospital I figured I would pull this out of the folder and post it now. I am hoping to get back on schedule with my writing but real life gives us change ups and curve balls that take away from many things. I keep calling it a cabin, but really it was a cottage above the town of Seward , Alaska partly built over the cliff in the wooded hills that stand over the marina and Resurrection Bay . It’s called “Cabin on the Cliff” and a friend that my company does work for owns it and rents it out. Tourists keep it pretty booked during the summer months but in the past I have booked it to take a much needed break, decompress, and rest up from my busy schedule. Everything in it was modern, even the gaz...

Reality TV proves one thing pretty clearly . . . we love to see other people's misery. We take pleasure in it. It's fun for us to see people squirm and interact in sometimes combative ways with each other. If it were a flavor, people would drink it up. That's why I think Starbucks should just come out with a brand of coffee that's not trying to help anyone . . . you know . . . coffee. What a concept! It is hard for me to go into a Starbucks because I sometimes do not know exactly what all that crap is on their menu. There’s double this, latte that, where on their sign board is there just regular coffee? We are in the in-between time for another season of Survivor or The Amazing Race? I can’t wait to see the personal interactions for a new group of people. Yes, and it seems so strange that they both have been on television so long. Not much time to write tonight as I return from the hospital but there may be ...

I awoke this morning much like any other but there were things going on outside my space that had me stirring earlier than normal. My daughter was having a restless night in the hospital and when I turned on the television to see what was happening with the lead up to the Inauguration. There was the spectacle of pomp and circumstance as the crowds gathered from all over the country around the Lincoln Memorial and The Mall. It was a moving sea of people and tonight I learned that there were no incidents in Washington during this celebration so that may be one of the first visible signs of ‘Change’ to come about. There was the gathering of past Presidents and Vice Presidents who have shown the signs of age that has come with the office. They smiled and some seemed to be glad to see each other while others stayed focused on the tasks at hand. Obama`s girls looked great taking in the moment and bringing back younger children living in the White House. ...

I usually hit Costco every Saturday morning after my breakfast meeting with several friends and business associates. I normally will do one time a month that is a bulk buy of most of the things we will need during the month and the other times I’ll hit the local Fred Meyer (Kroger) for a few items to get us by. Standing in line at Fred Meyer I had a revelation. That little plastic bar you put down to divide your purchase from the next person's purchase in front of or behind you is amazing; couldn't we all use that bar in other areas of our life? That is not my stuff, says your bar. I am not buying that, it tells other people. Don't mix your stuff with my stuff. These issues are not to be confused with my issues thank you very much. I can just see it now you are in line for the movies when a guy starts telling you about his colon cancer. Boom, the bar comes down. The ex-wife or girlfriend is explaining how her new boyfriend just doesn't do ...

Bob May, who donned The Robot's suit in the hit 1960s television show "Lost in Space," has died. He was 69. His line to one of the children, "Danger, Will Robinson," became a national catch phrase. One of my favorite programs growing up and “The Robot” was always one of our fun Halloween costumes made out of cardboard boxes and other items found around our neighborhood. I guess this starts to date our lives as more of these actors are sick or have died these last couple of years. Those were simpler times . . . no ipod or xbox to occupy your time, just a stick and your imagination to fight off the bad guys and explore new worlds. Where did those times go as we advanced technology without holding on to the things that made us who we are? It was a stable day at the hospital with my daughter mostly sleeping as her medicine worked and we await more tests. She will see a gastroenterologist hopefully tomorrow for more exams to see ...

Or Neighborhood Hazard: Why the Cops Won’t Patrol Brice Street I do not have time to write today as it was a busy night and day here in The Last Frontier. My daughter spent about 10 hours in the hospital last night getting enough medication to basically knock her out and anti-nausea meds to keep her from throwing up all night. She slept a couple of hours and we returned to the hospital this morning where after another 5 hours in the ER she was admitted. Hopefully this stretch will be quicker to resolve than our six months last year in and out of the hospital and a Medivac flight to Seattle where our mystery seemingly was solved. More tests and time will tell this go round. I needed a laugh today and this story over the years always brings about a smile and sometimes the much needed belly laugh. I first read this several years ago before I started blogging and reading some of his ‘road stories’ has been interesting as well as the adventures in his travels. ...