Icewind's Ramblings

It has been awhile since I’ve written a blog so I decided to do a quick one to let everyone know what I’ve been up too. Alaska finally came out of a pretty harsh winter with a somewhat nice (but short) spring.   With that comes a busy time for me preparing for the upcoming construction season here.   There are so many tasks to do in a relatively short time period where our projects are assigned to the different construction managers to make things happen so construction may begin during the summer. The construction work plan has to be written up along with safety plans and assembling all of the required paperwork and permits.   There are the usual ones for storm water runoff control and spill prevention but there are a couple one would not think about.   There are the archeological permits if we dig anywhere since we may disturb possible ancient burial grounds that are unmarked.   There are very specific plans to follow if you do come across human bones or a...

Or The Alaskan Adventure of a Steinway B This is taken from a newspaper notice last week and I thought it may be a fun thing to see some of the unique fun of springtime in Alaska.  I hope you enjoy!  Check out the short video On Monday, April 18th we made a bit of history as Peter Halstead, classical pianist < http://www.pianistlost.com/peter-halstead/ > and I set out with Keith & Deb Essex of Alpine Air, < http://www.alpineairalaska.com /  Mickey Houlihan of Wind Over the Earth Productions plus crew to fulfill Peter’s dream of performing piano upon one of the most remote wilderness peaks on earth. About 40 miles helicopter flight from Girdwood, Alaska we landed upon one of the most incredible sites I have ever seen about 6000 feet in altitude overlooking the Marcus-Baker glacier and icefield, thunder rolling through the mountains as avalanches broke loose in the spring sunshine, no wind at all and about 45 degrees. As the music began we all stood in awed...

I have always liked the movie Forrest Gump and the way in the movie that Forrest’s life is happenstance and wanders . . . only to find itself in a place in time that has an effect on everyone around him. Take a look at the opening scene from the movie, Forrest Gump. Is it dumb luck or destiny?   Some of both I suppose but it amazes me that our own lives sometimes make twists and turns that surprise us.   Did we have our own plan and it worked out or did things happen as dumb luck blowing in the wind?   Did preparation meets opportunity happen in the cosmos giving us unexpected results? Could it be that simple?   I think not.   Everyone has a destiny, but the journey to find it is undefined.     Forrest is like the feather, blown around by the wind and does whatever he is told.   This journey, though random and simple, leads Forrest to many good things. He never knew where he would end up, but he reached it all the same. Is that how life re...

I have been asked by some friends on Facebook to post “A Soldier’s Prayer” but before I do I wanted to give a little perspective into the Civil War and the turmoil going on in this country at the time.   There are still problems in this country and around the world but we continually strive to live in hopes of a better world.   Do your part to remember those from our past and those of our future whose sacrifice gives us the Freedoms we enjoy today. July 2, 1863 during the battle of Gettysburg in the area of Devil’s Den this prayer was written by a dying confederate soldier.   There are conflicting stories over the years whether it was found folded in his pocket or written in blood on the floor next to his body.   Either way it gives great perspective into life and living. Casualty figures for the second day of Gettysburg are difficult to assess because both armies reported by unit after the full battle, not by day.   One estimate is that the Confederates lo...

Great news in Alaska, Burger King has just announced that I can have it my way . . .   finally.   It was debuted today the left-handed Whopper. It’s the same sandwich . . . with the condiments rotated 180 degrees for all of us ‘lefties’ in the world. I hope this will spread like wildfire all over the world. Ice

Alaska is receiving Japans newest export . . . Iodine- 131 that much hyped radioactive fallout from the Fukushima nuclear reactor 2,700 miles away from Dutch Harbor whose monitors caught three times the levels from any other monitor in the United States. Maybe we can get many miles per gallon out of that mess. Ice

Accept that some days you're the pigeon . . . and some days you're the statue. Ice

When you join the military or are elected to public office you take an oath to protect the country from both foreign and domestic enemies which is part of our Constitution. Throughout history world powers nearly always fall from within. We may be going that same route as we look for ways to get involved in all the world’s conflicts when we cannot take care of things on our own home front.   We have invaded Libya to stop another nutcase from killing his own people as we watch over the country’s oil fields without taking anything for our efforts to stop the violence in that country.   It has been that way in all of our Middle Eastern protective missions. Does that make us a stupid country?   The foreign oil is there for us to take as part payment for helping countries gain freedom from dictators who think nothing of killing their own people.   Within our own borders exists 1,000 to 2,500 years worth oil and gas.   We have hamstrung ourselves from using it and...

It has been over a week now that the events in Japan has cause so much heartache and change to so many people.   Where do they go from here to move forward with their lives?   How many will never find family or loved ones swept out to sea or buried within tons of rubble or mud in the communities heavily effected by the earthquake and the following tsunami?   I’ve said many times that music is a common thread for many people and as I have sat and watched the news footage and listened to the commentary of the aftermath in dealing with so many problems and obstacles I turn to music to help ease my mind and search for understanding which may never come. One song over the years seems to say so much for each of us as we may sometimes be full of ourselves or have an incident to shake us and wake up and adjust our attitude to the ‘real world’ around us.   It is “Part of the Plan” by the late great Dan Fogelberg.   His music over the years has affected so many peop...

The events over the last three days in Japan have brought attention once again to man’s struggles on this planet we call home.   To the people of Japan, I hope all your needs are soon met.   My thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has been touched either directly or indirectly by this horrible act of nature. Take heed world, and know that all men are equal regardless of race or creed.   What can happen to one man or woman, nation or race can happen as well to any other.   We are all brothers and sisters in this struggle filled world and only by coming together of each and every one of us can alleviate the stress and pain of another. Our human hearts all beat the same, and we all suffer the same grief when loved one's are taken . . . to the people of the world, we should all look in our own neighborhoods, and treat everyone . . . everyday the way people somehow do when there is a crisis.   Sadly, too often it takes a tragedy for people to come together! ...

Our world of global communication and almost instant access to anything you could imagine shows us once again how much has changes in the last 56 years since the earthquake in Alaska in 1964. The news captured almost everything except an undersea camera of the earthquake itself.   Within seconds there were videos of the shaking in many areas in Japan and shortly thereafter the incredible videos of the tsunami wave coming on shore and devouring everything in its path.   The push of the wave with the debris swirling carrying vehicles, boats, buildings, and anything else in its path inland.   One report said the wave went over six miles across the mainland before retreating back out into the ocean. There were sixty to 80 foot ships being pushed on their side and hitting a bridge along with twenty or thirty vehicles which looked like a Hollywood disaster movie.   This was real and the shot of all the houses and cars swept away with the water on fire from the natural...

The Race restarted Sunday afternoon at 2 PM Alaska Standard Time (AST) in Willow on the frozen lakebed with another throng of people waving, hollering, and wishing well their favorite musher on to Nome. They ran through the night and into the bright sun of an Alaskan spring morning as the leaders headed into the Alaska Range and climbed their way to Rainy Pass.   Several of the mushers are on a blistering pace to Rohn checkpoint an abandoned cabin which is about 200 miles into the 1,150 mile race to Nome.   Robert Bundtzen with his 16 dogs arrived in Rohn at 5:17 PM with defending champion Lance Mackey arriving just 18 minutes later but after his time check was off again and back on the trail headed to the Farewell Burn. Other events of the day . . . 5 time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson crashed on the Happy Valley River steps leading into Rainy Pass and is considering his options after it was confirmed he appears to have a broken collarbone.   He should decide sh...

Aliy Zirkle who has ran the Iditarod since 2001 when I first moved to Alaska.   She was the first woman to win the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race in 2000 a similar long distance race held in February that covers the expanse from Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territories of Canada to Fairbanks.   She has been one of my favorites to watch and follow since I came to Alaska. She and her husband run SP Kennel (Skunk’s Place) a premier sled dog racing kennel in Two Rivers, Alaska.   Aliy Zirkle (runs Team Red) & her husband musher Allen Moore (runs Team Black) on their website, and have videos on YouTube.   Last year she ran the race with a video camera mounted to her sled and gave a totally unique view of what it is like to run dogs over 1100 miles through some of Alaska’s most beautiful and rugged landscape.   Saturday Morning’s Ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage is a 15 mile run beginning on Fourth Avenue and then making a right turn onto “A” Street where it lea...

It’s March which means it is time again for “The Last Great Race” . . . The Iditarod, pitting men, women and their dogs against the extreme and many times harsh elements and terrain of the Alaskan wilderness.   Over a thousand mile distance to work out the rhythm of the dogs and one’s inner self in a place that sometimes defies description. From humble beginnings to a world class sporting event. Iditarod Information from Iditarod.com In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs. The Iditarod is a commemoration of those yesterdays, a not-so-distant past that Alaskans honor and are proud of. An Event for All Alaska Anchorage is the starting line — a city of over 250,000 people, street lights, freeways and traffic. From there the field of dog teams which grow in number each year, runs to Eagle River, Checkpoi...

In my travels around this beautiful state I have the opportunity to experience some interesting & oddly incredible things.   Some places it reminds me of stepping back in time or in some cases third world countries.   My company’s mission is to change that bringing clean water, sewer service, & clinics to those villages. The weather this winter has been brutal at best & one of the places I fly in & out is Kotzebue.   Enjoy their recent weather in a blog from one of the locals. http://finnskimo.blogspot.com/2011/02/seriously.html Ice

I woke up this morning and had coffee then prepared for the Daytona 500 which was being run in Florida today.   It is still dark here in Alaska and will be for several hours but in Daytona it is sunny and warm with fans ready for a great race. It is nice seeing the fans out in force without having heavy gear on as we do here in the far north.   The activities were completed and the race started with a clean run the first few laps.   On lap 3 the tribute to Dale Earnhardt with everyone silent and raised hands with three fingers held high was a testament to his contribution to the sport.   The broadcasters were silent as well and the impact of hearing the power of the cars and seeing the images of everyone during that lap was pretty special. Shortly the first wreck happened and during the race it was followed by many more making for a great day of racing.   I have watched the qualifying and some of the 150 races and kept seeing this young man named Trevor Bay...

It was a beautiful day in Anchorage today, left for work at 0 dark 30 with a big moon setting to the NW of the city.   It was about the size of a half dollar held at arms length.   A moose was feeding on alders at the entrance ramp from Muldoon to the Glen Hwy.   Now there is a great sunset with orange and pink Alpenglow reflecting on the mountains. I do not have a long drive to and from work only a couple miles each way but it seems there is always something interesting to see almost everyday.   I have written about the mixture of birds soaring in the heat of the electrical plant not far from my house.   They circle and climb in and out of the steam plume topping out several thousand feet above the ground.   They are smart to seek out the warmth during subzero days and share space with other species.   The main flock is ravens, big fat ones and can number several hundred on any given afternoon.   I have seen the ravens and bald eagles fly from...

I went into a Starbucks today for a cup of coffee while on our way to a meeting and it dawned on me why I really do not like going here preferring to stop by one of the many coffee stands with a cute barista on almost every street here in Anchorage. I hope I get right because I heard it rather quickly and didn’t have anything to take notes with but as we stood in line to get a normal, plain ole cup of java there is this pompous guy in front of us ordering.   It dawned on me the more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. He walked in to the Starbucks and barked out "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low, and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole. I think I’ll keep bringing mine from home or hitting the drive ups. Ice

It is that time of year at my company where we start to find out what new projects were funded for this year and will go to construction.   The process for selecting which projects are moving forward and which will be put on the back burner till next year is an interesting one.   At times it reminds me of something. Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence. My hope is we chose wisely the ones to be built and the village’s needs were they deciding factor as funding can only go so far and we like to give the best bang for the buck. Ice

Since leaving Atlanta in 1995 there are a few things that I really miss about the south and Atlanta in particular.   Food is always at the heart of a good southerner where during family or friend get together outings it is impossible to finish the meal you are eating without discussions of the next meal in a few hours.   It is a southern thing that has been passed generation to generation . . . father to son . . . mother to daughter.   It is a way of tradition of a proud people. Growing up I lived in the downtown are and The Varsity drive-in was just a few blocks away so it was not a big deal to walk there and get a chili dog and a coke or if you had the extra money a frosted orange drink.   Those were great times and fond memories. Another one was the Auburn Avenue Rib Shack a staple of great southern BBQ.   I used to go there many times with my old friend Lewis Grizzard, another one I miss a lot, Catfish too.   They were best buddies! There is alway...