Icewind's Ramblings

A warm cup of coffee is sounding pretty good right about now. With cold weather comes the desire to eat warm, comforting foods. This weekend, Anchorage finally got its first snowfall, and what better way to mark the occasion than by making a great big pot of ‘damn good chili’ and a skillet of cornbread. It’s great but I’m sure there are those around me who are not as thrilled with my ‘songs’ after eating this wonderful dish. As I am writing this, we are getting our first snowfall of the season. There were a few flakes earlier today as I was eating lunch with several friends at Henry’s. It had been raining lightly all morning when the change started to occur. The snow fell slowly at first, one flake at a time, but soon it filled the sky, spreading thickly across the entire land. With the native culture in Alaska it was almost as if the tears of the villagers gathered into clouds and, with the chill in the air, returned to earth as Alaska 's first snowfall. ...

Last weekend I had to drive to a town about an hour from my house for an evening get together with a few friends for a 60 th birthday party. As we arrived in the town (it’s been in the news a lot lately since our governor was announced as the Republican Vice Presidential Candidate) it was close to dinner time so I asked my father in law’s Garmin GPS to tell me what restaurants were in the area and it identified a Chinese restaurant about a half mile ahead. It turned out not to be a REAL Chinese restaurant, but more like a fast food Chinese restaurant. That’s ok since the party was supposed to have things to snack on and dinner to follow so maybe a quick snack since we had not eaten might be a wise thing to do. However two things came into play here: 1. I LOVE Chinese food, especially sweet & sour chicken or pork, fried rice and an egg roll. 2. I didn't have time to look for another place and still make the party on time. So we placed our order at the co...

I was talking with my boss the other day as he was just returning from the hospital where his father in law (FIL) was being treated for breathing problems. Over the weekend while he was staying with him they started to watch television where a football game was on. For about thirty minutes they sat there, mostly quiet . . . commenting only about this play or that, maybe how hard a hit one had given . . . not needing to really say anything to each other. Both were content to just be there. His sister in law stopped by and over the next two hours was constantly talking . . . or as they said . . . yapping nonstop . . . about anything. They hoped she would just watch the game but she asked questions on what was happening during the game and on so many other subjects not related to anything that was going on with his ‘FIL’, his hospital stay, family matters, or as they said anything important. I remember reading some of the book, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Ve...

One of the great things about having a non-specific blog is that I can write about whatever I want, when I want. As an observer of life and things around me it makes for a fascinating outlook on many different things. What a difference a few days makes! The rain we had constantly for most of the summer stopped Friday afternoon, much to our delight, though the news weather experts seen to have been stuck in the mode of predicted light showers through the evening hours all summer. You look at the 5 or 7 day forecast and it has constantly shown clouds, rain or both. Normal times I think summer is the best for me . . . maybe not this summer with the rain and all but the fishing and outdoors in mild temperatures is great. I enjoy autumn with the wind in the trees, the changing colors, and the brisk feel in the air. I love getting up in the morning, walking outside, and having a cold blast of air hit me in the face. If I could choose any season to live out the rest of my l...

Paul Newman died yesterday at 83, thanks for the work in so many great movies . . . The racing over the years . . . and the countless charity you have given to so many. You will be missed. "Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." RIP & God speed. Ice

It jumped right out at me while watching the debates and McCain tried to use a bracelet of a fallen U.S. soldier given on the campaign trail to drive home his point that he would not withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq based on an arbitrary time line. After he finished talking Barack Obama quickly added . . . “I have a bracelet too!” and when he tried to tell his story Obama forgot the name on his bracelet! Watch the tape . . . he had to look down at the bracelet to remember the name. He had to read the name . . . It made the stunt of the bracelet wearing he is doing even clearer. It seemed like he almost was going to say that the dead soldier gave it to him. It was obvious that he had forgotten the name. If Obama were wearing a bracelet for any other reason than to say he is wearing a bracelet like McCain does, he would have known the name of ‘his’ soldier. But he didn’t. It is moments like this that reveal the true character of a man. McCain leads ...

Bearly Funny! Now one for the Democrats so we keep an even keel on this political season. The photo below shows a disturbing trend in animals in the U.S.A. Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party . . . as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance. This photo is of a Democrat black bear in Alaska nicknamed 'Bearack Obama'! Ice

Palin Implicated In Bullwinkle Assassination A little fun sets in as I am sitting here watching “Almost Famous” and can’t really get my mind into writing anything serious tonight so this little ditty just for the fun of it . . . and there’s a line in the movie, “I didn’t invent the rainy day . . . but I do own the best umbrella!” We’ve had the rain falling a lot here in Anchorage with it raining each day over the last 22 days so we need something to laugh about. The possible successor to Dick Cheney is getting out ahead of the game and shooting things up before she even takes office. The full "story" is found here at Sarah Palin Kills Bullwinkle - Bambi Is Next It's just a joke folks . . . seriously . . . I couldn’t resist. Ice

The first ‘official’ day of fall finds termination dust making its way down the Chugach Mountaintops in Alaska . Termination Dust is what Alaskans call the first dustings of snow on the mountains signaling the oncoming winter, hence termination of summer. Oh yeah, it’s that thing we have had in the past but not this year. The changing of the leaves in fall is quick. Blink and you may miss it. The landscape both in the neighborhoods and on the hillsides is dotted with lots of yellow and very few oranges. The cranes are flying overhead in formation beginning the long journey home. Geese are following suit and making their way across the sky. Alaskan snowbirds are planning their trips to warmer climates, as well. The exodus of motorhomes hitting the highways is just beginning as the tourist and the snowbirds make their way south. Hawaii , Arizona and Mexico are popular destinations for Alaskans fleeing the onset of winter! After the third coldest summer in history...

Well, I got to spend a little time at the airport recently, and I think out of the many hours spent in transit my favorite part was baggage claim. I know you thought I was gonna say a bathroom stall . . . but nope, it's baggage handling & claim. There is that quick check to make sure you have everything in the right place . . . and that you do not have anything on the current “unapproved” list before you head to check in your bags. The things we do now in the name of airline safety can get almost comical if the realities of why we must endure this weren’t so real. Off we go to check in . . . After you've taken your shoes off and put your travel-size minoxidil in a little baggie (yeah like I would really use it), unpack the laptop and place things in the baskets while you still think flying makes you part of the elite . . . the "jet set" . . . well baggage handling & claims should shatter that myth. Going into the airport your luggage is treated li...

This post will close out the Cancun Vacation 2008. Time has crept up on me and trying to complete this has been hard to get things done to spend the time to finish writing this out. This will cover the last few days of the trip and there will only be a few pictures this time as I know the load times are hard on some of you. Friday –August 22, 2008 was a laid back day for some of us while Scott & his family rented a Jeep and drove themselves into the city of Cancun . Another adventure in Mexico and another great blog in the making as the first policeman they passed once downtown while seeing their Avis rental changed the light to red and proceeded to pull them over. Avis provided only one rear seat belt for the kids leaving two unbuckled so there were the possible tickets for two seat belt violations. Add another charge for the traffic light violation with total fines of $ 250 US dollars. The policeman quickly noted that there would be a $ 50 US dollar ‘fee’ to make t...

That Is Russia Over There . . . Continuing a tradition over the years of satirizing our politicians, Saturday Night Live hits one out of the park in last weeks season opener with a great skit between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. The lead off gambit is still being talked and blogged about all over the media as those from both sides try to get everyone back on tract to the issues before the elections. What fun . . . enjoy! And Newser reports . . . Palin’s Right . . . I mean Tina Fey . . . That Is Russia Over There . . . (Newser) – If the Republicans lose in November, Sarah Palin may just want to walk on over to Russia to escape the media frenzy. Turns out you can really see America ’s "next-door neighbors" from US shores. The Alaskan island Little Diomede and Russia 's Big Diomede are a mere 2½ miles apart, explains Nina Shen Rastogi in Slate. From mid-December through mid-June Alaska 's Bering Stra...

Two Words . . . Never Forget! Ice

Palin takes America by Storm AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster * I couldn’t resist putting this one up! Ice

Thursday – August 21, 2008 Sorry it has taken me so long to finish this vacation and get things posted but it has been hectic here once we returned. There were several unexpected things going on with our return since the group was splitting up once we hit Los Angeles and then Deb remained in Mexico a few extra days getting bumped off the flight home from Cancun. The announcement of Sarah Palin, our Governor here in Alaska has stirred a huge buzz here for everyone and with the Democratic and Republican Conventions the last couple of weeks there were several nights watching the hoopla and seeing the presentation of both sides running mates. I can’t say there was a lot of meat in discussion of the issues but there were many things that were put out on both sides which will make for an interesting couple of months in this election process. It is going to be fun seeing what this Nation decides in its direction in November. Back to the vacation and Spa day for everyone. With ...