The Old and the Young

It's been HOT the past couple of days - we set records both yesterday (80) and the day before (82). And it's been quite muggy. Of course this is nothing compared to the all-time record set in Seattle on Wednesday - think it was 107. YIKES! Pretty damn hot for the Great Northwest.

It's been too hot to go to the Club...but have been doing a good amount of biking and walking. Yesterday was kinda a bust in the exercise department; I took dad to the doctor's office in the morning. His blood is still too thin so they have reduced the blood thinner prescription again. His edema has returned with a vengeance. I don't think there's much left in the medical bag o' tricks - and he's getting weaker all the time. No pain, though. So it certainly could be worse. We now have the home health folks coming in every week and they're very helpful - good for mom's morale as much as for dad's health. I know I feel the stress of the situation and I'm not usually there more than an hour or two a day - poor mom is under the gun 24/7. Sigh...

On a much more positive note, I had a wonderful time with Leah yesterday...we took her doggie charges for a walk past Sandy Beach in the afternoon and had a very good supper at Zephyr last evening. We had a great visit. Every time I spend quality time with either one of the gals I spend the next couple of days shaking my head in wonder at how delightful they are...

Not that 25 year old gals don't have problems... Leah is struggling with what to do next...there's no reason to believe the job market has suddenly blossomed in Portland the past couple of months and she dreads the prospect of the job search. On the other hand, she is very sensibly and methodically considering other options including a return to academe. I have no doubt she will noodle through this... I think she's had a great summer in Juneau.

Well, time to get the Friday show on the road. The home health folks got mom and dad to fill-out applications for the Pioneer's Home and I need to get them filed. Also will make the rounds and hopefully collect a couple of donations for the Junior Golf Club. I haven't walked the dike trail in ten days or so and am feeling the need - although I'm sure I will be dismayed to take note of the fact all the summer foliage is rapidly going to seed... And this evening it's off to the Island Pub to welcome my buddy Carol Collins to the ranks of the retired. I will take my camera...

Have a great weekend everybody!

Just Direct Your Feet - to the Sunny Side of the Street

Clear as a bell this morning. Supposed to be over 80 degrees today...a real scorcher.

Yesterday was quite spectacular too - after the morning fog burned-off. I got mucho exercise, a good workout at the Club, took Leah's doggies for a walk down past Sandy Beach, and went for a bike ride out to the glacier and back.

The doggies Leah is caring for are quite mellow. Mocha is a 15 year old beagle - kinda standoffish. Not unfriendly - but not particularly friendly either. Sitka is a couple of years younger and is a big goofy golden retriever. A very nice dog. Leah is working ten hour days for the zip line folks so I go take the hounds for a walk in the mid-afternoon. They are appreciative.

Leah gets tomorrow off - we're going to go out for dinner somewhere and I'm going to see if I can also talk her into a hike. Haven't been up Granite Creek yet this year and tomorrow would be an ideal day to make the trek.

In other news, I have now made flight reservations for a fall excursion. Will head to Seattle on September 7th and drive to Portland for a couple of days. Dougie and Alison arrive in Seattle on the night of the 10th and I have offered to pick them up on the morning of the 11th for the drive to Redmond, Oregon and the Juneau Golf Club Fall Classic. Will head back to Seattle on the 19th and then catch a flight to Boston on the morning of the 21st.

I have two weeks back east and haven't a clue what I'll do. My initial thought was to take a trans-Canada train ride eastbound and then fly home from Boston after a week or so of leaf-peeping. But the choo choo is muy expensive - it works out to over $400 a day for nine days. And three of those days is spent crossing the prairies - an experience that I suspect maybe three hours would suffice. Ultimately I concluded that $400 a day could get me a four star hotel and a three star date in Boston...and would be a lot more fun besides.

After a few days in Boston I'll hit the road and do some touring of New England for ten days or so. There are a bizillion cool country inns and B&B establishments. And I'm contemplating a couple of days in Montreal. I'll fly from Boston to Juneau on October 6th.

Another October in Juneau...son-of-a-bitch...

Finally, I offer the poster below from an unnamed admirer of our former Governor.

Washington D. C. or Bust!

Summer - the Sequel

Hard to believe - but we are destined for yet another spell of hot weather. Should be clearing-off later today and then sunny and in the upper 70's - low 80's through next weekend. Incredible.

I plan to make the most of it in the hiking, bicycling, and picture taking departments. Stay tuned...

Everything is more-or-less back to what passes for normal around here after the medical madness of last week. Friday was Auntie Emilie day with a trip to the vet with her kitty, Baby, and then a visit to the dental surgeon where auntie had a tooth extracted. Both of these events were fraught with potential peril; but both Baby and auntie were on good behaviour and were returned to their abode without incident. Yesterday I mowed auntie's lawn and both Emilie and Baby appeared no worse for wear...

Yesterday I also attended the picnic of the Juneau 4th of July Parade Committee. My sister, Linda, is a ranking member of the organization and she asked me to take some group pics. My pleasure...although when she sees the pics this morning it may not be HER pleasure.

My sister, Linda, at the 4th of July Parade Committee pic-a-nic

Nephew Lance was very happy to see his Uncle Elmer since I was giving him a ride home...

In other news, it seems that Alaska's gubernatorial transition went-off without a hitch yesterday. Governor Palin ended her abbreviated term at a picnic in Fairbanks where, after a typically incoherent speech (mostly whining about how mean the press has been to her and her family), she turned the reins o' state over to Sean Parnell.

At supper on Saturday (featuring ol' fashioned southern fried chicken by Chef Dougie), Eric mentioned that there is a new Palin tee shirt making the rounds. As I recall, he said it says something like: "Alaska - July 25, 2009 - The End of an Error"

I just googled "Sarah Palin tee shirts" and while this particular novelty item did not come-up, plenty of others did. I think I will get Eric the "McCain/MILF - 2008" tee shirt for Christmas.

Well, gonna head over to Elderburg. Then a workout. Then walk the doggies in Douglas (I am now backing-up Leah on a dog sitting gig). Then maybe it will have cleared-off enough for a pleasant bike ride. And with luck I will be sipping wine in the sun on the porch this evening...

Later kids.

Dad Cheats the Reaper (Again)

Another eventful couple of days... Spent most of the day yesterday waiting for the doc to make rounds at the hospital. Mom and I did a morning shift and I went back after my workout. I finally gave up around 3 PM or so. Was just starting supper when mom called and said the doc had just called and dad was ready to be sprung from the hospital.

We zipped over and the ol' coot was predictably happy to see us. We hustled out the door as fast as we could.

A good part of today was spent getting all the new medications in order, talking to various folks about stuff you should and should not eat or drink when on a blood thinner, getting the home health folks lined-up, and various other medical odds and ends. Whew!

Dad is FINALLY taking more pills than I am... In fact he's got quite a collection going. I bought a weekly pill organizer and put together a weekly regimen.

In other news, with all the excitement I forgot to mention that I am dog sitting for the landlords this week. Me and my pal Finnegan the Yorkshire Terrier. He found a squeaky Moose toy that I think belonged to Jasper. Finnegan has been worrying it to death ever since. I assume that Yorkys were genetically engineered as part of a rodent removal program way back when. I know if I was a rat, I would not like to see this guy coming at me...

Squeaky moose toy

Finnegan waiting for me to throw the squeaky moose toy

Finnegan subdues squeaky moose toy

The squeaky moose toy is being seriously abused even as I type. The squeaky part of the squeaky moose toy is beginning to grate... A radical squeakectomy may be in order...

Later gang...

Sweet & Sour Weekend

Yin & Yang, Hot & Cold, Sweet & Sour - anyway you care to describe it - a truly bipolar weekend... I split my time between Bartlett Regional Hospital where dad continues to reside and spending quality time at our annual high school pals mini-reunion.

The reunion was, once again, a very fun event. Portlanders Jane Ellis and Jim Larson and Bowels of Ballard Girl, Terry Harrigan, constituted the visiting team. The home team consisted of Dougie and Alison, Julia and Ralph Kibby, Eric, and yours truly. With luck, I will one day be traded to the visiting team...probably for something like a case of cheap wine, a bushel of fresh produce and a gross of condoms.

The featured reunion event was supper at Kibby's on Saturday. It was delightful. Julia made an excellent coq au vin. Alison's English trifle dessert was outstanding. There was much banter, ribbing, teasing and other good natured abuse. And it's possible that a couple of cases of wine were consumed...

Photographic evidence of this extravaganza does exist - but it is not my best work. And in the interest of maintaining the high standards that you have all come to expect from this Blog - and to avoid the niagara of abuse that would follow immediately upon publication of said photographs, I have elected to be discreet. Of course, I may change my mind at any time...

Yesterday morning Eric, Jim, and I went to the Douglas Cafe for a late morning breakfast and then Jim and I did a quick tour of downtown and spent a few minutes visiting my mom. Then off the airport...a VERY short visit for Jim who was back at work in Portland at 6 AM this morning.

Julia gave Jane and Terry the full Juneau tour yesterday and I joined them late in the afternoon for more serious bullshitting and then took Terry to the airport to catch the last flight of the day.

I am extremely fond of this crew...

Meanwhile, dad continues to have his blood thinned at the hospital. As of yesterday morning, his blood work still wasn't quite where they wanted it - although he said he felt good and the edema is markedly improved. He will likely be discharged today or tomorrow.

Speaking of which, I need to get showered and dressed and go pick-up mom for our morning visit to the hospital.

Later gang...

Tell Me Where it Hurts...

Whew! Just got home and it's the first time I feel like I've been able to catch my breath since mid-morning yesterday. It has been a LONG 24 hours...

Yesterday at 11 AM dad and I arrived at Bartlett Regional Hospital for what we assumed would be a quick in-and-out ultrasound of his heart - a procedure we should have had done months ago but, until last week, was stoutly opposed by dad. The edema in his legs and feet has been worsening steadily and even he finally recognized that we needed to try to a new approach.

After a couple of false starts of the "No, not this entrance, the OTHER entrance" variety we got registered with the imaging folks and only had to wait a half-hour or so before we were ushered into the ultasound suite. Then things started to spin-out of control fast.

The technicians were disturbed by a red and tender patch on this right arm - just above his wrist. I was not disturbed since it was actually much improved from a couple of days previously when his lower arm and hand were all spongy and swollen like his legs - mom and I both assumed that it was simply more edema like on his legs and feet. Indeed, I think it was this swelling that finally convinced dad to let me make an appointment for the ultrasound.

In any event, the techies thought we should see a doctor after the ultrasound procedure. I tried to make an appointment at our regular clinic - but it being Friday they were short-staffed and booked solid. So "Plan B" - the Emergency Room right down the hall.

We checked-in about 1:30 PM and after a wait of no more than three hours were ushered into the ER. In the meantime we were amused by a parade of misery including a gentleman valiantly attempting to pass a kidney stone, a gal who spent a couple of hours walking around with an ice pack on her head (although she did take a break from pacing the room every fifteen minutes or so to go have a smoke) and a middle aged pasty-faced gal who just set in the corner rocking and moaning. And these weren't the most critical folks who were actually seen quite speedily and did not tarry in the waiting room. Since dad's condition was clearly less acute than many others, I cannot criticize the staff for our wait...it just wasn't a lot of fun...

Around 4:30 PM we saw the ER doc...who wasn't overly concerned about dad's arm but was very concerned about the edema. By that time he had got the ultrasound results and they indicated that dad's heart is in quite fine shape for a 94 year old. Pumping away to beat the band. So...the doc intelligently concluded that something other than a weak heart must be the cause of the problem.

So....let's draw some blood and zip him back to the ultrasound suite to do a study of the veins and arteries in his legs. Bingo! Big time blood-clots and blockage. And option time: we can go home and mom and/or I can give him injections of blood thinner every 12 hours for a couple of days OR he can be admitted to the hospital and get the blood thinner via an I-V. Since dad was looking pretty ragged by that time and I wasn't sure I could even get him up the stairs into the house and given that mom was pretty stressed-out already, I convinced the ol' coot, without much difficulty, to take the inpatient option.

This resulted in a further wait in the ER for a couple of hours insofar as we needed to have a visit from the on-call doc from his regular clinic in order to be admitted. Finally, we were wheeled-up to the med/surg wing about 9:00 PM. Dad hadn't had any food since early morning and was greedily sucking-up a couple of little containers of ice cream when we parted company...

I was hoarse...from ten hours of acting as dad's translator...kinda like the old Garrett Morris routine from Saturday Night Live...the deaf person translator - "OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT...."

Only for me it was an endless loop with at least a dozen medical professionals along the lines of:

Doctor: "How are you feeling? Looks like you're retaining quite a bit of water."

Dad: "Do I want some water? Huh?"

Me: "HOW ARE YOU FEELING?"

Mom and I went to see the old boy this morning and he seemed quite chipper. One emergency drill to run to the folk's place to get some replacement urostomy bags. And a thermos of coffee. It seems that Bartlett serves Juneau's finest from Heritage Coffee - Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Child Labor coffee of the Best Quality. Dad said it tasted like shit. He desperately needed a cup of Folgers...

With luck he'll be sprung on Monday and with even more luck we will now get the edema under control. Time will tell.

Homecoming Week

A trio of my favourite people are headed this way for the weekend - Jane Ellis, Jim Larson, and Terry Harrigan. The Portland/Seattle troupe will be featured at a Saturday supper at Ralph and Julia Kibby's new McMansion on Fritz Cove Road. It will be big-time fun. Champaigne, good food, good company. Doesn't get any better than that...

Unfortunately, the weather has turned...drizzle this morning and it sounds like more of the same off-and-on throughout the weekend. Still, I cannot complain after the past two weeks of magnificent sunshine.

I've spent considerable time the past couple of days soliciting funds for the Juneau Junior Golf Club. It has been slow going. Perhaps I am not as charming as I once thought...

Still, I can take some personal comfort in the fact that a couple of my hoped-for donors mentioned that their reluctance is a reflection of the proliferation of youth-related good causes resulting from the opening of our second high school. It seems that every high school group has now multiplied amoeba-like with two hands now outstretched where previously there was only one.

I will persevere. After all, this is GOLF for kids. The future investment bankers and CEO's of America! Hmmm. Never mind...

In other news, yesterday I attempted to get interested in the confirmation hearings for Judge Sotomayor. I failed. The only question in my mind is which was more pointless and dispiriting - the banal questions asked (repeatedly) by the Judiciary Committee's Republican Braintrust or the tediously insipid responses of the Judge (Sorry, boys, just not gonna tell you what I personally think about gun-toting wingnuts). The hearings have failed both as a serious political exercise and as entertainment - although Senator Tom Coburn did manage a passable imitation of Rickie Ricardo. On the bright side, I believe the utlimate outcome will be positive.

Of more interest to me is the continuing saga of Senator John Ensign and Governor Sanford. Not that I care about their infidelities - I really don't. But I am increasingly intrigued by their spiritual lives - specifically the organization known as "The Family" to which both belong. Here's the wikipedia entry on the organization:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_(Christian_political_organization)

I have not had the time to do any serious reading about this group - and what you hear and see on the "talking heads" shows should always be taken with more than one grain of salt.

Nevertheless, it appears that the current head of "The Family," Pastor David Coe, is particularly adept at stroking the egos and trousering the cash of the rich and powerful (or at least the semi-powerful like Ensign and Sanford). As I understand it, a central theme of the good pastor's preaching is that the rich and powerful are, in fact, rich and powerful because god has personally deemed them worthy. Not sure what that means for the rest of us - sounds like the meek shall inherit the earth bit is NOT a big part of this particular program. But the message resonates well with a sizable portion of the targeted demographic as one can well imagine. Great marketing.

Stay tuned for further developments on this subject...

In the meantime, I'm off to the elders. Should be wood to chop today. The boilers have not been lit the past couple of weeks due to the warm weather; but I expect we'll be firing-up the trusty old Earth Stove today. And tomorrow it's off to the hospital for an ultra sound of the ol' coot's heart. He's not doing so well...

Later gang...

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?...

And begging the band Chicago's pardon, the definitive answer, in the case of Aunt Emilie is "No" - based on a conversation I had with her yesterday afternoon while I was mowing her lawn.

It seems that Auntie was sitting at her computer writing a note to her daughter, Sandra, and commented in the note that it was about 55 degrees - which seemed cool for so early in the evening. A bit later she noticed that the temperature had risen to over 60 degrees - which caused her some concern since it is customary for the temperature to go down as the evening progresses.

After considerable head-scratching and upon observing that the sun was shining, she was forced to conclude that it was 10 o'clock in the morning and NOT 10 o'clock in the evening as she had assumed. She was completely flummoxed by this fact and the missing 12 hours.

Not being present during the period of time in question, I cannot definitively say what may have happened to the missing 12 hours. However I suspect that she may well have fallen asleep at her desk. After all, this is a person who is known to fall asleep on the toilet with her cat on her lap...

Sigh...

In other elder news, dad is not responding to the increase in his diuretic meds as the doc and we had hoped. He is still retaining lots of fluid. Yesterday, dad finally agreed to an ultrasound of his heart - something the doc had wanted months ago - so we are now waiting for an appointment at the hospital for the procedure. I'm assuming his heart is just getting weaker and weaker...

I had a low-impact weekend. Went to the Dept. of Health and Social Services picnic on Saturday for a bit - road my bike out-and-back to Auke Rec. And Saturday evening had a great supper at Laura Beasons with all the Juneau Golf Club folks working on organizing the fall tournament in Redmond, Oregon.

My good friend Kurt West and wife Christie at Saturday's company picnic. I DO miss the morning Koffee Klatch with Kurt at the office - in fact it is about the ONLY thing I miss from the office.

Dougie and Bill Diebels at the DHSS picnic.

On the political scene I note in the paper this morning that our soon-to-be-former Governor has now raised almost a million bucks for SarahPac - and she is committed to sharing her wit and wisdom with all of us in the coming months with speaking engagements coast-to-coast. I can hardly wait...

I'm Fascinated by the Treadwell Ditch

More nice weather...although it has been smoky and it is pretty much overcast this morning. No indication of rain until late next week however - probably just in time to greet our visitors from Seattle and Portland for the annual mini-reunion.

On Thursday I hiked up the new Gastineau Meadows Trail behind Crow Hill and then north on the Treadwell Ditch Trail to the Dan Moller Trail and then down to the road and back to the car via the Douglas Highway. It was way fun.

The ditch trail is in fair shape as you start north through the trees and muskeg but deteriorates as you approach Lawson Creek. All the little bridges over the numerous gullies are fallen down and there is no sign of a bridge over Lawson Creek. I had to go downstream a bit to find a place to cross. After crossing Lawson Creek the trail continues in very poor condition for a little more than a quarter mile but then improves steadily and is in very good condition for the last half mile or so before you reach the junction of the Dan Moller trail. Quite a bit of bear sign but nothing real fresh.

This was not a long hike but was very interesting to me. The Treadwell Ditch was started in 1882 and completed in 1889. It runs all the way from Fish Creek out North Douglas to the old mine properties south Sandy Beach in Douglas. Access to the trail is a quarter mile from the Eaglecrest parking lot on the north end. It was designed to collect and carry water for use in the mines. Quite an engineering feat.

I may have to pay a visit to the historical library...

I've never hiked the ditch trail before and tomorrow or early next week plan to hike from Eaglecrest south to the Dan Moller trail. May do it in one day or two...

Trail Mix, the local trails outfit, plans to rehabilitate the entire trail to make it a bike path. They've applied for over a million bucks in federal dollars although I don't know if they've received it or not. The tone of the articles I've read suggest this is going to be a happening thing and the Forest Service appears supportive. Excellent!

Dark Eyed Junco in the Gastineau Meadows

Winter Wren - these guys are hard to photograph. They flit around constantly and are always in the woods where lighting is poor. Still searching for the definitive Wren shot!

I had a fairly quiet day yesterday. Went to the Club for the first time in a week for a good long workout (it's HOT in the Club on sunny days) and then ran errands. Late yesterday afternoon Bob Dilley replaced the facia board along the roofline of my deck and I stood around and pretended to help. Some of the old board was rotten as I discovered when it fell apart under the weight of a hanging basket this spring... I think Bob is contemplating replacing my deck and stairs too. Would be an excellent excuse to leave town on vacation when that happens.

I'm supposed to go to a DHSS picnic today and then to Laura's for a golf club planning supper this evening. Maybe I'll ride my bike out to the picnic at Auke Rec...

Later gang.

DuPont Walk

Well, we're now in day 8 of the summer dry and hot season. It wasn't quite as hot yesterday - there was some high thin cloudiness in the late afternoon and evening and there is a fair amount of smoke in the area from forest fires in the interior. Pretty amazing though...and there's no rain in the forecast for the next week - although it is supposed to be cloudy some days.

I've been outdoors as much as I can stand - trying to hit the road by mid-morning and have been laying-up at home in the heat of the day.

On Tuesday I walked down to DuPont from the end of Thane Road. I don't think I'd hiked the trail in maybe a decade or so. The first quarter of the trail has been rehabilitated and is quite good. But the next segment - about half the trail I would estimate - is gnarly tree roots and rocks. Kinda like being on a stair climber - lots of leg lifting without actually gaining any altitude. It's not really difficult - but I do notice that as I get older my balance isn't as good as it used to be and it would be a great place to turn an ankle as you hippity-hop from rock to tree root to rock. The last segment is pretty good - some of it is boardwalk (that's kinda a generous description for planks set on the ground).

Whenever I think of the DuPont trail I think of Jim Larson. He and I hiked down there to fish for Dolly Varden when we were freshmen in high school. Think I posted a couple of pics from that expedition last year...

I also think of my dad. Hauling explosives on a barge from DuPont to the Juneau waterfront was his first job at the mine back in the 1930's.

At any rate, here are some pics from Tuesday...

Pretty waterfall from a little bridge (below) on the DuPont trail

This is a big tree and hard to believe it's still alive. I could crawl from one side to the other through the hole in the middle of the trunk

I assume this is the remains of one of the old powder magazines

The DuPont dock - or what remains of it...

The Norwegian Star outbound at the south end of Gastineau Channel

Damn these things are BIG!

Yesterday I played a couple of rounds of golf. Was panting by the time I was done and, of course, played poorly to boot. I'm thinkin' that I need professional help (again).

Leah and Amanda are both doing well. I spoke to Amanda late last week and she is busy, busy, busy. And she REALLY likes working at the camp in Southern California. Last week the kids in camp all had Spina biffida. The week before were kidney transplant kids and the first week were liver transplant kids. Don't forget to buy your Paul Newman popcorn to support these programs!

Leah is now working TWO jobs in Juneau...driving a 15-passenger van for the Eagle Crest zipline and working at a caterers. I think she is enjoying the summer - particularly since the weather turned nice. She is in great spirits.

I'm mighty fond of those gals...

Parade Pics Posted

My 4th of July Parade portfolio has been posted on my Kodak website. Not too bad if I do say so myself.

Kris Gray - 1959 4th of July Princess relives her glory years!

In other news, the Juneau weather continues to amaze. It was near 90 degrees yesterday! In fact it was too bloody hot to be outdoors in the afternoon. Sure pretty though...

On the 5th Jasper and I walked up the new Gastineau Meadows trail behind Crow Hill on Douglas Island. The trail is only about a mile; but it's all uphill and it was over 80 degrees. Jasper was a gasper by the time we made it to the Treadwell Ditch Trail. And I was panting like a dog too.

A brand new trail!

Most of the trail is through the muskeg. Bet the deer hunters are going to love this next fall.

The Gastineau Meadows looking towards Sheep Mountain

Once you reach the Treadwell Ditch you can turn south towards Douglas or north towards the Dan Moller Trail - and ultimately all the way out North Douglas past Fish Creek.

Cooler and quiet in the rainforest - note the old logs from the original structure on the right.

This part of the Treadwell Ditch trail needs a lot of work. You have to watch your step with all the tree roots and in many places you're walking on the old wooden structure which is slippery and rotten.

Alaska Cotton in the Gastineau Meadows

I've got to take the Old Coot to the doc this morning. He is retaining a lot of fluid again. Mom has increased his medication twice in the past couple of weeks; but his belly and legs are still pretty swollen. I'm guessing it's slow-motion heart failure. Still, he has no pain so that is a very good thing...

I missed the wake for Chuck Nygard's mom last evening. Just wasn't up for a big crowd at the Moose Lodge. Doug and Eric attended and Doug called me in the early evening to chastise me for being a no-show. Mitch Hogins is in town too.

The 4th of July is Exhausting...

A marvelous 4th of July weekend in Juneau. The weather couldn't be better (it might even be a tad too warm - was near 80 again yesterday). Started out the festivities with cocktails on Thursday evening. Then on Friday Doug, Eric, and I - accompanied by Jasper and Eric's two Labradors, Coal and Sadie, hiked up Montana Creek. I had not been up there for DECADES and, in fact, had never hiked the trail as far as we went this trip. It was just beautiful - the pictures do NOT do justice to the area...

The pack hits the trail

Coal is a BIG dog

I didn't compensate enough for the deep shadows...sorry about that, boys...

Right pretty...

The hounds slept well on Friday night...

Yesterday was the standard 4th drill...with the exception of hauling and stacking a cord of wood at the elders at 8 AM... I rode into town with Doug and Alison for the parade followed by the mandatory couple of pints of beer at the Triangle. Took gizmo for a good walk and then over to Alison's and Doug's for BBQ ribs. Seriously yummy.

I'll have a bunch of parade pics at some point; but I'm just not in the mood to process this morning. It's going to be another scorcher so I think Jasper and I need to hit the trail before the heat of the day. Think we'll walk up the new trail behind Crow Hill than connects to the Treadwell Ditch.

Joan gets in on the ferry this evening so Jasper will be homeward bound...

In other news, it's possible that you've heard about the resignation of our Governor. I'm still scratching my head as is everybody else. It makes no sense to me. But then she is a whimsical (not to say erratic) kind of gal. Still, one should not look a gift horse in the mouth. Adios!

The soon-to-be Governor of Alaska, Sean Parnell, is as dull as Ms. Palin was charismatic. I don't think we'll be seeing Alaska news on the national wire too much after he assumes office. I'm guessing his ascension is probably a good think for all my pals who are still wage slaves for the State. He should have better relations with the legislature than Sarah - at least with the Republicans. In terms of policy matters there is no reason to think the Parnell Administration will differ substantively from the Palin Administration however.

Although, as Dougie pointed out yesterday, he WILL need to pick a fight with somebody - to establish his own credentials as Governor and to lay the groundwork for next year's campaign. With luck he will focus on energy issues. He is just as intolerant as Palin on all the hot-button social questions of the day and I just hope we're not in for 18 months of cultural warfare.

Still, one may as well try to remain optimistic - perhaps he will indeed rise to the challenge of his new office.

Well, my laundry's done...so time to hit the road...

He's Back...

Jasper is resting quietly on the couch. I picked him up last evening and he will be boarding with me through the weekend. Joan is visiting friends in Sitka for the 4th of July holiday.

It's a drop-dead gorgeous morning and the forecast for the next week is quite encouraging. Lots of hiking and golfing are also in the forecast. YIPPEE! And of course parade watching tomorrow.

In fact, we will kick-off the fun in about two hours when I go pick-up Dougie to meet Eric and his hounds for a hike up the Montana Creek trail.

On a much less favorable note, this morning's Anchorage Daily News is carrying a story about the sacking of the Director of Public Health and resignation of my old department's Chief Medical Officer. http://www.adn.com/palin/story/852044.html

Apparently the director, Beverly Wooley, was given the heave-ho by Governor Palin for her failure to show sufficient enthusiasm for a parental consent for abortion bill sponsored by Fairbanks House Republican John Coghill.

I see the story has already been picked-up by The Oregonian and I suspect it will likely get a fair amount of national play.

Also, Alaska's Lt. Governor yesterday certified a petition to put a parental consent measure on next year's election ballot. The measure is being sponsored by former Lt. Governor Loren Leman and the Alaska Family Council among others. The Alaska Family Council is described by the Anchorage Daily News as a "Christian pro-family anti-abortion group" and is the local affiliate of the national Focus on the Family organization headed by Dr. James Dobson.

Governor Palin and Commissioner of Health and Social Services, Bill Hogan, declined to comment on the dismissal of the public health director citing the confidentiality of personnel matters and on the advice of the Department of Law.

Sigh...

As the legislative liaison for the Department of Health and Social Services for many years I am the veteran of many legislative battles over the abortion issue. And since I worked for both "pro-life" and "pro-choice" Administrations, I have had the pleasure of articulating various Governors' positions on both sides of all facets of the issue - including parental consent, late-term abortions, and public funding for abortions. It was never fun. But I always tried (more or less successfully, I believe) to shield the public health professionals from having to compromise their personal or professional integrity on these matters. Better to have a flak like me take the political heat...than to run the risk of compromising the integrity of the public health system which we ALL depend upon to protect us from the myriad of public health threats from influenza to HIV.

The public health system can function effectively ONLY when it is regarded as strictly science-based and non-political.

While tension between the Governor's Office and the Division of Public Health is nothing new, this is, to my knowledge, the first time a director has ever been sacked in mid-term for failure to toe the party line on the abortion issue... I don't like it one bit.

The Wasilla Hillbillies Revisited

Palin is unlike any other national figure in modern American life... The clouds of tabloid conflict and controversy that swirl around her and her extended clan—the surprise pregnancies, the two-bit blood feuds, the tawdry in-laws and common-law kin caught selling drugs or poaching game—give her family a singular status in the rogues’ gallery of political relatives... Palin’s life has sometimes played out like an unholy amalgam of Desperate Housewives and Northern Exposure.

Vanity Fair

If you have not already done so...check-out the article on my Governor in the latest issue of Vanity Fair: http://www.vanityfair.com/

It's most definitely worth a read...

In other news, Juneau eagerly awaits the start of the Fourth of July festivities. My sister is a member of the group that organizes the parade - and as of yesterday I think there were about 80 entrants. Good ol' timey Fourth of July fun. Fireworks, parades, and games of chance and skill at Sandy Beach in Douglas. Beer.

I have been making the rounds of local merchants in search of swag for the Juneau Junior Golf Club. I have a number of possible contributors taking the matter under advisement - but nobody has actually forked-over the cash yet.

Yesterday I played a round at the local course. It was pretty wet and I may have lost a pint of blood to the resident mosquitoes and no-see-ums. I am scratching like a hound dog this morning. Still, I enjoyed whacking the little white ball - and my game seems no worse for wear despite six months of inactivity. Which is to say I still play extremely poorly. I hope to play again today; but the jury is out as it is just too wet this morning. Maybe this afternoon...

Indeed our weather forecast has been of the "free beer tomorrow" variety the past several days. Promises of improvement tomorrow - but tomorrow has yet to arrive.

Went over to Joan's last night for supper. The celebrity chefs were her two boarders, Jeff and Leah. Jeff is the new administrative manager for Perseverance Theater - seems like a nice guy. He roasted a chicken on the grill. Leah made a great salad with a vinaigrette dressing and tasty little fried chevre balls. And for dessert she made cheese cake bits with fresh raspberries. Good company and good food.

Well, just took a call on the phone. It was mom. A half-cord of wood is now waiting in the driveway to be hauled and stacked. So...my FIRST workout of the day is set.

Later gang!