Congratulations James and Leah

A very busy and fun-filled weekend.  Alison's son, James, wed his long-time best friend, Leah, on Saturday at the University of Alaska Southeast's outdoor pavilion.   Leah is Tim Wilson's niece.  Two long-time Juneau families united in marital bliss. 

The wedding arch framed Auke Lake and the Mendenhall Glacier.  Very romantic.  The ceremony was extremely well done and was followed by cocktails, dinner and ultimately dancing.  The newlyweds are now cavorting in Hawaii.

The wedding was just the main event of the weekend.  On Sunday Dougie was grillmaster at his place for a fun party.  Got to visit with Tim for awhile and lots of other pals.  Great groceries as always.

The Friday night event stole the show, however - a whale watching charter with dinner.  I took so many pictures my shutter finger went numb.  Although that could have been from the wine I suppose...

We saw a few humpbacks and a few sea lions.  But it was front-and-center night for the killer whales.  We found ourselves among a pod I estimated to be between thirty and forty individuals.  I have NEVER seen so many orcas.  Way, way cool!  And while I had my people lens as opposed to wildlife lens I nevertheless managed to get a few decent shots.

No mistaking who this is...

Lots of moms, dads, and kiddos

Most of the cruise I spent making a nuisance of myself with my camera.  The lighting was tricky - lots of natural light (even some sun on occasion) streaming through the big picture windows while I'm trying to photograph folks in the relatively dark interior of the boat.  Sometimes my flash would go off and sometimes not. Lots of fiddling in photoshop the past couple of days.

The groom with Mother Alison, Aunt Lauren, Uncle Greg and cousins

  

 

The beautiful bride (right) and friend

I have a fairly large album I will share once Alison has properly vetted the pics.  But here are a couple more of various hangers-on...

 Dougie and Tim

Kim, Ray and Carol

A delightful evening...

Bear Sign

A couple of pretty fair days.  Got some yard work done.  Went for walkies with Joan and the hounds. 

When I was up at auntie's yesterday, she was excited to relate a bear sighting.  Yogi was wandering around Evergreen Avenue.  Apparently he had an itch that needed scratching...first he rubbed his back against a telephone pole and then he embraced said pole to rub his tummy.  Too bad I missed it...

I was already aware of the recent visit however...

 

I may not be Daniel Boone - but I think there's been a bear in these here parts

Auntie's 86th birthday bash went-off as planned.  Nobody was feeling particularly photogenic however.  Although I did get a few pics of mom's garden which I will share with you later.

After gardening it was off to Fish Creek for walkies.

Joan's boarder's dog, Nicki

Maddy cools her heels

Day before yesterday we walked the airport dike trail.  The Sitka Roses were beautiful!

Sitka Roses in bloom on the Airport Dike Trail.  

Well, time to saddle up and head over to mom's for coffee.  Big night tonight.  Alison's son, James, is getting married tomorrow and tonight is a dinner/whale watching cruise.  I am charging my camera battery...

Ouch!

Took the jeep in for servicing yesterday.  I knew it wasn't going to be pretty...my brakes have been shuddering for some months (they told me last fall I would need a brake job this spring) and last Friday I developed a short of some sort in the electrical system which resulted in a variety of disconcerting experiences including windows that would not open, displays that would not display and the loss of a headlight.  I was still hoping to keep the bill around a thousand dollars, however, so was nonplussed when I received a phone call from the maintenance guy explaining that there was more...  The good news - my jeep is now fully functioning.  The bad news, I am over $2100 poorer today than yesterday.  I need to do some cyphering and economizing to keep my fall vacation plans on track...

In other news - Happy Birthday Aunt Emilie who is 86 years young today.  Mandatory roast beef supper at mom's tonight.

And more news on the Republican political front.  John Huntsman has tossed his hat into the ring.  I do not know much about him; but what little I know leads me to suspect he is far too moderate for the red meat Republican crowd.  Still, he seems like an interesting person...

I also note that Ms. Bachmann has now formally announced her candidacy.  Plenty of red meat there...  She strikes me as truly scary...  Still, there is the entertainment value.

A couple of days ago I read a very good article in the Washington Post, "With Executive Pay Rich Pull Away for Rest of America."  The article is chock-a-block full of interesting factoids; but even more interesting is the case study of Dean Foods and the discussion of the culture of amorality among today's chief executives.

Over the period from the ’70s until today, while pay for Dean Foods chief executives was rising 10 times over, wages for the unionized workers actually declined slightly. The hourly wage rate for the people who process, pasteurize and package the milk at the company’s dairies declined by 9 percent in real terms, according to union contract records. It is now about $23 an hour.

...
According to the CIA’s World Factbook, which uses the so-called “Gini coefficient,” a common economic indicator of inequality, the United States ranks as far more unequal than the European Union and the United Kingdom. The United States is in the company of developing countries — just behind Cameroon and Ivory Coast and just ahead of Uganda and Jamaica.

This is the true legacy of Ronald Reagan's conservative vision.  And as the trend continues the outline of the Republican's vision of the future becomes clearer by the month - an America that more and more resembles Latin America during much of the past century. 

Still, I do accept at face value the Republican's claim that they have a jobs agenda.  Indeed, I believe a glimpse of this agenda is now in place in Georgia as described in this week's Economist in a story "Agriculture and Immigration Policy - A Hard Row to Hoe."

On July 1st a new law in Georgia, modeled roughly on the recent Arizona immigration law, will crack-down on undocumented workers.

Precise figures are hard to come by, but according to Erik Nocholson, national vice-president for the United Farm Workers' union, as many as 70% of American agricultural workers may be undocumented.  According to the Pew Hispanic Centre, in 2010 Georgia had around 425,000 such immigrants, putting it seventh among American states.

It may now have fewer:  46% of respondents to a recent survey conducted by the Georgia Agribusiness Council said they had too few workers.  Some reported that workers had left or were planning to leave for other states by July 1st.  And though that may be welcome news for politicians such as Mr. Ransey [the bill's sponsor], it could portend disaster for farmers.

...
Nathan Deal, Georgia's governor, who signed the immigration bill into law, came up with a novel solution on Tuesday; give the jobs - of which there are around 11,000, according to farmers who responded to a survey by Georgia's agriculture department - to unemployed probationers.

Brilliant!  But why stop there?  With so many long-term unemployed available, why not coerce them to work in the fields? 

In the meantime American capital continues to create jobs at a fast clip - in China, Brazil, and India to name just a few locales.  American "private equity" has been particularly fond of Brazil this year.  And while I am, generally speaking, in favor of free trade; I confess it irks me that the rich of this nation continue to pour their tax cut bonuses into foreign lands while America continues to crumble.

In Memoriam - Ben Grussendorf former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives

Alaska has lost one of its finest, Ben Grussendorf, former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives.  He was an able politician, a good man, and a friend. 

Earlier this spring, a number of us aging legislative staffers and various hangers-on traveled to Sitka by the Sea for a party for Ben.  It was great fun. 

Faleene Sele has thoughtfully provided a few more Sitka party pics for your enjoyment.  And my original album is also available for viewing.

Funeral arrangements are pending.  The State of Alaska flag will be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, June 21st.

Rest in peace, Ben.

Good Vittles

Busy, busy, busy.  Lots of errands this week - physical therapy for mom, some hauling of stuff for Joan, yard work and some house cleaning  for auntie etc. etc. etc.  Yesterday I met with a mortgage guy - there should be a pre-qualification letter at State Farm for me.  Looks like a price of $350,000 would be a no-brainer although I'm sure I could go higher if need be.  Apparently I am regarded as eminently credit worthy.

Last night I went to Zephyr for supper with Joan and her dad.  A very good meal by Juneau standards.  I had a seafood stew in a light tomato broth.  It was a little spicy and quite tasty.  Also a good curried carrot soup.  Thanks, Joan!

I've also been walking with Finnegan the Yorky.  Took a few bird pictures which are not too bad if I do say so myself.

Lots of Song Sparrows around

My neighborhood Stellar Jay

Not sure about this guy...looks immature...but sure early for fledglings...

Have a great weekend everybody!

New Roomie

A pretty fair weekend.  Lots of walking with my roomie, Finnegan the Yorky, who motors right along real good despite his stature.  Yesterday we walked out to the Boy Scout Camp with Alison and Dougie.  Very nice - although pretty much a bust on the bird front.  Lots of what I have concluded are Song Sparrows but not much action otherwise.

Ditto on the Airport Dike Trail this morning.  Song Sparrows to beat the band.  I was hopeful for lots of waders; but they apparently have not shown-up yet.  Most migrants have come and continued on their way.

Last evening was quality supper and fire pit time.  Doug and Alison made fried chicken.  The chicken was brined and then double-dipped with buttermilk and a very light batter.  Wonderful!  I believe the recipe is from the world-renowned French Laundry in northern California wine country.  Definitely a keeper.

Tonight is the first "serious" Republican Presidential campaign debate in New Hampshire.  I may watch it.  It appears that Mitt Romney is beginning to take on the aura of front-runner.  On the one hand this is not surprising.  He is hands-down the most rational, experienced, and qualified of what can charitably be described as a diverse group.  On the other hand, Republican primaries are not necessarily known for placing a premium on rationality, experience, or qualifications.  So we'll see.

One also gets the sense that the real money in the Republican Party is getting nervous about the freak-show aspect of their candidates' behavior thus far.  Again, Romney is the safe haven for the traditional monied elite of the party.

Still, there is that pesky cult thing.  Will the rank and file really plump for a practicing Mormon?  Last go around the answer was clearly "no" as far as much of the evangelical Christian right was concerned.  Will they hold their collective noses and go along this time?  Hard to say.

I for one, find the continued suspicion of Mormons appalling.  This is not to say I have any regard for their beliefs which I find preposterous; but certainly no more preposterous than the beliefs of Christians or Jews.  And I have known a fair number of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be fine and estimable men and women their religious views notwithstanding.

The LDS crew just suffers from the fact they are a new outfit - there is actually an accurate secular historical record of their origins - which is a distinct disadvantage when one is pitching the supernatural or defending the character of the founders of one's religion.

On the other hand, Christians have had over 2000 years and the services of some of mankind's best and brightest to polish and hone their dogma, myths and beliefs and the Jews even longer. However at the end of the day there is little in my mind to distinguish between golden plates and seer stones, virgin births and rising from the dead, and Yahweh's instructions written to Moses in stone.  It's all nonsense.

On a lighter note, I received the pic below taken from a recent trip to Minnesota from Mr. Greely.  And while I do not claim any close relatives in that neck-of-the-woods I am sure that the town must have contained some distant cousins at one time.  I am not in the market for more relations however...

My good buddy Marla looks amused

Wracked by Indecision

A busy week.  Adam returned home to PDX on Tuesday.  I think he enjoyed the week.  I certainly enjoyed the company although it reminded me, once again, how unsuitable my small apartment is for playing host.  I REALLY need another bedroom.

I have actually been toying with the idea of looking for a place to buy.  But I am so torn by the concept that I have not been able to take even the first step - like getting pre-qualified for a loan at a bank.  Part of me rejects the whole notion of buying in Juneau - I REALLY thought I would have ditched this burg by now - while the more pragmatic part of me says it's time to face reality.  I'm going to be here for the foreseeable future.

At a minimum I need a two bedroom place with a separate office or study.  Could be a condo or a zero lot line.  On the other hand, I would like a yard.  And I need the same amount of sunlight that I have here at my apartment - a good southern exposure is critical to sanity.  This rules out a whole lot of real estate since it basically precludes Douglas Island and almost all of the valley. Mountainside Estates and Auke Bay come to mind.

We'll see...

In other news, auntie fell day before yesterday and thus yesterday was devoted to getting her to the doc and doing some cleaning at her place.  She is bruised but not broken.  She fell outside while hosing-off her front steps. I had just finished mowing the lawn and she had asked me to leave the hose outside so she could water the flowers.  Apparently she was on the ground for over twenty minutes before the neighbors came home and heard her pleas for help.  Her "help I've fallen and can't get up" button was in her bedroom where it had been parked several weeks earlier.  Not a good situation...

She was somewhat chastised yesterday and said I could start coming-up to keep the house in order a couple of times a week.  But we'll see.  She has a habit of waiving help off on any given day.

Well, just finished a little yard work at one of mom's neighbors and it's almost time to head downtown.  I have an appointment with my car insurance guy...my windshield got cracked a few weeks ago and I need to have it replaced.  Then up to auntie's for a little more housekeeping.

I leave you with a pic from North Douglas of a few evenings ago.  Beautiful!

Fishing from the beach out North Douglas

Salaam.   

Sitka Redux

Well, another quick trip to Sitka by the Sea.  Searched the ferry schedules for a convenient overnight trip from Juneau to somewhere and Sitka was what worked best.  The fast ferry is the key.  So...on Saturday Adam and I set sail.

Saturday was pretty damp.  It rained most of the ferry ride but by late afternoon it had dried out a tad and we wandered around Sitka.  Then a superb supper at Ludwigs - the crab and scallop appetizers were out of this world and Adam was very pleased with his clam chowder.  Unfortunately we ordered too much food and were panting during the main course.  Although we did manage to polish off a very good creme brulee for dessert.  It's not often once is concerned by the LARGE size of portions these days - but that was certainly the case!

Sunday morning I wandered around the totem pole park.  It was a nice morning.  Then a quick bite to eat and we were back on the ferry Juneau bound.

Cool Totem

Troller in Peril Straits

The sun breaks through - YIPPEE!

Adam is headed back home to PDX tomorrow.  I've enjoyed his company and I think he has enjoyed the trip.

Rod Hours

Well, my friend, Adam, and I went fishing with Eric yesterday...covered a good part of the Taku River approachs - Salisbury, False Point Arden, and over on Douglas around the corner from Marmian Island.  Up until yesterday Eric had been skunked.  Today, he remains bereft of salmon although I do not fault his technique which struck me as completely up-to-snuff.  Just look at him...how could our skipper not know what he was doing...

Captain Eric at the helm

And despite the lack of salmon action I think Adam had a good time - hard not too on a sunny spring day with  lots of whales, eagles, and sea lions around. 

Adam takes in the sights

There was lots of feed everywhere - looked like probably needlefish and the whales were working the Pt. Arden area pretty good.  This bad boy has an odd marking on his dorsal fin - wonder if he was dragging a buoy for awhile...

 Odd scar on his dorsal fin

Looks like maybe he was towing something...

Yesterday was a five boat day in Juneau.  The Norwegian Pearl arrived early in the afternoon.

So...all things considered...an excellent day!