Queen of Sheba

Ok, I know this blog is name for canines, but I am a cat owner also. I just recently added a member to my family. It took a couple of days to figure out what her name was, but after thinking about it, the name just jumped out at me.

I brought my other cat DQ home around this time last year, and she was much more shy than the new kitten. The new kitten came right out of her kennel and introduced herself to DQ and my dog JD. She had her tail up high and hissed and spit her way through the house as she made herself comfortable. It was obvious that she is the alpha of the animals in the house.

I settled on Sheba for her name. She certainly acts like a Queen. She has taken over the house in a matter of days. The photos below are from Saturday night. DQ and Sheba were tearing around the house tackling, chasing, and making a general racket. JD came out to watch a bit, but did not get involved.

Snow Birds

Sharon and Maisy are headed to Maine for the winter. It was a perfect and sunny fall day. Temple had to remove some porcupine quills from Elsa's mouth, foot, etc.

Beavers, Frogs, & Dogs...Oh my!

I have never seen on, but the wood frog is fairly common in Alaska. I found this one on the North Bivouac Tank Trail up Campbell Airstrip Road in Anchorage. The dogs never even noticed. The Beaver picture was taken at dawn at University Lake in Anchorage. I chose to make it B & W because of the low light. This representation seemed to give the best detail.

Phabulous Phelps Perphormance

I love the sport of swimming.  I have a passion for it.  Having said this, I was surprised by how excited I was to watch Michael Phelps make his run at history and his 8th gold medal of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

I have been thoroughly impressed with his performances all week.  The 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 Free, and 200 Fly races were all dominating swims.  The 100 Fly was an incredibly exciting individual performance.  But the relays were the best.

I have to admit that I am partial to relays, and the non of the US men's relays disappointed.  The 400 Free was a wonderful team effort with Jason Lezak's heroic finish.  The 800 Free showed how far ahead the US men are in the 200 Free.  That left the 400 Medley Relay.  The last win needed for the US to sweep the relays, and for Phelps to achieve reach his destiny.

My heart was pounding throughout the 3 and a half minutes.  Were they nervous?  All told they did what they needed to do.  Each member put together strong swims and brought home the victory.  

Phelps' teammates were very gracious afterwards.  They know how special his achievement is regardless of how they felt about the attention he has garnered over the last week or so.  They did what they did for themselves, there country, there family, and there home teams as much as for Michael Phelps.  Does he know how special an achievement his winning 8 gold medals is?

I am not sure that he does.  He is only 23 years old after all.  I saw much emotion from him this week, but I did not see a single tear.  I am pretty sure that I shed more tears over his achievements this week than he did.  In all fairness, I cry pretty easy.  :)

I have no doubt that, in the end, Michael will understand and will reflect solemnly on this week and all that it means.  It was pretty wonderful and he is now a hero to millions of people.  I hope he appreciates it, owns it, and makes the most of it.

Political "Reading" and Thoughts

I have been reading Barack Obama's, The Audacity of Hope.  Actually, I have been listening to his audiobook, which is how I prefer to "read".  Just doing my daily driving I spend 60-120 minutes a day in the car.  It seems an efficient use of my time.  I have also downloaded John McCain's, Character is Destiny and plan to "read" that book next.

Obama's book seems to be a good blend of his politics and how he arrived at them.  I like his easy style and background on his live and thoughts on current events.  I wonder how McCain's book will compare.

I was inspired to pick up his book because one of my swimmers is working in Obama's local campaign office.  As much as I admire her I consider her something of an ideologue.  As such I don't consider her a good source of information regarding the upcoming presidential election.

She was actually discussing Obama with one of my swim parents the other day.  Overhearing the conversation I asked her how her internship with Obama's campaign was going.  It naturally shifted to me asking how I could find out more about his positions on things.  Somehow the swim-mom interjected how McCain was not an option as president.  I asked why and she said (and I am paraphrasing) that he was ugly and gross.  I asked if being good looking was a pre-requisite for political office.  She didn't answer, but proceded to talk about how sweaty and gross McCain was.  My swimmer, trying to help the swim-mom's argument, stated that Obama would be a great president because he had more experience than Abraham Lincoln had before he became president.

I thought about telling her that this was a ridiculous argument on her part, but chose not to.  It seemed that the discussion was pointless.  Why is it that most ideologues are unable to put together any sort of cogent discussions or arguements to 

English Setters are Dogs Too

I have had the pleasure, over the last couple of days, to puppy sit my friends English Setter puppy Carat.  It has been a pleasure to have a puppy in the house again and it has definitely been making the older dogs stay on their toes.

Friday I took the dogs for a walk on the Jodphur Loop at Kincaid Park.  Yesterday JD, Crystal, and Carat played at the Kincaid Beach.  The tide was high and the dogs played along the gravel stretch, in the dunes, and in the tall grass between the bluff and the dunes.

Dogs at Play in Kincaid Flats

There is a great spot down at the end of the Coastal Trail near just down from the Kincaid Chalet in Kincaid Park.  From the Coastal Trail at the Chalet you head down the hill until you come to where the trail follows the contours of the bluff that runs along the ocean.  There is a beach several 100 yds away from the bluff.  And in between is what I call the Kincaid Flats.

When there has been a lot of rain the flats are definitely wetlands.  All sorts of waterfowl will congregate... depending on the time of the year.  It has been raining a lot.  In fact today was probably the nicest day we have had in a month.  I took my dog JD and friend dog Crystal out to burn off some energy.

After the two spent some time getting muddy I decided I better get them cleaned off before we headed back to the car.  That was when the madness began.  There were some Greater Yellowlegs (sandpipers) taking in the water in the flats and JD decided she was going to get one.  Of course she did not, but she tried... for 20 minutes strait.  JD chased the birds and Crystal chase JD.  It was quite a scene.

I don't think the birds were any worse for the experience.  They didn't seem to be nesting and JD never had a chance.

Puppy Pictures

Over the last two days I have gotten to meet the newest member of the weekend walking "Anchorage Airedale Pack".  Hardly an exclusive group, we walk the loop from the North Bivouac parking area to the gas line trail, to the tank trail, and back to the parking lot.  

Gypsy Lou is Mark's new puppy and she is fitting right in.  Below is a slide show from my latest "role of film".  It features photos of Gypsy, but include more with Jasper, JD, Maizy, Elsa, Crystal (the lab), Marty (a Yorkshire Terrier).  

My cat makes the slide show, but the bear print and the cow moose that Jasper agitated are a little more impressive.

Top 10 Favorite TV Programs

In no particular order of preference:

1. Sopranos
2. The Office (original BBC series)
3. 24
4. Dexter
5. Californication
6. Lost
7. Friends
8. Star Trek (see a later list which "brands" are preferred and which order)
9. The Closer
10. Law & Order (the original)

Top 10 Favorite Songs

In no particular order of preference

1. Just Like Heaven, The Cure
2. #41, Dave Matthews Band
3. Today, Smashing Pumpkins
4. Whichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
5. Clocks, Coldplay
6. Accidentally in Love, Counting Crows
7. Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel
8. Undone (The Sweater Song), Weezer
9. The Distance, Cake
10. Wonderwall, Oasis

Top 10 Favorite Bands/Musical Artists

In no particular order of preference

1. Maroon 5
2. Seal
3. Live
4. Smashing Pumpkins
5. Coldplay
6. Weezer
7. Sade
8. The Police
9. The Beatles (and subsequent solo and group endeavors)
10. Michael Jackson (including the Jackson 5)

20th Year High School Reunion Report

Having missed my 10th year reunion, I was not sure what to expect from the 20th. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I chose to wear a bit of a disguise. My sunglasses and huge afro wig fooled nobody. I was not 10 paces into the Refinery Lounge when 2 or 3 people called to me. Just a little freaky. I was told that my jaw line gave me away.

It was nice seeing some old friends and getting to touch base with people that I have not seen in a long time. There were, of course, some physical changes however, personalities tended toward the familiar. Having worked hard on a few personal issues since my divorce I found myself able to avoid some of the old relationship pitfalls that I used to fall into. Having said that, I am sure my old friends thought that I too, am very much the same person they new in high school and college.

I wonder when we pass the point of no return with our personalities.

I was very nervous going to this reunion... and now I wonder why.  Given that these people were my friends and cohorts in high school and college, why would they treat me any differently?  Of course they did not.  They joked with me, listened to me, and shared with me.  I actually felt safe.  Maybe I was nervous because in high school you are really never safe.  

When you get older friendship and friendliness are too valuable for hormones and petty teenage stuff.  When you are older everything that is unimportant simply peels away leaving just the fruit of friendship.  Pretty nice.

Reunion Weekend Coming

As a 1988 graduate of North Pole High School I have a class reunion, our 20th year, coming up this weekend. I am not sure how I feel about it, a little curiosity mixed with dread I suppose. I am not anything like I was at the age of 18. In fact, it just occurred to me that, we have lived more since our graduation than we had up to that point.

I am looking forward to seeing some folks a bit more I suppose. I still consider Richard Reimers to be one of my closest friends dispite the fact that I have not seen him in a few years. Jim Simmons, Dain Cunningham, Suzi Pearson, and Kathy Jenkins are all people that were good friends in HS and college. What will it be like this weekend?

I am going to wear my afro wig, sunglasses, and a trucker cap to see what sort of response I get. Either that, or to go incognito. I have not decided...

Taking a Look Back

I was just looking back through some of my photos from fall 2006. I can't wait to get out to windy corner (Turnagain Arm) this fall and get some shots of more sheep.

Eagle Eyes in Kincaid Park

Was walking the dog a week ago and spotted this eagle under the canopy at Kincaid Park in west Anchorage. I would have walked right by without noticing, but the smaller birds and squirrels were chattering and squawking out warnings to each other. I had just gotten my 50-500mm lens back from the repair. Good timing!