Jimmy Carter 1946-2009

Son. Brother. Nephew. Cousin. Uncle. Serviceman. Husband. Father. Soutmaster. Teacher. Father-in-law. Grandfather. Christian.


I didn't know you nearly long enough, but in your passing I got to hear a lot of stories that confirmed all my initial impressions. I'm nowhere near the top of the list, but I'll miss you just the same. Thanks for helping to make Smokey the man he is today.

Tofurkey Day

Ah, Tofurkey Day, and I'm home again in the snow. But I don't think I'll be relaxing on the hammock since it snowed 8" while I was gone and another foot or so since then. At some point I just stop measuring and count it as 'a lot'.

One of the great things about consciously choosing to spend a holiday alone (despite many offers from friends, thank you) is that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Limited of course, by money and what's in the fridge. In the case of the latter, I found it was not much, so I procurred supplies from the OPEN grocery store (thank you city living). I couldn't actually find a tofurkey like those I've had on this holiday in the past, so I just had all the side dishes. And I didn't once set off the smoke detector. And I ate my desert first. Yum. And then I joyfully shoveled the first layer of snow from the driveway, by hand, while playing fetch with the puppies. After a warm day or two I realized I should probably shovel the snow off the decks too, so I bought myself a nice new grain shovel. Isn't it pretty?

Today I get to figure out how to use the snowblower. Or I risk never actually getting Smokey's truck all the way up the driveway again. I think it might be easier to just fix the 4 wheel drive, but I guess the snowblower is free so I'll try that first.

Matanuska Ice

Saturday afternoon after a long day of dog training and studying at a coffee shop while waiting for Smokey's class to be over I got a phone call inviting me to visit the Matanuska glacier the next day. And since that sounded like a lot more fun than cleaning the house and studying, I said yes! It was a glorious sunny day.

Very sunny. Very important to have sunglasses on glaciers.

And why else would you visit a glacier but to climb the ice? I can't think of any reasons because it was certainly very cold and windy outside of the protected area we were climbing in.

Sometimes you fall off the ice though, that's when you are glad to have a harness and rope and an awesome solid anchor system at the top.

Just like anything else, you pick yourself up and keep going. I chose to grunt when swinging the axe after my fall. I think it helped.

One. Move. At. A. Time. The most entertaining part of the day was the young man in our party visiting from Spain. He had not only never been ice climbing, but had never been on a glacier, and never been in such cold weather (it was about 17 F).

Eventually the top appears and it is always a surprise. Much better than looking for hand and foot holds when rock climbing. Cold, but way more fun. Can't wait for next time. Sorry Mom.

And nothing beats the lighting on the glacier. Night falls early and quickly. But any day on the glacier beats every day in the office.

Moonrise to walk back over the rocks by.

Clearing Out The Cobwebs

We are firmly in the grip of Autumn here, some would say far past the normal start of winter, but I'm okay with that. This year Autumn has meant few bike rides and returning to school. This is the building I spend a fair amount of time in, trying to remember things I learned 10 years ago.

And one glorious view from campus. I can actually see this view most of the ride home. If my poor bike will ever speak to me again. I went for an awesome ride with J-Bomb a couple weeks ago and was mortified to discover that I literally had to clean the cobwebs off the handlebars. Very sad.

And as any front lawn of a higher education institution should be, mine is covered with goose poo.