el ártico bar and grill

My adventure's in Obamaland didn't quite go as planned; when I told my mother I was going to stay home and "do" the big moment with her, she promptly told me that I should go to the viewing party that my political party - the Interior Democrats (Alaska) were planning. Even when I explained that it was just a gathering being hosted by a fellow district chair, in a red-neck-y restaurant/sports bar, she repeated - firmly - that I should go. It took awhile for me to realize she wanted me there to represent our family. Needless to say, when the alarm clock went off at 6 am on Tuesday, 20 January 2009 - I was not a happy camper. Especially since I had less than four hours of sleep. But - clean undies, coat, hat, boots - later I arrived to see two guys hanging out. I introduced myself to the clean cut one and on a big screen we watched the motorcade pull up. A waitress then asked if we were there for "the party" and if so, we were in the wrong place. So I grabbed...

As of today, I am finally getting ready for the big blow-out for our nation's change of government. Why so slow? I dunno; probably due to the sinking economy, the lack of a meaningful health insurance program and two "active" wars. I could bitch, and bitch and bitch ... but. I got a phone call from my cousin, Sheryl Hicks, the other night. Filling me in on the safe arrival of a fellow Interior Democrat Angelee Lloyd and her 14 year old daughter, Rowan, to my family's house in Washington, D.C. The house has been unoccupied since my Grandmother Chase passed away and I hadn't really planned on opening it like so many residents of the District looking to cash in. But when Angelee called up looking for last minute digs, it seemed to be a good idea. Luckily for everyone, Sheryl had agreed to meet them at the airport and ended up taking them on a late night tour to the Mall. Sheryl, as dispassionate a Washingtonian as you would ever meet, had zero plans to take any part ...

Live blogging a little: Rudy Jules is babbling on. Shut up, asshat. You adulterous pig. Ok, heeerrreees Sarah: Thunderous applause. Lots of lots of happy white people. Don't like the color Cindy McCain is wearing & why is she holding Todd Palin's baby? But Sarah looks good. Hmm ... she's working the teleprompter well, and now hubby is carrying his kid - good. Oops ... did the commentator just say that she was born in Sand Point, Idaho? Uh, isn't that the homeland of the Aryan Nation? Yikes ... Talking about her kid who's off to Iraq, said she's proud of him, talking about the rest of the family - pretty good defense of her own kids. The mention of hubby's union membership didn't get much applause nor did his Yu'pik "ancestry" which used to be a big ol secret. But the long time sweetheart comment - awwhhh. Harry Truman mentioned. Wonder who else gets trotted out. Hockey mom, PTA, Wasilla council, Wasilla mayor, Governor. Whoo, some nice ...

Woke up this morning to the less than dulcet sounds of a couple of ravens tear-assing around on the roof. The metal roof. Look, the type of roofing materials around here is limited and the vast majority of the time, I don't think about it. But when you wake up cranky, and stay cranky because of a couple of rambunctious corvids who think it's great fun to chase each other around on said metal roof, then wood shingles suddenly sound good. But since that isn't really an option I got up pissed off and remained that way through a morning of grudgingly done housework and resentfully downloaded email. I was working on a serious case of the mads when I got the fleeting notion that a bike ride might help. Now, a few things to know about me: I don't exercise, I don't even own any exercise-related equipment. I haven't been on a bike ride - for fun - in about 2 years. Sure, I use my urban cruiser bike as transportation in the summer, but I do than even less this summer...

Good Lord, Uncle Ted. You idiot. You could have done a graceful retirement lap as part of the state's 50th birthday celebration. Gotten lots of love and accolades. But no, you jerk, you had to over-reach and figure that you were above the law and the consequences of bad actions. So now the state gets to listen as the news tolls the information that you couldn't keep from taking minor bribes and presents which pretty much made you a tasty target for the feds. Fool. Alaska Public Radio Network NY Times "The Caucus" Some information about how this happened YouTube: Video of indictment announcement The Daily Show: Who The F** is Ted Stevens BBC News Seriously, Uncle Ted: Why?

The other night was an interesting turn back to my past. I was late getting to the monthly Interior Democrats' business meeting due to a phone call with my cousin,the actor Mirron, who was leaving the next day for a trip to China. Needless to say it was alot more fun talking to him than hustling over to yet another business meeting, so I was very late. To kind of make up for my tardiness I hung around a little afterwards and ended up going with a group to the Big I bar. I've spent lord knows how many hours of my life in that bar and have some memory associated with every square inch. I haven't been in since the memorial for the original manager, Hap Ryder, who died last year; I'm not much of a bar person, so it was a definite call-back to times past being there. What made it even more of an old-timey experience is that I was in there discussing political stuff - namely a big fund raiser and state-wide committee meeting the Interior Democrats are hosting in September. Th...

Ok, ok .. I've been pretty remiss at this and don't really have a good excuse. I've been busy, bummed, burned out or just too bored with the current state of affairs to do much writing. Everyday seems to bring more of the same old, same old: the Repubs keep lying and lying about what the current administration is really up to, the Supremes are hell-bent on getting rid of our rights as citizens (see: The State of Alaska vs. Exxon), and the D's (my people) keep stumbling around like a bunch of sailors on shore leave. Grrr ... Here's an example: last Saturday was the Golden Days' Parade. Not only is this the largest parade of the year, it's THE LARGEST PARADE IN THE STATE - period. I'm out there to cheer on the kids, ogle the firefighters and generally enjoy the decidedly old school entertainment value of getting free candy (without some deluded young woman flashing her tetas). I happen to have my camera with me; the one I have yet to really learn how to wo...