el ártico bar and grill

I just couldn't do it. I wanted to, but the flesh was unwilling - very unwilling. So instead of putting on adult clothes: jeans, shirt, sweater, etc., I just stuffed my feet into my trusty Bean boots, wiggled my way into my raincoat, grabbed my big mug o' tea and went out to check my garden and flower beds. Did I mention that I was only wearing a thin nightshirt underneath that raincoat and above those boots? My logic was something like this: it was kind of early so there wouldn't be much traffic on the street, I was just quickly checking to see what work I might have to do later - when I actually had some clothes on, and hey, this is Fairbanks - the one place you can comfortably wear your Carhartt's to hear the Turtle Island Quartet. But basically I've become the crazy lady on the street. All "summer" I've been screaming at stray dogs, threatening to do in the cats who crap in my vegetables, hauling around all manner of tools and plants in a rus...

It had not been the sunniest of summers in the middle Tanana Valley; now that we are well into fall, it looks like we are in for more wet. Which probably means early snow. Which definitely means I've got a lot of work to do to get ready for winter. I took the first step by buying an upright freezer. After years of going without, I found that just thinking about continuing to make three or four runs to the grocery store each week to keep Mom in the ice cream that she craves was just wearing me out. Add to that, the fact that each time I go into the store I end up buying stuff I have no business eating, and it's no wonder I'm getting more and more obese. Then I thought about making three runs a week to the grocery store in the dead of winter and suddenly realized that I needed to make some changes. That's why we have a brand new 14.1 cu ft capacity upright in the back room. Thank you, Sears. My next step was to empty the freezer compartment of our elderly fridge. The ...

So, I made this decision: I am going to be more involved in my community. However that is defined.  I rolled up my sleeves, did some online searching and found a borough commission that sounded interesting. Flexed the fingers, submitted the application, and heard nothing. For months. And months. Then, a la the tundra telegraph, I heard that my application was approved by the mayor's office and by the borough assembly. As were stacks of others. Apparently these things all get approved in one massive chunk at the end of the year. Would have been nice to know that. But - it's the tundra telegraph and you never know. So I go to the post office box, and yowza! I'm on the Senior Citizen's Advisory Board. And suddenly I'm COMMISSIONER Fleeks. Gee, really? For the first, and hopefully, last time in my life I have a title. And a new group of people to meet. And a whole bunch of new information to absorb. Like a good rookie, I head off to my first meeting determin...

In the last few days since word came out about the horrific earthquake in Haiti, most people - most Americans - have taken the time to give prayers, money, and aid to the victims of this calamity. Not so Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson who have issued the most hate-filled statements about the vast human suffering there that I have had the misfortune to hear and read. I could go on at some length about this, but here I am lucky. There's a guy on TV, yes - American television, who says it best. Look and listen. And thank you Mr. Olbermann.  The Proper Response To Hate

So, a new year begins and less than two weeks in, the world starts to come apart. Haiti is now in ruins, and Sarah Palin is now on Fox "News." I think the two are related. I think there's a Fifth Horsemen of the Apocalypse that somehow got left of the translation. To be honest, I probably know less about what Miz Failin' is up to than anyone else around. Mainly because I do not care. Seriously, do not care. As in, "don't ask me about her, 'cause I don't know." Because I do not care. She falls into that category that I label "use less." The woman has no useful purpose in the course of my life. If she actually did something useful - like lead an aid effort to Haiti, or Appalachia, that would be one thing. But since she doesn't I don't see the point in giving her any of my hard-earned time, or my attention. Of course, if she is the Fifth Horsemen - I'm wrong. But then we'll all be screwed anyway.

Alaska Real: Arctic tribute to MJ

This is a fun year. Apparently there are 3 - count'em - 3 Friday the 13ths this year. Which might explain why on earth the Alaska State Legislature, working on a shortened schedule (thanks to my fellow citizens) is spending it's time on: a House Bill to send a letter to the Prez whining about "sovereign rights". In case you haven't been keeping up with the Repubnuts lingo - that be code for "states rights". And a House Bill for getting a state death penalty, which we don't need 'cause the feds will gas our fellow citizens for us. And a House Bill for a "certification" that a child who was stillborn, really croaked that way. 'Cause you never know what evil us womenfolk will do. Yepper, it's all the Big G's (guns, God, and gays) again. Granted Reps. Kelly/Coghill haven't gone after the gays, but it's only mid-way through the session and I doubt they will surprise me. Meanwhile Rep. Jay Ramras (District 10) is busy tryi...