I leave for the boonies, for three weeks, tomorrow. May try to figure out how to post remotely, but more likely, I'll just have a metric crap-ton of posts pre-drafted for entry when I get back. 

That is all. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a random collection of photos from work, home, and my adventures in-between. Notice: Any and all photos here are property of the author, and may not be used, in whole or in part, without consent or credit (if you want to use any of the images, leave a comment, and I'll get back to you):

Weather trending over camp.

Raven tracks in powder.

Denizens of the deep.

Cook Inlet at sunset, over the wing of a Navajo.

Mountain islands in a sea of clouds.

Inlet sunset - Spring.

Fatty bike ride on the Coastal Trail.

Out like a light.

This one courtesy of my partner. Negotiations over kitchen territory with the cat.

Another day at the office.

Life underground.

Giants raking the earth.

Antique.

Those aren't clouds - that's smoke, from nearby wildfires.

 

Contrast.

And with that, I bid thee good night.

I know this has been said before, but....

Why can't we all just get along? No, really. 

In all my recent bitterness (and I know, I can be a real bitch, sometimes) over various issues, I am tired of anger, weary of bitter, heartsick when I think that we, as a species (humans), will probably never be on the same level as one another, on the things that could give us sufficient perspective to empathize, and stop fighting. My high school English teacher would have a field day with that last (first) sentence. Whatever.    -.-

 I know, in expressing this sentiment, I will likely be called a few choice words - up to and including idealistic, socialist, hippie. And so what if I am? Pushing thirty, I've found that I know, possibly, even less than I did a few years ago, in contrast to the number of issues I've made myself aware of, or been made aware of, in that same amount of time. There are no concrete answers - even being vegan is not a cure-all, socially or ecologically (I know I'll draw fire for that, too). 

 Even as I plunk this out on my keyboard, I strain to find words adequate to describe the utopian yearnings that stir in my heart, and the frustration and disappointment that churns in my gut, when I realize that no "plan" exists to set them in play, on a massive scale, that wouldn't rob one group or another of a choice they would not otherwise make for themselves. Having been given the unique opportunity of being robbed of one choice or another, I wouldn't dream of taking that from anyone else. And yet...

When this nation, these people called Americans, claim they love freedom so, but only so long as depriving another of life does not lead to the populace being deprived of their firearms, I fail to see how any weapon is an "equalizer", of any sort, any more. And yes, I know that they have their uses. Having been raised in a largely Republican family in Alaska, I knew gun safety, how to clean and care for a firearm, all before I shot one - all with appropriate supervision - by age nine. I don't deny the masses their need for some sort of security be it physical or psychological (let's be honest about our ability to shoot in the heat of the moment, hands shaking, scared because something woke you out of a dead sleep), but I wish they would know it comes at a price.

When the political system is so broken, our Congress has spent the better part of five years, inside of two Presidential terms, accomplishing very little, other than partisan bickering and undercutting our few rights to privacy - or trying to, all while ignoring the fact that a large percentage of the populace would like to know what, exactly, it is that they are eating (thank-you-very-much), and that comprehensive healthcare, as the term implies, does not exist within our borders, unless one is either very rich or very fortunate, I have to wonder. 

So, let's make a few things clear:

•  Guns have not been (and likely, will not be) taken away. I certainly hope the State of Florida reconsiders the rights of George Zimmerman, or his like, to own several or even ONE, however.

• There's this thing called human rights. Many countries name clean water, food that doesn't qualify as Mystery Meat, full equality among citizens, and good healthcare among those rights.

•  Any nation's greatest resource is its people. Even the great corporate personhood entities cannot be run without competent people. Speaking of corporations vs. people, and the implication of money, how much money does one person NEED, anyway? At what point does it cease to be about "what I have, because I need it for logical reasons A, B, C", and start being about, "what I can get, because I can get it, just for the sake of having it"? Really think about that one, because I've been wondering it, myself.

Heavy thoughts and no real solution, but I hope it has provoked some critical thought. Good night.


 

That Point in the Summer...

...when your dog decides that it's time to change her perfume (read: roll in nasty, nasty crap, like rotting salmon, other dogs' droppings, etc., TWICE in one week!), and you end up bathing her, and the inside of the car, and having to unclog the tub drain for the second time this month; this particular time, because of all the dog hair in it. Don't worry, I use vinegar, boiling water, and baking soda - don't like chemicals, if I can avoid them. Blech. 

Does anyone else have this problem? Is it just Lacuna, or is it a dog thing? None of my other dogs I had, growing up, did this. Get into the odd skunk (I'd like to excuse that to prey drive instinct, or similar) or porcupine, sure, but... I mean, my partner and I had to cajole Lacuna into learning how to swim (which she does, quite well, now - even fetches a stick)...but roll in a stagnant, smelly puddle? Sure! Wallow in a pile of unidentified muck? Absolutely, without provocation! Frolic in what is, clearly, foul animal droppings? Life's an adventure, after all - GO for it! But, because my dog looks like THIS:
 

Look at that face...who could resist? Don't be fooled by the quizzically cocked eyebrows, the, "Who, me?", look - she gets away with murder.

...there is very little I can do, except say, "Awww, no, not again!", and trudge toward my inevitable fate of smelling like wet dog on an otherwise lovely day. 

Except, this time, puppy-dog decided that she was going to stink up the car, too. Not only did she foul up the back seat, but she made a point of sitting on and/or rolling in every single seat in the car. Even with my damn-near bomb-proof seat covers, Eau d' Pou-pou permeates every square inch of the upholstery of our sexy, fuel-efficient, lean, mean driving machine. 

So, thankfully, Anchorage area still has self-service detail centers, courtesy of Laser Wash of Anchorage, such that it shouldn't cost me an arm and a leg, plus tax (first born) to shampoo the interior of my car. If ever my fellow Anchoragites find themselves in this situation, I'm sure they'll be grateful for the shameless business plug. 

With that, I must go strip the covers out of the car, look up their care instructions, and figure out, roughly, how much cash I should be carrying to detail my car....tomorrow. Because, right now, I have to clean dog-wash spatter from every other surface in the house, being too humane to force my dog to undergo the icy spray of the hose, in order to be bathed. 

Have a good one, fellow pet lovers. Hope your day doesn't include this sad series of events.

Inaugural Post-thingy, Here....

So, I've decided to start documenting my life, and its happenings, in a fashion that is not owned by anyone other than myself (thank you, Facebook). This is not entirely accurate, though, since I will also post opinion pieces and my reactions to various goings-on in the world around me. 

If you're here, you've either happened by this place by accident (I pity you), or I've alerted you to where I'll "be", in terms of the internet as a place, for future reference. Feel free to comment, although I have and always will warn that those with philosophical or political arguments, better have their criteria/points tacked down, before plastering them about the walls, here. 

Remember, if something offends you, you do have the right to invoke civil discussion as to why - or, you may simply leave. 

That being said, ultimately, this is my space, and if you don't like my rules, you don't have to stay. Enjoy your jaunt.

 - Taylor