Saying Goodbye to Part of Alaska's Soul

Bear and I stood on a damp and drizzly street corner tonight, waiting for our chance to say goodbye to the essence of Alaska. I didn't always agree with former Senator Ted Stevens, but as an Alaskan I, and everyone who lives here, owes a heck of a lot to him.

Alaska was created by people like him, for people like us.

Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade preceded the hearse, and Bear was quite awed at the sight of flashing lights and sirens and important people.

He asked, "Should I put my hand over my heart?"

I told him that would be nice.

Grace can be amazing at times like these.

Cheers, Sarah!

I'm watching an explosive version of our Channel 11 news tonight after an unbelievable announcement this afternoon by our governor hottie, Sarah Palin.

Apparently while my family and I were enjoying a pre-Independence day train ride and float trip down South, our Lady of the Day was hosting a press conference on the deck of her fancy Wasilla home. For the sake of the Alaskan people, she stated, wiping an imaginary tear from her imaginary-prescription glasses, Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska, effective as of the date of the Governor's Picnic.

Oh. And why did this shake up occur? "It was the hell-yeah that clinched it," quoting the apparent votes by her family stemming from what must be a lousy way to live if you are the Palin children or Spouse.

There will be more, however. You betcha. As sure as Russia is right across the pond, there will be more. In the meantime, I'll raise a glass to certainly the most interesting year in Alaska politics...

The Eagles and Politics in Alaska

Double-I'll-be-damned; the Eagles have got this Life thing down...

I'm home from a very interesting evening at the Anchorage Assembly chambers, watching hundreds of people, armed with their Bibles, banners, musical instruments and agendas traipse into the local library (that also doubles as the meeting place for Anchorage elected politicos).

I don't usually participate in Alaska politics, save for Sarah Palin, and I certainly try to reserve my personal views for other places than the Elituq blog. But an evening watching folks from either side of a proposition to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has me in a muddle. Yes, a muddle.

Yukon and I are relaxing in front of a DVD of the Hell Freezes Over Eagles concert; how appropriate. Let me just share with you a few of the phrases that have revealed themselves to me in the last 45 minutes, and I'll let you ponder their worthiness as they relate to the shouting matches, the hateful comments, the utter disrespect on all sides regarding the issue at hand in Anchorage, Alaska.

Learn to be still...

Love will keep us alive...

It's time to get down to the heart of the matter...

Lighten up while you still can...

Get over it...

Somewhere along the way, I found the meaning...

Help me to see the light, open my eyes again...

You may lose and you may win, but you will never be the same again...

Amen.

The Palin Chronicles: Moment of Truth

Truth or fiction? One is stranger than another, and it seems to be so with this campaign, even though it is "officially over".

Follow the link to the last post (at least, it might be the last, you never know) for Working Mother Online
and see what has transpired since Sarah Palin's return to Alaska.

If you are interested, you can also link to the Anchorage Daily News
for more.
I don't think we'll be seeing the last of Sarah Palin for quite some time.

It's All Over But the Shouting

Unless you live in Alaska, where the race between Ted Stevens and his opponent, Mark Begich, remains too close to call. With thousands of absentee ballots yet to count, neither Begich or Stevens will back down. Looks like Stevens will get it, however. Alaska loves him too much, convict or not. Don Young was re elected, we'll have to see where his investigation process leads. Alaska overall voted overwhelmingly Republican, no surprise to anyone. It was very odd to see everything winding down on television last night about when the polls finally closed up here. Things were decided, parties were in full swing, and Alaskans could still be voting. Wierd.

It remains to be seen how the outcome will feel to Alaskans; many are so disappointed that I bet they apply this morning for membership to the Alaska Independence Party.

A night to remember, no doubt.

What Are We Doing Election Night?

Besides tossing back high volumes of Pepto Bismol and Scotch, I mean. Is that like Pepsi and Pop Rocks?

We are hosting an Election Night party, with 'Chill Out Chili' and a rousing game of 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'. Because we already have a donkey and I don't know how to draw an elephant.

About Those Clothes, Sarah

If you're interested, here is my latest piece for Working Mother

magazine's online version; the last one before the election.

So much drama, so little time...

Being 'Uncle Ted'

The conviction of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens yesterday provided yet another look into the inner workings of the "way we do things in Alaska". Dear Ted announced firmly in a statement that he is 'still considered a candidate' for the hotly contested Senate race against Anchorage mayor Mark Begich. And he just might win.

Why? Simply because he is Ted. The longest serving member of the Senate, Stevens has done a bunch of great things for a state that in some minds had no business being so. He has brought in a ton of money, jobs, and fixes for the folks of Alaska, and that is reason enough to re-elect him. No matter what he did.

There is also the matter of Alaskan loyalty. Some Alaskans, especially those who have lived their entire lives in the 49th state and remember its early days, bring a whole new meaning to sticking up for their northern brethren. Just read the Anchorage Daily News for a glimpse of what I mean. I am sure the paper only published a handful of the letters that streamed in a) after the paper endorsed Barack Obama, and b) once the Stevens verdict hit the wires.

Ted Stevens is coming home to Alaska tonight, and Thursday will debate, in person for once, his opponent five days before the election that will determine his destiny.

Incidentally, the photo above was taken along Turnagain Arm, on the way to Girdwood, home to Chateau Stevens.

The Vote

No, not THAT vote. I refer, on this flurry-ing morning, to the Annual Kirkland Family Snow Date vote. The much-anticipated family bet that has us all on the edge of our cross-country skis.

Each Autumn we view the calendar and decide individually when it is going to snow. Rules dictate that the first snowfall must a) cover the grass so that you cannot see green (okay to see it under trees, however), and b) whoever is closest to the chosen date by two days still wins. I won last year with this rule.

The celebrated winner gets to choose dinner and a movie. I can assure readers that Yukon, Bear, and even Wolf will not soon forget the chinese food and "White Christmas" event of last year when it snowed on October 28. That, incidentially, was the last significant snowfall until Christmas Day, when it snowed a foot.

Yes, Wolf will be participating. If he wins, we will transport a goodie box of favorite things to him. He is understandably excited.

For those who would like to contribute to this gamble over the weather, the dates chosen are, after careful consideration and consultation with the www.weather.gov site, the Almanac, and the depth of hair present on the dog:

Yukon: October 15

Mom: October 17 (wouldn't it be something to win on my 40th birthday)

Wolf: November 5

Bear: October 23 (he always gets his birthday by virtue of not knowing what a calendar is.)

I will tell you that this morning as I watch daylight finally appear, there is snow directly above us, and mixed snow and rain outside my window.

Frank, Frank, Frank...

In my research for this week's piece for Working Mother magazine's online scoop for the 2008 Palin/McCain election campaign, I came across some very interesting tidbits of information on our former Governor, Frank Murkowski.

Did you know that...

Frank's appointment of daughter Lisa to fill his fat Senate seat in 2002 led to a 2004 ballot measure stripping governors of appointing senators, only one of 3 states to do so.

Toward the end of Frank's term, he brokered a gas line deal that was never considered by the legislature in its final form, and only a lawsuit by legislators kept him from signing it w/out their approval?

Frank tried to get the Dept. of Homeland Security to underwrite the cost of the now infamous Jet? Needed it to keep his state safe, don't you know?


My friend J. in Homer told me a funny story about the first time she went to Juneau for a business trip. She noticed a bunch of little yellow flags with Murkowski's mug on them, stuck in the ground here and there with no apparent pattern. She asked a client what they all meant, and received this reply.

"They are there to mark all the dog poop spots in the grass."

The piece for Working Mother should be up by the end of the week.

The Palin Chronicles

I have tried to stay away from the buzz surrounding our Governor, Sarah Palin, and her partnership with John McCain in a bid for the White House. But an invitation last week from Working Mother Magazine's online affiliate has me immersed in the Palin-ista world.

Working Mother does not particularly want, nor do I wish to do, a "roving reporter" type of column. What I will do is state the facts about Alaska, what we know of Palin from our contacts with her as constituents and as business people, and talk with locals about the hoopla that seems to be consuming our state.

Details of when and how this column will appear are still being created, but I have to have something to them this week, so we'll see what transpires. This is outside the realm of my usual assignments, so staring at my laptop screen waiting for a catchy opening phrase to magically appear is becoming more common. Funny how we can think we know everything until we have to present that knowledge to the world. My father liked to tell us growing up that it is fine to say what you want about somebody, but you'd better be right.

At any rate, until the columns/posts are officially up and running, you can go to Working Mother and read the few posts for MomBlog I have written, and the subsequent comments, which make for very interesting reading. Working mothers can be very sensitive about the whole balancing act of parenting vs. job, and this site is a perfect example.

McCain and Who?

Sarah Palin, that's who. When Yukon called me at the crack of dawn to tell me that our Valley Governor, Sarah Palin, had been selected by John McCain as his running mate, my response was probably like everyone else's.

"Are you kidding?"

Oh boy, the media is going to have a field day with this. Troopergate, Wasilla, Yup'ik husband, beer nuts, Wasilla, Iron Dog snow machine race, frumpy dressing, Wasilla....

I hope the Repubs know what they are doing. Uncle Ted has bumped heads with her lately, that can't be good.

Visit the Anchorage Daily News site to catch local impressions.

www.adn.com

Voting, Bear Style

I took Bear with me to vote this afternoon in Alaska's hotly contested Primary Election. Whoohoo, it's gonna be a late night in front of the telly to see how things shape up.

Bear was a little unsure of which process we were undertaking, calling it "going boating" instead. I clarified the word and he asked what "that voting thing is". For lack of a better explanation, I told him voting was how we decide who is going to be in charge.

He replied, "Mommy, I already know who is in charge. You."

At least now I know some of what I tell him sinks in.

Caucus Crazy

It is not often that Alaskans are party to events happening in the rest of the nation. With our time difference (AK time is one hour behind Pacific time, which means a smacking 4-hour difference from the east coast) most notable events and activities are already over and done by the time we hear about it. But not yesterday.
Even Alaska's vote counted at the first presdential primaries of the open season for potential candidates. I even heard CNN talk about us in their play-by-play, up to the millisecond commentary. Granted, it was while muckey-mucks were waiting to talk about some other place, but we'll take it.
Alaskans turned out in droves to both the Democratic caucuses and Republican polls. The boys and I experienced this phenomenon first hand as we tried in vain to get home after taekwondo practice, once we decided to bag the attempt at seeing a caucus in person. This morning in the newspaper (www.adn.com) I discovered why. There were almost 5,000 people making their way across town to our neck of the neighborhood at 5:00pm to try and make it by 5:30. Start time for the caucus was pushed back until 6pm, then 6:30. Finally, organizers just went ahead and crammed the folk in and did their best to make sure no fire marshalls were in attendance.
Democratic party officials said at the last caucus held in Anchorage, only 200 people showed up. Republican officials watched as ballots ran out of circulation, and had to be copied for the hoardes waiting outside in below zero temperatures, waiting to cast their vote.
I think we are in for some serious change.... just think what will happen when Mayor Begich decides to run against Uncle Ted? I'd walk across town to cast that vote.