ALASKABOY...Rides again

Uhh, yeah. I have one of those blog things, don't I?

2010-11-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

Over a year since I have written. Rusty, out of practice, and the two people who have viewed regularly know every intimate detail of my motorcycle by now. In the spirit of presenting things much bigger than myself, here is what the kids look like now. (Apologies to Jana for leaking the Christmas card early, but I can't help it. Look how beautiful they are.) Thanks also to Margaret for subtly heckling me into showing something other than the Elsinore.

It's ALIVE!!!!

2009-10-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that I've been looking for a motorcycle for most of the summer, but have been too busy/cheap/picky/lazy to buy one. Well, I finally found one on Thursday. A 1974 Honda Elsinore MT125 that has 1100 miles and has been kept in storage for nearly 35 years. It hasn't run in years, so I have spent the past couple of days cleaning, making sure everything was operational, and she actually fired up this afternoon without any effort. A couple of laps up and down the street (as the twins we down for their nap and I can't go too far...bad parent, bad parent) smooth as butter. Here are a couple of pictures. I forgot to put the face plate back on before I took it, so ignore the batch of wires. they are normally hidden behind a shiny piece.

Anybody else miss Carl?

2009-10-05T23:15:00.001-07:00

Please watch long enough to note the cameo by Stephen Hawkings.

Travelling Jones

2009-09-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

We travel to Texas tomorrow. Wish us luck. Two 3+ hour flights with two lap children and Jackson. Fortunately Jackson loves flying, and this will be our first daytime foray, so hopefully the twins will fair well. I just want to survive. We travel to visit Jana's grandmother (the first time she will meet any of the kids) and have little plans otherwise. Thus I have spent the past several hours searching "the net" (as the kids are calling it these days) for entertainment options. This search has diverged wildly due to some of the local color. The thread starts with Dinosaur Valley State Park, which is actually quite cool. A warm river passing over fossilized dinosaur footprints. I have been here and am looking forward to taking the kids. Thread then goes to Creastion/Evolution Museum, which purports to have evidence of man walking with dinosaurs, thus proving their coexistence 6000 years ago.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Tyrannosaurus Redux

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

This naturally led to a search on pterosaurs and their possible existence in New Guinea, an entertaining but poorly investigated claim (I think the chupacabra has more backing...maybe they're related????) pressed by many of the same creation evolution folks. Thread transitioning to Dinosaur themed parks with animitronics and finally to Weeki Wachee...

I've actually wanted to visit this place for years (right up there with swimming with manatees). Anyway, keeps your fingers crossed for a good trip.

Cyclocross! Update! Now more picturey

2009-09-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

If anyone knows how to make this picture appear here, please let me know! Check it!

http://www.adn.com/photos/story/941362.html?/1521/gallery/941363-a941333-t3.html

Update: Thanks to Arthur for the file. Here's the pic, hit the link above for pictures of people much faster than I.

Check it.

2009-09-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

Falling colors

2009-09-07T22:29:00.001-07:00

So another great summer lurches toward its end. Sadly in Alaska the colors are changing. We picked the last of the berries at Hatcher’s Pass today and the tundra was in polychromatic splendor. Aside from working the past three weeks straight, it has been a fantastic summer. We caught lots of fish. Spent a good portion of the time at the family homestead with the kids playing in the dirt. I learned to ride a motorcycle and how to dismount from a moving cyclocross bike with out killing myself (yet). My writing has suffered from complacency, Facebook lurking, Craigslist browsing, and lack of things to be angry or frustrated about. All in all a fantastic couple of months. Jackson is looking forward to snow already (although I’m not quite ready…I have to get through cyclocross season first), and we have some travels to Texas and Hawaii coming up that will keep us entertained. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Friends and Children

2009-08-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

It is with no small sense of pride that I look upon my own children. Most of the time. I find myself falling into that David Cross bit about the parents who felt it necessary to go into great detail about how their child stared at a grape. But seriously, my children are that interesting. More interesting, however, is that we seem to be finding ourselves used as a litmus test by child baring friends.
"Can we really do this? Let’s watch Team Church for awhile. They seem to have survived a couple of years now." I wish I could give insight and wisdom into our “peculiar condition” but I got nothin’. At best I can offer the notion that all of my parenting instinct (as I don’t presume to speak for Jana’s mad skills) is purely based on my survival to the next minute, hour and day. I am sure that at various times we have given friends and acquaintances quiet reassurance, situational troubleshooting tips, and dripping, screaming, recurrent nightmares and thoughts of turning back. That said, the kids are getting to be fun. Most of the time. It was great seeing so many of you this past week.

Hey Check out my kids (on someone else's blog)

2009-08-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

At least someone posts about my children. Worst father/blogger ever. (Two posts 8/10, 8/12...seriously, worst father ever)

Beer Bike

2009-06-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest ideas I have ever seen.

Relationships

2009-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Geekologie, where from I steal many of my videos.

I especially like the part with the cyclist...

Jackson turns 4

2009-06-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

I've found that I am a better writer (at least more prolific) when things are stressed/frustrating/in turmoil. Thus possibly explaining the lack of posts in my current complacency and stable family life. I like my wife, I like my kids, and I like my job. Such novelty. We've had a fantastic summer here thus far and it bodes well to get even better as I have a lot of time off. Jackson turned four this past weekend, and here are a few of the pictures.

Growler

2009-06-04T22:37:00.001-07:00

Riding through a soft drizzle, mud spattering on my bare legs. Cool air across my recently shaved head. No helmet. Unmatched tires, too lazy to switch the slick on the back, left over from last winter's traner sessions. A Guinness trucker hat and a backpack coveting a growler full of IPA. A pleasant ride home from the Moose's Tooth. I don't quite understand this Bob Dylan movie that I am trying to watch.

A cat and a box...

2009-04-30T22:52:00.000-07:00

Because I'm too lazy to write anything these days, and you need something entertaining in your life.

Cat In A Box @ Yahoo! Video

I wish I could say that I found this because I have too much time on my hands...

2009-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Answer: Friends and death

2009-04-03T22:58:00.001-07:00

The questions is...What discussions should you try to avoid with your three year old?
Death is fairly obvious. What a nebulous subject for an adult mind no less that of a small child. Jackson and I were watching Return of the Jedi this evening (don't show your three year old this movie) and the very brief scene where Yoda (spoiler alert) dies impacted the remainder of our evening. Jackson is now very concerned that he and the rest of his family are going to die. Attempts to console with "that won't happen until we are all very old" were ineffective to a child who is unable to make the temporal interpretation of "after nap time" or "next week." I'll hope it passes. I am very uncomfortable with this discussion as I can't even make up a good answer to satisfy his comprehension. Hopefully we'll all sleep tonight and Ewok induced nightmare will not bring further questions of death.

Friends is another subject matter. I have always been pleased that Jackson's daycare addresses all the children as "friends." It makes me feel warm and fuzzy. I know we all grow up and choose our friends and not-friends (I like to think that I don't really have enemies) and we don't all have to appreciate one another's company. At Jackson's age, however, and with his wonderful temperament, it crushed me to find out that someone wasn't his friend. He was showing me pictures of the children in his class, pointing out "this is my friend (enter name here)...and this is my other friend (enter other name here)," with notable exceptions that didn't bother me too much. We came to a picture, however, where Jackson said "this is Daniel, he says that he is not my friend anymore," and I was devastated. My image of all the little children playing together, without the predjudice of alliances and and exclusionary factions evaporated. Not to mention the personal affront that someone possibly did not like my perfect, wonderful, generous, and loving child. They all grow up sometime, but I don't think it's time yet. I will try to delude myself into thinking this is all in the interpretation of a three year old's mind. But it still hurts a little bit.

I heart volcanoes

2009-03-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

Stupid ashfall. Messed up date night. Who watches the Watchmen? Not me. Who closes a movie theater because ash is falling? What kind of ash related disaster are they saving people from? A kid free night comes along as a rarity and it was wasted on a night watching The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (actually a pretty good movie, the intricacies of Wes Anderson’s films bring me joy) while eating Subway at my mother-in-law’s house. With businesses closing down left and right to protect their patrons, we were forced to the Blue Fox for drinks. A good dive bar knows that the only way to protect people from a volcano is with cheap beer and pool. Upon entering, a man walked out into the same air we were breathing wearing a remarkably complex respirator. The biggest punishment levied by the volcano gods was that we were forced to listen to the entire catalog of Evanessence while waiting for our drinks. Skiing is out for the rest of the week/winter, unless we get some new snow. Stupid volcano.

On a plus note (for us, not them), the volcano has marooned the Robert’s family at our house on their way back to Kodiak. This has given Jackson and the twins a couple of new playmates who will be missed when they return, and has revived the good old days of Hotel Church with a multitude of adults, children and animals all living under the same roof.

Yay! Kids!

2009-03-28T00:14:00.001-07:00

Figured we'd better get in a little snow time before the volcano wiped out the rest of our winter. Here are a couple of pix of the kids, and a short video of Jackson on his kicksled. If only Maggie would pull me like this when we skijor.

PS-in a brilliant observation by Team Edwards in Sitka, please play the Britney Spears video and the Big Lebowksi video clips at the same time. Idle hands are the Devil's tools.

I have the best job ever!

2009-03-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Win a job in Australia...Fail. Have a great job here...Win. I am pretty fortunate in this day and economy to have a fairly secure and well paid/benefitted job. I am very thankful for that. I am especially thankful today as my schedule came out for the next few months, and I have a significant portion of summer off or on a decent rotation. This means much of the summer will be spent on the Homestead, hiking and fishing. Sweet. Now all I need is a dune buggy. The additional benefit is that I will have time to play if anyone is passing through town or actually wants to come visit us. Again, sweet. Duty calls, back to the ER. I'll try and post some kid pix soon. There seems to be a distinct lack of my beautiful children on this page.

Bored with too much to do

2009-03-19T22:40:00.001-07:00

Motivational issues. I always seem to have this problem on my week off. I am a man built for structure and lists. Mind you, I've gotten quite a bit done and managed to watch High School Musical (it's no Confessions of a Shopaholic, let me tell you). Jana gets a little upset because I tend to fill my time off with taking on extra shifts or moonlighting. I try not to, but I am just better at working, than not. Not really sure what to do about that. Fortunately I have a little more leisure time the next couple of weeks. Perhaps I'll get used to the pace and not be so mopey. I keep claiming that this is the perfect opportunity to write, but again the lack of time structure defeats me. Anyone else have this problem? Know a cure?

Sweet, sweet powder

2009-03-16T21:17:00.001-07:00

First day off in 22 days. Skied today. Again. Second time this year. Second time in two years. Visibility...zero. Temperature...10 degrees. Wind...of course. Awesome...yeah, baby, awesome. I reconciled my recent old man post and had a fantastic powder day. Almost turned around when we arrived at the mountain due to visibility (Anchorage was sunny), but there were only a handful of people skiing today and I skied untracked powder all day long. An additional 4-6 inches by the time we left. It was such a beautiful thing. I have a nice set of wobbly legs and a warm, warm windburn to keep me at peace tonight.

If you seek Rob

2009-03-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

I figured most of you who visit this site would not come across this video without me (wisely so, perhaps). All mediocrity aside, you've gotta love dirty double entendres.

I miss the school girl Britney.

Another reason for hardwood floors

2009-03-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

Vomit. Frothy, white, chunky, projectile baby vomit. Fortunately most of it collected on my sweater, although the floor, arm of the sofa and the dog took minor hits as well. All I can smell is sour milk. I guess the plus side is that all I can smell is sour milk. Could be peas. Used to like milk. Used to like peas.

Also into cats...

2009-03-04T23:50:00.001-08:00

Skipped work, saw Coraline, in real 3D today. Awesome. Odd movie, with an odd plot, beautiful stop motion animation, and the 3D part was super cool. Not crazy Disneyland 3D super cool, but totally appropriate-wow this is in 3D cool. Go see it. Seriously. In 3D.

Also, in an effort to bring smiles, please enjoy the following video clips.

See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

Sad, but true

2009-03-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry kids, we're not going to Australia. Thanks to everyone for checking out the video. It was a lot of fun to make. The good news is that I get to spend the summer in Beautiful Alaska! Maybe there will be more writing and less self promotion around here nowadays.

Don't you want to be a Super too?

2009-02-25T23:23:00.000-08:00

At what age do you lose the inner monolog of a superhero? Jackson is going through a combination of being a "Super Tiger" and hanging out with his imaginary friend Dash (one of the Supers from the Incredibles). I love this. It is endearing. If you have read along for any period of time, you know my penchant for the ideals of superherodom and my not-so-secret desire to have an alter Super ego. Fortunately everyone in the family has "Super Tiger" powers. Much cooler than my natural ability to locate free donuts and taunt my enemies with cynical verbage.

Thanks to everyone who has watched an voted for my video. Over 200 people have seen and rated it, and if anyone knows someone in Australia who can put in a good word, I'd appreciate it. They announce the short list next week.

I see dead people

2009-02-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

In the hospital, I often take care of very ill people. I am used to this. It is what I do. There is nothing inherently spiritual, or selfless, or noble about it, everyone needs a job and this is what I have chosen. It fits me surprisingly well. I am generally happy when I work, despite the misery that often surrounds me. I see very little in the way of preventive care or the walking well ( or walking ill for that matter), so I have taken some forays into other jobs (moonlighting, if you will) to keep up my skills and interests. I am covering an ER in a small Alaskan town this evening and expected to see a handful of patients, read my journals, maybe some of my book (The Sex Lives of Cannibals; Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific...check it out), and write.
Now here I find myself, nearly midnight, a surprisingly exhausting day, and pondering why the man I just coded in the ER died. I've been told that there is maybe one code every couple of months. What are the odds that it came on my shift (alright, 1/60 - 1/90 smart ass) and why did it happen on my shift? I'm just the temp. This is my first day here. We always forgive the waiter if he/she slips up on their first day. What happens when a patient dies on a doctor's first day? Mind you that this gentleman was dead and had undergone CPR for upwards of 30 minutes by the time he got to me, but will this reflect poorly on my permanent record? I don't mean to be irreverent, but that's what comes after 42 hours with 3 hours of sleep in the middle, and it's what helps many of us survive the part of our job that smells like vomit on your shoes.
I still like what I do. I don't know why, but I do. I also still want to go to Australia and won't stop pushing it until everyone of you has weighed in and passed this address along to your friends. Cut and paste now, and make my day a little better. http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/gxwK64d9-io

Good night.

Jana's Birthday!

2009-02-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow (Saturday) is Jana's birthday! Everyone send her an email (robandjana@hotmail.com) hit her up on Facebook, or give her a call. Also, if you haven't voted on my video yet click here. More entertaining writing about skijoring to come.

OMG it's here! it's here! LOL

2009-02-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned my fondness (or lack thereof...perhaps I am being facetious...perhaps) for internet slang? That is neither here nor there, because...my video was finally posted to the Queensland Tourism website, huzzah! You can catch the link here, or if you love typing, type the following:

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/gxwK64d9-io

It's as simple as that. Now please, tell everyone you know to go to my site and vote for me. I will promise free floor space when you come visit in Australia and free early morning snorkle alarm courtesy of my kin. If you didn't catch the subtle link above, click here. (And please rank me highly...you know you want a friend in Australia.) For a picture of kittens, click here.

Remember, vote early and often.

Not quite sure what to do with myself

2009-02-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have a day off. A day off from work. A day off from all three kids. A day off from loving wife. Hmmm. I used to know what to do with myself. I used to have hobbies. (I guess this blog qualifies as something of a hobby) Most of what I have now are 'to-do' lists. I am a list kind of person, so this is okay by me. But what happens when the list whittles down to nil? I usually wind up trying to study or take things apart that I know I will never get back together. Guess I'll go for a ski this afternoon. Perhaps this Australia thing will teach me what to do with superfluous time (is there such a thing?). I think I need to unstructure.

Old Man, Winter

2009-02-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

I went (downhill) skiing yesterday, and I feel old. Due to circumstances (residency, twins, knee operations, etc.) I haven't actually been skiing in two years. I have nice realatively new skis (no excuse there), there was great snow (no excuse there), and I am in reasonably good shape (for my age...no excuse there either). Mind you, I have fairly poor balance, which I believe is secondary to proprioception alterations due to said knee operations, which contributes to my skiing fitness. Aside from orthopedic issues, I also apparently do not have the intestinal fortitude that I had as a younger man/child. This may be the actual problem.

I skied by myself and was found to be surrounded by high school boys on holiday jumping off of lips and hills, landing backways, sideways, frontways, and upside down with no regard to their knees or heads. I used to do this. I used to be good (raced in college, although our team was not exactly known for it's skiing prowess...another story for another time). My day was spent wondering where the next bump or divot was and how it was going to effect my upright nature. And today has been spent dreading the trip downstairs and the screams of my thighs. What happened?

In my defense, I did get better as the day went on, and perhaps next time won't be that bad. Or, maybe I'll go snowboarding next time, because I already know that I am terrible at that, and I have no glory days to relive. Or, maybe I'll go to Australia. I hear that place is fantastic. Still don't know when they will be posting my video...

Application for Island Care Taker

2009-02-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, here it is. My self produced one minute application to become an island caretaker in Australia for six months. Is this going to happen? Unlikely. But, I did learn how to use my video camera, and it was kind of fun to put the movie together. So everyone wins.

Moose tracks

2009-02-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today, in my mind, everything is about the commute to work. There is something to be said about the sound of freshly fallen snow crunching under my bike tires and the only tracks other than mine, in the early morning hours, are those of the neighborhood moose. Have a great day.

Movies of my children walking in between convincing the world to send us to Australia

2009-02-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

Ella has figured this out a little better than Jonathan. Good thing he has those blue eyes...

We have a nice, clean, quiet house.

Shameless Plug for Hamilton Island

2009-02-04T23:26:00.001-08:00

I mentioned upcoming posts regarding my quest for a "job" in Australia. My efforts thus far have been pretending to be photogenic (and failing miserably), pretending to be a documentary-type film maker (and failing miserably), and researching pictures of Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays online. Truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Click here for a link to some pictures and here for a link to the website

Now my video capture and edit skills are up for a test. Most of you know I can write and take decent pictures, and of course you know my wry wit and
ability to promote my passions (or at least sell the heck out of things in which I am invested). None of this, however, does me any good if my video looks like it was made by a 3 year old...that gives me a thought...Jackson has been taking pictures lately. Maybe I could get him to direct. Wish me luck. Also please note that pictures were stolen from the Hamilton Island toursim website. Full disclosure if I want this job I suppose.

Looking at a new job

2009-02-03T00:06:00.000-08:00

Not really. I love my job. Especially if my boss is reading this...I LOVE MY JOB AND HAVE NO INTENTIONS ON LEAVING. That said, I want this job. In Australia. For only six months. I've got it all worked out in my head. So here's what I need from you: after I post my video, I want you to pass this along to all of your friends and have you rate it. Preferably with a high rating. Not to buy your vote, but I can offer you a place to visit (read "stay for free") if you come visit me while I am there. I'm just sayin'. I'm going to go the Facebook route as well and hope you will pass it along via that route. Perhaps you could start a group such as "Send Rob to Australia" or (Your Name here) is a fan of Sending Rob to Australia. Nuff said. I'll be talking about the Great Barrier Reef and it's wondrous islands over the next few posts, so stay tuned.

caved

2009-01-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

I finally caved and did the 25 random things via Facebook. I enjoyed it. Damn. I enjoyed it enought to pass it on via the ol' blog as I know some of you (wisely) have not succomed to the Facebook yet.

1) I love writing, but I become resistant to writing when I am pressured to do so…this extends to many other facets of my life, such as making pancakes.
2) I make really good pancakes.
3) I rode an ostrich once. True story. In South Africa. It threw me after about 7 seconds.
4) Thanks to my parents, I had visited all 50 States before I graduated high school.
5) I was voted most likely to succeed in High School
6) It took me 4 tries to get into medical school
7) I was Class President 3 out of 4 years in Medical School
8) I am really good at selling things
9) I hate to lie, but can be very good at it
10) I complain about my children and consequent lack of sleep a lot, but I don’t know what I’d do if I was well rested anyway. (read that as: I am extremely proud of my children)
11) Self depreciating humor is my primary defense mechanism, and I’m terrible at it
12) I still want to be a rock star, or more specifically, a one-hit-wonder
13) I love the way my dogs smell
14) My wife also happens to be my best friend
15) If I could chose another profession right now, it would be as a writer
16) I love my job…really, love it. How many people can say that?
17) I make a lot of plans which Jana describes as “The Hamster Wheel”
18) One of my hobbies is visiting National Parks. We have been to over 150 of them.
19) When I was a Forensic Scientist, my favorite part of the job was testifying in court
20) I have difficulty with the dichotomy of needing to be social and wanting to be alone. This is why I go to the gym to work out and refuse to speak with anyone
21) I wish I was a better guitar player
22) I once got a fortune cookie that read “You long for the pyramids of Egypt,” but I had already seen them
23) I collect Native American artwork and my most precious pieces are Jana, Jackson, Jonathan, and Ella. (They were all recently voted into the Kenaitze tribe)
24) I like it immensely when people anticipate my needs and meet them. It makes the transition from work at the hospital to purchasing cheese in the grocery store very difficult. (Why won’t these people get out of my way, don’t they see that I am a doctor?)
25) I have managed to commute on bicycle intermittently yet consistently for most of my adult life and have a hard time envisioning a home where I have to drive all the time.

25 Random Things

2009-01-27T22:00:00.000-08:00

"I am fast. Somewhere between a snake and a mongoose...and a puma." I like The Office. Not such a random thing if you know me. As most of you know, I spend a little too much time on the FB. Fortunately it is addicting enough that many of my "friends" spend far more time than me. Thus, the "25 random things about me" note that is working its way around the ol' interweb via FB. Should I do it? Does anyone care about my randominity? How does one create a list of random things and how should they be numbered?

No good answer. I guess I'll play along. All the other cool kids are doing it.

Vamos a la playa

2009-01-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

For all of my friends and the great Lucha Libre times we had in Mexico...

I have to see a man about a horse...

2009-01-21T22:47:00.000-08:00

Houston, we have poop in the potty. Okay, so maybe not allowing your child to wear a diaper and feeding him dairy based products is not the most humane thing in the world, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We had one accident earlier today (fortunately at daycare, well, fortunately for me) but after nearly 48 hours of holding it, the boy's backside and the potty collided at an opportune moment and briefly, everyone was happy. Keep you fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Our Wars: A New Hope

2009-01-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

(I made that title up all by myself. So clever and so modest.) Inaguration day. A new President, and many of us are hopeful for change in America. Will it happen? Unlikely to the degree that the cult of personality around President Obama has built up, but at least we will be heading in a new direction. Political posts are far and few between on this site, because it is not my specialty. If I were given the choice of becoming President of the United States or a one-hit wonder, I would choose the one-hit wonder path in a blink of the eye.

I hope that our place in the world is viewed as less of a bully and more of a model to which other countries would aspire. Unlike our previous President, I think there is more than just good and evil. Unfortunately there is a marked gray area in the middle that our country has fallen into over the past few years. Okay, maybe it has always been there, as that is the nature of international politics. The simple idea that we are all that is good, and can do no wrong, is delusional and hurtful to people, cultures, and governments all over the world. There are few people or entities that can rightfully claim this (Jesus, the Beatles, Joe Francis). I am just looking forward to the change and the ability to listen to my President without cringing at every other word coming out of his mouth.

'Nuff said. Now to something more important...we got the peeing in the potty thing down. How to we get the poop there? Jackson "ran out of diapers" a couple of days ago and is getting really uncomfortable. For the eight of you who seem to check in every day or so, thanks. I have resolved to try and write something, anything every day. It may be short (hallelujah, you say) but I need to keep in the habit. It is a necessary release in my life. Peace and hope to all.

Joan Rivers

2009-01-07T08:08:00.001-08:00

Joan Rivers took my seat. Well, more correctly it was Melissa Rivers, her daughter, but I really blame Joan. We are on our way back to civilization - Yelapa, Mexico to Los Angeles - and as a minor treat and as a side effect of the airline reservation process, Jana and I are flying First Class. Well, we're supposed to be flying First Class. Did I mention that Joan Rivers stole my seat? There is also a seven year old child up there. A waste of amenitites if I have ever seen one. (Truly the plebian, cattle car mentality from the back of the plane. WHo really deserves to sit in First Class?

It has beena pretty odd day. Recovery from a wedding, snorkelling, and a water taxi ride forty five minutes from civilization. At the start of our ride we were flagged down by a simillar boat asking if there was a doctor aboard? Jumping to obligation with lead feet, myself and an Obstitrician offered our services. A young man had been run over by one of the ponga type obats and had a fairly severe laceration to his elbow. I could see the head of his humerus and the adjoining (no pun intended) joint space. Fortunately minimal bleeding. The OB offered to stay with him (I take back everything I have ever said about an OBs medical skills) as our plane was pending and he was skiffed off to a near by puerto and awaiting ambulance. I speculate that he will need orthopedic surgery. The cut was fairly deep. It is rare (read: only happened twice...did I tell you about the guy who had a seizure at the gym?) that I have been called to duty in public situations, and despite initial relucatance as is human nature, I am comforted that I stepped up. Jana said she would have ratted me out anyway.
The delay led us to meet with one of the most creative and above the law cab drivers that I have ever encountered and our timing at the airport. Right behind Joan Rivers. Who took my seat. Why do I have to sit back here with all the mortals in Coach? Stupid Joan Rivers.

In a handbasket

2008-12-29T14:43:00.001-08:00

Two comments today, one more controversial than the other...

1) So after my last post about the guy who called the cops about his stolen pot (yes, still legal in Alaska, especially in Fairbanks) I snooped on who was visiting. I do that a lot. I'm a little vain that way, but it is fun to see from where people are checking out the site. Soooo, first hit on the last post...Kingston, Jamaica. Yah mon. Let's work on that stereotype a little more.

2) At the gym today, CNN was hashing and rehashing the current economic crisis, and going on about how a number of retailers won't be with us in 6 months. Very likely true, but is this a bad thing? Perhaps this is the opportunity for our society to become a little less commercial and spend our hard earned money on important things like education, travel, or Heelys (oh yeah, I gots me a pair. Can't stand up on them worth a damn.). I really don't see a huge problem if Sally (or Duke, not to be sexist) can't get that new sweater from the Gap or Bombay Company goes out of business and I can't get that faux Egyptian mummy bookend set (mind you, our house is coordinated in ancient Egyptian style).

Un-American, you say. You know, this is actually how capitalism is supposed to work. Some companies succeed and some fail. I have to admit that I am speaking from something of a position of priviledge in a job that is very unlikely to go away (keep getting colds, folks), and I feel bad for the workers at these companies. But I don't mind the idea of that vast spread of Generica that makes every open air mall look like the next one in the next suburb might be going away a little.

See you later at the Olive Garden. Mmmmm, breadsticks.

PS-Pass the video of Jackson around. It already has 150 hits. I want it to go viral.

Robbers steal man's marijuana on Christmas

2008-12-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Alaska...

Christmas Miracle!

2008-12-25T21:55:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours. This might be the best gift ever...sort of.

New, improved. Now with more Jesus

2008-12-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

Jana and I just returned from an evening out at the theatre taking in the spectacle that is/was Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Ted Neely as Jesus Christ. Neither of us had seen this before although a working pop culture knowledge of the original Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and subsequent movie production featuring Ted Neely as Jesus Christ was well in hand. Plus, I had flipped past the movie version on TV a couple of times, and knew that I was in for a lot of bell bottoms and chicka boom booms. As an added plus, the original star, Ted Neely, was starring in the role of Jesus.

Now you might ask, if Jesus was in his early thirties when he died, and the star playing him was in his early thirties (or with theatrical license, maybe late twenties), and the year of release was 1973, thirty five years ago, this would make the star, Ted Neely, playing the part of Jesus, nearly 60 years old (Apparently 65 now per Wikipedia). A sixty five year old Jesus. Hmmm. That would make him old enough to collect social security and have a house in a not-too-distant suburb ripe for gentrification that the grandkids hate to visit because there is no Fuddruckers.

After 30 years of playing Jesus, more years than most of his cast members have been alive, you’ve got to wonder what it’s like working with him. Does Ted Neely have his own dressing room that his castmates tip toe around? “Shhh, don’t wake up Jesus, I mean Ted, he’ll turn your wine back into water, he gets really pissy on Tuesdays.” I’m sure he’s probably a great guy, and very forgiving (remember, he is Jesus) but 30 years of playing Christ Almighty has got to go to one’s head. Does Ted Neely always get the front seat on the tour bus? If he raises his hands, do the crowds part and allow him to be seated first at the Olive Garden?

Needless to say, I didn’t pay very much attention to the story (I’d heard it once or twice before, but without the gay Herod and the White-pimp-suited-zombie Judas), or the thought that a black man was (and has always been) cast as Judas, one of the most despised characters in Western JudeoChristian history, but the music was alright. Oh, and Ted Neely can still apparently scream like a rock star. A sixty five year old long haired Jesus-looking rock star.

This is My Family

2008-12-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

We have been in Palm Springs for the past couple of weeks and relaxing it was not. Fun, yes. Warm, yes. Nice sun tan, yes. Relaxing, no. Have you met my children? I did realize that it has been some time since I posted new pictures here, and the twins turned one last week.

Thankful

2008-11-28T23:34:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful Turkey Day with the family here in warm, sunny Palm Springs, with the weekend only mildly marred by violence here and abroad. My brother and his wife fortunately joined us from Mumbai, India. They arrived earlier this week prior to the terrorist acts that occured there. Dave seems much less concerned than the news media due to the fact that this type of activity is much more commonplace than we would think. The primary difference seems to be that the targets were much more associated with Western portions of the city. The second unfortunate incident was the Toys-R-Us shootings a couple of miles from here (drove past twice this morning). It appears they were likely gang/stupidity related and the shooters only killed each other, but it is sad that there were children so close to such a violent event. Glad everyone in my family is safe. More on our trip to Disneyland to come.

Watch 30 Rock.

2008-11-22T23:21:00.001-08:00

Unnecessary Force

2008-11-20T17:17:00.000-08:00

One of my co-workers has far too much time on her hands...

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Seriously...far too much time. At least she is funny.

Attaques

2008-11-19T23:02:00.000-08:00

The dude next to me on the eliptical trainer totally had a seizure the other day. Not like a figurative seizure, but a real, true life, literal seizure. I was striding away, minding my own business with Vampire Weekend dominating the iPod and heard a thud. As I turned, the guy started seizing, foaming at the mouth and everything. Now, mind you, I am used to this sort of thing at work, but I like to keep my work and private life somewhat seperate. So I, and a couple of other gym rats (yeah, that's me, "gym rat") pushed everything aside and sat by this guy until paramedics came.
The crazy/annoying part was that he adamently refused transport to the hospital and blew it off like nothing happened. Jana is traumatized. I thought I was okay, but this guy keeps showing up at the same time I have been there in the morning. I have to use another machine across the room, almost too far to read the closed captioning at Fox News, because I can't bring myself to work out next to him again. Although I know that I'll be right there when he falls off the machine again. I'm good like that.

100 people surveyed said...

2008-11-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

It appears that I rank slightly below Family Feud these days. Not to get into details (or more trouble), but it is at least the version that features that guy who played J. Peterman on Seinfeld. Love that guy. By the way, what ever happened spelling by the I before E except after C? What's with that?

Feeling broke and need a novel way to pay off bills, check this out. P.S. It might not work.

"Helicopter wolf-kills help caribou calves"

2008-11-12T23:56:00.000-08:00

Think of the baby caribou...

On a less shooty note, maybe there is a glimmer of hope for Alaskans yet.

I had 'Sea Kitten' for dinner tonight

2008-11-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

Create Your Own Sea Kitten at peta.org!

Meet my new pet. Thanks to the good people at PETA, I have adopted a Sea Kitten of my very own. I will love and feed him and keep him and call him George (or 'Dobi' which is what Jackson names nearly every animal he meets). As part of their campaign against eating fish, PETA has determined that

"Sea kittens are just as intelligent (not to mention adorable) as dogs and cats, and they feel pain just as all animals do. "

Therefore we should not eat them. Ya know, I will go on record that I love sea kittens and have an entire freezer full of them in my basement. I will do all that I can to make sure they are well loved in a creamy dill sauce or perhaps kept warm and crispy in a golden beer batter. God bless PETA for their creativity.

The Devil finds work for idle hands...

2008-11-08T23:39:00.000-08:00

I'm finding that I don't deal well with idle time. Over the past several years I have been conditioned to work and not do much else. This is why I often don't feel comfortable in social situations. I can't talk about anything non-medical. In my new job, theoretically, I have every other week off, but the unstructured time has not yet been as rewarding as I hoped. Mind you that there hasn't been that much of it (see previous post), but I get a little moody when I don't have some semblance of where my day is going. I know, poor me. The sad part of the matter is that Jana has to deal with me moping around the house all day. I need a hobby, a book to read, oysters to schuck, something. Anyone else have this problem. I trust that it will go away over time, and I may be the conversational wonder I once (spelled n-e-v-e-r) was, but what do I do in the mean time?

Anybody see Heidi Klum in that Guitar Hero/Risky Business themed commercial?

Rest

2008-11-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

Just sitting here, realizing that out of the past 8 weeks, I have really only had 3-4 days off where I wasn't working, getting operated on, post-op, or vomitting. Glad I like my job. The vomitting...not so much.

Didn't get enough Palin?

2008-11-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Check out Fox News after the election. Now that Sen. McCain is out of the picture, Palin is being touted as a "Rock Star" and the new face of the GOP in 2012. Mind you that she has only been a mayor of a small town and Govenor of Alaska for less than two years. She still has a lot of tests that lay ahead of her on a local basis. I just hope she doesn't take on that Rock Star mentality, get pissed off when there is a yellow M&M in her contractual bowl of green M&Ms, drink a fifth of Yukon Jack, trash the hotel room, and vomit all over the state of Alaska.

Almost forgot to mention that my favorite mention on Fox this morning was the idea that although Ted Stevens may be elected to return to the Senate, his felony conviction will call for him to step down. Gov. Palin would then have to appoint an interim Senator, who would be...Senator Sarah Palin. Genius. Nothing like the nepotism of Alaska politics. Let's not forget that Lisa Murkowski, our other Senator was originally appointed by immediately former Senator and then new govenor, Frank Murkowski, her father.

Politics as usual

2008-11-05T01:16:00.000-08:00

I have a little more hope today than yesterday, with the election of Barak Obama. Although we as Alaskans still seem to be more interested in electing criminals who bring in pork funds than looking at the big picture and the well being of our state and country. The election is far from over up here as the House and Senate races are close enough to wait for all the absentee voting. Hard to believe that Sen. Ted Stevens can still pull a close race less than a couple weeks after being convicted. I don't really know what to think about that. I'm also not to certain that I am happy about Gov. Palin's return.

2008-11-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

Just happy.

2008-11-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

Another excuse to be a Weezer fan...

and Ben Folds...

I seem to have a thing for ukeleles too, no?

And apparently Julia Nunes.

Election eve

2008-11-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

All I can really say is that I am glad this thing is almost over. I am excited about voting tomorrow, although as Alaskans, most of the vote is tallied before we are done voting. I guess we have already unleashed our damage on this election.

More importantly, Jana and I went ice skating today. Lake Otis, a small lake ne' pond in our neighborhoodhas frozen sufficiently and with the lack of snow we have had this winter, the entire lake was like glass (like glass with lily pads...watchout). We had the entire lake to ourselves and were able to scope out all of the lakefront property I have coveted. An inch or so of snow this afternoon ended the opportunity to skate the entire lake, but fortunately in Anchorage there are dozens of outdoor rinks, and several lakes are partially cleared and hot-mopped.

Kind of a pointless story. just ran out of steam. Go vote tomorrow. Preferrably for my candidate, but I'll be happy if you just enjoy the ritual. Good night.

Sure enough

2008-10-31T00:12:00.000-07:00

You may recall I have talked about Unbreakable in the past, and I still wonder why everyone doesn't love this movie (I have been watching it while on the cycle trainer all week...awesome). I was just reminded of another movie that is greatly underappreciated...The Last Dragon. Featuring a young African American martial arts student (Bruce Leroy) and the the architypal antagonist...Sho'nuff. I hope by review of the following clip you can see what great cinema is like...

Politics

2008-10-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have never been the most overtly political person when it comes to election time, although admittedly, I usually drift toward the Democratic side of things. For the most part I like (or at least liked) both Presidential candidates this year, or at the very least realized that neither should be as unfortunate as the past 8 years.

More interestingly, has been the bits and pieces that Jackson, our 3 year old picks up. While riding in the car, listening to NPR, last week, Jackson asked "Who's John McCain?" I did my best to educate him as well as a three year old needs to be and he has become relatively fascinated with the candidates, even watching the last debate. Last night he was playing with the powers of imagination and going on a car ride with Senator Obama. This led to the song and dance you see below. Kind of frightening what kids pick up, but at least we're voting the same way.

eeewwww...

2008-10-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

Hey you. Guy in the bathroom stall, next to me, using your laptop. That's gross. Seriously, really gross, please stop. You're making me feel really uncomfortable and dirty right now.

Alabaster Indian Princess

2008-10-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

Jana and the kids were recently voted in as members of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe. The Kenaitze are Dena'ina, a branch of the Athabascan Native Americans. We are excited to have more access and information about our family history. Jana still maintains that the casino I run in the garage is illegal.

Remember school pictures?

2008-10-22T22:17:00.001-07:00

I swear he is much more attractive in person.

Serenity now

2008-10-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

The deafening silence of my house when I awoke this morning startled me. I'm working nights this week and everyone was gone already. This was a poinient moment, as the comes a time in every parent's life where you have to let go and left your fledglings fly free from the nest. For most folks this is at the age of 18ish and college or that assistant manager's job at Wendy's are the impending cause. We made it to 10 months. The twins started day care today. It was a beautiful thing.

Those of you who have spent any significant time around me know that I have fairly definite opinions on only a couple of things. Home schooling being one (for 99.9% of home schooled kids, worst idea ever) and the other is that Canonball Run is the second best movie of all time. As a relatively new parent, I have also become a huge proponent of day care and preschool. I'll admit to a few somewhat selfish benefits, but the socialization and interaction a child gets through a good program is so far beyond what I as a reasonably well educated parent could ever hope to give. Jackson has thrived in this environment and and now the twins have that opportunity as well. We are very excited about this moment. We also get to go to a movie on Wednesday. Any suggestions?

Just had to put this up

2008-10-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

If you are about my age, I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did. Thanks to Geekologie. Keelay, dance for me.

Anyone watch Arrested Development and remember Gob's magic act?

Unbreakable

2008-10-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

I spent the large part of the past several years claiming to be "Unbreakable". If anyone other than me has seen the M. Night Shyamalan, Bruce Willis vehicle as named, you have a vague idea of what I am talking about. The basic plot centers around a man who is the sole survivor from a train crash who, when he takes his life in to view, realizes that he has never had a sick day, never been ill, and his son believes him to be a super hero. Long story short (or very long story short, to those of you who didn't appreciate the pace of the movie)common man rises against odds, wins his son's affection, and conquers his nemesis. I really like the concepts and pace of this movie. I met someone else once who did too, but forgot his name.

Anyway, the combination of my super powers and a deep seeded ability to deny illness (I swear I can will it away, as long as I refuse to believe I am sick) failed me this week. The whole family has come down with various permutations of gastroenteritis, one by one. I caught it last (of course after claiming my super powers) and worst. I'll spare you the gorey details, but I haven't eaten in three days and have learned some fascinating things about my digestive system.

I just realized that it is late, I am malnourished (although I am losing weight like no one's business...how could 10,000 supermodels have it wrong), and I can't remember where my line of thought was heading. So, I will attach yet another entertaining Sarah Palin link. Make sure you click on almost every item in the Sarah Palin Oval Office. Hours or at least minutes of fun. Thanks to The Superficial for the link.

PS-I really like this movie. I own it. If you want to come over and watch it sometime, I'll make some popcorn. Look away if I get teary eyed.

De facto

2008-10-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Pacific Cod is the eighth most popular fish in America! I have got to start listening to a different radio station in the mornings. (What is the ninth? Walleye?)

UPDATE: Number 9, number 9, number 9...Tilapia

(thanks again to Val who apparently reads this thing way more than all y'all.)

Me for President? Why not!

2008-10-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

Check it out

Let this be a warning to you...

2008-10-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

Never. Ever. Purposefully or accidentally smell a bicycle seat after you've recently ridden on it. Seriously.

Now that's how you debate!

2008-10-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

Aside from all of her comments about John "The Maverick" McCain (drink now please), Palin's uncertainty and reference to her note cards bugged me a little. The strategy she followed was apparently leaked out via the interweb. Thanks to Val for the link...

I think I blacked out for a minute there. What happened?

Nascar without the crashes

2008-10-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

I kept watching, despite my boredom. The debate tonight was remakably civil and without spectacular faux pas. Probably a good thing, but I kept waiting, watching. Just like when you're watching a NASCAR race on TV and your waiting for that one crash. You really don't want anyone to get hurt, but the race is really pretty boring and you are waiting for that one driver to crash into the wall or bump someone else from behind. That's really why we watch these things. Bummer. If only John "The Maverick" McCain was there. Please drink now.

New drinking game!!!!

2008-10-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Every time Sarah Palin calls John McCain a "Maverick" take a drink. I feel kind of woozy already...

Recovering...sorta

2008-10-01T23:45:00.000-07:00

Back to work this week. Thus far I have several patients with CVAs, a new diagnosis of Myasthenia gravis, small cell carcinoma, renal cell cancer, out of control diabetes, and a couple of old folks I am afraid to send home. It actually hasn't been too busy and I have an intern working for/with me. The main drawback thus far has been my gimpiness. I never realized how big our hospital was until I had to limp my way from unit to unit. The end of the day is complete exhaustion and sore muscles I didn't know I had. The knee is improving, sore, but improving, and my orthopod was surprized at how much I was already doing on it (I think that's good). I think I need a Segway to roll around the hospital, or maybe I'll just make the intern push me around in a wheel chair. VP debates are tomorrow night. Should be interesting to see how our well versed governor holds up.

Rough week

2008-09-27T00:29:00.000-07:00

This week I have been writing from my hovel, my all things pod, my couch. It has been my week off and has been filled with knee surgery, a funeral, a lot of TV, and so much sitting/laying that my back hurts.

Sad things first, in the past few weeks we have lost both mine and Jana's grandmothers. We are fortunate to have good genes and have the blessing of family living into their 90s. Both Grandma Stands and Grandma Secora passed away in the company of family and will be dearly missed.

On a happier note, I had knee surgery this week. Why is this "happy"? I was given about 50/50 chance of being on crutches for 3 days versus being non-weight bearing, on crutches and in a knee immobilizer for 6 weeks, not knowing which until I awakened from surgery. I awoke to the three day option and will definintely be skiing this winter. I had a bone spur taken off the back of my knee cap, which is now healing very well, thank you very much.

Yhus, why I have spent probably 60 hours on this couch over the past four days. There is a noted impression on one of the cushions. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to sit there when you visit.

Skype-Skype-Skype coolest thing ever, oh, and John McCain too.

2008-09-25T00:02:00.001-07:00

Talked with my bro and sis in India via the ol' interweb yesterday. Real time video and real time sound. No significant delay, skipping, or other issues. Awesome and FREE! Anyone else want to video conference with me?

Just flipped past Letterman. John McCain canceled his appearance at the last minitue due to the "suspension" of his campaign to deal with the financial crisis? I am confused. Isn't this an opportunity for him to give examples of how he will help solve the crisis? Now we're just stuck watching Hannity...or is it Colmes? All those people look the same to me.

I was really looking forward to the debates Friday night.

**update: It was apparently Keith Olberman, not Hannity or Colmes. Nothing funny here.

Too close to home

2008-09-23T23:16:00.000-07:00

Discussing Sarah Palin amongst friends the past couple of days we came up with some interesting thoughts...

The Gov's comments about having fired the personal chef that came along with the job. This makes me more sad than anything for a number of reasons. One is that the chef was a good friend of a friend and she was crushed when she lost the job she so loved. The second is that the chef provided valuable catering services, not the "I don't care if it's midnight, bring me a deep fried peanut butter and ham sandwich" that the image brings to mind. Lastly, I would hope that the governor was so busy, that cooking for the family was something that he or she (this is not Palin specific) wouldn't have time to do. Being a high level public servant is much more than just a 40hr/wk job that you clock in and out of. The true reason the chef was fired, was that Palin spent virtually no time in Juneau (the State Capitol), having been paid a per diem for the 300 nights she spent at home in Wasilla.

Which brings us to the 300 nights she spent in Wasilla out of less than two years as governor. Her commute was somewhat ridiculous. Jana brought up the question of whether Palin will commute to Washington the same way?

Debates start Friday. Should be fun.

Indian dreams

2008-09-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know Dave (my brother), you'll be interested to know that he and my sister-in-law Angela moved, somewhat suddenly to Mumbai, India last week for a new job. Mumbai used to be Bombay, just like Istanbul was once Constantinople (Don't forget that every gal in Constantinople lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople. So if you've a date in Constantinople, she'll be waiting in Istanbul).

We are excited and trying to figure out how to visit. For the time being, we are just trying to figure out Skype. Has anyone used it?

Pet Peeves: Littering and Teenage pregnancy

2008-09-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

Who litters these days? Seriously. I know that I come from a background that treasures all that is neat and tidy (note: don't look in our living room right now, Hurricane Church recently passed through), but who teaches their children to litter? I was following a car out of one of my favorite fast food restaurants (oh, Taco Bell, I can't quit you) and watched first the driver pitch a straw wrapper - okay, small and degradable- out the window, and then immediately following, the passenger threw a handful of taco sauce packets onto the street. Really? How does this occur to you? Hmmm, I have trash, but I have a bag which the product came in, and I have the floor of my car, and I have this small receptacle for trash...what should I do with it? Out the window. Great plan.

Now my limitless loathing of litter (but obviously not alliteration) finds its true nemsis cigarette butts pitched out at street corners. I have even stepped out of my car, walked up to the car ahead of me, picked up a discarded cigarette, and glared mercilessly at the occupants while we were travelling through Denali National Park. It's a National Park! Why? Please, if you know, please, let me know how people learn that this is acceptable. Perhaps it is just a lack of guidance versus actual teaching. Maybe I'm the odd man out and all those years of sweeping up butts off the sidewalk in front of the house were a societal life lesson that I apparently failed.

Now for something completely different...Teen pregnancy? Really? I know it is at the forefront of national interest (or was a week or two ago with Bristol Palin), but why are teens still getting pregnant, and why do some of them seem to want to be? I was trapped into watching an episode of Tyra at the gym earlier this week which featured a number of 14 year old girls who were pregnant or trying to be. The cluelessness was mind boggling. Perhaps I should start up a scared straight type program for teen girls by putting them up at my house for a few days. A plan for birth control in the water and a prescription for reversal needs to be done now. There I've said it. No more electoral hopes for me. So be it. Maybe I can become Surgeon General someday. If only an Alaskan would get elected to the White House. Ahhh, pipe dreams....

Check out the link from Val on "White privilege in American politics." Take it with a grain of salt, as it is a politically motivated website, but there are some interesting points.

Media Frenzy - Not about Sarah Palin

2008-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

I now work 7 days on, 7 days off, which lends to a lot of time playing Guitar Hero (yeah, I rocked the medium level and can complete the Dragonforce, bizatch...well, on the easy level anyway) and following The Superficial and Geekologie with a pathological steadfastness. The post is really just to compare a scene from Pacman: The Movie (look at around 2:20 for the monologue) with Samuel L. Jackson's monologue from Deep Blue Sea, one of my favorite movie scenes of all time. Please watch both...and enjoy. (Press the colored words, y'all.)

$3269

2008-09-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

PFD. BFD. The benefits of being an Alaskan stretch far beyond a low sun-induced skin cancer risk, the surprise hot Governor/Vice-Presidential candidate, and bears roaming our city streets. Today a large portion of the state received their Permanent Fund Dividend check in direct deposit form. Now, knowing that my parents read this blog from time to time, I won't say that I am bitter that I had to put mine into the ol' college savings account every year, but think where I could have been if I had been able to purchase a 4 wheeler or a trip to Hawaii instead. What good has my "education" done for me? Now, much like alcoholism and child abuse repeat in a sad, sad cycle, I will force my own children to place their free money into an account that will likely never amount to anything. At least when they turn 18, or if I die, they can spend it on something fun. Now that I'm a grown up, I think I'll spend mine on something much more responsible. I'm getting a motorcycle...with a sidecar. Sweet.

If you haven't heard of the free money they give away in Alaska, it basically boils down to this: 1) Oil companies drill for oil. 2)Oil companies make billions of dollars on oil. 3)The State of Alaska charges royalties on Big Oil's production. 4)Some dude invests the money in an offshore account, municipal bond, coffee shack, or some other wise investment. 5)The man then divides a small portion of the interest between all Alaskans. 6)This somehow amounts to billions of dollars.

Now (here's the commentary part), we have no state income tax or state sales tax, and much of our state budget also comes off of this same income process. Now although I am not a Republican and am not hugely in favor or government excess, couldn't we do some better things with this money than hand it out for a shopping spree? How about schools? Alaska used to have some of the best schools in the nation, with the best teacher salaries. This is no longer the case. How about services for the disabled? (Sarah Palin is a big proponent of this on the national stage, too bad she never mentioned it here at home. Don't get me wrong, I kind of liked her as Governor, but her new national persona is much different than who she was back home). How about infrastructure or maybe, just maybe we should plan for the future when we don't have giant piles of oil money laying around the house. Just a thought. (Not to go down the ANWR road, but even if we did open it, we are 10-15 years away from production and it will never sustain our national consumption of oil. Seriously, it is a drop in the proverbial bucket of oil, when will people realize that? It will be opened, it is just a matter of time, but it will never be the savior for which we have been prepared.)

Enough of the rant already. Need to go out and buy something.

Quiet darkness

2008-09-08T02:01:00.000-07:00

Nobody really wanted her dead, not really. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t supposed to die. She was far beyond borrowed time. She should have died 6 months ago when this all started. He kept her alive. Was it for her sake? Was it out of his own greed or inability to cope with what life was like without her? Or was it simply the psychosis that affected them both? We signed her death certificate, against his will, but out of mercy or compassion or simply to ease our minds that we will not one day be here.

I didn’t make her path or choose her direction, but I may have hastened the arrival to her final destination by simply signing the paperwork. When she came back, I heard she was blue. I wasn’t there. I had family obligations.

Even after everyone had stopped, her husband continued. He tried to provide her with the breath she needed, but all that was left was grief and anger. She passed out of this purgatory we had created for her, hopefully to someplace better, even if it was simply quiet darkness.

Beary tale wedding

2008-09-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

Just returned from my brother-in-law's wedding (actually Jana's Mom's Boyfriend's Son's wedding, but that's far too complicated) to which we took the whole brood (bad idea-don't invite children to weddings. Get a babysitter). It was to be an outside wedding, but the elements and a bear sighting kept us indoors. Not that I have ill wishes toward generic bridesmaids or that douche-that-you-can't-believe-your-friend-asked-to-stand-by-him, but make a mental note of a bear taking out one of the attendants as the vows are exchanged. Somebody please make a movie.

Hey, Look at the Pictures of my Kids below!

2008-09-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Again, my thoughts on this whole political fervor are a bit at a loss right now, but here is a well written opinion of Sarah thanks to Balko by way of Brian. Happy Friday (or for those of us who work 7 day weeks...status post-hump day).

Sarah (whisper it...) Sarah

2008-09-03T22:47:00.001-07:00

Anyone else sick of Sarah Palin yet? I thought that I would throw my two cents out there about the Gov and her surprising leap to the national spotlight, but I can't bring myself to provide anymore comment. It's there, every time I turn on the TV, the headline of every paper, on NPR for Pete's sake. Leave me alone. That being said, maybe this is my chance to whore my blog out there. Hey look everyone! I'm from Alaska!! Look at me! Look at me!!!! Step right up up, see Sarah Palin Naked!! Did anyone see the kid who knocked her daughter up at the convention tonight. What an embarrassing way to gain a national audience. I guess it could be worse, you could be on the Hills.

Trying to get back in the habit...

2008-09-02T23:36:00.000-07:00

3 a.m.

2008-07-28T03:58:00.000-07:00

Haven't written in awhile. Just finished my Board exams. I had many poetic things to say earlier in the day, but now it is 3 a.m. and I am debating whether I should sleep or just stay up until on of the kids wakes up for the next go-round. Sad, so sad. Other than my usual lack of sleep, things just keep getting better around here. More soon.

Congrats Val and Brent!

2008-07-06T23:15:00.001-07:00

There are few times in life when everything comes together and appears to be seamless, obscuring the fray. I had the honor of attending the wedding of two good friends last night. Brent, whom I have known since 3rd grade (I'm pretty sure he was assigned to me as my classroom buddy when I returned to Alaska) and Val, my partner 24/7 for most of the past three years in Residency. They met on something of a fluke turned into a blind date, and funny how things work out. I am the true winner in this situation as now, two of my favorite people are now joined among friends and I will save big bucks on Christmas card postage. My sentimental cup runneth over.

Mildly outraged or moderately insulted

2008-07-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

"Pops." Seriously, "Pops". I was exiting a local fast food establishment earlier this morning, affectionately known as "Old Macdonald's" around our house, and a strung out, haggard, chain smoking woman drinking coffee outside behind the garbage bins said "How'se it goin' Pops." I looked up, puzzled, and said "Did you just call me 'Pops'?" She said "yeah, well I don't know your name." I replied in a very non-comical and somewhat hurt voice "well, I don't think 'Pops' is the right term," before jumping into the jeep (no, not the minivan) and driving away.

How old does this lady think I am? Upon my brief image of her and her somewhat weathered state, she must have been 10 years older than I am (or at least I hope she is). For Pete's sake, I am only 36. Pops????

Jana said that maybe it was my glasses. When did blublockers go out of style?

Number 15,000!!! You Win...

2008-07-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

the satisfaction of having stroked my ego! Okay, I have no prizes, but I am pretty excited that this many hits have been made on my site. Today's winner was from Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. A place I know absolutely nothing about, but now that I know it exists...Check the jump for a little info.

Done and done.

2008-07-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

I completed Residency last night with a formal graduation and all. A little anticlimactic, but otherwise very pleasant. To celebrate, today, I went to jury duty. Sweet. I have testified in well over 100 cases and spent a considerable amount of time in court in my former life as a forensic scientist, but I have never been set on a jury. The last time I was called, I knew the Prosecuting and Defense attorneys, as well as the judge. I had actually testified in the same courtroom the previous day.

Now, in a new state and with new rules (they get our names from the pool of people who applied for the Alaska Permenant Fund Dividend - that money they give all of us for living up here), I was called again. This time I had no excuse but to perform my civic duty. I was called to show this afternoon, or as we call it in Alaska "summer" (yes, today is one of the nicest we have had all year), and sat. And sat. And sat until my cheeks ached. Then after promptly filling out a form I was excused. Until next Tuesday. Gotta love the justice system.

PS-check the counter, it's my own little ego boost. You could be visitor number 15000. Let me know who you are.

Last Call

2008-06-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sleepless nights, saving lives, listening to the soothing sounds of "rospital rospital rospital" from a very pleasantly delerious patient. These are the things I will not miss so much. Last night was my last call night of Residency. My new job will not have 24-36 hour calls. I survived. Perhaps the thought of spending the night with a pager was just more soothing than a night at home with my multitude of children (sad bit of truth there...), but I never really minded call that much. I can't imagine I will miss it, give me a month or so, and let's see how I am sleeping.

Music

2008-06-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

Not that you care, but I've been listening to new albums from REM, Vampire Weekend, Weezer and Coldplay lately. Every time I start to think that I am listening to better music. More introspective, well crafted, less pop oriented, less superficial, I get sucked right back in. Curses you Pussycat Dolls.

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to you,
You live in a zoo.
You smell like a monkey,
And your children do too.

For Val’s Dad, my constant and persistent reader.

2008-06-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

I haven’t written in some time and only due so now because the father of a colleague of mine (the aforementioned ‘Val’) has made the appropriate phone calls and requests. Also, as he may be my only reader at this point (I haven't been to Sycamore, Illinois, but I have to assume there is more to do than read my blog). It has not been for lack of subject matter, we have had an anniversary, a birthday, purchased a minivan (yes, we’re that family now), and I have traveled by kayak through Prince William Sound and now flown again to Juneau to revisit the horrors of this past winter.

Today I’ll write about Juneau. It’s much nicer this time around and I am saddened that the family has not joined me. I am here for a conference with the Alaska Association of Family Physicians. Nerdy, true, but it is better than being in clinic for a few days, and I get to visit our good friends, Clint and Denise, in much less adverse conditions. For both of you who are still reading, you may remember that we spent the beautiful month of February here in Juneau encountering boilerplate ice, 3 feet of snow, a vehicle that wouldn’t make it up the hill to our house, enough rain to melt three feet of snow, and the screaming isolation that can only be associated with three adults, a two year old, and 2 month old twins all living in a small two bedroom apartment.

I don’t want to say it was a horrible experience, but I can’t say it was good. Perhaps more than anything, the new babies, lack of sleep, and slightly worse than typical February weather jaundiced our view. The work was mediocre, but the people were certainly nice. That said, it is much nicer to be here in the summer. I have managed two hikes, ridden the Arial Tramway, and made fun of the seasonal locals at open mic night at the Alaskan. Juneau is much nicer in the summer. I highly recommend it. The fact that is hasn’t really rained which we’ve been here also helps, I suppose. I was offered a job here for the summer (and a permanent one in nearby Sitka) and I can’t say that I am disappointed to have turned them down, but at some point this might be a nice place to live. At least in the summer. Then again, there’s all the tourists (13,000 off the boats yesterday).

Día De la Madre

2008-05-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

I am very likely the world's second worst husband. Okay, maybe not that bad, but here I am sitting in the hospital on Mother's Day. It's my job. Not my choice. I've become pretty immune to working holidays, as our family doesn't seem to have any huge unmissable events or meanings associated with any particular holiday. Today, however, I am feeling guilty about missing my wife and mother of my children. Perhaps it is because I know that she is dealing with crying children, multiple wardrobe changes due to vomitting/diarrhea, and general fussing of a two and a half year old and two five month olds. Perhaps it is because I love her and couldn't possibly treat her as well as she deserves and I am using the guise of work to lower any expectations that I might have needed to meet.

I just came soooo close to writing a list of why I am glad she is mine and why I am proud she is my baby momma. It nearly induced vomitous in it's sacchrine coating and sugary sweet nothingness. I think I will keep this list to myself, or perhaps write it in a future post once I know that no one is listening and will not face the taunts of my more cynical friends. Anyway, Happy Mother's Day Beautiful! Thank you for everything you do.

I wish my children were famous.

2008-05-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

"The way to be a good parent is, if you make a mistake, you make up for it." No, no, no, no no no! This sage advice from a psuedo-celebrity (okay, Lindsay Lohan's mom) indicates much of what is wrong with our child rearing these days. As a parent, a boss, an employee, a human, our job is never to "make up for it." Our job is to get things right. That is the great benefit of mistakes. When we're not busy trying to make up from our foibles, we can actually LEARN from them. Novel idea, I know. I am certainly not the world's best dad (despite what my t-shirt, mug, and plaque tell the visitors to our house) and very likely not the world's best boss (although I like to think the benevolent dictator role fits me well), but I expect my minions, whether they be employed or genetic to learn from their mistakes, just like I do. I am really not fond of apologies, I would rather see the job done correctly the second time around. Perhaps this doesn't fit into parenting as well as work, but I think some of the same principles would do many parents in our country a pant-load of good.

Anyway, I may be totally wrong with this as Mrs. Lohan was recently awarded a parent of the year award. go figure.

Semi-Breaking News

2008-05-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

I usually don't write about these things, but secretly relish them, as my mind is like a steel trap for celebrity gossip and pop culture. (My patients wish it was the same for medicine.)

Apparently Mariah Carey married Nick Cannon! Nick Cannon! Nickelodeon? Drumline??? I love that movie.