showing off his ears after his haircut:

modeling a scarf I made:

Starting off the day right. I, too, would eat breakfast lying down if I could.

Sometimes, we all need to shout. Here’s how Kodiak does it.

Last weekend, we had to go out of town for a baby shower so our friend Nina watched Kodiak for us. Nina’s dog Emma is Kodiak’s best friend- they lived together for 7 months.

And here are Kodiak and Emma when we came to pick them up.

I am a very deep sleeper. Kodiak has realized that this adversely affects his outside time and has come up with his own solution: jump on the bed, sit on me, and smack me or the boy til one of us stirs.

Kelblys Inc., long-respected as a producer of benchrest actions and rifles, has expanded its product line. Now Kelbly’s will be offering complete tactical and tactical/hunting rifles. Produced in a wide variety of chamberings from 6.5×47 Lapua all the way up to 300 Win Magnum, these new Kelbly rifles are available as either single shots or as repeaters. To learn more about the new Kelbly rifles, visit Kelbly’s enhanced website.

Shown above is Kelbly’s new Atlas rifle. This rifle’s$2800.00 base price includes premium components: Single-shot Atlas action with 20 MOA or Flat integral scope base, Jewell or Shilen trigger, Krieger or Bartlein Barrel, Kelbly’s HCFB or Hunting stock (with recoil pad and swivels), Double screw rings (30mm or 1″). Available options include: McMillan A5 stock, CDI Magazine w/ 5 round AICS Magazine ($260), 3-Round Blind Mag ($150), Kemper or Vais Muzzlebrake ($185 Installed), Karsten Adjustable Cheek Piece ($75), Barrel Fluting ($120), Long-Action Upgrade ($70), Painted stock ($300), CeraKote Barreled Action ($200).

Kelbly’s new Grizzly II Tactical/Hunting rifle costs $3300.00 before options. Shown above in wood thumbhole stock, this rifle features a single-shot Grizzly II Action with 20 MOA or Flat integral scope base, Krieger or Bartlein Barrel, Jewell or Shilen Trigger, Kelbly HCFB or Hunting stock (with recoil pad and swivels), Double screw rings (30mm or 1″ scope tube). Grizzly II options are the same as for the Atlas model, except that a detachable box magazine is not offered with the Grizzly II. NOTE: The stock in the photo is a prototype wood thumbhole. The production Grizzly IIS will use a Kelbly fiberglass HCFB stock (standard), or McMillan A5 stock (optional at extra cost).

I’ve been living with severe, chronic migraine headaches for some 19 years. Along the way I have also been diagnosed with sinusitis and sinus headaches, as well as tension, cluster and ‘rebound’ headaches.

An Ultrasound of my face uncovered a previous skull fracture and bone fragments from a broken eye socket that were floating in my sinus. A CT scan and later an MRI confirmed the ultrasound results.

After years of treatment by a neurologist who prescribed a variety of medications that included home injections and being released from treatment after all his options were exhausted and he was at a loss as to what to do to help me, I was left to my own devices, dealing with the pain by laying down in a dark, cool and quiet room, putting moist heat on my head, trying to sleep them off.

Some days this strategy works, other days not so much. Sometimes my migraines cycle from one side of my head to the other for five or six days consecutively. On several occasions a single migraine has lasted for three weeks.

Today I had a particularly bad headache. I put heat on it, took some over-the-counter pain killers and went into my darkened bedroom to lie down. As soon as I was lying down with my pillow scrunched up under my neck Kodi came into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed.

He licked my face and nibbled my nose as he made soft sounds, much like a cat purring. He leaned his cheek against my cheek, slid down against me, leaning his shoulder into mine as he slipped onto his side with his back against my belly.

He looked back over his shoulder and licked my face before resting his head on the pillow next to mine.  I put my hand on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

We rested there for a while. It was nice to keep warm with him, relax and de-stress.

A Neurologist couldn’t provide me with relief… because he wasn’t able to prescribe Kodiak Cuddles.

Je sais, je sais.. «vieille» chanson mais je sais pas pourquoi, je trip toujours à l’entendre bien que je n’aime pas particulièrement le rap ou le HipHop (yo yo yeah baby…)

Well, I have been in Kodiak just a little over 24 hours… and so far I am having an excellent time. Never mind the fact that it’s freezing cold and I’m wearing 4 layers and eating 5 times as much as I normally do… there’s so much that makes up for it!

….whale spotting, the incredible sightseeing done on the flight out here… hanging out with locals… experiencing “bush life”. It’s awesome out here…I kind of feel l’m half way between being in the middle of nowhere while still existing in a normal civilization. Weird, but kind of cool. I definitely enjoy it out here.

However, I highly doubt I could live here. Well, in truth, yes, I most likely could because I’m just tough and adaptable like that. Would I want to, though? No. Living in a 300-person village is just one more way to make me go twice as insane as I already am. I could deal with the lack of fuel for weeks at a time, I could deal with sucky internet connections, I could deal with the social issues… but I think the fact it’s so isolated and close knit here, with not a whole lot to do, that could get on my nerves.

But, as luck would have it, God hasn’t told meto move here just yet, so it looks like I’ll be stayin’ in Anchorage until I hear otherwise.

So despite the fact I’m convinced that I could never live here, I am thrilled that I get to have a taste of this culture and lifestyle for a few days. I can’t wait for what’s next.

1. Finish the Russian homework that needs submitting.
2. Come to a decision on a Psychology essay topic and notify my instructor. Well, first, THINK of a topic… because at the moment, I have zero ideas.
3. Take a journalism quiz, write another post for my journalism blog, and complete a bias writing assignment.
4. Listen to grammar review podcast, complete worksheets, go over class notes.
5. Do laundry and find all my polarfleece, rain repelling, and Alaska proof clothing. Then, pack!
6. Make sure my computer is ready to go into the Mac Haus to be worked on while I’m gone. (once my iMac is fixed, my computer will hopefully take 5 seconds to start instead of 5 minutes, and I’ll get my webcam back up and working, yay)
7. Figure nout how much my camera weighs so I can plan accordingly, because each person can only bring 30 lbs of luggage with them.
8. Decide what homework/ books/ tech devices (cell phone, iPod, camera charger) I’m going to bring on the trip with me. I’m trying to pack light though.
9. Get a cell phone charger. Maybe.
10. Keep my head above water and not go insane

With all that to do, I think I might be pulling an all nighter. Working all day and coming home after dinner to even MORE work kind of stinks like that.

In other news, billions of people who are smart and do not own firearms experienced no such problems or fears.

There are no words that can adequately describe this expression.

Tonight, Kodi and I got ‘geared up’ and went out for our walk. It was cloudy, gray, cold and crisp, the perfect Autumn evening!

When we were crossing the bridge to the other side of the dike Kodi kept looking down into the creek and I could hear something, but couldn’t make out what it was, so I disregarded it and just kept moving.

On the other side of the bridge we went around the turn that takes us down in between the homes on one side of the street and the concrete wall of the dike. As we’re moving along the same path we take a couple of times a day, suddenly there’s something white up on the bike path on the dike. It’s coming right at us, coming down the grassy bank, full speed.

Yep, it was a dog, charging at us. I started screaming “No!” trying to frighten or deter him, but he’s still coming. Kodi turned to face him, not letting him get behind us. Kodi started growling, he barked and had the dog turning away from us. When the dog came back, Kodi growled and bared his teeth and lunged at it. The dog tucked his tail and ran through a neighboring yard, disappearing from view.

Kodi looked up at me, looking back to make sure the dog was gone. He licked my fingers as we went off to continue our walk.

When we got back out to the main street we saw that cars were slamming on their brakes and dodging something in the street ahead. It appeared, from a distance to be a big tree limb, but as we neared it, it was in the lane closest to the sidewalk where we were walking, it was a thick futon mattress.

Just as we were about to pass by where it was in the street a small white sports car slammed on its brakes as it hit the mattress, folding it up and rolling it under the car to the sound of metallic clanking, the car seemed to bounce right off the street as it kicked the mattress out from beneath it.

Kodi was terribly scared, I struggled to keep him from slipping his collar and nearly had to drag him forward, until we were almost to the dike crossing, where he started pulling, desperate to get away from where the sound came from, though he was looking back over his shoulder while pulling on my chair.

I got him calmed down the further away we got, putting him in ’sit’ a couple times to try to get him to relax. We turned the corner at the bank and started down the street when a huge bark sounded from across the street. A deep, repetitive bark was coming from the car parked along the sidewalk. Kodi hurried forward.

We crossed the street and Kodi began looking behind him again. I knew it couldn’t have been the dog in the car that still had his interest. Suddenly I heard what sounded like someone running up behind me. I turned the chair into a small parking lot next to a business and spun around to find a teenager running right up toward us. When we made eye contact he stopped running, jammed his hands in his pockets and walked past us. I sat with Kodi for a few moments until he was well ahead of us, but still in view before we continued.

Coming down the side street next to our house I prepared to transfer Kodi from his leather lead to his airline cable in the backyard, so we could play a little bit and unwind, after all that trauma.

As I emptied the pooper scooper into the waste bucket Kodi ran toward the Shed. He started growling and barking, bouncing forward then back. I could hear what sounded like something moving around beside or behind the shed. I called Kodi because it was too dark in the part of the yard for me to make out what he might have been encountering or may have cornered.

As he ran toward me to respond to my command to “come”, he tucked his tail and leaped forward, as if anticipating someone or something coming after him. I unhooked him and pushed him up onto the ramp and followed him quickly. We got inside the house and Sidney quickly picked up the portable ramp and closed the doors. We locked them and I took a deep breath.

I felt as if this was one night when we should have simply stayed inside and enjoyed the fire.

We’re home, we’re safe and sound, but what an ordeal!

After spending two weeks with my parents, Kodiak came home severely lacking any sort of manners or pride.

VÖ: März 2009
Label: Denovali Records

Minimalistischer Instrumental Post-Metal – so ließe sich der Sound der dreiköpfigen Band Kodiak aus Deutschland gut beschreiben. Zwei Songs (“Beginning” und “End”) in 40 Minuten auf einer durchsichtigen (lim. auf 350 Stück) oder eisblauen (lim. auf 150 Stück) 12″LP. Das Frontcover zeigt Fußspuren in einer trüben Schneelandschaft, weiter unten steht eher unauffällig der Bandtitel, auf dem Backcover ist ein nebeliger Eisberg zu betrachten. Dies alles passt auch perfekt zur Musik, zu der sich nicht all zu viel sagen lässt: Die Band erzeugt eine düstere, kalte Soundlandschaft, alles schleppt sich so dahin, es gibt keine großartigen Ausbrüche oder Abwechslungen, hier mal ein Sprachsample, dort ein Cello-Gastspiel.
Die perfekte Musik für depressive, graue Herbst- und Wintertage, an denen man einfach seine Ruhe haben möchte und nachdenken oder etwas lesen will. Und im Hintergrund lässt man diese Platte laufen. Ist sicher nicht jedermanns Sache, ich kann mir das ab und zu gut geben, je nach meiner Stimmung. Heute zum Beispiel…
Die Platte lässt sich hier gratis komplett anhören und runterladen, damit man nicht die Katze im Sack kaufen muss. Denovali ist schon ein schickes Label…:)

Phil

A total of six people involved with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Kodiak received awards Monday.

Trooper David Anderson and civilian Kerry Bateman each won the two top awards for Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Anderson was awarded 2008 Trooper of the Year and Bateman won 2008 Civilian of the Year for the “C” Detachment, as well as the division.

“C” Detachment covers Kodiak, and the division includes all of the state of Alaska.

Anderson has been an Alaskan State Trooper/Alaska Wildlife Trooper since 1990. As a state wildlife trooper he patrols on trooper vessels, patrols the roads and protects the resources that belong to the people of Alaska.

He was modest, but also very grateful to receive the award.

“There’s folks who do a whole lot more than I do,” Anderson said. “It’s a nice honor, no doubt about it. It definitely took me by surprise.”

Bateman, the Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) administrative assistant, has been with the troopers for three and a half years. She was happy and surprised to win the award.

“I didn’t even know there was anybody chosen for the award,” Bateman said. “It’s a great organization to work for and a real honor to win the award.”

Trooper Alan Jones; public safety technician II, Shawn Olsen; and office assistant I, Diana Brost of Dutch Harbor also won Honorable Service awards for the “C” Detachment.

Olsen, who has been working with the state for nine and a half years, was excited to get the award.

“I work with a great group of people who had the patience to help guide me to get to this point,” Olsen said. “It’s actually kind of flattering.”

Trooper Jason Ball was awarded the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators & the Western States Boating Administrators Association.

The award recognizes public service, professionalism in marine law enforcement and personal commitment to ensuring safe and enjoyable recreational boating.

LINK

I enter the Jemison Flats on 1st Ave. N., a $40 million renovation consisting of 3 buildings combined, one of them being the old Chamber of Commerce Building. Although quite a sum has been invested in the project, it is still surrounded by a notoriously perilous neighborhood just 3 blocks shy of the local downtown Birmingham Police Station. While the building is claimed to be the newest level for the nouveau riche, I’m not impressed. It smacks of a ghostly element, filled with snobs and low intellects attempting to escape their plot in life as largely disenfranchised struggling to break out of the pathetic caste they’ve inherited through genetics and personal ignorance.

I await Lake County’s Lil’ J aka Lil’ Joseph aka AK-47 aka J Glock of the 731, not realizing he’s seated in an ashtray he calls his, “Point A to B ride”, a low profile, souped up Impala. He revs the beast’s engine and I turn to escape the rigid, infamous halls of the Jemison Flats with a gasp of relief. Lil’ J honks the horn jokingly, shouting through the open glass, “Get a step on it”. Clearly, Lil’ J is either Lake County’s joker or the bone thug many portray him to be.

“Look at these hoes outside the Jemison Flats,” Lil’ J kids, “You’d better eat your carrots, silly rabbit, if you want to see these hoes. They’re elusive”.

I can barely decipher his Tennesse venacular, yet I shake my head politely as if to concur with the legend known as Lil’ J. A police squad car pulls alongside the white Impala, and Lil’ J just grins and revs the V6, as if to challenge authority. The officer chuckles, then speeds away. Was it casual disrespect on the part of the police, or fear of the dangers involved in messing with the likes of Lil’ J?

Lil' J: Pop Idol or Pimp?

We make a turn down 14th and roll towards McDonalds, where there’s a back up of middle class suburbanites frequenting the facilities of this hospital city. The line is a mile long, and it affords this journalist the perfect opportunity to hone in on the real issues facing society today as captured through the eyes of Lil’ J.

“Look at this back up”, Lil’ J mumbles.

“Is this normal?” I ask.

“Yeah, shit, what else is new,”…

I laugh inside at the bravado of this Casper the Ghost like legend, pale as a white sheet, yet filled with the soul worthy of the reverence of any hip hop fan. He spits out a lug of Kodiak chewing tobacco as he ponders the future.

Lil' J: Private Moments

“Yo, you eating your chocolate chip cookie, dawg? I’m only gonna ask you once…”

“Are you threatening me, Lil’ J?”

“I’m warning you. Just real talk…”

“Yes, Lil’ J, I’ll take a large Hi-C, fries, chicken McNuggets off the dollar menu, and 6 chocolate cookies which I promise to share with you.”

“That’s right!” Lil’ J mumbles.

“Lil’ J, please,” I reply.

“Naw dawg, just jerkin’ your chains, so chill.”

How is it this middle class youth of reasonable existence and higher than usual intelligence has come to live a life so tawdry and filled with the drama of a dirty homicide squadron? One can only wonder, but upon reflection, they’re left with the conclusion, Lil’ J is who he is, and there’s nothing that can dislodge or rattle his aura or mentality. We approach the drive-thru speaker.

“Would you like to try our new Angus burger?”

“How do you know I’m not a Vegan?”

“Is that a no?” the worker asks.

“Hell na!!!”

“What would you like today?”

“My man say he take da large Hi-C, four piece McNugget off the dolla menu, fries, 6 chocolate chip…”

“Cookies?”

“That’s right, bitch? Damn, she’s testing my nerves!”

“I can hear you, sir.”

“Good, then get me a double cheese burger with no cheese, no ketchup, no mustard, no beef, ya’ feel me?”

“So you’d like a burger bun?”

“Don’t give me lip, hoe.”

“Is that everything, sir?”

“Damn right, that’s everything, shiiit!”

Lil' J on the mic!

I can tell Lil’ J is upset with the cashier’s approach, and Lil’ J complains vehemently about the alleged brow beating. He pulls up to the window, guns the engine over and over again until the cashier gets the point he’s pissed off, he grabs the white bag with the golden arches, then spits some Kodiak onto the ground in full view of the shocked cashier.

“Clean that shit up…”

We drive back to the so called flea bag someone has called the Jemison Flats where I promptly exit the Impala. I thank Lil’ J for his time and the insight as he revs the engine. With my keys in hand, I make a brisk break for it. From behind me, I can hear Lil’ J barking with full bravado.

“That’s right, you better run!”

Freethrow Masterson, freelance

Birmingham, Alabama

Freethrow Masterson, Journalist

So today we went on a hike up Pyramid Mtn. This thing is like 2000 feet and the veiw is so awesome…

As we climbed out of our tiny Toyota Escort the 5 of us were immediately stunned by the raw beauty before us. We set out, packs ready and spirits high, on our sweet new adventure. The girls did an awesome job of keeping up with us guys, as we cruised up to the base of the summit. When we reached it I started to have second thoughts…

The summit is about 240 feet at a pretty steep grade…  I was pretty scared climbing up because the rock is all shale which is sharp and fragile…

And we had no climbing gear…

But we made it fine…

On top the view was so great I could see the ocean and this really cool bay. We also saw a mountain goat which is rare and only about 150 feet away.

We sat around and had a cup of tea before we descended…

All in all it was an awesome day!

Kodiak, an Island of the southwest coast of Alaska was home to me. I will always have a fond place in my heart for “the rock” as it is known by those of us who frequent it. I know people who love it and I know people who hate it, but I don’t think I have ever heard any say “meh, it’s Okay”. Some people cannot stand the thought of the rain, remoteness and the possibility of being stranded days beyond your intended stay. I have been there. There are only two ways to Kodiak, the ferry and the air. I remember once when I was commercial fishing, waiting five days, five full days to get off that Island and go home to my wife. That was a time when I hated the rock. That was long before internet and cell phones, the days before lattes, facebook posts and twitter. So we just sat, sat , sat in the airport, me, my crew and about 200 other unwashed, stinking commercial fisherman, waiting for one day of decent, not good, just decent weather.

The view from our hosts, the Mortenson's

Mort , Sonya & Olivia, some of my favorite people.

Mom & Dad reliving some old memories at Fort Abercrombie

hanging on the old cannon at Abercrombie

old bunker at Abercrombie

The woods at Abercrombie

Ben picking salmonberries

Finally found something that quieted him up for a minute

posing in the Abercrombie woods

fences mean nothing to this family

mom & dad still reminiscing

But even that could not sour me on Kodiak. It is nearly impossible to beat Kodiak when the weather is nice; those three days are awesome! I know when we last lived there we loved it. We loved the pace of life, the beauty, the fishing and hunting, and our church. Shoot, we even got a Wal-Mart. It was a good life.

hey, I wanted a turn!

who let Jeremy drive?

Ensign?

My ladies

The newest attraction, 120 ft. blades on these bad boys. That'll keep you cool on them hot summer days.

view from the top of Pillar Mountain.

More Pillar Mt.

boyz on the Mt.

This time we were just going back for a visit. You see my dad was born and raised in Kodiak, and he went on to become Commissioner of the Dept. of Public Safety. He was very involved in native issues and did quite a bit for the native community. He was the first Alaska Native Commissioner and proud to be so. He died a few years ago, and since then a few of the native corporations made a move to name a Mountain after him, one in a bay where he and mom spent there last time together. So our trip was part of the celebration of the naming of this mountain. I, unfortunately, was on the committee planning this thing out. Had I the foresight to know what that would entail, I likely would’ve excused myself.

on the road to Pasagshak

Nana talking to her friends the seals. Alli learning the ways of her crazy elders.

Indiana Godfrey and his bullwhip of death. Don' t believe me, ask Ben where his left ear is.

One of us has a little less hair than the last time we were here.

she still likes me!

Notice the famous rocket launch tower in the background

scenes from the beach

more beach scenes

even more

Part of the committee job was travel, travel to get the family to and from Kodiak. Things were falling into place a little nicely and I should have known a curve ball, nay a sinking slider was upon us. The day they were supposed to arrive, our air transportation was cancelled. coincidently, this was the day prior to the event. Ahhh Kodiak you got me again! Myself and my family, understanding how this hearty island worked, we were there a week early on the ferry, so we were good to go. It was the other 18 people with which I had to deal with. Frantically, as fast as my fingers could pound the flat screen of my iphone, I was sending emails, making phone calls, and reading emails. Finally after hours and hours of heartache, indigestion, anxiety, stress and a little fear, we were able to make arrangements to get the family to the Island with hope, just hope of getting them home ( I of course did not tell them that). But I knew once I got them there, the rest would depend on the Island.

some of the buffalo

getting an early start on fine arts

watch out Jake!

Nana, Grandma and us

Dorian doing what he loves the most

nana doing her best at Lake Rose Tead

the kids? wading

Dorian may like fishing, but he don't like wading

here comes a big one

A scene from Baywatch!

run for your lives! or at least for your socks

cleaning up Papa's grave

I don’t want it to appear that the whole time was a stressful mess, just a few days of the trip. The rest of the time we explored the rock as if it was our first time. We hit up our favorite beaches, sites and mountains. Visited spots where Tra and I had dates, ate at new places and old, visited great friends and had a genuine good time. The first day of the ceremony went well, for most of it was indoors. The second day of the ceremony, well….. it didn’t happen. It was to involve  a boat trip to the mountain to place a plaque. But when the weather is blowing Northeast 45, no one is too skippy to take a boat trip anywhere, especially the skippers of the boat. None-the-less, we made a day of it, again hitting the beaches, all 30 of us.

the most popular drummer

One of the dancers

The traditional mask that was built to be burnt.

The fire to burn the mask those logs are about 8 feet long

The beach we chose that day was Pasagshak, a beautiful forty minute drive through three Kodiak wind swept bays and over the mountains. There were horses, buffalo, salmon, bald eagles, deer and more spread along the way. After several stops, we arrived at the end of the road, our beach of choice.Upon unloading the crew, and doing a little beach combing, I sat on the beach, watching my kids playing in the surf, looking for fossils, exploring the WW II bunkers, and climbing every hill in sight; I breathed in the salt air, listened to the massive surf pound the beach, and felt the wind pressing against the back of my jacket, and I was in the moment in one of God’s greatest creations. Just then, a small, but fast raindrop pelted against my nose, and caused me to look up into the sky. I didn’t have to look up much, and I saw the low dark clouds hovering in a haze of foggy rain, and I realized that I had to figure how to get all these people home. At that moment I knew, the Island had got me once again. How many days this time Kodiak? Some things never change.

leaving scenes

Jake reflecting

Jake Reflecting

Nana, Grandma and their 20 grandkids and counting, color coded of course

Browning Kodiak FDT (Field Dressing Knife)
@ P5,200

Browning KODIAK FDT Field Dressing Tool, 3-Blade (drop-point knife, Saw, push-pull Hidecutter)
Each of the highly functional knife blades is made from 440C-type stainless steel, then given a non-reflective corrosion resistant coating. All three blades lock independently for stability and security. The main drop-point blade is designed for convenient one-hand operation. The saw blade is designed to cut on the push stroke as well as the pull stroke. It can also be quickly replaced when necessary. The unique push pull hide-cutter blade can be used as a standard gut blade when pushed under the hide or or as a guthook when pulled. Skinning and field dressing jobs are much easier because you don’t have to constantly reposition the knife in your hand. The highly impact resistant Zytel® handle features a checkered rubber inlay to provide a better grip for those tough jobs. Includes a rugged Ballistic Cloth sheath. Designed by Michael Collin

I arrived safe and sound to the emerald Isle. This place is beyond my wildest dreams, the beauty that surrounds me surpasses anything I have ever seen. I litteraly have the ocean on one side of my house and mountains on the other…

I live on the mission which is small but capable. My house is a two story 8 bedroom house that I share with 3 other guys. The girls live next door (there are 4 of them) and they come over to our place for meals and really any time to just hang out…

The surrounding landscape is absolutely stunning. I walked down to the beach tonight and the moon was bouncing off the ocean and glittering like a diamond…

I have yet to work with the kids in the preschool so I’m not sure how that will go, I’m sure I’ll do fine, but everything will work for good…