Vacation!

Well...here we are in Albuquerque, having arrived two weeks ago, I think I'm finally relaxing! We head for San Diego and a 9 day cruise to Mexico in about a week, then back to the grindstone. I'll try to do a bit more journaling in the near future, but have included a video from home and will upload some photos in the next few days.

Wind down...

I'm in Anchorage until Tuesday, got some meetings tomorrow, and then home until AFN. Fortunately, Nancy is able to be with me here...it makes the time away much easier.

Had a wonderful dinner at Trefon and Gwins this evening. She prepared a seafood chowder that was to die for! (I don't use that cliche' lightly!) Good food, good conversation.

The fallout from the HB 134 hearings continues, not as much as I'd expected, but we'll see how things are after Fairbanks.

I've included some photos from the past month or so.

The Newhalen River

Wind and wave action

Laddy & Glenda

Quo

HB 134

Salutations! I'm in Iliamna preparing for the HB 134 hearing tomorrow. I came down early to help site staff get things ready, and to be available for whatever information I can share about the bill.

In case you haven't heard of it, HB 134 is a bill created primarily to stop the Pebble prospect from becoming a mine. However, the proposed "salmon reserve" encompasses most of Bristol Bay, including all of Iliamna Lake. Once in place, the act would ensure that there would not be any further development within the "reserve", regardless of it's nature. No new bridges, docks, business structures, or even trails through the lands and woods surrounding your village.

Nice, huh?

The sponsors of the bill are attempting to stop the mine using a tactic akin to killing a mosquito with a shotgun. The consideration for those tribes and communities within the propose area is non-existent. We'll be forever burdened with life in a game reserve, but the sponsor will have kept his campaign promise!

Ridiculous.

Sooo...we sally forth, hopeful that folks understand what is occurring, and silently imploring them to speak their hearts.

Wheee...the fun never ends!

Q'uo

Hmm

Uhh..............anybody see August??

Six in Five

Well. It's been an interesting week. We started out in Wasilla, the next night was in Anchorage, then the following day we flew in to Pedro Bay, back to Anchorage, then we headed down to Dillingham. Next was a day trip to Naknek, then back to Dillingham. "We" refers to myself and two senior employees and two consultants from NDM, and we were holding informational meetings in the listed locations.

Most of the presentations went halfway decent, but the ones in Dillingham were trying. The same tired agenda of those whose job it is to mislead and misdirect was being presented as "questions", and the hostile and literally rude attitude of many of the people attending the shareholder informational was beyond even what I envisioned. However, there were folks in attendance who were genuinely interested in learning about what was happening with the project, and what information was available.

If anything, it showed me that I could deal with whatever was thrown my way, because regardless of where I go, it's not possible for it be worse then Dillingham.

*sigh*

And so it goes.

Q'uo

Life Changes

I've recently started a new job with Northern Dynasty Mines as a Community Associate, and I'm loving it! My duties include traveling to Nondalton, Newhalen, Iliamna, Kokhanok, Port Alsworth, Koliganek, Dillingham, and of course, Pedro Bay, listening to the people, and forwarding information. The necessity of interacting with stakeholders and community members is tailor-made for me, I relish the opportunity to be a part of history in the making. Some of the job is going to be difficult, especially when faced with those who are emphatically and passionately opposed to any kind of development whatsoever. However, I believe that a healthy environment, such as the one surrounding this event, cannot be without equal participation on both sides.

I've included a couple of photos taken from my trip to Kokhanok a couple of days ago.

Q'uo

Tours

I just finished a tour of the Pogo mine site, and it was an experience to say the least. To begin with, the mine is 85 miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway, and that's just the gate. The actual mine is another 50 miles inland on a gravel road that meanders around and over many hills and streams.

The camp and processing area was carved out of the side of a mountain, and the mine was bored into the side of a mountain. Part of the tour was actually going down inside the mountain, and I gotta tell ya, it's nowhere near as "glamorous" as depicted in the movies! I don't know how those guys can work inside that mountain for 12 hours a day, it would drive me bonkers! All in all it was very informative and interesting, I've included a few pictures I took.

Q'uo

Back in the Saddle......Again!

Well, Nancy and I finished our trip to the lower 48, the conferences went well, and it was nice to see her family. Nancy's sister surprised her by showing up for Nancy's birthday. Nice trip, but it's good to be home. We both missed Elijah immensely.

Received someones first attempt at posting a derogatory comment on my blog. I say "someone" because this individual posted anonymously, which hardly surprises me. Unbeknownst to them, I'm not only aware of who the sad little person, but why they did it. It's kind of disheartening to be exposed to such raw hatred, but when your life amounts to nothing but bitterness and animosity to everyone around you, the likelihood of that perverse attitude infringing on the lives of normal people is almost a given. I have to admit that my first reaction was to post the comment and respond in kind, but I'm sure that hiding behind a screen, smugly secure in their electronic anonymity, lurks a pathetic soul yearning to just be loved. So, smile...Jesus loves you!

Have a wonderful day!

Q'uo

Another plane ride...

Well, I'm here in Anchorage again. This time for an ANICWA conference at the Millenium. It was a beautiful flight, kinda made me forget the blizzard we endured the last couple of days. Anyway.


Took this shot from 11,400 feet as we passed Pedro Bay (it's on the left side of the photo. That's Augustine Island in the background, and you can just see the steam plume streaming. Cool, huh?


Q'uo

Life In The Fast Lane (sure to make you lose your mind)

Salutations dear ones. I won't even begin to sample the veritable plethora of reasons why you haven't seen me in a 'coons age. Suffice it to say, I've been busy! I gave up my seat on the BBNA Exec board to spend more time at home, but it seems like my travel has increased, a fact that my wife is prone to relate at the proverbial drop of the hat. All being said and done though, I feel more "worth" in what I'm doing now, so I guess there's that...

Downtown with Legislature Bldg.

Speaking of my shy bride, she's ensconced in Dillingham until Friday for a CHAP forum. Those of you who understand that acronym know what, how, and why. The rest of you, never mind. LOL...just a joke.

Yep.

Oh well...

The Channel & Douglas Island

What is the deal with a REAL winter?? I can't believe it's STILL cold, and the forecast seems to be leaning towards more of the same! I keep waiting for the other soggy, muddy boot to drop, but it isn't happening...just when you thought you had things figured out....

It was a very interesting trip to Juneau this past week. I'm beginning to understand more of the workings and goings on down there, and let me tell you...it's enlightening! It's probably not a good thing, but I kinda enjoyed the experience. Will probably be heading back down there again in a couple of weeks. I'll try to post some of the pictures I took in the next few days.

Rm 322 Baranof Hotel

Anywho!

Good to be back! :-)

Q'uo