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

Tis the season..

One of my Pedro Bay Christmas memories is gathering at the Council Building to go Christmas caroling around the village. It was a very COLD evening. I can't recall how many degrees below zero but it was very nippy and there was a lot of snow. It looked and felt like it was going to be a white and wintry Christmas. We finished singing and as I walked home I thought the air felt warmer. When I got home I watched my thermometer needle move quickly to the right as the temperature increased from -20 to +40 in a very short time. Instead of a white Christmas, it was a very slushy, mushy and wet one. But a merry Christmas just the same.

Roz Goodman

In 2004, we were in the process of finishing our new house. We still had bare plywood floors, but we wanted to have the feel of the Christmas season. We went out and cut a tree and put it in the living room right in front of the big windows on the bare floor. Besides decorating the tree, we strung lights outside from the edge of the porch. Then being able to enjoy the Christmas program put on by the kids, under Nancy's direction, at the church, having the Christmas carolers come, and topping it off with Christmas dinner with Marge and Carl, made it one of the most memorable Christmas's ever. Being able to enjoy festivities with other people who share the true meaning of Christmas, our Savior’s birth, is a great memory.

Jerry and Karen Pippen

Back in the “Good Old Days”. of course those days are only “good” to those who remember them that way, the radio was pumping out a song titled “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” Most of us kids here in the village walked around singing the song at the top of our lungs. I believe none of us had any idea who this fella was but the words and melody was very catchy! Well it so happened that my sisters were working out in Anchorage that winter and caught the Davy Crockett fever also! As Christmas day dawned I went downstairs to see if I had gotten my new pair of jeans or perhaps a new shirt from Santa. Lo and behold! I had a number of gifts under the tree! That Christmas I received a Davy Crockett Jacket with fringe, a coon skin cap and a Davy Crockett air gun. The wild frontier of Pedro Bay had a new king!!!!!

John Foss

One of my best memories of Christmas in Pedro Bay was way back in grade school when Irene Carlson was my teacher. She had previously been overseas to China (I believe) and brought back all these amazing thin papers and a book on Origami. We spent a lot of time making ornaments from that book. She had us make beautiful ornaments, as we made placemats for the community potluck and all kinds of neat decorations, she reassured each and every one of us, that ours was truly the most beautiful she had ever seen. As we made stuff, she would tell us about Christmas and what it meant in other places around the world. She made sure that the cooks made goodies for us to snack on, and sometimes that was cake and juice, or we would have a taffy pull. The school smelled of glue and glitter, cake and kool-aide, and her talking in that very authoritative, but caring voice. She made me believe in Christmas traditions and the meaning of Christmas, but to also appreciate that there are other cultures that have equally important traditions as my own. She brought in special goodies on occasion, and slipped me a candy when I thought I was the only one getting one. I often wonder if she was slipping candies to everyone else and we all thought we were the only ones! It truly makes me smile. She made that Christmas and many more very special and memorable in my young life, and I will always remember that.

Karla Jensen


One of my most favorite, most memorable Christmas's would have to be...when we had gotten back from Anchorage, after Autumn was born. Because, we had a Christmas that was truly amazing. It was not just some "regular" Christmas get together, it was a memory that will always be with me, no matter where or what happens. It was Christmas morning; I came running out all excited, at like 6 am in the morning. I ran into my parent’s room, and flew onto their bed like a bird freed from prison bars. I tried to wake them up, my dad was still asleep. My mom (Karla), woke up and told me to go back to sleep, saying it was too early. "but mom? it’s Christmas!" she told me that I needed to go back to bed, and that we would open presents later. Daddy was awake by then, so he got up, Mommy got the baby (Autumn), and we all headed out to open Christmas gifts. I will never forget that b-e-a-u-t-I-f-u-l little smile that was on Autumn's face as she opened her presents. I remember exactly what she looked like, exactly what she smelled like, and exactly what she did. She was in her cute little PJ's...and she smelled of warm milk...and stinky diapers...lol...she was sitting on the floor watching us open gifts, and when we put a present in front of her, she just looked at us. as if she was saying "what am I supposed to do again?"...it was the funniest little thing ever, watching her stare go from us to the gift. After we had opened Christmas presents, she used to have this little chair that was in the shape of a yellow car, it had small toys attached to it. And it was on springs, so she could jump up and down as much as her little feet would let her...lol...she would do that for hours, it was always so cute to watch her. Her little legs just pushing off the floor, with a smile on her face that was just so adorable. She was so cute, that it just made me want to eat her up and dip her in my coffee....lol....she also had a swing, that was attached to the ceiling, it was like bungee jumping, it had bungee cords connected to it, so when she jumped it would make her fly all over the place. I remember sitting on the floor, opening presents, in my red and green PJ's...they were made of fleece, so they were really itchy...lol...but I wore them anyways..because they were also REALLY warm at night. Just seeing that HUGE smile on her face was like opening a door to a room filled with diamonds...but seeing her little smile was even better then diamonds. I always loved to kiss her little tiny cheeks, they were so soft. she was just the most adorable little thing ever! lol..she still is, but now she is 7 years old. and just a mischief little thing..naw, just kidding...lol..thats my most memorable Christmas ever..MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!!!!!!!!:D

Chelsea Jensen-Roehl

My favorite Christmas was last year (2005), we had a nice tree, there were lots of presents and we got to go ice skating.

Autumn Jensen-Roehl

Turbulence

I've had some hairy flights in small planes. Some shaky ones in jet airliners as well. I've even survived a crash. But today, I got nervous for the first time in a loooonnng time.

After the plane picked me up, we stopped in Nondalton for 5 passengers, then in Iliamna for 3 more.

After taking off, the pilot started climbing for a higher altitude, hoping to get above the low clouds and gusty winds. Well, we did...eventually. At around 6000 feet we hit some of the most violent turbulence I've ever had the misfortune to experience. There was a lot of sudden updrafts, followed by massive downdrafts. My cranium had many intimate encounters with the roof of the cabin, none of which were enjoyable. We were all being thrown around the cabin like rag dolls for only 20 seconds, but it felt like 20 minutes. One second the nose is pointed at the sky and the plane is climbing like a lovesick angel, the next moment it's plunging to earth in a 75 degree angle. There was one lady who really thought we were goners, and the noises she was making are probably going to give me nightmares tonight!

However, we made it, and the remainder of the flight was relatively smooth and uneventful. Life is nothing without adventure, but I think that there's a lot to be said for the staid and predictable!

By the way, the picture above is my Mom (on the left) and Roz Goodman at our annual Thankgiving potluck. Even though most of the residents were out of town, we still had a great turn-out!

Q'uo

Departures

We're nearing the end of the "traveling period", that block of time from September to December when BIA conferences, trainings, and other related "out of town" events are occurring. There is still an exodus of people today and this weekend heading out for the BIA Service Providers Conference in Anchorage. The only thing I dread about these trips is the increased number of people in Anchorage during this time.

These folks are there for the conferences and holiday shopping. That means bigger crowds in the stores (and you all know how much I love the carnage that is holiday shopping) and on the roads. The stores are one thing, but having more people on the road makes me cranky. There's always some bozo thinking he (or she) is the protege of Mario Andretti, and that gaining the extra five seconds of time weaving through traffic to make it to the head of the lane for the stoplight is going to have a profound effect on the rest of their day. The near misses and lane cutoffs are usually punctuated by my horn, which unfortunately sounds like a muffled sneeze and usually has no effect on the transgressor. I have considered changing my horn, but the idea of mounting a 150 decibel truck horn in our PT Cruiser did not sit well with my wife so I'm left with the obligatory (and according to her, mandatory) defensive driving that I'm so fond of. (NOT)

*Sigh*

Guess I better go pack.

Q'uo

Thankful

When I'm standing outside on an evening like this, looking at that sunset, breathing in the cold air, hearing only the occasional ATV or voice break the silence, I'm truly thankful. I'm thankful for my salvation, the wonderful gift of life He gave me.

I'm thankful for the wonderful wife He blessed me with and the beautiful son she gave me.

I'm thankful for my parents and the way they raised me. I'm thankful for the village in which I live, and the people who live here. My life ain't bad. It's not what you have that counts.

There are times when I feel overworked, or when I feel stressed out, and it isthose times that I tend to forget just how good I have it. It doesn't matter that the weather is completely unpredictable. It doesn't matter that I won't be able to go on vacation when I want to, or travel to Anchorage as much as I'd like. What matters most, are the two precious souls waiting for me at home. If it was just my faith, and those two, life would still be good. It's not what we have, but then again, maybe it is.

Q'uo

Auuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhh! (snow)

I cannot believe it's white outside! I think it's time to move!

Got a brand new laptop for work. Dell XPS M1710 with the following goodies:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz/4MB) - 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 6 - 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX - 100GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card - Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)

This is one bad mamma jamma! Pictures upon request! ;-)

Things have been really jumping at work. Our new administrator has really been immersing himself in all aspects of the job, including spending time with those of us who have been here a while, learning about our jobs, and what he can do to help us. It's feeling pretty good, but there's also sadness in the departure of John Baalke, who has been more then a supervisor and manager, he's been a confidant and trusted friend. He will be truly missed by all. I wish him all the best in whatever adventures he undertakes. He rocked the Council righteously for 10 years. Go with God my friend.

Q'uo

Chatty

Well, we had a good chat session night before last! Although Shawnmarie and Ingrid were the only ones who could make it, we had a great time. Hopefully, more will be able to join next time.







<------Guess who?






I'm kinda diggin' the cold weather, of course, this is my favorite season of the year, has been since I was a kid, so the clear, cold nights and nippy mornings are seeming more like a comfort zone now.....how weird is that?




I'm actually enjoying a fairly good speed tonight (I'm starting this the night before) so I'll try to upload some photos while the speed is up.


Well...I did my civic duty yesterday and served as an election judge, so I wasn't able to get this posted yesterday morning when I meant to. Anyway, here 'tis!


Elijah and I had some time together while Nancy was in Albuquerque, this was our "landing observation" trip!




The village website will be back up, momentarily...I'm designing a new look.

Q'uo

Here we go again...

It never fails to amaze me how fast the seasons change. One day you're enjoying the fall colors, reveling in the bright oranges, reds and yellows, and the next day those trees are frosted over, there's ice fog on the lake, and fresh snow on the mountain. Wonder what kind of winter we're facing this year?

I know it's been a long time between entries, I just can't seem to find the time anymore. I guess that's a credit to the amount of time being spent working, but it's really putting a crimp into my online life! Oh well...if you haven't realized by now that my blog is a random affair, then I feel sorry for you!

Just kidding!

Check out this very cool clock!


Here's a couple of shots from this morning. The bundled up canine is "Spot", and he's obviously well prepared for our chilly mornings. I didn't know they made parkas for dogs! He seems to be okay with wearing it, but I'm not sure if it coordinates with his studded collar! :-)


This is the moon "setting" behind Knutsen this morning.

Q'uo

Termination Dust

This morning I looked up at Knutsen Mountain and lo and behold, snow on the peak! Guess that's the end of whatever summer we had.

Upload speeds are so slow, I'm going to wait until I get to Anchorage on Monday to upload the rest of the HGTW pictures.



Q'uo

The Waterbaby returns!

I'm actually ambivalent about returning home. On the one hand, it's great to be back with my wife and son, and on the other, I'm sad about leaving all of my friends, and my "other" family. Such wonderful memories are flooding me right now that I think I need some time to process the whole experience. This conference, 'Hearts Going Toward Wellness' was the most uplifting, sanctified gathering I've ever attended. I can't wait for the "next" one! There are so many people that I already miss!

I've included pictures of our time, and over the next few days, I will try to get as many posted as possible. Feel free to copy them.

These are my friends Steve and Trisha.
Aren't they cute? (Don't hurt me!)


A few years back when I was at a Beauty For Ashes, my first as a leader, I was asked to introduce myself and add a "blurb" about my life. I commented that I was born on Lake Iliamna, and Lydia Olsen quipped, "That must have been cold!" Henceforth, she has referred to me as "waterbaby". Due to the fact that I have a great deal of respect and love for her, in spite of the teasing, I am owning this moniker! Thanks, Lydia! :-)

You're right, Connie, I have been having an inordinate amount of trouble uploading, hence the lateness of these additions! :-(

Q'uo

Travel

Hey! Guess what?? I was invited to attend a ceremony in the decaying apple! NY, NY that is. I was supposed to be representing BBNA at a Citgo sponsered ceremony. You may notice I'm saying "supposed to be", that's because I've made a decision to not go. There were many factors surrounding that decision....Nancy couldn't go....it's basically a one day trip to fly clear across the country, turn right around and fly back....the per diem issue is bad...$64 a day for meals in New York City!! Ridiculous! Oh well. Can't wait for Kodiak!

I've included some pictures of the picnic Nancy, Eliajh and I had a couple of weeks ago. Great fun, and the perfect beach to have it on. We deemed it "Our Beach". So, for those of you out seeking great beaches to picnic upon, seek on...just stay away from ours!! LOL!

Those are hobos on the fire, my dad's boat, and my son doing his fly guy routine.

Q'uo

Froggy day

Well, the land is cooling off at a regular rate now. This is the second day in a row we've had fog, and the temps continue to drop at night, it won't be long now.

I have got to get away from this weather jag I'm on! There has got to be other things I can notate besides the weather......wait a minute.....nope! Weather is it! :-)

I've included a couple of "fog pictures" for your perusal, yes...just for you!

Q'uo