It's Gonna Be a Long Night...

Packing has come to a standstill, why? Because I'm watching the numbers come in for the state. So far those that I've voted for are leading. The senate race is, of course, what everyone is talking about not just here but also nationally (thanks *SO* much for that Sarah Palin. Ugh.). I've not been happy with teh potshots the outside media has taken tonight, but there's nothing I can do about that.

My state has been overtaken by transplants and outsiders, but Alaskans are fighting back. We're telling Palin to blow it - even if the write in campaign fails to win Murkowski her seat back, as long as we stay neck and neck, if you add in the votes going to McAdams, there's a strong message there. The Sarah Palin that stands away from Alaska today, is not our Palin. We backed her up two years ago, and she's turned her back on us now. Why? Because we're too small for her. In all of our vastness, we just don't matter nationally.

Instead of fighting for Alaska, she's agreed with the rest of the outsiders and has decided Alaska is only good to peak people's interests. It's only important when it suits her political needs. Fine. That's her own choice. But then STAY OUT of our affairs, Sarah. This "Palin's Alaska" crap is not welcome here, and we're saying it loud and clear.

I am a conservative Alaskan Republican. If speaking out against this disgusting turn of events revokes my card, let me be the one to burn it. No, I don't think Murkowski is going to be able to bring money to the state that doesn't exist. No, I don't think she's the best chioce we could possibly have (I've suggested Knowles would be better than Murkowski, so obviously that's not it). No, she's not Pro-Life. It's why I bought into the Joe Miller campaign early on and voted for him in the primary.

Then he shot his mouth off and has decided in order for him to effectively LEAD, Alaska must change. That the Bush/Rural communities need to change if they want the money we're funnelling into them, is absurd. That he keeps talking to a national LIBERAL media instead of the STATE'S liberal media, showing us that ultimately the nation's opinion matter more. That he did not want to wait to see the people's choice - true chioce, not just primary - and declared himself the winner months ago. That he speaks of national plans, and barely mentions Alaska plans to the general public....

I vote ALASKA first. This does not make me less of a Republican (until now Republicans have looked out most for our state), this does not make me less of a Christian (as we all know God allows us to choose our Earthly Leaders, but he was not pleased in Saul and David's time about it, and I doubt highly He's any more okay with it these days) - OMG, I didn't vote for the pro-life candidate, I'm going to Hell! I'm pro-life, but that's NOT ENOUGH for me in this election. Life is important, but not at the expense of life that is going on now. Potential life will be well protected by others. Murkowski dances polls, she's had the wake up call, she'll vote smarter - but what this does make me is an Alaskan.

I don't believe transplants who come in, live in Anchorage, and talk of leaving the state or talk about rural areas as if they're third world countries are ALASKAN. You're city folk who buy into the whole Alaska thing. There's a reason why we say Anchorage is just an hour outside of Alaska in any direction. It's NOT Alaska. It's a quaint little city on the edge of our borders.

This does not mean all Anchorage-ites are non-Alaskan. There are many who were here before "The City of Anchorage" was. They're the ones backing the Alaskan traditions, and they're Democrats, Republicans, Independants, and unsures. But they think and live and feel and BREATHE Alaska first. The Feds be damned, they've not done a thing for this state that Ted Stevens and the other founders didn't fight tooth and nail - and yes across partylines - for. The Feds control 45% of this state. They tell us how to live, they tell us how to think, but refuse to understand our culture, our way of life. It's not the stereotypical life in "Palin's Alaska" where we mush dogs in our designer duds (most Mushers wear carharts because they're practical, not because it's a designer name). Where we wear make up and do our hair just so to go fishing while yelling that we love tranquility scaring away the brown bears. And we certainly don't throw one another under a bus when climbing the ladder.

That's the outsider influence. And if it all went away tomorrow (even if that meant the money went away, too) that'd be just fine. We did fine without you, we'll continue to do fine.

So here's to Don Young - who stands for Uncle Ted's Alaska (which is far more important than Palin's)! And Sean Parnell who stuck it to Palin after she dumped a mess in his lap and fled our state. And here's hoping those of us independent enough to vote for the state get to be heard through the write-ins!

30 Days of Me: Day Sixteen

Day 16: Song That Makes You Cry (or Very Nearly So)

For those not paying attention: I am a huge daddy's girl. We're very close, and I love spending time with him. When Tim McGraw did the song for Flicka and it debuted on the radio I had to pull over and cried my eyes out for a solid five minutes. So I think it's only fitting that "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw gets the nod on my journal today. I refuse to listen to it all the way through as I am kinda homesick today. So for those who aren't as emotionally connected to the song I share with you the official music video!

Daddy, Love you MORE!

Haille is Ariel

A Collage of Haille's Halloween 2010. She will be taking this dress to Disneyland when we go for her birthday in February. It's a stunning dress, I'd totally wear it as an adult. *hint to Disney*

30 Days of Me: Day Fifteen

Day 15: A Fanfic

This is quite random, and supposing that the one playing along reads such things. I am not a reader of fanfic, normally because I have an idea in my mind as well, but it never jives. However a friend of mine does write Fanfic and on occasion I have been surprised with myself as I get all fangirly over what she's written. It's based on the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean series of films and takes place after the third film (At World's End) and is about the character William Turner and his new life aboard the Flying Dutchman.

If you're curious you can read it here: A Touch of Destiny

Just one from Tonight

It wouldn't be right to have an October 31 blog post that didn't have a Halloween theme... just one tonight, will share more later. And it's of Bubba Jack the NO-eyed Arctic Pug Pirate!

Hope you had a happy haunting, or candy day, or whatever! We certainly did, though I am exhausted and shouldn't even be up still! Oy! Going to bed now ha ha! Tomorrow (in like half an hour) is NOVEMBER. Insanity!

30 Days of Me: Day Fourteen

Day 14: A Non-Fictional Book

I love a good autobiography. I'm nosy about people I admire, for one, but I also love to see their writing skills. The less the ghostwriter works the better. Since I'm on a girly kick I'll throw back to a true on-ice love story written by 1988 & 1994 Olympic Pairs Champion Ekatarina Gordeeva entitled My Sergei.

Katia's book is both romantic and tragic as it follows not only the author's life and career but that of her on and off ice partner, Sergei Grinkov, who died suddenly in 1995 at age 28. Published nearly a year after his death, the pain was still raw and it's very evident throughout the pages, yet through it all Katia is able to cherish and celebrate the life their shared, first as coworkers and finally as parents.

Because Katia was born and raised in Russia, there's no doubt that a lot of the stylized part of the writing was done by her ghost writer, EW Swift, who covered figure skating in its hey day for Sports Illustrated. However the story is heartfelt and very much Katia. There are some amazingly sweet moments throughout, and she also dives into the darker parts of the figure skating world - especially during the time she skated for the USSR before Russia's revolution.

Over all it's one of the best autobiographies ever written. I've owned the book since it came out -give or take a year- and even as a junior high student I was moved to tears. I'm so happy Katia and Daria have found happiness and a new chance at family with Ilia and Elizaveta.

Chan-troversy surrounds Men's Event

Patrick Chan has received a large amount of criticism today as he found himself on top of the Skate Canada International Men's event. Chan came from fourth place in the short to first over all with a commanding lead from the rest of the field, which left many wondering why?

Chan's short could only be described as a disaster. Falling on three different required elements (the quad, triple axel, and in his footwork sequence), many - including Chan - were shocked to find him so close to podium placement. Chan beat out several men who were much cleaner and delivered the technical, and Chan was even awarded the highest tech score of the night... with THREE falls.

Home country advantage always seems to play a part of the judging, and is normally reflected in the program components score (the IJS's version of the artistic mark), however Chan received the highest hometown hero advantage to date, and for a program that didn't just have a slight flaw.

Fast forward to tonight's event, and, once again, Chan was hardly perfect. A fall on the triple axel (which is his trademark fall) and scratchy landings and spins throughout left, what many thought, room for others to seize the moment. The judges, however scored Chan to where he was ten points above the event's silver medalist, Nobunari Oda, who was clean in the short program, and had one fall in the long. Chan's long program score was not the issue, it was the blatant overscore in teh short that held him up and gave him the gold medal.

Chan's reaction was his typical one, pretend to be shocked and then go on to tell the media that he knew the judges wanted to give him those scores. Really, Chan? Maybe try skating well once and actually deserving them.

30 Days of Me: Day Thirteen

Day 13: A Fictional Book


A friend of mine gave me the Alaskan Quest series of books for my birthday a few years ago. She immediately thought of me when she read them because they were in Alaska. I will admit I was very reluctant to be enthused because I absolutely hate the stereotypical way authors (and tv/film writers) write Alaska. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Author Tracie Peterson took the time to try to understand the Alaskan way of life and thinking.

The series is written by a Christian novelist, and is in the "Christian Romance" genre. Again, not something I am normally into, but I was pleasantly surprised. What struck me most was how the main female character had the true Alaskan spirit - though she was a bit more delicate than I would have wanted. She is able to fend for herself, and I found myself identifying with her over many of her womanly fears.

The story takes place in North West Alaska Coast. North of Nome. It follows the story of adult siblings Jacob and Leah Barringer. Orphaned during the initial gold rush they've now set out on their own, vowing to stay by each other until one marries. Leah is the one having the most trouble as she nears 30 and does not have a husband and family of her own. Then, someone from her past reappears and old feelings come welling back.

Romantic fairytale elements aside the series is good for a variety of reason. You have a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure, and romance, but most importantly it's clean. There are no sex scenes in graphic detail even when it's a married couple, though it's obviously suggested. Later in the series there is a rape, but the author does not shy away from answering the tough questions like "why did God allow this to happen?"

I own the series, and the series before it, as well as Robinson's latest Alaska series. Why? Because she's one of the few authors in this time period that GETS Alaska. It's not Jack London quality, but I don't expect that out of someone who does not live here.

Getting ready for my vacation!

As you may have seen, I've changed this blog's layout. It's not the best, but I'm juggling several things at once so I wasn't totally paying attention to the blog. It will have to do.

Anyway in the spirit of Disney I used a photo I took from our January 2009 trip and used it as a background. For now it's fine.

9 days and counting, oh, yes, I am excited.

Phaneuf takes lead in Ladies Short



Phanuef celebrates after her short program.

 The ladies opened Skate Canada International this year, and fans were not disappointed. Most ladies came with their game faces on and it was an actual Short Program competition. American new comer Agnes Zawadzki openned the event and proceeded to hold the number one spot until Russia's Ksenia Marakova took the ice. Veterans 2009 US Champion Alissa Czinsy, who has a habit of winning Skate Canada, and Fumie Suguri had issues with their jumps, but Czisny's program components held her up to a fourth place.

Canada's biggest contender going into this season is Cynthia Phaneuf, and she made the statement she's ready and willing to step up and fill the void left by Canadian Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Joannie Rochette. A confident, sexy Phaneuf skated with power and experience to hit the top of the standings shocking US commentator (and Olympic Champion) Tara Lipinski who believed the more technically strong Ksenia would hold on to first. It seems experience beat out the newcomers, for now.

The competition is far from over, however, as there is less than a point between each of the top four skaters, and only half a point seperates the two American ladies. Watch out, skating, the ladies have returned.