Wildfire in Sterling - here we go again!

This week has been one of a lot of sun and HOT weather. Unusually hot for our area of Alaska. We rarely get into the 80s and yet we're going to hit them all this week. It's dry, hot, not humid... it's the perfect combination for fire...

... and we have one.

Around 1:30 yesterday a fire started basically where the Funny River Fire last year ended. It's threatening the homes and cabins of several friends of mine - as well as an Iditarod Champion's kennel (though the Sterling Highway is so far keeping the fire from them). When I went to bed last night the estimated damage was at 640 acres, I woke up and that number is nearly doubled now at 1,200 acres. Thankfully the winds for us are not as bad as last year (or up in the Mat-Su area where the Sockeye River Fire has consumed over 8,500 acres in the Willow area and destroyed countless homes and kennels).

There are three major fires in the South Central region, and resources were all pointed at the Willow fire until last night. We still don't have the majority of help for our fire as the Willow fire is larger, uncontained, and threatening more residences. Unlike last year - homes have already been destroyed in the Card Street Fire in Sterling. Cabins, too, on the river were damaged or destroyed. Some had to evacuate by boat as the road was impassible at one point.

Two time Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey and his family are on heightened alert as the fire is just across the highway from their Sterling home and kennel. Conway posted photos on his facebook page throughout the night as he and friends helped people in line of the fire evacuate. Team Seavey reported they have plans A, B, and C in place should they need to pack up and get out of there, but so far the fire is moving in the opposite direction of where they are. So far. All it takes is a wind change.

Meanwhile, three time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey lives in Willow and is keeping an eye on that fire. The fire is just a few miles south of his home and kennel, and so far is moving in the opposite direction keeping his family and dogs safe. For now. But, again, all it takes is a wind change.

Other mushers in Willow have not been as fortunate, several - including DeeDee Jonrowe - have reported their homes and kennels as a total loss. Many have sought refuge at Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake. Nearly 20 years ago Buser was the one watching his livelihood and team threatened by a massive fire, so he's giving back and offering a place for dogs and mushers alike this time around.

There's no end in sight for either fire. Keep the responders in your prayers as well as those whose homes have been lost or are in harms way. Pray for rain. We need it. Just like last year, this is a devastating thing to have happen to our communities.

Smoke billows behind the Soldotna Forestry June 15, 2015.

Smoke column from the Card Street Fire could be seen
all throughout Soldotna, Alaska June 15, 2015.

Sterling Elem. was the site used for evacuees, but no one
opted to stay at the site. At time of photo 640 acres had
been burned. June 15, 2015

30 Days of Television - Day 12

An episode you've watched more than 5 times.

I've probably seen every episode of Terriers more than five times, but I'll go with my favorite episode - "Sins of the Past" for this one. The episode does a great job of paralleling Britt and Hank's present with their past. Only instead of Hank spiraling out of control he's coming out of the shadows... and Britt's the one spiraling. It's smartly written and well acted. We get a glimpse as to how Britt and Hank met, with Hank giving Britt a break on his b&e.

Meanwhile in the present, we see Britt deal with the aftermath of finding out Katie's cheated on him (and his breaking up with her and moving out). He doesn't deal with it well. He finds himself in some very hot water by the end of the episode. At the end the bffs are at odds when Hank reveals to Britt that he's known all along that Katie had cheated, and he even knows who she did it with. I can kinda feel where Britt's coming from. It's a very well played out set of scenes and all I can say is MRJ plays pissed off extremely convincingly (I mean that's pretty much why he gets hired for the roles he gets, right? When he's not there to die, at least.)

The episode also sets up the show for the next three that would ultimately end the series. Though not planned as a series finale, episode 13 ends with Britt taking responsibility for the sins of the very recent past. It's a great way to end on a cliffhanger for a second season - or give the viewer the option of deciding how things played out after the show ended. But I digress, that's not what this prompt is about.

Sadly none of the scenes from Terriers are on youtube (probably thanks to the youtube police), but it's on Netflix, so take the time and watch the 13 episode series. It's a great show. Really wish they could do a tv movie or something just to give us more Hank and Britt.

30 Days of Television - Day 11

A show that disappointed you

Two years ago I became obsessed with the fairytale based show Once Upon A Time. A year ago I fell out of love with it. I wasn't planning on it, but it happens. Typically happens when a show does a major cast shake up (House MD when Chase, Cameron and Foreman "left" and were sidelined by 13 and crew... or CSI when Warrick and Grissom left... Law & Order SVU when Elliot left, etc.) I am not a fan of change.

However OUAT is weird because the catalyst that did me in was the death of a character I didn't realize I enjoyed as much as I did until after he was gone. We all know where I'm going with this - you can read my lamenting many times over (just look at the tags Neal Cassidy, or OUAT, and you'll see haha). Baelfire was a SIGNIFICANT character in the storyline - not just for Rumpelstiltskin but for the whole lot of characters. He wasn't just a love interest of Emma Swan, he wasn't just a throw away character... until they made him one.

For the fourth season they worked diligently to prove that statement wrong - basically by rewriting or completely negating/forgetting the very GOOD base they set in season 1. We're not just talking Neal Cassidy, we're talking Baelfire, the tragic boy in season 1 who just wanted his father to be good and not evil. Wanted to run away to the land without magic to save his father from himself. The kid who the original curse was created so that Rumple could get to him. THAT character.

The cheesy dialogue, over acting, and even the lack of continuity I was able to handle for two and a half seasons... but then by the end of season 3 it was starting to feel ridiculous. I really did try to muscle through it. After all, I am not a fan of just one character - and really wasn't a fan of Neal until he was gone (seriously the bird thing... gets me every time) - but the more it becomes a soap opera (as if the crappy Neal - Emma - Hook love triangle wasn't stupid enough... now we have Robin - Regina - Marian/Zelena) the less interested I am. Oh, and don't EVEN get me started with how Emma's now The Dark One.

I tried watching a few episodes and couldn't make it through even one. It sucks. I love the cast. The Frozen casting was perfect, looks wise. I just, yeah. The show is a mess. So disappointing.

And, honestly, even if they "fixed it" by somehow bringing Nealfire back? It wouldn't save the show in my mind.

Caribou on the Kenai

I had a busy afternoon yesterday. Went and helped Kassy take down the VBS stuff (which normally we DON'T have to do, that's not in our job description!), then went over to the Animal Shelter for what I thought was just going to be a volunteer interview but I ended up taking photos (yay!). Get home, set up the camera gear to get ready for the Tri-the-Kenai this Sunday and my facebook gets flooded with "There are caribou with big antlers on the Flats right on the road!"

So after going back and forth trying to decide if I was going to make the trek over there (it's a 10 minute drive during the 5 o'clock hour) I headed out and snapped a few beauties before they went into the bushes.

The Kenai lowland herd of Caribou are a protected herd. They cannot be hunted as their numbers are small and a few years ago they were nearly all gone. They are steadily increasing in number, and visit many hot spots in Kenai all year long (they love to hang out at the high school). During Christmas last year they were over by Soldotna Animal Hospital and they made a lot of comments about Santa stopping in and getting his team checked out before the big flight. ;)

It was a beautiful night for photos!

30 Days of Television - Day 10

A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

I've said it several times already, but after the pilot of The Flash I really never expected by the end of the Season I'd declare it having a better season than Arrow. It started off a little rocky, but it really took off and was killer good playing with the audience's emotions.

They had freaking Mark Hamill reprise his role as the Trickster for crying outloud!

Grant Gustin is the perfect Barry Allen. He's adorably charming, honest, can cry like no one else I know on camera, he fits the character perfectly. Jesse Martin as Barry's guardian/foster father, Joe West, plays the role with strength and grace. Candice Patton is good in her role as best friend and love interest. And Tom Cavanaugh - FauxWells... oh what a perfect villain. Complex, confusing, intriguing, evil and yet so... I don't know. We felt right along with Barry the convoluted emotions the truth brought.

That they've stated Tom will be back for the second season makes me happy.

I really didn't expect to love The Flash. I thought it was going to be cheesey, a classic spin off... but it wasn't. It's awesome. I can't wait for Season 2. I need to add it to my DVD collection!

courtesy of greerdanvilles on tumblr

30 Days of Television - Day 09

Day 09 - Best Scene Ever

In the M*A*S*H series finale, Goodbye Farewell and Amen, which was more a made for tv movie than tv show, we the fans have to say goodbye to the 4077 and its zany cast of characters. It was emotional from start to finish, but the final scene where Hawkeye takes off from the helipad and lifts off the ground he sees "Goodbye" written out in rock.

His best friend in Korea, Capt B.J. Honeycutt (The BJ stands for "anything you want") refuses to tell him Goodbye even though they know peace is coming and they are all going home. It bothers Hawkeye and he continues to press BJ to say the word. BJ never does, but as they part ways he tells Hawkeye he left a note for him. Hawkeye doesn't understand until as he flies off in the chopper he looks down.

It's a very creative way to end a show that held its audience captive for 11 seasons. It got the audience through the trying times of the Vietnam War, government upheaval, economic depression. That the show was able to say goodbye to its fans sets it apart to so many other shows before and since.

It's the perfect, best scene in all of Television.

30 Days of Television - Day 08

A show everyone should watch

Okay I'm cheating... kinda... I haven't seen this show yet, no one outside of the industry has. It won't air until sometime "mid season" on NBC... but seriously - EVERYONE needs to watch.

Basically because I want high ratings so it gets picked up for a full REGULAR season (or at the very least a second season in the same slot). Why, you ask? Check out the third guy in the photo above... get it now? Yeah, it's Michael Raymond-James' new show. And dang it! I want it to succeed!

It is not my typical show. It sounds super dark and the cast has suggested they'll be pushing the envelope for broadcast television. Knowing, really, only MRJ's filmography it sounds right up his alley... but not really mine. But I'm stoked for it anyway. Because the casting looks great and the story is intriguing. (Actually the only thing that I've seen that I so far don't like is... well... MRJ's hair... what the heck is going on with that?! LOL)

The plot from NBCUniversal & Sony reads:

Carol Mendelsohn, executive producer and architect of the CSI phenomenon, presents a gripping new drama about a successful Atlanta attorney (David Lyons, "Revolution") whose long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years. When a dark secret they thought they'd buried resurfaces, the brotherhood bands together to right the wrongs of their shared past - a journey that will push the limits of their loyalty and quench their thirst for revenge.

The show filmed their pilot towards the end of spring, and is now in hiatus until late summer to film the rest of the episodes. So, really, there's not much info on the show floating around. But the cast has been, for the most part, very active on twitter keeping the buzz going. Both the adult cast and the teen actors playing the younger versions of the main characters.

So EVERYONE WATCH THIS SHOW. At least give it a try. For me. Because, reasons.

30 Days of Television - Day 07

Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v. show

I'll tell you, this one is hard, because I pretty much love ALL of Arrow... but I am going to be *that fan* who chooses one that the fandom raved about when it aired. I have a confession my fellow Arrow fans - I did not like the Season 3 Finale.

Oh, sure, there was a lot of action (the fight scenes were AMAZING) and there was some pretty entertaining dialogue (anytime John Barrowman gets to show off his sass, it's a good day for me)... and the cameo by The Flash was a major highlight (I never expected to fall in love with Grant Gustin's Barry Allen, but he's super adorable.)... but I hated how it felt like a season finale.

I hated that Olicity felt final.

I hated that Diggle and Oliver parted ways.

I hated that they're suggesting The Arrow/Oliver Queen is officially retired.

I hated it.

It was just a very disappointing - for me - episode. Too much going on, too many rush to finish storyline. Too much finality.

I don't doubt Oliver and Felicity will be back, I don't doubt that it will be fun next year... but I really really really REALLY hate change. And I really really really hate the idea that Oliver and Diggle are at odds. The hurt that isn't going to go away any time soon hurt ME. LOL

I said it when the finales aired, but The Flash's finale blew Arrow's so far out of the water. I expected more from Arrow. It's not the casts' fault. It's not the director's fault. It was the writing.

I know, I'm probably in the minority. I'm still a die hard fan... I just hope I get to stay that way. (I only lasted 3 seasons into Once Upon A Time, after all.)


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Blast from the past - Facebook Surveys

A friend tagged me today with a survey, they were popular "back in the day" of facebook and myspace (and livejournal). I can't seem to figure out how to create a note, so I will play along on my blog. Because, well, what else do I have to do today? (except maybe some adulting, like run errands, grocery shop, etc)

Rules: If you are tagged, copy and paste to your own Facebook, but replace my answers to the questions with yours!  Feel free to use if not tagged!  Tag the person who you copied it from, so they can read it too!

June visitors!

Well, I survived May and I'm starting to recoop from the first week of June (which is also my church's VBS week each year). I am pooped. I have done NOTHING today and other than a tball game tonight I will continue to do nothing until I go back to work on Wednesday! Ha!

But I did want to share photos I took on Friday, we had a mother moose and her new twin babies in our yard when I got home from VBS and I found enough energy to take a couple hundred pictures. Don't worry, I didn't edit or share all of them.

Hopefully I get the inspiration to start blogging again, but until then...