ALIVE!

After much searching and quite a bit of frustration, Pam hasa new laptop. We found out DELL could not ship a new laptop until mid-September and when Pam asked me to lacate the nearest MAC Store she was not impressed to learn the nearest MAC store was in Seattle (2000 miles away). After much research Pam opted for a new SONY model. She is back up and running so drop her an email saying 'hello'. Thank god we saved her shoe too. I think it was just in the nick of time!

DEAD!

Tonight Pam's laptop died. She sits in her Anchorage hotel room working on business for tomorrow's meetings and the laptop completely went black and will not reboot. We knew the day was coming but we didn't think this soon. So, the question is PC vs. MAC. Who is the strongest? PC appears to be a little cheaper and has more power but MAC has catchy jingles. I don't know jack about MAC. The MAC website basically says "we are better than PC." What does that tell me? Notta!!! If any of you out there have experience with both, PC and MAC clue me in. We have to act quick or Pam will become violent. Last time that happened she took her shoe off and threw it at the ground. We wouldn't want that to happen again would we??? Please help ,for pete sake a shoe may be at risk here!

Senior Season

Here are a couple of photos of Ashley. A Portland senior whom I shot at the Portland Rose Garden. It was my first trip to the Rose Garden and it's a pretty nice place!

Plenty-O-Happenings

Looooooong time no post. I will attempt to do better! It has been a wild and wacky summer with small changes and major life changes. Pam has accepted a position in Alaska so we packed our house and shipped it north. Pam and Molly departed yesterday and Hank and I are bachelors for a few months. I will be retiring from the Coast Guard and we will move north with Pam and Molly. But until then -FOOTBALL!!!- Hank has started practice and the late autumn nights of practice are upon us. t looks to be an exciting season and the high school team looks to have a legit shot to go deep in the play-offs! It is going to be a great season. I haven't been shooting much with the move and all but I have managed to get in a few Senior photo shoots will update with photos ASAP. I even squeezed in a couple of weddings to boot.
Until next time, GO STEELERS!

Back from "Kotz" ebue

Fish Camps along the Chukchee Sea (body of water north of the Bering Sea).

City of Kotzebue

Local man fishing along the city water front.

Cost of living in Kotzebue. Shipping is very expensive.

Pam and Molly in Kotzebue, Chuckchee Sea in the background.

Typical mode of travel in Kotzebue.

Moose and Cariboo antlers lay everywhere.

Look at the treasures you find once the snow melts!

Cemetary for all denominations outside of Kotzebue.

Going to the post office in Kotz.

One word says plenty here. Being able to pronounce the word is another issue.

Long time, no post! We returned from Kotzebue Last weekend. It was a whirlwind trip. Pam had business and Molly and I just hung out ansd soaked up the unique culture. Some would say Kotz is a dirty, run down town 34 miles above the Arctic Circle. I would say it is a town of layers and textures. People forget this is one harsh environment in the winter. Hard on equipment and hard on buildings and anything else exposed to the elements. Yes things could have been picked up around town but don't forget ice break up was only a month ago. Kotzebue in September is an awesome place. After Kotz, we went to Anchorage and saw the Smylie's. They took us to Hatcher Pass and we feasted on Halibut. We spent the night at Alyeska. Too bad it wasn't winter when the powder is steep and deep!

Fathers Day

How did you wake up this Father's Day morning? I woke up in a new 4 season mountaineering tent I have had my eye on for about 3 years now! Yesterday Hank and Molly surprised me with the Mountain Hardwear tent and Hank and I tested it out for the first time last night. As we laid in the new chateau, we heard racoon's fight, sea lions snarl, and the gastric windstorm caused by a certain 11 year old tent mate.

I can honestly say, I have the best kids in the world. I am proud of Nistassa and admire her independence, ability to see right from wrong and the kind heart she inherited from her Grandma. Hank is a person all to himself. He is intelligent, spiritual, thoughtful, helpful, sometimes slightly funny, and someone I look forward to spending many, many nights in a tent with. Molly aka: Brie-Brie, Spider Monkey is full of energy, has the cutest smile, very independent, and has the best laugh any Dad could ever hear!

I am lucky to have the kids I have and am proud of who they are and who they are growing to be.

Can you canoe?!?!

This past weekend I was invited to go canoeing on the Queets River in Washington. Six guys, three canoes, what could go wrong?

I grew up canoeing and my counter parts are all "experienced" Search and Rescue pilots for the Coast Guard who claim to be experienced outdoorsmaen. It was the perfect combination for a good time. Little did I know, three canoes would soon be two canoes. How soon you ask? Within 20 seconds I would say... Steve and I launched and quickly ran the first set of small rapids, we eddied out and waited for the next canoe to follow our line. Within a matter of seconds they hit the first rock broad side, Marcus was launched from the canoe and Eric fell out on the current side. Within about ten seconds the current wrapped the aluminum canoe around the rock like a piece of foil around a baked potato! No one was hurt and I couldn't stop laughing! Unfortunately their day was done before it started and one canoe was sacrafised to the God's of the mighty Queets River. I am pretty sure while we finished the 20 mile trek Marcus and Smith stripped out of their wet clothes and huddled in a sleeping bag to warm up, such actions are normal ops for Officer's -especially pilots.