You Capture-Autumn

This week's You Capture subject, "Autumn," feels a bit late for those of us in Alaska. At least it does to me. Though, oddly, I suppose not as late as it might feel to those in some Lower 48 places (like Denver and Salt Lake) where they've recently gotten a ton of snow!

When I left on October 12th for my trip down the Pacific Coast, from Seattle to Santa Barbara (I ended up making it all the way to San Diego, BTW) fall was still in full swing here in Anchorage. Though the season already felt extended for us, even at that relatively early point in October, for this part of the country, the trees were still covered in beautiful colored leaves and all the termination dust that had graced the mountain tops a few days prior had since melted. It was beautiful and certainly autumnal feeling.

However, when T and I returned late last week things had changed drastically. We're now stuck in a weird limbo where it doesn't really feel or look like Autumn anymore (all of the trees are bare) but it doesn't really feel like winter yet either (we've not yet gotten any snow that has stuck around. Snow fell for a few hours yesterday, but it was melting before it hit the ground.) As a result, Autumn was a little difficult for me to capture around these here parts. I'm going to include some shots from my trip that feel more authentically autumnal, as well as a few shots I took while walking to work this morning (just to give you all a sense of what it's like around here.)

A Lone Leaf on the Rain-Soaked Pavement

Tillamook, OR

Starting the Drive Along Avenue of the Giants

Humboldt Redwood State Park, CA

Shed Redwood Needles and My Keens

Humboldt Redwood State Park, CA

Look at the size of those needles!!

In Southern California It's Blue Skies and Added Autumnal Colors

Disneyland, CA

Sunrise Walk to Work

Anchorage, AK

This is a shot of the same bridge so many of you loved from a few weeks ago. See how much it has changed in just a few weeks?

Snow Covered Chugach Mountains at Sunrise

Anchorage, AK

Also on my walk to work this morning. It was about 9:00am and the sun was just starting to rise. That's a sure sign of late fall around these parts. So is the dusting of snow up there.

You Capture- The Feeling of Fall

I've been away. I actually don't like being away (from blogging) very much, but sometimes it's just so hard to come up with something to say, and then say it, then edit it...you know. Excuses really. I think of posts, I even start posts constantly. But I always get pulled away or lose focus, or motivation. I like blogging. But it's like journaling, which I also like to do, and find to be a good release. As much as I enjoy it, and as good as it is for me, I generally lack perseverance and staying power when it comes to keeping at it.

But I'm back. And I'm going to start doing something new. A weekly You Capture challenge. This week, the idea was to get the feeling of fall. And since fall is in full swing here (though some of the recent transplants to AK I know, Travis included, feel insistent that winter has arrived here. They are wrong. This is fall. And it is gorgeous. Including out my window. Right now. The geese even just flew overhead as I was typing that. That is definitely the feeling of fall. Anyway...)

Kenai Lake and the Sterling Highway while driving to Homer Saturday.




Nothing says fall to this Alaskan like a sunset that happens before 10:30PM but later than 7:00PM. This one was at about 7:30 on the Homer Spit, in Homer, Alaska. And it was gorgeous.



Walking home from work, I feel nothing but fall. And it feels nice.

A Must Watch

Kid-Safe Chemicals Act: 10 Americans @ Yahoo! Video

It's worth the 20 minute watch to get all the way through the entire video. He makes an excellent point about small doses. Also,consider that the chemicals he discusses at the end were once considered safe too.

Palin: Escape Plan

Palin: Escape Plan, originally uploaded by The Searcher.

Another great contribution from The Searcher. This one hitting a little close to home.

His original text to accompany the image:
"Biased Liberal Media: But what is this new direction?

Palin: Forward. That way. Away to the people that need me and who are so proud of this country I love to do.

Biased Liberal Media: Aren't you concerned people, even fellow Republicans, will think this looks like you're quitting?

Palin: I'm not quitting, I'm STARTING! How many times do I have to explain this to biased liberal media bias? I can't do the job the people of this GREAT country hired me to do for THEM with all of these restrictions and responsibilities and from that you know. In the words of General MacArthur said, "“We are not retreating, we are just advancing in a DIFFERENT direction.”

Biased Liberal Media: Isn't that quote actually from another general, Oliver P. Smith?

Palin: Now there you go ATTACKING me again, I really wish you'd quit it out, it is SO obvious that you're doing the politics of personal destruction and why you don't want me to spread MY message of liberty and jobs to the people I don't know. Also.

Biased Liberal Media: But you had a job, that you were hired to do. What is this new job?

Palin: Why is it so hard for you biased liberal bias to give ME, a woman from the GREAT state of Alaska that I love, the same respect as that other candidate? I'm not able to privvy you on internal campaign strategy that I KNOW how to do because, but the big game is JUST a year away, and it's time for me the point guard to PUT the focus on it where it belongs on it. Presidential elections only come around every two YEARS, you know."

He got the dialog style for her pretty spot on. The only thing he could have done better was add the words "also" and "such as" a few times.

Sarah Palin's "Reasons"

I just read Sarah's 4th of July "Thank You" to the troops letter. Really, it was mostly just a reiteration of a lot of the random things she said in her resignation speech.

I would like to write Sarah Palin myself. Maybe I should

Governor Sarah Palin
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1700
Anchorage, AK 99501

Dear Governor Palin,

I am writing in response to your July 4th letter wishing us a great holiday and reflecting on the previous 24 hours.

The problem is, Sarah-is that no matter how candid or heartfelt you believe them to be none of these reasons are actually reasons...so of course the media and bloggers plus everyone and their son and their left big toe too are going to speculate. Whether some of us want you gone or not is irrelevant in terms of whether or not resigning with no real reason is right. Whether anyone is happy to see you go or not is irrelevant when they call foul on your quitting. Because quitting an elected position, with no real reason given is a little sketchy; people have a right to point that out. Your constituents especially have the right and frankly the media has the responsibility to point it out. As someone with a degree in journalism, I would think that you would understand that.

Really Sarah, I wonder if you are aware of how bizarre the "reasons" you gave us are?

"Not wanting a second term" is a reason for not-seeking re-election. It is not a reason to quite with 16 months left.

"Not wanting to be a lame duck" is not a reason for quitting, it sounds like a bad case of hard feelings over the fact that there won't be a second term. But who, at this point, can you have hard feelings for over that fact? Basically only yourself since you're electing to not run. At this point in the game you, and only you have prevented your second term and thus created your lame duck status.

"Not needing a title before your name" is not a reason to quit with 16 months left. That's the reason you give for not-seeking re-election, sure. But that's not a reason to quit. If you didn't need that title in front of your name to begin with, you should never have run for the position of governor which generally requires you to complete a four year term.

"Being called to a higher call" MIGHT be a reason, if you'd actually tell us what it is. Running for another office? Getting a sweet ass deal with an oil company? Something. This is your only "reason" that might actually give a clue as to why you are really quitting. But until you tell us what that higher call is, we are all left to speculate. And that is our right, because you were elected to serve us and you are quitting without really telling us why.

"Accomplishing everything you wanted to" is a fat lie. Where is the damned gas line? What smaller government? (Oh, you mean turning down federal money for the first time in the history of Alaska at a time when every single other state was actually getting some too?) I would like you to go over your list of campaign promises and all of the big goals you publicly stated at the start of your administration and explicitly tell us what of those this administration has actually accomplished.

Governor Palin, I do agree with you that sacrificing your title is best for Alaska. I agree whole heartedly with that, for now. I might change my mind when I find out why you actually sacrificed your title. But in spite of the fact that I agree with you, it doesn't mean that I think quitting was actually "the right thing to do" and I certainly can't say that it was until you treat us all with respect and tell us why you actually quit. I suppose that is asking too much though, since you've been completely honest and candid with Alaskans about very little for a very long time.

Sincerely,
An Alaskan who was never a fan, but remains perplexed and cheated none the less