Category Archive:Alaska

and with a byline. When I was studying journalism in high school that was the epitome of having arrived . . . having your story printed above the fold complete with byline (your name in print) in the newspaper.

It has happened to me a couple of times over the years – with stories printed in the local paper – stories about my grandbabies and my views of small town Alaska. But – yesterday – it happened in the Big town newspaper. (biggest paper in the state, my friend pointed out to me.)

Anchorage Daily News printed an article complete with photo and byline, above the fold – on Christmas Day!

You see, one day last week I saw an article in said paper by a Jamie Reid who writes for the Beaumont Texas Enterprise. The article picked at those of us who enjoy wearing holiday sweaters and other such things. I took a bit of (good natured) offense and shot off a letter to the editor of the Enterprise and to the Daily News.

ADNs letters editor called me to make sure I had really written the letter (as it had been emailed) and when I shared that I’d had to cut it severely due to their word constraints, the woman on the phone said “why don’t you submit it as a Compass piece? You can have up to 675 words there!”

Why indeed.

Hold that letter, please. I’m sending it in for the Compass column. That editor called me and asked for a photo. Can do. Lessa took the shot and I emailed it in.

Christmas Day! You can find the piece here: Holiday clothes put the ‘ho ho’ on us all. You may need to sign in to read it – I didn’t, but may have still been signed in from my last look at the paper. Enjoy, friends.

Hey, how was your Christmas????

ot buy a jet?

Alaska plans to sell former governor’s folly on e b a y

And – lest you think that is the ONLY reason murky lost the election – oooooooohhhhh noooooooo – taint so. It COULD be because he is so haughty and full of himself – the fact that he doesn’t listen to his constituents (as on the purchase of said jet) – or maybe, just maybe . . . that he pulled some nonsense when he named his own daughter to fill out his US Senate term.

It’s not so much that he named his daughter, but the fact that he was going to do that all along, yet strung out the state’s people AND several other people who thought they might have been given the nod.

Alaska’s people don’t take lightly being made fools of – either in person or in the press. It was pretty common talk about a month into murky’s term of office that he would be a one-termer, that is, a governor who would not have a snowball’s chance in Miami of winning a second election.

He went a long way to make sure he shot himself in his own foot, though – he made an easy target – in a way, we’ll miss that. We’ll have to find some other poor soul to pick at now.

so far – it won’t be the new governor.

Gotta love ‘laskan politics!

I’m sitting in my office with the door closed. It has been very busy and noisy out there and I am feeling just a tad unsocial. I’m also feeling a tad unwell. I think I am going to call it quits soon. I’m not getting anything done, so it would be better to be at home snoozing in my chair, I think.

Snoozing sounds good – I haven’t been sleeping very well the past few weeks. Some nights I am unable to get to sleep. Some nights I get there, but then wake up. sigh. So, I think that is what is making me feel a bit puny as my grandmother used to say.

I did get one thing done . . . I went through the employee directory of birthdays and made out cards for those among us who are having birthdays this month – AND – next month. Just call me the sunshine lady, eh?

The other thing I got done happened first thing this morning. We had about 4 inches or better of snow overnight. The parking lot here at work was plowed, but the guy plowed AROUND the night staffer’s vehicle. So, I came in, made coffee and then went back out to shovel the walkway and around her car.

Was out there about 5 minutes and the receptionist got to work and joined me. We had it done in about half an hour. It was a good workout. Took both of us an hour or so to quit “glowing” (aka sweating – but we all know that ladies glow – not sweat).

The staffer was appreciative and we both felt pretty good, too. Now, when I wake up tomorrow morning and wonder why this or that muscle complains, you can all remind me, okay?

Have a great weekend, everyone.

It is actually a quite lovely day today – lots of sun. In Alaska – in November – lots of sun genearlly means lots of C.O.L.D. But not this time. While it is a bit chillier than the last few days when we had cloud cover, it is not nearly as cold as it was the previous three weeks. It is still above zero and that is a very nice thing.No – I still haven’t zipped up my coat. Yes – I am still wearing just a fleece jacket – although I do wear a sweater under it most days. No – I have not broken out the boots yet. Yes, Lessa has (hahahaha). Hubby moose is still wearing his birks but he HAS put on fleece socks over his regular socks. (a small concession to the weather)