evening of swans...

 really need to get my day started, but thought I'd post these as i was looking through yesterdays pics and these were pretty cool...at least i felt they were.  i got really lucky.

 a lady that lives in the area and was there said after that this family has been coming to this spot in the evenings.  she had gotten some amazing shots the other day at sunset with deep sunset colors.  i wasn't that lucky.  they are right off the road at the cut off between Seward and the road down to Homer.

 i did opt out of Homer yesterday.  it was tempting and it looks like the weather probably was beautiful.  i was happy to be home last night and not driving 5 hours each way.

 i do have some things to do at home.  winterizing and education stuff that i should probably get to.

 foggy this morning but it has since cleared out. deciding where to hike today. I'll have to hit trails soon though.  the day is wasting and the sun sets much earlier.

 still thinking i may head to South fork.  haven't done that all year.  it's always beautiful though.

 it was pouring rain when we hit Portage.  i had stopped for a few other swan sightings.  i haven't even looked at those yet, but i suspect they will be less impressive now that I've seen these. 

 the pups and i walked Byron anyway.  it was pouring and the creek next to us was loud...before you get to the end of that trail it gets more bushy.  not a soul was out there so i ended up turning around. the dogs had a decent break walk at that point and all that noise and no other people made me hesitate due to possible bear encounters.  i tend to err on the safe side in these situations. if i get that "what the hell am i doing?" feeling i will turn around. I'm sure others are braver..or more dumb than me. that really just depends on your perspective. 

 i walk alone with dogs often. i am alive still.  I'm guessing some of that is luck but some of that is also just being willing to turn around sometimes.

 years ago i had this date with this guy. he was military.  he had a never lose/never quit attitude.  that can be great but i recall i was meeting him at the zoo after i did a bike ride.  it was a  25 or 50 mile bike to benefit the San Diego Zoo i believe.  you got free tickets to zoo after.  at the time, i was having some asthma/bronchitis issues.  after hitting my inhaler several times i opted to just bike the 25 mile route. this guy seemed to believe this made me a quitter.  my view was going 25 miles was pretty dang good when you are having issues breathing. 

 this is the young swan.  spreading his wings.  so cute.

 i expressed my opinions a few times on facebook last night. i really shouldn't bother but on occasion people irritate me by going over the top and posting way too many meme's and such.  after much eye rolling my opinions come out.  if you don't wish to hear them....i suggest you stick to cats and family pictures. i think that is what most of us should be doing on facebook anyway.  it's been proven to not be a good source of news. 

 after some back and forth with some guy i went to high school with but barely remember i just decided to back out as it was such a waste of my time.  when people stop actually discussing stuff and instead just post youtube video's to make their point it's time to walk away.  he seems to believe he knows how i think because he seems to think everyone who doesn't think like him thinks exactly like each other. 

 loved the fall colors with these swans.  really added to the scene. i had rain and then this great light and beautiful scenery.  that is Alaska.

 every liberal doesn't think the same, nor does every black person or conservative or latino...everyone has a blended experience in life and thus a blended way of seeing the world.  the idea is to try and get out of your box and see things how others see them, at least as much as you can.  you still may lean towards your original belief but then again maybe you won't. 

 my beliefs have been altered over the years...and they continue to alter.  i guess if i was a politician i would be considered flip flopping but i think if you don't change your mind sometimes and evolve then you aren't really considering others viewpoints.

 when it comes to black lives matter and racism, i am still evolving.

 my life has not really made me look at these issues.

 i have been trying to focus more on understanding these issues.  have i totally come to grips with all the issues, no.  i probably never will.  i can not make myself understand some of these issues because i am not black. i have come to understand more...and i suspect the fact that i am even trying is helpful and a good start.

 it's always funny to me to see people like this guy today, post the one video of a black guy who has his same views.  like somehow that one black guy now represents every black guy.  again...if you are posting youtube videos instead of actually coming up with a real discussion then the "conversation" is over. 

 just chatted with my niece.  she lives in Houston and her rental house took some damage.  she was able to get back in fairly quickly.  her landlord was fast in getting repairs done so that is great.  still a mess in general in Houston it sounds like. people are still trying to get life back together again.  seems overall people are getting back to work and to school.

 they didn't have the winds, but they had a lot of rain.  loads and loads of it.

 i am hungry...what to eat?  still have sores in my mouth and i have my crown to get put on next week....we shall see how my mouth reacts to that.

 so NK feels iitoo has declared war already and states they will shoot any of our planes that come close even if they don't cross into NK air space. i read somewhere that today some NK representatives were seeking out GOP members in an attempt to try to figure out what they are to do with iitoo, figure out what he means when he says stuff.  not sure what or if that actually happened.  pretty sad if that is true.

 sounding like this new lousy healthcare bill will also fail.  they all need to just work together and make what we have better.  there was a huge group of protesters at the one meet they had about healthcare, these were mostly special needs folks who again were dragged out as they were unable to be walked out.  pretty powerful protest if you ask me.  my hats off to those folks for getting out there and protesting so vehemently. 

 the other protest....well that remains the big talk out there.  people are really nuts over it.  again, the same people who support the iitoo but seem indifferent to his disrespect of the military.  he talks and says what they want to hear even if for him it's all crap. i don't think he believes it.  i suspect the man never stood for an anthem in all the years before he started down this potus path.  he was in his little expensive box at the games doing his own thing and ignoring the anthem. 

 i see both sides of this.  i get why people would prefer to see these guys stand but i also get that they feel the need, especially after the iitoo comments and continued tweets, to kneel in support.  i thought a few of the teams handled it better than others...again i don't watch football and so i didn't actually see any of these things live. i know one team just avoided it by staying in the locker room until after the anthem, like they did before 2009?  i think.  another team knelt down together locked in arms before the anthem and then stood for the anthem.  that seemed rational as well.  the right, who seem to be under the impression that they and only they are capable of patriotism, will not be satisfied at this point with anything. 

 crazy what people go nuts about.  i have been to plenty of games and when you look around now, people may be standing but they are texting or otherwise engaged...not sure how this is better. 

 so that is my day.  better to clear my head and then head out for my walk.  another late start i guess. 

 i made it to see the baby walrus.  he has gained more weight and he is swimming more confidently.  super cute.  his one eye still looks a bit wonky. 

 haven't heard any news about where he will go or when.  i meandered on the way to Seward, at times debating why i was making the drive. happy i did. turned out to be pretty.  i only had like 10 minutes at the SeaLife Center as it's closing earlier these days. summer is over.

 then i took pups to the beach for awhile.  the tide was up but there was still enough beach to play on. the pups did not want to leave.  this is where i was a terrible human i guess. Ivy kept walking away from the car and not loading up. so at one point i turned on the engine.  she still was walking away, so then i got in car and shut door.  then i felt terrible.  her face dropped and you could see the panic in her eyes.  of course, i grabbed the leash and walked over to her and she joined me and loaded up.  i felt awful though.  i am far from perfect.  i am incredibly fallible.  i can be nice but i can be mean as well.  i try to stay on the good side of who i am.  in that moment i failed though.  sorry Ivy. 

 love when these birds stretch their wings like this.  so dramatic. 

 i would have liked to stay longer at the beach too, but driving in the dark gets more tough the older i get.  also, when i arrived there were 3 young men there.  they were making a lot of noise and i wasn't sure how to read them. this again is where i let my gut lead me.  at some point a guy and a young girl showed up so then i felt fine.  eventually they left and then it was just me again with these rowdy seeming guys.  seemed better to cut it a bit short than risk some bad interaction.

 as a female you do have to always be aware of things.  I've had enough things happen to me to use caution.  most females have. 

 it just becomes part of your routine.  it shouldn't have to but that is what it is.

 speaking of women.  Saudi women can finally drive i hear. I'm sure there are some restrictions but that is a huge deal.  congrats!!

 swimming into the fall colors

 what a lovely few minutes to chill with these beautiful birds. it was a great little road trip. 

 off to hike...well, eat then hike i guess.

 the young swan, still grey

 they swan off a bit and it was time to move on for me.

 not too many stops after that.  some pink skies behind me

 a few more lakes with beautiful reflections ahead.

 by the time i got back to the arm, it was somewhat dark.  thankfully, it was never fully dark and i could drive easily without being too worried about random moose pulling in front of me suddenly.

 i better run. 

thankful for:  A.  wildlife sightings  B. the diversity of this earth C.  fall and all it's wonder.