improving...

 believe i had some sort of GI bug today.  just cramping and low fever, by this afternoon chills and muscle aches. thankfully that was all.  the cramping started this morning.  i really just figured I'd go walk and the gut would work it's way out...as i have called it in the past...shoot and toot.  ha ha.

 no tooting happened though...just cramps. I'm sure i was moving pretty slow on today's Monday walk, but it was just KR and i so i knew she would be happy with the shooting part.  opted to head to the right after the bridge at Campbell Airstrip...there is often some cool ice and frost out there...we were rewarded i think.  took my mind off the cramping a bit i think.

 still feel too warm, too tired and a bit crampy.  hungry at times, but was worried it would end in nausea and vomiting...so far nope so i am thrilled with that.

 felt depressed last night.  i watched the last of Downton Abby.  always a bit sad to finish a really good series or a really good book.  just a let down because you want more...but there is no more.  hard to find a book or show to fill the gap left

 these are from Woronzof the other week i think.

 then frost from a walk out n. biv i believe. 

 not sure where I'll walk tomorrow, hopefully i feel better and can venture out a bit more.

 always feel like i need to be cautious where i take these pups. tough to keep an eye on both of them 

 today the tennis ball dropped into a hole in this small creek.  thankfully, it wasn't deep and moved slow.  Tusker jumped down on the hole which broke it more open.  he eventually got completely into the hole to recover the tennis ball. that could prove deadly in another place.  i feel rather protective of my charges.

 the rest are from a fun drive out the Turnigan Arm.  always so beautiful.  there was a fog.  some of it rising from the water which was more warm than the ambient air.

 always looks cool though. 

 I'd love to get out to Seward tomorrow.  will have to see what the weather is doing though.  want to see that beluga.  not sure what their winter hours are.  may be really abbreviated...like the wildlife center.

 ran into my trail friend Gil...she is always a hero to me.  she is not young and yet she hits those trails all the time.  she had fallen for Blossom years ago when she first met her and i had found her a labradoodle breeder in Homer, where she has a cabin...those doodles are now 9 years old...it's crazy. 

 I've met so many wonderful folks out there on the trails... I've known them for years now.  often we do not see each other at all during the summers but then winter comes again and we are all together again...the winter walkers. 

 Sunday i did a loop out N.  Bivouac and the day before i just hit the dog park.  seems i missed many of the regulars as we all were there around the same time.  there are dog walkers there that i have known since i arrived in Anchorage in 2001.  we have all been through different dogs. 

 wanted to hit the grocery store and pet store.  all i could do after walk and coffee shop was to climb back in bed with the heated throw.

 the steam rises from the water...

 so cool looking! 

 winter is filled with wonder and peace. 

 change happens constantly and can be dramatic. 

 you have to be out there...even if it's cold.  you bundle up and explore.  those who don't often end up hating winter because they feel trapped inside...it's your choice. 

 unlike my time in South Dakota wind chills are pretty minimal here.  if it's below zero it is what it is...in SD there was always a wind and that wind really makes a huge difference.

 the sun was catching the fog/or steam...very cool looking

 or so i thought anyway.

 here is fog crossing over the roadway.

 enjoy this land now...if this administration and the GOP have their way, it will be all up for grabs to the highest bidder.  they are the party of destruction...they are the party of greed.  i don't see any proof otherwise. 

 it's a pretty sad state.  regulations may need some streamlining at times, but to just destroy them only to benefit large corporations is dastardly.  this tax bill benefits those at the top the most.  billions of dollars worth.  they have no idea what they have done because nobody had a chance to read it all.  to study the true impacts.  in greed they passed it for the benefit of their wealthy donors...they hated how rapidly the health bill went through and that was to help our fellow citizens. 

 the true colors have been shown.  none of them care what laws are broken as long as they get their way. morals, values, ethics matter not as long as their agenda goes through.

 religion doesn't matter either.  you see how so many in the GOP have manipulated Gods words in order to bring about their agenda.  an agenda not based on love or kindness.  not based on living in the service of others and not judging. the agenda is greed, the agenda is based on hate.  the teachings of Christ are not to be found in the GOP agenda....they can try but they have lost God in their quest for the dollar and power.  money and power have taken down many over the history of mankind.

 that is how it goes, over and over again. 

 put big bang on this afternoon.  easy TV for me.  i can doze off and on and not really miss anything. 

 will just have to attempt to keep hydrated. 

 loved these reflections...always so beautiful.

 mountains and ice.

 well, i shall drink and head to bed again.  much of my day was wasted...but our bodies force rest on us from time to time.  hoping tomorrow is a better day health wise.

thankful for:  a.  great series and great books that entertain and enthrall.  b.  winter beauty c. friends