more on the Rondy fun

 kept myself pretty busy yesterday.  headed off towards Portage. had contemplated a run to Seward, but my sleep schedule is still a bit wonky. just realized that i only have like a week to get ready to head south...so much to do.  and now I'm headed back to work.  not much accomplished.  i tend to work better under pressure. should make a list.

 this was out at Portage Lake. i guess it has just froze up this past week.  for sure not thick enough to venture out to the glacier.  folks were just skirting the edge by the rocks.  I'm sure someone will take the chance soon enough.  the ice was beautiful and I'm sure an ice skater would love to get out on that smooth ice and play.  not sure I'd do that without a dry suit and scuba gear just yet though, haha.

 this is a little lake/pond that we often stop at on the Portage road, the pups usually swim but clearly today we just stopped and chased the tennis ball. 

 i stopped quite a lot along the way.  walked at Potters in the fog, played off and on along the way and then again when we got back to Anchorage. 

 stopped off to see these snow sculptures. i had feared they would all be in the shade when i arrived. i got lucky and caught the last of the light.  it was actually really pretty with the fading light.

 always some cool sculptures.  not sure which was my favorite. this one was simple and pretty.  the music one was more intricate and i really liked the design.  the reading dragon above was just cool and fun.

 below is the music one.  above is Turnigan arm with some ice.  the fog was lifting as i left Potters.

 below was out on Potters Marsh.

 today we just hit the Oceanview Bluff Park.  tide was starting to go out and i wanted to check out the Native Craft sale at the Dimond Mall.  didn't see anything i just had to buy but always fun to look around and see what folks are creating.

 cruised over to Lake Hood since my friend had spotted an owl there.  those pictures will go in another day.  always cool though.

 watched some of the Cohen hearing today.  the GOP were just screaming like usual.  why are they all so pissed off all the time.  they were angry that he got to testify again and have a chance to speak his truth after getting convicted of lying.  funny how they kept screaming that he is a liar so he shouldn't be heard yet they are all totally fine with their liar in chief.  of course, none of them want to put him under oath.  i suspect at this point cohen has little reason to lie and all the reason not to.  they could add more time. 

 one idiot GOP member even made a sign that said "liar, liar, pants on fire".  wow so mature and who is the side that causes division?  just ask him questions and if he lies and is caught he gets more time. but they wasted the opportunity.  i did like that cohen basically said, he's been a fool and if they aren't smart they will end up just like him.  a fool following this man into becoming the worst of themselves.  it's too late though for most of them.

 fox was just screaming as well.  liar.  spent most of their air time covering the great leader in Vietnam with the dictator from NK.  of course, the news tonight is that is a failure and he is coming back early.  all he has done is make the NK dictator feel legitimized.  at least he didn't give the guy exactly what he wanted this time and get nothing in return.  I'm sure fox will claim total success. 

 these are from the returning dog teams on the second day of sprint racing.

 why do i listen to Cohen?  why do i read books by the likes of Comey?  i figure it's best to hear it from them.  humans are flawed.  some are more flawed than others.  people screw up.  people fail.  it's about intentions.  it seems like everyone around trump is not just flawed but overall they are greedy and seem to care very little for their fellow humans. 

 Cohen did give some insight into who Trump is.  he looked beat down and a bit humbled.  irritated as well.  he got away with something for a long time but it caught up with him and now he and his family are paying the price.  it does appear that what he has put his family through is weighing on him the most.

 the payments to him for the porn star sex went on during the first year of the iitoo being in office.  the CFO or what ever his title is has gotten an immunity agreement i believe.  much of the worst of this seems to be being followed up in the NY courts so there is a lot more coming.  that dude that was the CFO guy probably knows a crap ton about this family.  he's been there for years. no doubt a greedy jerk as well.  he's kept out of the limelight. 

 obstruction seems to have been an issue for this iitoo, his own doing mostly it seems.  it also seems more clear that he was aware of the trump tower meeting with manafort, kushner and trump jr. nothing happens without him. it is a mob like run deal in many ways.  the gop wants honest witnesses...usually these freaks don't hang out with saints.  the hang out with sinners. every mob boss that has been brought down was by people with a history of lying, murder, racketeering...bad dudes.

 I'm sure Cohen is well aware the crap manafort has gotten himself into with continued lying.  we will see what path Stone takes.  he's a fool at baseline.  entitlement gone wild....will he see the light before it all shuts down on him.

 another funny thing today is that trump had cohen put pressure on his past schools and colleges to not release any of his grades or test scores.  funny since he was always badgering Obama for his education. also funny that the GOP members who have been screaming fake news for years now at the end of this meeting put into the record many articles...really, now you love fake news i guess.

 funny also that for all them calling him a liar.  he had a few things to say that they would have liked and could have used to their advantage...if only they had thought to actually ask a few questions rather than just scream liar.  fools. dude was probably on some truth serum...best to get some answers while you can, but instead they wasted every second they could being their usual difficult and obstructive selves.

 almost done with Comey's book.  he actually did a good job writing it.  as in all, he is a flawed individual.  he seems willing overall to face those flaws and probably was mostly thrown off by a need to over think everything.  he was in a box as was Obama when it came to the Russia stuff. they didn't know enough yet, when to say, what to say, how to say.  mistakes were made.  i don't believe their intentions were generally bad though.

 Comey could have done things better, but i don't doubt he wanted to do a good job.  not everyone is up to every task and i doubt many were prepared for this.  trump is what the founding fathers feared though.  it seems the checks and balances are not as strong as we believed, but i do hope they are strong enough.

 in his closing remarks, Cohen made a comment about 2020, something about if trump loses he believes it will not be a smooth transition.  strange thing to say...but it is something many do find concerning.  with how riled up many in his base are and how so many believe every conspiracy theory that has been thrown at them...it seemed to me that there were many who were prepared to go to battle if hillary won...i have a co- worker who stated to me that he was armed and ready for war...I'm not sure he really understands what that means...

 are my fellow citizens ready to kill me and those who think differently than them? sadly some are. 

 many of these shock jock radio hosts on the right have behaved irresponsibly...and continue to. 

 all they have are conspiracy theories...as far as i know, none of their theories have been proven, who has been indicted, convicted, is serving time?  it's all based on theories.  unproven, but believed to their core.  the deep state...anyone who speaks against the potus becomes branded a member of the deep state.  not sure the way out for those who are totally bought in to this.  i suspect Hannity, limbaugh and jones will have to find a way to convince them they were just doing it all for ratings, that they really just made half that crap up. they seem to believe it to though. 

 dogs down town....I'll be working for much of this years iditarod festivities.  off on vacation for most of the race....guess it's good to take a year off. only 52 teams i think. a pretty small pack.

 hopefully it goes smooth for all

 weather has been amazing these past days.  today actually felt like spring.

 i just have 5 days of work and then i take off.  not a fan of flying, not excited to leave the dogs for that long, but i know it's good for me to take a break from life. the boat will be out to sea for a chunk of our travel so that will be lovely forced relaxation.  will also be fun to catch up with some family.  don't see them much.

 Tusker is sleeping up here next to me.  Ivy has taken her turn downstairs. 

 after i hit the snow sculptures yesterday i ran them down to  Westchester Lagoon to hit the sunset and chase the tennis ball a bit before we headed home.  i think everyone in Anchorage jogs there. or walks or bikes or ski's...it was crazy busy.  the dogs did amazing off leash, stopping when i called hold up, sitting and staying while people passed over and over. 

 as we headed back towards the car there was a large group of various people coming from both directions biking/walking and jogging.  the last walker was going past me..the dogs had been perfect...as she passed she says, "your standing in the ski tracks".  these were basically flat anyway.  there is always that one person who is having their asshole day...so annoying.

 the rides...i don't go on the rides.  was never a fan of these spinning things.

 fun to watch though.

 well i have wasted all my days off having fun over getting things done mostly.  typical me. 

 train i town. headed to Indian i guess.  saw a train pass today while i was on the beach.

 i like trains...I'm a fan.

 not a fan of our Governor. i like ferries too and he wants to chop those along with many other services that are needed in our state.  he is an outsider at his core and will never be anything else. 

 maybe i could whip out WARIS taxes real fast.  it's a non- profit so it's usually pretty fast.  don't think they screwed that one up yet.

thankful for A.  trains and ferries  B.  redemption...at least it's an option, what you do with it is up to you C.  that some folks can't live forever...