Happy Halloween 2018

 had a total of 20 trick or treaters out last night.  a few really good costumes.  it warmed up slightly i think so the kids could show off their costumes...or they were just tough kids.

 Ivy started out as a pineapple but she wasn't too keen on the little hat, though she looked super cute.  we switched to the standard pumpkin...she is adorable in that as well. Tusker was dressed in this new fire dog costume...he looked rightly handsome i think.

 they love greeting all the kids and we got many compliments on them and the Skelly scene. 

 i only worked one night but was super tired.  always wonder if i am fighting off some bug when i just feel tired...went to bed fairly early.  nobody had come by for quite awhile so i turned off the lights.  no teens, which was unusual.

 thanks to KR for giving me a ride to work. the car had decided to stop working at the shop so i left it there.  i got a call it was done as i was waiting for KR so i then arranged with another friend at work for a ride to the shop in the morning...thanks K!  that is how life is though, one expense after another it seems.  not quite as devastating for me financially as it once was so that is a nice change from the old days.

 still a drag....

 need to finish off the floor this evening.  i head back to work for 2 tomorrow night.  my handyman will be back to working again tomorrow he says. i realized this morning i will be working the extra hour fall back shift on Saturday.  boo!! that extra hour bites big time!

 frustrated with the current climate of our nation where people believe the crap that is being pushed by the current administration.  divide and conquer works better than you think which is really depressing.

 the current iitoo has made it clear during his rallies that he considers himself a Nationalist...seems like most are willing to look past this fact and that he has just aligned with the "white nationalists".  what some politicians will do and say to get votes.  pandering to the most racist element of our society while the others in his party look away...they want to win as well and they know in their hearts their best chance is to pander to this deplorable....yes i will use that word...the deplorable elements of our society.

 if you truly believe that a bunch of migrant/refugees walking all the way from Hondorus are harboring terrorists and gang members, i really am growing more speechless.  why would they?  it makes no sense at all. why would a terrorist fly to Hondorus and join a group of migrants walking north when they could easily just fly to Canada and drive south or just fly in directly.

 none of us like to admit we have some feelings which may be deemed even mildly racist but i guess i will lay this out....

 you might be racist if....

 this birthright stuff is ridiculous.  fear that thousands of women are rushing the border to drop babies...it just doesn't happen.  there are also businesses where women in other nations are flown in from Russia to give birth here for the same reason.  these things do happen but at a very low rate, changing what is actually a rational constitutional right seems a bit overboard. besides...i have never heard anyone on the right complain about those who are white doing this...so if you have a double standard when it comes to white folks doing the same thing you get angry at Hispanics for doing...well you might have racist tendencies.

 when you hear your POTUS state unequivically that he is a proud Nationalist and you look the other way...you may have racist tendencies or you have just chosen an agenda over protecting your fellow citizens.  he does this at a rally and within a week we have a gunman enter a synagogue and kill Jews.  Jews also support refugees and immigrants because they were once in a position of needing help or dying.  if you can look the other way as your fellow human beings, who are in a desperate place, look to you for help...well you may be more deplorable than you care to admit. this is certainly not the message of Christ.

 no matter how much folks want to look away or just hide in their happy wealthy lives, we are one earth and we, who have much, are expected to help those who have less. we do not get to agree to be kind only to people who look like us or share our religious values.  choosing to look away from the suffering seems pretty heartless and cruel.  treating them all like they must be criminals, sending hoards of military to trample desperate families when we should send help and support.  they have the right to ask for help, they have the right to be heard and then they may be allowed support or denied support when their individual stories are heard. our nation first tried to prevent the Jews from entering before calmer heads prevailed.  lets not turn into a nation of asses when we are needed. 

 as i drove around doing errands after happily getting my car back i didn't notice i'm almost out of gas so i'll need to get gas.

 i have puppies that need walking as well.

 these are from last Mondays walk.

 i am far from perfect.  i have many failings.  i can be selfish, i don't do enough for others.  we can all, always do more.  i do believe as a nation we should strive to keep the most racist elements at bay. they need to be shamed, they need to be prevented from having power.  we need to keep this element of society from gaining confidence.  the opposite is happening.  they are empowered at this time.  at the very least i really wish those who support this President and his administration would speak out against the Nationalist movement and the support of racism that is so evident in this administration.

 as they say if you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.  be careful who you align yourself with...it does reflect on you.  do not tie yourself to those who wish to harm others solely based on their race or religion or ethnicity...or in these days who use political differences as an excuse to cause harm.

 i get tired of hearing these falsely held views that both sides are totally equal.  that both lie just as much as they other, that both are just as hate filled.  Obama did not step out week after week tearing down those who opposed him.  he did not hold rallies from the first week he was in office where he showed support for racists.  every other POTUS i have seen in my life time has at least made a show of wishing to support all Americans. this one only cares about his base, the most extreme on the right.  the rest of us do not matter at all to this administration.  we have all been deemed of no value, we could all be shot down tomorrow and he would carry on.  those on the right are coming to hate those who think differently so much that it is becoming more and more clear they would be happier without us in their nation.

 i think of a co-worker who said that he is armed and ready for civil war... clearly he must realize that means he is ready to kill me or anyone else who thinks differently in order to get his way in this nation.  the right no longer seems to have any interest in having any discussions.  they do not wish to waste time with compromise. they only want their own agenda to be pushed through no matter who is harmed or even killed. they feel they have become the victims...which is funny as these particular victims are living well, have not had any element of their own lives altered....it's just a believe that they have decided to hold up as a mantle of their truth...but it isn't their truth.

 their truth is that they live in lovely houses, they have heat and water and electric.  they practice their religions freely.  their lives are relatively safe...despite shootings and terrorists we do not live under constant danger... fear is a dangerous emotion.  often people are terrified of things that will never happen....that are not real.

 those who are really living in suffering are being ignored as those who live the fat life fear.  those who are really living with constant threat and fear are being left to struggle more and to possibly die because those of us who have also have the priviledge of being able to look away as we live our peace filled lives.  we do not seem to realize how good we have it.  that others suffer so we may live our peace.  we want to pretend it is us and them when it is all of us....in this together.  some of us just have more power to rise above because we were lucky...not because we deserve more though many seem to want to believe that is the truth.  none of us deserve more....those of us who have are mostly just lucky

 lucky to have been born in a nation of opportunities, lucky to have been born in a peaceful place, lucky to have had parents who supported us. i realize we can't help everyone, we can't fix the problems across the globe.  we cant save them all....but we can realize the advantages we have, we can take the wealth we have and attempt to help others rise....why can't we see that bringing up others can help us all. that those who live in the most desperate of situations tend to also become angry and lash out.

 got a few shots with the kids.

 am getting hungry.  it is getting late and Ivy keeps coming over to me. 

 eating without a kitchen is a bit of a bother.  i will be so excited to get it back on line.  was watching a British cooking show on Netflix last night. crazy what people can do with food. 

 these are from yesterdays walk at Campbell Airstrip.  may just return there again. it's close and easy and i should run a few errands. 

 i was actually really sure i was working tonight and Friday, but i've looked several times and it's Friday and Saturday.  we should be able to enjoy a nice long walk once i get myself out there.

 crazy how quickly the temperatures have dropped this week.  the other day it was mild and there was no signs of winter it seemed.  now there is ice and the lakes and creeks are starting to freeze up.

 the sun was melting some little icicles....and there was frost about.

 welcoming back winter and all it's glory. 

 i do hope our nation finds a way to come together.  that those who are so angry right now will let go of that anger.  that this administration, who seems to be embracing racism, will cease this assault on others. 

 today, i do not feel hopeful though.  i am tired of this rollar coaster that this iitoo is taking us all on.  he is chaos and he has a lot of support...he is terrible for our nation.  he is doing irreparable harm to the fabric of our nation. today, i fear we will never recover from the message of hate he has blanketed America with.

 off to the woods to try and fill my soul.  to try and find some peace. 

 should look at the issues and head out to early vote....it's all we have, lets at least make that happen

 delicate icicles....peace is fragile as well.  a storm is blowing over our nation...we must weather it and carry on. 

 thankful for: A.  rainbows and butterflies, reminders of peace and beauty  B. health to be able to walk in the woods C.  the many gifts that give me the peaceful and spoiled life i have

ending November....

 loved how this shadow shot turned out . such totally long shadows this time of year.

 cute puppies.  hit the dog park a few times i think this week.  one day no walk between shifts.  Ivy woke me up a few times.  was just tired.

 today we hit a loop in North Biv.  always a favorite. the pups seem pretty tuckered out.

 also hit pet smart and braved it with 2 puppies at once.  the cart about went over a few times but we survived.  the clerk finally said to me.  don't you have the dog Blossom?  she'd met Blossom when the place had first opened or something and she totally remembered me and Blossom.  Rio must have been there as well. sweet of her to remember.  i told her that Blossom had recently passed and she was very nice.

 my neighbors also brought over a card this evening. i actually thought it was a christmas card until i came back inside.

 pups on chunks of ice.

 work was fairly uneventful for the week.  ICU-ER-ICU.  it's been a pretty packed house this week.   back log of patients slows everything down.

 was doing holds in the ER the night i was down there.  at least i was with another nurse, Julie.  at one point we see a vented patient brought in and i said something to Julie, like who are they going to get to take care of that one?  she looked at me and said, "probably julie or Betsy" to which i responded, "who are Julie and Betsy?".  us...i have aged but i can still pull off a little blond moment.  she was still laughing about it when i saw her the next night.  haha.

 pups crack me up. they bark from the upstairs window at passers by but if you knock or ring the door bell..no barking.  i may actually need to train them to bark at the door.

 ice out on the water.

 dogs lit by sunlight out playing

 hit a few stores.  have a few more packages to mail.  was quite excited to get 9 delivered with minimal line wait the other day.  those are already arriving at their destinations. always nice to get the business of Christmas out of the way so that i can just enjoy the season of it all.  finished up the cards tonight.  well first run anyway.  the numbers of folks actually sending snail mail cards drops each year.  i'm sure it will soon be a thing of the past.  it does seem that each generation has folks like myself and my mother who are the ones who keep in touch and like to sit out and do the cards.  feel bad that i don't have a letter this  year but the printer seems to have blitzed out on me.

 i have a lot of internal debates/dialogs with myself.  i hear something and then have a little conversation with myself.  not sure if others do this or if it's just the result of living alone.

 the politically correct thing comes up a lot of late it seems.  apparently many have felt very hemmed in that they are not able to just say whatever comes to mind no matter who it offends.  this was apparently a plus to Drumpf.  he says it all and cares less who he offends.  it is a funny thing really. i get that it seemed that the whole PC thing had gotten a bit too much at times.  i mean i said in general that people can sometimes be stupid at a gym locker room a while back and a women got very serious and told me that she didn't think we needed to use language like that...like i'd dropped the f-bomb.

 the truth is the origins of most of this PC stuff is actually kindness, respect. when we were kids and we were making fun of people who were not like ourselves.  we'd now call them special needs i guess...it wasn't really nice or kind.  when we did this as adults it was not kind or respectful at all. i can see that.  making racist jokes, making fun of the disabled, mocking others for parts of who they are that they can't change or have no desire to change...it's not what Christ would want for us.  we should be kind.  that society had to push back and shame us into doing what we should have done all along is kind of sad.

 it seems some segment of the population are not embarrassed that they were guilty of less than respectful or kind behavior but are pissed that this has been taken away from them, that they are made to feel shame for making racist or unkind and disrespectful comments.  i mean when you really tear it down..that is what it is.  i remember being told as a kid, if you can't say anything nice, then say nothing at all

 it is really that hard for us as adults.  who is whining now.  haha.

 loved this framed shot of ivy and ice.

 every day it seems another frightening thing with this incoming freak of a POTUS.  i'm still hoping that it's all some horrible nightmare and we will wake up and it won't be true at all.  i find myself avoiding news sources because no matter what horrible thing it is coming next it feels like nobody will do anything or question anything.

 the cabinet is a group of old white rich guys.  he has lied and broken promises right and left.  there isn't one in there that is qualified for what ever role this numskull is putting them in for.   quite the opposite really.  it's insane...as i believe this guy is.  i just think his power and money have made those around him act as a buffer to keep his insanity safe from public view and now that he is elected to this level it gets harder and harder for them to keep the crazy in the closet.

 that maniac constantly watches tv it seems and twitters.  as cooper pointed out...shouldn't he be reading briefings and trying to prep for this job he wanted. instead he runs off on a victory tour of rallies because the truth is what he actually loved was speaking to crowds and making them react to his crap.

 always love these ice photos.  conditions are not always perfect like it was this day.  not sure anyone else would love the shots like i do.  but i'm keen on them

 more of my beautiful pups on ice.

 running and playing with each other.  they always have fun.  happy at this time that i have the pair of them  i think in a way it's good because Blossom was a tough act to follow and having two probably insulates them from me trying to compare and contrast.  they are very different pups.

 they are both super sweet though.  all the stuff that i had read and been anxious about before i brought them home seems to not be all that much of an issue.  either i responded the way i should have or it just was not that big of a deal having siblings.

 they do seem to have bonded well with me.  do they have some separation issues when they are separated.  i've tried to do those store walks individually and i think that helped.  of course, i think most of those have been before Blossom passed so the left behind puppy had her there.

 they do seem to be settling back in and finding themselves a bit with Blossom gone.

 i tend to call Ivy Blossom a bit more than Tusker.  girl i guess?  i miss her, i'm bummed, sad, maybe even a bit angry that such a healthy girl left me so soon. not really angry...just wishing it wasn't so.

 they are with you always.  there are reminders and memories. places you've been.  find myself a bit jealous of folks who's dogs are 13, 14, 16....it's silly.  it's just a twinge but i wanted more time with that girl.

 overall we are all doing fine though.  moments and memories flood back, and then a wave of sadness really.

 sea of ice and there is a little cairn above and below.  will make another when the opportunity arises.  i have a vial of ashes in my jacket.  i'm ready.

 pups coats may still change a bit as they get older.  fun watching them grow and seeing how they turn out.  Tusker finishes his class this week.  then both pups will be done with puppy 1 and 2.

 still much to learn but they really have come a long ways.  great personalities like Blossom.  love that they get a long with everyone and every dog.  love how unique each is.  very different.

 light on the cairn.

 will need to think of where to walk tomorrow.  temps have dropped down again but the snow remains.  we have a nice base which i hope sticks around for a bit and that we get more snow over it.  need to go sledding this winter.

 the cairn/ashes flooded with light.

 hoping to just make one more trip to the post office.  also want to hit Michaels craft and see if there is some craft i can make that would be fun gift for friends.  last year i made those funky birdhouses which i enjoyed.

 who knows if they liked them i guess.

 the pups leave the ice and take to the sand for more romping and chasing

 they really do love the beach up here

 would love to do a trek down to Homer this winter for fun.

 redoubt in the distance.

 sunset

 as i left they were making snow in Kincaid for cross country skiing.  liked the pink hue

 and then this guy was munching on the side of the road.

 off to bed. it's late and there are things to do tomorrow.

thankful for:  A.  short lines B.  prezzies...so fun to see all the pretty things and shop...not all the time but once a year i allow myself to really just enjoy shopping  C.  when patients are really grateful for your kindness and take the time to tell you.