reds and rainbows...

 been an on call week for me so far.  the first night i got called in by 9pm i think. so OT all night.  actually went home at 6 am, which was nice.  i haven't taken any vacation days this summer so I'm cool with this week of on call.  last night i was never called in...we shall see how tonight goes.  OT if called in...if not.  just more sleep time for me and an earlier walk with the pups tomorrow.

 we did some meandering in North Bivouac.  always a favorite this time of year. i do miss the mushrooms but the reds are really exploding.

 last night while i chilled with a movie there was this amazing rainbow all across the sky.  it faded and got brighter but stayed for a good 2 hours.  i popped in and out to snap a few photo's

 that is the little free library out front with the rainbow

 the night i was called in i really only had 2 patients in the ER.  my second was a medivac that turned out to be much sicker than expected.  that patient kept me pretty busy...eventually i did a dump and run in the ICU.  her best hope was to get her up there so they could do their magic.  i stopped by later when i dropped off another patient.  the color of her skin looked improved and her vitals looked more stable.  sick lady...

 signs of the tiny turquoise mushroom out there though. 

 view from my room. 

 a rainbow in black and white.  turned out kind of cool i think.

 the trails are lined with leaves and outlined with red. 

 a storm is still blowing over the east coast, Dorian.  seems to have calmed a bit.  always good when you turn on the news and they are still on about this...that hopefully means nothing worse has happened. 

 the liar in chief of course, screwed up and had stated that Alabama was at risk.  he can't be wrong so a prop was brought out with a sharpie line drawn to make it appear that indeed Alabama had been at risk.  that fool can't just say, i was wrong Alabama was never at risk.  he has to harp on it...and continues even today.  now everyone is doing sharpie drawings on crap...hilarious. 

 sadly, the guy running our nation is not only a huge narcissist, he is a habitual liar.  you can always tell a habitual liar when they can't stop themselves from lying even about things that really have no consequence.  he can't bear to be seen as wrong so instead he pulls this crap.  it would be sad and pathetic if it wasn't a guy in command of our nuclear weapons.

 most sadly, his followers are all to happy to believe every line of crap he and this administration dish out to them.  they are so overjoyed to be getting their way that they are totally looking past his lying and corrupt behavior.  each time i wander over to the right leaning media they are painting this rosy picture of all in this administration.  if that is your main news source, i can see why you would think all is peachy..believe me, all is not peachy. 

 this administration likes to toss grenades then try to act like they have landed on the grenade they tossed and are now the savior only to turn around and blow up the place after all.  his followers seem to miss that the grenade was thrown by this administration and that they then silently go back and blow the place up...all they see is him being the savior of his own chaos.  it's nuts.

 the elephant ivory is a prime example.  they try to get past us that they are now again going to allow ivory to enter the us after several years of a ban, then they pull  back after everyone blows up...even folks on the right don't want this...but guess what...later they quietly do make it legal to bring in elephant ivory. by now, their followers some how have decide it no longer matters to them. 

 I'm guessing it will be the same with not allowing these kids with medical conditions to stay in our nation for care.  they have quietly pulled back on this...not totally.  but i suspect they will give a pass to some of the more outspoken patients, their cult followers will be pleased and again feel self righteous that he is the savior in chief and then they will go about the business of sending as many back as they can and not allowing any other kids with medical hardships in. 

 the right seem to have lost their moral compass when it comes to all things trump.  they are looking the other way.  they have become convinced that their way is the way God would want it. that since, in their minds, they have God on their side, that any amount of lying and corruption justifies the end result

 they are so pleased with the end results that they are more than happy to turn the other cheek, as it were, on how their way comes to be. i mean all liberals have been deemed to be of the devil, horrible and hated people.  while conservatives are the only ones with patriotism, religion and honor...the end does not justify the means. 

 is that why so many GOP congressmen and women and senators seem to be opting to not run again.  they have proven themselves to be so weak and spineless.  nobody dares stand up to this tyrant.  the cult of trump is far to powerful for them to brave speaking out.  anyone who does is cut off and called a traitor. 

 none of this will end well. 

 they are armed so it will be bloody.  the best scenario i can think of would be for him to die in his sleep.  tomorrow would be fine with me.  all good people and bad people do eventually die.  everyone hates Pence as well, but in my mind, Pence at least does not have the ability to move crowds, though i have no idea how trump can.  the flock will not follow pence like it does trump.

 the election....if trump does win we, as a nation, are doomed i fear.  he will be unfettered in his power and all who may have possibly stood up to him have left with their heads held low...and now are writing books to cash in where they can.  if he loses, the cult of trump will not believe it was a fair election and will rebel in the streets.

 i do not know which way it will go. i do know that in 2016 he had absolute hate for Hillary on his side...though now he's been able to harness that absolute hate to all liberals, all democrats, anyone who isn't absolutely loyal to him has become the enemy.  we are in deep trouble here in the states.

 trump is stealing tax dollars from the military to pay for his border wall.  he's promising pardons to his aides to take private lands illegally if necessary.  his cult followers look the other way because they have grown so paranoid about our border to the south.  the silly wall...one that will be burrowed under and flown over.  do these folks know nothing of drones or shovels.  even the great walls in Israel have got complicated tunnel systems under them.  a fool and our money...

 love this of Ivy running. 

 my car and the double rainbow...the second rainbow is super light.

 the right can pretend that there is not an advance in the earths warming but it happens whether they choose to believe or not.  they can believe all sorts of crazy things that are spoken from the pulpit, but when science speaks out they cry fake news.  it is shocking to me how easy it has been for these folks to be lured to believe an entire rash of conspiracy theories but facts...facts are completely lost to them. how does that happen? 

 how do rational people believe the unbelievable while mocking the believable, the proven?  does faith in an unknown create people who will have faith in more unknowns. is trump a fool who got lucky and was in the right place at the right time, the right moment in our society.  did he and those around him predict this...even plan it to some extent.  how were they able to harness lies into truths?

 the cruel policies of this administration will cause permanent damage to thousands of kids separated from their parents at the border...some never to be returned. for people who scream they are pro-family these policies are the most anti-family policies, they are cruel and inhumane..they go against every Christian value i was taught and yet, they all stand in line behind king trump and crew.  shoot the kids for all they care...it's the kids parents who are really to blame.  was it the Jews fault they were killed in Germany?   i sense many here would have  believed so back in the day.  it's sad that they can not see the truth of the cruelty that this administration is throwing down with their approval.

 my friend arrives tomorrow...so we will head north for a few days and hopefully see some nice fall colors. this is my favorite time, but it's super short.

 nice views from my room. 

 it's after 7pm...that first bit on call is always a question mark.  people either do not show up to their shift or show up sick and need to go home...so the phone can ring at any moment....well that can be true all night.  i do not tend to actually sleep until well after 2 am when i am on call.  you just never know.

 we will stay in Fairbanks for 2 nights and then head down the Richardson Highway to the Denali Highway...this section can be quite beautiful. i have a night reserved at the Maclearan lodge..so a little cabin on a lake i think. I've never stayed at either of these places.  so should be fun.

 the dogs are always up for a little adventure.  if i don't get called in i really should work on packing a bit for the trek.

 more rainbow views...never tire of them.  we haven't had much rain this summer to not many rainbows.

 the light was perfect last night for one though...and then boom, there it was.

 the pups always look great in those fall colors.

 helping me with the clean up from our little storm the other night.

 Ivy helps keep her brother clean as well..though this is never a favor that is returned...she doesn't seem to mind.

 well, i guess i shall go pack a bit. 

thankful for: A.  a mini break in the fall colors  B.  the joy of dropping off a sick patient and walking away...you can't do that in ICU...they either die or get better.   C.  morning puppy snuggly time...and a little extra snuggle time while i am on call.

day on the ice...

 finally took the kids to Portage Lake/Glacier.  could have left earlier...would have had better light but may have also been on the ice when the glacier calved, which i think would have freaked me out.

 the ice held, just water sloshed up between the cracks.  freaky just to see as you are walking anyway.  i'm a bit of a chicken some times anyway...i call it a healthy concern.  it's kept me safe...probably prevented some good photo ops.  today there were folks right up on the glacier face..i only went just a bit past where you see me here. the glacier can calve from above or  below the ice line.  the glacier is tidewater so there is ice below.  i'd think you could get sucked in if you were too close and some dropped off.  that would be it.

 these were taken by a kindly stranger.  the first one a few above was taken with the timer mode...i made several attempts...much to the entertainment of some of my fellow walkers apparently as every time i attempted to come get in the shot with the pups who were sitting so nicely..Ivy started jumping up on me.

 the heart in front of us is ashes.  brought the bridge furs along as i thought they may like a resting place with a grand view...doesn't get much grander than this right?

 you can see the damp part on the ice where the water sloshed through in the foreground above.

 there were loads of folks on the lake when i was heading in so i kept the pups on leash the entire way in.  this was a challenge.  pulling pups a bit on ice, not to mention loose dogs and strange stuff like what are those things you stand on with big wheels. anyway...someone was on that dragging a sled with a buddy behind.  there were bikers and ice skaters.  lots of ice though so if you do go, take spikes.

 i'm sure i had a few meltdowns along the way.  on the way back there were far fewer folks out and i think i was less anxious on the ice since i'd gained confidence on the walk in. really the pups were on mostly so they didn't fall in to some hole in the ice.  i still made them stick close to me.  no gaping holes were noted by the way.

 no sunshine as the mountains were blocking the sun.  you really do need to head out a bit earlier than i did i think.  be there by 9-10 and i got there closer to 1pm.  girls gotta sleep in.

 a woman i walked briefly with on the way back...who let me know she and her family were cracking up watching me attempt to get pictures with the pups and the light one kept jumping. she said her watch thing said it was 2 3/4 mile one way. i guess i'd always thought it was more like 2 miles each way.  it does make sense.  soon after i started back towards the car my fitbit vibrated saying i'd hit 10,000 steps.  that is generally around 4 miles i find.

 still just pretty out there.  fun to go.  had no idea people did this trek until a few years ago..probably 3 as i think the last 2 years the lake hasn't completely frozen

 ended up putting pups back on leash as we got closer to the cars.  not that they were being bad, but Tusker seemed on a mission to get back to the car.  had to slow him up a bit.  not sure if he was cold or just tired.

 they did fall quickly into a pretty nice nap after we got loaded back in the car.

lots of cracks noted but the ice seems stable as i said.

 enjoying their freedom for a bit.  i colored her glacier blue...probably more to keep me from getting annoyed with her.  she is super sweet, but she's kind of high energy and too excited some times...it can make you a bit nuts.  who can be upset with a blue and green dog though?

 last night i watched a documentary on living a more minimalist life.  it wasn't necessarily get rid of everything and live on a commune.  just more get rid of all the crap, simplify, buy less, live with less.  i have too much crap.  it does seem a good idea to me to go through bit by bit and declutter, clear out stuff.

 keep it small.  so last night and tonight i just did one small drawer.

 Tusker checks out the cracks...was there odd smells from below. Ivy looks adorable laying on the ice.

 their paws do not seem the least bit sore which is great.  always concerned.  they did do some slipping around the ice.

 i am for sure sore tonight from my ice walk.  takes some extra attention to maintain a standing position on all that ice. even with my ICEBUGS my grip slipped a few times.

 when i headed on the ice some young woman was coming up in high heel boots no less.  i sure hope that poor girl didn't go all the way to the glacier in those.  what are people thinking in their clothing choices.  yes, i know i'm no fashionista, but some practicality seems merited when you are doing outdoor activities in AK and it's below 5 degrees F.

 these are a few from the lovely drive home.

 lots of ice out there.  i think high tide was around 6 pm tonight.

 the lights on the ski runs at Alyeska.

 always like the train tracks at sunset.  catch the glow.

 i remember reading an article in one of those good housekeeping or whatever mags my mom kept around.  it was a short article about it being okay to be mediocre at many things rather than feel some need to be perfect at one thing.

 i think too often we just seem to take everything to extreme in our society.  if you run..you have to have all the right clothes, read the books, have a training plan, prepare for a marathon.  if you cook, you need to have all the right tools, expensive ones, and take classes...

 we are working on settle while i write.  too much late night barking for my liking.

 the rest of these are from my walk the other day in N.  Biv.

 anyway.  the article was for me this great epiphany.  forget about being number one.  often we find ourselves lacking since we don't excel at things we try and it was just saying...it's ok to not have to have the gear and work towards some grand goal...do you enjoy a thing?  then do it.

 there does seem a lot of pressure.  social media adds to that pressure.  everyones lives appear perfect. everything seems like a competition. how far did you run or walk.  who's photo is better.  who's camera is better, what new shoe are you wearing, do you have the latest gear, the newest version of hte phone.  i wish everyone would stop competing with each other and just enjoy the life they have.

 i also wish folks would hang on to stuff a bit longer rather than feeling some need to replace things just because a newer option became available.

 watching that movie and also watching episodes of those tiny house hunter shows. i do suspect many in the next generation coming up are realizing that the huge homes and debts that their parents existed with are not really that appealing.  they want more freedom.  financial freedom but just freedom in general.  they don't want to be as tied to stuff or a place.

 i think the pups are starting to settle.  maybe that nap in the car was too much.

 they will wake tomorrow raring to go and forgetting todays long walk.

 not sure i will awake feeling so ambitious.  monday walk and dentist...thinking i should drop of dogs and do the dentist/pool and then Ivy starts her class tomorrow night.

 enjoyed all the frost these past weeks.

 and some of our funky evergreens

 i should sleep great tonight.

 hardly a cloud today out there.  was going to settle in and read the paper, but i think Ivy found it first and when she reads a paper there isn't much left to see.

 feel like i want to support the local paper still.

 the road to Byron Glacier trail is closed.  folks walk down there.  some guy looked like he was trying to go over the berm in his truck and drive it anyway...that did not go very well from the looks of it.

 my jumper cables came in handy today...always figure anytime i am nice to someone it helps me build up my good karma...and you never know when you will need some good karma.

 no issues today.  we had a lovely day.  always great to get out and about and take a different trail than usual.  everything with the pups is new though.  it is still a bit tougher some days with both of them but we will get there. they are really smart and good dogs. it's their person that needs to check myself.  remember my words, be patient, be more exciting than the loose dogs out there.

 dogs always give more than they take.

thankful for:  A.  safe walk on the ice today  B.  beautiful scenery C.  no falls on the ice