Halloween Orange

How's this for a Halloween driveway ornament? It's my neighbor's and I never see him drive it. After Halloween he puts it back in the garage for the winter. Here is My pukin' pumpkin from a couple of years back. I didn't carve a pumpkin this year but I did bake one in the oven to eat.

Tuesday Comics

The Pack is Bach!

This is me in my Cheesehead hat outside the LoneStar Restaurant in Anchorage last Friday night of the Governor's Cup hockey games smoking a cigarette and carrying a bag of peanuts.

It was a crazy Monday for me and the Packers winning Monday Night Football in Denver made my night.

Gave me something to blog about!

A Beautiful Fish

When I head north to Fairbanks this winter for a home ALASKA NANOOK hockey game I'm going to get a tatoo. My sister and I both are. By the same guy who did this beautiful fish tatoo. I'm just going to get a little fish tatooed somewhere on my body. Like my wrist or hand.

FishTaxi's Stats

A fun thing about blogging is seeing how many visitors you have. I admit I like having lots of people stopping by. Thats why I try and blog everyday. Thanks for dropping in!

In other news swimming is going along great. I can't believe how good I feel. Its been over 4 months since my last flare up of sacroilitis. I stand taller, sit straighter and jump higher. Now I want to learn to snorkel.

First Snowman

Theres nothing like seeing the First Snowman of the Year. The one we've been all waiting for.

What a week.

Hotel Wall Art

Going back to the 140 photo ops I took (or my camera took and I photoshopped) while attending the Governor's Cup last week in Anchortown.

I got to drive around on icy roads today in my toy truck. Drove in 4wd to the sand pile and got a couple bags to put in the back above the wheel wells. A little weight in the back, until I get my studs on all round, helps.

Winter is here.

Up, Up and Away!

I got to fly on ERA's new Beechcraft jet on my way out of town Friday. What a nice plane. Sitting on the left I got this view of Sugarloaf Mountain in the middle of the Chugach Range. Flying back both times was the Dash 8. A combo prop/jet.

Now its back to work, swimming and tanning to get ready for my next adventure. Purchased some new lap swim gear while in Anchorage. Also got me and my swimming partner new Speedo swimming caps. We look funny but they are comfortable and really are the ticket for swimming in a chlorine pool. They are white with the American flag on one side. I pretend I'm in training for the Olympics!

Home from the Governor's Cup

After missing my flight Sunday night I got on the plane Monday night. The pilot tried landing the plane twice to no avail and after the second attempt turned back to Anchorage while we still had enough fuel. Landed tonight no problemo. So after 5 days I feel like I was playing hockey instead of just being a fan. I HAD A BLAST! I met the whole team and got to give Wylie a big hug and kiss. We didn't win but that didn't matter to me. I got to go watch Wylie's hockey game live in Anchorage at the Sully. Next game I go to will be on his home ice at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.

GO NANOOKS!!!

Missed My Plane

I was late for a late plane and missed it.

Thats A-Okay. More time with my family and friends!

Knock 'em dead

Heading to Anchorage on the mid-day flight for a weekend of family, fun and NANOOK HOCKEY! Being a cheesehead since birth I don't care if they win, lose or tie. (College Hockey in regular season games have ties). I'm a fan and support the team. I'm there whether listening at home on KSUA college radio [pregame show starts 6:30ish Friday and Sat nights AK time] or at the Sully Arena which I will be both nights.

If the weather is anything like it was today in Valdez I should have no problem getting outta here.

GO NANOOKS!!!

Alaska Hockey Kicks Off This Weekend

Story and stats from Alaska Ice Hockey. Great action shot of #34 Goalie Wylie Rogers in perfect position taken by Paul McCarthy.

Nanooks Headed To Anchorage For Governor's Cup Opening Series

Governor's Cup series to be televised in Fairbanks on Fox 7

Oct. 17, 2007

• The Nanooks begin regular-season play in Anchorage on Friday with the first test in the four-game series for the Governor's Cup. Their five-year stranglehold on state bragging rights was broken last season when Alaska Anchorage beat them in three out of four meetings.

• It marks the first time since the 2003-04 season that Alaska will kick off its regular season with a series against UAA.

• In the last three years, the Nanooks are 4-1-1 in season-openers, including a 2-1-1 mark while making their season start on the road. This weekend's series marks the 10th time (since 1979) the Nanooks will face the Seawolves in a curtain-lifter. Alaska is 6-10-2 against UAA in season-opening series and just 1-5-1 in openers played in Anchorage.

• Despite faltering last season against the Seawolves, the Nanooks lead the Governor's Cup Series 8-6, and will look to (re)claim their sixth cup in the past seven years.

• Alaska trails UAA in the all-time series 48-75-10 and the series in Anchorage 18-43-5, although they have claimed eight of the 14 Governor's Cups. The Nanooks are just two games down in the Fairbanks series, which stands at 30-32-5.

• The teams will rematch in Fairbanks New Year's Eve Weekend at the Carlson Center on Dec. 28-29 to determine this year's Cup Champion.

• When the teams met on Oct. 20-21, 2006, the Nanooks were upset in the opening game 6-5 in overtime and then forced a 1-1 overtime tie in the rematch. The loss on Oct. 20 snapped a five-game home unbeaten streak and was their first loss to UAA at the Carlson Center since Dec. 10, 2003.

• There have been four shootouts in the Cup's history to determine its champion, with the most recent happening in Anchorage on Mar. 6, 2004 (Nanook won 3-2). The Nanooks have a 3-1 advantage in Governor's Cup shootouts and are unbeaten in the last two at the Sullivan Arena.

• SR G Wylie Rogers is 5-3 in his career against the Seawolves with a .936 save percentage and 1.87 goals-against average. He has recorded two of his program record six shutouts against UAA. The first was on Oct. 23 in Anchorage, when Alaska blasted UAA 6-0 (21 saves) and the second was a 3-0 blanking in Fairbanks on Dec. 31, 2005, when he stopped 33 shots to help the Nanooks capture their fifth consecutive Cup in a five-year span.

• With the Alaska schools new hockey tournament scheduling agreement, the Governor's Cup series will return to a two-game series format in the 2008-09 season. The first six Governor's Cups were decided by two-game series, before the four-game format superseded its predecessor during the 1999-2000 campaign.

GO NANOOKS!

Dear Eidtor

We all make mistakes I know all too well. I could be making a mistake posting this.

Dock Work

The dock is completely closed to foot traffic while they are renovating. Its still a nice place to take a break and enjoy the view.

The Livingstone Daisies are about spent after that snow Friday and rain all weekend.

Iron Clad Alaska

This is a welding project by my "roving photographer" made in high school shop. I took a picture and photoshopped it before he turns it in for a grade. I give him an "Astounding A" for a steady hand, creativity and balance. Iron Clad Alaska sits perfectly level. A beautiful piece of art.

Chicken and Soup

We got some bad economic news this past week in Valdez. Our local Three Bears store (costco like) is closing! That means we will only have one grocery store in town which is as a non-union Safeway/Eagle Quality Center.

But rumor has it the old store building could be turned into a bowling alley!

Murder on Ice (Hockey)

Last call: Party where the pucks are

[ With Jessica Bowman ]

Published: October 10, 2007 Last Modified: October 11, 2007 at 05:09 AM

Sportswriter Jim Murray wrote, "Hockey is murder on ice." Sounds like a good time! After all, what goes together better than ice and a drink? Hold the murder.

Hockey games pack the rare combination of drinking, eating, good-looking guys, adrenaline rushes and clanging cowbells into a single venue. For Anchorage party people, that venue is Sullivan Arena. As the hockey season arrives, here are some reasons why going to a game is one of the best ways to score a great night.

Food and drink

The Alaska Aces give you the option of sitting on the wet side, which means you can drink in your seat and the bar is nearby. Also, everything is served in a plastic container and you're surrounded by concrete, so dropping your drink and making a mess isn't an issue. There's a variety of beer, wine and wine coolers (from Bud Light to Red Hook to Kenwood Yalupa) ranging from $5.75 to $6.25. There are also people who will come to your seat to sell you a beer in case you don't want to miss any action.

If there's a hockey hang-up, it's that UAA Seawolves games don't have a wet side. But there is a bar, so between periods, find an enforcer, skate through the crowd and try to finish a 24 ounce draft ($9.50) before the next period starts.

The game

Like quarters, hockey is a relatively easy game to learn and follow, even if you're having a good time and not paying too much attention. And you can keep track of the score with your fingers, since it rarely reaches double digits.

The players

Jeter, Favre, we love you. But Sergei Fedorov? No contest. Hockey players are hot, even if they're really not. They're all attitude. Their language is crude, they swagger on skates and they have -- inexplicably -- enhanced the sexiness of the mullet against all odds.

Women cheer for hockey players because they feel like they can change their rowdy ways. Guys love to have the players' backs when the other squad gets a little too rough. With all this sexual tension in the air, the opportunity for some beer-line flirting is high.

Convenience

Get the party started early and save gas money by taking free shuttles to and from the Sullivan for Aces games from the Peanut Farm (5227 Old Seward Highway, 563-3283). You'll still have to pay for a cab home if you have too much fun, but it's worth the cost to avoid the parking lot scuffle at the Sully. A great post-game party option is the Crossroads Lounge (1402 Gambell St., 229-6897), just a block and a half away from the arena.

Remember, with hockey season comes ice outside the arena too.

And if you plan to party hard, get an assist from a cab or a designated driver. Nobody likes the penalty box.

Contact nightlife columnist Jessica Bowman at adn.com/contact/jbowman or visit Play's Lush Life blog at play.adn.com/lushlife.

This story was in the paper today. Its got me wondering: The tickets I bought for the Governors Cup say the "wet" section. We (the University of Alaska Nanooks) will be playing the UAA Seawolves. According to this story the UAA Seawolves games don't have a "wet" side. I hope they make an exception for the Governors Cup!

At 2:39pm

Snowflakes started falling out of the sky. I immediately starting singing Christmas songs.

As usual I'm not ready. I never am.

Vacant Dock

Time is going by fast for me lately. I've settled into a routine working 2 jobs and swimming 3-4 times a week. I am actually looking forward to this winter. I have a few trips planned with all this money I've been making. One is coming up Oct 19th and 20th for the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup hockey games in Anchorage. This is my nephews senior year and its about time I made it to a "live" Alaska Nanook hockey game. I'll be wearing my #34 hockey jersey and my cheesehead hat. And the hotel we're staying at has a pool!

Burning Daylight

Yet another picture taken by the "roving photographer" back up Mineral Creek Canyon today.

Back to the 50s

My youngest sister sent me these pictures an aunt sent to her. I don't have a scanner so I took pictures of the pictures. This is me about one year old with no hair. Mom said I was bald til I was two.

I'm the kid in the middle. Mom used to put a bowl on our head to cut our hair.

Mom made all our dresses in this picture. I remember they were yellow. She made all of our clothes back in the fifties. I love you mom.

Thumbs up for SNOW

Picture taken by the roving photographer with my camera. He went with dad and dad's friend to Chitina bird hunting with their 4 wheelers. Dad's friend was on a 2 wheeler. That white stuff in the background is SNOW!

Alaska Nanook Hockey is Back

Tune into KSUA Homepage to listen on the web tonight.

10/06/07

The Alaska Nanooks
vs. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Fairbanks, AK
7:05 p.m. AKT

GO NANOOKS

UPDATE! NANOOKS WIN!! 4-2!!

Dusting of Sugarloaf

Snow is predicted to stick on the ground in Valdez November 17th.

Putting Away

This was yesterday. Everybody was busy putting stuff away for the winter. In the picture are the fish cleaning stations on dry dock at the Valdez Harbor. In the distant right is Sugarloaf in the Chugach Mountain Range. It is our gauge as to when we typically get snow down here at sea level. Once the snow sticks on Sugarloaf we've got six weeks til the snow sticks according to the old timers.

Today was overcast and noticably colder. Couldn't see if Sugarloaf had a dusting or not.

Views from Hogback

While I went swimming tonight my buddy Dale took off on his 4 wheeler up Hogback, a popular snow machine trail, with my camera to take pictures.


This was last view of Valdez going up.

Valdez Glacier.

Sunset over Valdez Bay coming back down.

You can borrow my camera anytime, kid. Great photos!

Bionic Pink Flippers

If there was a bowling alley here I'd have my own bowling ball and shoes and carry them around in a bag.

Fishing Dock is GONE

You can go back to my old post One of THOSE Days to see what the dock used to look like. Took these pictures today. The Valdez City Dock is newly named The JOHN THOMAS KELSEY MUNICIPAL DOCK designated for cruise ship mooring! It was a bad rumor this past summer and I didn't believe it would really happen. Demolishing an easy access public fishing dock in favor of cruise ships in Valdez Harbor hurts my head. What was the city thinking?