WHO SAYS YOU CAN"T GO HOME

THIS IS MY STORY- WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME (TO PLAY HOCKEY)

Alaska Fairbanks goalie Wylie Rogers tells his first-person story.

	Printer-Friendly Format E-mail this article Sophomore goalie Wylie Rogers is 5-4-0 with a 2.60 GAA this season for the Nanooks

Jan. 4, 2006

Who says you can't go home

There's only one place that call me one of their own

Just a hometown boy, born a rolling-stone, who says you can't go home

Who says you can't go back, been around all around the world and that's a matter of fact

There's only one place left I want to go, who says you can't go home

-- Bon Jovi - Who Says You Can't Go Home

While Wylie Rogers is no rock star, the sophomore goalie did make it back home to do what he loves. He started playing in the Great White North but took a detour to Michigan before returning back to Fairbanks. The sophomore forward tells of his travels for the game and what made him return to play for the Nanooks in his own words "You Can Go Home Again."

"You Can Go Home Again"

By Wylie Rogers

I never imagined when I was young and sitting in the crowd at the Carlson Center watching players like Tavis MacMillan, Dallas Ferguson, and Wade Klippenstein play for the UAF Nanooks, that I would someday wear the blue and gold jersey myself. And better yet, that those three players would be the coaching staff while I was playing. Kids growing up in Ann Arbor want to play for the Wolverines, Lansing is the Spartans, and what young Minnesota hockey player doesn't dream of playing for the Golden Gophers? It was different for me growing up around Nanook hockey. Don't get me wrong, I loved the atmosphere and the team, but UAF wasn't a big name school that kids would get excited about playing for. I think that those days have been over for some time now due to so many aspects of the Fairbanks community.

In my freshman year of high school, Fairbanks didn't offer the opportunity for me to excel in my hockey career at the time. Being from Fairbanks, I did the one thing that no kid will ever hear the end of (from childhood teammates). I went to Anchorage to play, the rival town of Fairbanks in more than just hockey. I would go to high school in Fairbanks for the day on a Wednesday and right after classes I would board a plane and fly 45 minutes to Anchorage for practice that night, and fly home and be in class back in Fairbanks the next day. Fridays after school I would fly down for games on the weekends and come home again for Monday classes. It was a grueling year of hockey for my family and me but it was a sacrifice that we had to make.

I left Fairbanks after my sophomore year to go play hockey in Michigan for the Metro Jets in the Central States Junior B Hockey League. This was my first year away from home and I had to experience a lot without my family close by. Just like every hockey player that had left home to go play outside it can be very exciting but challenging at the same time. After winning a National Championship with the Metro Jets, I signed on with the United States National Team Development Program's Under-18 team for my final year of school.

That was the year that I grew more as a hockey player than anything. The training program and hockey schedule was a task of its own, not to mention the school that was being missed for overseas trips. I was able to fly to Europe to play in tournaments and experience places and cultures new to me in Prague, Czech Republic, and Stockholm, Sweden. It had always been a dream of mine to wear the USA logo and play for my country in international tournaments and it is an experience I will never forget.

As a freshman, Rogers was named to the 2005 CCHA All-Tournament team.

I still had no idea what college I wanted to attend or even who was interested in me at the time. Every player on my team except for two had committed to a Division I school. Growing up in Fairbanks I had an idea of what the team used to be like but I hadn't really kept up with the progress of the program for a while. I flew for an official visit back home and it didn't take any time at all to realize that I wanted to be back in my hometown playing for the college that I grew up watching. For those of you who haven't been to Fairbanks, it's a town that is regularly in the 70-degree range in the summer and is known to hit minus 50 below in the winter. If there was anything holding me back from making my decision it was the weather! I committed to UAF before their Saturday night game during a meeting with the head coach at the time (Guy Gadowsky - who is now with Princeton) in the locker room.

After playing the following year in the BCHL for the Victoria Salsa, I began my college career at UAF. Like I said, growing up in a town like Fairbanks for me as a kid I didn't have dreams of playing for the local college. The program over the years has changed due to the coaching staffs, past players, and the fans of Fairbanks. If there is one thing that I will never forget until the day I die, it is the feeling that I get when I put on the jersey and get called out for the starting lineup in my hometown, in front of my closest family and friends, and thousands of the most loyal hockey fans I have ever met. I have gotten to know over these last two years that kids in this town are now growing up saying "I want to play for the UAF Nanooks someday."

We are proud of you, Wylie! Love, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Mike

The floors are shining & my futures so bright...

Deep cleaned all the carpets with an extractor, stripped and waxed, all the hard floors in the building. I had help from the maintenance guys and one kid doing community service. Which was greatly appreciated by me. When I got to work today at 10am I heard this: The Maintenance Crew were voted "Employees of the Month"! har har har, yes folks, the Maintenance Crew includes yours truly. The guys were so happy that they basically sat around the whole afternoon. Not me. I got the last two bathrooms stripped and cleaned. I was ready to get it done and over with and worked through my lunch to "get 'er done". Tomorrow I go back to 1-10pm and that makes me happy along with the floors shining and being part of the crew voted "Employees of the Month".

Classes start the 17th.

Almost knocked my eye out

last night!

I was playing with my little sistor kitty cat. She loves boxes and we had a big box so I cut holes in it. My cat was batting her paws out of the holes, not wanting to get scratched, I had a piece of golden stretchy string with a bunched up piece of wrapping papper attached to the end. Little sistor got a hold of it and I kept pulling on the string til it broke and snapped back into my left eye LID! Just missing my eyeball. It felt like my eye got knocked out. Or sliced. Big ouch!

Once I saw that my eye was intact we immediately put ice on it. Opened the front door and got some clean chunks from outside. That kept the swelling down.

Instead of being blind, with one glass eye, the FishTaxi is sporting a black eye.

My Latest Top 5 Trooper Dispatch Picks

From the PIO.

#5 - What was Ehrich thinking?

-------------------------------------------------

Location: Wasilla

Case number: 05-106682

Type: DWLS

Text: On 12/28/05 at approximately 1953 hours, Alaska State
Troopers

stopped a 2004 Dodge Stratus bearing Alaska license plate
THINK, near

the intersection of Palmer Wasilla Highway and Snider Drive
in Wasilla

for speeding.  Investigation revealed, Ehrich Schmidt was
driving with a

suspended license.  Ehrich was arrested and remanded to
MSPT on $500.00

bail.

Author: RAN0 

Received and posted Thursday, December 29, 2005 3:44 AM

# 4 - Get your story straight before you leave the house!

-------------------------------------------------

Location: Wasilla

Case number: 05-106727

Type:  Warrant Arrest, Hindering Prosecution,
Resisting Arrest, False 

Information, MICS Fourth Degree

Text: On  12-28-05 at approximately  2242 hours, the
AST DUI Enforcement 

Team stopped a Jeep Wrangler at the intersection of
Bogard Road and Main 

Street for a moving violation.  The driver was
identified as Stephen 

Spikes, age 18, of Wasilla.  Spikes provided a
false name for the 

passenger, who Spikes knew had a warrant for his arrest.
The passenger 

provided a different false name.  Investigation
revealed that the 

passenger a 17 year old male, of Wasilla.  The juvenile
male had multiple
warrants for his arrest.  When Troopers attempted
to arrest the juvenile
male he resisted and attempted to flee.  The male
juvenile was arrested
and found to be in possession of Methadone, a controlled
substance.  
The male juvenile was remanded into the Mat-Su Youth
Facility, where he
was held without bail.  Spikes was arrested
for Hindering Prosecution and
was remanded into MSPT, where bail was set at $500.

Author: SMC1 

Received and posted Thursday, December 29, 2005 6:03 AM

#3 - Anti-spray device? Is that mud flaps?

-------------------------------------------------

Location: Wasilla

Case number: 05-106722

Type: DUI

Text: On 12-28-05 at approximately 1020 hours, Alaska
State Troopers 

conducted a traffic stop on a 1996, Toyota pickup truck
in the Shoprite 

parking lot located near mile 42 of the Parks Highway
for having no anti- 

spray device and no rear license plate light.
Investigation revealed 

that the driver Edward Mathieson, age 45 of Wasilla
was operating the 

Toyota pickup while under the influence of alcohol.
Mathieson was 

arrested for DUI and transported to Mat-Su Pretrial
Facility where he 

 was allowed to be released to a sober adult.

Author: KRB0 

Received and posted Thursday, December 29, 2005 6:41 AM

#2 - Caribou vrs. Bears

-------------------------------------------------

Location:  Mile 53 Tok Cut-off

Case number:   05-106763

Type:  MVC-D

Text:  On 12/29/05 at approximately 0630 hours, a 2004 Ford
F150 bearing

Alaska License EPS422 operated by Paula S. Bears
47 y.o.a. of Northway,

was traveling Northbound  on  the Tok Cut-Off
when she struck a Caribou

in the middle of the roadway.  No injuries were
reported and the driver

was wearing a seat belt.  Damage to the vehicle
is estimated at

approximately $8,000.00 U.S. Dollars.

Author:  WPC9 

Received and posted Thursday, December 29, 2005 2:50 PM

#1 - Rude Terrorist Action Verb

-------------------------------------------------

Location: Fairbanks  

Case number: 05-106993

Type: Terroristic Threatening

Text: On December 29, 2005, at 2039 hours, Alaska State
Troopers 

responded to Fairbanks Correctional Center (FCC)
after receiving a 

report of an unruly inmate.  Investigation revealed
that inmate Sean 

Judd, 32 years of age of Fairbanks, broke a telephone
belonging to FCC 

and after being written up for disciplinary action,
Judd spat upon a 

Correctional Officer.  Charges for Terroristic Threatening
will be 

forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

Author: ERN0 

Received and posted Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:22 PM

Oh, to be blonde again & again

From J-Walks blog:

This blond joke had me laughing.

Permalink | Posted in Humor @12:05pm | Comments (22)

Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup stays in Fairbanks!

FAIRBANKS -- As 2006 opens, Alaska's college hockey equation is right back where it was in 2005.

And 2004. And 2003. And 2002.

Namely, the players in the state's premier pucks program wear blue and gold, and their fingerprints are all over the Governor's Cup.

UAF took the measure of UAA for the fifth consecutive season, snuffing the Seawolves 3-0 before 4,336 fans on Saturday night to retain the Governor's Cup with a 3-1 advantage in the annual four-game season series.

"We got the Cup! We got the Cup! We got the Cup!'' the Nanooks chanted as they huddled on the Carlson Center ice to celebrate their superiority and have team pictures snapped.

The Nanooks gathered around the Cup as still photographers clicked off shots and television cameras rolled. Each player, coach and support staffer extended a hand, with four fingers and thumb extended.

The Drive For Five was complete.

That it was successful was largely courtesy of a baby-faced, blond, 20-year-old sophomore goaltender from Fairbanks. Wylie Rogers may look like a kid, but he's The Man when he faces the boys in green and gold.

Rogers stopped 33 shots to record his second career shutout of UAA and his school record-tying fourth career shutout.

Seawolves, who's your daddy? Wylie Rogers.

In seven career games against UAA, Rogers' numbers are numbing. He is 5-1-1 with a 1.27 goals-against average and .953 save percentage. The only time the Seawolves have beaten him came earlier this season, and even that was a 2-1 squeaker.

Rogers, who as a freshman in high school flew to Anchorage twice a week to practice with the Alaska All Stars competition team, makes no secret of his love of beating the Seawolves.

He grew up in Fairbanks, so he understands this rivalry that dates back to 1979 and has included a Governor's Cup competition for the last 13 seasons.

"I don't think it actually hit me until between the second and third periods,'' Rogers said. "We were getting ready for the third period and I said, "I not only want to beat these guys, I don't even want to give them a chance.''

The Nanooks owned a 3-0 lead, and Rogers made it stand, stopping 13 third-period shots.

Earlier, Rogers kept the Seawolves humble by stopping Matt Jolly's breakaway backhander in the second period, when the game still was scoreless. Later in the period, with UAF leading 1-0, he squeezed his pads to stop a redirected shot that was bound for his five-hole. And in the last five seconds, he rebuffed power-play shots by Chris Tarkir and Justin Johnson.

"If I can not let any of their players hold the Governor's Cup, the Fairbanks Nanooks have done their job,'' Rogers said.

Rogers, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's All-Rookie goalie last season, has struggled at times this season and surrendered playing time to freshman Chad Johnson. But UAF head coach Tavis MacMillan, the former Nanook skater and assistant coach, knows Rogers' regard for the rivalry.

So he started Rogers in both games here. Rogers backstopped the Nanooks to a 4-2 win Friday.

"I think the Cup inspires a lot of people, and it probably inspires him more than anyone,'' MacMillan said. "He shows up in big games. Chad and he have both played well.

"This was more of a hunch, (with Rogers) being a Fairbanks kid and understanding this rivalry and how much it means to him.''

Granted, the Seawolves gave Rogers some help. They went scoreless on 10 power plays Saturday -- and scoreless in 17 power plays on the weekend. They looked indecisive and devoid of confidence with the man advantage.

"If you can't score on the power play, you're not going to win, bottom line,'' said UAA coach Dave Shyiak.

Just as they did Friday, the Nanooks on Saturday scored two of their goals during 5-on-3 advantages. The first one, by defenseman Darcy Campbell, came when UAA, already down a man, lost another man when Shyiak barked at referee Craig Lisko and received a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I hold myself accountable,'' Shyiak said.

The loss was the Seawolves' season-worst fourth straight and left them frustrated, forlorn and searching for answers.

"We're fragile right now, and confidence is low,'' Shyiak said.

That was the case for the Nanooks entering this series. They had concluded the first half of their season on a 0-4-1 skid.

But two wins over their intrastate rival buoyed the Nanooks' confidence heading into a four-game conference road trip to Michigan.

"We got the Cup! We got the Cup! We got the Cup!'' they chanted.

When it comes to playing the Seawolves, they easily could have chanted, "We got Wylie! We got Wylie! We got Wylie!''

This column is the opinion of Daily News reporter Doyle Woody. He can be reached at dwoody@and.com.

woohoohoo Ms. Leo

LEO 2006 ASTROLOGICAL HIGHLIGHTS: It's your year for outrageous expression! Of course, you believe that you are outrageously expressive every year, but this year sets a new standard. Your daring comes from the fact that you have a mission that you absolutely must follow through with. When you're not living that mission or progressing it, you feel irritable -- like something is missing! Your mission needs you -- and never is that more clear than right now. Dedicate January to picking a project that allows you to be creative, a leader, and in many ways in over your head. The challenge will cause your talent to rise up. February is true to the Valentine's Day theme. Your heart goes out, and love is returned to you threefold, at least. Just be sure to pick the targets for your loving affection carefully. Those who are worthy will make your life heaven, but the opposite is also true. March is about teaching and being taught. Both efforts make you money! You enlarge your network in April. If you're in sales, your income takes off like a rocket. Brilliant ways of dealing with the public are featured. You're charismatic and will have many interesting offers, especially those having to do with love.

Love is a two way highway

Found Love on a One Way Street &
Lost it on a lonely Highway...

Short Blast

Before you know it another year will have gone by. Reflecting back on 2005.

Collected unenjoyment all winter until Valdez Heli-camp started up in February for spring helicoptor skiing on Thompson Pass. Cooked 2 nights a week, did the dishes/made the lunches 2 nights a week. For a fun group of guides, pilots and clients. We had a blast in the kitchen. Best commercial kitchen set-up in Valdez. Eventually there will be a hotel/restaurant on Thompson Pass. For now everything is transported.

By the end of May I was back working again for Eagles Rest RV Park getting the cabins ready for the summer. Plus cleaning 2 public showers & bathroom facilities. Right before Memorial Day weekend an RV/Camper magazine crew made a surprise visit and did a rating on Park bathrooms. For the first time EVER Eagles Rest RV Park scored a 10! The saddest part is only 4 Parks in the US had that high of a rating in 2005.

They were even sadder when I quit. My future mother-in-law was coming to visit in July and my husband-to-be asked me to stay home and get ready. We were busy up until the day she got here. I was so glad to meet her in person. Never had to do any dishes when she was here!

In August, I got married to her son whom I'd been with for over 15 years. It was painless and I am now happily married. Nothings changed!

Went job hunting in September, with no results, so I went moose hunting. Then up to Fairbanks (North to Alaska) for my nephews wedding, back down to moose camp with one of my sisters and showed her my favorite spot on earth.

And lastly for the year 2005, career wise, I'm back to cleaning toilets. Money wise that is good and I like having a year around job with bennies.

Lots of good things came about in 2005 for the FishTaxi.

Best part is I started a blog and people are reading. Long lost friends and family! With them aboard I am looking forward to 2006 with a lighter heart. Also making new blogger friends which is really cool.

Stay tuned!

Little River Band

The Other Guy, Time For A Cool Change and Man on Your Mind are some of the best songs on the planet.

Longer hours for sleeping half the day

Happy Winter Solstice! More daylight gained, by minutes, everyday for the next 6 months!

Zen & the art of vacuum cleaner maintenance

Ever since I installed the Norton anti-virus corporate edition my computer isn't doing what I want it to do. Here are a few irritating items.

Ctrl-N command does nothing
Some links open and some links don't
I can't access my bank account
I can't add an image to my blog

I use Mozilla/Firefox as my browser and a few days ago downloaded their updates. My ISP is a dial-up account that gives me grief with sending email. Have Windows XP as my operating system and a new Dell. ( Seriously thinking about DSL since the price went down. It will only cost me $20 more a month than I'm paying now and I can use my land line number again.)

Need to figure out whats up. The IT guy at work who gave me the Norton is in Japan for the holidays. I do have his cell phone number but that would be rude to call him. Hopefully I can figure it out before next year?!?

I am getting Whole Wheat Radio so I'm not going completely gonzo over these trying computer learning times.

Came up with the title of this entry while I was vacuuming at work tonight. With no images to show I figure I need catchy titles:)

Lets see if this posts.

Whose that girl?

From the 1992 Valdez Vanguard Dossier:

Name: FishTaxi

Occupation: Anything for money

How long have you lived in Alaska? Since 1980

What brought you up to ak? a 1971 vw camper bus

Where were you born? Mad City, Wisconsin

Why did you come up to Alaska? Because marijuana was legal.

Who are 3 people you would invite to dinner (living or dead)? Hoyt Axton, Barbra Striesand & the Green Bay Packers

Whats your favorite TV show? my fish tank

Who would play you in a movie? Candace Bergen

Whats the oddest item in your refridgerator? hot pickles

Whats your secret? can't remember

Your favorite quote? I know the early bird gets the worm but what about the early worm?

Dinner Plate Dahlia

are one of my favorite flowers. Livingstone Daisys & Sunflowers are right up there on my favorite " annual " list. Perrenials are my all time favorite as they come back every year out of the ground. Notice we use pots on gravel as landscaping around here. We do not kid ourselves.

Listening to WWR and the rain pouring down on the tin roof. Its depressing as its not a spring rain. Alaska had temps warmer than 45 of the lower 48 states today. Does this mean I can grow oranges now?

Old Faithfuls

What a great picture of the FishTaxi's home can sealer and the American ingenuity of it all. Its electric, not a hand cranker, which takes 7 cranks per can. I have one as a back up or if I'm somewhere with no electricity.

The history of canning salmon goes way back. The wild days of fishing, at this time, are few and far between. More now since the USA/Canada Dispute over whose fish was whose was fought and we all lost.

I think off-shore (4-mile limit) pirateers are snagging the fish. For a million years nobody knew where the salmon went. All they knew was they came back every year up the same river. And I hear there are giant squids out there.

A King Salmon is gone for 5 years. A Sockeye is gone for 4 years. When the CRRs (Copper River RED sockeyes) come back they are the first wild run of fresh salmon to the markets of the world somewhere around May 15th.
What the commercial gillnetters fishing the mouth of the Copper River get is prime and the price is worth it. Where ever you are.

The coolest thing

happened to the FishTaxi last night. I get home from work about 7:10pm. Instead of my usual 10:10pm. First thing I do is log on and get Whole Wheat Radio going. Then I put the wax mop I brought home from work in the washing machine. I get a Hamms beer from outside on the porch and settle in and take my money makers off.

When all of a sudden JimBob & Esther start talking about my blog! On Whole Wheat Radio! Esther read the Maid in Alaska entry on the air and laughed her great laugh. JimBob read part of the Pennies from Heaven entry. How cool is that?

What they liked about my blog was the pictures and that its written like a real person with no agenda.

JimBob cracked me up when Esther Golton read the "On a three hour tour. Come along for the ride." He started singing the Gilligan's Island theme song. He got my drift!

Later on in the chat, where listeners of Whole Wheat Radio can go and request songs, draw in the drawing room and socialize in real time. All the while listening to WWR on the internet. You can also leave wheat grams that play on the air after the song. I just heard the one I called in on New years eve 2005. No surprise I sang the Hamms beer commercial diddy.

Tune in!

Maid in Alaska

Working 40 hours a week (cleaning a small college) has taken its toll on cleaning my own damn house. I spent all day Saturday trying to whip this place into shape. Then we had a deepfry party last night. I deep fried venison strips, french fries and salmon fritters. Green bean casserole & my famous tarter sauce on the side. And lots of Hamms beer and dirty martinis. It was fun and I love deepfrying for friends. We'll have to do it again soon.

Took my old computer over to my little buddy Dale's house for his new own room today. We decided it was an old piece of crap (wouldn't even take the Norton anti-virus) so next weekend we are taking it and their other old computer out to the firing range and shooting them to pieces. Told his dad to buy him a new Dell.

The next two weeks I work from 10am-7pm. It will be nice to get off 3 hours earlier for some evening time. I have a lot of special deep cleaning projects planned for this time while school is out. First on my list is stripping & waxing the bathroom floors. They look like crap right now. The custodian before me waxed over the dirt and scruff marks. yup, he was a man. heehee

Dream House

Isn't it charming? The second floor balcony would have a view of Valdez Bay. You can see the water standing on our roof now. Once you get above the alders or snowbanks.

There won't be a window that you'll look out of that you won't see a mountain.

Our plan is to put the foundation in this summer. Pay cash for that, then later on, get a construction loan and build it ourselves.

We live in the shop now. Started out bare bones on an acre of land living in a cabover camper. It was the 4th of July week-end 1990. We bought the property from the original homesteader. We worked for him at his gold mine at the time.

First thing we built was an outhouse. Then our Rockett dogs house. Before that first winter we purchased a 33ft trailer and added a 12x18 wannigan. Since then I've moved my kitchen 3 times as we got rid of the trailer and built additions. For 5 years we lived off the grid. Then electricity came down the street. Along with it lots of neighbors. But it was worth it. The outhouse days and hauling water were over.

The beauty of our little place now is that we own it. Other than that its a shack and I'm ready to start building my dream house.

Snowmen

Its raining. Theres big chunky ice ponds everywhere. Its like break-up without the zeal of spring thaw. My new sled makes a great boat. It floats!

Got my picture taken today to put on the wall. I joked with the media guy and asked if he could give me blue eyes. Then I asked if he could get rid of my double chin. And went so far to even ask for a skin touch up. Next thing you know I looked pretty good. I love Photoshop!

He's going to email it to me so I'll have a good picture of me. Plus, I'm going to start scanning my old pictures at work and emailing them to myself. I thought this was a great idea for a fun carefree winter project.

From the Land of Sky Blue Waters

My little Sistor kitty cat loves to tear up in our empty halfrack boxes. Which there are plenty of believe me. In the summer I burn the evidence but in the winter I let them pile up for a while. Until I am flabbergasted and start looking for a BIG box. And take that to the city baler (dump).

We spend over $3000 a year on beer. ANd Hamms is cheap at $7.49 a halfrack. Obviously, we like it. Imagine if our tastes were Anchor Steam or St. Pauli Girl. Which I do like if someone else is buying. I'm a beer drinking woman, what can I say. The local club bar started carrying Hamms because of me. No, that isn't true. But there was enough of us that it was a sharp business move.

The guys gave me shit at work today. Told me they didn't get my message and thought I was there all day. They were pulling my pigtails:)

Makin' Snowballs

Well, we are out of the deep freeze, finally!! It warmed up and snowed about 18". Yeah!

The FishTaxi played hookie today. Called in sick and went back to sleep for 3 more hours. Got up about 3 this afternoon and looked outside. whoa nellie!

The plow guy showed up about 5 and I still hadn't swept the snow off my truck or started it. He's a smooth operator and politely went around it.

Pulled my leg warmers on & went out and shoveled the walkway and cleared the snow off my truck.

That was enough adventure for me today. I came back inside and researched my investments. I have a 401a plan at work that I needed to study. Perfect day to dream of my retirement.

ANd the best news is we have ALL the venison processed and in the freezer. Finished packaging the sausage tonight! We had some for dinner and it turned out good. A bit mild for my tastes but I can always add hot stuff to my plate.

Hope all is well in your part of the world!

'oil is for sissies'

There are wild & crazy people up here in Alaska. Some of them put studs in their tires and ride bikes all winter on the snow & ice. Up in Alaska 's blog tells all about it with great pictures to prove it. The link to 'oil is for sissies' blog is on her site.

The second bike below is what I like to ride in the summer! Except mine will have a tractor seat.

Snow Flakes

The inside of a fern

I had this pic as my desktop for a while. Its a whacked off top of a huge fern on the Gold Creek Trail. We were bushwacking with a machete back when I had a digital camera. I have a cache hidden out there. Its a mountainside old goat trail that goes all the way to Shoup. 7 and half miles round trip from the trailhead to the bridge. Another 1/2 mile to the beach. If you want to hike all the way to Shoup Glacier on the Gold Creek Trail its a 20 mile round trip. I understand there are Forest Service cabins you can stay in out there reservations only.

The FishTaxi doesn't do reservations.

Employee of the Month

Thats right, folks. The FishTaxi was voted Employee of the Month for November. I get to work today and I'm doing my normal rountine which is water the plants. Then I clean the bathrooms. I do the womens first and then the mens. I'm standing at my cart when the President of the college comes up and announces the shocking news. He hands me a desk plaque that says "Employee of the Month" and I proudly displayed it on my cart. (I don't have a desk)

The perks are(you guessed it) an "employee of the month" parking spot right out front (which I won't use as I park by the light pole), my name engraved on a plaque on the wall with the other recipients and my picture taken to be displayed for the month.

I took it graciously with a smile and a few barbs. While I was in the maintenance shop the forman told the rest of crew the news and they clapped and one said the customary "speech, speech."

I replied, after gushing, "I am honored to clean your toilets".

Everybody cracked up and went back to work.

Deer Heart. wish you were here...

The deer hunters returned safe & sound from Prince William Sound last night with 28 deer on board the Double Trouble. With 6 guys and the limit being 5 each they did very well. (My hunter got his 5.)

This pic on the right is from a few years ago but the scene around here will be basically the same. For the next few days we will be skinning, butchering and grinding. The FishTaxi's freezer will be full of neatly wrapped & labeled venison backstrap, steaks, roasts, burger and sausage. And heart.

Northern Nights

If it wasn't so cold outside, I'd go out again and look up to see, if the Northern Lights are out. Perfect conditions for them. Clear, dark and cold. Hopefully someone will call me if they are. Thats what we do up here.

Before we had indoor plumbing I was always the one spotting them and calling everybody. Now, I admit, I am on the receiving end of those late night phone calls.

Bear Bread Stump

My first geocache that I hid. It was also the first geocache hidden in Valdez. Now there is over forty.

If you want to find out if there are any geocaches in your area go to "hide or seek" a cache. Punch in your zip code and see what comes up.

Geocaching is the sport where you are the search engine. Lots of fun for the young and the young at heart.

Check it out and see you at the next waypoint!

Going to Girdwood

Captain Cook would be appalled at this map. Searching for the Inside Passage the Resolution turned into Cook Inlet then turned again into Turnagin Arm. Another dead end.

I am fascinated with Captain Cook. Not because of the mutiny or his demise on the Hawaiian Islands. Its the fact that he named Prince William Sound. The navigator for that trip was Bligh whom Bligh Reef was named after. A chartered rock that the Exxon Valdez ran into over 200 years later.

My comments sure have gone down since I changed the url to FishTaxi instead of my name.

And working 40 hrs a week has interrupted my computer time considerably. But I was sure happy with my paycheck today.

Happy Turkey day to all, and to all a good light!

Who is Joey Chestnut?

From a hamburger today.

Love those guys blog. Its like taking a trip and never leaving the farm. They live in New York City and go around town to all the hamburger joints. Taking pictures, giving reviews and anything to do with hamburgers like this:

Kobayashi Wins the Krystal Square Off

Entry by Matty | November 21, 2005 | Link |

Are you surprised? No, not that we actually posted, but that Takeru Kobayashi won yet another competitive eating competition. According to the official report, it seems that Kobayashi was actually behind the majority of the time. Impressive, young padawon.

Japan's Takeru Kobayashi consumed 67 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes to win the 2005 Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, TN.

To the amazement of the more than 2,000 fans gathered in Chattanooga for the event, San Jose's Joey Chestnut was in front of Kobayashi for the bulk of the contest. At one point Chestnut led by as many as 6 Krystals but finished 5 behind Kobayashi, losing ground in the final seconds of the Square Off.

Sonya Thomas finished third with 56 Krystals and Bob Shoudt took 4th with an impressive 51.

This year's square off offered a whopping $22,500 purse. Kobayashi took home the top prize of $10,000 cash, the Krystal World Champion's Belt, the champion's crystal trophy and the title of Krystal Square Off World Hamburger-Eating Champion.

For American eating fans, however, the story was 21-year old Joey Chestnut. He is the first eater to ever lead Kobayashi through a contest and to be well within range to beat him.

Who are you, Joey Chestnut? According to his IFOCE official profile, he is a rookie this year who has come on strong. In fact, he placed third in the annual Nathan's Hot Dog-Eating Contest. I'm impressed.

Oh, and I completely realize that photo of Kobayashi is freaky and not from this competition. You must admit though, that it is better than the played out "I'm-holding-a-gargantuan-fake-check photo". If you want that, IFOCE has it.

New sled once in a while

Its a cross between these two sleds shown. A long black plastic toboggon! Works great for taking the trash out to the dumpster at work. Not only does pulling those bags of trash on a sled, make it easier, work can be fun. I know my back appreciates my new sled.

Found these sleds looking for a pic of my new sled since no new digital camera yet...

I am very happy with my new plastic sled. Cost $17.99 and the workplace paid for it out of petty cash. Scoped it out yesterday and twas exactly what I wanted. Got to work, got it approved and left to go get it. I believe in making your own conditions. Now I get to go sledding every night at work.

Top 3 Trooper Dispatches of the Last Week or so...

#3

Two Foreigners driving a Chevy Trailblazer.

-------------------------------------------------
Location: Haines
Case number: 05-95467
Type: Motor Vehicle Collision
Text: On 11/17/05, at 0847 hours, AST received a report from
the Haines
Police Department in reference to a motor vehicle collision at
15 Mile
Haines Hwy.  Investigation revealed that on 11/17/05, at
approximately
0830 hours, Peter Kowatsch, age 35 of Austria, was traveling
north on
the Haines Hwy. in a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer when he
lost control of
his vehicle due to the icy conditions of the road.
The vehicle crossed
over the center line and exited the west side of the
road into the
ditch.  The vehicle then flipped over and landed
upside down in the
Chilkat River.  Kowatsch and his passenger Miho Yonemori,
age 22 of
Japan, were able to exit the vehicle and flag down a
passing motorist
for a ride to the Haines Medical Clinic.
Kowatsch and Yonemori were
treated for minor bumps and bruises and released.
Seat belts were
utilized and alcohol was not a contributing factor.
Author: CJU0
Received and posted Thursday, November 17, 2005 1:21 PM

********************************************

#2

An accident on Eek Street
-------------------------------------------------

Location: Palmer
Case number: 05-95170
Type: MVC-D, DWLR
Text: On 11-16-05, at approximately 0911 hours,
Troopers responded to
Eek St. near Finger Lake Elementary School, Palmer,
for the report of a
two vehicle collision.  Investigation revealed
Angela Marie Moehring,
age 29 of Wasilla, was driving a  1989 Chevrolet pickup
southbound on
Earl Dr. when she lost control of the vehicle on the ice
and struck a
1998 Subaru station wagon, driven eastbound on Eek St.
by Jessica Jean
Gipson, age 34 of Palmer.   Gipson's vehicle received
approximately
$800.00 in damages while Moehring's vehicle was not damaged.
All
occupants reported they were wearing their seat belts
and were not
injured.  Further investigation revealed Moehring was
Driving While
License Revoked (original charge of DUI) and was issued
a summons to
appear in court.  Moehring was issued a citation for Basic
Speed;
Reasonable and Prudent for Road Conditions.
Author: HAP0
Received and posted Thursday, November 17, 2005 12:58 PM

******************************************************************

And the #1 Trooper Dispatch of the last week or so....!!!

This one is funny cos nothing was hurt but a light pole and only $2000 damage to her Ford p-u. Why did she take it out of 4wd in the first place is what I want to know.

Location: Palmer
Case number: 05-94021
Type:  MVC-D
Text: On 11-11-05, at approximately 0940 hours, Troopers
responded to a
report of a motor vehicle collision between a pickup and a
light pole at
mile 33.6 Glenn Highway in Palmer. Investigation revealed
Linda
Goentzel, age 54 of Palmer, was driving her 1997 Ford pickup
south bound
on the Glenn Highway when she shifted her vehicle out of
four-wheel
drive and started sliding on ice. Her vehicle slid off the
roadway and
sheared off a highway light pole before stopping in the ditch.
Goentzel
was wearing her seat belt and was not injured. Damage to the
vehicle was
estimated at $2000.
Author: URIF0
Received and posted Friday, November 11, 2005 3:17 PM

*********************************

Rakers Club

A few years back we started the Rakers Club. Composed of a group of friends that actually like to rake. The only guy member, Jake, pressure washes his yard. We let him in the club because his yard is so clean!

Pillow Talking

Nothing like a big pillow when you need one.

Pennies from Heaven

The picture is of pennies from heaven from a few years back that I took. But, this is how it looked tonight. My cool Chevy is on the left. Notice that we use snow brooms around here. We don't mess around when it comes to snow. Always reminds me of Dr. Suess's "The Cat in the Hat". In the book, by the time mom comes home, the long path is shoveled neatly. Thats what the FishTaxi's town looks like after plowing, blowing and shoveling.

Why do we call them pennies? From all the money you can make plowing, blowing & shoveling. To spend on snow boards, snow machines and gas to head for the mountains to play in the snow. yippppeeee!

I hope we get 50 ft this year.

Fish Carver

Have you ever wanted to learn how to carve fish? This guy shows you how.

I found this off of another one of my daily stops. J-Walks blog .

I need a digital camera. Looking to spend around $300. (Merry Christmas to me!) My old digital that went kaput was an Olympus I got off of ebay for $99.00. Came from a pawn shop and had pictures on the memory card of said pawn shop. Thats how I knew. It was weird.

I like Olympus but am open to suggestions. I'd like a good zoom camera. A must for taking pictures of bears!

Full Moon Arisin'

Its all about the moon in the winter in Alaska.

Thought I blew a rod in my truck tonight. I always think the worst. The racket it was making was heart wrenching. I was parked at work, came out to have a cig break and started it up like I always do. I immediately shut 'er down, sat there smoking and trying not to cry. If it was summer I could ride a bike to work while I was getting the engine rebuilt. My truck is 15 years old with a 146+ thousand miles. I settle down, decide I have to deal with it and go inside to call my mechanic husband. He's in the shower, all settled in, ready to watch Monday Night Football. So I left a message. "I think I blew a rod in my truck. Do you think I should drive it home?" When I called back about 15 minutes later he answered and said he would be down to look at it.

Turned out a rock had hit the fan and bent it. He fixed it enough that he felt I could drive it home. I did and I'm home safe. Happier than shit I bought a Chevy.

Go Packers!

Gawd, my Pack is doing terrible this year. I'm afraid to look and see if maybe they won today. I won't bet on it.

A Raider fan friend of mine died last week and yesterday was her wake. We all wore Raider shirts, hats or jackets in her honor. It was a Northern Exposure small town type wake where the whole town turned out. She was an Army veteran so she got full military honors along with being an Eagles auxilliary member. After all that, the real fun started, when everybody took turns standing up and telling funny stories about Conny Sue Kelsey. RIP Going to miss you friend.

The Seward DieWay

Gary Mogg and Tony Perea, right, of Alyeska Towing prepare to throw a hook into the wheel well of a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup awash in Turnagain Arm after an accident Friday afternoon at Mile 98 of the Seward Highway.

One dead, 20 injured in Seward Highway accidents

ICE: Two vehicles hit the water; troopers cite conditions, slippery road for wrecks.

By MEGAN HOLLAND
Anchorage Daily News

Published: November 12, 2005
Last Modified: November 12, 2005 at 03:50 AM

Twenty people have been hospitalized and one person has died in the last three days from accidents on a 60-mile stretch of the Seward Highway, Alaska State Troopers said.

Friday afternoon, a pickup careened off the highway near Bird Point and ended up partially submerged in the icy waters of Turnagain Arm. The night before, another vehicle skidded off a bridge and over a guardrail into 20 Mile River.

Girdwood troopers Sgt. William Welch, who polices the zone from McHugh Creek to Hope where the accidents have occurred, said people are driving too fast for the thin layer of ice on the highway.

"All of (the accidents) were caused by driving too fast for the road," he said.

The Seward Highway -- with its majestic views of Turnagain Arm -- is the only road south of Anchorage to Seward, Soldotna and Homer. Also regularly traveled by commuters in Girdwood, it is one of the most heavily trafficked roads in the state. But Welch says impatient drivers -- whether it's speeders in the summer or those not paying enough attention to icy, snowy conditions in the winter -- need to slow down.

Welch said early Friday evening he hasn't even had time to do all the paperwork on the recent spate of accidents because the calls keep coming in.

Friday afternoon, the third accident of the day on the highway was a dentist who lost control of her Chevy Avalanche at Mile 98 north of Bird Point. Jamie Chiang-McCasland, new to Seward from Texas, was driving to Anchorage about 2:30 p.m., according to a friend who was driving in another car.

Chiang-McCasland was driving about 55 mph in the far right lane of the four-lane straight stretch of road when she lost control, skated across the lanes, and veered off the highway. The Chevy bounced over the Alaska Railroad tracks, flipped, and landed in the snow topped waters of Turnagain Arm, troopers and a witness said.

"She just hit it and got sucked in and kept going," said friend Bobby Newnam, who watched the accident from the rearview mirror of his Saturn. "It scared the you know what out of me."

Chiang-McCasland wore her seat belt and was not injured. She was able to crawl out of the pickup as it began to sink into the arm, Newnam said. The vehicle's horn sounded, with its lights on, as the water rushed in, he said.

"The angels had her," he said.

An hour after the accident, only the pickup's roof was visible. A tow truck was preparing to pull it out of the water. Because the pickup rolled over the railroad tracks, Alaska Railroad authorities stopped all trains until the tracks could be inspected for damage, said Dana Massey, contract security officer with the railroad.

Less than 24 hours before Chiang-McCasland's accident, two people in a Dodge Durango soared off the bridge and plunged into the dark, frigid water of 20 Mile River Thursday night. Welch said the two occupants, who suffered hypothermia, were taken to a hospital, and released.

"I think the ice cushioned their fall so they could get out," said Gary Mogg, the Girdwood-based owner of Alyeska Towing and Repair, which retrieved the truck. "Everything must have been working right for them."

Jared "Jet" Kuhnley, a driver with the towing company, said he had to fish for the vehicle with a hook from the bridge, because it was completely submerged and invisible. Once he and Mogg got the grapple attached, they hoisted it to the surface and managed to drag it sideways to the bank, Mogg said.

Kuhnley said he's been doing his job for 10 years, and he always seems to be busier when snow first starts to fall.

Chiang-McCasland's Friday accident was within sight of where 31-year-old Barbara Osborn of Kenai died Wednesday afternoon in a two-vehicle wreck. Osborn's 2005 Ford Focus swerved into the oncoming lane on the icy road and into a Plymouth van occupied by an adult driver and five children. The driver, Jamie Bordelon, and the children were injured and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Welch said the accidents began to mount Wednesday when low temperatures and precipitation created a layer of icy wrap over the roads -- nearly invisible to the eye but treacherous.

"People need to slow down, monitor their speed and adjust their speed for the roads," Welch said.

---

Daily News reporter Megan Holland can be reached at mrholland@adn.com.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day, 2005

November 11, 2005

America Gives Thanks to Freedom's Defenders
A Message from Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson

Today is Veterans Day.

President George Washington said after the Revolutionary War that “we owe these veterans a debt of gratitude, indeed a debt of honor.” President Lincoln said during his second Inaugural Address that we must “care for him who has borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan."

So, as our nation pauses today to pay tribute to the 50 million veterans – the men and women who have served our country in uniform throughout its history – we do so with gratitude and honor. More than one million of these heroes made the ultimate sacrifice, and 1.5 million more have borne the wounds of battle in the defense of liberty. On this day, Veterans Day, America rightly focuses its thanks for our valiant defenders.

In many ways, this single day isn't adequate to express our feelings for our veterans. There just aren't enough hours in one day to properly show our appreciation to the millions of veterans and their families to whom we owe Washington's “debt of gratitude.”

It is a debt that has accrued since the founding of our Republic. For more than two centuries, heroes have defended America with courage and determination. They were the 18th century patriots who stood against a tyrannical monarchy and breathed life into a fledgling democracy; they are the men and women of the military who, today, are bringing the promise of liberty to oppressed people around the world, and preserving it at home.

Veterans come from all walks of life. They come from cities large and small, from towns, villages, and farms. They are native-born and foreign-born, and represent all the world's races and religions. Yet they share a common bond forged from putting their own lives on hold, swearing an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, putting on the uniform of the United States, saluting the drill sergeants, and going wherever sent and to do whatever asked. These common men and women have done uncommon deeds and, in doing so, secured for all of us the blessings of liberty and our wonderful way of life.

Another way that America tangibly shows its thanks to veterans is through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I want our newest generation of patriots – our veterans of the Global War on Terror – to know that the VA is moving robustly t o assist them as they return from Iraq, Afghanistan and any other duty station where they are serving.

VA has stationed staff on military installations to assist them in their transition from servicemember to veteran, and has initiated new jobs programs for these returning combat veterans. They and their families can count on VA for health care, disability compensation, home loan assistance, educational benefits and more. They have earned it. They deserve our best and they will receive it.

As we commemorate this Veterans Day, it is fitting to reflect on the sacrifices made by our veterans and by their families. Whether we honor this service with grand parades or a simple handshake accompanied by a quiet “thank you,” these heartfelt gestures let our fighting men and women know we have not forgotten those who answered the call to duty.

Wars have beginnings and endings, but our duty to care for those who fought them must never end.

More here on Veterans Day.

The FishTaxi has the day off and has nothing more planned than attending the opening of Arthur Millers "The Crucible" put on by PWSCC tonight.

Whatever you are doing today take sometime to remember our fallen Veterans and those still on the front lines. A lot of what we all enjoy today would not be if it wasn't for their sacrifices.

Jiminey Crickets

I pulled this picture off of one of my daily internet stops.

These guys are a serious bunch.

Equestrian Moose

This picture appeared in Friday's Anchorage Daily News . What a great shot! I nominate it as Alaskan Photo of the Year!

Hair

I've been wearing a bandana every day again. Once you start wearing them they become part of your head. You feel naked without one. I'm trying to kick the habit but I don't know what else to do with my hair. I clean Bradley Basins so those of you whom have ever done that know what I'm talking about. You don't want your hair flinging out.

I was in the Air Farce back at the tail end of the Vietnam Conflict. I had to wear a beret while in uniform. When I was getting out I wanted to grow my hair long again. Regulation was shoulder length and no barrettes that were not the same color as your hair. Impossible with my color hair so I bought a wig. At the time Afros were in and that wasn't me. In a Klamath Falls wig shop I found a frosted, short shag curly wig. I bought it and pinned my beret to it. Put my uniform on, my wig/hat on and I was in formation. Ten hut!

How does one get dreadlocks? My hair is perfect for dreadlocks.

Come On Snow

I'm not quite ready for you yet snow and I never am. Somehow I just deal with you, snow.

I am so glad October is over. Done! Good-bye! See you next year.

Found out today I don't get Veterans Day off, so I'll have to let them know I do not work Veterans Day. This is America people and Veterans Day is an important day. A day set aside for all Americans to honor their fallen veterans. It falls on a Friday this year (banks will be closed) so it will be a 3 day week-end. Not sure yet what the FishTaxi crew is gonna do...