Wow! Where did the summer go? Seems like just a few weeks ago I was gazing upon tundra flowers, spectacular wildlife, and the dusty roads of the North Slope of Alaska…. Then again, come to think of it, I was. When the weather on the slope changes it changes fast. I was last on the slope for a three week tour of duty. When I arrived there were ducks and swans on every pond. By the time I boarded my plane south, the landscape was a winter wonderland. Snow covered the grassy plain and the very ponds that only weeks before sported a new generation of waterfowl, were again iced over. In a three week period we went from what appeared to be sunny summer day’s too blowing, drifting snow with temperatures in the teens. It was a good time to head south, so I did.

Over the last few days I’ve been in Florida, and man, what a jam-packed few days it has been! On Saturday Terri, Bob and I joined a couple of new friends and headed for Daytona where we found Biketoberfest to be in full swing! Motorcycles of every shape and size were on display. We sat down just off Main Street for a well deserved coffee and watched everything from a giant trike with a V-8 to a tiny miniature chopper, to a rolling hamburger pass along in the perpetual parade that is Biketoberfest. The weather was sunny, mild and inviting. Gone was the heat of earlier visits as even Florida succumbs to the change in season. After a trip down Main Street we hit the River Walk, and then stopped over at Rossmeyers Destination Daytona before heading north to Lake City. We stopped along the way at a little Italian Restaurant chowing down before the 100 plus mile ride back. Exiting with full stomachs we soon realized the ride back would be made on back-roads, in the dark, sharing the road with armadillos, dear and the occasional drunk driver. The night was black and cold, but the trip was worth it. By the time we got to the house we were tired from the stress that comes from worry. It was good to roll into the garage.

Sunday Bob and I drove into Jacksonville and attended the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louise Rams. The contest went into overtime with an ultimate victory by the home town team. It was a great day and marked the first time I have ever attended an NFL game. If you have yet to experience a stadium with somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 thousand people all screaming at the same time, well I do recommend that you jump at the chance if the opportunity presents itself.

Yesterday most of the stumps in our yard were ground down to sawdust and what had been a giant pile of limbs and brush was reduced to mostly embers.  The yard is finally beginning to come together. Stump grinding is about the easiest and least expensive way I know of to clear a yard of the leftovers that dot the landscape after clearing a number of trees. Once cleared grass begins to fill in and soon the yard looks like… well, a yard.

Well the temperature is expected to be in the 60’s and 70’s today, so I think I will take advantage of the mild weather and do some work outside or ride… hmmm.

I’ve been in Kuparuk about ten days now and have noticed some major changes in this short time. When I arrived there were geese and ducks on every pond. The weather still felt warm and the place had the feel of summer. Then one day I drove out to the field and noticed only a few geese and ducks. It felt a little cooler and you could feel a change in the air. Today I spotted three ducks, no geese at all and Swans were everywhere. The Swans are the last to leave. I suspect it is because their young are so much larger. They are the last to develop flight feathers. Nearly all of the water fowl that fly south have done so. Kuparuk was a little less colorful today.

On the lighter side though, this has been a good week for wildlife. Aside from the usual caribou, a wolf ran right in front of me the other evening. The rather lanky yet muscular animal stopped on the side of the road and just stared at me. Large, grey and bushy it watched from a safe distance always the cagy one and eventually turned and loped away. A couple of days later I encountered a small group of Muskoxen feeding just off one of the drill sites. There were three adults and one youngster. As my truck approached, the little one ran to the side of its mother staying close to the giant, furry beast. I came across the same group two days later miles away.

For a few days it rained. It was a cold rain, the kind that every Alaskan knows. In the fall we always have rain, days and days of the cold icy stuff. This was that kind of rain, bitter cold with the threat of snow. Today however I awoke to clearer skies and sunshine. This evening after the sun descended the northern sky held a treat for anyone willing to look up. The Northern Lights, also known as the “Aurora” painted the night from horizon to horizon. It was a good shift.

In four wakeups I head home to Wasilla. Terri will be joining me there and we’ll spend some time home for a change. It’ll be good to see the kids and visit some of our usual haunts. One of the top things on my list is a pizza at Evangelos. We’re also visiting the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.

Now I gotta tell ‘ya, the Alaska Fair may not be the biggest, but I think it is the best. You see a fair is supposed to be a “local” thing. You know, seeing the neighbors’ children in Four-H proudly showing off the damn rooster that wakes you up at O-Dark Thirty. I always take a walk through the animal pavilion and invariably will see some folks I know.  You are also likely to run into friends along the midway. There are always politicians from all sides of the spectrum inviting others to join their cause and “As Seen on TV,” the famous “Sham Wow” is hawked by one of Vince’s twin brothers from inside his booth while the aroma or turkey legs waft through the venue. Yea, I’m looking forward to it.

The summer will have come to a close by the time I return in a couple of weeks. It is unlikely that even the swans will remain, but that marks the end of another life cycle. The arctic fox will grow their lovely white fur, the snow will return and soon after the ponds and yes, even the ocean itself will freeze solid as the arctic returns to winters icy grip. As for me, well I think I will join the birds, I to will fly south.

Summer is just speeding by on the North Slope as the wildlife new this spring grow to adulthood. Young geese and ducks will soon develop their flight feathers and stretch their wings to join their fellows on the migration south. No longer on shaky legs, Caribou calves leap across the tundra with added speed as they grow and young fox now out of their burros are learning the lessons of the north as they begin to hunt on their own. It's an exciting time and life is everywhere, much or it looking to eat the other. We have seen a lot of polar bears as or late with several sightings near the coast and this year we have seen a number of grizzly bears throughout the field. I spotted a seal hanging out at Oliktok point the other morning. His little head bobbed in the waves as he kept watch from a safe vantage point just off the breakwater. It was a great tour but I was glad to be off work when the time came. I was reminded that I neglected this Blog and my website over the last couple of weeks so I rectified that by posting some Biker poetry by Betsy E. Lister aka “Gypsypashn.”  You will find her work here. Also this being my first entry in the month of August I would be remiss in failing to mention that it is “Biker Poetry Month.” Readings are scheduled throughout the northeast and other areas to commemorate the event as we see the best riding days of the season. Speaking of such things… I think I will go for a putt. Later.

All good things must end and so it is with my time off. I’ve enjoyed a four week break from work, basking in the hot summer sun of Northern Florida, swimming in the Atlantic, visiting the Zoo, riding my motorcycle and getting a few things done around the house. I cut the grass, we got the roof repaired, and a number of little things that needed attention such as some plaster work and a swap out of a lighting fixture now rest comfortably behind us. One of the more important missions I was able to successfully accomplish was locating a source for soft ice-cream. It’s just a few miles away, maybe ten or so making it an excellent little destination ride on the motorcycle on a hot afternoon. Today a fine young gentleman is burning brush in the back yard thus eliminating what I am sure has developed into a rather prolific snake pit. I now have my haircut and am only in need of a shave. My beard has grown out nicely over the last several weeks, longer than I have seen it in three years. It feels good actually. On many occasions I have reflected on how happy I was to return to work but this is not one of those times.  I think I could retire at any time if the finances allowed, but that is not to be... yet.

This is my last day here. Tomorrow I fly back home to Alaska and work. I’ll do two weeks this tour, return to Florida for a couple then back up to Alaska for six. I will be spending my September break in Wasilla. Terri will join me around Labor Day weekend for Ryan’s marriage to Jen. Yes, Ryan our middle son will be married soon.  The timing is good as we will be able to visit the Alaska State Fair together. It’s hard to believe I am already thinking about fall. Seems the summer only just got started and fall is right around the corner. Of course it doesn’t hold the ominous foreboding as past falls. The weather in Florida while chilly will not produce snow and will actually allow me to ride pretty much throughout the winter months.

Lake City is proverbial “small town America.” Kids can still go to a barber for a haircut, you are likely to run into someone you know at the grocery store and there is a church on every street corner.  It’s been wonderful. Florida has more cattle per square mile than the state of Texas. That means there are a lot of beautiful fields with lush green windrows. The scenery here is comforting. Numerous two lane blacktop ribbons crisscross from county to county crossing bridges and passing old farm houses, many nested beneath old oak trees providing a canopy of cool air as you dash from shadow to shadow. The drawback is of course the blessing. It can get so hot that any work outdoors can quickly lead to heat stroke. That is a problem I will not face for long. Kuparuk is not known for its searing heat. One thing is for sure though; I don’t feel like going back to work. The time at home in Wasilla though, that I look forward to.

I am hopeful that this will be the day, the day my roof is at last repaired. Terri and I purchased a house in December as an investment.  It is new in that we are the first to move into it. The house sat for about a year before we discovered it. The main reason? Well, it was overpriced for today’s market.

Anytime you buy a new place there are likely to be a few problems, glitches that reflect the amount of sleep, attitude,  sex life... or rather lack of it, that any one of a number of subcontractors, carpenters and other craftsmen were facing on the day they fulfilled their obligation to the project. In the case of this house, the electrician was not wired for the job, the tile installer did not stick with it, the folks that demolished the house that formerly rested in this spot missed a few pieces, like a rather large portion of the foundation and the roofer’s work didn’t hold water. The roof became a major concern about the time we experienced biblical rains a few months ago. The ones that made the national news, you know, 18 inches in two weeks, flooding that sort of thing.

The water cascading into the living room became a wedge between us and the builder. I will say that a rather unprofessional response on the part of those dispatched to the site was the real problem, but a problem eventually overcome and now on the mend. One of the inconveniences in this sort of thing is that roofs need to be repaired while it is dry, you know… not raining. Now that we are at last on the same sheet of music as the contractor the rain has decided to suspend the timely repairs we had all wished for. So I find myself pretty much a prisoner of the weather as I await fair skies on a day to day, nay moment by moment basis. The chance of rain today? 60%. That means it is unlikely the roofer will call with good news.  So, here I sit.

I did get some swimming, riding and other important issues dealt with in my first week. My boots are at the shoe repair shop, the garden tractor blades are sharp and the engine tuned and while my normal computer will not recognize the connection we have provided for it, the backup appears to be on speaking terms with the router.

I must say though that I am enjoying the sounds of birds, the shadows cast by oak trees and the Spanish moss as  it waves in the breeze. The ominous clouds moving in from the North West will eventually block the sun from view and more than likely bring yet more precipitation, but for the moment it is nice. I think I will step outside away from this and enjoy it.

A friend of mine just lost someone close today and as he passed, I discovered that another person close to me will soon be a mother of a fine baby boy. It seems that every time someone dies all one needs to do is look at the births for the day to see the reality of life. Between the obituaries and the birth announcements we need only fill in the middle right? Well, it’s really not that simple. Between these two bookends of life is where the value is added. Anyone can write a book, but it takes a lot of effort to write a good one.

I morn the loss of my father a lot more than anyone really knows. Dad held the family together in a lot of ways. He was a great mentor, philosopher and all around scoundrel. There were a lot of reasons to think ill of the man. He was an alcoholic, he was a philanderer someone who in his time stretched the truth more than once, but he also loved his family. It was his strength that brought us to a new life in Alaska. It was his resourcefulness that put food on the table and a roof over our heads and in the end it was his dedication to helping others that made his life worth noting to more than just me.

Dad was all the things above but he also spent several nights helping others sweat out the nightmares of alcohol addiction. He helped establish the Alano Club in our community. He was generous when giving to others with a need. As a Real estate Broker it was said that he often gave up his commission to help families with their down payment. Yes, hard to believe that a person can be so complicated.

I know it is difficult to lose someone close, Lord knows when it happened to me the mix of emotions in our family were tumultuous. In the end however, if a tear is shed when someone passes, they left a mark.

Meanwhile we have new life to look forward to, just look in the birth announcements for the next exciting new chapter in the Book of Our Lives.

So, I’ve just got to ask, when did poker become a spectator sport? What is exciting about watching people play cards? Now admittedly I have played a hand or two of a number of card games, not the least of which would be solitaire, but to just watch other people play poker… well I have to admit I don’t know what anyone would see in doing that. On the rare occasion that I have accidently watched a few minutes of this new television phenomenon, I have been bored beyond tears. Then there is the commentary. “Well played…clap, clap, clap” Oh… wait a minute, there is no applause is there? I mean it’s not like they made a three point shot, a hat trick, a field goal, or completed a pass or made a touchdown.

I also would like to know if the stars of these shows have a fan base begging for autographs. Do ya think? Maybe?

Come on, who is actually watching this? I think the networks have bilked the casinos on this one. “I got a great idea… here at NBCD we have discovered that if your casino sponsors a running poker “championship” you can expect an increase in visitors to Los Vegas to the tune of 15% and, we are going to make you one heck of a deal… no pun intended. We will run your show in the middle of the night when those people most likely to play poker would be watching! Yes! This time spot is targeted at your demographic! All five people watching TV that time of night will probably watch poker rather than Andy Griffith reruns then head straight for the airport looking for a fist full of chips!”

The good news? At least someone has finally found a way to beat the house. The only losers are the casinos that sponsor this stuff and of course those of us looking for something on TV in the middle of the night. Well, that’s it for now, I think I’ll watch some Andy Griffith reruns… “Aunt Bee, Aunt Bee can I go fishin' with Gomer if I get my chores done?"

Now for anyone who may not be aware of it, I have a really good job. Yes, that is not something you often hear from folks these days. Usually it’s “...my job’s a hassle! My boss sucks! I am so underpaid I should quit this lousy slave camp!” Well it is everyone’s right to complain about their job, I think it’s in the Constitution, Bible or Koran somewhere. Lord knows I have done my share, but I won’t be doing that today. All in all I feel that I am doing something important. I get to do this in the most beautiful landscape on the planet surrounded by wildlife, beautiful sunsets and miraculous industry. What is done on Alaska’s North Slope in the oil fields is amazing. We keep the environment clean while supplying America with home grown fuel that powers the U.S. economy. I am paid a fair wage for what I do; I am housed, fed and even supplied with clothing, soap and a laundry facility. Yea, it’s pretty good. As I write this I sit in a semi-private room with my laptop connected to the world from a place that is so remote there is not even a grocery store that can be driven to within several hundred miles. Food is hauled in, delivered to the kitchen and prepared as well as you would expect in any restaurant. Cable TV is supplied to all rooms and house keeping changes out bedding once a week. Fresh towels are supplied daily as the trash cans are emptied and the rooms vacuumed. Yea, it’s good. The rub? Well, it ain’t home.

I suppose that is why we are paid well here. I and others eagerly await the day we board the Boeing Jet and head south. I sometimes transport incoming and outgoing employees to the plane. The difference in the two groups is stark. Incoming passengers are rather subdued. It’s as if they were on there way to prison. Those headed out however are joyous! Jokes, laughter and smiles are the order of the day!

My point in this? Oh, do I need one? I suppose I do. My point is this; I miss home every day. I miss my family, my wife and yes my dogs as well. I miss my bike, the local roads, my friends and the familiar places we call home. The weather? Well it can be good and it can be bad. All in all though it is relative to what you experienced yesterday. I have been happy to see 20 mile per our winds, at 30 below zero, because the day before there was no visibility the wind howled at 30 MPH and the temperature was minus 80.

Today I sit at my desk in my room watching my arms peel. I have rather hairy arms so when I sunburn it is fairly messy. You don’t want to see it. I got a monster sunburn while last in Florida so now it is time to watch the epidermal flake off as if I suffered some disease of consumption. I do this as my laundry runs in the washer. Mud from cleaning my patrol truck has shortened the wash interval this week, several times! Ah... I think it is time to do some folding! By for now...

I was asked to do another gig on "The Big Alaska Show" on KFQD 750 yesterday. I read "Use Discretion." Unfortunately I was rather tired from my first night back at work and had not slept so not only was I not entirely on the top of my game, I was sleepy as well. We got through the show though and I enjoyed it. Steve now has a new co-host. Karl LeRay a local biker active with HOG, ABATE and other motorcycle oriented efforts has joined the team. Jon Lang ran out of time running his business and being a family man.

I'll be in Kuparuk four weeks this time covering for another staff member who will be attending his daughters' graduation in Texas. In exchange I will be off four weeks through most of July! Now, that should be fun.

In either event, I will be glad to get off work. The last break really wasn't long enough and it rained constantly. But that isn't important now; I have to get through the next four weeks first!