Elise Sereni Patkotak

As termination dust creeps down the mountains, I have to once again ponder that most puzzling of all Anchorage questions…What is it about drivers here that causes them to think that each new snowfall may finally be THAT snowfall. You know, the one where the snow is sticky instead of slick so they can speed up, slam on the breaks, take curves on two wheels and tailgate so closely they could reach out and change your radio channel for you, without any danger.

As each winter begins, drivers seemingly have to learn to drive in snowy, icy conditions all over

The two hikers freed from Iran recently said that every time they complained about their treatment, they were told about conditions as Guantanamo Bay as the reason it was OK to treat them badly. If the US was doing it to prisoners, then Iran could too.

What a sad, sad commentary on how far we have fallen in the world. Iran can now use the way we treat prisoners to justify how badly they treat them.

The mornings are colder and the flowers that still bravely face the day in front of my house are looking less and less enthused about life. Soon they will droop with snow and I’ll have to admit that they probably aren’t going to bloom anymore. Bummer.

… that this is just the dress rehearsal for my life and when I get to the real performance I’ll do much better? And be much thinner?

I know you are reading this as you pack up to leave Dutch Harbor for San Diego today. And I just want you to know that I will buy you the biggest latte possible when you get in tonight to celebrate just how amazing you still are despite the number of times you’ve celebrated birthdays. I want to say that you should remember it’s not how old you are but how old you feel, only somehow I’m guessing it’s not the time to be saying that right now. Maybe AFTER you come back from Hawaii.

I saw a notice in bold print on my water bill that said if your bill was less than $2 to please defer payment until next month. I’d also like to add to that notice… please do not sit next to me, near me or walk by me until your water bill has dramatically risen.

Isn’t it funny that when Obama proposes to tax the rich, it’s called class warfare. But 400 families in America controlling 50% of America’s wealth isn’t.

For those who bothered to watch last week’s debate among Republican presidential contenders, there was a moment that seemed to define what is happening in America and its political life today. It was the moment Ron Paul was asked a hypothetical question about health care. “What do you tell a guy who is sick, goes into a coma and doesn’t have health insurance? Who pays for his coverage? Are you saying society should just let him die?” Wolf Blitzer asked, to which several audience members enthusiastically yelled, “Yeah!” while some in the audience cheered. This followed immediately upon the previous

I have three water bowls tastefully strewn about the house so Blondie never has to go but a few steps to get a drink. And even if they were for some reason empty, experience has unfortunately shown me that she will happily dip her head in the toilet bowl and drink as though it were the nectar of the gods. So why… WHY… does she go out for her walk with me and stop at every dirty puddle with a greasy film and god knows what at the bottom and lap it up as though she’d been in the Sahara