Columns 2017

It’s treason… plain and simple treason

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Am I the only one who wonders just how far the Republican Party is willing to go in selling out America so it can remain in power? Am I the only one disgusted by the total silence emanating from that party’s leaders over the actions of the current occupant of the White House and his family?

Remember how many hearings they held over Hillary’s emails and what they considered her mishandling of Benghazi? Despite the fact that exhaustive examinations of both issues by a variety of panels found no indictable offense, they kept holding hearings trying to smear her. They Continue reading →

Scribblings

Ah senility

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Things you hate to see your dog do… I have a ramp in front of one of my couch chairs because Carm can no longer jump up on the couch. The other day, my friend wanted to sit in that chair so she pushed the ramp off to the side so that it no longer was even near the couch. Carm promptly climbed up it, got to the top and was totally stunned to not find a chair there. He just stood there looking around as though he was trying to figure out what had happened. He never did figure Continue reading →

Scribblings

So if Hillary…

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

So if Hillary sent Chelsea to meet with Russians to get dirt on Trump, the Republicans want me to believe that they would have been absolutely silent about it and not demanded that she be immediately impeached and sent to jail. Yeah. Right.

How much of America are Republicans willing to destroy to get their way? Seems like they have no bounds on how far they will go in ignoring basic decency and morals in order to have power. Sad. Continue reading →

Columns 2017

Alaska

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

My first summer visitors arrived last weekend. They arrived amidst the rain and clouds that have defined the summer in Southcentral so far. Of course, we’ve had our occasional sunny days. But they have been far outweighed by cool temps and rain since the beginning of June.

I realize that this weather is a bummer for many Alaskans who view the summer as their chance to squeeze six months of outdoor fun into two months of possible sunshine and above freezing weather. My heart goes out to them as they attempt to grill in a downpour, fish in weather making Continue reading →

Scribblings

Amusing yourself, Alaska style

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

To amuse yourself Alaska style, take your summer guests to the Independence Mine at Hatcher’s Pass. But to do so, don’t use the paved road out of Palmer. No, use the unpaved, dirt and gravel road with no side rails to protect from the fall down the side of the mountain when you have to squeeze past another car that you get from driving there via the road that starts at Willow. The drive up to the Pass will make them get very, very quiet. And the look of joy on their faces when they see a paved road out Continue reading →

Columns 2017

Social workers need support services available for families if we are to impact the problem

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Have you noticed the pattern yet? Every two to three years another report is released about the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) that loudly proclaims that the system designed to protect Alaska’s most vulnerable population is failing it. Children fall through the cracks. Children languish in foster care. Children are placed in foster homes where the horrors are worse than the homes from which they were removed. The list goes on and on.

Every time this report comes out… and let’s be real here, it’s the same report each time with just a different date and slightly worse statistics… the Continue reading →

Scribblings

I’m about to go all “old lady” on you

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

OK, I’m done. I’ve had it. Please, oh please, no more celebrities wearing see through dresses, bikinis that look to split their asses in half, side boob shots that are just sad and those stupid dresses where the sheer part goes all the way down but the real dress only goes to the knees. And I don’t need someone’s boobs pushing through a see through top. Make it all stop. For the love of god, leave something for the imagination. If I never see a celebrity ass again, it will be too soon. Continue reading →