Columns 2017

That for which I am grateful

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

My tires were at Johnson’s Tires when they unexpectedly closed down. Despite extensive searching, they were never found. So I guess that old saying of mine still is true – if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. But rather than letting this get me down, I’ve decided to look for that proverbial pony in the pile of manure. And I’ve found many.

I have to start off with Northrim Bank and their staff who probably never took Tires 101 when they were in Bank College. They tried so hard to help and were always so Continue reading →

Scribblings

Why is anyone surprised?

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Gee, Democrats as well as Republican men both abuse, assault and sexually harass women. Who would have guessed?

Well, anyone who has lived in the real world would have guessed. In case you haven’t noticed, harassment comes from all sides if you are a woman. Men have felt protected from any blow back because of that secret old boys’ network where you are never called into account for your personal actions.

If these revelations continue, we may end up with no men left in power. Wait a minute. Let me revel in that thought for just a moment…  ok, I’m Continue reading →

Scribblings

Really?

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Members of the administration of the person currently sullying the White House have privately expressed that he is an idiot… dumber than a kindergartner with the ego of a Hemingway. Yet they continue to work for him and legitimize his presidency while putting America’s values, world leadership and basic decency on the back burner.

Now that’s the way to honor America. Continue reading →

Scribblings

Really, Alabama Christians?

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

You still support Roy Moore based on…? What? That Mary was young when she had Jesus? Yeah, and Joseph was older but he also NEVER touched her if you truly believe in the virgin birth and that they did not have more children. That in one case, the teen’s mom knew and didn’t object? Creepy.  That it doesn’t matter what he does so long as he says the right things? Do as I say not as I do? Really?

The Christian Right has about the same credibility in the country now as Milli Vanilli does.

What’s the worse is that Continue reading →

Columns 2017

Tribal governments to take over children’s social services cases – good or bad?

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Governor Walker recently decided to recognize the right of tribal governments to handle tribal children’s abuse and neglect cases. When I read this, part of me wanted to cheer. And part of me didn’t.

I spent a good part of my life involved in social services. I know the system as a social worker, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) with the court system and as a court visitor investigating cases involving vulnerable adults. I lived in an Inupiat community for 28 years while doing this work.

I understand the feeling that outside social service agencies are way too fast to Continue reading →

Scribblings

Would someone please explain separation of powers to him?

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Since the current person sullying the White House apparently never learned anything about our Constitution or the concept of separation of powers, would someone please try to explain to him… in very small words with lots of pictures… that the judicial system is not beholden to the executive branch here in America. He’s thinking of his dream country… Russia. Continue reading →

Scribblings

Never use rover.com for your pet sitting needs

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

DON’T TRUST OR USE ROVER.COM. AND FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR PETS, STAY AWAY FROM A HOUSE SITTER NAMED BROOK WHO WORKS FOR THEM.
Just fair warning to anyone planning on ever using a service called rover.com for pet sitting while they are out of town… DON’T! Unless you luck out and get a good sitter, this service will not help you out at all. The sitter I got from them (named Brook here in Anchorage and you should avoid her like the plague if you love your animals) left my animals with no food or water or didn’t give Continue reading →

Columns 2017

Would we have the strength

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

Sometimes we spend an inordinate amount of time in America gazing at our navels without really paying attention to the rest of the world. It’s not that we don’t have our own tragedies = Las Vegas will remain with us for a long, long time. But we sometimes don’t do much more than take a passing glance at the horrors happening in other parts of the world.

In many ways that makes sense. What touches us directly is always going to have more of an impact than something that touches people far away with strange names, strange customs and strange Continue reading →

Columns 2017

Seven years of bitching and they still didn’t think about coming up with a good replacement

Posted on by Elise Patkotak

So we are once again caught up in a health care debate that will probably end as badly as every attempt by Republicans to repeal Obamacare. And I once again have to wonder how Republicans could have spent the past seven years attempting to repeal it without ever thinking of what comes next. How could they spend seven years screaming like stuck pigs over this health care law and forget to come up with a decent replacement plan?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not perfect; far from it. Premiums can be so high that families opt to pay the Continue reading →