Northern Noise

It's the start of a 3 day weekend, in recognition of Labor Day.  Contrary to how things seem to go at our house over this traditional weekend, it's not the designated weekend to finish house chores before snow flies.   Labor Day is actually a day to recognize organized labor - unions for those of you who avoid euphemisms - and the importance of workers and collective action to our nation.  According to History.com ( http://www.history.com/topics/labor-day )  "On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City , holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history." The late 1800's were (to put it mildly) a tough time for the average American, when capitalism and the rise of business barons meant that cheap labor in mills and factories was desirable - for everyone except the workers, who averaged 12 hour days and sometimes were as young as 5 or 6. PBS ( http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/jul

My mom is at her 50 year high school reunion.  Ali is a senior in high school.  I wonder what her world will be like 50 years from now? Since I graduated a mere 25 years ago, a few things have changed.  We can Skype like they did on The Jetsons with their video phones.  I can talk to a device and find a directions, a shoe store, and send myself a reminder to call and make a hair appointment, not to mention call my husband.  Fax machines, which I first experienced in 1990, are now an almost out of date technology.   I take classes where I never see the teacher.  I can't fly with my Leatherman in my pocket and I have to take off my shoes before I can get on a plane.  The Soviet Union is no longer our largest nuclear threat.  Video games look real and instead of a joystick to play asteroids, I bowl with my Wii controller.   There are no more variety shows on television, and it seems very little real entertainment; something called "reality shows" have taken over.  MTV mus

September reminds me That I used to move. I was young once and was able to transition with the seasons. Summer was a time for work the funding needed for school, long dark winters, and beer. Youth allowed me to work three jobs and still find time to play and wake up on random beaches in my sleeping bag under my truck. With autumn came classes and moving back north and once it meant heading off to parts unknown. Tuition money also pays for gas by the liter, and beer in Canada, eh. Youth allows for selfishness and expects do now, think later.  Especially when home is there, to come back to, after adventures are done and spring returns. And now I am seasoned. Fall means school for kids, stacking wood for winter, and Carhardt jackets. But within, something remembers. And leaves yellowing and blowing across my windshield awaken the urge to move, to go somewhere most anywhere except where I have to be. My days of migration are done. I stay here

It's a rainy weekend.  We didn't go camping in our new tent, and we didn't finish putting up the greenhouse/shed.  We did get in some really good naps, some house cleaning, and a couple episodes of Eureka.  I guess that's a good weekend. The colors outside in the stormy weather look amazing.  I know that Alaska doesn't have the fall colors of New England and places, but the underbrush behind the studio has turned red.  The fireweed leaves are burning orange and the yellow leaves provide pops of color in the dull green of the canopy. The wind is moving everything, which makes outside feel alive.  If it were still, I think the rain would be depressing and grey.  The air swishing under the awning on the porch swing, the tinkling of the wind chimes, the leaves and noise all provide a burst of energy on what could be a doldrum kind of day. Driving home this morning, Bob commented that if we moved to the Oregon Coast, we would have a lot of grey, windy, rainy days l

First week of school is down.  For not being in the classroom, I'm totally exhausted.  Thank goodness for pajamas and a martini.  It's 5:00 somewhere, yes?? I'm also thankful for Fend For Yourself Fridays and the fact my son can cook for himself. ahhhhh

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I love fall.  Right now it's unseasonably warm in Fairbanks, but it still seems fallish.  We had folks over the other night for a cookout.  Evening started off warm and sunny and ended with us pulling out the fleece and Carhardts.  That's how a fall evening should end up.  I love it! Camping in the fall is the best.  Warm during the day, cool in the evening, and then when you wake up you can see your breath and feel the crisp air and know you're alive and life is good.  I always have loved moose hunting season, and still miss it after all these years. We just ordered a brand new tent.  The last one was purchased in 1997 and has seen some hard times with the kids and dogs.  This one is a family tent, but should get us easily through 3 seasons.  Our plan is to head north next weekend.  Bob wants to get as far as Atigun Pass, but I'm not sure we'll get there.  Atigun Pass had a blizzard warning last week, with 4-6 inches of snow expected.  Might be a little chilly

This year my son starts 4th grade. It seems like a big leap to me.  From primary grades to intermediate grades.  He gets to go on the big kids' playground at school. My fourth grade teacher was Iona Banks.  I always meant to go find her and tell her what an influence she had been on me, but I didn't do it before she passed away. In fourth grade I felt like I could do anything.  I loved to learn and somehow Mrs. Banks encouraged me to learn as much as I could about everything,  That was the year I grew mold in my room, and asked for a microscope so I could study things scientifically.  I remember going around the house and finding things to put under the microscope to study. I also learned about airplanes.  I remember sitting out in the hallway reading books and writing reports on military airplanes.  My interest may have been sparked by Tim Brandenburg, who was the cute curly-haired boy I crushed on, but I learned that I could read books - hard books - and learn on my own