Kalib at the beginning and end, Wasilla's Coffee Party in between, plus sled and snowmachine riders

Last night, I wrote that it was my intent to devote today's entry to the images I took of Kalib yesterday but did not post because I did the 12 studies on Jobe. I noted that one never knows what might come up but was pretty sure I would follow through.

Well, something did come up - nothing more important or more interesting than Kalib, mind you, but something that does have a bit of a time element to it, so I feel that I should put it up right now and hold the pictures of Kalib for a bit.

But I won't leave him out altogether.

When Margie and I came home last night, we brought Kalib with us. He checked out the tail of his old buddy, Royce. I wonder what he saw?  I doubt that Kalib has any idea of how much Royce has declined in the past few months, but maybe he notices something different.

I then spent a few hours here in my office, both working and goofing off on my computer, but finally I was worn out and so went back into the house. This is what I found. Margie and I then had a discussion as to whether we should push the coffee table next to the couch to make certain that Kalib would not roll off and then just let him sleep right here, or if I should carry him back to his old room and put him on the mattress that lies on the floor.

It was a cold night, well below zero and we had run completely out of firewood and were now warming the house with expensive electric heaters - including one that we had placed in Kalib's old room. It warmed it up quite nicely, so I carried him back and put him to bed.

By then it was 2:30 AM. Margie and I went to bed shortly after that, but we didn't go to sleep, because we had to keep double checking things to make certain that Kalib could rest undisturbed. We did not really settle down until well after 3:00 AM.

I had received an invite to a gathering Saturday morning at Metro Cafe at 10:00 AM. Even after I settle down, it usually takes me a good hour to go to sleep and then I wake up frequently, so I did not feel inclined to go to anything that started at 10:00 AM.

Worse yet, I came wide awake a bit after 5:00 AM and could not get back to sleep until after 7:00. 

There was no way that I was going to go a 10:00 o'clock gathering - not even at Metro Cafe.

About 9:00 AM, Jimmy reached out and lightly placed the claws of his right paw in my beard. This meant that he wanted to get under the blankets, so I made space and under he came. I then went back to sleep. Next, I woke up at 9:45, but refused to get up before 10:00, just in case I might find a way to sleep for another hour or two.

Come ten, I knew I wasn't going to sleep anymore, but I did not feel at all ambitious. I got up, but didn't hurry to do anything. I staggered lazily to my office, got onto my computer, checked to see that this blog had posted properly, read the comments, checked the number of hits, then went back in, mixed oatmeal with walnuts, blueberries and water, set it to cooking and then came back to my computer.

I checked a few other sites and blogs, including The Mudflats. 

There, I saw an announcement of "Coffee Parties" that were being held all across the USA, including one at Metro Cafe in Wasilla, with this explanation:

"MISSION: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans. As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and hold accountable those who obstruct them."

Oh, for hell's sake! Something like this was going on in Wasilla and I had stayed away just because I wanted a little more sleep? When do I ever get enough sleep? NEVER. Well, almost never. Maybe half-a-dozen times a year, after I've worked 30 or 40 hours straight.

I went back into the house and started to eat my oatmeal.

"Oh, hell," I said again (sorry, Riana), "I had better run up there. There's probably going to be a few people still hanging out." So I left my oatmeal to Margie and Kalib and off I went. 

I got there a few minutes after 11:00 AM. It was all over, but there were a few people still hanging around, chatting. Here are two of them: Bob, whose last name I do not know, at the left and Jay Cross at right. 

Among other things, Cross is a pilot and aircraft owner. If I recall correctly, he flies a Super Cub, but he might fly other planes as well.

I can't report on what they talked about at the meeting, because I missed it.

Do you know that I dream about airplanes almost every single night? 

The fellow on the left taking my picture is Philip Munger, musician and classical composer whose most recent work is Hindu Kush, an orchestral work dedicated to the mountain range of the same name between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Munger is a Progressive activist blogger, and you can read what he wrote about the Coffee Party here. Munger writes that he made a joke at Sarah Palin's expense but was upbraided by another participant for doing so - and adds that she was right to upbraid him.

Apparently, it was more of a get-acquainted and plan for future get-togethers than a strategy session. 

At left is Sarah Welton, current Vice-President and former President of the Board of the Mat-Su Borough School District, Anne Kilkenny who wrote a very famous letter about Sarah Palin and Dianne Woodruff, who sits on the Wasilla City Council.

It was Kilkenny who Munger says took exception to his Sarah Palin joke.

This is Rosemary, who introduced herself to me almost as soon as I stepped into Metro. She told me she reads this blog every day. And right now, that is all I know about her - but that's enough to make me appreciate her.

Carmen was kept very busy. As I have noted before, Carmen runs not only a bipartisan but multipartisan business. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Apathetics - all are welcome at Metro Cafe.

Bob, with a cup of Carmen's coffee.

This is Michael Janecek. He told me about his Maine Coon cat. This is a cat that I must photograph one day soon.

I lingered for awhile afterwards and visited with Woodruff. You might suspect that all those who participated would have been Democrats, but not Dianne. She has been a Republican, but lately has been put off by what has happened in that party, as exemplified by the likes of Rush Limbaugh. 

She says she would like to see people quit demonizing each other and instead to talk intelligently together, to discuss vigorously but thoughtfully, to seek to find solutions rather than to obstruct.

She said a lot more, too, but it is 1:30 AM and in half an hour it will be 3:00 AM, due to the leap to daylight time, so I will leave it at that and move on.

This is Carmen with her friend and former co-worker at Northern Air Cargo, Elaine Nisson. 

Right after Carmen introduced her, Nisson patted her flat chest and told me, "I'm tit-less Elaine." She lost both of her breasts to cancer.

She did not lose her sense of humor, or her will to live and persevere. 

I need to make it very clear that Elaine did not come to participate in the Coffee Party. She is a Republican and feels strongly about it. She came to be of assistance to her good friend, Carmen, who had a need for assistance this day.

The pink ribbon has become the symbol of support for women who must fight breast cancer. Elaine carries this one around with her. Carmen holds the ribbon in her hand, and Elaine holds the hand of Carmen.

Just before 4:00 PM, I returned to Metro Cafe so that I could buy a cup and have it in the car with me while I listened to the news. Elaine was still there, and I took one of my reknowned "Through the Metro Window" studies of her together with Carmen, but I will save it for another post.

Not long after I drove away, sipping, listening to the news, I saw some kids walking up a sledding hill, with mountains behind and blue sky above. I decided to stop and take a picture.

These three stopped, too, got out of their car and headed toward the hill. Before they reached it, Kelley and Kiara jumped on their sled and zipped down a smaller hill that leads to the base of the bigger hill.

This is the bigger hill. That's Kelley and Kiara, at the upper right, sledding down the hill.

This is a kid on a snowmachine that I passed on my way home. I passed him easy enough, going about 40-45, but he didn't seem to like being passed, because he really gunned it after that. In my review mirror, I could see him, and two boys on a second machine a short distance behind him tearing up the snow, bouncing over the many bumps, going airborne, seemingly determined to match my speed or maybe catch me and pass me up.

Then a couple of other snowmachiners came down the trail in the opposite direction, directly towards them and they had to slow down or crash.

Kalib and Royce, late Saturday evening.

Well, it's 1:55. In five minutes, it will be 3:00. 

That's it for this day.

Comments

[debby]

I'd sure like to see the 'Coffee Party' thing take root here. That's something I'd like to be a part of.

[twain12]

It is good to see Kalib and Royce together.
looks like a happy group of people that assembled

[lilly]

I have to look for a coffee party meeting.

It is was we all should be a part of, co-operating, letting the government know the will of the people without being divisive.

the tea party made a lot of noise, but didn't seem my cup of tea.. I'm not into tea bags hanging on my hat. (Not that I wear hats too often.)

Love your blog. It is so genuine.

[LisaJ]

Very interesting blog. Like Elaine I am a strong Republican so these meetings arent my cup of tea(no pun intended) but I do appreciate people who are trying to get the system changed for the better,no matter who is in office.

Loved the photo of Kalib sleeping. When my kids were that age I loved to watch them sleeping, those tiny little faces and sweet little hands((sigh)). Time moves much too quickly and now they are teenagers.

[Icvillages]

Elaine has a lovely body and an even more sensational disposition. My grandmother was the only to survive of eight women who underwent radical masectomy when it was being studied. A lot has changed since, attitude-wise, but treatment still seems appallingly dated.

Bill, I know you've got an eye and appreciate how such artistry has put food on your table on occassion, but your pictures, no matter the equipment (it seems) are outstanding.

You do a lot to reveal how we are all just people, no matter the location and issues of the day. Quyana, thanks for that.

[riana]

nice cool blog

[riana]

Hi it's Riana busted twice. your blog is my favorite thing to read at morning.Your the best blogger i've ever seen. thank you for the pics of Kalib and Jobe. And thank you for the wonderful blogs!=) thank you for reading my comments.