The weather down in Wasilla, the weather up here in Barrow

This is two mornings ago, as I walked from the section of Barrow called Browerville toward Pepe's North of the Border Mexican Restaurant, for breakfast. No planes could land. The temperature was barely above freezing and the wind chill well below.

When I talked to Margie (who I have not seen now for over a month) later in the day, the temperature in our part of Wasilla was 88 degrees and she had been stung by yellow jacket hornets who have nested alongside the house.

This happens every summer, but some summers it gets insane. Yellow jackets everywhere, defending the homes that they build on our home.

I have never seen a yellow jacket here in Barrow.

The way things are going, though, it wouldn't surprise me if some day I do.

The same spit from a different angle, later in the day. If you look close, you can see that the Alaska Airlines jet was finally able to land.

Rebecca Brower - winner of Barrow's baby contest!

Here she is - the winner, Rebecca Brower. Beautiful, beautiful, gorgeous baby! Magnificent parka!

Ladies and gentlemen: Rebecca Brower!

But she hasn't won yet. She is waiting her turn to go before the crowd.

And here she is, Rebecca Brower, in the arms of her Aaka, Rebecca Brower, showing her stuff.

As pageant winners so often do, Rebecca cries with joy upon learning that she has won.

Her first place award is handed to her. She reaches for it.

And she has it - First place winner of Barrow's baby contest.

The eight babies who won but who did not take first

This is a fact: if you are going to have a contest for which there is only one first prize, but nine babies enter, then eight of those babies are not going to take first. But look at this baby: she is Christetata Brower and she is a winner - absolutely! She is nothing less than a winner!

And what a beautiful parka she wears!

So this post is dedicated to the eight winner babies who did not take fist.

Shortly after I put it up, I will make a separate post for the First Place winner baby.

Let me say right now that I am proud to have met all these babies. Very proud. One could hardly have a greater honor in this life then to meet such babies.

Elijah Kagak.

Herman Solomon, Jr.

Kyle Nelson - already facing the paparazzi (that would not include me - I am not a paparazzi - I am a very serious photographer. But obviously, this other person is a paparazzi, one who usually shoots celebrities like Britney Spears, Mojo Harris and Weaver MacDonald).

Mildred Spear.

Wayne Toovak.

Jeremiah Benson.

Pearl Faith Gordon.

I know. There is more information that you would like to know, like who sewed each parka, and who is the mother and father of each baby?

In some cases, I know the answers to these questions and in others I don't and it is nearing midnight and I am afraid to go knocking on people's doors seeking answers.

So I give the full credit to the babies.

I am way behind and falling farther, but here, standing in the wind, is Miss Teen Top of The World and the two talented beauties who competed with her

These are the three who competed for this year's Miss Teen Top OF The World title: Rochelle Oyagak, Selma Khan and Freida Nageak. As you can see, they had to stand against a strong wind.

Selma Kahn was the winner and is the new Miss Teen Top of the World. I did not get a chance to interview her, but I can tell you that she did sew her own parka. And she did an excellent job. This is not my judgement alone, but that of the Elder women judges who have been skin-sewing all their lives and know quality when they see it.

Congratulations, Selma.

Me, I would not ever want to be a judge. No, I just couldn't do it. I thought all three were wonderful and that includes you, Frieda Nageak.

And you too, Rochelle Oyagak.

The three do a pageant walk.

And don't worry, mothers of the babies. I will still put all the little darlings in this blog. All nine of them, not a single one of whom I could have awarded anything less than first prize to.

That is why people who organize such events would always judge me incompetent to be a judge.

I must note that I am doing a very poor job of keeping up with myself on this blog. I have so much that I have so far photographed on this trip from a successful ugruk (bearded seal) hunt to flying around in airplanes to Eskimo dancing to local basketball players preparing to go to a tournament in Hawaii - and other things, too.

Maybe I will yet post some of this material. Maybe not.

I am pretty busy and the project that I am working on is time consuming and does not leave much time for me to fool around with this blog.

July 4 in Barrow: Two who fought in Iraq and expect to fight in Afghanistan led the parade

Alaska Army National Guard soldiers Steven Kaleak Jr and Owen Nowpakahok led the parade. Both men served together with the Guard in Iraq, both men reenlisted and both expect to be deployed to Afghanistan in one year. "I love my job," Kaleak said of his reenlistment. Kaleak is Iñupiat of Barrow and Nowpakahok is St. Lawrence Island Yup'ik, and comes from the village of Gambell, 40 miles from Russia.

And truly, back in his hometown, he can walk out the door to the house and see Russia.

Kaleak and Nowpakahok were follwed by veterans of Barrow, many of whom experienced combat in Vietnam and elsewhere. Alaska Natives and American Indians have the highest rate of military service of anyone in the country.

The parade works its way past the Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean.

There were many games and races and I'm afraid eggs got broken.

With some encouragment from her Aaka, four-year old Jacklyn Sceeles dashed to third place.

And Amaya Williams won first in the same category.

All contestants over the age of 60 won first place. Knowing that they were going to get in the money did not stop them from competing full-force.

Spectators, including the very famous and athletic Spiderman, watch the Elders compete in the gunny sack race. Well, three of them watch. The fourth admires his own new face in the driver's side rearview mirror.

Many other things happened, including a baby contest, Miss Teen Top of the World and an Eskimo dance to close out the day, but I have not had time to do anything but barely touch the photos that I took.

I may still try to add in some of this material. If I succeed, I will not pile it on top of this in the usual blog fashion, but will run it below. This because I want to keep the American Flag at the top of any Fourth of July material that I post. So if you come back looking for babies, pageant contestants and Eskimo dancing, be sure to scroll all the way down past this entry that you have already read.