30 December 2009

My Neighborhood

It's so easy for humans to become jaded and complacent; I don't want that to happen to us, regarding where we live.

This is from the shopping center nearest where we live. In the center of the picture is Flattop Mountain, the most-often climbed peak in Alaska.

Click to enlarge.



We had clear skies overnight, but the temp only dropped to 10; it will be in single digits by tomorrow night, or so they say.

I was admiring the nearly-full moon this morning as I left for work, and nearly hit a bull moose standing in the road by my driveway. He was munching on a tree branch, and didn't even look at me as I passed within two feet of him. Those critters are hard to see in the dark.

We still haven't had any snow since mid-December, which is strange. At least it has stayed below freezing, excepting one afternoon where it hit 36 and then turned cooler again. We're thinking about whether we want to fight the crowds for limited parking near the waterfront tomorrow evening, as Anchorage touches off its annual fireworks display. Yes, we do shoot some on July 4th, but it's hard to see them in the daylight. We save the bulk of the fireworks for mid-winter, when we need the light.

* * * * *
The news is full of grim predictions of economic failure or collapse, breaches in airline security, rising taxes, full-gallop socialism, record-breaking political corruption, and ... on and on it goes. I want you to remember our Lord is in charge; He controls what happens, and when. The escalating anger at the governmental shenanigans has accomplished something that nothing else has, in the last 50 years: it woke up the slumbering majority.

But replacing the Decepticons in Congress with Republocrats won't be enough, as you know. We must get God-fearing, conservative, Constitutionalists into the government - and fast.

* * * * *
Enough politics. It's going to be a sunny day, with a high of 21. Sunny days are rare enough, and then it's dark by 4:30, so most working folks can only look out the office windows to see it, this time of year. We enjoy the sun immensely, because it's in such short supply.

Thanks for stopping by.

5 comments:

joated said...

"...and nearly hit the bull moose standing in the road by my driveway."

Complacent? You're kidding, right? (Okay. Jaded. Maybe. Ho, hum. Another moose. Boooring!)

Rev. Paul said...

Umm, I was talking about the scenery. 1,200 pound bull moose? That's something else again.

Teresa said...

We have a very large turkey in the area. Not like a bull moose but the stupid bird insists upon standing in the street and he's not easy to see... he blends. I think he must be a 20+ pound bird and stands about 3ft. So far he's been lucky. People see him and stop then drive around him carefully. But I expect one day someone just won't see him.

Of course if I was walking I could get a pic, but I only see him when I'm in the car - I'm so not gonna try to take a picture while I'm driving - that would get me killed around here. *grin*

I think it's less likely for people to appreciate the natural beauty of areas if they don't grow up there. However, it is difficult to stop yourself from becoming a bit blase after a while. That's why photography is a great thing. It makes you actually stop and look instead of ignoring the scenery as mere background noise.

Love your pics!

Jenny said...

Hey, I know that part of town!

... come to think of it, that was the last place I almost hit a moose to. Y'all baiting them down that way or something?

Rev. Paul said...

They do seem to like our birch trees. Go figure.