Be careful little hands what you type

So, I closed my facebook today. It felt pretty good too. I was debating it for some time now, but something happened yesterday that made me realize that it was time to move on. I never thought for one minute that my family could publicly bash me the way they did. It was over a very HUGE misunderstanding that could have been solved with one phone call, but instead they decided to write really hurtful things and post them across facebook. I'm sorry, but once you've typed and posted something to hurt someone, it doesn't matter if it get's deleted in cyber-space, it still remains in the heart. That was a line that should have never been crossed and is for me at the moment (and for a very long time) unforgivable.

Sometimes I wish I could be like Amelia Earhart and just disappear. I'm really tired of people not caring who they hurt. I look around and I see so many people homeless, beaten down, tired, and hurt. I see people carrying their groceries in the middle of a blizzard with barley enough clothes to keep them warm to a broken down trailer with no windows or doors, and not one person offers them a hand. I see people walk into fancy churches with tall steeples and stained glass windows and get snooty looks and smirks  because they don't look suitable enough. I even had comments from old church members about who my "friends" are on facebook. I'm pretty sure they even "blocked" me from their pages because of who I befriend. They can't see past the scarlet letter when they have never even met the person behind it, or heard their stories. What happened to people to make them so heartless and judgmental? Why do so many people think they are better then the rest? If there was ever a major economic crisis, or any natural  disaster, where would you be? Where would you live? Where would you get your food? Would your fancy car or your fancy home, or your fancy church really feed your hungry children? What happened to caring for one another? All my life I heard preachers preaching to live as Jesus. Jesus never had any of those things. He would walk hundreds of miles with nothing but the clothes on his back (and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a fancy Armani suit). He would be-friend everyone- they young, the old, the strong, the weak, the black, the white, the yellow, the red, the man, the woman. So many wonder why America is falling apart, but I can tell you right now, I have a pretty good feeling why. So many people are running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction. You can go to church every Sunday and call yourself a Christian, but if you don't live as Christ did, you will never really understand what he is try to teaching us. To give hope to those that have lost their way. To give love to those that are yearning for shelter and affection. To care about each other. Well, these past few days have really opened my eyes to things I wish I had seen years ago. At least they're open now and hopefully I can make a change in how I live. My husband, my children, and I made a big decision yesterday (after I stopped crying because of what my family did). We decided to take some of our Christmas gifts back to the store and donate that money to Awaic (a shelter here in Alaska for abused women and children). I was very proud of my kids for agreeing to do this. It made me feel that maybe I'm raising my children to live as Christ. I pray I can teach my children that it very important to care about other people. To love one another. To give them the hope that's tuck inside of them and to teach them to give hope to the others that are searching for it.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree........

Our family decided to cut down our own tree this year. We went out into the forest with some of our friends and had a blast searching for the so-called perfect tree. Although it was really foggy and cold, I got some pretty good photographs. Here they are :

We have a winner!

We have a Grand Prize Winner!


Alaska magazine and Fur Rendezvous are pleased to announce the Grand Prize winner in the Let's Rendezvous Travel Contest.



Congratulations to Bev L. of Boise, Idaho! She has won a 5-day, 4-night trip for two to Anchorage, Alaska for the 2010 Fur Rendezvous.



The Grand Prize trip includes roundtrip airfare on Alaska Airlines and 4 nights accommodations at the Hotel Captain Cook. As a Rondy VIP, the winner and guest will be up close and personal with the 75th Fur Rendezvous! While in Anchorage the winner will also enjoy theater tickets from Cyranos Theater and will receive a 5-year subscription to Alaska magazine. Click here for full Grand Prize details.



Were you a weekly winner? We have also drawn the last group of weekly winners. Click here to see if you were one of the winners.



Be sure to sign up for the Alaska magazine newsletter at www.alaskamagazine.com and be among the first to know about upcoming contests, special offers and content as Alaska magazine celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2010.

Enjoy a good laugh~

Being born and raised in Arizona, I thought this was too funny not to share. We have a chilli cook off in my home state every year as well, and I've tasted a few of the same!

Enjoy a good laugh~

This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in New Mexico .

Note: Please take time to read this slowly.

If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better.



For those of you who have lived in New Mexico , you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Santa Fe Plaza . Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chile taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL .

Frank: 'Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3.'


Here are the scorecard notes from the event:



CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI


Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.

Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy.



CHILI # 2 - EL RANCHO'S AFTERBURNER CHILI


Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.



CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI


Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.

Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.

Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t-faced from all of the beer.


CHILI # 4=2 0- BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC


Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.

Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. Woman is starting to look HOT ... Just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?



CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER


Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement.

Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.



CHILI # 6 - VARGA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY


Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.

Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.

Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.


CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI


Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.

Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.


CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI


Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.

Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?

Judge # 3 -- No report.

Bald Eagle outside my window

As I was sipping a cup of coffee and looking out my bedroom window, I had a visit from a wonderful new friend:

♫♪I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.........♫♪

Send your friends and family Christmas cards from Alaska! Snowy Christmas Card with winter photographs of I have take of Alaska. Inside message: May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Don't forget the matching stamps to go with! :)

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