Inktrails from Alaska

Ole Crate Trains the Wild Thing

Ole's foster mom crate trained him before he took his big airplane rides up to Alaska. He doesn't love being in the crate, but he loves looking for "cookies" inside it! I fed him in his crate for quite some time and only recently stopped because I moved the crate upstairs so I could actually sit at my kitchen table. Sofia loved finding treats in the crate, too, and had started periodically investigating it. One day when there was a thunder storm, I told Sofia that she could hide in the "little house" instead of under my bed, and she went in there and curled up in a little ball for the duration.

Months had gone by since that thunderstorm. One day I was washing dishes in the kitchen and turned around to find this!

Ole was there giving her courage.

So I thought I'd reward them and tossed a handful of "cookies" (dog food) in the crate.

They fit in there pretty well, don't they?

What to Name My New Studio?

I'm still alternately whooping with joy and relief and wiping away tears over the national election. Dear God, please keep President-elect Obama safe and sound and help him and us in the work we now need to do to reverse all the damage done by the Bush administration.

Meanwhile I've been setting up my new studio for the last couple of weeks. I finally got my own furniture in there, and the landlord's furniture out. Now for organization and decoration! It's wonderful that I don't have to carry loads of instruments back and forth every day! It's LOVELY to have heat, space, light, a bathroom and and a nice, solid building! Let's all send super glue and duct-tape vibes to the folks at the old, rickety building where I used to teach, that the building won't fall down, the boiler won't go on the fritz (egads it must be at least 50 years old, if not 60), and that the electric wiring won't short out and burn the whole thing up.

I'm grateful that I taught there for the past five years, very grateful! However it was definitely time for me to get my own place and I couldn't be happier. The dogs love it as well, and even have their own couch.

It needs a name! Can you help?

Here are some that have been suggested:

1. Sofia & Ole Studio

2. Raven Bark Music

3. Celtic & More Music

4. McDermott Music  (so far no one likes this one, least of all me)

5. Curly Tail Music

6. Tartan Tundra Music

7. Two Dog Night Studio  (the error in this is that the number of dogs I have could easily change)

8. String Bird Studio

9. Golden Heart Music

There have been lots more, but you kind of get the idea. Aurora, North Star, and Midnight Sun are all phrases and words that are overused in the names of businesses. Though Aurora could be worked in somehow, I expect, as long as it's not just "Aurora Music." It's also a hard word to pronounce.

Here are some words to try out: string, world, raven, swan, warbler, fiddle, wood, spruce, aspen, birch, plaid, Celtic, moose, tartan, snow, heart, golden, (Fairbanks is the "Golden Heart" of the Interior), fingers, uh....going dull here.....must be time for breakfast!

Feel free to suggest something totally different, or tell me which of the names above you like. I thank you very much!

How I Spent the Election

Yesterday I got up, waited for the electrician, and when he was done I swept the snow off the truck, loaded up Ole dog and traveled down my snowy road about five or six miles to the volunteer fire station to vote. I missed the morning rush of crazed office people who have to be at work by nine, so had an easy time of it. Within ten minutes I was done and out of there!

I then did my best to put the election out of my mind. I had no interest in watching the blow-by-blow and hearing the stupid opinions of the fake "experts" on TV. I met Scott down at my studio and he moved my furniture in at last! The Yukon Quest, the world's toughest sled dog race, had their office in the same building, but they were moving so I bought my furniture from them. It saved a LOT of back-breaking work for both of us! I didn't have to carry furniture UP the stairs, and they didn't have to carry what I bought back DOWN when moving out. Taking it down the hall was a lot easier! Plus, they sold it to me at garage sale prices and I couldn't be happier!

After roughly arrange the furniture and eating Chinese take-out, I spent the rest of the day teaching nearly back-to-back lessons. I have a radio at work, but there wasn't any time to turn it on. I did say a few prayers for the outcome of the election, but was loathe to turn on the radio only to find out how poorly it was probably going for my candidate.

Then I had to rush over to the School District building to help the students I teach with the Young Native Fiddlers program as they played for the School District meeting! It turned out just fine. The kids played Boil Them Cabbage, Flop-Eared Mule, and Arkansas Traveler. All of us teachers were very proud of them!

Finally, after visiting with parents and teachers and students after the performance, I made it out to my truck, loaded my fiddle, petted Ole dog, and hit the road. I turned on the radio, biting my lip. Only to hear right away, McCain conceding the election!

YES! WHOO HOOOOOOOO!

In total amazement I drove home, hoping it was real and by golly it was! By the time I got home I could sit right down and watch the acceptance speech of President Obama, and watch the tears and elation of the crowd, and shed a few tears, interspersed with BIG WHOOPS, myself.

What a perfect way to spend the election! None of the stress and all of the joy!

YES WE CAN!