I have been waiting very patiently the majority of this summer for my tomatoes to ripen. Currently, my tomato plants are between five and six feet tall, laden down with blossoms and hundreds of small green tomatoes. However, I have yet to reap the harvest of one single tomato as they will not ripen. In my own mind, I have determined the reason for this is that we have not had enough sun and warm weather this summer. I have talked with several gardeners in the area, most of them have the same problem with a few of them experiencing very good harvests of vine ripened love apples.
Following my normal daily schedule, I checked the green house this afternoon to see if by chance that a ripe tomato might appear. Although, I had no ripe fruit on the vines, I did hear a slurping sound. Because of the plant growth, my tomato patch is similar to a rain forest due to the vegetation. By pulling the lower branches aside, I finally discovered a little creature enjoying the suculant flavor of a ripe tomato. I now know why I have not received any tomatoes this year, it was because of this little creature. However, I have researched the internet pertaining to wildlife of Alaska and cannot find anything that resembles this little guy. Not knowing what it is, I have this little creature locked up behind bars in a small dog kennel, hoping that someone can identify him, her or it. If you have any concept, please let me know. All I know about it is that it has an appetite for tomatoes.

I am a avid reader of the blog site, Whoof Arted, primarily because he takes the time to post on a regular basis ands secondly because he always seems to come up with some exotic pictures of interests. His latest interest has been in the fish department, the attached picture was stolen from his site, which I am sure he most likely stole from another source. However, seeing this Spoonbill in the infancy stage made me consider how some species of fish and animals evolved through the centuries. The Spoonbill and Buckbill species originated as mammals and slowly evolved as fish. I would assume this was to escape the great ice age or even perhaps Noah did not have room on the Arc for animals this ugly so they quickly learned to swim in order to survive the great rains. However, one of there species remained behind on land and never made the transition to water. The second picture is of an infant, hitching a ride on mama. The various species of the "ant eater" are the roots of the Spoonbill and Duck Bill fish.

This segment is used for the sole purpose to satisfy an argument that occurred this spring pertaining to the Buffalo and if they are native to Alaska. As usual, one should believe in the visions and knowledge of the great Eagle.

Wildlife Notebook Series: American Bison - Alaska Department of Fish and Game: "American Bison
American bison (Bison bison), which shaped the lifestyle of the Plains Indians and figured prominently in American history before they were brought to near extinction, were transplanted to Alaska from Montana in 1928. While bison were the most common large land mammal in Alaska thousands of years ago, all of Alaska's existing wild bison came from 20 animals released near Delta Junction. Natural emigration and transplants have now created additional herds at Copper River, Chitina River, and Farewell. Small domestic herds are located at Healy, near Kodiak, and on Popov Island. There were approximately 700 wild bison in the state in mid-1985. "

A whole new concept of where to carry your cell phone! The story behind this strange location for a cell phone occurred in a El Salvador prison. The prison guard become suspicious when he heard a phone ring, but no phone was in sight. The prison officials completed x-ray's on seven prisoner's, finding cell phones in each of them including one prisoner that stowed an extra battery. They were mob leaders and utilized the phones to communicate with their amigoes outside the prison. There is so much humor waiting here to be exploited. Can you hear me now?


I think I saw this guy driving taxi the last time I was in LA! He looks awful familiar. If you are wondering, this is a Proboscis Monkey and is not indigenous to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.


"Get In My Tummy" This 198.5 pound Python has a slight problem, one he is laying in the roadway but his biggest problem is that he has swallowed a pregnant Ewe. For those of you that like snakes, this particular specie makes a great yard snake if you have a problem with neighborhood cats, dogs, or all the neighborhood kids like to congregate in your yard.


Now, this one is way to good to tell you what it is, let your imaginations run wild and see if you can guess what it is - have fun with your humor! What a great trivia picture.

For many years, there has been a controversial discussion pertaining to the exploration of natural resources within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Each time that the gas prices raise a few pennies at the pump, the controversy arises once again. Although, I am sure that the majority of the Alaskan's are in favor of the opening of ANWR for exploration we remain a minority in this decision.
With our dependence on foreign oil from countries that do not share our concern with the war on terrorism or even support our destruction in this same war, one has to wonder why ANWR has not been developed despite the protest of those who are against the opening of a very small foot print within the area. After spending countless hours in an attempt to understand the reason, I came up with the resolution that perhaps I was looking at it from the wrong perspective. Perhaps, the government and or oil companies are afraid to apply the pressure to open this area in fear of disclosing something that would stall or eliminate any further oil exploration in the arctic wilderness, including the developed area of the North Slope.
I researched every plausible alternative, including that perhaps we had secret military bases in the area that we did not want to disclose due to national interest.
Unfortunately, I was not able to discover any reason that ANWR should not be opened for even limited exploration. It was only then that I decided to look for the obvious, with assistance from government data and files, I was able to unlock the reason that no one, including the government and oil companies, wants ANWR opened for exploration. My survey indicates that if this secret were discovered, all oil exploration and development would be halted throughout the arctic region, including the current operational fields.
To understand this, one must look at the natural inhabitants of the area, which includes a variety of birds, fish, and animals. A large number of birds, including migratory waterfowl utilize this area throughout the year, including the Eagle.




The predominant fish that inhabit the area of ANWR include the following:



The Dolly Varden / Arctic Char:


The Arctic Grayling:


The Arctic Cisco:

It might be noted that only those of us whom are very experienced Alaskan fishermen know of this specie, it's habitat and biological data. It is a great sport fish and a very carefully guarded secret so it is not exploited. The Arctic Cisco is related to the Sheefish, a bright silver fish weighing up to five pounds.

There is a variety of wildlife that inhabit the area of ANWR, very similar to those that inhabit the "Hole In The Wall Recreational Area". These species include the following:

The Moose:


The Brown Bear:


The Polar Bear:


The Musk Ox (Relative to the Buffalo):


The Caribou:


The Wolf:


These are the predominant animals within the area, however, there is one additional specie that is the carefully guarded secret. It's existence could halt any further oil exploration in northern Alaska as well as curtail all existing operations which would devastate the Alaskan economy, making our nation even more dependent on foreign oil. Because of the secrecy that shrouds this specie, little written documentation can be obtained. However, it is believed that this specie appeared on the Alaskan shoreline via the early Russian traders that carried livestock aboard their vessels for food. From the little documentation that I was able to gain access to, it is believed that this specie escaped the early Russian trading vessels when several of them went a ground on the beaches of northern Alaska. Since that time, they have spread throughout the area in limited numbers, including the area that is currently under oil production, the North Slope. They have adapted to their surroundings, possibly inter-breeding with the Polar Bear so they will blend in with their environment to avoid detection.
With great pride in my successful research, I would like to introduce to you the long lost specie that deserves a rightful place as an endangered specie on the list of Alaskan wildlife:

THE ARCTIC POLAR PIG:

Within five minutes of our arrival home from a recent trip to LA, the following "Welcome Home" message was received from the heavens. Was it coincidental that the message rested upon the National Ensign that belonged to Brother Don or was it his way of welcoming us home? Perhaps, it was a message to all of us, since the flag overlooks the entrance to the Hole In the Wall Recreational area, that he wants to know when we will all once again inhabit the "Hole In The Wall". You be the judge but as for me, it is no coincidence that it should occur at that particular time.

With the majority of our family now residing in the LA area, it appears that we will be making the trek north on regular basis. Being an old country boy living in the "Little Village By the River" this is something that I really do not relish, other than seeing all of my children and grandchildren. A trip from the rural lifestyles that we lead to a metropolitan culture can be rather shocking, however, it makes us appreciate our solitude even more upon our return. I do have to admit, that a trip to LA is always educational. I always seem to see learn or see something that intrigues me. For instance, while visiting Homer and family we had a chance to see their apple tree, the branches laden with plump apples. However, it was the tarp that intrigued me the most. Anytime, I see a blue tarp, I have to wonder to myself what kind of treasures is it protecting from the elements. As you all know, Homer is a diesel mechanic. He and the Plumma are both tradesmen and quite often come up with new inventions using a variety of parts from bicycles, wheelchair's, and shopping baskets. It came as no surprise to me when I peeled back the blue tarp to discover their latest invention.

At first glance, this appears as a very large barbecue grill, however, this is no ordinary grill. Please note that it is powered by a Hemmi Diesel! With the obsession that the Plumma has for pigs, they decided they needed a grill that could roast a whole hog. With little fish to show for their summer fishing expeditions, I can see them eating a lot of porkies this winter, but they do have the grill to accommodate a hog. While on the subject of fishing, while there the Plumma, pup Wolf and Little Buff decided to indulge in one of the local metro canals for the last of the summer, they were very successful, each of them bringing home a spawned out Humpy for the barbecue grill.
While in LA, I always find something to amuse me, for instance Sunday morning I sat in this large non-discrip park, just a very large green lawn with nothing else, but as I sat there shortly after daylight enjoying my morning coffee, I had the opportunity to view a large flock of Canadian Honkers feeding on the lawn. Temptation did get the best of me as I finished my coffee and reached behind the seat of the truck and pulled out my old double barrel twelve gauge. I have never seen "Dutch" so excited, his natrural instinct took over so I released him. He pranced, jumped and ran in circles, all the time watching the geese. As true to his breed, the honkers started moving closer and within firing range. When the smoked cleared, I had 16 empty shells on the ground and a lawn littered with geese. It took "Dutch" twenty five minutes to retrieve them all, but we got a nice limit - whatever the limit is on metro geese. At least the kids will have something other than Pork and spawned out humpies to eat this winter. I love my new permanent fishing and hunting license, I was told there was no limit when you use a license of this type, very similar to a credit card.
I always find something to amuse myself in LA, for instance after the goose massacre, I drove by Home Depot. I was surprised to see it open at 7:30 am and I was the only customer, I spent the best part of an hour there asking all the questions I could think of, at one time I had over ten employee's running around the store looking for my requested items, which I did not need and did not purchase, but it was fun.
The word "hump" was a wide variety of definitions, some of which you should not use in mixed company. Out here in the country, when we want to slow traffic down they install a "Speed Bump", not in LA. On the street to my brother in laws home on the Hillside, they have a series of "Speed Humps". Each one is clearly marked with a big yellow sign "SPEED HUMP"! Must be something to do with the hurry up culture of the metropolitan area, they do not even take the time to have a "Slow Hump".
Now Wally World is always a great place to find something interesting, most often the shoppers. I did notice something that upset me, I considered making a complaint and then decided that I had best not in fear that I would be accused of "Profiling". Being in the video business, I always cruise the video section seeing what they have and how they display their wares. While reviewing the DVD section, I come across one of the truly classic Westerns that has been converted to DVD. I have written about it in the past, one of my favorites, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (Paul Newman and Robert Redford". A true epic western about two guys that were best friends and wanna be outlaws. They played together and died together. This is one time that I really wanted one of those new fangled cell phones that take pictures because the DVD that was displayed next to this class western was no other than "Brokeback Mountain", a story of two cowboys (sheepherders) who were very close. Now I ask myself, was this a coincidence or was it planned - regardless, they are now separated as I rearranged their shelves. Next time, you are in the Diamond Walmart, take a look and see if they are still separated. I would appreciate it and I know Paul Newman and Robert Redford would really appreciate it as well.