Northern Apex

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted - I did indeed take some time off. My mind has been a jumble and I needed the time to be messed up without coming up for air and reporting to the outside world. I don't have any Earth shattering findings from my time in the mental wilderness, and no real resolution to anything, but I wanted to post to let folks know I was alive. Just three weeks until we head to Mexico on family spring break vacation. I'll get my reading list updated and get my spiritual goals posted tonight as well.

Trevor told me he heard the baby's heartbeat at the last doctor's visit - I have to say his impending fatherhood has changed him, in a good but interesting way. He sounds so mature - which is what he should sound like, I guess. I hope he never loses that little boy enthusiasm for life, no matter how tough things may get. They say that is the best gift a father can give to his son - enthusiasm - and Trevor has always had it in abundance (which makes me look good, right??).

The young lady in the photo is Megan, and we all love her dearly. KC and Lydia loved having her around at Christmas and I know she has a special place in all our hearts. She has enthusiasm in abundance as well so this new life growing in her belly should have a great start in the world. Trevor is approaching being a Dad as his biggest adventure ever - and boy is he right.

Trevor and I had two talks about him being a Dad. The first talk was right after he told me, and my mind was focused on all the things he would probably never accomplish now with all this new responsibility. I told him to always place his children first in life, like I did and like his grandparents did. The second talk was about 4 or 5 days later, after the news sunk in and I had time to reflect. I apologized for parts of the first talk and told him there was another side to being a Dad that I left out the first time. All of the things that he could do - see his child born, take a first step, fall asleep in his arms, grow, talk, strive and excel - these more than balanced out all the things he would probably never get to do. As a parent, I think we are never quite ready for our children to begin a family - you want them out of high school first, then out of college, then at their "dream job", then after their first big promotion, then after they buy their own home, then after their car is paid off, then after they have great health insurance, then after they have a nest egg big enough for the Mom to take time off after the baby is born, and then and then and then . . . . .

Trevor, I am proud of you, now and always. You are almost done with your bachelor's degree and you are young enough to be a very fun Dad - you did good son and I love you. You are going to be the best Dad ever and I'm excited for you and your new family.

I know I have been posting goals and progress on the road to the apex but sometimes a story will come along that I feel might be interesting. Several of you have been to my cabin in Nikiski and remember you make the turn to the cabin right by the Agrium fertilizer plant shown in the photo to the left.

A few days ago an oil taker being loaded with unleaded fuel from the Tesoro refinery broke loose from it's moorings and drifted north up Cook Inlet, grounding on the beach 200 yards away before any action could be taken.


I am constantly amazed by the power of nature and our puny attempts to combat it's effects. The 600 foot double hulled tanker Seabulk Pride was attached to the dock with no less than 16 mooring lines including 12 steel cables that were 1.5 inches in diameter with a minimum breaking strength of 178,000 pounds each. Due to the effects of the 24 foot 4.5 knot tide and massive ice floes, the vessel was peeled from its mooring, all 16 mooring lines alledgedly breaking almost simultaneously.


Only about 75 gallons of fuel spilled into Cook Inlet and another high tide combined with nudges from 3 tug boats brought down from the port of Anchorage successfully floated the tanker free early Friday morning. The tanker was approximately half full and is proceeding down to Homer so a dive team can give it a full inspection.

On a related note, the Exxon Valdez oil spill punitive damage award is back in the courts beginning January 26, with a fairly quick decision expected on whether to drop the case entirely, pay out the 4.5 billion plus interest, or appeal to the Supreme Court. With my portion of the damages roughly equivalent to the tuition money I need for 4 years of pharmacy school I am following the progress with interest.

I'm happy to learn that the fine looking gentleman to the left is getting married September 8! Congratulations Ben on the new chapter in your life - I will be there to keep an eye on the proceedings.

This was an epic meal at my brothers house - what you can't see in this photo is all the empty lobster shells (I believe I ate three). We were celebrating my visit from Alaska (okay, okay - it was actually Ben's birthday) and a good time was had by all.

I have recovered from my bout with bronchitis with the help of antibiotics, a week off from work, and the ministrations of my life-in nurse. I apologize for the almost two week lapse in posting but I truly was not up to the task. To bring you all up to date, I have not ridden my bike in weeks but plan on a short ride tomorrow after work, I have 4 books in various stages of being read that I'll post on soon, and I'm going to post my physical and spiritual apex goals for the year tomorrow evening.