Memorial Day, Our American Flag, and Baseball

The picture on the left was taking on Douglas Island as a float plane was taking off from the Gasteneau Channel with a load of tourists from cruise ships to get a look at Southeast Alaska, Mendenhall Glacier, and the Wrangell St. Elias Natlional Park. While shooting a shot of Old Glory waving at a home on Douglas Island, a float plane passed to land on Gasteneau Channel. The sight on my lense so made me think of my vision of T.V. the morning of 911. Our flag does deserve our respect. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Randy Ruedrich shared the following, inspiring video for viewing by us. Copy and paste the website below to see a fascinating baseball play that explains what our American Flag means to American baseball fans and to most Americans.

mms://a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/

library/open/features/monday_flag_350.wmvmedia_type=wms&av_type=video&

amp;event_pk=486348&product=gen_video

Regular Session Ends

District 11 should know by now that Rep. John Coghill is one of the hardest working legislators in the State. He usually starts his day about 5:00 a.m. with a brisk walk for his blood pressure and a passage from the King James Bible for his and our souls. As you can see from the photo, he surronds himself with symbols of freedom like the American Eagle and symbols of our purpose in life, like our family.

Representative Coghill is serving his eighth year in the Alaska State House and has represented our district with dignity, honesty, and a belief that we can stop that giant ball of government from rolling down the hill on us.
Representatives Mike Kelly and Richard Foster share a joke just before the Majority Caucus begins. There were fewer caucus meetings of the Majority this year than years passed.

Representative Mark Neuman and wife, Adel, attend Rep. Mike Kelly's birthday party. Rep. Coghill added lanuage to HB 408, Family Rights Act of 2006, by request of Rep. Neuman that required training of front line Office of Childrens Services workers to include knowledge of constitutional and statutory rights of children and their parents.

Here is a survivor. Rep. Kurt Olson is a former staffer for the Senate that went through a multiple-bypass heart operation and beat the odds. He ran for state house from Kenai in 2004 and beat an incumbent in the Primary to take the seat in the General. Kurt took on instant credibility as a thinker when he hired Eleanor Wolfe (formerly with Rep. Ramona Barnes) as his chief of staff.

Rep. Bob Lynn is a regular around the capitol taking pictures for his blog, but they never appear on his blog. We think maybe he is taking the pictures for blackmail or a book, which could be the same thing. Rep. Lynn is probably the first legislator to make a blogspot (correct me if I am wrong) but his pictures are of the nature of landscape, not the nature of the legislature.

Republican Representatives Kevin Meyer and Jim Holm seem light-hearted, but Rep. Eric Croft is much deeper in thought. The House stayed in session until 4:30 a.m. on the 120th day of session to pass out the PPT legislation. The Senate failed to concur.

Representaive Mike Kelly and his bride of many decades celebrate his birthday with fellow members of the House and staff. Next time you see him ask about the home he bought Cherie on Wolverine Drive and the fur coat.

Representative Richard Foster with staffer from Rep. Mike Kelly's office, Nelda Stewart. Rep. Kelly said Nelda makes people in his office smile when they aren't even happy.

Representative Mike Hawker form Anchorage rests in between intensive meetings addressing the PPT and the upcoming special session on the gasline. Hawker is married to the daughter of former borough mayor, the late John Carlson.

Charisse Millet and Pete Ecklund try to ease the stress of the last night of session by posing for the camera. Both have high stress jobs that they do quite well. Charisse is chief of staff for Rep. Vic Kohring and Pete is the house finance aide in charge of the capital budget for Rep. Kevin Meyer.

Representative Peggy Wilson enjoys a piece of Mike Kelly's birthday cake which was a delicious carrot cake. Rep. Wilson represents the Wrangell-Petersberg area of Southeast Alaska.

Sue and Dave Stancliff enjoy a piece of the carrot cake. Sue is a legislative aide for Rep. Mike Kelly and Dave is an aide for Senator Gene Therriault. Dave carried SB 200, the stand your ground bill sponsored by Senator Therriault.

Rep. Tom Anderson has been smiling alot lately. He is the proud father of two-month-old Grayson who is an adorable young man. Rumors are that Rep. Anderson will not be running for office this campaign season. He and Representative Lesil McGuire married a year ago and live in Lesil's house district.

Representative Bill Thomas heads for the House Chambers for Sunday session as the clock ticks down to the end of regular session on Tuesday.

Last, but not least, the first cruise ship, Zaandam, hit town early last week. Believe it or not, this is a smaller cruiseship. Most of them dock at the base of town and appear like a portable skyscraper in Juneau's skyline. Up to four ships can be docked at once. Amazing site.