The great thing about dads

The great thing about dads is they never forget how to play. My parents met their future grandson this weekend. My mom won him over with pancakes, waffles and endless energy to run between the pool and spa and back again watching him swim. My dad bought Davin a fishing pole, taught him how to drive his boat and even got himself a skateboard so they could skateboard together. He almost has as much energy as the kid.

The falls of Idaho Falls

These are the man-made falls of Idaho Falls. What's impressive is not their height but their length -- the rush of water continues far beyond the panorama of my point-and-shoot. You could feel the spray all along the shore. We stopped to see them in a drive of the city that included Joshua's the high school and neighborhood of Joshua's youth.

What happens when you hand your camera to a 9-year-old

Shoes, mugs of the animals and lots of serious close-ups.

Trout for dinner

We took Davin and his cousin Kaden to kids fishing day. The Elks stocked the creek with fish and even cleaned our catch.
Kaden caught the first one.Davin watches as his dad and grandma take the hook out of his first fish.Each boy caught two fish before the looming thunder clouds let rain fall and we packed up to go. We all had more than a taste of the fresh trout with dinner on the back porch.

Decent to Idaho Falls

Joshua and I took a Red Eye to Idaho Falls, Idaho on Friday morning. We're staying with his family there until Wednesday morning when we'll drive to Kennewick to stay with my family through the weekend. It's my first trip back to the "Lower 48" -- as we Alaskans call it -- since moving to Anchorage last November. So far the weather hasn't been more delightful than the sunny warm May we're having up there.

World Beard and Moustache Championships

My college friend Brielle from drove up from Valdez this weekend. On Saturday we attended the World Beard and Moustache Championships.

The annual event is hosted in locations worldwide, but this year downtown Anchorage's new Dena'ina Convention Center was selected for the festivities. I had no idea what to expect when Brielle and I parked our matching Subaru's (her's is red) across the street from each other on F Street.

The day brought bagpipes, a bearded band and moustached men from as far as Germany, Sweden and New Zealand trotting down a runway to show off their stylized facial hair. There were costumes: Matador to Moses, urban kilts to the robes of a monk. The events were divided by categories: moustache, partial beard and full beard. And then into categories: English, Dahli, freestyle, etc.

Overall the day was bizarre and fascinating.Check out more of the event in this ADN.com photo slideshow.

Campbell Creek Trail

Campbell Creek Trail can be accessed within yards of my house. It's a mixed use trail where it's common to see teenagers on bikes, serious joggers, dog walkers and your run-of-the-mill city vagrant. The city trail system here is very extensive, and we've spent many a sun-lit summer evening wandering one direction or another.


Birch vs. evergreen.

Out of nowhere.

It's mosquito season.

Not for swimming.