little piggy-back ride

I always see the older man riding his bicycle along Veterans Memorial Parkway with a shaggy little dog perched on his shoulder. To bad I can't hold a latte, shift and get out my camera and snap pictures all at once. I would be so worth it.

Tony and Alisa

Saturday I woke up to find a crying bride in the next room. My roommates were having and outdoor wedding and it was pouring rain with thunder that you could almost feel. We were getting the first Boise rainfall in 60 days.

Fortunately the sun made an appearance for Alisa and Tony that afternoon. To be cliche, it went off without a hitch. Which was amazing considering they planned it in just less than four weeks.

Here's a couple pictures from the day:

For a moment, a room full of journalists was silent

Yesterday was a somber day at the Statesman. McClatchy announced a company restructuring and 10 percent reduction in workforce. The Statesman cut 15 jobs -- six in the newsroom.

Editor Vicki Gowler's voice shook as she said the newsroom could not afford to lose a single one of those six reporters and editors.

My heart goes out to my friend in sports, Tom Fox, who I worked with at two separate newspapers; Lisa Corsi, a fellow copy editor on the news desk; Jeanne Huff a colorful, inquisitive, cheery features writer; and three other fine journalists, Wendy Nielson, Dave Kennard and Anne Wallace Allen. The Statesman will not be the same without them.

After the announcement Vicki asked for questions. Before the first question, for a moment, a room full of journalists was silent.

I can't imagine what it must feel like for those in newsrooms laying off people in the triple-digits. I am devastated for my colleagues and for the state of the industry.

Where's the pictures?

So last weekend I went to Anchorage for five days. Every time I went somewhere interesting -- I managed to forget my camera. To make it worse, I left my camera cord in the AK, so there won't be any images on my blog until the U.S. Postal service delivers my photographic lifeline.

Regardless, here are some highlights:

• There are fur shops and stuffed animals everywhere. There even was a stuffed moose, bear and muskox in the mall.
  
• I went ice skating in the same rink I first tested the ice as a 5-year-old during my only other excursion to Alaska. The only other thing I can remember about that trip is seeing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" in the theater.
• There is a pub called "Darwin's Theory." I like this.
• The Anchorage Daily News runs stories with headlines such as, Lovelorn muskox gores prized sled dog. Click on the link. I'm not making this up.
• Beautiful, beautiful mountains.
• King crab legs.
• More stuffed animals in the airport.
• A waiter at Friday's lamented that it was raining and that morning he had worn shorts, because had been "beautiful out." AKA overcast and in the 60s.

two weeks ago at the library ...

Kaite and I went for a walk before she left town. First, the LIBRARY! is screaming.
Second, there was a teridactle in the dumpster outside.