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: A Public Defender's Life in Alaska

So, dipnetting. To be honest, I am torn about it. On the one hand there is the crowds. The jackasses who get drunk and ruin the dunes with their 4 wheelers. The people who don't respect the resource or the place where we live. Who take more than they need. Who cheat, despite the fact that there is no need to. Those who let the fish get burned in the freezer just to be fed to the dogs. On the other, there is dipnetting. For me, there is no other way to fill the freezer with salmon. No part is wasted: we eat the filets, the pigs eat the head and guts and the garden eats the spine. There is the side of dipnetting of standing in the Kasilof watching the sun and clouds play on Mt. Redoubt. Listening to the seagulls and people. The silent struggle when a fish hits a net. The cries that go up when a fish gets away. I think we are glad for the fish in a way. There is the side of dipnetting that lets me talk to total strangers as we stand and wait. Watching the success and failure of those around us. Being aware of the tides and the seals and the life around us. It has been very slow this year. 4 trips to the Kasilof have yielded one fish, who I will eat fresh tomorrow. I know this is a bad year for Reds but I hope to get about 30 fish total. The Kenai opens up on Saturday and I just need one good day.

P.S. To those of you that knew him, I am sad to say that David died today. He was the second last of the 4 dogs we brought from California. He survived the bears (I'll never forget him with that brown bear in our yard...cocky little bastard) and being chased by moose and 4 winters. He was a stocky little bastard who was fearless. Absolutely fearless. But he would not stop chasing cars. Even though we live on a cul de sac, there is a lot of traffic (I suspect there is a drug house on the corner based on who I see going up and down my road (ahem! clients)). Anyways he was hit and killed by a car. 4 dogs now. A moose, a porcupine and 2 by car. We will not be getting any more dogs for a while. I refuse to make my dogs live on a chain but it is hard to see them killed. Even though he was not my favorite dog, the kids loved him and he was a good dog. Rest in Peace David. I hope there is all manner of disgusting things for you to lick and eat and roll in where you are.

P.P.S. To those who accused me of being shrill about our new bail statute, I see that a partial TRO was granted against it being enforced. Ahem. Whatever happens, I am not the only one who thinks the new law is bullshit. Is every Legislature everywhere full of morons?

Full post as published by A Public Defender's Life in Alaska on July 07, 2010 (boomark / email).