the Kipper's home!!!

Welcome Ya'll!!!!! I hope that you have a good visit! Be GOOD and make sure to follow your dreams!

"What if you could never hear another crow or never again feel the moss soft under your feet? What if you could never watch another caterpillar? What if you were never to see another snowfall or eat another apple? Would you want an end to those experiences?" Epicurean Simplicity, Stephanie Mills

Think about it and your effect upon the environment...

... ... ..ITS TRUE, I LIVED IN ALASKA FOR OVER A YEAR.. ... ...

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WOW, I have now been working back in MICHIGAN for over a year now, and it feels good to be home (in a democratic state)! I have spent much of the last year reviewing projects for impacts to wetlands, lakes and rivers and really enjoying it. It is the job I have wanted since getting out of grad. school. I can't say that every day is great, but the majority of them are and I am doing my job to conserve Michigan's precious ecosystems!

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Hanging out with Tonja and Randy at Wilderness State Park. By the way, the trail we took was a tad difficult for our group, but we survived with a little walking! Enjoying MICHIGAN!

On my soap box for a minute, I feel absolutely horrible for those people located along the Gulf, but it is time that we (AMERICA) as the World's largest consumer of fossil fuels begin to change our ways and allow the environment to heal, instead of getting worse. Each day we are causing the Earth to heat up, flora and fauna to disappear and destroy the home of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on. We need to be the leader in the environmental movement instead of the anchor. We have the technology and the funds, so lets all work together and show the world that we can be economically successful while protecting the environment for today and tomorrow!

ALASKAN FIREWEED

I do have some ideas for trips that I would like to go on, but I need some traveling partners, anyone interested??? Here they go... St. Crouix... Latvia, Lithunia, Estonia... White Water Rafting... Backpacking on Isle Royale... Canadian East Coast... Camping Out at Hudson Bay... Going to a LIONS GAME... Las Vegas... Western UP... New Zeeland... The Moon... Just some ideas that I would love to do, plus go to South America again.

PURPLE vs. HUMAN

Neither were in America. Both came in through a coastline and continued out into the frontier. The European settlers came in and found an ecosystem they could master by removing any obstacles in their way. Purple loosestrife comes into wetlands as a beautiful flower, but soon out competes the other plants and dominates their ecosystem. Native Americans believe in sharing their land with nature and to be at peace. In a similar fashion, wetlands are most productive when many species share the ecosystem. Europeans came in and removed Native Americans from their most productive lands and in many cases destroyed them. Purple loosestrife has come from far away lands and pushed native plants out of the wetlands and caused them to become less productive. Now the "new" American people are complaining about Purple loosestrife, a non-native species. These new Americans, that themselves came into this country and caused the same type of chaosis that loosestrife is creating, but to a much greater extent. Two species that are so similar in their effect upon new environments, but one looks down upon the other and forgets its own past.

"If we cultivate our delight in and gratitude for the least thing-a drink of water, a night's rest, the sight of a blue jay-we cultivate the life strong within us and enliven possibility itself." Epicurean Simplicity, Stephanie Mills.

What YOU can do to help the ENVIRONMENT-

--- Use LESS of everything ---

--- REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE ---

--- Use BAKING SODA and VINEGAR for cleaning ---

--- DON'T pour toxic substances down the drain ---

--- Use phosphorus FREE soaps ---

--- Plant NATIVE vegetation ---

--- Support ENVIRONMENTAL legislation and politicans (VOTE!!!!!) ---

--- Turn OFF the water while brushing your teeth ---

--- Turn OFF lights ---

--- Teach peope, especially CHILDREN about nature and get outside ---

--- Drive less, use Public Transportation, walk, ride ---

--- Use a REFILLABLE mug ---

--- Regularly clean out septic systems ---

--- Plant trees and shrubs along shorelines to PREVENT erosion ---

--- Conserve water ---

--- Hang your clothes outside to dry ---

--- Wash your car on your lawn so that the grass will help filter out the pollutants ---

--- Create habitats in your backyard for birds and small mammals (plant trees and shrubs) ---

"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." -- President Lyndon B Johnson on signing the Wilderness Act, 1964

Fools Crow, Ceremonial Chief of the Teton Sioux: "The survival of the world depends upon our sharing what we have and working together. If we don't, the whole world will die. First the planet, and next the people."

Ok, I am outta here, but thanX for visiting!!!!! Remember that you only live once, so enjoy it while you are here and tell those that you love that you LOVE them!

Buh-bye!!!!!!!!!!

theKipper's SHOUT OUTz~

Hi Mommy and Scott: Watch out for that cat hiding around the corner....

Talofa Kevin and Andrea: I can't believe that y'all haven't moved to some remote island where the temperature never dip below 85F...

Howdy Kammi & M3: Maybe this is the year of the next Virginia blizzard!

Pops: HEY, get out of the house and find something fun to do!

What up ANIMAL ED and ADA too: Let me know once you have that monster cat of yours trained and then maybe I will come over for a visit...

WhatUP Tonja: Ready for another trip to the Florida Keys? I am...

Shanita the PSU fan: Hope life with the new kid is incredible!

Hey A2 Kevin, I hope that HH is bringing in the "dough"!

Joker in the House of Michigan: Once you get that teaching certificate and head off to FLORIDA, send me your address and I will be on the road again!

Brother Randy: Lets do some ice fishing this winter!

Bio Dog Paul: Damn I miss you guys out in ALASKA! I hope you are the family are doing great in Tanana.

My Fairbanks Pal Tija: I hope that life is well in LATVIA and with your round the world "boy-toy"!

Darcie/Cailin & PJ: It has been a long time but I hope all is well!

See Ya!

Live each moment of life to it's fullest!!!!

Show your love!

Be a friend!!!

Enjoy Nature!

Go for a walk!