Stump Crabs

It's that time of year again when Albeni Dam spills a little more water over its gates and Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille river see their shores get a bit broader. Waterfronters boat docks become worthless. The somewhat picturesque Sand Creek looks more like a mud bog. And best of all, the stump crabs make their presence.



These beauties were spotted along the Southside of the Pend Oreille river between Sandpoint and Priest River.


From a distance amongst the haze stump crabs may seem a bit intimidating.


But a closer view reveals a very slow, gentle being.

Idaho Politics

Well Idaho lived up to it's anti-progressive nature, coming in number 4 behind Utah, Oklahoma, and Wyoming for the highest McCain percentage won by a state. My county, Bonner, went 57% McCain to 40% Obama. I guess that's better than Cassia county in southern Idaho that went 81% McCain 17% Obama. Yikes. How would you like to hang out in that area.

Our local elections were also a disaster. Our County Commissioner seat was won by a gun nut that owns an Army Surplus store. In fact all of our elected officials went GOP except one surprise-our US Representative for Idaho's first district. Somehow the former Republican turned Democrat Walt Minnick was able to barely upset Right Wing Wacko Bill Sali. Lucky us.

Caught up in the election hype I checked out CNN's cool election maps where it breaks down each sate by county and how it voted in the presidential election. The counties that I have lived in here in Idaho were the only ones that went for McCain. That includes counties in Wisconsin, Illinois, Oregon, and Latah county in central Idaho. Well, I sure don't feel sorry for all my neighbors who will no doubt sulk under an Obama Administration while constantly listening to Rush Limbaugh.