Tonight It Is Meatloaf

We are home.
Got in last night after a four-hour drive from LAX ~ what a nightmare traffic was.

I have been thinking about this blog, wondering how I can tell you of all the things we saw and did and all the things that happened during the last 7 days on our Journey to Alaska. My intent was to blog during the trip, but internet access on board, well, it ain't free. So get ready to sit awhile.

I hope I can give you some of the flavors we encountered and the sights we have seen. But in the end, I do believe you will need to go for yourselves. As pictures are up-loaded, I'll post.

Most of today has been spent doing laundry, yardwork, and organizing our "booty" as Wayne calls it. Tonight, we had meatloaf. Homemade, served on a not so pretty plate, and assembled with no parsley. I think the comment I got was, "Ummmmm, this is your best meatloaf yet!" That one, I'll take it.

I will start with Day One and work forward. I wouldn't want you to miss out on Day One. It will give you a better understanding by the time we get to Day Seven.

Ohhhh yeah, it has been a trip.

DAY ONE Thursday, May 15th: 4:45am arrived early. Plans were that by leaving at 5:00 we could easily make our 9:35 am flight out of LAX (LA) to SEA-TAC (Seattle). We waved good by to home and the incoming 103* weather expected. And I got the wheel. Long about 8:00 am I realize I am on the 5 not the 405, almost to Long Beach, not LAX. We stop for directions. Catch the 605 to the 105 and go straight in to LAX on Imperial. Sounds simple, huh. Well it wasn't . We drove a little ways and found Imperial, dropped off the freeway, and in a panic stopped for more directions. Back on Imperial to the 105, which is the Imperial Highway (duh), after a short 20 minute drive and numerous calls to friends we could have "google" a map for us, we found Parking Lot C and headed for the shuttle. 1st shuttle bus drops off at the "real" shuttle bus station. Thank God they had a bathroom. "But Mom, the next bus will be here in less than two minutes!!" Knowing that it wouldn't take two seconds, I ran for the door. Nerves. I just explode in these kinds of situations. We arrived at 9, checked our 8 bags, was herded through TSA screening along with another kazillion people and arrived exactly on time 15 minutes before boarding was to begin.

On the shuttle bus, this guy hit on a young woman (with her own man). Get this for a line. "Hello, I sure would like for you to call me." Hands her his card. "Yes, I think ........, Yeah...Uh yeah I sing with Marvin Gay, so call me." And he gets off the bus at the next stop. One of the guys that stayed on the bus reminded us that Marvin Gay has been dead for sometime now. The more I think about, perhaps the guy said, "Hello, I'm Marvin, and I'm gay. Let's get together."

Lesson 1: Regardless of the price difference in air fare, do not fly out of LAX. It is a madhouse ~ I live on the edge of lunacy every day of my life, but that place is a ZOO. And, it is FILTHY.

Delta, little plane. 2 hour flight. Beautiful view of the Western Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Ranier. Blue skys the entire way. Such textures of the earth amaze me.

Lesson 2: Regardless of the price difference in air fare, do not fly Delta. You get better goodies on SouthWest. Even with the stop overs, the planes are much more comfortable.

Sea-Tac. Ever play follow the leader when there are 5 leaders? Let's go here, no this way, over here, outside! Okay so we finally found a shuttle in to town and settled in at the Holiday Inn. Sundown in the north is at 9:30 pm!!!!!! Makes for long days to do wonderful things in the city. Many hills to walk, police and fire stations to find, the Space Needle, and of course dinner at the Outback on our own private patio was wonderful ~ the fish place we were looking for closed down.

What a day. What a day. And only the beginning.