Big City, Buffalo stories, Friends, and a whole lot of shopping

After the FAA figured out how to land a plane on a one mile runway, we were able to leave the metropolis that is Adak for a getaway. It was a bit discouraging to have payed for a Bed and Breakfast and not be able to get off of the island right after Christmas, but thanks to the Carr family, our accommodations were outstanding! The aforementioned b&b (I know it is supposed to be capitalized, but I just don't deem this particular establishment worthy of upper case letters) was happy to inform us of their no refund cancellation policy. After a phone call from Cassidy in which I swear I overheard the words "wall-to-wall counseling" they modified the policy to include 50%. Ya, that's right, She is a fierce and determined woman.
We had a great time in Anchorage and as mentioned, the Carr family is AMAZING! Kristin and Ross Carr and their two amazing daughters, Gena and Whitney. Let me give you a breakdown of the family. Ross: Wonderful Father, Outdoorsman and can and has successfully built everything from a house to a computer (no joke). Kristin: Incredible Mother, brilliant, educator, and about as nutty as a 20 lb. Christmas fruitcake (in the coolest, most amazing way). Gena: Brilliant college freshman that always has a smile on her face. I not so secretly hope that Isabel turns out a lot like Gena. Whitney: whitney is a fourteen year-old that shot a buffalo while we were in town. Incredibly smart young lady and will shoot anyone that says otherwise from 350 yards.
I know Kristin through her brother, Tony, one of my oldest friends from my childhood that probably knows me the best (and still accepts me, which is saying somthing). There are moments in my youth that I actually developed a profound fear of how much Kristin was going to make fun of me. I actually believed for a short while that Kristin sat home all day and thought of new ways to humiliate me (in her defense, I actually thought EVERYONE did that for a period of my life). I only mention this because that fear was resurrected and compounded when the realization came to me that Cassidy and Kristin would be in the same room...with...me...in the...same...room. I found a happy place and blacked out during the first few runds of the all too fun game called "Let's relive humiliating events in Tim's life." Things like "Remember when you wore a Tutu to the eighth grade talent show?" and "He looked like a new born foal with his skinny legs and knobby knees" were overheard. It was great. My wife couldn't see my tears of pain and anguish through her tears of laughter. It was great.
Isabel was, of course, a hit with everyone (save for Whitney, perhaps). I fear that we are no longer welcome to enter several homes and establishments in Anchorage if we are "sans Isabel."
Cassidy shopped the etire time we were there and filled her quota for the quarter. It really is remarkable how fast she had the layout of several shopping centers as well as road systems committed to memory.
We did meet up with several other friends while in the big city. First was the Lewis Family and, as always, a great time. Walking into the Lewis house is like walking into Ward and June Cleaver's house. That is, if Ward was a cop. brewed his own beer and June worked and raised seven kids and didn't take any shit from anyone. Other than that, it is pretty much the same. Mitch entertained us with stories of general public stupidity that he gets paid (whatever it is, it isn't enough if you ask me) to deal with on a daily basis. Jeanne is about as genuine a human being that you will ever find. I don't think that anything that has ever come out of that woman's mouth was not one hundred and fifty per cent sincere. Oh! They have seven kids! So, you know, that makes things easy. I have met all but one and it amazes me how incredible and unique each of them are. I have trouble sometimes with Isabel. It's One kid and she is FOUR.
Next stop was the Tsunami warning center to visit Cindi. We met Cindi out here on Adak while she was out here for work and did presentations for the classroom and the community. That place is Amazing and while we were there, an earthquake occurred in Eureka, CA. I don't want to be insensitive or downplay anyone that has been adversely affected by a natural disaster, but when you are sitting in a room that looks like some sort of NASA control center and alarms start going off and monitors with world maps start flashing and graphics are jumping off the screen, well...it is pretty damn cool. Cindi is about the most laid back person I have ever met. She makes Frank Zappa look like Bill O'Reilly. She is extremely good at her job and has more knowledge than anyone should about what I like to call "Earth Stuff" (I apologize to all my earth science teachers throughout my childhood). Isabel had a great time and even got to create a miniature tsunami in a tsunami tank which she is very proud of (pictures will probably be posted).
After leaving the center, we met Erv and his wonderful wife for pizza in Eagle River. I believe I mentioned Erv in previous posts and how we were both in Pararescue, but one of us has a lot more distinguished career in it than the other (hint: it's the shorter of the two). Although I can't compare anything I have done in my life with Erv without some hyperbole going on, I did find one thing we have in common; We both probably don't deserve as wonderful wives as we have. It is always nice and inspirational to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that are still obviously in love with each other. Hell, to be honest, it's nice to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that still talk to each other. Erv has definitely found a diamond in the rough and it was great meeting his wife, Derri.
We made it back to Adak with seven checked bags, three carry-ons and 412 pounds of freight. I mention the freight because one of the perks I get for throwing luggage at the airport twice a week is a freight allowance. Theoretically this is a good thing. In reality, you have to ignore everything you know about common sense. I am allowed 250 lbs. (focus, it's a word problem here) of freight per quarter to be shipped to Adak at no expense to me. Now, a reasonable person would say, "Hey, if we go over the 250 lbs., we will just have to pay the difference. NO! Alaska Airlines can put a 25 ton hunk of metal in the air for sustained flight, but they refuse to tackle the complicated math of subtracting 250 from 412 (it's 162, by the way. It wasn't really a quiz). If you thought Cassidy was pissed at the b&b lady, you should have seen her face when we found out that we had to pay the entire shipment. I just want everyone to know that if I should seem to disappear and with no explanation, you can be certain of two things: 1)I really pissed my wife off and 2) I most certainly deserved it. Hell hath no fury....