Happy Memorial Day!

I was going to write something in my normal fashion (glib/funny) about serving in the military. But I started thinking about it. I have a lot of friends who have served or are still and a lot of coworkers in the military around the world. I also have two nephew's in the service. Allen, who is in the Army and currently stationed in Afghanistan and Anthony who just joined the Navy and is in school in Florida. So, my point is this, out of my 318 friends on FB the vast majority are currently serving, have served or will be serving in the military at some point in their life.

Now a lot of them will tell you that they signed up for the benefits or what ever. But no matter why they signed up, here is a simple fact. Just in my circle of friends and family almost 300 people that I know personally put aside whatever fear they had about being in the military, getting shot at or leaving their families for extended periods during moments that most of us treasure all our lives, to do a job they probably either dislike or dislike doing under the conditions they have to do them.

Most of them are not doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. They do it make their lives better and in the process make the lives of their friends and families better. A lot of them don't normally think about the patriotic thing they are doing, they are just trying to do a job. If nothing else thank them for that and for the service they provide.

Then there are those great many who have given the ultimate sacrifice of dying in service to our country. I am sure that they were all people doing just what my friends and family do, just trying to do the job. But somewhere in the course of their service they were put in some pretty awful circumstances that required them to do the job they do every day under conditions that would cause most of us to quit. Yet, they kept performing their jobs and in most cases better, faster and more accurately than they ever had before. This is because that was what needed to happen. Still, fate decided against them and they had yet another higher price to pay. I don't think there is a piece of land on this planet that hasn't seen an American servicemen die trying to keep all of us safe. So for that, don't just thank us that are still around. Thank the kids and spouses of those that didn't make it home. Offer them some help or kindness, like they and their loved ones did for you. It's the least you could do.

Well we made it out and back and only had to drive in LA 4 times. Though I must say after driving everywhere else it was actually pleasant to drive in LA (unless it was the rushour). The trucks stayed in the two slowest lanes (that's a law isn't it?) and the traffic was very orderly about faster traffic to the right. I didn't see any left lane vigilante's. I also noticed that people actually paid attention to your turn signals. Unlike Alaska, Hawaii and Virgina where they are consider a challenge rather than a signal of intent.

Anyways, here's the pictures

and now on to fishing/camping season!

But Mother Nature says I don't think so!. So I woke up this morning thanking god it was my last day of work for two weeks. I was looking forward to missing breakup, getting some sun and a shot or two of tequila in Mexico. Then Mother Nature decided to piss on my parade.

As many of you know we have been having on again, off again issues with a volcano (Mt Redoubt) about a hundred miles south of us. For the most part it's been a non issue. when it did spurt the the wind was blowing the other way and we didn't hear about it unless it was in the news.

Then today dawns. The one day in almost a year I have flown anywhere the fscking volcano decides to erupt with the wind blowing toward anchorage. So flights canceled. trip delayed by one day. Not that big a deal especially since we could change our tickets for no cost due to the volcano. We had booked a cruise to Mexico but aren't leaving until Monday so that is OK.

Here's the rub. We had very carefully orchestrated meeting our 16 year old niece at the airport so she could go with us. It's her spring break. Our tickets were with Alaska Airlines who was very helpful and understanding. Her's were on United and Delta. What do you think they said, go ahead guess. I will even wait a minute and let you think about it so you can do a little research on google and get an informed opinion.


ok? Ready? Yup you guessed it. Since her flights were not directly effected by the volcano and even though she is a minor flying unaccompanied to the largest city on the west coast and our flights were delayed by a day. They wanted us to pay to alter her tickets. Greedy, uncaring, unwavering corporate bastards. God forbid they give up a few hundred dollars of profit for a good customer experience and possibly gain a little customer loyalty in the process. Instead they chose the greedy corporate route and tried to squeeze ever last drop of blood out of a turnip that had already been wrung out.

This is why in my opinion bailouts won't work. Every company that does stuff like this really ought to go the way of the dinosaur and be given a chance to do what they are so intent on doing anyway and fail. Good Riddance. Maybe, just Maybe what rises from the ashes of these asshats is a company that actually understands that a little patience and understanding goes a long way toward gaining a good reputation with the customer base and might actually cause costumers to have a little loyalty.

Just noticed some neighbors of mine have published pictures of the fireworks that were done this year over our house.

Have a look!

Susan & Ben's Adventures: Happy New Year!

For those of us who haven't been in Alaska very long February and March are busy months in Anchorage.

First we have the Iditarod, "The Last Great Race", which for the uninitiated is the largest sled dog race in the US. It has a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, and then 24hours later the real start occurs in Wasilla. Odd thing is though, Anchorage has usually lost most of the snow on the roads by then (either due to the diligence of our snow removal crews or weather). So in order to provide snow for the dogs and sleds to run on it gets trucked in!


Then we have the Fur Rondy (or Rondezvous) Which has it's origins in the trapping trade that got people to Alaska in the first place. It started out as a meeting to get all the trappers in the outlying areas in one place so they could barter and trade furs as a means to make a living and to be able to stock up on low winter supplies. Now it's more like a winter fair, with music, and games, and outhouse races (yes I said outhouse races).

Anyway the purpose of this post is let you know about these events so you can plan for them if you wish to experience what Anchorage has to offer in the winter.

This could have very well been me and it did cause me to go read the man page on say!