Blue skies and broad horizons

First of all we would like to wish everyone a very happy 2011!

We are starting it off a little differenly than most by moving across the country and off the continent. Sitka Alaska here we come!

We have officailly left Arkansas soil. We started our day at 6 am Central time. Scott’s parents dropped us off at the air port in Tulsa by 9 and we were through security in no time. We decided to opt out of our TSA scans for personal reasons so we got the blood flowing with an exhilarating frisk. Our flight was running early (which as I understand it is an urban legend in the world of travel) so we made fantastic time into Chicago. After our brief lay over and a quick lunch at Wolfgang Puck’s we took off for Seattle. Things were looking good, dare I say, even great!

Until-

Somewhere over Canada, it is my adamant belief, we were sucked into a time vortex and spent several hours in the twilight zone. Though our clocks only reflected the time passing as four and a half hours, the twilight zone is tricky and I know it was a lie! Now, I’m no William Shatner and I certainly didn’t see a little green man out on the wing of our plane (that would be crazy talk), but somewhere between the Northern Rockies and British Columbia time stands dead still. Being the adult that I am and not the child that I want to be I tried to keep myself from asking the stewardess inane questions like ‘are we there yet?’ and ‘how much further?’ Once I managed to beat around the bush and inquire 'as to the status of the flight being on time for landing' (asked in my most grown up voice). Kindly she replied, “Oh, yes dear, we’re about an hour away.” She saw through me like cellophane. Thus began the longest hour of my life.

After being spat out of the whirling time vortex of doom, we were greeted by a friendly Arkansas face. Dietrich, Scott’s childhood friend, recently moved to Seattle and was here to greet us warmly, though it was the only thing warm in the whole city. I know this is ridiculous to say but it is cold. Very, very cold. I knew I was moving to a cold place in the middle of winter but it is still surprising to experience it. We had a fun night hanging out and since it was already dark outside as far as I was concerned, this was just another game night back home. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, jetlag. I realized it was almost midnight West Cost time aka 2a.m. Central. --Allow me to take this moment to explain to everyone that I am a morning bird and not a night owl. I’m usually in bed by 10 and asleep no later than 11. —So, the strain of travel coupled with an early start and rounded off with a late bedtime is a great formula for sudden and deep unconsciousness. Mt. Rainier could have erupted and I would have slept right through it.

Three cups of coffee later, my world is bright and shining again and we’re ready for our last leg of the journey. As soon as Scott gets out of his 3 hour residnecy interview with Good Samaritan Hospital we’ll head back to the air port. The weather forecasts here and in Sitka are both blue skies so hopefully it will be smooth sailing… er, flying.

Stay tuned, love you all!

S/A