Happy Birthday, Aidan, and how we spent one more day in Anchorage

Called AK Air this morning and were told there were no seats available at all today. Yes, flights were going but we were not getting on any of them. Resigned, we got on the computer and pricelined another room, halfway expecting to get the Millennium again but we were given the Sheraton for $50. Happy to get a room for $50 but that meant we had to pack up and move to a different place. Reserved the car for another day. Checked my emails and a little birdie blog reader had sent me a message that fellow blogger Lauri (Life on the Rock--the Unalaska one, not the Akutan one) was here in Anchorage at Providence Hospital! Bless Lauri's heart, she'd been having some respiratory problems for several days and finally got flown to Anchorage. Rich and I ran down to say hi and see if she needed anything. She was in good spirits and said to tell everyone hi--she will definitely be blogging about her experiences when she can. She has taken up knitting and has had a friend spending a lot of time in her room with her, so that's good. And is quitting smoking, so that's even better. We know that's a hard habit to break but know you can do it, Lauri--take care of yourself, we want you around for a long time to come!! Hey, everyone, go to Lauri's blog and send her some good wishes!
www.lauri-lifeontherock.blogspot.com.

So we did a bunch of running around today. Had a fabulous late breakfast at the Snow City Cafe. We found this place when we were here another time and just loved it. SO busy! I think everyone in town loves it. We drove by yesterday and it was packed but today we managed to get in around 11 so the breakfast crowd was gone and the lunch crowd had not started arriving yet. Dee-lish! Then to the Post Office to mail 47 pounds of frames and supplies in a big box marked FRAGILE. We bought some insurance, halfway expecting that at least some of them will be shattered by the time they arrive. However, we were most surprised and pleased that the shipping was only $18. SO much cheaper than ordering stuff from down south and having to pay for shipping. Then to the 5th Avenue Mall where we browsed the shops, bought Rich some shoes, and I stocked up on greeting cards at Hallmark.

The photo above is from the favorite store of many Alaskans, Fred Meyer, aka "Freddy's." I told Rich I was sure we would run into someone we knew, and sure enough, there was Amy Rose at the counter returning some items! We had a good chat; she, Forest and Arne are doing great in Anchorage and it was so nice to see her. She recommended we try a place called Dami for supper--Japanese and sushi--which is exactly what we did. Turns out it's right around the corner from our hotel and we just finished a very nice dinner there. Thanks for the suggestion, Amy!

Lauren, our general manager at UCB, was supposed to fly from Unalaska to Portland tonight for the same conference I am trying to attend. She called to say she was still scheduled to leave home at 8 PM but her Portland flight had been cancelled. She went on to say that she'd just heard that the volcano had blown again! We'd been in and out of the car all day and hadn't heard a word. Oh. my. gosh. She was trying to decide what to do, and we are both wondering if either of us will make it to the conference. Rich and I are still confirmed on the milk run tomorrow, but not sure how likely that is looking. We have now missed his sister Vesta altogether (we were all meeting at their brother George and wife Nadine's in Sutherlin, OR before the conference) and she has headed home to California. If we get out tomorrow, Rich can still go to see George and Nadine while I am finishing up my training. But what are the chances?? (Based on the poll on the sidebar, not good!)

Finally, just have to send out birthday wishes to my sweet grandson, Aidan, who just turned 6. I talked with him after school and he sounded like he had a happy day. He is my #1 boy and I am just crazy about him (as I am my two little granddaughters as well). As I mentioned with Bonnie yesterday, I don't have photos on this new laptop but you can just imagine his big blue eyes and cute smile (or go back and look at older posts!) We love you and miss you lots, Aidan!