Well, I finally made it back to Alaska for Christmas! I made the mistake of flying US Airways. In a time of economic crisis they want to make people hate them more by charging for bags! It’s $15 for the first, $25 for the second and $100 for the 3rd-9th. I don’t know how many people need to check nine bags, Madonna perhaps? but US Airways is going to capitalize on it! Can you imagine spending almost $1000 just to check your bags on an airline?

It gets worse. US Airways doesn’t even serve water for free anymore! They offer Coca-Cola products, juice and some alcoholic beverages that are going to cost you. $2 just for a can of soda! On our flight from Phoenix to Anchorage the flight attendants were anxious to let us know that they did not have any food on board so if we wanted anything to eat during the six hour flight we had better buy it at the airport.

People at the Anchorage airport just don't get why there is a dotted line around the baggage claim.

All this was only mildly annoying until I got on my Phoenix to Anchorage flight, which was a red eye, and realized that my seat, 8A, was in the row in front of the emergency exit row. Imagine my distress when I realized that I couldn’t put my seat back! Six hours of flying during the middle of the night and I could not find a comfortable way to sleep. The poor older gentleman next to me looked like a contortionist as he changed from one uncomfortable position to another. 

Luckily I made it to Anchorage in one piece. There is quite a bit of snow on the ground which is good to see. In past years it has been too warm and actually rained on Christmas! It feels good to be back at my parents house. When I walked in the door I was greeted by the smell on my mom’s homemade pumpkin spice bread, delicious! I’m also excited to see my two favorite wiener dogs. Sophie is pregnant with puppies and is supposed to give birth a couple days before I leave. I hope that I am here when it happens!

I don’t have too many plans for while I’m home. Hopefully there will be a lot of skiing. Once Jim and Chris get here we are going to rally the troops and head north to try to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Whatever happens, I’m sure it will be an adventure.