Sister Trip to Canada, eh?

You may know by now my family is a bit hockey fanatical. Today I am a hockey fan and for that, I blame my sisters. It didn't used to always be that way. But one year I came home from a trip and all my siblings had become devout hockey fans. I trailed behind for a while, but then I jumped on board. Might as well keep the family thing going, eh?

Oilers vs. Blues

So last week, my youngest sister and I had plans to travel to Edmonton, Alberta for a couple NHL games. Began the week by driving from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Beautiful drive! We haven't had much snow yet, so the roads were clear and dry. The sun was high and bright in the clear, blue sky and hardly anyone on the road. All that equals a great road trip. Arrived in Anchorage, ate dinner, then dropped our car off and got a ride to the airport.

beautiful day for a drive

Now.... the thing is we were traveling standby, which means we only get on the plane if there are seats available. When I checked the flight, there were 8 unpurchased seats and 13 standbys. Not so good, BUT we got on! I think we were the last two on the flight. Buckled in and ready to fall asleep (late night flight). Then the captain's voice came over the intercom..... small leak on the ground outside, gonna check it out, folks.

Twenty minutes later, uh we are going to deboard you, cause you'll be more comfortable in the terminal, than on the plane while the mechanics take a look. Yeah, I work at an airport, I know what that means.... either a very long delay or canceled flight.

Three hours later, they finally confirmed that our flight was cancelled. By that time, it was after 3am. So little sister and I slept at the airport for a few hours. Gotta love sleeping with all the lights on and random announcements over the intercom every hour or so. When we got up the next morning, we went and had breakfast, then did a bit of shopping and then hung out at Barnes & Noble for a few hours. I may or may not have fell asleep in the comfy chairs by the fireplace....

Back to the airport in the middle of the afternoon for our new flight. Because of it wasn't a scheduled flight, but one they created because of the cancellation the night before, it wasn't full! We both had a row to ourselves. Praise the Lord, I could get some more sleep!

Arrived in Denver, where we had to spend the night, this time in a hotel. The next morning, we flew the three hour flight to Edmonton. I had intended to read or sleep during that flight. However, my seat companion, some guy from Alberta was quite chatty and we conversed the entire time. Well, more he talked and I listened.

FINALLY, we arrived in Edmonton! Only a day later than planned. And Kate was there to greet us! Then the fun began. :) We picked up our rental car, drove to where we were staying to drop our bags and fresh up and then we went downtown. First on the agenda was dinner. Kate had one of her favorite restaurants she wanted us to go to. It was made better when we walked in and there at the back of the very small restaurant was a table of hockey players. Ha! And they were from the Blues, the team we came into town to see play.

with part of the Blues team

downtown Edmonton

with the Great One - Gretzy

The next couple days consisted of much talking and laughter, driving around town, shopping at the huge malls, eating, later night runs to Tim Hortons and of course Hockey! We talked to a couple friendly security guards at the brand new Rogers Arena the night before the game and they asked if we had been inside. Course we hadn't, cause nothing was happening in there that night and we thought it was closed. But they told us there was an open door and to go on it and check it out. Only the big hall was open, not the rest of the arena, but it was pretty awesome to be able to look around with no one else in there! The next night we were there with thousands of people.

inside the new Rogers Place arena

nothing like giant bobblehead hockey players 8)

cheering for #55 on the Blues

One the way back home, we again spent a night in an airport, but we made both our flights. At the very last minute, which is a little nerve-wracking, but I survived. And then we had the drive home after flying all day. Arrived home at 1130pm Saturday night and I had to work at 4am the next morning. But oh well, so's life.

It was a great trip and one I'll cherish for a long time. Nothing like sister bonding time at the airport and hockey games. :)

My Italian Family

 About six months ago, I met this crazy Italian family- in Bulgaria no less. It didn't take long for me to love them all.... not sure how they feel about me, ha! But for better or worse, they're stuck with me now. :) Besides my family had already claimed them as family, long before I met them face to face. It was nice to finally get to know them all in person, as I had heard all their names countless times from my family; we had even emailed quite a bit and I talked to them on the phone once or twice. 

After only a few days, it was like we had always known each other... and the adventures began. We played trampoline soccer, worked crossword puzzles, built sand tunnels & castles, ate uh... interesting chocolate at church, and of course... climbed the Varna monument- that my friends, is a story all in itself. My time with them was vastly too short.

building castles and tunnels

by the Black Sea

on the Varna monument

first week with these crazy Italians

So.... after a conversation about our separate travels back to the States, we realized that we flew back in the same US city just a day apart! Not sure who first suggested we meet up again in the States, but that's what we did! And because we did, I got to meet another great family in NJ! Glad the Jersians were okay with a strange girl tagging along with the Italians and bombarding their house! 

While in NJ, I got to swim in a creek for only the 2nd time in my life! Hey, when you're from Alaska, its not a normal summer event. Our creeks are still FREEZING cold even in July! But I got to swim and swing off a rope into the water (a first for me! and I had huge bruises to prove it), kayak (another first) and overall have fun in the warm water. Those couple of days in NJ also included a trip to a National Cemetery on Memorial Day, a birthday party and latenight shenanigans. 

Well, time went on, I came home to Alaska and the Italians began their long journey around the US. Remember that baseball game I flew to Chicago for? Yep, that was the same family. Another awesome (crazy) adventure. 

And then.... last month, I flew down and met up with the Italians once again. This time on the Western side of the US. We drove/explored parts of Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, having fun along the way. We played lots of Uno, Assassin (style of tag), basketball, football, crawled into an mini castle in an awesome Grandpa/Pastor's house and ran through sprinklers in the dark, all bringing volumes of laughter.

scouting out some caves

Snake River - too close to the edge? 

intense Uno game in the back of the Limo

I love families who I can be friends with both the parents and the children. Though sometimes its a bit nebulous as to where I belong exactly.... while in WA, we went to a family's house for dinner. The host announced dinner was ready and then said, "okay, the kids are outside on the patio, the adults in the livingroom and the teens are wherever they want." I got asked which group I belonged in... and frankly sometimes I don't know! :D