Category: Weather

The angst of flying.

Flying in and out of Unalaska causes much angst.  Mountains.  Bering Sea.  Birthplace of the winds.  3905 foot runway.  Grown men crying.  Grown men who fish out in the dangerous Bering Sea crying.  You get the picture.  Everyone has a story…or 20 stories to tell of incredible flights in or out of “Dutch”.  The sad issue is that it is just as angst-ridden for those on the ground waiting for loved ones to depart or land.  You either have to be really hard up for money (60%) or love it like you’ve never loved a place before (25%),  or be totally indifferent to your environment (15%) to live here and suffer the angst.

Case in point.  SP’s Mom flew out yesterday.  At our little airport there were 5 Saabs on the ground, a KingAir, and 2 Dash8s.  That’s a lot of propellers.  Jockeying for position on icy ramps.  All completely safe…except in the eyes of an 11 year old boy seeing his mother off.  There was a stiff little breeze, probably 15-20 knots out of the northwest.  Visibility was great when we got there.  Then, the airline, for whatever reason, decided that the passenger plane, which was set to depart at 10:00 am, was not as important as all of the freighters.  So we waited.  And waited.  By the time SP’s mom got on the plane  ( which was about as far away from the terminal as was possible without being off the tarmac), this is what had happened to the weather.

Aleutian flying weather.

As you can see, you can’t even see the end of the runway.  So, even though SP and I had to get home to finish making macaroni salad for a potluck we were to attend at noon, we waited.  He just didn’t want to leave his mom in the hands of the ‘idiots’, I believe was his phrase.  (Angst causes you to think badly of people and to blame them for things that are not in their control, lol.)

Angst.

Then when the weather started to lighten and brighten up, they decided to de-ice the plane, even though not a single one of the other 5 planes that had just taken off within the past 1/2 hour had been de-iced.  And they couldn’t get the de-icing machine to start.  At 11:22, having been at the airport for 2 hours, SP and I decided we could wait no longer.  We had to get that salad made.  We reluctantly departed the airport without having witnessed the plane taking off safely.  This is just not something we EVER do.  Thank goodness the crazy, hilarious, mad-cap antics of getting the salad finished took away our angst.

What to do?

It’s a little blowy and damp out there today.  We have wet snow coming from the southeast.  It’s sticking to the windows.  It is filling up the satellite dish and making the tv channels go in and out.  Visibility is kind of invisible.

Wet snow from the southeast makes for a low visibility day in Unalaska.

We are a bit lazy today.  Still recovering from the holidays and anticipating more with Russian Christmas coming in a few days.  SP has talked his grandpa into making him a DeadMau5 head.  It is a work in progress.  Of course everything grandpa makes costs virtually nothing because the various parts and pieces come from things already used or designated for the dump pile.  Definitely a work in progress.

DeadMau5, in the works.

DeadMau5, in the works.  Simply fascinating.

…and the whirlwind of life continues.

Well, how about this life in small town America?  Are you all getting enough activities to be content?  I am continually amazed at how life never seems to slow down in Unalaska.  I think I just need to zone out for a bit to recouperate, but the really busy times are right around the corner.  The spouse and I are currently enthralled with all the arguments that are even remotely possible concerning such things as the greenhouse, getting the boat ready for fishing, the messy house, when Alena is leaving again for her classes, how come the tomato plant isn’t blossoming, where in the heck do you get seed potatos in the State of Alaska, and if I have meetings, what’s for dinner?

We had a great time last weekend cheering on all the wonderful folks who shaved their heads to support children who have cancer and typically lose their hair during treatment.  During the St. Baldrick’s Day event, the community raised around $20,000 to support research.  My nephew, Jacob, was one of the shavees.  I am very proud that he is compassionate about life. 

Jacob 'before'.

And off to the left, is CB, from Dutch Harbor Dirt http://dutchharbordirt.blogspot.com/ .  He was also a shavee. 

OMG! Feeling the head for the first time!

And look at that pile of hair!  Thanks also to Jacob’s mom, Wendy, for signing that permission slip, allowing Jacob not only to get his head shaved, but to raise money for the cause. 

And, yes, Mamma approves.

And two of my favorite guys, CB, of the above mentioned blog, and Steve, whose blog, A Sense of Place, keeps many of us centered with his thoughtful posts.  You can read him at http://senseofplace63.blogspot.com/ 

CB on the left, and Steve, front and center!
Aren't they just the handsomest?

We have had a couple of beautiful days in Unalaska, teasing us with spring-like weather. 

Dad - checking out the salmon stream at Summer Bay.
Mom and Caleb walking the beach at Summer Bay.

And just look at all the beauty and then look at the crap that washes up on shore. 

How in the heck are we going to get rid of this?

Next week is Clean Up Week in Unalaska.  The snow is melting quickly and it is time to pick up everything that has been blowing hither and yon over the winter.  Bags are available at PCR.  Pick up a handful and have at it!