Packing and Nimrods

A week from today, at this very time, I will be on board Alaska Airlines Fight #189 for the last leg of my trip, preparing for take-off from Anchorage to Fairbanks!!!  YAY!!!!  This is the very 1st time, out of all the times I have flown up there, that I will be arriving in the afternoon! 

I get in at 4:18.  Unheard of!  Of course, in order to do that, my flight leaves here at 6:00 AM.  It was originally 7 AM, but they changed it.  That means I need to be there at 5 AM and we live 45 minutes from the airport, so we need to leave the house at 4 AM, which means I need to get up.....O.M.G.......2:30 or 2:45ish.  UGGG!  I can't even begin to function without at least 2 cups of coffee, and don't rush me with that!  Then there will be the last minute items to go in the suitcase, but I think I can avoid any of that.  That way Mr. Hustle-Bustle won't have to be chomping at the bit to load my suitcases. 

Some members of our amazing Derby Family have arranged for a little get together, upon my arrival :-).  It's going to be at River City Cafe, where my dearest Riley works!  Next to the fare at my daughter's home, this is the best food in the Fairbanks North Star Borough!! I already know what I'm going to have.  I'll start with an X-Large Cinnamon Latte with extra cinnamon (to help keep me alert) and then I will have a Roast Beef Croissant sandwich, with cheddar, sprouts, avocado, tomato and horseradish.  Oh, Lordy!  I can just taste it now.  To go along with that will be a fresh Raspberry Lemonade.  Yummm!  I sure hope Riley doesn't have to work so she can meet me at the airport with her Mama and the rest of my sweeties!  Gads!!  I just can't wait to get HOME!!

And have I been packing!  Well, gathering, actually.  1 huge suitcase on the bed, 1 huge suitcase beside the bed, and the bed is piled with stuff and clothes and stuff....I need lots of clothes for this time of year up there.  There will be chilly days, then very warm days during which I will sweat like a pig 'neath that big Alaskan sun!  That will turn into just chilly mornings & evenings and very warm afternoons.  Shorts, sweaters, sneakers, sandals....they are all required.  And God forbid I don't take all my favorite clothes!  What would happen if I went to get dressed and there was nothing there that I felt like wearing?!?  That's pretty bad, but I've always been that way.  I wish I could just love all of my clothes unconditionally and be able to wear any of them any time......but I don't.

Well, the Nimrod did the front door thing again last night, and I was having one of those days where I could barely put any weight on my left leg without it feeling like I was going to self-destruct.  It was about 5:30.  Chuck wasn't home yet.  I was in the kitchen working on supper and I saw him pull in behind the barn, then turn around and leave.  Next thing I knew....bang, bang, bang on the freaking front door.  I went, opened the door and he said "So, Pops isn't home yet?"  F*** me!!  No, Nimrod!! If his van isn't behind the barn, there's no place else for him to hide it!  ARGGG.  Really, all I said was "no" and he turned and bounded down the steps and left.  I slammed the door so hard the windows rattled all over the house.  About 5 minutes later, Chuck came in the back door and Nimrod was right behind him.  I waited a few minutes and then I asked him if he could do me a big favor, and explained the whole thing to him.  Nicely.  Calmly.  Diplomatically. He said, sure.  No problem.  Chuck piped up and said to him, what the hell do you do that for?? He said,  "hell, I didn't want to walk to the house from there!"  Chuck said, "well you better!  Don't be expecting her to have to run around letting your lazy ass in!"  Hee hee.  I loved it!  But we'll see how long it lasts.  Ya know, he could have just called me.  Didn't even have to come to the door to verify the obvious.