When I woke this morning, little did I expect in just a couple of hours I would be the victim of of a robbery. What is more shocking was it happened right in the Quad City Airport. We were taking a number of additional pieces of luggage, and we ended up two over the limit.
Long story made short, before we were allowed to check the bags we were asked to pay $300.00 for both the bags. Were time not short, we would have made our way to the FedEx or UPS terminals and shipped them for far less. I suspect the unnamed airline knew exactly what they were doing when they shoved that velvet covered revolver in my ribs.
Even so, the jet ride to Chicago must have been made on afterburners. We were promised a 55 minute flight, and we were walking into the terminal 40 minutes later. That's where the second robbery of the day commenced. 2 breakfast bagels, an apple, a banana and two medium-sized bottles of water set us back $25!
The upside to this trip was the only layover was in Chicago, and it was only 1 hour, 45 minutes in total. For the second time on the day, the plane left almost exactly to the minute when it should, and once up in the air the pilot announced with the projected headwinds, weather patterns and what-not, the flight would last 6 hours and 1 minute. Really? How much goosing would it take to shave that 1 minute off and just make it 6 hours?
It turns out the pilot must have read my mind because we actually touched down 15 minutes early. This was after a very turbulent ride. The 'fasten seat belts' light was lit most of the trip, and at times felt very much like being on a roller coaster. Still, it seemed once we hit the Canadian Rockies the road, as it were, smoothed into glass.
Anchorage is a wonderful town, but not to drive in. I swear each and every driver here was licensed to drive by Louisa County, Iowa. If I could have charged $100 for every time I was cut off, I would be retiring tomorrow. They are very bizarre about speeds, too. On a 60 MPH-limit road, 65 MPH had me passing cars like they were standing still, but if I reduced to 60 MPH, I started being lapped like I was in the Indy 500.
The scenery is everything it was represented to be, and oh-so-much more. I simply cannot express the beauty that is all around. The majestic mountains which command the horizon are impressive. Having earlier in the day left behind the drought, it was amazing and almost a holy experience to see the myriad hues and tints of green.
I mentioned earlier we had taken a risk, a true gamble on a service called AirBnB.com. I am happy to report that risk payed off handsomely. We could not be happier with the results, and would not hesitate to give our host a shower of accolades and recommendations! It is well worth your time to use this service, provided you select your host with care and diligence. I surmise it would be just as easy to pick a lousy host as the superior one.
As I sit typing this, I am staring at the rear of what has to be a wonder of the ages. It is called Fred Meyer, and folks I am here to testify and bear somber, sober witness to you that Fred Meyer has Wal-Mart and every other brick-and-mortar retailer beat, hands down! We ventured out of our AirBnB.com condo, and explored Fred Meyer. I tell you, the largest Wal-Mart SuperCenter you have ever seen is but an swaddling infant compared to the colossus that is Fred Meyer.
If it is possible to see the curvature of the Earth from ground level, it is done at a Fred Meyer store. I believe under the right set of circumstances one could see and witness infinity itself! The sounds which ricochet and reverberate all around you become a wonder only when you realize they are echoes coming from the other end of the cavernous store. Truly, it is my firm belief the Grand Canyon has less of an echo than this Fred Meyer store.
Oh, but I have saved the best for last, friends. This wonder of man, this titan among giants of retailing, this behemoth has a secret buried deep within the bowels of the store. There is an extensive firearm retailing operation inside this 'grocery' store. I kid you not! See for yourself :
But there is one thing about Fred Meyer that really upsets me. It's the fresh produce that really winds my clock. I cannot believe, even after having seen it with my own eyes, how much more fresh the produce is here than was in Iowa. I am eating a few seedless grapes we purchased for a snack, and they are as sweet as any I have ever eaten. The price was comparable to what we paid in Iowa, too.
Well, that is the day that was. We cannot believe how lucky we are to have this opportunity, and we hope our good fortune holds fast.
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