KRISTA IS FINALLY HOME!!!

Krista is finally home. Here is the entire ordeal, you can read it here first before it is published in the major newspapers ;o).

Detail of events for Alaska Airlines:

Due to the eruption of Mt. Redoubt Alaska Airlines was cancelling and diverting flights. Our daughter was scheduled to come in on Thursday March 26th, 2009, but due to an eruption the flight was cancelled and she was rebooked for Saturday March 28th, 2009.

March 28th, 2009 Called Alaska Airlines hotline to confirm that our 14 year old daughter who was flying on a regular ticket would be allowed to board the plane in Chicago, due to a Posting on the Alaska Air web site stating the following:

“Flights in and out of Anchorage and intra-Alaska may experience delays or cancellations due to the eruption of Mount Redoubt. Also, until further notice, Alaska Airlines is not accepting unaccompanied minors or pets traveling to or from Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska and cargo shipments may also be delayed or canceled.”

The agent that we spoke to asked if she was flying on an “unaccompanied minor ticket” we stated no she was not but she was a minor and no adult would be flying with her. The agent assured us there would be no problem. We then contacted her mother and grandmother in Chicago and told them to proceed to the airport as Alaska said that they would allow her to fly. Once the Mother and Grandmother arrived at the Airport the Agents issued her tickets with no warnings and issue her Mother and Grandmother passes so they could escort her to the gate. Once at the Gate Alaska Airlines made an announcement that there was a possibility that the plane may be diverted to Fairbanks, Alaska and if you didn’t want to go there or could not afford a rental car or a hotel in Fairbanks do not board the plane. Her Mother and Grandmother at the point contacted my husband, her father, and confirmed that we would be able to pick up our daughter in Fairbanks if needed, we confirmed that we would gladly pick her up in Fairbanks if the plane had to divert there. They boarded our 14 year old on the plane along with 3 other minors and left Chicago O’Hare Airport.

Midway through the flight there was another eruption and instead of flying to Fairbanks they diverted to Seattle. The fact of the matter was there was no reason to divert to Seattle as Fairbanks was clear of the ash path and Alaska Air would’ve been able to fly around the Ash cloud and land in Fairbanks, but they chose to divert to Seattle where there were already thousands of stranded travelers from earlier diverted flights. Seattle was not mentioned in Chicago as a possible diversion city, or we would not have allowed our 14 year old to board the plane. Once we were aware that the plane was diverting to Seattle we immediately got on the phone and called Alaska and informed them of the situation, they informed us at that time of the 3 other minors also aboard the plane with out Adult supervision/guardians and where given a direct line to a special agent who would assist us with getting her booked home. We contacted the special agent and asked what would be done with our daughter and were informed that we had a few choices: 1) We could immediately send her back to Chicago. 2) We could leave her with a gate agent and they would put her along with the other 3 minors up in a hotel and then “try” and get them out to Anchorage or Fairbanks the next morning. Or 3) If we had family in the area they could come and get her, she would still remain on priority status and they would get her to Anchorage or Fairbanks along with the other 3 minors on the very next plane.

This did not happen. What happened was her Aunt and Uncle came and retrieved her from the airport. We contacted our special agent and started getting her rebooked and informed the Agent that she was with her Aunt and Uncle. It took the agent several days and several tries to get her booked. We where told to have her to the airport by 4am, no later than 5am or they would give up her seat on the 6am flight on the Monday am jet. Her Aunt got up at 3:00am to get them to ready and to the airport by 4am. They arrived at the airport at 4am to check in and were told by the gate agent that they would not accept her, as she was an unaccompanied minor. Her Aunt explained what we had been told and explained the situation the agent still refused. Her Aunt then called her father who called Alaska explaining the situation and what we had been told by Alaska Airlines that she was priority and that they were to allow her on the plane. He went through several agents and supervisors. They then told us that because we had a relative come and pick her up that Alaska Airlines was no longer responsible for her but if we would like to pay to have her Aunt fly up with her and then fly back they would sell us a reduced rate ticket, or if we wanted to pay to have either her father or I fly down and fly back up with her they would sell us a reduced rate ticket. This was an outrage!!! If we didn’t do this or find another adult who would accept responsibility for her then she would have to either stay in Seattle or go back to Chicago. Fortunately for us we knew of a co-worker who was also stranded in Seattle and had been since Thursday of the prior week, we contacted him, he agreed to go, and was overjoyed to be getting on an earlier plane, as he was not booked out until Wednesday, and they rebooked them on the 9am flight out of Seattle. What happened to the other 3 minors who had no family you ask? They were kept with a gate agent, a stranger to them, in Seattle at a hotel, and they were given priority and booked out on a flight Sunday night back into anchorage, but because we choose to have her stay with family Alaska refused at that point to take responsibility for their actions and failed to make good on their promises and we almost had to pay extra just to get her home.

The Volcano is still erupting

Well the Valcano is still erupting and we are getting flights cancelled left and right!! Krista is stuck down in the lower 48 and couldn't fly on Thursday like she was suppose to, so she is not happy as she missed her dance she was looking forward to, John who we were looking forward to chatting with and hanging out with also got stuck in Seattle so no gossip ha ha. We are under an Ash Fall Advisory today and tomorrow as the valcano erupted again this morning, the snow is grey that is falling ha ha. They are having almost twice or more daily eruptions at this point, not sure what is going to happen with Krista being down south and school as so far she has been out of school for two weeks. I am going to have to call the school and see what we can do about all her missed school and homework. Hopefully she will not have to do summer school because of it, or worse repeat the eigth grade!!!

Other than that we just wait and watch the Volcano wondering when it is going to really let loose. Apparently the last time it did this back in 1989-1990 it erupted for 6 months off and on like this!! Lets hope it doesn't continue like this for that long!

Happenings

Well not a whole bunch going on other than the Volcano keeps burping ash every other day, so far after the first 5 eruptions nothing major just small bursts of ash and steam. Krista comes home on Thursday the 26th and a friend of ours John comes in also to hang out for a day before heading back to Kodiak. We are looking forward to seeing him and catching up on all the news.

Yesterday was David's 41st birthday and of all the things he could choose to have for his birthday dinner he chose Grilled Ham and Cheese and french fries, ha ha, go figure!!!

The girls are doing fine, Ashley is in softball and having daily practices. We ordered her, her very own catchers mitt as the softball program here is not funded by the school so equipment is very well worn and doesn't always fit. She is enjoying playing ball and hanging out with her friends. She had a friend over to spend the night last weekend and hang out, nice girl. Krista has been in Illinios visiting her Mom and Grandma and like I said earlier comes home on Thursday so will be picking her up at about 9:45pm. We will be anxious to hear how her trip down south was and if she had fun.

As for me and the dog, I think the dog has separation anxiety lol as if I leave her site she freaks out lol, oh well at least someone needs me ha ha!!! I don't have to travel to NY due to the volcano so I am stuck at home with no up coming adventure, I'm so sad about that, NOT EVEN!!! I really was dreading the trip to NY as it was just going to be such a long flight and had to be around very rude people and work nights so happy that I get to stay in Alaska.

The weather is starting to warm up, we are in the 40's today so the windows are open to let some fresh air into the house and supposedly we are suppose to be getting more snow this week but I am hoping it doesn't show up as the snow we do have is finally starting to melt and we can see grass!!! We are very excited!!! Maybe this means spring is coming to Alaska??? Dave said to not hold my breath, as he said no spring for us until May or so. OH WELL!!! I can dream!!!

Well that is about it for now, we miss everyone!!

The Volcano Erupts and Dave is famous!

Okay so the mountain erupted up here and this caused flights to be cancelled and needless to say now I am not going to NY due to the chance that I might not be able to make it out.

Dave was on duty for the weather service when the volcano erupted and so he made national news!! He got phone interviews from Fox News, Anchorage Daily News and made CNN news and several others. Below are the some links to the new agencies where you can see his name.

http://www.adn.com/volcano/story/732796.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090323/ap_on_re_us/alaska_volcano
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090323/ap_on_re_us/alaska_volcano;_ylt=AmbRLQUO0LAyKx70zF8e_LWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTI5dGtnY2ZjBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwMzIzL2FsYXNrYV92b2xjYW5vBHBvcwMxMQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNhbGFza2F2b2xjYW4-

Video of Kodiak playing with Daddy

She has a stuffed duck that quacks that Dave is teaching her to fetch.

Knick Glacier us out and about

We where out playing on the 4 wheeler trails yesterday at the Knick Glacier area. Kodiak had her first trip on the 4 wheeler and did really well.

Just some ramblings

Hi everyone, well another week in the frozen north has come and gone and no sign of spring up here!!! The snow keeps coming!! As you can see by the pictures from last week. They say it is spring but I think they were lying to us, just to make us feel better. I also don't believe we have "global warming" ha ha, well at least not up here!!

We had the Iditarod race start this weekend up here and I totally forgot about it, cause the girls and I went four wheeling while David was at work, and for those of you who know David, you know it drove him crazy lol. He was thinking are they hot rodding the four wheelers?, are they getting them stuck? Did Jen undo the right bolts for the plow, or is the four wheeler going to fall apart lol, you know it was torture for him ha ha !! But me and the girls only got stuck a couple of times, and we only jumped the quads just a few times over some "small" jumps ha ha!!! I love you David, cause I know you read this!! There I pulled the "I love you card" so you can't be mad! For those of you who are asking, what the heck is the I love you card? It is a card I created for Dave, myself and the girls. It is basically a get out of jail free card. If we do something that we know is going to drive the others crazy we pull the card and say "but I love you" and it is suppose to get us out of trouble ha ha, sometimes it works..... and sometimes it doesn't ha ha!

Anyways back to the snow and the Iditarod, they were saying on the live feed for the Iditarod that it was a beautiful "spring" day in Alaska, well when I think of spring I think of temps at least in the 50's and green grass and flowers, not 4 feet of snow, temps in the high 20's, windchill bringing it down to oh about -3 ha ha. But I was thinking hmmm I wonder when does it start to actually look and feel like spring!! The girls and I are ready for some green grass, flowers and some warm sunshine. We are getting tired of all the white, I am begining to think I understand why the people we bought the house from painted the colors they did, ha ha, just too much white!

The girls are on spring break this week so you know they aren't out of bed before noon! We are just kicking back this week and letting the girls relax. David and I are both working so they can pretty much do what they want with in reason ha ha. Krista is flying out to see Michelle (her mom) on the 15th and will be there until the 26th. I fly out for New York on March 26th - April 1st as I got asked to go to a client site there. I am not really excited about it as I really do not care for the east coast at all, but it is just because there are soooooo many people there. I promised presents to the girls so they are thinking hard about what they want from there.

We went and partook of Fur Rondy, it is a festival that has been going on since before Alaska was even a state. It is a get together to celebrate "spring" whatever that is ha ha and it gets the minners and trappers together for some people time and to break up the cabin fever. They have car races on solid ice through the city streets, have a carnival (nothing like fair rides in the snow), dog sled races and of course it all leads to the kick off of the Iditarod. We went, froze our butts off lol, and had a good time. We saw the snow sculptures, and the snowboarders doing high flying tricks, road the rides (dave got sick), and we just people watched, and boy was that interesting!!

But other than that, there is not much going on. We are still trying to find just the right kitchen table, the girls are making more and more friends in school and starting to have a good time. Ashley is still dating Mark, Krista has a boyfriend now named Austin, both the girls are dating boys who are shorter than them, Dave and I just shake our heads and figure whatever makes them happy. Kodiak the big bad dog is as cute as cute can be and making our lives interesting, I think she must think her name is NO!! NO!!!, ha ha, but she is a riot! She is doing good with her kennel training at night and potty training is going good.

Well better run! We miss you guys and wish that we could see everyone more often and be there for all the birthdays, get togethers and family dinners, but know that we are thinking about you all!!

Out and about with the Stricklan Clan

Well not sure what to say, we are a rather strange group sometimes lol. Enjoy the pictures!

Introducing KODIAK the giant bear hunting dog

This is Kodiak our latest addition to the the Stricklan family, she is huge and will be used to hunt grizzly bears. So tremble in fear of her!!! She will eat you in one bite!

Okay so she is not that huge lol, and she is not a bear dog, more like bear bate right now ha ha. But she is ours and she comes with papers. We picked her up on Sunday. Originally we were going to let the girls get their own dogs but after everyone started thinking about all the work, we decided to get one dog and share her, and after a long search she won. The girls wanted to name her Kodiak, Dave said Bear Bate, so her official name is Kodiak Bear Bate Stricklan, I call her KoKo for short. She is very smart and is learning sit, lay down, and go potty very quickly. We are also kennal training all at the same time. So far she is doing really well. We will see if our luck holds out lol.