Dodging Blizzards and Volcanic Ash

Just in time for spring, winter's back! There was some type of scheduling mix-up here in Unalaska during February, when we had summer-like 50+ highs. Our snow was long gone, and along with it, all prospects of snowboarding. That changed as some blizzards moved through in mid-March. We've had lots of 20 degree temps for a couple of weeks, which is pretty exciting.

It was a good week for friends, as Boppa went surfing with his new BFFF and his old BFFF came up to visit.

Scotty Matthews from Bobcat football days of yore came up for a visit. He's heading off to law school in the fall, so he got a first hand look at the fast paced life of Aleutian Island law. It wasn't super fast paced, so he kept busy brushing up on case law like Marbury v. Madison, which he is sure to encounter not long after starting school. Here's Boodah helping him spot the wild horses.

Scotty came up from Phoenix, accustomed to Porsches and fancy things and a non-rugrat lifestyle, so it was quite a big change for him. We like to think he enjoyed it. He did get to pet wild horses and freeze while watching blizzard surfing. What more could a person ask for?

He's also the luckiest traveler in recent times. The day before he left, all flights were canceled on account of Mt. Redoubt erupting. Then a large blizzard came along on his departure date. He looked quite relieved when his plane somehow made it in. Here's the view from our window about 15 minutes after he left (some of you may recall there's a large mountain called Ballyhoo that is normally visible:

And today, no flights at all. Even Anchorage flights were cancelled. But, he somehow got out just barely, right before Redoubt erupted again.

Travel Advisory: Alaska's Mt. Redoubt has erupted and all flights to/from Anchorage are canceled.

Crazy! Anyway, it was nice to have a visitor and friend up here. Thanks for visiting, Scotty. Good luck in law school!

He also showed us the wonders of this new invention you might have heard of. It's called the "eye phone" or something like that. It appears to be magic. Here are some pictures he took with it:

Somebody's 1/2 way to 70!!!

P.S.

In case you were wondering, or in case the Karma gods read our blog, Boodah has slept through the night exactly 1 time since we bragged about him finally sleeping through the night. Lesson learned. Sigh. Yawn.

Spot The Difference

Look closely at the following pictures. Quick, can you spot the difference?





Don't feel bad. Most people can't. You see, one is an actual Coast Guard heller-talker (that's helicopter to you non-Boodah-ese speakers). The other is actually a cake! That's right, it's not an actual helicopter. It's a tasty, highly realistic and authentic looking, yet completely edible, cake!

I don't like to brag, but I think I deserve a pat on the back for this one.

Calling Boodah Calling Boodah

Urgent Mission.

Where's the waves? Over.



Roger Victor Bravo. I'm going to find them.

"I'm going to a wave, going to surf."

(This is Boodah playing "going surfing." He even had a little bungee cord strapped to his car. "Mine surfboard rack". Like most moments, we didn't catch the best ones on film, but the above comes close.)

Mine co-pilot, Stokely, not stoked. Must accomplish mission pronto!











Success!

Aqua Tot Power

And thank goodness for this awesome water proof camera my Dover got me for Christmas! Double thank goodness for the awesome neoprene baby bjorn from Team Shadow!

This is the traditional Tuesday tot-time swim activity. Lots of buddies and lots of swimming.

Here's Senor getting ready for swim...modeling his new Bahama duds with some Xtra Tuffs. Pure Alaska/Bahama style.

Here's Stokes getting ready for swimming. He likes to start and end the swim session with a little snooze.










Boodah's buddy, doing the patented "David Hasselhof." (My signature move. Get me on a surfboard in Mexico, you'll see what I mean.






Stokes, dressed for an evening walk up Ballyhoo.

Go Fly a Kite

Alright, then. Some blue sky and high wind led us to this fun afternoon activity on our town's million dollar softball field. (You can see the authentic Arizona sand imported for the infield in the background. Softball is big here.)

Still rockin' it. It's almost like people are self conscious or a little bit embarrassed pointing out the ShFLB. They say it in the same tone as someone might tell you your fly is undone. "Hey, you know, he's, he's kind of sporting a little bit of a mullet."

But we know it and love it! It's glory days will return. (Not knowing the intricacies of Facebook, you may have to be friends with Jessica Chambers Bouchee or Kyp Hansen to get the link to work... it's worth it for the demonstration of 1991 Missoula Montana fashion. Even the rich kids had mullets!)

The Corruptive Influence of Uncles

Wonald Weggy

For Justin...

... and anybody else who might be curious about the Dutch Harbor waves at Summer Bay.


Lefts
















Rights