Our trip

The trip went awesome and we had a blast. We started out leaving at 0630 on Thursday and Sarah was right on time. We left and drove for 6 hours and amazingly we did not kill each other. We actualy had a blast and talked the entire time. We pulled into Anchorage and right away headed into the mall. We went shopping and checked into out hotel. Then we went - shopping again. We went back got ready and went and picked up John at the airport and then went to The brew house and had a fabulous dinner. John and I sampled plenty of local brews and after walking a block and a half in the wind (of which we have none in Fairbanks) we decided to pack it in for the night. I woke up the next day and headed over to the endocrinologsit for an appointment and we picked up Sarah and John and headed out to Gwenny's (my favorite breakfast joint) for my birthday breakfast. Sarah and John gave me awesome workout gear. We went to REI and then to Girdwood, after a stop at the liquor store. We went to Aleyeska and I was amazed at the sheer size of it. We went to the double Muskie the first night which is Johns favorite steak place and I found out that the Food network voted it one of the 5 best steaks in the United States. I have never had a steak like this, it was black pepper seared with gravy on top and nothing but wonderful. I know now why John passed on the appetizers. Anna also gave me my birthday present which was a beautiful gold and silver braclet with diamonds on it with an inscription that has to be one of the most thoughtful and best presents I have ever been given. We drank to our hearts content and went home, we decided to go swimming that night and we all hit the hot tub then the pool to which Sarah jumped out and ran for the shower. She stood under it for 15 minutes and we all wondered what was wrong? Anna then jumped out and bee lined for the elevators. Turned out Anna broke out in a rash and it was burning like hell. Sarah it turns out had what Whinny the Pooh calls a "rumbly in my tummy" Just thought that I would mention Netiher had the steak. You do the math.
The next day the wind was blowing even more and we all decided to go for a walk. John and Sarah had bought new nice winter boots that they were going to break in and Anna and I had on, sneakers. We got 700 hyards from the hotel and I was already wet and my feet were freezing. I looked at Anna and knew that she felt the same and we told Sarah and John that we were going to head back to the hotel. When we returned I gave my buddy Paul Kelly a call. He use to work at the ER with me but was now a full time snowboard instructor and guide. Anna and Andi have school girl crushes on him and call him "Beautiful Paul" At first Anna was not excited at all about going snow boarding and she was going to go skiing. Then Paul showed up and smiled, Anna giggled, and went straight to the snow board rental place with out even talking to me. I had only been 2 times before and had forgot how much fun it is. We went to the bunny hill and Anna proceeded to show us both her best impression of the keystone cops. Or for the younger generation the three stooges. She was on her back more next to paul than she ever was for me:)
She did it all with a smile and when Paul let me go on my own, Unstrapped himself and held her hands to guide her down the hill she really tried. When I witnessed her last fall the would make even the Wiley Cyotye wince I knew that she was going to be in pain. I wondered why when Paul said he had to go because another client was watiing for him she just stood there. I asked her if she was going to unstrap and she said to me in clinched teeth. "I can't bend over just wait until he is gone" The bruises that followed were quite impressive.
When we were finished we went back to the hotel room and Sarah and John had just got back. We decided to all go cross country skiing. Now what we did not realize at this oint was that the hotel had stopped the Gondella form running becasue it was a full scale blizzard with wind gusts up top at 80+ miles per hour. It was hoorible and wet. Anna and I did not have the proper wax and by that I mean no wax and our ski's just stuck in the snow. When we did move it was pure Ice. When I witnessed Anna fall HARD and flail around trying not to fall I knew that once again we were going to bail on Sarah and John. Not that it hurt ny feleings as I did nto want to go in the first place. We went back to the hotel and when Sarah and John got back and they were SOAKED even with the nice gear I knew we had made the right decision. We went out to eat in the hotel and went back to the room and played rummy. I Had one of the best weekends ever. I can not remember when we had that much fun. John and Sarah were great travel buddies and I realized that we can go on vacation with them anywhere. When we left the next day it was raining and on top of the mountain it was snowing. We had a long quite ride back but we did stop at a red robin and I loved it. We chilled out the entnire way back of which I slept 4 of the 6 hours. I just had a blast and want to say thank you agian to my wife for a great time she out did herself with the planning and thank you to John and Sarah for beign great friends it was awesome.
Getting ready to go boarding
Paul teaching Anna how to stand
Anna gazing into Pauls eyes and not hearing a damn thing he is saying
On her way down

She HAS IT My birthday carrot cake (the streak is now 3 birthdays with carrot cake) Not as good as Anna's but it was good
Sarah and John at the double muskie
Paul and Anna yeah she is not excited at all
With Paul
That is the hotel in the back ground

At the brew house
Sarah and I having a pictures war
Anna and John after a few
Sarah and John
At the brew house

On the way down
Eating our appetizers
At the brew house
Breaking them off on each other
Just a good photo