I think it is almost FUDGE TIME!

Great trip and horrible travel days!

Ok, after a week in Phoenix, Arizona I was ready to come back to North Dakota! Don't get me wrong, the people are friendly, food is great and it is my birth state but wow was it dusty and arid! Sure it is a desert but I don't remember it being so desolate yet with very dense populations. Traveling around I still get a kick out of the front yards of homes. Should I had the same thing when I was growing up in the desert but after seeing the color green is nature I have to have it. I will have more details but I have to write about the trip back to Grand Forks. I woke up at 4 am to make it to the airport and got on the plane for the return flight to Minneapolis. Everything went well and we even got to the airport 10 minutes early. As we get to the gate in G terminal, the poilet informs us that the jetway is broken/frozen and for the next HOUR we watch as 3 mechanics try to get the thing to work. With no luck they decide to move to another gate to deplane. Twenty minutes later we are starting to the engines to move. Keep in mind I got to the airport 10 minutes early and I have been seating in the plane for nearly 90 minutes! As I get off the plane, I have 5 minutes to make it to Terminal A that is on the other side of the airport. The running nearly killed me. When I got close to the gate I had sinking feeling when there was no plane to be seen. The agent at the gate was nice enough to provide me with the LAST seat on the next plane to Grand Forks. All I had to do was wait nearly 8 hours! No vouchers no "sorry" no nothing! After visiting it seemed every store in the airport, I got to the gate for the very last flight to Grand Forks. I spoke to the agent and she was nice enough to upgrade to me First Class. Nice 45 minute flight which I could have driven in 5 hours. My family was waiting and my bag was the first off the baggage claim.

Too Cold To Fly!

Here I was sitting at the Grand Forks International Airport (yes, International) and waiting for my 7am flight today. There were two regional jets sitting at the gates that had been there all night. By regulations, over night aircraft must be de-iced before flying. Unfortunately, de-icing fluid has a minimum useful temperature of -30°C (-22°F) . So you have to waiting for the temperature to increase. In the meantime, other aircraft are arriving and departing full. I was unfortunate enough to select an early flight out of Grand Forks. Normally I would not mind but my destination was Phoenix, Arizona! The next available flight is the next day! So much for a free day in Mexico!

Happy New Year 2010!

Yet another year has come and gone! Our good friends the Waterman's stayed late last night and we woke up WAY after 10 am! Zeke is getting dressed to go outside so we checked the temperature. Sure enough it is COOL outside. The current temp is -13°F and it is the middle of the afternoon.

Here is a map of the regional temps, Happy New Year!

Here are the images of the driveway in Grand Forks, ND. I am trying to make enough room for 2 veichles.

The next image is me on the other side of the house IN a snow drift. I was trying to find the gas meter to clear out around it. I am standing upright and I have only the snow bib. I could not find my boots so I am wearing only slip on shoes and socks. Yes, they are full of snow!

Blizzzard "Alvin" 2009

Well, we finally got back to Grand Forks after a week long visit with family over the Christmas Holiday. We had to wait an extra day because of the HUGE winter storm. For the Red River Valley the blizzard was named "Alvin". It dumped over 2 feet of the snow!
So as we drove in to our neighborhood, there was little room between snow piles to drive down the road! We had a 5 foot snow drift along the driveway and someone was nice enough to have cleared the snow from the driveway. And that was no small feat even with a snow blower.
The blizzard has overwhelmed even the natives!

It’s going to take us three to four weeks to get it to where it looks like just a normal winter’s day. Grand Forks Streets Superintendent Mark Aubol, 27 December 2009

I am sure Zeke will have a blast in the morning. I will be spending several hours shoveling the rest of the driveway, mailboxes, sidewalks, and gas meter. Images are forthcoming.

Trip to Duluth, MN...The Quest for Mexican Food

Back in late October, we took the family to Duluth, MN while I attended a conference. Nice little conference and got to meet many of the GIS/RS and flood response people on the Minnesota side. Zeke and Buffie I thinked enjoyed getting out of Grand Forks and we all were really wanting some Mexican food! Got a few good images of the big ocean going ships coming into the harbor. The place has a lot of history, great geology, ok food, and cold wet weather.