Illinois

Arrived in Ilinois yesterday. As is now customary with any trip here we went to a hospital to see a family member. This is the fourth trip out of the past five to Illinois where we’ve had to spend time in the hospital with family. I’ve decided that’s it. This will be our final trip here for the foreseeable future. Family will have to come visit us from now on.

Illinois

Flew down to Illinois yesterday. Used miles and am doing round-trip first class. Drank way too much coffee on the flight.

Will be here one week then back to Anchorage.

Naknek

Arrived in King Salmon last night (11/11/8). Checked in to the Antler’s Inn and had two beers at Eddie’ Fireplace Inn. Spoke with the owner, Mike, and several customers. Ate a not too bad pork chop dinner with good side of mashed potatoes.

Tried to start the AST truck this morning but the battery was dead. I got help jumping it from the Fish & Wildlife trooper and then followed him into Naknek. I’d never been here before so Trooper Fay was kind enough to show me where the courthouse is (it’s in the borough office building’s basement).

Unfortunately, the judge and defense counsel didn’t make it in from Dillingham this morning due to weather. So now I’m stuck waiting for them to (hopefully) arrive this afternoon so we can start tomorrow.

King Salmon

Waiting for the flight to King Salmon at 4:30. I start a trial tomorrow in Naknek. I’ve never been there before. I always like travelling around Alaska doing my job. Such a great place to practice law.

Flying – part three

Boarded the plane at 8am and am sitting in first class. It’s a beautiful morning flight to Seattle. I’ve never seen California from the sky during daylight hours. It’s so dry and brown punctuated with crisp deep blue of ocean and lakes.

I’m listening to the new Metallica album, Death Magnetic. It’s quite good and a good return to their late 80′s sound. Not too thrashy though with 10 songs that take-up the entire 80 minutes of the cd. There’s a simple puff piece on Metallica in the current Rolling Stone. Very basic examination of a couple days this May with the band while on a short tour in Europe. Nothing too enlightening about the band and basically zero on the new album. It’s a shame really because the article describes at length their private planes and traveling through-out Europe but nothing substantive about the recording. Oh well.

Flying – part two

I’m at the Portland Airport now. Flight leaves in 15 minutes. Nice to have Internet access.