Seward, AK 2014 - Day 8

Lunch at the Regal Beagle with Jack

We left early for work this morning and Chad drove to a little coffee stand called Espresso Simpatico and bought coffee from a man who wasn’t very nice or pleasant. I found that ironic. We drove through the Seward City Cemetery and then to the high school before we headed to the shipyard. How such a boring drive could be one of the best twenty minutes of my day, I don’t know. Maybe because the next thing to do on my list was five people’s laundry.

We have a washer and dryer in the hallway of our building that we share with the other six apartments, but I wanted to go to a Laundromat/café in town called Sip-N-Spin. The free Wi-Fi, good breakfast, and a cozy atmosphere made me feel like I was doing laundry at home. Except that it cost $13 for two loads (it should’ve been three loads, but I'm too cheap), they played incredibly explicit and offensive music, and people folded their underwear right in front of strangers. But mostly, just like home. 

As the morning progressed, more and more people came in wanting to do their laundry, and with only five washing machines in the small laundromat, folks became territorial, hovering over washing machines that displayed the time remaining and when it hit 00:02, they'd say “I got here first, I’m next,” to anyone that came near. I’m surprised nobody laid quarters on my washer like it was a game of Ms. Pac-Man at the arcade and they were calling dibs on the next game. Also, if you want delicious steel-cut oats, I recommend the Laundromat in Seward. That’s a weird sentence.

When I got home, the kids put their clean laundry away and then we went to get Chad. He only worked until noon so he could spend the day with us. We didn’t have any exciting activities planned. We didn’t have anything planned at all, actually. So the rest of this blog might bore you to sleep. I’ll make it as quick and painless as possible, while still maintaining the integrity of the blog. Just kidding, I've just always wanted to maintain the integrity of something. 

We ate lunch at Thorn’s Showcase Lounge. It was dark and dingy, and the walls were lined with glass cabinets filled with liquor decanters that reminded me of my grandpa’s bar in his basement when I was little. The walls around the bar were padded leather, the booths were upholstered in red leather and I felt like we were in a 1970s lounge. It was like the Regal Beagle from Three’s Company. I kept waiting for Jack Tripper and Chrissy Snow to show up, handcuffed together, while Jack attempts to go on his date as if nothing happened. Remember that episode? I wonder if it’s on DirecTV…

The kids wanted to go back to the same beach we went to yesterday. When we arrived, they took off and crossed the creek to explore while Chad and I found a spot in the sand where the grass shielded us from the wind and we lay down to rest. We wanted to nap but eventually he got up to play with the kids and I stared at the creek and the trees and wondered what it would be like to live there. And then I started reciting Jack Nicholson's lines from A Few Good Men. It was strange and I don't know why I did it and I hope nobody heard me. 

Fourth of July Creek near Vigor Shipyard

Once everyone's energy was sufficiently drained, we came home. While Chad enjoyed a quick nap, I took the kids to Sweet Darlings to visit to Janeal and sample her new gelato (blueberry). She hugged all the kids, and even hugged me, and then told us to meet her at the shop tomorrow at 5:00 for a tour of the basement. I'm curious to find out what is going on down there in that basement. I have about thirty-five theories and three of them end with us getting out alive. I am cautiously looking forward to tomorrow. 

Pre-horror movie. They're About to be horrified
for all the wrong reasons

We ate leftovers and watched The Happening starring Mark Wahlberg. The kids have never seen it, and I'm proud to say they were as appalled as Chad and I were the first time we experienced that movie. Click here to understand my point in just thirteen seconds. A better title for the film should be: What's Happening? I'm Embarrassed to Watch This Disaster?

Alaska Fact #8: 

Secretary of State William Seward arranged for Alaska's purchase from the Russians for $7,200,000. The transfer of the territory took place on Oct. 18, 1867. Despite a price of about two cents an acre, the purchase was widely ridiculed as “Seward's Folly.” 

The Niemeyers