Flight Log May 4, 2009

Warning: this is a longish post, but not nearly as long as the flights it describes. (Times are mostly approximate) 730am Arrive at Milwaukee airport, check in, locate gate, read tribune while waiting to board 814am Board flight, settle in; text DH with status update, pull out sadly neglected brown sock (Uptown boot sock), begin knitting. Knit two rounds, begin cable round, and realize at end of first section (sock now being knit on magic loop for plane knitting) that section is short 1 stitch. Count all stitches on both sides of needle, confirm shortage. Pause for flight attendants announcement and safety briefing. Recount; check rows below for mistakes; identify ‘funny’ stitch on last cable round that could be inappropriate k2tog; rip 4 rounds. Take off announced, put stitches back on needle, begin knitting with previous cable round, count stitches upon completion, knit 3 plain rounds; start next cable round and realize halfway across needle that I’m doing wrong cable round (round 7 not round 3); stifle curse. Tink back to beginning of round; knit cable round successfully COUNT stitches, continue knitting uneventfully for duration of flight. 927am Arrive at Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. Locate restroom; do what I gotta do (sweet relief!). check gate info, locate nearby Starbucks. Wait patiently in line while person at counter has entire menu explained in detail (apparently it’s her first time ever at Starbucks – How is that even possible?)Exchange incredulous looks with three other people waiting in line. Finally get to counter to order, coffee is still being brewed, wait for coffee to be ready, nice (patient) barista upgrades size of coffee (woohoo) in thanks for waiting. Hike 17 miles to next gate; pass another Starbucks without line enroute. 1001am Settle in at gate, have snack, enjoy big coffee, knit a bit. Enjoy pleasant chat about Alaska, kids and other random topics with lady carrying small Chihuahua in fanny pack 1125am On board to Anchorage. Text status update to DH. Full flight, seats filling quickly 1127am Yikes; young mother with toddler approaching aisle (not this row, please not this) Dang, she snags the middle seat. Cross fingers that baby will not be awake much of flight. 1140am, wheels up. Baby happy and content, Mom battling gag reflex as plane ascends; this is already a long flight, could feel much longer. Attempt to knit while protecting project bag. Plane levels off without incident. Focus on knitting. 1208pm Flight nicely underway, begin cable row. Ack! Drop cable needle. Perform ridiculous contortions in attempt to locate. Determine it is somewhere under seat against wall of plane. I cannot reach. Sigh, seat-belt sign still illuminated. Proceed to finish row doing cables without needle. Progress is slow. Thank goodness cable only happens in 2 of 8 rows. 1249pm Break for in-flight beverage and snack service; resume sock, seat belt sign still illuminated. Arrive at next cable round; abandon attempts to cable without needle after dropped stitch runs. Fix stitch, fish out darning needle from project bag, and attempt MacGyver method of cabling with darning needle. Sadly it is doable, but extremely slow. 1pm-ish Have now crossed several time zones, watch and reality no longer in sync. Captain announced time 20 minutes ago, but paid no heed as intensely concentrating on newly discovered cabling option. Baby still happy, Mom seems to have fully recovered after snack. 11 or 2ish Depending on the time zone. We are about halfway through flight time; reset watch 3 hours back in estimation of appropriate time; no help. Body and watch are now hopelessly out of sync. Aisle passenger, baby and mom now napping; Attempt to set up stitches for heel flap, after three attempts, get it right. Sort of feeling sleepy myself, decide to give in and close eyes for a bit. Sleep for 15-20 minutes (concept of passage of time now only concept). 1140 am (Alaska time) Start heel. As experienced sock knitter, assume what is written in pattern and forge ahead with standard heel. 1215pm – start heel turn; refer to pattern to determine ending stitch count. Whoa! Go back and read instructions from start of heel flap through turn. Ooops! Not even close to heel I’m making. Decide to proceed with “my” heel version to forgo further ripping out and gnashing of teeth. No need to frighten other passengers with knitter’s angst. Continue knitting standard heel in defiance of pattern. 1235pm Pilot announces arrival in Alaskan airspace. Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes of flight time remain. Scenery will be visible soon! Seatbelt sign has been off for a bit. Turn around and ask passenger in seat behind if it would be possible to locate stray cable needle. Search and rescue successful; gusset shaping complete, cables rounds now much less stressful. 119pm Snow capped mountains visible through thinning clouds; Capt. announces approach to Anchorage. 205pm Arrive in Anchorage. (text hubby of course) Tour concourse and check gift shops in attempt to stretch out legs. Not quite ready to sit at gate yet. Immediately notice Qiviut display advertising Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Cooperative (in Anchorage). Resist urge to break glass in order to fondle knitted items and yarn. 242pm Report to gate area. rest, then update log. Chat with very enthusiastic lady from Juno who is affiliated with the boroughs (county) program. She is going to Barrow to administer grants. Knit some more of sock after snack while awaiting boarding. 342pm On board plane to Fairbanks, preparing for take-off. (Send text) Continue knitting on sock – very close to start of toe shaping I have high hopes of finishing soon. Get to within ten rows of finishing toe before flight is over. 510pm Arrive in Fairbanks. Greeted by very happy DH! Stay tuned for Alaska stories and pictures later this week. I’m off to plan our shop tour. happy knitting! Nana